Shushy

[Crusty]

Guess writer’s information is limited…

Isamu’s birthday party; at a free time 10 children took Isamu to the coast. There was a paled area with fireworks almost prepared for the grand opening of a new skyscraper – the highest in New Takashima Island – which supposed to happen next week. Guard was out, and 2 dogs…one kid had domesticated them with sausages over past few weeks – this time dogs got sausages covered with sleeping-powder. So, kids got a free passage to the field. I stayed behind – they asked me to guard if no one’s coming… Few minutes later fireworks were decorating the sky and… kids running out of the field, except Isamu. After fireworks ended, we found Isamu lying in the corner: his clothes were still on colorful fire and half face lacerated. He died. That was a hard hit for me… Stopped talking to everyone – I had no true friend around. Also, I started a secret “Note”… others would call it “Death Note” by now, so I’ll stick to that title – makes it unique. In that note I simply started writing names of people that have ever harmed me in any way – first 10 lines were reserved for those kids… next few – doctors that didn’t do their best to save my dad’s life. But after a month since dad’s death I realized that being silent isn’t making anything better. So I started answering at school, asking for food, saying thank-you, hello and good bye lines, later realized that words can control people and began practicing. Others thought I got new friends, but they were my test subjects only.
Anyhow, after couple of talks with professors, I’ve got a word on me in university, so I started attending to lectures surprisingly early.

Why did I choose nuclear energy? Simple – I like to control people, things and energy. Nuclear energy – that’s something big, something that asks to be controlled and used for my needs.

Ehm…and article…Simple – I described a new modification of nuclear plant using plutonium cells – Honshu had lots of them in it’s storage from times when it was main plutonium destination.

Why Naval Forces wanted to keep it all on secret? Simple – plant was no bigger then the one used in very heavy fighters. So, they got rid of my ex-lector – don’t know how – and financed a new laboratory. They didn’t took me to any other bases, cause this location was perfect for new laboratory – a very small island, close enough to bring in materials needed and far enough from any continents in case of accident. Also, laboratory scientists could find everything needed in New Takashima town: shops, hospital, school and university for kids, places to live and relax.

When I was 16 years old I finished my first prototype power-plant based on plutonium reactor. On simulations it showed stunning results, unfortunately in real fight security stripes melted due higher then expected temperature and uncontrolled energy turned ship into nothing more but dust. A simulation program needed to be upgraded both on computers and on reality – stripes needed to be thicker, so plant became a little bit larger, but still suitable for bombers. There were no bombers built on Honshu, so till Naval Forces finished the paperwork I took some piloting studies.

Piloting theory was very easy – finished it in half month and began the practice. I felt very good on fighters – those are agile and universal ships. I made good notes on targeting practice as well. Anyhow, when they gave me a bigger ship I felt disabled… Well, to get certificate I needed to dock with trade lane, base, planet and to hit more then half of moving targets that were only appearing in front of the ship. Got that certificate and started exploring Honshu.

Few weeks later I’ve got dropped out of the lane heading to Sigma 13 jumpgate. Group of 3 corsairs in legionaires showed up, disrupted me and asked to drop all the food I had on my cargo. Police officers showed up and began shooting corsairs without any talk. I did like the view out there and got myself involved into fight. Once corsair legionnaire suffered critical damage and started burning I could hear the screams on local comms. I did like to see it burning and, finally, explosion. Other 2 legionaires entered cruise speed and fled. Policemen called me a very brave civilian etc… But I ignored them – I would like to make them burn too, but it would be suicidal aim that moment. I started doing missions in groups to increase my fighting skills and enjoy the screams and the view of burning people.

But that wasn’t enough. Also, Naval Forces finally finished paperwork and brought a new prototype of ship into Honshu – designed to be a Super Heavy Fighter capable to shoot Bomber guns and keep the fighter agility. I began working in laboratory again and one day accidentally opened the “Death Note”. Situation was perfect - I was 17 years old already and had tools to collect information about people listed in there. First victim was Isamu’s friend who came up with the thought about those fireworks. I made his death like a prank with water bucket over the door, only loading it with acid and putting few sensors that would recognize the victim. In addition, device had self-destruction mechanism – it lets acid flow over electronics so that every proof would simply melt. Second victim included extra casualties – he was a man that loved cooking. I added some petty plutonium motes into his pepper which did all the work needed. After few days he called all friends for his birthday celebration and cooked something that should be spicy and tasty. Everyone got into the hospital in couple days.

After all, as I was the only who could get granulated plutonium in town, I knew they’ll suspect me, so I didn’t stall and made next step – I found that most of those listed on “Death Note” still live in New Takashima and came up with a Brilliant idea – leaving delayed test of prototype plutonium reactor only having security stripes switched with very thin ones and edited self-testing programs by removing few lines (no one suspected anything because I was changing stripes, modifying security programs and making simulation tests quite often). I planned everything, left the planet on right time and stayed to watch the explosion – I really did enjoy to watch it burn in outer space. I even made sure News Service will find pictures of explosion in their archives.

But well, they tracked me and I had to run. Thanks to some freelancers I already had necessary coordinates of Jump Holes in my navigation map and left for omegas. Of course, Naval Forces tried to stop me, but well… they only sent big slow ships and as for police – few young officers tried to get promotions following me but lost ships and got tractored into cargo where I was carrying few plutonium cells. Of course, the shielding made those cells harmless, but few robotic components from the laboratory and a big box – I had a radioactive jail. I waited for few minutes and then unloaded escape pods into the space near trade lanes – someone supposed to find them soon enough there.

Later it was a boring way to omegas until I finally reached Freeport 5. There I met a freelancer I had a deal with before – he supposed to introduce me with someone able to sophisticate a grand new ID. We left Freeport and started cruising somewhere until few groups of corsairs disrupted us and asked to drop the cargo. Well, that freelancer had some contraband and credit cards worth risking life so he refused – corsairs eliminated him shortly, but I managed to tractor his stuff. Well, corsairs took that as insult and opened fire on me as well. This is where a group of red Hessian patrols flew in and helped to get rid of corsairs. Anyhow, Hessians were also pirates, but well… one of them really did like how aggressively I fought with corsairs side by side with them and suggested giving all the credit cards in order to lead me to their base in Omega 5 and put a good word on me. I instantly accepted such a reasonable deal, flew to Ronneburg Base, where I used my skills to control people with words increasing the effect with catalyst called “credits”. I switched ship into Sabre there – Hessians took my Wasupu Fighter for some spy mission. And as for that bribed Hessian – he really did put a good word on me so that when I’ve got sabre – the ex owner decided not to remove guns (6 Natterturns – class 8 guns, and class 4 Adv. Debilator turret). I had to make few missions with group of their agents against corsairs to prove myself reliable and to gain some more cash. I made them, but didn’t stop even when agents already trusted me more then some of their own pilots. Well, but they didn’t know anything about my past as I stated I lost my memory cause of Omega 41 radiation damage.

On the other hand, mercs were still hunting me and to keep information about my past away from Hessians I had to make sure none of them will be able to enter Freeport on their own ships after meeting me. Anyhow, only 3 mercs found me – 1 burned with the ship and other 2 were given to some Hogosha trader after suffering deadly doses of radiation – I didn’t have plutonium anymore, but Neutron sun was perfect source of it – escape pod wasn’t suited for such high radioactivity level (even fighter ships weren’t strong enough to stay there for too long). Later mercs stopped hunting me in Omegas. Now I know why – Bounty was canceled to prevent more deaths.

One day, or was it the night – no matter, I was flying over Omega 41 and near jump hole to Omega 5 tractor beam button lit up – switched scanners to commodity search scan and found that there are few Plutonium cells left by some one… tractored it, flew to another, took it too, but…look at that – another one waiting for me just 1k away… Thought some trader had hole in his cargo bay so plutonium cells were dropping out one by one on the go. 10th cell was shot by someone right that moment tractorbeam started pulling it towards the cargo bay and … it exploded right next to my Sabre, burning all the weapons on it. I lost consciousness. When I woke up I was tied – a man with painted face was staring at me.
– Good morning Shin. – He got no answer. - Hey dude, can you talk?
I reclined my head, looked around and finally said a line:
– Ahh…You know my name… That should mean you’re one of those mercs…
He laughed at me…hard…Maybe he’s not some clown-merc then…
– Here Fritz Fritz Fritz Fritz, – Fritz is his cat – a bit bigger and with longer, sharper teeth then the ones I saw in New Takashima – here Fritz Fritz Fritz Fritz! – he drops some titbit near my left foot. Fritz ate it in no time and started examining me. – Look Shin, Fritz likes you.
– Y-y-yes, cute little kitty. – I spoke with slight stutter. That time I felt something new…it’s called fear. – Wh-wh-who are you?
– Want to pat Fritz? – He went to my back and cut tie. – Go on, your hands are free.
I slowly moved hand to Fritz’s back and patted it. Fritz liked that and laid down near my legs.
– Fritz didn’t bite you, which means you can live. I’m The Joker and I know about your past Shin. Your Sabre is here, already repaired by Junkers. You like burning things – be one of my thugies and …
– ShuSH! Fritz is sleeping! – I interrupted The Joker. I was concentrating attention at Fritz all the speech. – Alright, I’m with you, but I want Fritz to sleep in my bed.
– Shushy – that’s your new name. We’re on Asylum at the moment. You’ll find plutonium in this lock, - he pointed to the door with skull on it, - and ship equipments are right over there.

Joker can control me somehow... I wanted to find out how. Also, I really did like Fritz.

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