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

[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.