01 [video]

[illusionsofgodhood]

[When the D-Terminal turns on, all that shows up is the face of a Keramon chewing on something long, black, and appearing to be made out of leather. It attempts to say something, but since it has something in its mouth, whatever words it says is mumbled and cannot be understood. Thankfully, there's someone else there.]

Keramon, it is rude to speak with your mouth full. Please try again when you're done.

[It drops whatever it was chewing on and looks past the screen apologetically.]

Sorry, captain. Was tryin' to tell ya that I got it workin' for ya.

Ah, I see. Thank you, Keramon.

[The D-Terminal is turned around to reveal Aizen kneeling on the ground in front of Keramon wearing a rather strange outfit and showing that the thing Keramon was chewing was in fact Aizen's left hand.]

My name is Sousuke Aizen and I am in need of some assistance. Keramon and I have been attempting to remove the bindings on me ourselves without success, so if anyone could lend us some sort of cutting implement, it would be appreciated. I would also like to ask if anyone knows where I could get a pair of glasses. Mine were broken and I would like to have them replaced as soon as possible.

Comments

[betrayalcutsdeep]

You sure you're gonna be okay on your own?

I think I can handle a rookie level if things get ugly, but I honestly doubt they will.

*His comment to Veemon is said as he shuts off the D-Terminal. He'll be at the main terminal in a few minutes, wearing his usual combat outfit, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.*

[illusionsofgodhood]

[He's waiting outside of the main terminal, standing there with Keramon at his side. Despite the wait, he doesn't appear to be bored at all, though his partner is. Once he spots Jin--or more specifically his sword--he smiles slightly and seems to study him for a moment.]

Ah, there you are.

[He tilts his head slightly as he looks around.]

I see you convinced your partner to not come with. I'm surprised.

[betrayalcutsdeep]

He has faith in my personal abilities. I didn't get where I am today by being unskilled, after all.

*He moves his hand under the tsuba of his sword and flicks it out of its sheath just enough for a sliver of steel to show.*

I suggest you hold still. My reaction time isn't what it normally is.

[illusionsofgodhood]

Still, it must have been tough for him to stay behind while you went to assist someone who might be a threat to you, no matter your level of skill.

[His body stills considerably, but doesn't tense like one would expect when knowing that there's the possibility of being cut by a sword. He's instead very relaxed about all of this.]

Of course. I'm ready whenever you want to begin.

[betrayalcutsdeep]

He did complain, but he's been learning a thing or two about pride. His objections were a little insulting.

*He steps forward to check the thickness of the bindings then nods, backs off and draws his sword in a series of neat and practised looking slashes. The end result is that the bindings are deeply scored but not cut all the way through. Just damaged enough to tear much more easily without risking cutting too deep. When he finishes, he sheathes the blade in a single smooth motion.*

I'm afraid that's the best I can do without running into the risk of hurting you.

[illusionsofgodhood]

Be thankful that he is learning. Some never do.

[He is still surprisingly relaxed even with a sword swinging very close to him, watching with slight interest. It's not until the sword is sheathed that Aizen moves, checking the damage to the bindings. It would have to do.]

It will have to do. I am impressed that you were able to control the sword so well though. Most people would have cut too much instead of pulling back as much as you did.

[betrayalcutsdeep]

*He gives a faint smirk. Please, flatter his ego more, Aizen.*

Most people didn't start with a blade when they were five. Caution and precision are lessons any swordsman or military officer should learn.

[illusionsofgodhood]

[If by flatter you ego you mean state a fact, then sure.]

That's quite young to be handling a sword, even where I am from. [He gives a small nod of agreement.] Lacking in either of those only leads to death.

[betrayalcutsdeep]

*Isn't the truth the best way to do so?*

You could call it a family tradition. I learned from my grandfather. *An amused chuckle.* Of course, back then I was using blunt practice weapons instead of the real thing.

*Now let's see if he can turn some of those scores into tears, shall we?*

[illusionsofgodhood]

[Not if you want to crush it later.]

That explains the age. Yes, I imagine most people wouldn't allow a child to handle a real weapon when there is a chance they could hurt themselves with it.

[Sounds like a plan.]

[betrayalcutsdeep]

*How much he misses his strength enhancements, they would make this so much easier. But he's no weakling even without them and the damaged material eventually tears.*

And aside from that, grandfather believed that a swordsman's blade was something personal that shouldn't be chosen for him. He always said that the blade is for carving one's heart, and so it must be close to what it's meant to hone.

Ah, but I'm sure you aren't interested in hearing me ramble about my youth.

[illusionsofgodhood]

[It's not like Aizen's much better. This is the first time in his afterlife that he's been on the same level as a normal human and the fact that he has to have somebody else help him disgusts him, even if it's not visible in his expression and body language.]

Oh no, you don't need to stop if you don't wish to. I find it quite interesting. As a swordsman myself, learning of how others were taught the art or how they think of it is much like learning about the person themselves in some manner.

[betrayalcutsdeep]

Oh? It's not often I meet a fellow swordsman. Actually, I'm fairly certain you're the first I've met aside from my grandfather's other students. It's considered an antiquated and obsolete art form in my time, since modern weapons are so much easier to use effectively.

It really is a shame. So many people focus purely on finding more effective ways to kill people, there's no longer any sense of pride or honor in combat.

[illusionsofgodhood]

That is a disappointment. To hear that other weapons are thought to be superior just because they are easier to use is somewhat of a surprise. Do they care more for disposable fighters that can be easily replaced instead of those who are far more capable?

...You live in a frightening time if combat is without any pride or honor.

[betrayalcutsdeep]

Unfortunately, that's exactly the case. People of my time have even developed a way of creating artificial humans solely for combat. While they are superior to a typical soldier, a warrior of a similar level to myself can dispatch them without much difficulty. But they can be mass produced and are born prepared for combat, so few in positions of power are overly concerned.

[illusionsofgodhood]

Artificial humans created for combat? That sounds familiar to a project that was created by the research department where I'm from. Using human corpses, they would implant an artificial soul modified to be far stronger in certain aspects than a normal human so that they could fight alongside us in combat and make up for our lack of sufficient numbers. The project was shut down for ethical reasons and nearly all of the prototypes were destroyed though.

[betrayalcutsdeep]

Actually, that reminds me more of cyborg technology.

*He steps back now that he's torn through all the scored marks.*

Human corpses revived and enhanced with mechanical parts for tasks too dangerous to assign to ordinary humans. Though in that case, the original soul was preserved and the cyborg had the same memories and personality it had in life. Of course, since they were considered government property at that point and have no legal rights, there have been some ethical concerns there as well. Production stopped around a hundred years ago and the process is illegal now.

[illusionsofgodhood]

[There is moment as he processes what Jin says before Aizen freezes, looking like he's not quite believing what was just said.]

Excuse me, but are you saying that they were bringing the dead back to life?

[Outside of Orihime Inoue's ability to reject any event, he had never known of any way to revive the dead.]

[betrayalcutsdeep]

In essence, yes. Of course, there are some side-effects, beyond the legal difficulties. A cyborg's outward ageing halts, so they look exactly as they did when they died until their bodies cease functioning. And, of course, they're rather reliant on their mechanical components, not to mention the inherent risk of having computerized elements in your brain.

But still, it was remarkable technology, even if it is illegal these days.