Crimson Azure
CHAPTER 8
PREVIOUSLY... Azure has revealed to Crimson his company’s ace-in-the-hole: The Hayabusa Project, a group of androids built specifically for combat. With this in mind, Crimson intends to raise his own underground army...
- CRIMSON:
Oh, afternoon, Jason. Afternoon, Vanessa. What’s up?
- MAROON:
Ah, Richard. I was just asking about you.
- CRIMSON:
What for?
- MAROON:
Just wondering where you were.
- CRIMSON:
Oh, I was over at Azure Industries. Morpheus wanted to show me their new project.
- MAROON:
Well, that’s convenient, sure... but the real trouble will still be actually finding Lincoln...
- CRIMSON:
Well, at this point, I’m guessing the more of his goonies show up, the closer we are to him. Still, you make a good argument. Just keep on your toes until we come up with something.
- CRIMSON:
How’s the conditioning going?
- MAROON:
Well, we’ve got all our martial arts experts arranged in some four-person cells. Those cells are being conditioned seperately, based on their overall strengths. They’ll basically be brainwashed into working as each other’s teammates. We’re considering leaving Banshee alone and giving her a seperate agenda, since she’s already at her peak, in conditioning and combat skill.
- CRIMSON:
Good idea. How’re the groups divided up?
- MAROON:
Well, we have a couple groups being trained for assassination, a couple more for heavy weaponry, but a majority of them will be trained in general field work. Right now, we’re about a third of the way through reprogramming them all.
- CRIMSON:
Good. Keep it up. We’ll need as many as we can get. Send out the assassination squads to search for Lincoln, ASAP.
- MAROON:
Will do.
- CRIMSON:
And what about this Heavy Weaponry division?
- MAROON:
They’re incredibly strong, and most of them are bodybuilders. We even have one who’s trained in using a kanabo.
- CRIMSON:
A kanabo?
- MAROON:
Yeah, it’s like this giant club with bumps or spikes on it.
- CRIMSON:
Oh....yikes.
- MAROON:
Yeah. We should be able to take Lincoln out in no time. We gave some special weapons training to this one girl, but uh... she’s kinda creepy.
- CRIMSON:
Which one?
- MAROON:
I forget her name, but it’s the albino Asian girl. Japanese, I think. Amate-something.
- CRIMSON:
Oh, her... Amaterasu.
- MAROON:
That’s the one.
- CRIMSON:
Yeah, if I remember right, she and her brother Tsukiyomi developed a mental illness that caused them each to develop a literal case of rage-a-holism. Only way to contain them was to tranquilize them and put them in a state of constant entrancement. Thanks to that subliminal reprogramming, we seem to have tamed them.
- CRIMSON:
...Let’s leave them alone unless we’re desperate. I’ll have to ask their father, the man that brought them to us. Fortunately, he’s a friendly who shares most of our views, so he should be easy to negotiate with...
- VANESSA:
Should I call him, sir?
- ???:
That won’t be necessary. I am already here.
- CRIMSON:
Oh... Mister Susano...
- MAROON:
You’re the twins’ father?
- SUSANO:
I was talking to Siegfried-san a short time ago. He explained everything to me.
- CRIMSON:
Well... we were just about to ask you...
- SUSANO:
I’m sure even without their affliction, they would have no objections. In fact, knowing them, I doubt they’d ask for a better way to go. They are my children, after all. Even if they appear peaceful at first glance, they have the hearts of warriors...
- CRIMSON:
...speaking of which, did you come to visit them?
- SUSANO:
Ah yes. I did.
- CRIMSON:
Alright. I’ll check if they’re available. Vanessa, would you kindly treat Mister Susano to some tea?
- VANESSA:
How do you like your tea today, sir?
- SUSANO:
I believe I will have Jasmine tea, if you have it.
- VANESSA:
Alright. I’ll take you to the waiting room.
- CRIMSON:
Jason, would you like to come with me?
- MAROON:
Yes, sir.
- MAROON:
Hey Jack, what are you doing here?
- ROSE:
Oh... J-Jason... It’s you. I was just going through Miss Amaterasu’s meditation exercises.
- MAROON:
In that case, you should’ve been finished an hour ago.
- MAROON:
...You’ve grown feelings for her, haven’t you?
- MAROON:
Mister Aka’s here to visit his son and daughter. If you’re done with her, please wake her up so she can see her father.
- ROSE:
Amaterasu, when I clap my hands, you will be wide awake, feeling relaxed and refreshed.
- ROSE:
How are you feeling now, Miss Aka?
- AMATERASU:
I’m feeling great. Thank you, Mister Rose.
- AMATERASU:
Are you alright, Mister Rose? Your face is bright red.
- MAROON:
It’s been a long day. Not to mention pretty hot. By the way, Miss Aka, your father is here to visit.
- AMATERASU:
Oh, thank you, Mister Maroon. Should we go now? I don’t want to keep him waiting.