Please note this is a preview of Neo Ace that includes the first eight chapters only of this 30+ chapter book. Check out my blog at peterlok.blogspot.com for updates on Exocrisis Blue and my other stories set in this universe.
Shadows faded into twilight darkness. It was the beginning of night in Tokyo. The brilliant lights of the city combined with its enormous holographic video displays to repel the darkness in districts like Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ginza. Around their busy train stations, thick crowds of people moved under 3D parades of fantastical beasts, anime heroes battling villains, and flashy advertisements. Music, sales pitches, and catchy jingles filled the air with a cacophony of sound. Up close, augmented reality glasses and mini holo-projectors showed targeted ads to people who had enabled their personal location identifiers.
Overlooking the vibrant city was the recently constructed Tokyo World Tree, also nicknamed of Yggdrasil, after the tree from Norse mythology that reached into the heavens and deep into the earth. It embodied the hopes of Tokyoites for the rebirth of their city onto the world scene after the destruction wrought by the Alien War and the subsequent Kanto earthquake. World Tree was about half the height of Mount Fuji, the tallest point in Japan. At a height of 1600 metres it was built to be bigger and taller than any free standing tower built by man, including the previous record holder, the Tokyo Skytree. Only the advanced materials technology developed during the Alien War allowed it to exist and withstand both massive earthquakes and typhoons. It was so tall that its top received an earlier sunrise than the rest of the city and a later sunset at the top. The only structures taller than it were the orbital elevators that reached into space from the mountains of Ecuador, Mount Kilimanjaro in Kenya, and the artificial island of Sky Hope that was south of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.
An external elevator car rapidly rose out of the tower's massive base footings and began ascending to the observation decks just below the canopy that crowned the tower. The elevator was a silvery speck on the brightly lit surface of the tower whose built-in lighting subtly shifted in color over time. Twelve main struts fanning out in all directions comprised the main canopy structure at the top. Each strut in turn had extendable micro-struts which formed the branches and leaves of the great World Tree. During the day, it was a glittering silver and gold canopy. At night, the built-in holo-projectors turned the canopy into a brilliant lightshow that played animations for everyone to see.
Mayumi Shimizu and Hiro, her godfather, rode the glass walled elevator up with two dozen other excited people. The passengers were a diverse lot that ranged from families with children and grandparents, dating couples, and obvious tourists from other countries. The World Tree had already been open for a year and a half, but it still drew large crowds every day. Ceiling mounted displays on the inner walls of the elevator showed their rising position and facts about the tower as they climbed. Mayumi ignored the displays and pressed her face against the glass. She wanted to get the most of the breathtaking view while the less bold stayed well back from the glass. She could almost imagine she was flying in the dimly lit elevator. Next to her, Hiro observed her happiness and was content with that fact as he contemplated the view himself.
Most of the landscape below was composed of tightly packed points of light that extended to the horizon, except for obvious dark patches. Most of these areas of darkness were parks or rivers, but he knew that some of them were still ruined city areas full of rubble. Vast swathes of Tokyo had been devastated when they were heavily fought over between the Japanese Defence Forces and the invading Blue Newts. A great reconstruction had followed the Alien War, with the following Kanto Quake creating another setback, but the restoration work continued. Tokyo had been rebuilt again, for the third time in 200 years, but it would still be a few years before everything was complete.
The elevator eventually arrived at the first observation deck. A number of passengers disembarked, a few new ones boarded, and the elevator made a brief rise to the second observation deck. All of the passengers excitedly walked off onto a wide, fully enclosed gallery that circled the tower. Large floor to ceiling windows offered spectacular panoramic views of the city. At this altitude, the full enclosure was necessary to protect people from the weather as the winds were often high, the temperature cooler, and you could even be in the rainclouds.
"We are not due for our dinner reservations until 7:30." Hiro said. "We have about 25 minutes to enjoy the sights. I believe the holographic representation of the old skyline is about to light up in 10 minutes. I have never been up here myself so I would like to see it." He then worked his jaw to pop his ears due to the lower air pressure at their height.
"You like history too much, ojisan!" Mayumi called back. She was very fond of her godfather and called him ojisan – uncle – a term of endearment that she used from before the death of her parents. Running to the huge windows she looked out over the city again. "The city lights are beautiful, it is like a sea of lights in all directions. Look, you can even see the grounds of the Imperial Palace there. The entire castle is all lit up!"
Mayumi lived with her mother's sister, but had always felt a little like an outsider. For twelve years her aunt's family had taken care of her, since the death of her parents in a terrible car accident. However, she had always felt they cared for their own three children more than her. It wasn't that they didn't love her or neglected her, but she felt they just didn't have enough love to spread around to the extra child they had never expected. On the other hand, Hiro had always managed to pop in every month to visit her despite his busy schedule. He was a senior sales executive who traveled the globe for Galáxia Japão Pharmaceuticals (GJP), a large Brazilian and Japanese company that kept him on the move. She had known him since she was three and he had played an important role in her life after the deaths of her parents. However, she never called him ojisan when her actual aunt and uncle were around as it would have caused problems.
Mayumi returned to Hiro when she realized that he had not come up to the window and was just staring out. She stood against him and gently held onto his arm. Mayumi was not tall and she easily put her head onto his chest for comfort. Hiro was about 5' 11" and her head only came up to his shoulders.
"I'm sorry," Hiro murmured out. "I'm ruining the day for you. This was supposed to be your happy, belated birthday from me."
Mayumi snapped her head up. "That's ridiculous. Your just being here makes me happy! You came back early from Rio just for me."
Hiro smiled. "I have many things on my mind. I cannot believe you are fifteen and have turned into a beautiful young woman. It seems like yesterday that you were still piggybacking on my shoulders at the zoo."
"That was a long time ago, ojisan."
"Humour an old man and his memories. I am very proud of how you turned out. You would have made your mother and father very proud too."
"You are going to make me sad if you keep this up."
"I know. I know – but bear with me just a little longer, then we will talk about happy things. I just want to talk about your future."
Mayumi gave the slightest of frowns then nodded in agreement.
"You have done well in school and scored at the top for the national mecha synchronization tests. That is a remarkable achievement that gives you automatic entry into the Japanese Defence Forces Mecha Academy. I'm glad you took my advice to choose the CAJUN Neo Ace Academy instead when they offered you a spot. But... I was a little surprised as it is a big move for you."
"I surprised myself, ojisan." Mayumi replied. "I wasn't sure at first, but then I talked about it with my friends and they thought it could be a big opportunity. How many chances like this does a person get in their life? It will be a grand adventure."
"You have become strong," Hiro approved. "Your friends gave you good advice too." He then paused for a moment. "Your adopted parents were very concerned about you moving to Canada on your own, but I convinced them that it would be fine. After all, you would be going to school and training with the best student pilots from Japan, Canada, and Pacifica. The Union would not want their best to come to harm."
"I knew I could count on you, ojisan." Mayumi had guessed he had something to do with the sudden change of mind from her uncle and aunt. "They really respect your opinion." Mayumi was positively radiant to hear it confirmed. "You have always been the best for me!"
Hiro looked her in the eyes. "It was not easy, " he added in a serious tone. "Your aunt was really worried about you. Remember when you used to have those terrible dreams about the world ending. I know you think they don't love you as much as their own children, but I remember how desperate they were when their own doctors could not help you and said it was just the trauma from the loss of your parents. I finally put them in contact with the right specialist who helped the dreams stop. I hope you appreciate them. I know I do."
Mayumi calmed down. "I know, ojisan. I'm going to miss my family here, my friends, and Japan. This is going to be serious training – I will be a soldier."
"I'm glad you understand. They have done a fine job of raising you. And I think you will do just fine in Canada. Your English is good and you will make new friends." Hiro then smiled teasingly. "I will make sure you have the best winter coat before you go though. I hear the winters in Edmonton can be very cold, much like Siberia!"
"You are bad," Mayumi laughed. She gave him a great big hug. Hiro affectionately returned it, but a part of his heart was heavy with doubt. Mayumi attending the academy was the first step in a larger plan, but only his real love for Mayumi showed on the surface though. He had watched over the child for a long time and hoped he was doing the right thing. The academy would be good for her talents, but it would put her on a path to danger.
Both of them enjoyed the long hug before Hiro finally spoke out. "Let's get a good view for the illuminations. It will probably be very crowded. Remember, I still have a birthday present for you too! I think you will really like it!"
Mayumi was all smiles. It was something that Hiro wanted to remember forever.