Video (intended to be Voice)

[ysobritish]

[The video screen flickers on, focusing on white bandages before tilting. It shows the sky, trees, then finally the NV drops to the ground. Liquid apparently doesn't even realise it's on video. Otherwise he wouldn't be sitting in the position he's in; bandaged arms wrapped loosely around his knees and head tilted carelessly downward. He looks

Comments

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

After everything, you have the gall to dare try and speak with her?

[But that's as far as he'll go sounding angry as well- the rest is a forced calm of detachment...because he's upset about Kazuhiko too, but Shinji did an unspeakable thing to his beloved Re-l. And so his remorse is a little double-sided by grim satisfaction. That man can't hurt her, or anyone else, anymore.]

No one here has anything to do directly with what appears to be repossession- and possibly termination, because I don't suspect they have the patience to rehabilitate, this time. Has he ever shown you the terms of SERO's contract? Why he was permitted to walk the streets free after murdering officers and civilians, not one hour here in the city?

It would appear that they have not cured him of that which makes him a danger to society. And it would appear that they have no long-term tolerance for corporate liabilities. Especially those that tangle with police, holding officers of the law hostage. Torturing them.

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

You'll find I have quite a lot of gall.

[Liquid's almost expressionless in his response.]

No, as a matter of fact, he spoke very little of SERO. I doubt they were even trying to cure him of anything. But the fact remains, that if he is dead, he has been murdered. Likely more than two people, in fact, have been murdered; Shinji referred to others within his head. If someone here has killed him, then they will regret it. If SERO did it... there is little I can do.

[Don't go against the companies. One of the rules his Father set up. He will abide by it.]

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

What you've done- it's unforgivable.

I doubt anyone murdered him while in police custody- which is the last I've heard of Shinji's confirmed whereabouts, as of last night. And given custodial rights of his rehabilitative sentencing, there's only one logical transfer which could have happened.

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

I've done a lot of unforgiveable things. In the end, all you can do is live with yourself or drown in your guilt. And I'm remarkably good at swimming.

Then he was arrested, then summarily executed... then essentially, the arresting officer has sentenced him to death. They, in turn, are to blame for his loss of life.

Do you want me to die also, sir?

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

No, whichever SERO psychologist declared him fit for public release is to blame for both crimes committed and the end result of being subsequently unfit for free roaming privileges.

I want you put away where you cannot harm anyone anymore. Unfortunately, the city is more likely to sign you over to permanent detainment by one of the corporations here as their liability, because the penal system is corrupted.

I don't care what's done with you, ultimately. I just don't want to see any of you in the position to capture and torture anyone again.

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

Oh? You truly are deluded. I'm almost afraid to wonder how brainwashed you must be. SERO and AGI are not concerned with the safety of people like Re-L Mayer. I doubt they're concerned with anything like it. All who are put into positions of power eventually cease to care about the ordinary people who serve them. It's human nature.

Heh. Unfortunately, I refuse. I will never allow myself to be imprisoned. No matter how many people it takes, if they come after us, I'll deal with them. Regardless of what you think of me, I have no intention of repeating that night. But I also have no intention of surrendering.

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

But they are concerned with matters of liability- the city can issue fines, for letting their property or the people under their charge cause public damages. What Shinji has been permitted to do, after the contract's assurances that he would no longer be a threat and a menace- SERO can definitely be held accountable for that sort of thing.

You've violated the laws of this city. You've held and tortured an officer. No matter how well you attempt to hide or fight off arrest, I do not expect that will go on unpunished forever.

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

So the consequence of expenditure is death. How pitiful. They chose to contract him, know what he was capable of.

I don't expect it to. But I will die before I become imprisoned. By my own hand if I must.

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

Yes. They assured the city they would rehabilitate him fully from his violent and destructive tendencies, before attempting reintegration. That was the promised solution and alternative to imprisonment. When Kazuhiko spoke with me, only a few weeks ago, he seemed under the impression that his treatment was working. That "Shinji" would no longer resurface. That SERO would intervene, if there was any risk of that happening.

So maybe you can cooperate by helping us shed some light on how and why that occurred. You were there with him that night, when Shinji was active and in control. Did you know him, as Kazuhiko?

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

The drugs. Shinji mentioned them. As a matter of fact, I knew both of them. I met Shinji while visiting Yaha. We went out to dinner together, the three of us. I met Kazuhiko a short while later.

The drugs... I'm not sure why they didn't work entirely. Shinji was still able to come out as long as Kazuhiko was asleep, but he didn't dare leave the apartment. Possibly he was concerned about alerting him that he was not gone.

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

Kazuhiko, or whoever was working his case, for corporate. I was under the impression that SERO would be monitoring his progress more closely.

Then how is it he became involved in your plan?

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

Apparently not closely enough. He was planning on just burning the building down until this plan came along. I contacted him about it.

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

[quickly] Which building?

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

I'm not quite sure, but I believe he meant the prison.

[Voice]

[gaveherwings]

Because that would have definitely resolved your problems.

So instead, you invited him along to kidnap and torture a woman- an officer, whom you intended to use as a bargaining tool.

And you wonder why there are so many in this city who want nothing more than to see all of you involved off the streets?

[Voice]

[ysobritish]

Her status as a policewoman is irrelevant. It would have been far worse to use a civilian. And yes. As I said, I invited him. Therefore I take on the blame for his actions. Yet Kazuhiko Amamiya suffered for it. Cold, Mr Geneticist.

Oh? I never said I wondered about it.