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Ancient Nepal. 03:00 am
The contours were barely visible in the gloom, but when his eyes got used to the darkness, they could perceive the slow-paced movement of the wisps of grass. He was leaning on the stone façade of a solitary building at the top of a hill, with his greyish gaze lost in the blurred horizon. Still, his mind was far from being as peaceful as his surroundings.
He looked at the rucksack lying next to him, his only perpetual companionship, filled with the essentials for a modest nomad life and several old-worn books. It was almost dreamlike that he wouldn’t have to diligently pack the bag and carry it with him on a daily basis anymore. The thought nourished even more his uneasiness, and the shadow of a white-haired man appeared at the corner of his sight. Kougami’s strong fist aimed at the ghost’s face, but only found air. As usual. As it always was. The living ones cannot hurt the dead and, in return, they never vanish for those who tormented in life.
The vision only lasted a few seconds, since the blades of a helicopter broke the dormant silence and the tranquil dance of the grass was replaced by intense agitation. As Kougami approached the vehicle, the co-pilot door opened for him and a blonde woman greeted him from the pilot’s seat.
— I’m glad you finally accepted the offer. It was hard to convince the three of you – Hanashiro said while he was climbing to the cabin.
Once inside, Kougami wordlessly fixed his interrogating gaze on her blue eyes. What was the meaning of “the three of you”? As a response, she smiled and turned on the engine.
***
It had been so long since the last time he had actually felt something. During the last years, he had kept himself so busy that he wouldn’t have the time to properly think. Or rather, to cope with all the things he actually had left behind the moment he shot the bullet on Makishima’s head.
He had been in the guerrilla. He had watched enemies and allies meet their ends; some of them splattering rivers of blood, others screaming while their worst fears became true. He had been attacked, he had defended several causes, he had helped his fellows, he had buried uncountable bodies, he had seen the death. All these horrors killed even his last piece of naiveness, but they were not his war. His own battle was just below. Through the helicopter’s window, Kougami could see how the first rays of dawn were sweeping the view, intensifying the yellow of the crop fields underneath. The gunshot echoed in his mind, his heart bumped with brutality and then seemed to stop beating.
The following thoughts were like a desperate revival. Makishima’s laugh. Makishima falling to his knees. The sound of Makishima’s corpse hitting the ground. The way Makishima’s white hair covered his dead face. The way his own hand did not tremble even a single bit when he shot.
Then he recalled things he didn’t know he remembered. A deep cry of a feminine voice in the distance, the sound of deception. He smelled oats, blood and dust. He evoked the sound of his feet in the mud when he carried Akane to a safe place. He remembered the urge to accomplish his purpose, his desire to kill.
And when it seemed his grief was reaching its maximum, he saw Ginoza lying on the ground, begging for help – calling for a friend that never came – while Masaoka’s dead body was slowly covered in tears. As if that wasn’t enough, a hazelnut gaze stabbed him and tore apart the deepest part of his being. He recalled how Akane’s eyes held a determination he had never seen before, although her compassionate look had not faded at all. She was aiming at him, threatening to shoot his leg, but her presence emanated a trust and kindness that could have broken him in two.
And now, as the memories unleashed latent feelings, he fell to pieces.
No tears, no sounds, not a single movement; just a deep sensation of hollowness. Darkness. Rejection. He had been selfish in the name of justice, to the point to abandon everybody who had shown some kind-heartedness towards him. He did not deserve them, because he deeply knew that if he could turn back, he wouldn’t change a single thing; and he hated himself for that.
— There’s no need to be Saiga’s apprentice to guess what you are thinking now – Hanashiro said.
It took a few seconds for Kougami to realize that the woman was talking to him. He turned at her, empty eyed, until he came back to reality. He wished the damn blonde would shut the fuck up, he had too much stuff to deal with and her interruption was, at the very least, annoying. But he responded, somehow avoiding the underlying question.
— I'm curious to know how you'll manage my Psycho-Pass. By default, all the alarms will ring as soon as we leave this helicopter.
— How rude of you to suppose that I haven’t addressed that issue – she said. And with this words, Frederica Hanashiro turned on the autopilot mode, drew out a Dominator and pointed at his chest.
Kougami grunted in disappointment. If he hated something of Japan was Sibyl, and that mechanical incarnation of the system wasn’t an exception.
The synthetic voice filled the cabin, almost proud to announce that Lethal Eliminator shall be used this time. But before the gun finished to turn into a deadly weapon, the artificial speech announced: “Kougami Shinya, Special Investigator for The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Operation Department. Permission required to identify Crime Coefficient”.
— From now on – Hanashiro continued – your Psycho-Pass won’t be a problem, as long as you keep your tendency to insurrection… hmm… under control. You’ll be able to live almost as a normal citizen, with freedom of movement within Tokyo, but with periodic check-ups to ensure your commitment with Sibyl.
— Define insurrection – he responded with sarcasm.
The woman did not answer and the silence fell between them. After a few minutes, Hanashiro turned off all the communications and she also hid the Dominator and her wristwatch into something that seemed an insulated compartment. When she spoke, a glimpse of satisfaction ran through her expression.
— There’s an enemy that causes obvious harm inside Japan and leads to devastating global effects worldwide. They only increase the breach between the rich and the poor and it is behind all the present conflicts between countries. The plan for defeating them is already settled and we’ve started to work from the inside, but we are short of manpower.
She looked at Kougami, studying his expression before continuing.
— We need people who understand the current system, who know how to take advantage from it. People with the ability to conceal the essential in order to achieve a goal. We searched for good strategists who comprehend the human nature. Difficult, huh? – asked Hanashiro, making obvious she was referring to him.
Kougami’s mood rapidly turned from annoyed to interested. What the hell was happening?
— Your profiling skills are as sharp as usual, unless... – Kougami said tentatively.
— Don’t overestimate my abilities, Kougami-san. Tsunemori suggested you.
Kougami frowned. Something was off. All those precautions for not being heard, the vague description of the enemy… What did they mean? And what had Akane to do with that? He couldn’t help but notice the lack of honorific when Hanashiro spoke of her.
— I will be brief – she continued – Our purpose is to provoke the downfall of Sibyl – Kougami’s look turned fierce and cautious. We have evidence on how the current system is more a harm than a bless, from either an insider’s perspective and taking into account the global effects. You’ll pretend to assist Sibyl while your true purpose is to dismantle it. This is my definition of insurrection, and it will be your job.
— That wasn’t exactly in the job description – teased Kougami, trying to gain some instants to figure out the situation.
— I suggest you not to waste this precious time. We both know you’d love to demolish God, and a secret conversation isn’t easy to keep these days. Just confirm your commitment – she urged.
Kougami understood that wasn’t a moment for trying to make his interlocutor to speak without asking directly.
— What’s the involvement of inspector Tsunemori in this?
— She is the perpetrator of the plan; but also, she isn’t an inspector anymo-
— What happened to her? – Kougami interrupted with growing restlessness. Just a few days ago the blonde had told him about the great teamwork of Division One, thanks to Akane's leadership…
But he wasn’t ready for what came next.
— She has been accused of murder. But since her hue remains clear, she is in prison, awaiting her judgement. As the old days.
Kougami felt how his wrath was escalating, reaching a dangerous peak but, for once, he knew how crucial was to remain calm. There were loads of information he craved for.
— And she is innocent – he said, trying to control his temper. Damnit. Of course, Akane is innocent!
— You guessed right. It’s Sibyl’s attempt to block up her actions, but our net is already thrown. – Hanashiro smiled – There is an actual possibility for us to win; until now, all of Tsunemori’s predictions have been confirmed... Can we count on you? – She insisted.
— How do I know you aren’t a puppet of Sibyl?
— Ha, ha, ha! And why should I be interested in you, then? The murder of a fugitive is easy to hide. You’d be already dead. Do you know something relevant for the system? No. Are you an asymptomatic criminal? Definitely not. Then, why bothering to bring you back? – Hanashiro seemed irritated and impatient – The only reason is that you have Tsunemori’s trust, despite of all.
Kougami looked at Hanashiro in the eye and sighed in defeat. The blonde was using all her ability to convince him. She is definitely a though one.
— I'm in – he mumbled.
As a response, she handed him a small memory card.
— Here you go. All the information relevant to the mission, several notes of my own addressing the issue and some voice notes from all the team members. Everything is encrypted, it just opens with a memory scoop to confirm your identity.
— What?
— It’s the only thing Sibyl still can’t imitate.
Kougami leaned deeper into his seat. Either everything was true or he was a dead man. Given the circumstances, it really didn’t matter.
Soon after that, the helicopter landed at the roof of the NONA Tower. There were two men at the heliport waiting for them; one was undoubtedly Ginoza. This soon? Really? And the other was a tall, younger man, with his dark hair slicked back that Kougami hadn’t seen before.
While getting off the helicopter, Kougami prepared himself for another punch of Ginoza’s mechanical arm. A well-deserved beat. Instead, he found his flesh and blood hand outstretched, welcoming him.
— Make sure to perform that memory scoop. Sugo and I already did ours – he said while shaking hands.
Then, the man named Sugo approached and introduced himself, with matching sympathy. Hanashiro smiled, satisfied.
— Sugo and Ginoza will show you our quarters – ordered the woman. See the three of you at my office at 12h, there's a lot of work for us to do.
***
It was almost fully daylight; the sun bathed the skyscrapers and the morning rays were reflected in all directions. And in that city of imposed happiness, among the monsters he still had to deal with, Kougami found something that could remind hope.