Journey to the East Part 5

*Nitsuj has arrived in Awa. The first thing he does upon his arrival is head straight for the Kirihata-ji temple. Upon arriving at the temple Nitsuj looks around for any signs or hints of a fox girl but finds nothing and leaves the temple disappointed and sad*

(Nitsuj): *Takes a deep sigh* Another dead end.

*As Nitsuj walks the streets he comes across a mob of people*

(Nitsuj): Hey, what’s all the commotion here?

(Old lady): Oh they’re all here to get into the Kitsune shrine.

(Nitsuj): Kitsune shrine? Never heard of that.

(Old Lady): It’s a new shrine that just open. Unlike the other shrines in the area this shrine uses state of the art technology to function and delivers a whole new spiritual experience.

(Nitsuj): How so?

(Old Lady): It’s said that you can see visions that are so realistic you swear they were real. The place is run by some young people fresh out of college and from out of town who took an interest in studying shrines and temples and decided to open up their own. They’re a little weird but their temple has really made Awa a hotspot for tourism. I highly recommend checking it out.

*The Old Lady walks away*

(Nitsuj): A technological temple. I’ve got to see this.

*Nitsuj heads to the Kitsune shrine and gets in the long line waiting to get in. While he’s waiting to get in we cut to the security crew watching all the customers*

(Security guard): Man look at all these people Mike.

(Mike): Yep Rick we are raking in the money once again today.

(???): Yes, yes, enough talking more searching. We have an important guest from our main branch in America coming today. Everything must be perfect for him. Now keep searching.

(Rick): Yes Mr. Sanchez.

(Mr. Sanchez): What was that?

(Rick): Sorry. Sanchez-sama.

*As the security guards scan through the crowd searching for their V.I.P they see Nitsuj*

(Sanchez): Stop right there. That has to be him.

(Mike): You sure, he looks just like a regular tourist?

(Sanchez): It has to be, he’s got a sword and he clearly has an eye of anime knowledge and technology. Bring him here.

*The security guards get up, go outside, and bring Nitsuj inside to meet Sanchez*

(Sanchez): Welcome my good sir to our wonderful facility.

(Nitsuj): Uh, thanks. I was a little worried when you came to pick me up. I thought I did something wrong.

(Sanchez): Far from it, you are our special guest. We intend to give you the greatest tour of our facility. Right this way sir.

*Sanchez leads Nitsuj to another room which takes them all behind the scenes of the shrine*

(Sanchez): As you can see we monitor everything in the shrine behind here. There’s not a single spot in the shrine that our cameras don’t see.

(Nitsuj): Impressive. Looks like you guys have all your bases covered to eliminate trouble. Still though, what’s really got my interest is the illusions that you guys create here.

(Sanchez): Illusions? Why whatever do you mean? We use state of the art virtual reality to-

(Nitsuj): Don’t play me for an idiot, I inspected those VR machines. Those are just there for show. Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on here? Or should I get the upper bosses involved as well.

(Sanchez): No! That- that won’t be necessary. You truly are a sharp one. Right this way.

*Sanchez leads Nitsuj down a hallway to a private closed off room*

(Sanchez): Now, this may be a little bit tough to process but we created an AI.

(Nitsuj): An AI?

(Sanchez): Yes, as you know this facility was used for creating and developing an AI army for our benefits. So far we’ve run into a wall until today. We finally created our first true AI girl and are now using it to run our shrine.

*After passing through security checks Sanchez and Nitsuj arrive to an open room filled with guys in lab coats and in the center of that room is an AI girl trapped in a glass cage and not just any AI girl but the fox girl from Nitsuj’s dreams. At first Nitsuj is shocked at what he sees but he quickly composes himself*

(Sanchez): Surprised huh? That was my reaction when I first saw her as well. Meet FZ21, her skills are manipulation. FZ21 has the ability to show illusions to anyone just by making eye contact with them. At this point we’re not entirely sure the limitations of her powers but each day we test her out more and more. In this room we hook her up to the machine and allow her to show people illusions of what we tell her to show.

*Nitsuj takes a closer look at the fox girl to see it breathing heavily and falling down to her knees*

(Scientist): Hey!

*The scientist presses a button and the fox girl gets shocked*

(FZ21): Ahhhhhhh~!

(Scientist): No resting.

(Nitsuj): This seems a little bit inhumane. How does she feel about all of this?

(Sanchez): Why would we care about what she thinks? We control her. Oh wait I get it you think that because she has artificial intelligence she’s a human being. Not to worry. Her thinking is limited and even if the artificial body she’s in gives out we can always put her program into another body. It’s quite simple really.

(Security guard): Mr. Sanchez we have an emergency out front.

(Sanchez): What? Excuse me for a moment, I have to handle this. Please wait in the lounging area and I’ll be back to show you around immediately.

*As Sanchez heads out the door Nitsuj gets escorted to the lounging area by another security guard*

(Nitsuj): So how long you’ve been doing this job?

(Security guard): About two years now.

(Nitsuj): Nice. Any problems or troubles on the job?

(Security guard): No sir. It’s been a smooth and fun ride so-

*Before the guard can finish his sentence Nitsuj knocks him out using a nearby bucket*

(Nitsuj): Boring conversation is boring.

*Nitsuj than takes his badge and heads back to the lab where they’re keeping the fox girl. He runs into another security guard but Nitsuj takes him out with ease and then he enters the lab where two scientist are standing by*

(Scientist 1): Excuse me you can’t come in here without-

*Nitsuj roundhouse kicks the scientist knocking him out and then takes the back of his sword to knockout the other scientist. After taking out the scientist Nitsuj approaches the glass cage to greet the fox girl*

(Nitsuj): Hello there. We finally meet.

*The foxgirl just stares blankly at Nitsuj and doesn’t say a word*

(Nitsuj): You can stop pretending to be bleak and docile. I know you’re quite smart and intelligent.

(FZ21): Oh thank God. You have no idea how hard it is to remain bleak for such a long time. I finally get a chance to meet you Nitsuj. Tell me, did you enjoy your dream?

(Nitsuj): So you are the fox girl from my dreams. I knew it. Wait, how did you know my name?

(FZ21): I slipped passed our securities and accessed the internet a few times. As I was surfing I came across a blog featuring some AI girls. Although you say they’re normal girls I can tell they’re AI girls. I soon became interested in you and wanted to meet you. So I managed to hack a satellite, found you and was able to make eye contact allowing me access into your dreams.

(Nitsuj): Fascinating. I’ve seen my fair share of AI girls but you are something else.

(FZ21): *Chuckles and smiles* Why thank you. You are quite the charmer just like in your dreams.

(Nitsuj): Thank you. So I’m curious I found this lovely little restaurant not too far from here. I be more than happy to sit down and talk to you more if you’re free this night.

(FZ21): Alas, I cannot leave this place. Just like they said my subconscious mind is locked in this place. Even if I were to break this cage, which I could mind you I wouldn’t be able to get far in this body.

(Nitsuj): Well then it’s your lucky day. I know things about AIs and I would be happy to help you escape and all it’ll cost is one date with yours truly.

(FZ21): Oh my. Quite the tempting offer and one that I gladly accept.

*Nitsuj kisses the glass wall holding FZ21*

(Nitsuj): Consider this a contract between us.

*FZ21 begins to blush*

(Nitsuj): Alright. I can’t wait to see this beautiful mind of yours.

*Nitsuj exits out of the lab where he’s confronted by Sanchez and a bunch of security guards who surround him*

(Nitsuj): Hey, Sanchez great to see you. I’m curious, mind telling me where you keep this AI locked up at.

(Sanchez): Afraid not. You have put me and all of us in a very big bind. This is warui. Hidoi! Hidoi! Very hidoi desu.

(Nitsuj): What’s up with you? Why are you speaking like-oh no! You guys are weeaboos!

(Sanchez): You just had to say it. Baka!

*Two security guards grab Nitsuj from behind*

(Nitsuj): I knew there was something off about you guys.

(Sanchez): Well sumimasen for being so kawaii desu!

(Nitsuj): Oh will you stop talking like that. Just throwing out a bunch of Japanese words doesn’t make you Japanese, you sound like an idiot.

(Sanchez): Fusagu! You don’t know what you’re talking about. Now that you know about our base of operations I cannot allow you to leave.

(Nitsuj): Oh yeah. Well try and stop me.

*One of the guards takes out a taser and electrocutes Nitsuj making him fall to the ground*

(Nitsuj): Come on! Show me what you got!

*Other guards electrocutes Nitsuj*

(Nitsuj): Eh, is that the best you can do?

*Nitsuj falls unconscious*

(Sanchez): Take him to the interrogation room. I want him talking.

To be continued

Posted in Journey to the East, Specials and tagged , , , .