Cyberfall

Prologue

    I stand on the rooftop of the tallest skyscraper in this messed-up city. One thing you can't deny is its beauty, especially at night.

    Neon lights in vivid colors dance among the skyscrapers and streets, and the city pulsates with life under a sky dotted with clouds. The streets are bustling with traffic and sounds, skyscrapers reflecting off the windows of other buildings, creating a kaleidoscopic effect of extraordinary light colors. At every turn, floating banners flicker and pulsate like living creatures – advertisements from corporations offering the latest technological gadgets, cybernetic enhancements, and the most splendid entertainment. One might get the impression that SynthCity stretches into infinity, all the way to the horizon, where the sky merges with the luminous skyline. Wherever you look, gliders, transporters, and other vehicles indicate the intensity of life in this city.

    Synthcity never sleeps.

    I made it here on my own. I didn't sell my soul like others – I'm still mostly human, not half machine or a machine with a human brain.

    I've always found it sad and awful at the same time to modify one's body significantly with technology. Gentle changes harm no one, but when they replace legs, arms, eyes, ears, torso, and organs until hardly anything of their humanity remains, they give away their souls, they give away themselves. How much of themselves, in the beginning, remains in them in the end? I've never been able to answer that.

    But I push away that thought and take a deep breath. I turn my head to the right, looking at the man who brought me to this place where I am now – promising a better life. He looks at me too, smiling.

- I see you're pleased. Aren't you, Daria? – he says with his velvety voice – the voice of success.

- Yes - I reply without hesitation, a hint of unhealthy excitement in my voice. I admonish myself that it's not proper. – It's... more than I could have imagined.

    He looks at me and starts to chuckle lightly, and I... I blush.

- But I need to ask you something...

    Fear. Uttering such a sentence always leads to something bad, always ends in something that goes wrong... And I... Despite appearances, I have a lot on my conscience.

- Of course, go ahead – I reply, hoping he doesn't catch my trembling voice, that he doesn't suddenly hear my accelerated heartbeat. One modification in SSN 1 is enough to enhance hearing, something nature didn't plan.

- You probably remember – he begins innocently. – That one of the conditions in the contract was full discretion. But relax, don't worry. No one will be angry with you, you won't face any consequences. I'm sure you haven't told anyone else about what you're doing for us, but... I'm also sure that the only person who knows is your husband. Am I wrong?"

    It wasn't a question. He knew. From the beginning, he knew I would tell Hiroshi everything, yet, yet he allowed me to sign the agreement and confidentiality guarantees.

- Yes," I lower my gaze and utter the words – Only him. No one else.

    I wait for a few seconds. I raise my gaze, slowly, gently – fearing his reaction. But he smiles, spreading his arms.

- Don't worry. I assumed it would be so. After all, as they say, there's no room for lies in love.

    He smiles at me in the same friendly way as always – Felix Johnson – coordinator of the military experimental program in which I've been participating until today.

    From the beginning, he seemed nice – too nice. But as time went on, it turned out he's just a dying breed in this world – a kind, nice, honest person willing to help. There are too few such people left.

    Far too few.

    I return the smile, though I still don't know why I've been invited here – to the rooftop of the tallest building in Synthcity.

    Suddenly we hear footsteps and quickly turn around. An armed soldier is approaching us. From afar, he seems like one of the guards who greeted me downstairs. But with each step that brings him closer to us, I start to feel that something is wrong. I look at Felix, he's in absolute shock – it seems he was expecting someone else.

- Excuse me – he begins to speak loudly to the newcomer – Couldn't Mr. Kurosaki join us?

    Kazuto Kurosaki. The director of this project. I've never had the opportunity to meet him, although I've been informed many times that this moment would come soon.

    The man doesn't respond, even though the distance between us is only about 10 meters. He makes a gesture, reaches behind his back, and then pulls out a WN7-PP Shotgun – the same one used by Special Services in the police.

    I start to feel scared, terrified – completely different from just a moment ago. Now it's an overwhelming sense that I'm defenseless, that I'm without my weapon.

    Closer to the sky and clouds than ever before, yet instead of freedom, I feel that this can't end well.

- I apologize, sir, but I'm an employee of the Institute and can identify myself. Please put down your weapon – Felix says as the distance between us decreases to about 6 meters.

- I know who you are, and I also know who she is. The order is simple. Eliminate the witnesses of Operation Alpha V0.1. Mr. Kurosaki sends his regards.

    My stomach twists with nerves, my mouth dries up, my hands tremble. No. It can't end like this. Not after all this. Not when I finally have everything I need. Not now, when I feel at home. No. Just not like this.

    A shot. A bang. A scream.

    I quickly turn my head to the left. Felix, in the air, outside the building's border. And behind him, as well as in front of him – blood and a face contorted in pain.

    Why? Why do I see the death of another good person again? I've seen enough of it in the police. I wanted to escape. I managed for a while, and tomorrow was supposed to be permanent.

    I breathe deeply, tears start flowing from my eyes. I see the barrel moving towards me. I don't want this. Not like this. Just not like this. And him? He smiles as if it gives him great satisfaction.

- Thank you for mentioning that your husband is also informed. Otherwise, we would have to interrogate him, use tricks, and such. But now? We don't need to wonder if he knows or not.

    Hiroshi. What have I just done? It wasn't supposed to end like this...

    I can't finish the thought. I can't. I feel something speeding into my torso at great speed. I lose my footing and start drifting in the air.

    I tilt my head back. I look up at the sky, at the clouds. Somewhere between them, I see the moon. It's so beautiful tonight, when I'm falling to the bottom. It peeked out from behind the curtain of fluff to look at me and keep me company in my final moments.

     I try to remember what led to this. Surely it could have been foreseen. I don't want to believe it because it would mean that I'm dying because of my mistake, that my mistake will kill my husband. I don't want to believe it, I really don't, but I know it's true – brutal and cruel, but still true.

    The sky is moving away from me, or rather, I'm moving away from the sky. I feel that the end is near. Only now do I realize that I've been holding my breath all this time.

    I let out my last breath, also my last whisper.

    I feel pain, but only for a second.

    Because now, I feel nothing.