Crimson Azure
CHAPTER 4
PREVIOUSLY... Over dinner, Crimson and Azure discussed several things, from chatting about former classmates to planning for a big dinner a few days later.
- CRIMSON:
So Morpheus, how’re you going to deliver your part?
- AZURE:
What do you mean?
- CRIMSON:
I’m gonna try to make it sound like Lincoln’s the villian and we’re the heroes. With any luck, the media will begin to join our cause, as will the law.
- AZURE:
I guess I could try to rally support and claim it’s to stop Lincoln’s reign of terror. Maybe we should start a fund together? It would certainly raise money for the both of us.
- CRIMSON:
Donations en masse? Sounds good...
- AZURE:
How’s the crowd today, Aphrodite?
- APHRODITE:
There appear to be a hundred or so people. They seem to be getting anxious.
- CRIMSON:
Let’s get this over with, then.
- CRIMSON:
Is everything good? Can the people in the back hear me? Alright. I’m sure you’re all tired of these, as often as they come, so I’m gonna try and get through this as quickly as possible.
- CRIMSON:
Last night, yet another attempt has been made on my life. I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened in the last year, and like any normal person would, I just want it to stop... For good. Because I am SICK OF IT!
- CRIMSON:
...And to make it worse, these assassins have been coming so frequently that I can barely even sleep at night! Not only is it hurting my property and my employees, but the damages they cause are driving the customers away! Now, as Chief Executive Official of my own psychiatry firm, I am aware that that means there are now a lot of mentally unstable people, out there on the streets, who are unable to get the help they need because of this! And I’ll be blunt... THIS PISSES ME OFF!
- CRIMSON:
And apparently, their leader is a so-called vigilante named Lincoln. Well, I have a question for this Mister Lincoln: I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but you’re resorting to assassination and terrorism to hurt my business, and you’re trying to make it look like I’M the BAD GUY?! Quit deluding yourself, pal! You’re only making YOURSELF look bad!
- CRIMSON:
And I am not the only target here, people! During this last assassination attempt, I happened to have been having a conversation with Mr. Morpheus Azure. Lincoln has apparently targetted him as well! Perhaps Mr. Azure knows the reason?
- AZURE:
While I may not know the exact reason yet, my best guess would be the fairly obvious choice: power. Azure Industries and the Crimson Syndicate are the top two companies in the city. We produce more income than any other local company. This man seems to be attacking BOTH of our companies solely on that basis.
- AZURE:
It will not be long before this terrorism escalates to hurting innocent people who have simply purchased our services like honest, law-abiding citizens. Personally, I’m surprised it hasn’t already! That’s why we both feel, from the bottom of our hearts, that we need YOU, the people of this city, to help us as we have helped you. As of today, we will hold the Crimson-Azure Peace Fund, so your donations will help us stop this threat to society!
- AZURE:
We will NOT be moved! We will NOT be swayed! WE WILL NOT BE DEFEATED!
- CROWD:
Crimson! Azure! Crimson! Azure! Crimson! Azure! Crimson! Azure!
- AZURE:
If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask them.
- CRIMSON:
Ask either of us any question you want about what was said today.
- CRIMSON:
Yes ma’am, in the yellow jacket?
- REPORTER 1:
Denise Millia, from The Daily Watch. What will the funds go toward? Supplies, new job opportunities, or is it for something bigger?
- AZURE:
A mixture of all three. I have a group of robots specifically programmed to scan data and search for leads on this terrorist. My company is always hiring engineers, since we could use an extra hand or two to build more of them. The only thing more important than apprehending this villian, I think, is to still be able to help the public.
- CRIMSON:
Yes sir, in the brown suit?
- REPORTER 2:
Yes, Carlton Daniels, from WNOD. How do you intend to capture this Lincoln character?
- CRIMSON:
Well, uh, we’re still trying to get organized for this whole thing, but one of my first tries will probably be to send some telemarketers after him.
- CRIMSON:
Yes ma’am, in the purple?
- REPORTER 3:
Hi, Violet Smith from the Watchful Eye. Are you aware of the rumors that surround both of your companies?
- CRIMSON:
...such as?
- REPORTER 3:
It has been said that your company is part of a human trafficking ring, using your psychiatry skills to trick your clients into such dealings.
- CRIMSON:
Not only is that a childish assumption, but it is also false. I would never use my skills in such a way. People who feel they need my help, I let them come to me first.
- REPORTER 3:
And what about your friend Morpheus Azure? There are similar rumors about him as well.
- AZURE:
I honestly and respectfully deny any such rumors. As Mister Crimson said, they are childish and false, and there is no reason for them to be pursued any further.
- CRIMSON:
Well, I’m afraid that’s all the time we have for today. I hope we’ve answered all the right questions for you.
- CRIMSON:
....That last one was WAY too close for comfort.
- AZURE:
Want me to take care of her?
- CRIMSON:
Wait until she tries to investigate. If she does, then you can do what you want with her.
- AZURE:
Alright. Aphrodite, see if you can find information on Miss Violet Smith, just in case.
- APHRODITE:
It will be done, sir.
- AZURE:
If she does try to poke her nose in our business, she would make a nice test subject for one of my devices...
- CRIMSON:
I guess with all of this suspicion going around, we should be extra careful... For both of our sakes.
- AZURE:
That one reporter shouldn’t be a problem. For now, let’s focus more on countering Lincoln.
- CRIMSON:
Right.
- CRIMSON:
Huh.... we got a tailgater.
- BANSHEE:
Mister Crimson, I found this woman following you and Mister Azure.
- CRIMSON:
Good work, Miss Rhodes. Let her speak.
- CRIMSON:
Well, well... If it isn’t Miss Violet Smith.
- SMITH:
There have been countless disappearances of young women, as well as radical changes in their behavior. I know you’re behind them!
- CRIMSON:
Damn right I am... and with my pants down, no less.
- CRIMSON:
Ugh, sonuva.... Dammit, she’s a sprayer...
- CRIMSON:
I think SOMEONE needs a major attitude adjustment...
- AZURE:
I will be happy to provide that.
- AZURE:
I have a prototype I’ve been meaning to test, anyways.
- SMITH:
Wh-what is that?!
- AZURE:
It took man several million years to evolve into homosapiens. And yet it only took machines a couple of decades to reach that same point. What looks like gel in this syringe is actually a compound holding approximately two hundred and fifty parts per million of test subjects.
- SMITH:
....meaning?
- AZURE:
These... are nanites. Built AS machines, BY machines. Imagine cramming two THOUSAND computer modems into the human body on a near-molecular level. You cannot imagine how many hours were spent making these, programming them, finding the right compound to contain them in...
- AZURE:
We intend for the finished product to improve the five senses... Increase healing, heighten reflexes, boost the immune system... Hell, we might even cure cancer and AIDS with this stuff... All I ask in return...
- AZURE:
...is that you submit to me. Enjoy your last moments of free will...
- AZURE:
We can let her go. I doubt she’ll be able to go very far before they activate.
- CRIMSON:
Feeling sadistic, are we? Miss Rhodes, release her.
- CRIMSON:
Well... That’s that, huh?
- AZURE:
Not quite. I’d like to see if my experiment was a success.
- AZURE:
...Azure Persona Unit, activate.
- SMITH:
....Azure Persona Unit active, designation Alpha, Zero, Zero, Zero, Six.
- AZURE:
Unit Six, stand up straight.
- SMITH:
Processing... Unit Six acknowledges command.
- AZURE:
You will erase all memory of what happened in the past two minutes.
- SMITH:
Deleting selected memory..... Target deleted.
- AZURE:
Good girl. You will not pursue those rumors any further. You will go home and rest. If anyone asks, you feel nauseous and need to return home. When you do, await further instructions. Go now, and return to consciousness in thirty seconds.
- SMITH:
Processing... Unit Six acknowledges command.
- CRIMSON:
...And to think yesterday, you were calling ME a genius...
- AZURE:
Afternoon, Makoto. I’m calling because I have good news about those nanites... Group Seven was a complete success.