Citizens of Tomorrow

Montana/Revolution

Citizens of Tomorrow

0100001101101001011101000110100101111010011001010110111001110011001000000110111101100110001000000101010001101111011011010110111101110010011100100110111101110111

(volume four)

An English 'light novel'

Note: several elements of the novel (including its title) are inspired by the Tokyo Police Club song Citizens of Tomorrow, a single from their 2006 EP

"A Lesson in Crime"

April 3005

An unmarked box arrived at the New Technical Institute.

It was immediately marked as a security threat. But inside – there was a body. A young man in a suit and red shoes, with a label tied around his wrist.

Will activate when wet.

"Adrian?"

I think I know where this is from. I have a feeling - -

"How should we proceed?"

Dean of the engineering faculty, Adrian was more comfortable deep in research, not giving orders.

"Its hands are tied, look"

I don't understand!

"Adrian!"

"Well that was dramatic"

Unit 1A Chrome opened its eyes.

0111001101110100011000010111001001110100011010010110111001100111001000000111010101110000 (starting_up)

"I don't think you're dangerous," said Adrian, handing the unit a towel. IA Chrome looked up, scared and confused.

"My . . . hands?"

"They'll be tied. Until we can figure out what you are, okay?"

The assembled staff were uncertain. No one wanted to get close to the unit.

What did you do, Haskayne?

Was this your daughter's work?

What do you want from me?

"Richard Haskayne's death was unusual, wasn't it?"

"Ah yes, it was labelled a mechanical accident"

Wait. Wait.

"Adrian?"

"We need to shut it down again"

I'm going to regret this

0111010001101000011010010111001100100000011010010111001100100000011101000110100001100101001000000111001001100101011101100110111101101100011101010111010001101001011011110110111000100000011011110110011000100000011101000110100001100101001000000100001101101001011101000110100101111010011001010110111001110011001000000110111101100110001000000101010001101111011011010110111101110010011100100110111101110111 (this is the revolution of the Citizens of Tomorrow) 00100001 (!)

IV. 'Montana' or

"The revolution of the

Citizens of Tomorrow"

My fiancé is very strange. Though, he just might be the perfect man.

My parents named me Alberta, after the place where I was conceived. How romantic. On their second honeymoon, just across that border, my mother found out she was pregnant with my brother, and named him Montana.

We have opposite minds. Montana loves math. When I look at equations I feel a bit sick. That kid works too hard but never complains. I'm generally lazy and lucky for my good looks. I get along well with others. But that's not why I'm with Yuu.

I met Yuu back in 3007. He was sitting in a dumpster, at midnight in an alley with a lot of steam.

I asked him what he was doing. He told me to leave him the hell alone. I was very attracted to that.

"I'm a machine," he said.

"I don't mind. I think my first time should be exciting"

You shot me an overly dramatic what the F look and hopped out of the dumpster, putting his hands on my shoulder.

"Right. Take me home with you"

I held his unusually cold hand and walked back to my apartment.

Yuu was wearing loose jeans, an old shirt, and only one shoe.

"Are we actually doing this?" I asked, unlocking the door.

Yuu pushed me inside and started undressing. I stopped him before he got too far and took him to my bedroom.

"Umm . . . not to kill the mood or anything," I said "but what's your name? What can I call you?"

"The last person who talked to me said 'Hey, you, get off my lawn!' so, I guess You is okay"

"I'm Alberta. Let's do this!"

I took off my shirt, unlatched my bra and kissed him, so nervous I could pass out. I reached for his jeans zipper and had some trouble finding his . . .

"You're a guy . . . right?"

"I'm a machine. I told you"

"But where's your . . . your"

"What?"

"PENIS! I can't find it!"

Yuu burst out laughing, telling me that he didn't have one. I asked him why, and he told me to kiss him again, more deeply. That was very sweet.