Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex Fan Fiction ❯ Cybernetic Phoenix ❯ Velvet Petals ( Chapter 1 )

I do not own Ghost in the Shell in any of its incarnations, these characters were not created by me, I am only borrowing them and I hope that I do them justice.

I do not own the lyrics found in this fan-fiction, only a small part of them being conceived by me. I am only borrowing them and I hope I won't get sued ^_^.

 

She wakes up suddenly, shivering, with her forehead covered with drops of sweat, scattered hair, breathing quickly, like she had been running, instead of sleeping.

“Damn! The same dream again, the same nightmare … same dream … “

Motoko gets up, letting the cover slide down onto the floor. Her face had an erratic expression, of anger and fear and a little dreaminess. Perhaps because of the desire to continue her sleep.

Getting out of her king-size bed, she stumbled through the half-light of the apartment. Touching the wall, she finds a small control panel. Pushes a button. Instantaneous, light invades the room through the enormous glass panel, which served both as a window and a TV … sometimes, even as a holographic generator, to create a special, romantic atmosphere, when the situation demanded it.

“Hmm, either the sun is brighter today or the lack of sleep is starting to get to me”, she thought, barely opening her eyes, still trying to escape the blinding light.

Looking down, she noticed that the world outside was already in motion. An odd thing, her habit being to wake up very early, long before normal people would. Suddenly, she turns her glance towards the bed, like she was looking for something … and she soon found that something: her wrist-watch … the same one she received when she reached that age, when it wasn't necessary to change the size and physiognomy of her prosthetic body anymore. She liked to remember that day as the moment she reached absolute physical maturity, like all her friends. But she was different from them … both in appearance and in experiences. She was unmarked by the sudden hormonal changes of adolescence, like the rest of the girls. Her adolescence was more like an endless catenation of experiments with new cybernetic components and software, trying to exceed her condition as a cyborg and obtain her actual state, in which her body could perform all the things a normal human could do, some even better, without the awkwardness characteristic to all cybernetics users.

Finding her watch, she picks it up as gentle as she could. Her glance was full of affection, a side of her personality shown only to her most intimate friends. Used to work in the most hazardous environments, like her days in the JSDF (Japanese Self-Defense Force), from where she got the nick-name “Major” - a rank she later obtained, Motoko has tough, believed to be cold-hearted, straight to the point and often sarcastic - qualities she considered necessary for any good leader … but characteristics of men, not of women. Because of this, she had been often teased by Batou “What? You're always in that girly body, you should hurry up an exchange it for a manly body. You would have more power that way … like me”. She could almost see his stupid smirk

- Hmm … already 7 … I'm complaining I can't sleep when I'm actually over-sleeping.

Smiling, she turns towards the window and looks straight at the tallest building that could bee seen from there.

- Yeah, time for the morning coffee … the only pleasant moment of the day. I hope the Chief doesn't find a way to spoil it, she groaned.

She turns on her heels quickly, happy, her face having the same sunshine and innocence of that of a school girl, and heads towards the kitchen, the smallest room of her apartment.

“Kitchen … an amiss way to call it”

In fact, she never had enough time or mood to explore and attune the subtleties of the gastronomical art, and she used the kitchen very rare, in her spare time, to cook a TV-dinner, make sandwiches or pop-corn. Usually, the kitchen was used only in the morning, when she prepared her coffee.

She pours a cup and zips greedily, still numbed.

“ I wander…this taste I'm feeling…is it really the taste of coffee or just an illusion, something programmed into my cyber-brain, based on someone else's experiences and feelings ... They said that I can still eat and drink what ever I please…and that I can still feel the taste based on my previous memories…memories before the crash. But I didn't use to drink coffee back then…I was just a little kid…so, why can I taste it? … and is this it's real taste? “.

A strange, shrill sound disturbs the peace of the flat.

- Ok, ok! ... every day the same thing! the Major said with a sickened look on her face. “I wonder what would happen if one day I just didn't show up? Perhaps … just perhaps, today will be special … every day is a new beginning, right?” she thought, while a roguish smile appeared on her lips.

A beautiful smile, like the first ray of spring's sun. One of the Major's unseen faces - because to hers and to others misfortune, it was shown very rare and usually when she was alone.

Dreamy, moving like a simpered cat, she lets her oversized T-shirt fall, the only thing covering her flawless body, worthy of a goddess from ancient times.

She starts, enlivened by the touch of the first drops of water. Almost blushing, she adjusts the water and begins to gently caress her body, filling the air with the distinct jasmine perfume of the shower-gel.

“Hmmm…and this dream I'm having…is it really a dream? Actually, can I dream? Or is it just a fault in my system…or maybe a distant memory from my ghost…who knows?!? I'll have the red-suites give me a complete check up … maybe it's some well-designed virus, although I would have felt something. I am after all one of the world's best cyber-body user and hacker….what?!? where's that shampoo?”

Leaning on her palms, with eye shut and the mouth barely opened, like awaiting a lovers passionate kiss, she lets the water flow onto her face ... neck ... breasts, like a hot summer rain, slowly removing all the soaps foam.

An internal net communication window tries to open, startling her, like awakened from a dream.

- Bad timing, Chief!

Getting out in a hurry, she wraps herself in a towel.

- Yes, chief, what's wrong?

- Major! Where were you? Why'd you hang up? (seeing her sarcastic expression, the water still dripping from her hair and the ironical smile). Never mind. Report at once to this address. There's been a murder.

Quickly, she dresses up and leaves the flat in a hurry ... but she was astonished to find on her front door carpet a rose ... a strange rose, black, with velvet like petals.

Hesitating, Motoko turns back … then, changing her mind, takes it along and leaves.

 

*

 

- Togusa, report.

- Morning, Major. The body was found around 7 a.m. by the maid. She is still in shock ... and we are having a hard time trying not to destroy the crime scene.

- Meaning...?

- You should see this for yourself.

Removing the plastic curtain, which now served as a door, she enters the parlor. What she saw made her shiver, although used to the horrors of police work and war.

- Yes, as you can see, the victim has been eviscerated. The vital organs - heart and liver - are missing. The lungs are in the bathrooms sink; stomach and intestines (all looking up) ... hanging from the up-stairs chandelier. The skull ... smashed, along with the cyber-brain. A real psycho.

- Any suspects?

- Momentary ... no, Ishikawa said, looking down, as if he was ashamed.

Trying not to slip on the floors marble tiles, covered in blood, Motoko makes her way to the bathroom, following a trail of blood ... as if someone was dragged in that direction. The lungs dominated the whiteness of the sink. Their sight seemed even more horrific in the flaring light made by the defective neon. On the mirror, the stretched bloody hand-print, had dried. Grinding her teeth, she exits the room.

In the library, Batou, whose look denoted intensity and rage, was reading a book.

- Strange way to star your day …

- The victim … who was he?

- An archaeologist. Professor Yamamoto Shinomory. It seems he was very well known in his domain and a scholar of other domains, as well. He wrote an astonishing history report called “The Dark Ages: Mythology and Ancient Religions”

Both turned their look to the door, their attention being distracted by the click of the front doors handle.

- Yeah … the coroner team finally shows.

Showing their ID-s:

- Excuse the mess, boys. We kept all the fun stuff for you.

- We'll let you know if we find something interesting, one of the doctors replied, impassible to Batous bad-jokes.

 

*

 

The debriefing session ended.

- So, we are facing a murder which is ferocious as well as mysterious.

- Why so, Chief? Batou asked, indignant.

- First of all, except the lack of evidence showing a struggle, both front and back doors, as well as the windows show no signs of forced entry - this means we are either facing a pro or the victim knew the killer, the Major answered, her face displaying the same cold glance she had since leaving the crime scene.

- Correct. The hypothesis of a ritual murder … or the attack of a large animal remains.

- Alright. Togusa and Batou - you two return to the murder scene and search again everything, top to bottom. Boma - search for similar murders that occurred in Japan. If you don't find any, contact the Interpol and find out if such a murder-case exists anywhere else on the globe. Pazu - look for links between the victim and the yakuza, we can't omit that this was their doing. Saito, find out if any large animals have escaped from the zoo or if any were seen near or in the city. Ishikawa - gather as much info as you can about the victim. Understood?

Everyone gets up and scatters, except Batou. He continued to watch her from his chair.

- What?!?

- And you'll …?

- I have a little personal problem I must take care of first. Afterwards, I'll assist the autopsy; anyway, since when do I have to give explanations to you?

- Hey, hey, Batou smiled, a little blank looking, no need to get upset. I have one last question, though.

- Shoot.

- What's with the rose?

Suddenly, she remembered. She was holding it since she left home and it hadn't left her side for a single moment, but Batou was the only one who reminded her of it.

Heading towards the exit, he stops near her chair, bends over and whispers in her ear, very sarcastic:

- A secret admirer, perhaps.

Leaving, he was giggling.

Grinding her teeth, annoyed by the cyborgs remark, she suddenly has a revelation.

“What if he's right?” she thought, day-dreaming, her eyes filled with a strange light, looking at the flower.

She felt a hand on her right shoulder, Aramakis hand, who witnessed the whole incident.

- It's very pretty. Now … you where saying something about a personal problem…?

- Yes…A medical problem, to be more exact.

- Something wrong?

- That's what I'm trying to find out, she said, smiling. Could you put it in some water, please? Thank you.

Amazed, he watched her leaving. For a moment, he felt like a grandpa. He always had a soft spot for her. She was after all his protégé … his daughter. Of course, she didn't know this. Moments like this, a smile, a kind word from her, made the old mans heart start in joy and his cheeks to blush … and to remember with regret the youth that went too fast by, realizing this too late.

 

*

 

- We were unable to find anything wrong with you. All of your tests are within normal parameters. No signs of head trauma, no symptom of cyber-brain sclerosis. No traces of any virus - biological or cybernetic … nothing. You're in perfect health. Anyway, this lack of sleep is a little suspicious. No need to be alarmed, but if it persists…

- I understand.

She left the medical quarters and headed to Ishikawas back-room.

Motoko found him depend in thought, connected at the net.

- Found anything?

- Nothing new. Worthy scientist in the field of archaeology, lead the recent digs in Hungary, along with other three scientists - a Japanese, an American and a German. The last one is also the winner of The Nobel Prize for biochemistry and biology and the inventor of the latest type of self-teaching AI. Also, he's a close friend of the new German ambassador - Heinrich Himmler.

- His name?

- Wilhelm Strasse.

-O.K. … carry on. Try to track down the other scientists … perhaps there's a link between them and the murder. Maybe they have some valuable information.

Without answering, he set down an continued his work.

Sprawled in a nearby chair, with the forefinger in her mouth, one of her characteristic positions showing her frustration, the Major was looking at the ceiling, depend in thought.

- Ishikawa, did you ever have trouble sleeping?

- Hmm…yes. When it's really hot or when I'm very tired I can't sleep. Why? Do you?

- Yes … lately.

- Strange … since you are a complete cyborg.

Motoko turned up her nose and softly bit her finger.

- It's not that I can't sleep … it's just that lately I keep having the same dream … same nightmare …

- Dream?

- Yes, if I can call it that … a man, all dressed in black, in a long black coat, kneeled in front of a grave; I can't see his face … only his long white hair, barely coming out from under a bandana. He holds a hat in his left hand, leaning his right on the haft of a sword - one of the weirdest swords I've ever seen … Then, he suddenly turns around and I can see his face - a demons face! - which seems to leave his body and expand, swooping at me! And those green eyes … burning like fire! Sometimes, I can even swear they're on fire! Ohh … u should see his eyes!

She passes her hand over her forehead and notices she had been sweating. Her breath had accelerated … her heart was beating so fast, as if it was going to burst out of her chest.

- I want you do ghost-scan me.

- What?!?

- I have to find out if I ever knew such a man … and if I did, I must try to remember where I've met him and when … and why he's haunting my dreams.

- You're sure you want to do this? During the process, anyone can access your memory and cyber-brain … it's very dangerous.

- I trust you.

She lies on o table, takes the three cables connected to the main computer and plugs them in the ports on back of her head … closes her eyes, then everything went black.

- Welcome back among the living! Ishikawa said, with a friendly smile.

- Anything?

- No … not a trace of your mystery man. I've searched for a whole hour and nothing … instead, that thing with your two friends (he pulls the collar of his shirt, as if he was very hot) … very hot stuff.

- Yes … well, that was a long time ago … you know …

- Don't worry, your secret's safe with me.

- Thanks, she said, jumping lithely of the table.

The sound of her foot-steps slowly died as she ran off.