2 They came to be known as terrorist acts of urbanization. The country was rife with talk of white automatons with red hair who appeared simultaneously across the country, “urbanizing” all they touched. They cared not whether their targets were natural or man-made, or even human or animal. They urbanized everything, transforming it into the concrete buildings, telegraph poles, and traffic lights of the cities of ancient times. Without any warning whatsoever, this bizarre, unprecedented phenomenon swept the nation, embroiling all of Japan in pandemonium. All prefectures sustained heavy damage in the attacks, but none more so than Kyoto, the nation’s seat of power. Overnight, the capital fell, the chain of command collapsed, and Japan was plunged into chaos. It was Imihama that stepped up to seize control. “We of Imihama Prefecture have confirmed the sudden appearance of an enormous city in the Tokyo Crater, to the south of Saitama. We believe the machines that have been attacking our lands are coming from this city. “People of all lands, all creeds, all businesses, all tribes. People of Japan, put aside your differences and come together in defense of our country. We gather our forces at Imihama.” It was unclear whether the other prefectures would be quick to swallow their pride and take Pawoo up on her offer, but the young and beautiful governor of Imihama had faith. This was simply not the time to be worrying about saving face. “Shot… Unset. Launch:City:Maker… Shot.” Boom! Boom! Boom! The white robots soared above the city of Imihama, chanting their curses and raining down destruction in the form of blue cubes upon the land below. Well-ordered, methodical cityscapes engulfed the land wherever they fell. “Get the people to the shelters! And when those fill up, take people into the sewers!” “Captain Nuts! Get back! It’s too dangerous here on the front lines!” “Don’t be absurd! If we let up anymore, the bureau will be in danger! We have to hold them here until the talks are complete!” As the Vigilante Corps’ iguana cavalry rushed to meet their foes, ranks of Mushroom Keepers supplied covering fire. It seemed that after Kyoto, the next target on the terrorists’ list was Imihama, Kanto’s last bastion. “…Grrr. They’re indiscriminate…!” Pawoo looked through the reinforced glass of the bureau window, out at the urbanization spreading throughout the streets of Imihama below. A grim frown crossed her perfect features. Even as she waited in the boardroom for discussions to commence, she still had about her the proud bearing of the former Vigilante Corps captain, and ever at her side she kept her trusty iron staff in her hand. It was all she could do to not rush out of the room and join the fighting herself. “Please welcome Chairman Zenjuro Matoba, of Matoba Heavy Industries.” “From Tottori, the provisional representative of the Mushroom Keeper tribes, Great Elder Gifune.” “From Banryouji Temple in Iwate, High Priest Ochagama.” “From Shimane, High Priestess Amlini and her Speaker, Raskeni.” The top brass of all the important organizations of Japan were gathering. Pawoo took a deep breath and put her desire to fight aside before turning and welcoming her guests one by one. “Amli, thank you for coming, and with Raskeni, no less. I know things must be rough for you in Shimane right now.” “Think nothing of it, Miss Pawoo, ma’am,” Amli replied. “Were it not for you, the Kusabira sect would not exist.” “Right now, you are the leader of mankind, Pawoo,” said Raskeni. And then, whispering in Pawoo’s ear, she added, “You leave the sects to us, and focus on uniting the tribes and businesses.” Pawoo nodded. One after the other, Japan’s household names sat down at the negotiation table. This was a place where the world’s worst enemies would have to learn to work together, and it was none other than Pawoo who was tasked with making it happen. “Ever since the death of that old rat Kurokawa, our relations with Imihama have been going south,” said Chairman Zenjuro Matoba, prodding the table with a meaty finger and peering scornfully with his dark eyes at the faces around him. “I was just considering cutting you off completely when you forced me here…and to make matters worse, I see you’ve invited a bunch of uncivilized mushroom-eaters around the table as well!” “You got a problem with mushrooms?” scoffed Elder Gifune, the aged woman representing the Mushroom Keepers. “You know, for a man with an awful lotta factories, you sure put out some trash. One shot from our mushroom arrows is enough ta put yer machines in the scrap heap, where they belong! I will give you one thing, though: They make for excellent target practice!” “Y-you dare call our weapons trash?!” “Well, what else should I call ’em? Garbage? Hunks ’a junk?” “Elder, please! Like you, the chairman is here to discuss a matter of great importance.” Elder Gifune, however, did not seem the least bit put off by Pawoo’s remonstration. Across from her, the chairman’s face went as red as a pig’s. “Hmph! If I allowed the supreme Matoba Heavy Industries to ally with mushroom-eating barbarians, my predecessors would roll in their graves! Governor, excuse me, but I must—” Suddenly, as if to cut him off, something crashed through the ceiling and landed in the middle of the table. It was one of the white android invaders, a single arrow piercing its face. It flailed with jerky, creaking movements for a moment before… Gaboom! Gaboom! A rapid succession of mushroom explosions brought it to a halt. “E-eek! That’s one of those…those things!” “Don’t get yer undies in a twist. It’s dead,” said a voice from above. An old man dropped through the hole in the ceiling and adjusted the tricorne hat that fell atop his head a second later. Then, just to make sure it was really dead, he stamped on the robot’s neck and kicked its severed head aside. “It’s the hero, Jabi!” “So spry for his age!” A murmur of admiration passed around the room. Jabi stopped and peered at the faces seated around the table, and when his eyes fell upon Gifune, he became visibly displeased. “Bleh. I see you invited the hag.” “Ill-mannered as always,” she replied. “You youngsters oughtta show your elders some respect.” “Master Jabi! How glad I am to see you safe and well. Have the invaders made it inside the building?” “Nah, just this one. But there ain’t no end to ’em. If you guys got talkin’ to do, you’d better get on with it, ’cause they’ll be here soon.” Pawoo nodded and turned to the noisy table, shouting over the muddled voices. “Everyone, I hope you now understand the situation we’re in. It is not just this room. Innocent lives are at stake all across Japan! It would be a great tragedy if we were to lose our people, our lands, because of shortsighted bitterness and resentment. We must unite our hearts and turn to face our common foe!” Pawoo stood there, staff in hand, her long black hair streaming behind her, as the table fell silent. Then, after a moment… “Agreed.” “We will support Governor Pawoo!” “Very well.” …one by one, the people around the table put their squabbles aside and shouted out their words of support. Even the dour-faced Matoba suppressed his anger as he thought about the profit margins at stake and managed to squeeze out a reluctant, “Very well, let’s just get it over with.” “Hyo-ho-ho!” Jabi laughed. “It seems the young lady is now a fine businesswoman as well!” “Hah. Don’t insult me. My heart still belongs to the battlefield.” Pawoo cleared her throat and turned to a large display embedded at the front of the room. “Now then, everyone. I’m sure you’re all weary from your long travels today, but time is wearing thin. Let me get straight to the point. We have succeeded in taking some high-altitude photos of the huge city that suddenly appeared in the Tokyo Crater. We believe… Hmm?” Just as everyone turned their attention to the photos, the image faltered for a moment before being replaced by static. “A breakdown? Just what I needed… Okay, well, no matter, we still have printed copies. Hand them out and we’ll—” “…Ah. I can hear someone’s voice. Is it working? Hello? Can you hear me? Is that the Imihama Prefectural Bureau? Let me know if you can hear me.” “Wh-what is this?!” asked Pawoo in astonishment. A voice that sounded like it belonged to a young girl could be heard through the white noise of the static. As Pawoo and the other people in the boardroom murmured in confusion, the image suddenly changed, and the red-eyed jellyfish girl appeared on the screen. “…Oh! I think I got it! It’s not totally stable, but it’ll do.” “Tirol, you’re okay!” said Pawoo with relief when she saw the image of her friend appear. Then, remembering she was still in front of several important people, she cleared her throat and continued. “How are you doing this? Actually, I’m in a meeting at the moment. Can this wait…?” “I simply hacked into the broadcast satellite. I knew that Kurokawa had a link from Imihama, but it just took me a while to find the correct channel… Ah, I see you’ve gathered all of Japan’s leaders. The timing couldn’t be better.” “Tirol…? What happened to you? Your face…” “Th-the holy mark upon her brow!” Someone was even more shocked than Pawoo at Tirol’s appearance. Some sort of big, fluffy, cotton wool ball sprang from its chair and kneeled in front of the screen. “H-High Priest Ochagama?!” “The Founder!” the cotton wool ball pleaded. “Long have we faithful servants awaited your return! We at Banryouji Temple have meticulously studied your scriptures and preserved your teachings for generations! Please lend us your guidance once more!” Until that point, the high priest of Banryouji Temple had not said so much as a word, so when he suddenly began groveling before the screen, it threw the boardroom into an uproar all over again. “…Miss Tirol, the Founder of Banryouji?” asked Amli. “But that cannot be.” “Perhaps it can,” Raskeni cautioned. “That cube-shaped mark on her forehead appeared in Kelshinha’s scripts as well, denoting the most supreme of all the gods. High Priest Ochagama hasn’t completely lost his marbles just yet, Amli.” “I didn’t say he had, Mother! Hmph!” Meanwhile, on the screen, Tirol seemed to smile at the head priest with some degree of reminiscence. “Ochagama, my old friend! I can’t believe you’re still at that place! How old must you be by now? Ahhh, you don’t know how happy I am to see you again. How are things on your end?” “Well, many of Japan’s most prominent prefectures have come under attack by armies of White Apollos. The invaders are using the City Maker program to urbanize the entire country. The situation is extremely troubling… However, the fact that Apollo has resorted to this tactic must mean that his attempts at restoring all of Japan simultaneously must have been unsuccessful.” “Indeed. There is no way that three hundred years ago Apollo could have foreseen the evolution of these spores that counteract his efforts. Subsequently, the Rust was not able to restore the cities as he had planned. While Apollo attempts to debug, we must strike first against Tokyo before he can destroy us.” “However, Founder…we have not the means to attack Tokyo. It is all we can do to keep the White Apollos at bay. We stand no chance against the man himself.” At the high priest’s words, Tirol gave a roguish smirk. “Ochagama, old friend. Mankind has an ace up its sleeve. I watched these two pierce Apollo with my own eyes.” “What?!” “Bisco! Get over here! Bring Milo as well! …Here, in front of the TV!” “B-Bisco? And…Milo?!” Until now, Pawoo had been dumbfounded by the strange course of events, but when she heard her brother’s name, she reeled in shock. After a few moments, a single jade-green eye appeared as Bisco peered into whatever receiving device was on the other side, filling the screen with his wild features. Next, the fair-faced doctor boy grabbed him by the hair and tugged him back so that both their upper halves were visible. “Look, I can see Jabi!” said Bisco’s image. “What is this, a video?” “Oh! Pawoo! Oh, and Amli’s there, too! Tirol, can they see us as well?” Tirol squeezed her way between the boys, emerging in the center of the screen. “These two are miraculous hybrids of mushroom and man. The spores coursing through their veins have tremendous power, enough to devour the Rust…that is, the Apollo Particles.” She blinked a couple times with her bright-red eyes and continued. “Now that Apollo has shed his mortal flesh and become one with the particles, they are the only ones who can hurt him. I am bringing them back to Imihama as fast as I can, so please hold out just a little longer.” “As you command!” Ochagama replied. “Hey, Tirol, outta the way. If Imihama’s really on the other end, then there’s somethin’ I gotta say.” Bisco grabbed Tirol’s head and yanked it aside before filling the screen with his own. “Pawoo! You there? You’re seein’ this, right? Tirol’s gone mad! She keeps askin’ about Tokyo, sayin’ Japan’s been destroyed! She ain’t makin’ no sense! I think she’s possessed!” “P-possessed?” “Yeah! And Milo’s no good with curses and stuff… You got all sorts of witch doctors and medicine men in Imihama, don’t you? Send one over! A good one!” “Bisco! Now is not the time!” protested Tirol’s image. “We must return to Imihama at once!” “It’s for your sake we’re doin’ this! Milo! Give her some toffee to chew on or somethin’!” Watching the chaos unfold on the other side of the screen, the boardroom began to murmur once more. High Priest Ochagama scratched his head nervously and muttered, “You’re bringing Akaboshi here? I wonder if he will be willing, Founder…?” But when Amli heard the priest’s words, her violet eyes twinkled. “You want Mr. Bisco to come here? Is that it?” “Wha—?” Suddenly, Amli stood up from her seat and yelled toward the screen, “Big brother! I can take care of Tirol for you! If there’s an evil spirit possessing her, my mantras will suck it out! We healers are adept at that sort of thing!” “Amli! That’s great! Then get over here to Shikoku as fast as you can!” “I’m afraid I cannot leave Imihama at the moment! I am currently…erm…er… I am…busy banishing an evil spirit from Pawoo!” “Wha—? From me?!” cried Pawoo in surprise. Amli turned and winked at her, whereupon Pawoo finally realized her game and kept quiet. “Pawoo’s possessed, too? Well, I guess that makes sense… She is a pretty sinful woman, after all. What kind of evil spirit is it?” “It’s…ummm…the spirit of the previous governor, Kurokawa! It makes her shirk her duties and read manga all day! She only eats junk food as well; it’s just awful!” Bisco burst into laughter, and while Amli wondered if he bought the lie, Pawoo stood trembling with indignation. Watch what you say, brat, even if it’s just an act…! “S-so you see, you simply must come here, Mr. Bisco, sir! If we delay Tirol’s treatment for even a moment, it could have dire consequences!” “I see. Guess I’d better haul ass back to Imihama, then.” “We’ve got no choice,” said Milo. “Tirol keeps slapping herself, and I hate to see her like this. We need to get her cured as quickly as possible.” As the two boys conferred, Tirol winked at Amli as if to say, “Thank you!” Then she said, “That’s all from me, then! I’ll head over as soon as I can. I think the satellite is about to cut out, so…” “F-Founder! I have one request!” “Sure, but hurry! I’ve only got a minute left!” “W-well…Founder… It’s about the body you are currently inhabiting…” The fluffy priest glanced upward nervously at the screen before continuing. “…It happens to be the body of my great-great-granddaughter. She may be an unbeliever, but she is a kindhearted and loving girl. All I ask is that…you be considerate while you are in her body.” “Yes, I know. You needn’t worry, Ochagama, old friend. She will make a fine successor for you. She has an incredible will, able to escape even my control for a time— Ow!” Another huge slap across Tirol’s cheek interrupted her words, and she frowned. “Even if she is sometimes a little stubborn. Ah, looks like my time is up. Pawoo! I’ll leave the rest to—” Then the image cut out to static one last time. The boardroom was filled with voices again, with everyone giving their own opinions on what they had just seen. “…What do you think, Master Jabi?” asked Pawoo. “I ain’t sure I like what I heard, but Bisco’s the strongest livin’ thing in the country, that’s for sure! Holdin’ out till he arrives might not be a bad idea.” Jabi gazed at the static on the screen and stroked his beard with glee. “The problem is how to convince those ruffians outside to leave us alone… Hyo-ho-ho! I’ve a feelin’ these ol’ bones are gonna take quite a beatin’!” “She’ll leave the rest to me, huh? Seriously…? Easy for her to say.” Pawoo tossed one of Kurokawa’s old headache tablets into her mouth as she thought about how she was going to deal with the hubbub now filling the boardroom. For the first time, she felt she understood the previous governor’s pain just a little.
Chapter 61
15 min read