Mardock Scramble

down exactly what I am ever since being born, but in the end I still have no idea. As I’m originally based on a male mouse, I’ve studied the human male psyche, trying to act like one, but I don’t even know if that’s right.”

–What exactly are you? Why were you born?

“There were these people who commissioned some researchers to come up with the ultimate tool,” said Oeufcoque. “The commission came from the army. A few prototypes were manufactured, and I’m one of those. But the research project itself was halted, and I was about to be disposed of as something that had never existed in the first place.”

–You were almost thrown away? Why?

“It became politically expedient in the postwar era. Was it people that were evil or their tools? This was the political hot potato that emerged not long after the peace treaty between the Commonwealth and the Continent was signed.”

–Were people evil or their tools?

“Let’s say there’s a gun crime. Is it the person who used the gun who is at fault? Or is the gun evil for existing in the first place? Well, postwar politics repudiated the gun and exonerated the person. The very fact that weapons of war existed at all was considered the root of the evil. As a result the regulation of weapons—and all technology related to them—became the subject of intense debate. In order to protect people.”

–So you were abandoned too?

“That’s right. I was born for political, military reasons, and for the same reasons I was about to be eliminated. Had the Scramble 09 bill not gone through I would have been disposed of for sure. My existence depends on continually proving my usefulness to society.”

–Is that why you’re helping me?

Oeufcoque seemed about to answer, but then suddenly went silent.

–What’s the matter?

“A strange smell. Plural. A strong sense of duty, systematic movement. Hostility.”

Balot was about to reflexively stop in her tracks when Oeufcoque gave a sharp order.

“Carry on walking. Don’t stop.”

Balot did as he said. Unconsciously she started picking up the pace.

“Cut through the department store. We’ll be able to determine if there are people following you.” Oeufcoque gave precise directions, which Balot obeyed as she sensed the presence of the people around her, feeling them in all three dimensions. It was as if the skin covering her whole body were splintering under the tension. Before long she noticed six people emerge from the hustle and bustle following her every move.

“It’s because of the Internet cafe we were just in. We must have been picked up by the enemy as we accessed information on Shell. They traced us and sent people right after us.”

–What do we do?

“See them off, then return home.” His tone of voice was so composed she could have believed he was talking about buying an umbrella because it was raining.

–How?

Balot was already scared. She had premonitions of something terrible and wanted to burst out crying.

“Take me in your hand.”

As Balot loosened the choker and gripped it, it turned with a squelch into a black leather glove that fit her right hand—well—like a glove.

The Oeufcoque-glove informed her in a plain voice,“I want you to calm down. I was developed as an All- Purpose Tool to be the strongest hand-to-hand combat weapon in the world.”

Balot left the mall and went down a side alley where there were fewer people. The six men drew near, blocking all her escape routes so precisely that you could almost have described them as conscientious.

Balot used her perception abilities to sense that they were speaking with each other via wireless devices.

“Three groups of two, is it? Looks like they’re planning for two of them to capture you first. They smell as if they’re going to start out on a definite course of action. The other four are planning to use a car or something to take you away once you’ve been captured.”

Balot sensed the group of four congregate in one place and get into a car, just as Oeufcoque had said. The two men that were coming toward her now split up, one coming from the direction Balot was walking in and the other creeping up from behind.

–They’re getting closer and closer.

“When they come, all you need to do is stick out the hand that you’re holding me with.”

The gloomy alley was deserted. She wanted to stand still there. But a strange momentum carried Balot’s legs onward. She balled up her hand covered by the glove—Oeufcoque—and soon she approached the corner around which the man lay in wait for her.

Balot stopped still at the same moment that the man leapt out.

Flustered, Balot thrust out her right fist, and the next moment a silver rod extended with incredible force. The tip of the rod scored a direct hit on the man’s throat, and he let out a moan—gack.

In front of the dumbfounded Balot the man collapsed in a twitching heap.

He was convulsing, his eyes peeled white, and he had started frothing at the mouth.

“I added a dollop of extra electricity for good measure. He won’t be waking up for a good while.”

Balot noticed she was now wielding a police baton in her right hand—a turned Oeufcoque.

The other man was now coming at her from behind.

He saw his colleague on the ground and started running toward her.

In a daze Balot stuck her right arm out, but her assailant easily dodged the baton.

Or rather, it looked as if he had dodged it—but it didn’t let him dodge. Her right hand—Oeufcoque—moved of its own accord, and skillfully thrust the tip of the baton square under the man’s jaw.

The man fell to his knees. This time, though, the shock was lighter. The man remained conscious and moved his head toward her.

At that moment the outstretched baton squelched and turned into a pistol.

The man stared into the muzzle in abject terror. Balot, too, cowered in astonishment.

Bang—a dry sound—and a shot went off in the man’s face. But it wasn’t a bullet. Rather, a mesh of fine wires. These wrapped around the man’s head and released their electric charge.

He never stood a chance. Without making a sound the man lost consciousness and toppled over in a faint.

“Well, then. Let’s get back to the parking lot as soon as we can.”

Oeufcoque was now just a glove again; the gun had disappeared with a squelch.

Balot stared at the two men on the ground, dumbfounded.

Balot ran back to the parking lot in a hurry, but the moment she jumped into her eCar, Oeufcoque spoke. “They’re quick. The rest of our pursuers have already noticed something wrong and are moving.” Oeufcoque, still a glove, sounded as unconcerned as ever.

–What shall we do? Do we have to finish them off?

“It’d be best if we could avoid the need for another fight. Let’s leave as quickly as we can. There’s a possibility they may have reinforced the mall exits, but if there’s nothing then let’s just go home.”

–Do you really think there’s nothing more going to happen? Balot asked folornly as she made the eCar do an emergency start.

“Well, I hope that nothing more is going to happen—that’d be good.” Oeufcoque’s words were somewhat deflating.

–I never know whether I can rely on you or not! Balot told him, a little angry.

“That’s a problem. You’re supposed to be a witness to my usefulness in this case,