Chapter 3

General was looking at Daisuke with a piercing gaze. Daisuke's panic was deepening.

"I will now tell you everything. You are the key to this mission, after all."

"Your mission, as we mentioned before, is to create a disturbance in the flow of time. From quantum standpoint, you will cause an interference in the states of quantum particles. And then-"

"With respect, sir. I am more than familiar with the science behind all of this. What I really want to know is how do we know who is the right person to influence and what should be enough to change the course of history."

"I am sorry Hamasaki. I nearly forgot that you are a quantum engineer. Truly remarkable achievement for someone your age. I think I will leave this part of explanation to lieutenant Kazov here. Igor, go on."

Lieutenant Kazov stood up and straightened his back. You could see, that his military training and education is rooted deep inside him.

"Thank you, general. While team of Mrs. Shirokawa was working on a machine, capable of what we need to do, me and my team were going through countless information on events, that happened almost hundred years ago. Doctor Foul here said that we picked you because of your physical fitness, but that's only a part of the story. As you probably know, all of this started in Japan, when scientist Kunosuki Shinoda with her team discovered the formula for altering human DNA. She was the main person responsible. But running tests with the algorithm that Doctor Hamasaki created showed us that it wasn't Shinoda alone, who came up with an idea. She had a team of ten people, but the real influence on the discovery was made by only three more. We found out their names. Manami Saori, Takeda Mariko and Hiroyama Ren. These three women, together with Shinoda are the real reason for existence of what 'they' created."

"But these data are not 100% accurate. It is just too many factors to take into account, tough they are the safest start."

After lieutenant Kazov finished his part of the speech, Mrs. Shirokawa started on hers.

"Now for the probably most important part. As you know, we are not able to entangle any macroscopic object, as the computing power on doing that would be immense. We can only entangle your consciousness. That means that we have to 'put' you in the body of another person. After that your body will remain stationed here, in our safe return."

"But how do you know in which body to put me ?"

"Doctor Hamasaki's algorithm will take care of that. It will skim through the population, and find the most suitable brain for entanglement."

"But the person I 'invade' will-"

"Hamasaki. You have to realize that these people are already dead. They have been for almost hundred years."

"I am sorry. Mrs. Shirokawa. I understand."

"Ehm." General cleared his throat "Now we will proceed with the-"

As soon as he said that, a sound of some huge explosion was heard. Shortly after that, the alarm started ringing.

"What is happening ?" All of the people in the room stood up and started looking around for the cause of all of this.

Suddenly, a soldier ran into the door.

"General, they're in. Machines. They've breached the walls and they're storming inside the building."

"Get everyone on high alert. Put everyone on defense. You have to hold the machine room at all cost, until we get there."

"Yes, sir." Soldier ran away and a few seconds later, a gunshots were heard.

"Hurry to the machine room. We don't have any time left. We will have to explain along the way, and the rest, you will have to figure out by yourself."

Daisuke and all others ran out of the door and entered a long corridor. The sounds of gunshots and explosions were heard everywhere. They ran in the big room, called 'the centre'. It was like a hub that connected all divisions of the base.

"This way. We have to cros-" Doctor Foul pointed toward the corridor leading to the machine room. Then, A giant piece of debris fell from the ceiling right onto him.

"Doctor!" Everyone was looking at the place, where the piece of ceiling has fallen. No signs of life came from over there.

Then, through the ceiling a clicking mechanical noises were heard. From the hole, a 'machine' came down. The ultimate killing tool, designed for only one purpose. With its hydraulics strengthened legs and retractable mechanical tentacles, there was no way to run and nowhere to hide.

"Run, I will try to hold it back." lieutenant Kazov took out its gun.

"No one faces that thing alone on my watch." general readied his weapon too.

"No, you can't-" Mrs. Shirokawa grabbed general by his sleeve and tried to drag him, but it was futile. He didn't budge even an inch.

"Reiko, you have to see this through. You are the project leader, and as such, you are responsible for it's successful finish."

Mrs. Shirokawa, hung her head, as if to not show anyone the tears that were running from her eyes. But then she looked straight at general.

"Give him hell."

"I will."

With that, Daisuke with his father and Mrs. Shirokawa ran towards the entrance to the corridor leading to the machine room. Daisuke was in a shock. He didn't understand, what is going on. Everything is happening so fast, it seems like he is in a dream. When they got in the machine room, Daisuke didn't even heard the voices of his friends Sato and Mandi. Until the slap form Mrs. Shirokawa brought him back to his senses.

"Listen to me Hamasaki. That machine will be there in no time, we have to start with the process."

"But general and lieu-"

"They won't hold it. Nobody can. Not even my brother."

Mrs. Shirokawa stood behind the control panel and opened the lid on the machine. At the same time, the sounds of something bashing on the door were heard.

"It's here." Sato and Mandi readied their weapons.

"No!, Don't-"

"Don't worry, buddy. We can't die, because you will prevent it." Sato smiled at him and put the safety off.

"You are far stronger than any of us." Mandi's world pierced through Daisuke's heart. He wanted to go and help his friends, but his father stopped him.

"Listen carefully son. Take this and put it on your head. It is a nanocomputer. During the entanglement process, it will merge with the brain and give you the access to our database. You will also find in there the names of people who you need to find and 'influence'. Now, go in there."

"But-"

"Go in there!"

Daisuke jumped up the machine and sat in.

"Initiating entanglement." Mrs. Sirokawa launched the sequence.

"Dad, I know you lied to me. I can never go back here, because, when I succeed, this will never-"

"I know son, and I want you to listen."

The door were torn out and machine barged in. Sato and Mandi started shooting. Daisuke saw nothing, only heard the sound of gunfire.

"I know we gave you this task, but it is up to you if you want to fulfil it. If you will be out there and you decide that it is not what you want to do, so be it. I just want you to be happy."

The gunfire stopped. Daisuke felt an intense headache. It felt like his brain was being pulled out of his skull. It was intensifying with every second. His senses were becoming dull. From his last strength. He reached out to his father. Doctor Hamasaki grabbed his hand and told him.

"Now go. And remember, you-"

And then, there was nothing.