Read The Absolute Corruption Project :: Interrogation

ACH-1’s eyes slowly opened. The first thing he noticed wasn’t the room, it was the weight. Cold, heavy, reinforced chains wrapped around his wrists. He shifted slightly, the steel moving across the table followed. ACH-1 lifted his wrists just enough to confirm it. There was no chance he was breaking free of them.

“…Chains?”

“They are more of a precaution if anything.” His voice was calm.

Shujiro kept his eyes on him as ACH-1 lowered his hands onto the table and studied the room.

The room had a completely different feeling than the rooms he had been in at the lab. The walls were thinner than the reinforced ones at the lab. Overhead, lights surrounded a slowly spinning ceiling fan, while windows on both sides of the room had flowers blooming in the dirt.

The man leaned slightly back in his chair, his movements calm, as if nothing in the world could rush him. He crossed one leg over the other. Hands folded loosely. But nothing about him felt safe. Even without releasing his Trait, the pressure that ACH-1 was feeling around him hadn’t changed. It lingered in the air subtly, but still noticeable to him. Like standing before something you could never overcome.

The man studied him for a moment. Then, faint amusement crossed his expression.

“The reason I placed those chains around your arms was to stop your Trait from activating. If you had seen the state your Trait was in…”

He tilted his head slightly.

“You would’ve done the same.”

ACH-1 glanced at the chains. “So that’s why my powers aren’t working.”

“Correct, you could’ve been in a much worse state than you already are in.”

The response was immediate.

“Why did you save me?”

The man leaned forward.

“Two reasons.”

He raised two fingers. “First, your Trait doesn’t make any sense.”

His gaze settled on ACH-1. “Second… curiosity.”

Silence filled the room. ACH-1 didn’t respond.

“Traits don’t typically become unstable at such an early age,” he continued. “There have been times where they might be difficult to control, but yours…” His eyes narrowed slightly. “…yours feels like it’s fighting itself.”

ACH-1 said nothing. The man studied him for another moment. Then spoke again.

“Your Trait isn’t exactly Corrupted.” A pause. “But it’s not exactly natural.”

ACH-1 exhaled slowly, looking directly at the table. “You’re right.”

He felt a little relieved being able to say that to someone. For a brief moment, the man seemed to consider that.

The man reached over the table. Without warning, he placed his hands on the chains and unlocked the restraints binding ACH-1’s wrists. The chains fell onto the table. ACH-1’s eyes flicked down. Then back up. He flexed his hands slowly, feeling the lingering sting fade.

“…Why?”

“I don’t sense hostility from you,” the man replied calmly.

He stepped back slightly.

“Besides…” His gaze lingered. “If you wanted to attack me, you would’ve tried already.”

ACH-1 knew that if this man wanted him dead, he wouldn’t still be breathing.

“So,” the man said, crossing his arms. “Who are you?”

ACH-1 looked toward the ceiling. For a moment, he wasn’t sure what to say.

“I come from a laboratory where they called me ACH-1.”

The man nodded once. “So you don’t have a name?”

ACH-1 shook his head.

“Okay then, how about I give you a name?”

“Hmmmm, how about something that has to do with your actions.”

Shujiro’s eyes glowed. “How about I call you Yudo Kishiyoshi?”

ACH-1 quickly looked at the man.

“Yudo Kishiyoshi?”

“It means to have courage and aspiration, and you had a lot of it if you escaped a lab.”

Yudo smiled slightly.

“I-I like it…”

“My name is Shujiro Tsunemori.”

He let the name settle in the air.

“I’ve been a Guardian longer than you’ve been alive.”

Yudo froze slightly.

Shujiro…

The name echoed in his mind. He had heard that name before. Fragments of conversation from angry Corrupted Traitors. Whispers inside the facility of a Guardian who interfered and caused many problems.

Yudo’s expression shifted.

“So you know my name?” Shujiro asked.

“I’ve heard… bits and pieces about you.”

Shujiro laughed quietly. “Good to know I’m famous over there.”

He paused. “What was the lab like, kid?” Shujiro asked.

Yudo looked towards the ground. “It was a living nightmare...”

“I see.”

Yudo remained silent.

Shujiro exhaled softly. “Look, kid. I can tell you were abused there. Any information helps.”

Yudo paused.

The memories of the people he grew up with being dragged away haunted his mind. Their screams echoing down the hallways.

“People that didn’t pass all the tests...”

The image of his friends' corpses flashed in his mind. He placed his hand over his mouth.

“...were killed.”

The air changed.

Shujiro didn’t respond.

Yudo continued.

“…I was ACH-1.”

Shujiro’s expression changed.

“ACH-1…”

“Apparently I was their ‘first success.’”

Shujiro studied him again, this time more carefully. The unstable energy flowing through Yudo’s body twisted unnaturally. Artificial and dangerous, like it had been tampered with.

But beneath all that chaos…

Shujiro frowned slightly.

“…Your Trait feels… layered.”

Yudo’s brow furrowed.

“…Layered?”

Even Shujiro didn’t have an answer immediately. Instead, his gaze sharpened.

“Like more than one thing is trying to exist at once.”

A brief silence followed.

“Also,” Yudo said.

“Even though I was their ‘first success,’ they said we were too humane.”

Shujiro’s eyes narrowed.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t remember when, but they started working on a different kind of ACH,” Yudo said quietly.

“I don’t know what it is.”

Shujiro’s thoughts sharpened instantly.

What is he planning now?

He rose from his chair. “Stand.”

Yudo blinked. “…What?”

“I said stand.”

Yudo hesitated, but then pushed himself up.

His legs trembled immediately. His Traits were still weak.

Shujiro watched him closely. “Activate it.”

Yudo’s eyes widened.

“I don’t know if I can.”

“Just try and activate it.”

Yudo took a deep breath and reached inward. Energy flickered uncontrollably around him as his body started to shake instantly. Pain spread through him, his breathing faltering before he dropped to his knees.

“That’s enough.”

The pressure vanished instantly.

Shujiro stepped back. “…You’re using too much energy before you even stabilize it.”

Yudo wiped blood from his mouth.

“What do you mean?”

“You don’t exactly have control over your Trait.” Shujiro’s voice was calm. “It’s clear that it’s still uncontrolled.”

Yudo glared at him. “How do I fix that?”

Shujiro smiled, then slowly walked toward the door. “There is only one place that might be able to help you control your Trait better.”

Yudo forced himself to stand again. “…And where exactly would that be?”

Shujiro opened the door. Yudo followed him outside. The warmth of the sun hit Yudo’s face. The brightness from the sun caused him to close his eyes. He raised his hand to shield his eyes. Outside of the doorway was a vast area of grass, with a road stretching all the way to a city.

“…Aegis Academy.”

Yudo had a puzzled look on his face.

“…Academy?”

Shujiro placed his hand on his shoulder.

“It’s a school where kids are trained and taught how to become Guardians.”

Yudo tilted his head slightly. “What are Guardians?”

Shujiro gave a small smile. “People who keep others safe.” A brief pause. “…and deal with things like that wolf you almost lost to and the people who made you.”

Yudo’s expression tightened slightly.

Shujiro noticed. “…Don’t worry, kid,” he added casually. “You only almost died. That’s a decent start.”

Yudo froze. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

Shujiro shrugged lightly. “A little.” A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You’re still alive, aren’t you?”

The tension that Yudo felt eased slightly.

Yudo exhaled slowly. “…And you think I belong there?”

Shujiro looked him up and down.

“Not quite yet.”

There was a faint smile, but nothing exaggerated.

Yudo’s eyes widened with disappointment. “…What?”

Shujiro scratched the back of his head. “Well, if I took you there like this…” His tone shifted slightly. “…you’d get your butt kicked.”

A brief pause.