Service Hours

Echo Chambers 1.2

I walk through a valley in the city to find a group of men standing around a dead woman. I cannot make out what they are doing, so in turn, I try to run away and bump into what looks to be a gang member, falling back into a warm, soft feeling enveloping my head as if blood was flowing from it. I wake up to find my head in the lap of Mrs.Faust, petting me as if I were one of her dogs.

"You are awake?" she says softly. Ren blushes quickly, getting up. "I apologize," he says formally. "It isn't your fault, don't worry." Mrs.Faust says, standing up and walking towards the pet shop's front door. "You should ask Sunny about those goggles before putting them on again." Mrs. Faust says with a light smile. "Oh, with that being said, she sent me to talk to Chief Ronan about something; thank you, Mrs.Faust," Ren says, heading out. As he sprints to the office, he notices Sunny is already conversing with Ronan. "You mean to tell me Daria will become Silicon's president, guaranteed?" Ronan says, keeping his cool. "No matter who wins this election, she will gain control over all of Silicon due to her connections with those clan leaders," Sunny says.

"Sorry, I am a little late delivering the message," Ren says jokingly. Sunny glares at him, grabbing his wrist and almost crushing it. "This is the one time I expect you to heed my word properly, but instead, you go ahead and goof around at Mrs.Faust's shop," Sunny says, annoyed. "What are you jealous?" Ren tries to joke. "Who would be jealous of a child like you?" Sunny says coldly. She takes Ren back up to the flower shop for a serious conversation. "You need a better explanation of what is going on, so here it is," Sunny says, chucking her book at Ren. "Put on the goggles and read that; you'll have a better understanding of what is going on," Sunny says, taking a seat.

Ren nods, puts on the goggles, and starts flipping through the pages of the book as it reads:

Emberfall Task Force played a significant role in the merger of the United States and Canada, which resulted in the success and creation of Silicon. However, the force disbanded immediately after the war due to inadequate remaining members.

XX/03/2085

Each of us was given something with a stupid mark brandished on it to prove a connection, or at least that is what Matako said. His idealistic bullshit is starting to rub off on me though 'Attitude is what makes a person, not their abilities.' just how corny can one man be.

XX/04/2085

I received this book while Matako received a fucking jacket, Cleo got a handkerchief of some kind, and Falco got a ring. Akira is the only one who receives something useful, getting gauntlets. I sometimes wonder what is going through Sadie's head as she designed this idea with Matako. They both act like idiots sometimes.

XX/08/2085

The government introduced a new addition to the group, someone who had been dropped from their medical team. Stacy Wright seems to be a broader type of scientist. She helped develop Akira's gauntlets and helped me get my first Disorder weapon.

XX/22/2085

Stacy developed a drug that could give people access to the spectrum for over an hour; I decided to use it for a test run, but in turn, it messed with my vision, showing signs of failure. I didn't receive any abilities to follow, altering my eyes and hair color.

XX/28/2085

It's the end of the month, and Stacy has called me again to try another test with me. After running multiple tests, my first Disorder weapons are ready. She called them the 'Ursa Set' comprised of the Little Dipper and the Big Dipper, respectively.

XX/02/2086

Daria helped me escape from that hell hole of a sight. Falco and Sadie are confirmed dead. I blacked out; I know I harmed many, just not sure who I did indeed hurt. Akira stopped me from drinking after finding my whereabouts. I am pretty sure that man is in love with me; I do not deserve such emotions.

XX/12/2086

Akira told me the news that Matako was killed in action, Matako is the one that actually ended the war, crippling the Specter and allowing us to have a chance to live, but it only resulted in half of us losing our lives while the other half is making little impact in the world anymore.

XX/30/2086

Akira has attempted to marry me again for the third time since I have known him. I do not know what he sees in me, but it must be confusing his mind so much that he doesn't know how to give up. I do not deserve love, nor do I want to have anything to do with that emotion anymore. I have delivered too much death to be given that pleasure.

Ren sits there, stunned for a moment. "Akira asked you to marry him three times?" Ren asks, confused. "It's 8 times now and counting," Sunny says, taking the book from Rentaro. "Well, did you get most of the information you needed?" Sunny says, casually putting the book away. "I got a pretty broad explanation," Ren says, scratching his head. "But what's this about getting Disorder weapons?" Ren says, confused. "Disorder weapons are things like these," Sunny says, pulling out a pistol. "This is known as the Little Dipper, constructed by Stacy in tandem with the Big Dipper," Sunny says with a smirk. "Big Dipper would be a rifle, right?" Ren says with a grin.

"You are wrong in that regard, Rentaro," Sunny says, opening a drawer and pulling out a pump shotgun reminiscent of a Remington 870. "This is the Big Dipper, developed by Stacy and modified by Matako," she says. Ren walks around Sunny, looking at them in admiration. So you are the hero of our world, right?" Ren says with a huge grin. Sunny looks away, her ears slightly turning red. "Are you blushing?" Ren says jokingly. Sunny hits Rentaro upside the head before storming off upstairs. Ren looks at the book once more to find a note saying. 'A fool is someone I can never forgive; they will never change.' M. Takate.

Ren holds his goggles, feeling a fascinating aura coming from them, and notices a name on the inside of the goggles: 'TAKATE.' "How did I not notice this before?" Ren says, fiddling with the goggles. "You seem to be occupied." a man with light brown dreads says, walking into the store. "Who might you be?" Ren says, walking towards him. "Stand back, Rentaro," Sunny says, walking downstairs. "Sorry for his rudeness, Mizumi," Sunny says while bowing. "Raise your head. The child meant nothing by it." Mizumi says sternly. "I would formally introduce myself as Mizumi Atsushi, that of the Sword God," he says while staring down Rentaro. Ren feels an insane aura flowing from him, one that is crippling, but he manages to hold his ground. A woman with long black hair comes from behind Mizumi, showing her unusually red eye color. "Ryo?" Sunny says, confused. "Hello, sister." the woman says with a light smile.