Chapter 3: Above the Law
While the students are preoccupied with their own conjectures concerning the new identification bracelet. The professor motioned for the class president to approach him.
"Lei, select five of your classmates and retrieve the ten boxes from the staff room just beside my table," the professor instructed the class president.
Lei just nods and leads five fellow students to the staff room, even dragging one in his ear.
"Ah! Aw! Aw! Wait Class President, I'm still talking about something important to Shin!" cried Atom, his expression filled with agony.
"That can wait, and as if it's something important," the class president replied, dragging Atom much harder this time.
"Someone help me!!!" cries out across the corridor. The other four students only looked at him with full of pity.
"OK, fine," Atom said. "You know Lei, if you keep doing this barbaric way of yours, you'll die without having any boyfriend at all," Atom remarked when Lei let go of him.
Lei becomes enraged and kicks Atom in the buttocks. "Hmmp," she murmuringly said, 'it pisses me off knowing I'm in love with this guy.'
On the way, they notice classrooms that have already distributed the identification bracelet.
They all thoughtfully agreed that there seemed to be no way to avoid it anymore.
◇
"Listen, everyone, this here is an unregistered identification bracelet; by tapping your current bracelet in here." explained the professor, pointing to the bottom of the new identification bracelet. "You can synchronize your account and current information."
"This new identification bracelet has the durability to withstand a nuclear bomb," the professor paused and remarked quietly, "Well, that's what's said here; sure, it looks sturdy, but that's too overstatement."
"Anyway, I'll give you the manual later; the specs they write are far too absurd," the professor remarked.
"Beginning tomorrow, these new identification bracelets will be implemented, rendering the old bracelet unusable; therefore, if you do not have this new identification bracelet, you will be unable to use any services that use IB technology, including transportation; thus, clarifying that I will not be seeing someone late tomorrow," the professor warned the students.
The professor then operates the console on his desk. "Where's Kan?" he asked students.
"Tsk, he'll probably come after lunch," the professor sighs, lamenting his powerlessness over this particular student. "Anyway, tell him to come into the staff room and pick up his new IB."
Surprisingly, no one thinks this is strange, as though everyone is used to this attitude.
Just in time. Six students arrived, five of whom were male and each carried two boxes.
"I'll teach you how to wear this," the professor said to the class president and also motioning to another student carrying the box, "Atom come here also."
The professor taps Atom's old IB in the bottom half of the new IB. The new IB lights, indicating that the synchronization was completed. The only thing left is to put it on.
"Wow, it fits perfectly; I didn't expect that," Atom exclaimed as the IB device automatically adjusted to his arm, but Atom was startled by the unexpected "Aw!!!"
"Something stings me inside," Atom remarked nervously. "I'm feeling something flowing through my veins."
He attempted to remove it recklessly, but the professor quickly stopped him.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, It take a DNA sample from you," the professor explained.
Atom looks up at the professor, relieved.
"That's all there is to it. Class president, please teach the other four students and set up five booths. Here's the checklist. Make sure you monitor them properly," the professor said as he resumed operating something on the table console.
◇
(Just wear it already, stop posing.)
(Look, look. Hahaha)
(You look like a power ranger, hahahah, it doesn't suit you at all.)
….
(Aw! It really hurts.)
(Yeah! I know.)
(Do we really have to wear this one?)
….
(What are you doing?)
(I'm filming this.)
(Someone may do something about this.)
….
Regardless of what every student thinks, the new IB is now being used by about half of the world's population. This new form of IB device is the first standard variant that the entire world is currently using. It's almost as if someone is attempting to unite humanity, or perhaps enslave humanity.
Before today, a worldwide coalition of protesters had emerged. Every country's government recorded assaults and bombings almost every week. Those living in third-world countries have it the worst, with their protesters becoming citizens associated with terrorist groups and issuing nuclear threats. This led in the formation of a so-called United Response Unit, which uses unconventional methods to complete missions and compromise enemy bases; the unit employs technology that no one knew existed.
And today, as if a miracle occurred. No protesters moved to the front or took their stance as if protestors did not exist at all, and everyone is fine with the government of every nation using its authority to force citizens to do whatever they feel suitable.
Everyone intuitively understood that once the government forces people to use a closed-source technology with unclear qualities and nonsensical specs that are not required at all, similar events will follow and, before you know it, freedom will be out of reach.
Do they give up? No one knew. Or, more accurately, "Where are the protesters?"
Numerous reports of missing people, or even entire families, have been heard on the news, and the internet is in a frenzy. However, no one found them, and the government is ignoring the situation. The government makes no attempt to conceal these reports, as if they are waiting for the populace to challenge their authority. Those who wished to oppose but are helpless to do so can only do is wait and see.
The enforcement of wearing the new IB is only edicted to government agencies and universities. Students aged 14 to 21 are subject to a mandatory memorandum; failure to comply results in the closure of the school, the arrest of all student guardians, and the students themselves undergoing military training as a pretext.
Incognito agents surround each university's entrance and emergency gates. They check students and ensure that they are wearing the new IB before they leave.
"It's almost time," one of them remarked in comm and asked, "what's the global percentage of students wearing the new IB?"
"Almost 90%, Sir," said the man on the other end of the line.
"Let us all hope that this is enough."
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