The Mysterious Man

"I'm heading out for a bit," Benjiro announced as he was slipping on his shoes.

"Where are you going?" His mom asked from the kitchen.

"Nowhere in particular. I'm just going on a walk." Benjiro lied. If his mother knew that he was going back to check on Stella, she would throw a fit.

"Alright." His mother didn't press any further.

Benjiro laid his hand on the doorknob, pausing before turning it. This would have also been the last time he would see Stella. If she had feelings just as a normal human would have, how would she react if he told her he wasn't going to see her anymore? That was only a thought, sadly.

Benjiro walked out of his house into the cold winter air. He never really did like the cold. He only ever went out in the cold when he had something important to do. This was something important to him.

The sky wasn't all that pleasant to look at. Due to people's worries about global warming, the government decided to create some sort of mirror slightly under the atmosphere. This mirror was able to open and close, depending on a timer. This blocked out the sun and stars from being seen. It also prevents the sun from coming in more often than they want. So, every day, it's very cold. Summer and spring, the seasons that are usually meant for cool activities are no longer fun. However, this contraption made the people who worried about global warming happy.

"Such an ugly night," muttered Benjiro. Such an ugly night, indeed.

On his usual route from his house to the college was normal. He would pass by a shop that had been closed 10 years ago, due to a quarantine that caused most to force-close their shops. It was depressing how the only open businesses were monopolies. Then when he made a right turn at the first cross street, he reached an area that was always filled with broke drunkards coming home from drinking their sorrows away, wondering how they were going to tell their wives about beginning to live without a house.

Waiting for the usual, Benjiro made a right. However, something was off. At one of the light posts, Benjiro noticed the legs of a man. It was strange, but he wasn't able to see the body.

Slowly, Benjiro walked up to it. The closer and closer he got to the feet, the more and more he noticed blood.

"Blood?" He mumbled and then ran up to the body. "Are you alright?"

A man, around the age of 50, was breathing very heavily, almost gasping for air in each breath. Benjiro then looked down at the man's hand and noticed that the man was clenching onto his stomach.

"Is it a stab wound?" Benjiro questioned.

"No..." The man groaned, "A gunshot wound."

"You need to get to a hospital. Let me call an ambulance." Benjiro took his phone out of his pocket but wasn't able to do anything when the man grabbed onto his arm.

"No. I'm a goner, either way. Please. Just take this." The man took a USB out of his pocket and put it into Benjiro's hand. "Whatever you do, make sure no one finds this. Never put it into your computer or phone. They will find it."

"Who will find it?" Benjiro asked in confusion.

"Go. They'll find you. We only have a limited time before they'll turn the security cameras back on. Wherever you're going, use hydrogen peroxide to clean up the blood on your hands and clothes. Hurry."

As he was told, Benjiro stood up from his knees and ran off in the direction of his college. After a few minutes of running and making sure he was far away from the area of the man, Benjiro stopped and began walking as normal. His head was filled with questions such as who that man was and what the heck was in the USB. What he did know was that it must have been something important.

After he made it to the lab, Benjiro opened the door and locked it behind him. He did as what the old man said by cleaning his hands with hydrogen peroxide and soaking his jacket and jeans in the solution. It would also probably be wise if he soaked his shoes as well. So he did just so.

After, he rinsed everything with water and let it dry off in the heater room, specifically in case someone dropped chemicals on their clothing and had to was it.

He walked over to Stella's closet and turned her on.

"How may I help you?" Stella asked as she activated.

"Stella, when I put this USB in your USB port, make sure to take all of the information and store it into your memory card. Make sure no one gets their hand on that memory card unless it's me. If they try to touch you or take out your memory card, make sure to self destruct. Understand?"

"Yes." Stella took in all the data.

"Stella. Can you show me what's on the memory card?"

"Auditory or Visually, sir?"

"Visual, please."

As she was told, Stella projected what was held onto that USB to the wall across the room. The words were tiny and hard to read.

"Stella, increase image."

"Yes."

After increasing the image, Benjiro was able to see what was written down more easily.

"Ways to control a country..." Benjiro read. "Global warming is a specific issue many are afraid of today. Fear in people is one way to tackle power. Giving them hope to save them is one way. Japanese people aren't overly critical of things such as this, but if America is, the possibility of Japan following America is futile. Overpopulation is something everyone is afraid of. The world is too small to produce more. This will be a way to keep the number of children being born in each household down to a minimum. Fewer people, more resources. However, keep the number of resources going out to the people to a minimum. People consume. Too much consumption can lead to a failing economy."

"What the heck is this?" Benjiro questioned. "Stella, shut off."

"Yes, sir." Stella stopped projecting the document.

"What...what was that?"

"I don't know sir," Stella answered coldly.

"Stella, never show this to anyone," Benjiro repeated.

"I know, sir."

Benjiro felt like he died. Or something worse. Like a betrayal. Whatever it was, this was the first time he felt like this. Not anger or sadness, but a realization.