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For a new world to begin, the old must first be washed away.

Chapter Seventeen : Ripples of the future.

Deciding that they needed to start their conversation over, and this time, with a fresh pot of tea, Kato asked the question. “Morishita Sensei, if I'm to understand any of this, then I need to know. What is it about my being half human that is so ungodly important?”

Morishita sighed as he looked upon the enormity of the task that lay before him. Where was it best to begin and what to tell him? That as a remnant of Project A.E.G.I.S. he was nothing more then a pawn in a much larger game? That even now, forces greater then any he could ever know were conspiring to use him for their own malevolent ends? And that if it was ever made known his existence as a hybrid could disturb the very foundations of the world itself?

Terrible things come in threes, Thought Morishita, tenting his fingers. Especially for the children born under the stars of destiny.

Spreading his hands, Morishita said. “Kato, why do you suppose that a company such as Exotica Geno-Works decided to create a race of humanoid servants in the first place?”

Kato could only blink as the question opened his mind to possibilities he had never really considered before. Since a world in which chimeras didn't exist seemed somehow alien to him, he found that he had never really had a reason to question his own existence before. “Because it would be profitable.” He said, thinking that if he followed the money it would lead him to the truth. “We're a commodity to them, a product. A corporation like Exotica Geno-Works would never pass up on the opportunity to create an entirely new consumer base, while gaining a monopoly on a valuable new market at the same time.”

Nodding sagely, Morishita smiled. His had been a good answer, but in order to discover the truth for himself, Kato still needed to learn how to look beyond the surface of things, and uncover the deeper meaning. “Yes, but why go through all the trouble, the effort, of creating an entire race of beings so unlike humanity. Especially at a period in time when there were other financially sound options already available. The technology to create a human clone has existed for years. And with all of Exotica Geno-Works many resources, finding a solution to mankind's rising infertility rate would be nothing more then a trifling endeavor.”

Shaking his head as he tried to make it all fit into the bigger picture, Kato said. “But the problem with clones is that you introduce too many variables, like the question of human rights. If a clone acts like a human, thinks like a human, then can it not also be considered human? With chimeras, we're just close enough to being human to skirt the issue without actually having to step foot into the Uncanny Valley. And while our appearances can and do at times make people uncomfortable, the sad fact of the matter is, people can relate to us more easily because of our differences. While clones on the other hand, like humanoid machines, would make people just uncomfortable enough to question where they want to stand. And as for the issue of human fertility, well, if Exotica Geno-Works can solve the underlying problem, then why would they bother? Treating the symptoms of a disease is infinitely more profitable then providing people with a cure.” Checking with Morishita to see if he had made any mistakes, Kato tried to reason it all out. “So if creating us wasn't about making money, then ultimately it would have to be about power or control. Because if we eliminate all of the potential motivations that don't fit, revenge against the world is too big for a company that already controls most of it anyway, and as for gaining a greater power then they already hold, what would be the point? Believing you have power over others is the most fleeting illusion of them all. Mankind is mortal. All of us. We age, we wither, and we die. Attempting to avoid death out of a fear of dying would be like trying to grasp immortality. It would be meaningless to try.” Flexing his own hand, Kato thought to himself. Although, considering that the lifespan of my own species is often less then forty years, I find the idea of attempting to extend the amount of time we spend on this earth to be particularly appealing. But unless I could share all of those added years with the ones that I love, what a curse living forever would be . . . Closing his hand Kato thought, No, I still need more information, whatever the reason for my existence, being human is at the heart of it.

“Then would it surprise you to learn,” Said Morishita as if to answer to Kato's unspoken thoughts, “That it was not Exotica Geno-Works that originally set out to create chimeras, but one man.” Morishita was silent for a moment as he let the truth of his words sink in. “It was one man, acting alone, that brought about an entire race of beings that the world has now come to depend upon.”

“But why?” Said Kato. Regardless of the answer that awaited him he was determined to follow such an uncomfortable line of questioning to its end. “Why would anyone want to do such a thing? What could he have possibly had to gain?”

“To this day, I suppose that no one save Markov himself knows. But this I can tell you for certain, when Exotica Geno-Works learned of what he had done, they decided only to lock him away, and appropriate all of his research.”

“They knew the risks and yet they went ahead anyway? They have all the money in the world and yet they still desire greater power?” Kato could hardly believe half of what he was hearing. “Why? I mean, short of maintaining your hold on power, why would anyone want to go through such extravagant lengths to manipulate the world in such a way? Was it just so that they could retain the illusion of control?”

“I think,” Said Morishita softly. “That you have already answered your own question.”

Looking at it from the perspective of trying to maintain power, Kato began to rearrange the pieces in his mind. Chimeras, a race of beings on which the world has come to depend Alexander Markov, the only man who knows the true reason for which we exist. And me, a human chimera hybrid. These three things are the fulcrum upon which the world itself has begun to turn. So put it all together and what does it all mean?

Nothing, absolutely nothing.

It was not unlike standing in the center of a massive spider's web, everything was tangled up in an endless morass of questions. Trying to see it all at once was like trying to solve a puzzle when half the pieces where missing. It just didn't work.

It's too big, Thought Kato, Pull it back. Focus on a single strand. Focus on the question, why am I important. Focus on what you know to be true.

Control, I am a threat to everything they are. Power, I am something new, something the world has never seen before. And the purpose that binds them all together. The reason for which we exist. And then he knew.

“The gray hell of never knowing, the numbing agony of always being left to wonder, for what reason do we exist? It is the only question without an answer, the only question that must be answered. But chimeras, we are born knowing the answer. We were created only to serve.” Not content to accept such an answer, Kato went on. “But because a part of me is also human, then I too will seek a reason for my existence. And where I must go, others will surely follow.” Kato was suddenly shaking his head. “They fear me not because I am human, but because if chimeras everywhere were to suddenly question the reason for their existence, mankind would refuse to answer them. And they would rise up in open revolt.”

“And that is exactly what makes you so dangerous.” Said Morishita with an edge of cold finality in his voice. “Because if the existence of the only known hybrid in all of creation were suddenly allowed to become public knowledge after years of secrecy, then it would challenge not only mankind's place in the world, but chimeras as well.”

And overthrown by the will of the very people they have long sought to oppress, the very foundation upon which Exotica Geno-Works had long based its power on would begin to crumble at last. The thought brought Morishita little comfort as the knowledge that were such a thing to ever be revealed, it would also bring about such bloodshed as to paint the world red.

It was a sad truth but, mankind was not yet ready to face such a trial, and at the moment, neither was Kato.