67. TheReveal
TheReveal
Playlist: Come Alive - Phantogram
Kael
The music cuts abruptly and the curtain begins to rise.
The velvet drape shivers, then parts with a jerk.
Vikktor comes out, mic in hand, his voice cutting through the noise from below.
He’s joined this time by two CIC enforcers.
His speech sends chills up my nape. “Outside, you will hear the noise of rebellion. Peaceful, for now, but know that this sort of protest has no place in our world of progress. Soon, every anomaly, every mistake of nature will be made perfect.”
Outside, we can faintly hear the protestors and U21 rebels. They sit in the streets, holding candles, blocking the way in and out of VikkCorp. The ones marching sing angry chants in waves, growing louder as the clouds begin to thicken overhead.
The sky is extinguished as the eclipse begins lazily, the crowd gasping as clouds above us turn from silver-lilac to violet-black. Inside, the candles flicker harder, flames stretching in the dark, the tension building to a breaking point.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he says, voice loud and commanding, “Tonight marks the dawn of a new age, where flesh and technology meet to protect, to serve, and to perfect humanity.”
My stomach is tied in knots. Behind that curtain, waiting to be revealed, isn’t just Vikktor’s vision, it’s my work.
If Vikktor presses the situation with the rebels and releases the prototypes tonight, tomorrow may very well not go as planned.
If there’s fighting in the streets, the blackout will be lifted, ending Lyra’s chance at freedom.
Lyra looks at me nervously as the chanting outside the building turns into a roar. “Pay no mind to the movement outside. It will be under control in a matter of minutes. The CIC is always on your side, serving and protecting the elite citizens of Oneiro City.”
Vikktor yanks the draped velvet dramatically. The cybernetic prototypes step forward, synchronized. Smooth, glossy armored forms, their eyes glowing blue-white. The applause is thunderous.
“Tonight,” he declares, “marks the next evolution of artificial intelligence. Humanity will no longer be divided by magic but unified by technology.”
More applause. Lyra’s hand finds mine, a simple, comforting reflex. I squeeze it for confidence.
Ash mutters to our group, “Why are these people clapping? It’s like partying at a funeral.”
Ember shoots him a look. “That’s because they’re burying what’s left of their humanity.”
Jett leans in close, voice barely audible.
“My sources tell me he’s accelerating the launch.
You’ve got forty-eight hours before he deploys them citywide.
If that. We’ve got to pull her out before the eclipse ends.
After that, he’ll lock down the grid, and your holo-girl will become part of his new order. ”
Lyra stiffens beside him. He’s scared her, and more than anything, that makes my blood boil.
Lyra’s hand trembles against mine. “He’s not unifying anyone,” she whispers. “He’s building an army. An army to eliminate all the U21s.”
Ember’s voice cracks as she adds, “And he’ll start with the anomalies that surge next.
I don’t even know where that puts me. You heard him.
He thinks we’re all freaks of nature. If I weren’t a VeilCaster, I wouldn’t be able to hide from Kael’s trackers.
What will everyone else do?” She’s genuinely worried.
Ash joins us, scanning the crowd inside. “We need to go. I don’t feel safe. The rebellion’s already in position if we need a diversion.”
“Not yet,” I say. “I have to be on stage for this dog-and-pony show. It’s required.” Pure dread.
“Just say the word, Kael. I can start a war outside that can stop this whole night in its tracks,” Jett adds.
The stage is a cathedral of black glass, polished to perfection and reflecting every horrified but loyal face in the room. Six figures stand in formation beneath the spotlight; tall, threatening, and wrong.
Chrome skeletons wrapped in synthetic muscle fiber, eyes devoid of any feeling, empty husks poised for destruction.
Their skin is too perfect, molded over titanium frames that shift with inhuman precision.
Each one bears the crimson VIKKCORP insignia carved into its chest like a brand.
For some reason, they did not look this deadly in the lab.
A low murmur sweeps through the ballroom. Some gasp, some applaud. The investors beam. The soldiers of the future are flawless, obedient, and untiring.
Lyra’s fingers curl against my palm. She’s rattled. “Kael...what is this?”
“The Initiative 4 Citizen Enforcement, I4CE,” I state. “Vikktor’s idea of peacekeeping. Machines wired to patrol the masses.”
“And you made them?” Her voice is soft.
“I built the neural mapping; the actual mix of human and cybernetic skeletons is mine as well,” I admit.
“But not...this. This isn’t what I delivered to Vikktor.
These are abominations.” I look over to Ember, who’s just as shocked.
“We basically wrote code for them to stand on the stage. I have no idea who programmed them for this.” I feel sick.
On stage, Vikktor raises a hand as the crowd falls silent. “Friends,” he begins, “the world has changed. Power runs wild, unstable, unearned. Magic is mayhem. But order, order can be programmed.”
He gestures to the sentinels, and one steps forward. “I present to you...I4CE—Initiative 4 Citizen Enforcement. Hybrid intelligence. No fatigue. No rebellion. No mercy.”
The word mercy lands like an ominous threat.
Lyra’s magic flares inside the hologram, light bleeding from her fingertips. For a heartbeat, her holo glitches, flickering between digital and solid form. I cover her hand in mine. “Taiyō...calm,” I whisper. “Not here. Please...let me handle this.”
Vikktor’s gaze drifts toward us. “Dr. Ryudon,” he says smoothly, “please join us so we can celebrate your accomplishment.”
My pulse spikes. He knows this is not my creation, not my deliverable. He’s deliberately cannibalized my work and now wants to best me in front of his crowd of elites.
My work: hijacked, reprogrammed, weaponized.
The sentinels take one synchronized step forward, the floor trembling with their weight.
They raise their PulseRifles in unison, some sort of call to arms. The applause swells, overwhelming every one of my senses.
Vikktor’s voice fills the ballroom. “And now, the man who made it all possible, the brilliant mind behind our future. I’d like to introduce Dr. Kael Ryudon, Chief Systems Architect—Neural and Cybernetic Integration Division. ”
My stomach churns as if full of broken glass. The spotlights swing toward me, blinding light obstructing my view of the stage.
Lyra straightens beside me. I can feel her panic charge like electricity through our magic bond. “Kael, don’t go up there.”
Ash’s hand brushes my shoulder. “Bro, you don’t have to.”
But I do have to.
“Throw your soldiers into positions whence there is no escape, and they will prefer death to flight.”
—Sun Tzu—The Art of War
I would prefer to die right now.
The crowd parts as I walk forward in a trancelike state, the whispers of the audience echoing around me: architect, prodigy, genius. That’s what they call me. Not a man, not a human, just a title, a function: Vikktor’s obedient servant.
Not tonight.
I struggle to set myself free from the drowning sensation.
When I step onto the stage, Vikktor greets me like a proud father, his smile perfect, contradicting any psychological warfare he’s provided the last few days.
He claps me on the back, his hand heavy with ownership.
A pat on the back for the good little minion.
“Everyone,” he says, “the genius behind the AI integration, the key that links human consciousness to machine excellence.”
I look at the display of sentinels standing behind us. My code, my system, my blood, sweat, and years of life poured into these monstrosities. He hacked it. The deceit is not unexpected but egregious.
Rows of executives, investors, government puppets all look up at me with glossy eyes, waiting for their favorite monster to speak.
I force a smile. “Good evening.” A room full of sycophants blinks back. I feel like a god being worshipped for their own greed. I will play god but not for them. For her.
“As you all probably know, I was raised in Kyoto, where we have a wisdom we follow about technology. Shu Ha Ri: Learn then innovate.”
I look at Lyra, hoping she can see through the veil, that she knows what I’m about to say isn’t for Vikktor or the crowd, but only for her. “It’s rooted in martial arts, meaning ‘to learn the basics, then break away from them.’ ”
“In technology, this means mastering fundamental principles before innovating.” I swallow hard. “Wisdom-based principles like ‘if it’s not right, don’t do it’ are crucial for guiding the ethical use of AI, automation, and other digital tools.”
Another round of clapping fills the ballroom. They clearly don’t hear the contempt in my tone.
“That wisdom also relies heavily on respect. Traditional principles like ‘if it’s not yours, don’t take it’ are directly applicable to data privacy and intellectual property in this digital age.” I look directly at Vikktor.
I dare his cold gray eyes to stop me. My throat tightens, and I clear it nervously. Lyra’s face flickers in my mind. “You always get what you want, Kael.”
At this moment, I want war.
“Tonight,” I begin, voice steady, “we stand on the edge of something extraordinary.”
Applause. Of course. They clap at the word extraordinary like it’s an order from Vikktor. Half of them can’t even spell it.
“We’ve spent centuries perfecting the art of destruction,” I continue.
“Wars fought in the name of power, of peace, of progress. But tonight, I vow to change that. Japanese wisdom inspires functional and beautiful designs that are in harmony with their surroundings and purpose. A principle that can be applied to technology to ensure it serves humanity without being overbearing. From this day forward, I will be creating technology that incorporates this wisdom.” I look at Lyra, locking eyes with her.
“Hei—it means balance and harmonious coexistence. It’s about how elements complement each other without dominance, creating a sense of equilibrium.”
The crowd bursts into thunderous applause. They love it.
They’re fucking idiots.
Vikktor smiles—also an idiot. He thinks I’m performing for him.
“So, I’ll leave you with three more pieces of wisdom.
Beginning tomorrow with the eclipse, I urge you to remember: If it’s not true, don’t say it.
If you don’t know, be quiet. If it’s wrong, say something.
” I look around the room, letting that last one sink into their thick skulls.
“Arigatou gozaimasu—thank you.” My instinct is to bow, but these people don’t deserve my respect.
Instead, I tear past the front row of guests, barely allowing them time to part, my knuckles whitening from the clenching of my fists at my side. Lyra has her arms open, and I walk into them. “I’m proud of you. They don’t even know they’re clapping for their own extinction.”
I bury my head in her neck like a schoolboy. “I know.” My voice is tight. “We’ll end it. All of it.”
“Can you?” A valid question, spoken softly.
My voice drops. “I can do anything when you’re the reason.”