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tact-and-impulse · 2 years

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This was my contribution for the Psycho Pass Zine! The prompt I chose was Season 1 Akane, and the word “justice”. I hope you enjoy my take on our brave, compassionate protagonist and her relationship with the Dominator. Available under the cut, on the zine website, FF.net, and AO3!

In the Hands of Justice

Akane fires, and the Dominator kicks in her hands. It’s more powerful than she expected, and the recoil sends a wave through her whole body. The blue flash fades, revealing his incredulous stare. For an agonizing moment, all she hears is the shaky sound of her own breathing, before Kogami limply falls to the ground.

I shot him. Part of her is numb, horrified. This is nothing like training, where the plastic model only clicked when she pressed the trigger. Not an hour has passed with the real thing, and she’s already paralyzed an Enforcer, her coworker. What is she doing on her first day?

But she doesn’t let go, even as her knees buckle. She can’t relax yet; there is still someone she needs to save. And she will, without the violence of a weapon.

***

Her parents sympathize with a rough workday, but she doubts they truly understand. It’s not like she can fully tell them either; she was told in orientation to keep details vague and to withhold information until a case was closed. For the good of the public’s mental health, silence is not only gold, but white-gold.

So, her parents reassure that tomorrow will be a fresh start and she should sleep while she can. They do not ask what it’s like, to carry a Dominator.

Her grandmother tries a different tactic. Instead, she opens a book, which is a physical copy of paper and ink. “Acchan, do you recognize this picture?” Through the video call, she holds up the image. A blindfolded woman, with an antiquated set of scales in one hand and a long sword in the other.

“Yes. That’s how justice used to be represented before the Sibyl System. The blindfold to prevent bias, the scales for measuring the weight of evidence, and the sword for final execution.” The Dominator has replaced them all. “But it’s still a person who bears the responsibility for using them.”

“Exactly.” Her grandmother smiles, and just like that, she feels a little lighter.

***

She notices how the others carry their Dominators. Ginoza keeps it forward, ready to lift and scan immediately. Masaoka has a similar grip, although more relaxed and the Dominator is at a lower angle. Kunizuka is steady, keeping it at her side while she coolly assesses first. At a glance, Kagari seems careless, but he’s actually an eager, unflinching draw.

And Kogami…she remembers how he looked in the factory. Like a wolf cornering his prey at last, and the Dominator was both claw and fang.

Still, she can’t bring herself to wield it with one hand. It’s probably for the best, since she’s the newcomer and experience will only come with time. Unit 1 is focused on the current case, and this upcoming Holo-Cosplay party is their best chance to find the imposter.

She’s caught in the practice room, to her embarrassment. The training Dominator is in her back pocket and her fingers have just wrapped around the handle when the door opens.

Thankfully, Kogami’s expression doesn’t crack. “Practicing for tonight’s raid?”

“Y-yes.” Akane hurriedly returns to a neutral stance with the model. “I have to be quick when we’re at Exoset. Did you want to use the target range?”

“Kagari invited me; he wanted to blow off steam.” He walks over, the scent of tobacco traveling with him. A press of a button, and the holographic range powers up. Then, he glances back at her. “Since he’s not here yet, you can join me.”

She hesitates for a moment before taking a step closer. Then, she inhales and tries to be fluid, bringing the model around to aim at one of the rendered targets. A current of self-consciousness runs through her, even as her accuracy’s confirmed. “I’ll do it again.” She says aloud and starts from her usual posture, as if she’s already in the club.

With each repetition, she can envision the actual Dominator with greater clarity. Her focus sharpens, on what needs to be improved for the next attempt, and the weight of Kogami’s gaze subsides. And she feels…more at ease.

Then, she remembers herself. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude on your own practice.”

“Again with the apologies, Inspector.” But he doesn’t sound annoyed. “It’s fine, as long as you feel capable. I’ve spent more than enough time with Dominators.” He lifts his own model, almost casually, and his eyes are flinty when he hits the target row in a chain of shots.

She wonders where the line is, between confidence and aggression.

“Eh, Ko-chan, you didn’t tell me Akane-chan was joining us!” Kagari’s indignant voice cuts in, and a moment later, his slender arms wrap around the two of them. He’s grinning from ear to ear. “Now, I gotta look good. Come on, best out of five rounds, and loser buys dinner for the whole unit!”

It’s a close margin, but Akane earns second place. Kagari gripes at having to finance a last-minute burger run and coaxes them into tagging along for the ride. As they leave the building, the city lights are beginning to brighten with the approach of dusk.

“You better steal first place soon, so we can eat anything else.” Kagari mutters to her.

“I think I was just lucky.” She demurs. “I’ll probably pay next time.”

“You never know. Kagari might continue his streak.” Kogami jabs a thumb his way, and as the younger man protests, he says. “Good work, Inspector. Are you ready to catch an imposter?”

“I am.” A breeze ruffles her hair, and for this short hour, the tension’s fled her.

***

The Dominator is the only thing she can hold onto. Her pulse resounds inside her head, and the air tastes like iron. Alone in the dark depths of this maze, she has to tell herself to breathe. For the first time as an Inspector, she is acting solo. She’ll have to apologize later, after the culprit is arrested.

She sees Yuki first, and her fingers tighten on the Dominator upon realizing her friend is still in danger. The white-haired man looks down when she orders him to stop, his expression pitiless.

Crime Coefficient is 79. The trigger locks, and a flicker of panic follows her heartbeat at how strange it is.

But he doesn’t try to escape; Makishima readily introduces himself. He talks leisurely as if they’re having tea, and even laughs as he brings up familiar names and points a large gun to Yuki’s back. Another scan, and she stares at the number in disbelief.

Under 50. The words slip out of her. “What…are you?” She barely hears his answer, her thoughts have split into different tracks. How long it will take for the others to arrive, how Yuki can get away safely, the wait time for another measure of his Psycho-Pass. She scans him again…he’s even dropped a point?

Then, the shotgun lands in front of her. And Makishima declares. “I’m going to kill this woman, Funahara Yuuki, right before your eyes.”

…32. How is it even lower? Why isn’t the Dominator working? Why hasn’t the Sibyl System judged him to be a threat, when he’s just hurt Yuki?

But Yuki’s shriek of pain is real, and even though she doesn’t understand how Makishima’s Hue has never clouded, she moves her feet forward. The gun is so heavy, and she struggles to lift it. But she can’t drop the Dominator; it’s the only way the Sibyl System will allow this at all, to judge her at the very least.

“Let her go now!” His Crime Coefficient is below 20 now. To the System, he is invisible. Her hands are jittering, from cold and turmoil and dread. What if she hits Yuki? What if he’s tampered with the gun? …What if she does kill him?

She clenches her teeth, and shoots. Pure noise fills her ears, and the recoil is worse, forcing her to step back. When she looks past the acrid smoke, Makishima remains standing. Numb, she automatically squeezes the trigger a second time. But she’s missed again.

I can’t do anything.

Her ears ring, decompressing, just as Yuki cries out. “Help! Akane!”

Makishima holds her in place, staring directly at Akane. “You disappointed me, so I’ll have to punish you. Regret your helplessness, and despair.” And he lifts the knife.

The Dominator is still in her hands. She doesn’t know what else to do, other than try one last time. Despite the burn of tears, she screams. “Stop it!”

In this nightmare, she cannot look away, cannot blink for a fraction of a second. She has to know why the Dominator reads him as a flat 0. She has to memorize Makishima’s face because he absolutely will not escape the law again. His eyes are jarringly tranquil as Yuki’s throat opens in crimson-

***

The next time she holds a Dominator, she doesn’t activate it immediately. This is a different one, though there was nothing wrong found with the previous. Nevertheless, she hesitates. The Enforcers walk on as she stares at it, inevitably remembering.

Kogami’s smack is more impact than anything else, and he doesn’t point out the ungainly sound that escapes her. His gaze is shadowed over. “I think I know what’s going on in your head right now. But for the time being, let’s just focus on the case.”

“Yes.” She murmurs. It’s a terrible feeling to share, but they have work to do. She sets her shoulders and joins the unit, the familiar display running in her periphery.

And it’s only the beginning. The surges of criminal activity and panic send the Bureau into crisis mode. As the Inspectors and Enforcers enter the conference room for the chief’s briefing, she overhears mutters from the other units, wondering how they can possibly subdue the chaos.

“Riots like these haven’t been witnessed for decades.” Masaoka grunts as he takes his seat. “If we’re not given equipment other than Dominators, many more people will die.”

“And how does saying that help?” Ginoza’s nerves are fraying, his words cutting deeper than usual. “You should refrain from empty speculation until the chief arrives.”

“We can only do what we’re able to. Nothing more, nothing less.” Kunizuka’s mouth is pressed into a taut line.

When the car first leaves, Akane flinches. Although nothing is visible yet, the shouts and crashes in the distance are disturbing. They drive past the remnants of violent confrontations, including bodies lying still on the sidewalk. Her stomach twists. Is this what it’s like when order completely dissolves?

And even after the realization that the riots are a decoy, she can’t forget what she’s seen. While she waits for her blood to clot, she mulls over her family, how this danger’s affected them all. Under the System, they had no idea peace was so fragile; everyone had taken it for granted.

She pushes past the dull pain, to head towards the top of the tower. Makishima is standing over Kogami, that same knife gleaming. And she swings the helmet. It’s a relief to see him collapse, that she hasn’t failed a third time.

Kogami’s face is wrecked, but he wheezes. “Inspector…kill him.”

She sucks in a breath and stands over Makishima. The Dominator is in her jacket, a dead weight. In agony, she readies the helmet.

This man is at her mercy now, like how Yuki was at his. She is the figure, wielding the sword. Blood rushes to her head, her vision blurring. Kogami would act without hesitation in her place. He cannot escape the law again…but she alone is not the law. No scales, and definitely no blindfold.

And she lets go, reaching for her handcuffs instead. She reins in her sobs, so she can speak clearly. “Makishima Shogo, you’re under arrest.”

***

In the garage, the drones’ red lights spin. Ginoza is pointing a Dominator at Kogami, that converts to Lethal Eliminator under the chief’s touch. Akane doesn’t know why it’s transformed, or what grievance Chief Kasei has against Kogami.

But she knows what she can do.

She lowers her eyes and wraps her fingers around her Dominator. The automated voice is cast into the background, as she waits for an opening. Then, Kogami turns his head, and she makes her move. She aims for his leg, and she doesn’t see his expression as he goes down.

Paralyzer mode is appropriate, and she will stand by that rationale if they ask. She doesn’t feel the recoil at all, or maybe, it’s imperceptible to her at this point. Even if the Dominator is a weapon, she can use it to save people too.

She tries to keep that in mind, even after the letter.

***

The workroom is silent. It’s almost preferable that all the other chairs are empty, instead of just two. She works late into the night, focusing on evidence. It distracts her from imagining the possibilities, of whether she’ll scan Kogami or Kagari first and what they’ll read.

That is when the paddy wagon rolls in. There is no alert, nothing in her messages calling her to a new case. When she takes hold of the offered Dominator, the inflection of the voice is different, less like a program and more like a person.

“Inspector Tsunemori Akane, I will now tell you the truth about everything.”

She can only follow the directions, to the heart of Sibyl itself. And after she emerges from the basement, her first instinct is to leave. She feels violated, exposed to the cold scrutiny of the wicked. She gladly leaves the Dominator behind, but when she gets into the car, another is simply waiting for her in the passenger seat. Grudgingly, she starts a predetermined route, so she can process what had just happened. She doesn’t touch the Dominator.

And she thinks for a long time, haunted by familiar faces. Karanomori had said. “Your heart and Psycho-Pass are two different things.” Now, she understands why they are separated.

It’s not exactly about right or wrong. A person’s heart is their own. To deliberate, to find happiness, to judge the answer for themselves!

After Ginoza’s call redirects her to Ichikawa, she challenges the Sibyl System through the Dominator. “I have a condition for what you want me to do.” She is not afraid when she presses the weapon to herself. She knows her own heart, and she will not be their pawn.

The subsequent negotiation is a tentative success, which means the System has not caught onto her true intent. When she gives the Dominator to Kogami, she believes that justice is at hand. “The law doesn’t protect people. People protect the law.” She tells him wholeheartedly. And so, they continue their pursuit, to close this case for good.

***

The Dominator is exactly where it’s been abandoned among the oats, with the intermittent glow of its idle state. She grasps it and knows the Sibyl System is reading her physiological signs, translating them into what they think is her mind. The familiar lines do not greet her. Instead, there is an echo to the words, all of the monstrous minds speaking as one. “Inspector Tsunemori Akane, we will be expecting you.” A hiss, and the lock on Paralyzer mode is released.

The return flight is bleak. Kunizuka calls Karanomori, quietly updating her at the front of the plane. Ginoza is in the medical bay, partly for his injuries and partly to stay with Masaoka’s body. Akane remains in the cabin, left with the post-mortem of the case. Grief, frustration, and at last, sobering clarity. It could not have ended any other way.

She stares at her hands, and a wave of emotion overtakes her. New and tentative, but strong.

Humanity’s search for a better world led us to the Dominator. One day, it will lead us to a different path. As long as people decide for themselves, there will be a future when we are ready to move beyond the Sibyl System. A better and more righteous world.

She hopes she’ll be part of it.

***

The new Inspector watches her closely, never more than a few steps away. The frigid rain can be blamed, if Shimotsuki trembles. Akane checks on her in the periphery; it wasn’t long ago that she was the same, using the Dominator at any sign of movement.

The culprit is soon cornered, and when they approach, she scans. 230. It’s a shame, but at least, no one else will be hurt. Dominator raised, she declares. “This is the Public Safety Bureau. You’re under arrest.”

Her finger catches on the trigger and she breathes, deliberating as always. In order to protect the people and the laws that must be upheld, this judgment is fair. The eyes are eagerly watching, but the responsibility is hers. She understands fully, that it is her purpose in this world.

Akane fires.

#psycho pass #psycho pass zine #tsunemori akane

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