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The different scenarios have a crossing point in Sturm''a''nderung and will develop in divers directions again - sometimes discussed by the characters, in other cases the reader must decide where to read on.
The different scenarios have a crossing point in Sturm''a''nderung and will develop in divers directions again - sometimes discussed by the characters, in other cases the reader must decide where to read on.


geyser:
: geyser: ''My idea was 2 decades later. Konoko didn't age.<br>Instead she hid away and slept through the whole thing.<br>Through her trauma/coma, she lost her memories of Oni's events<br> and her Daodan powers are latent, too.<br>This allows for a new quest for truth and identity<br>that the player can identify with even better than in Oni.''
My idea was 2 decades later. Konoko didn't age.
Instead she hid away and slept through the whole thing.
Through her trauma/coma, she lost her memories of Oni's events
and her Daodan powers are latent, too.
This allows for a new quest for truth and identity
that the player can identify with even better than in Oni.


Well, around 20 years up from Sturm''a''nderung will pass until Konoko's awakes and "Truth Number Zero" continue. Society tries to recover probably in struggle with ''chrysalised'' people. We will focus on that when the first part is done.
Well, around 20 years up from Sturm''a''nderung will pass until Konoko's awakes and "Truth Number Zero" continue. Society tries to recover probably in struggle with ''chrysalised'' people. We will focus on that when the first part is done.
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Right now the prologue is problematic. It's unclear how far this can be combined with "TNZ". Well, we will see if we have to rewrite it or have to create another prologue - just in the spirit of an gamebook.
Right now the prologue is problematic. It's unclear how far this can be combined with "TNZ". Well, we will see if we have to rewrite it or have to create another prologue - just in the spirit of an gamebook.


==German version==


{{:Restless_Souls/BC0}}
{{:Restless_Souls/BC0}}


{{:Restless_Souls/BC1}}
{{:Restless_Souls/BC1}}


{{:Restless_Souls/BC2}}
{{:Restless_Souls/BC2}}


{{:Restless_Souls/BC3}}


{{:Restless_Souls/BC4}}
==English version==
 
 
===Prolog: Smouldering Ember===
The new Tokyo Sports Dom was placed in the middle of an artificial, swimming island and dominated the view even more as the sole large-sized building. At the time of construction urban planning spared expansion of industry sector instead space was used for habitations and recovery centres in green zones from Haneda up to Chinba. It was one of the rulers’ few polite tries to form a bit more pro-government climate. Big Brother showed that he was a nice one if he wanted to. Of course it wasn’t big enough. In Tokyo’s borderland housed already twenty million. But "WorldNET" and Virtual Realities <!--alongside fight clubs, otaku and other subculture-like formations--> ensured some more distraction<!-- sometimes taking form as hikikomori-->. And if there was something you couldn’t got then you went to your local Syndicate store. Someone might wonder how they survived in this police state; however, the day came where something changed.
 
Today, at the 9th of December 2056, the new government liked to see lots of people floating into the Dom. It would be an ideal place to set up an anniversary celebration and broadcast it all over the world, to make people believe starting into a new era, let them wave hands, record the show in super definition on a DigiCube – Blue-ray and [[wikipedia:Holographic_Versatile_Disc|HVD]] was yesterday.
They would believe to remember but doing the opposite. Forgetting the real reasons why the "Black Season" happened. It should be a great government powered super event, movie-ready, because the actual audience wasn't the one in the stadium.
Feelings were coming up again just to became used by ''them''.
 
Now there was charismatic guy, clothed in a white glowing three-piece suit waiting to welcome his free cosmopolitans, even his hair seemed to glow in white. You were tempted to believe that this man had no shadow.
Visitors streamed in as drops of thousands into a matutinal light and shadow play hold by supersized glassed canopies and would finally arrive in stadium’s inner part at their seats in a full hour. What a happy picture, everywhere waved flags in white and azure. How could there have been pessimists or critics? Yes, not even that. It was almost too good to be real. This might have also thought the security personal. So nevertheless they were searching for systems’ enemies. In human’s experience every system had enemies.
Clark stood in a high lain glassed pathway looking down towards the people and changing some words with his security chief. That man was equipped with a blue protection vest, headset and finger sensors to control an ultra-thin [[wikipedia: Personal_Digital_Assistant|PDA]]-like gear which was able to display the transparent stadium within an [[wikipedia:Augmented_reality|augmented reality]], showing every person – [[wikipedia:Radio-frequency_identification|RFID]]-tagged or not – completed by real time fed thermo and optical surveillance – from satellite and local cameras – supported though an analytic AI.
 
“Arrived the reporter already?”
 
: “Not yet. He will probably come with the last wave.”
 
Clark headed towards the elevator. “Bring him into the VIP box when you got him.”
 
The other man focused on his work again. He grabbed to the headset and chose a blue point which symbolized a security force.
 
: “How  does it look, Okamin?”
 
The contacted was sitting in the extendable roofing. His view was enhanced by a sniper rifle and roamed through the seats.
 
“Bomb attacks and air strikes shouldn’t be able to happen due to our careful preparations. And they won’t simple rush in and hit. These thermo sensors would detect them immediately.”
 
: “That means?”
 
“Let keep it to a: ''I can’t imagine that they come too late to. It was an idle threat''.”
 
: “Anyway, keep the eyes open.”
 
“Understood.”
 
It was surprisingly cloudless today. Okamin hold his face into the light which fell through the roof mounting – feeling a mild warmness – until a short nasty beep sound captured his awareness. His communication set received a message.
 
''Jareth is on the way. Take care.''
 
Okamin threw a look onto a DinA4-sized display that was hanging in the mounting. It showed other sniper – more exactly the head cams. The team had gone into star formation, covering every possible angle of danger. All positioned in the mounting. Two of them watched orange clothed technicians standing at the tribune.
 
One asked over radio: “Hey. Wouldn’t that be the ideal place for an assault?”
 
“Yeah, wonderful. This kind of information is never shared with us. They could dance in front of us and we wouldn't know it. It just has to be a damn ninja, covered as civilian and zack, neck break... Heck, will better ask. – Takashi, do you hear me?” The sniper was instantly connected with the security chief – thanks to voice recognition software.
 
: “Sure, what’s the matter?”
 
“Can you confirm the workers status at the tribune?”
 
: Takashi touched two yellow points on his display, image and text information appeared. “They are thoroughly checked. Had loyally worked for their company for years – and passed the DNA scanner in the morning. Don’t worry about them.”
 
“Sure.” A cracking sound went through the channel. The dialoge had become dead end.
 
: Takashi hadn't missed hearing that strange sound. He made a few touches and looked through the sniper's head cam, seeing a pathway's ground in the mounting. “Tsumoto, respond!”
 
In that moment an alarm signal appeared. Bio-data showed that the man was dead.
Takashi shouted into the team’s open channel. “Take cover! It’s happening now!”
Too late. A second image popped up. Flatline. A scream yelled back to the chief. The third unit was taken out.
 
Okamin reloaded. ''Damn it, I hope you are worth the trouble.'' Bang. His EM-generating armor suit stopped an opponent's bullet. He ''responded'' with rapid fired bullets. Also his rifle had more upgrades than just a silencer.
 
“Ryo, Tesler, it’s Okamin. Eliminate him” Takashi hollered.
 
Tesler shot a volley across – and was suddenly thrown back. He looked down at his hip. It was bleeding through numerous holes.  “What the hell...”
 
He has been hit at the same moment. Takashi shouted a new command. “You damaged his rifle, he's fleeing. Get him!”
 
Ryo ran through the pathway towards one of the stadium’s main pillar. “Telser, stay here and cover my way.”
 
Telser grinded and trudged himself to the pathway’s ledge. “Greets him from me, will ya?”
 
Ryo passed the pillar and ran to the next one where Okamin was dashing up the stairs. "So it's only you?" The crawling sniper saw no other enemy but Okamin. "Ryo is too slow... I can do it." He tried one and another shot but missed due to his heavy injuries. The hunted reached last stair before he would be on the roof and out of the sniper’s view. Tesler clench his teeth and took his time for a final shot. He release the trigger and a silver beam found it’s way to Okamin’s back. Direct hit – just as he reached the roof and felt out of view. Tesler lowered his head and lost consciousness, he had lost too much blood.
 
A new window popped up on Takashi’s display, titled “AI: Kali”. It was an artificial intelligence which was ordered to observe the stadium and give advises to the security chief.
 
Kali: “I recommend checking enemy’s position with helicopter and sending two more strike teams as backup.”
 
Takashi agreed. “This and also send up a few medics. Draw together security forces to protect the president.”
 
In that moment Clark appeared on Takashi's display.
 
 
'''[...] Takashi and Clark are not take as hostages by Konoko and co. but becoming replaced by Doppelgänger, then they start their own show.'''
 
 
: "Well. --<br>September 2031, years of boom markets and reckless spending finally took their toll, leaving small countries bankrupt and superpowers teetering on the brink of collapse. By uniting the economies of the world all of the old debt was erased and everyone got a clean slate. --<br>Law and economy liberalization was completed under the "World Coalition Government" in 12th January 2032. With one big market and system of justice also the nation should became merged. The de-nationalization was tried to be more palatable with the promise that all annexed governments would be represented. There was even an advisory council modeled on the United Nations.<br>Eisenhower's nightmare - the "[[wikipedia:Military-industrial_complex|military-industrial complex]]" - seemed to dissolve. Proxy-wars - motivated by war industry - would have no more space in an united world."
 
"Can we take a deeper look onto this?" interrupter the talk master. "What is this kind of proxy-war?"
 
: Of course Krüger was prepared the answer that question. "<!--War is profitable. The soldiers don't head out with an [[wikipedia:Bayonet|bayonet]] if you know what i mean. -->Many kinds of industries live up then - obviously the armament industry with their weapon and ammunition factories. But also war related research costs a lot. Jets fighter of newest generation costs billions. But think of it, also the soldiers and the tank's fuel must be paid, not to mention foodstuffs, meds, communication and IT, and a degree of consumer goods. Do you know how much one of these nuclear driven aircraft carriers cost? The production means already 5 billion, every month of use costs 13 million, the pay of 3600 crew member not included. --<br>However, in 21th century most of military support became [[wikipedia:Outsourcing|outsourced]] and even parts of the military itself were replaced by [[wikipedia:Private_military_company|private military companies]]. A good number of PMCs offers training courses and security services. They cost the governments more but in all it means less political problems for them because they don't have to admit having troops at the world's other end. Not their soldiers dies but mercenaries. You see a lot people can bring back home the baken that way. Or how <!--CIA consultant 1967-1973-->Chalmers Johnson said "When war becomes that much profitable you will see more of it." Doesn't history gave him right?
 
The talk master looked questioning into the round. <!--"Let's take a look on today's money eaters. AIs..."-->
 
Tracy pointed at Miller, his eyes hold him already ''here you go''.
 
: "Today this number represents only a few machines", said Miller.
: "But here's a better example: the [[wikipedia:Network-centric_warfare|network-centric warfare]] was extended in the Great Uprising once more and cost 340 billion dollars in the end."
 
The talk master was astonished. "Wow, that are really big numbers. I wonder what could have been done with all the money. But that's past. Now, what this network able to do?"
 
: "Latest extension was in field of Artificial Intelligence<!-- and [[wikipedia:|Quantum networks]](hey, DARPA...)-->, meaning the real [[wikipedia:Revolution_in_Military_Affairs|revolution of military affairs]]. -- Command and Control's effectiveness should be increased by collecting information about every war machine and soldier."
 
In the middle of the digital talk round appeared a transparent globe, it was not unlike Takashi's security gear. Red and blue points showed up showing foes and allies, yellow line stand for data connections - going to all units, satellites and AIs. The cam zoomed into a "Middle East scenario".
 
: "Only AIs are able analyze this digital flood coming from an [[wikipedia:Global_Information_Grid|Global Information Grind]]. -- Imagine your-self as a soldier in an urban fight. It would come handy to know where next mortar shell explodes or if these guy over there are allies. Will they open "friendly fire" because you hesitated to identify yourself. Or you cannot retreat because there's no tank you could hide behind. These and much more problems are thought to be solved by a NCW. Every soldier knows about his alley and possible threats." <!--TITAN was Syndicate's counterpart?-->
 
 
At this point Krüger jumped in. "The key word is supremacy. A war against another opponent who hasn't such a system is as good as won. [[wikipedia:Think_tank|Think thanks]] and Trust's lobbyism form and promote ideas to protect freedom and democracy in their and other nation even if it means war. And when there are in why not taking advantage of the situation? The invaded nation owns you a thanks - in other words: resources and agreements to rebuild their lands by saver's corporations. But this strategy has no basement due merged nations. --<br> A second front was on cultural basis. Developing countries and states of the Islamic world saw the annexation of their (living and) economic zones as another cheating by the Western World; the "Colonial Legacy" deemed as proof that capitalism brought only harm. The ongoing radicalization of both sides and smaller escalations gave WCG the possibility to propagandize the [[wikipedia: The_Clash_of_Civilizations|clash of civilizations]].--<br>Critics warned that "clash of cultures" becomes a self-running happening triggered by the bare discussion about it - some people might say "a stand alone complex". --<br>Also the political direction of the WCG's military split. The radical nationalist tried to sustain their nation states and searched for possibilities to alley with other insurgents. That way an US institution was formed which "mercenaries" interfered where their employer believed it was necessary.
 
 
"Okay, let's hear Sergeant Miller" bridged the talk master.
 
: "Thanks.<br>I think it's time to clean up a distortion in matter of the existence of the New Confederacy. Therefore I quote a part of the American constitution.
:: ''We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.''<br>''That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.''
: You see the people had the right to form a new government. But WCG decided to present itself as union no matter what. Political resistance looked useless against that merciless regime so GATC allied even with terroristic groups to fight back. Fire against fire. The plan was to build up a power which could defy WCG and finally dissolve it again or to ensure at least a few independent nations.”
 
Krüger cut in: “Yes, I remember... You were afraid that your little [[wikipedia: Salad_bowl_(cultural_idea)|salad bowl]] would got an over-seasoning and then a clash of civilizations in the end. But I also doubted that this was your true reason to play ''antagonist''.”
----
A black van crossed the parking place and arrived the Dom's west side. It stopped at the supply entrance. Some men were taking cover when they saw the heavy protected and armed units. Their faces were hidden behind strong helmets and goggles.
 
"Sir, our team is ready to take action."
 
: "You've permission to go in. Highest priority has the broadcast's interruption. Eliminate all back fighting intruders, don't care about hostages."
 
"And the president..."
 
: "Doesn't matter."
: "Something else: we discovered stealth signatures from inside the Dom. Don't fall for their tricks."
 
"Copy that."
 
----
 
"We are sorry to interrupt our program because of technical problems."
 
'''(Actual prolog ends here. Following lines are part of a much later chapter.)'''
 
----
 
Fake Takashi: "I'm the security chief. Traton informed me about your arrival. These stealth signatures were ours. They needed them to pass the group to join the others at the pathway's end. Traton updated also the Objective. The transmission doesn't need to be further interuppted since you managed to clear the situation. My forces and I will be in a bad light for a few days but that's not your problem. Bring them out and you will be the hero of the day."
 
: Strike Team Leader: "Wait, Traton sounded serious. I wouldn't be a good soldier if I don't ask back. Don't take it personell but I'm directly under his command."
 
Fake Takashi: "I opened already a channel to Traton. Here you can get validation."
 
:: Fake Traton: "Takashi told me that you control the situation now. is that right?"
 
: Strike Team Leader: "Yes. It appears less bad than expected through they was a quite big mob to take care about."
 
:: Fake Traton: "Okay. The chief told you to bring out the trouble maker, do so. It's alright if you need to kick there asses. Just get them out for now. <!--[[wikipedia:Avery_Brundage|The games must go on-->''The Show must go on''."
 
----
 
Fake Clark: "What's the problem?"
 
: Strike Team Leader: "A group of 50 outraged people, some drunken. They claim to have the right to be here. But They've no tickets. In the end, they overran the entrance section and began to demolish the establishment. We tried to push them back but then they lit bins, ripped off decoration and also attacked us. Some tried to grap weapons. Several shots there released, two men are hurt. Medics care about them now. Fire is out. We managed to take them down and bringing them into the HQ. I will keep one team here as reinforcement. Sorry for that interruption. Now you can continue with the program."
 
"Good work for helping the overwhelmed security and preventing worse. I will read the full report tomorrow. You and your team can take a week off." "Oh, thanks. I'm sure they will like to hear that."
 
----
 
"Hey, heard that on TV? The Dom... It's crazy."
: "I know, I was there. And yes, it's crazy - crazy good. I was said - and the whole world heard it too - that my team has a week off. That's my first vacation in this god damn year. See ya."
 
'''[...]'''
: '''At the right moment [[Restless_Souls/Summary#Shinobi|Shinobi]] reroutes Kali information requests into a fake NCW (sorta a virtual realty specially designed for Kali) which makes all the incoming data from the Dom useless. Konoko’s show is recorded for later broadcast. That means that also Traton is not aware of their doing, everything is calm on TV.'''


{{:Restless_Souls/BC5}}
: '''Konoko’s team captured one of Takashi’s strike team member. He’s daodanized. They take him to a DNA scanner which feeds the show with one more point. “Clark, how do you explain this? ''Your'' man’s genome is modified. It has the same changes as Syndicate’s Deino Imagos.”'''


{{:Restless_Souls/BC6}}
: '''Syndicates becomes unmasked in the end, Traton is named as new boss and as the one who took advantage of the "Black Season". Miller admits finally that GATC administration is part of the military-industrial complex but that the soldiers are unwilling to support them any longer. Scene ends with an appeal at the people to stop the rising of META.'''


{{:Restless_Souls/BC7}}


[...]
<!--===Chapter 1: Bad News===-->
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