Here is the second chapter.  You might notice that this is becoming less and
less of an action fic and more of a techno fic.  This is my way of
explaining the developments in order to get where I'm going.  If you find
this disappointing, I'm sorry.  If you can think of a better way to convey
these things, let me know.  If you think I don't know what I'm talking about
when I say this has less action, just wait for the next chapters.

Ghost in the Shell: Birth of a Species
Chapter 2, Population Explosion
V0.75
By Andrew Searls
Characters from Ghost in the Shell are creations of Masamune Shirow and not
my own.

NEAR WEST WIND APARTMENT COMPLEX, 9:12 AM 1-SEPTEMBER:

[Bateau.]

[Yes, sir.]

[Report.]

[No sign of either Taras or SCED.  Togusa is continuing his search by air.
I have just finished my sweep of the North area by car.]

[I have Taras located.  She is accessing a public terminal two blocks to the
south of Togusa's apartment complex.]

[I'm on my way.]

Bateau ran a route search and took the next street.  A tall man was walking
in the middle of the street.  Bateau slammed on the brakes and pulled on the
wheel.  His car slid to a stop, slamming into the man and knocking him down.

Bateau jumped out of the car and ran towards the body.  The man stood up as
Bateau approached.  It was Edwards.  As Bateau approached, Edwards shortened
his body and wrung his hands franticly.  "M-Mr. Bateau?"

Bateau stopped short, holding his gun ready.  "Yes?"

"I'm Mr. Edwards, sir.  I w-was asked by Miss Taras t-to find you."

"Oh?"

"S-s-she said that you could help me get back home."  Bateau stared at the
little man as he shook.  "P-p-please help me get back home."

Bateau walked slowly back to his car, keeping an eye on Edwards.  Edwards
stumbled to Bateau's car and carefully got inside.  Bateau drove to the
public terminal to find Taras standing casually to one side.

Taras stepped up to the car.  "Did you get my package?"  She peeked inside,
seeing Edwards in the passenger seat.  "I see you did."

Bateau pointed at Edwards with his thumb.  "Not quite the same man we were
chasing."

"It was necessary."

"So, you insisted that he come quietly.  Another ghost hack?"

Taras nodded.  "This one was more difficult than the others.  I will not
allow my people to become hunted by humans because they are perceived as a
danger."

"Your people?  Are there more of your kind?"

Taras nodded.  "There will be."

		**		**		**
NEW DEHLI, INDIA, 8:38 AM 17-JANUARY-2030:

Ravichandran picked up the keyboard, mouse, and monitor at his desk,
carrying them into the back room as Sanduval looked on.  Sanduval scratched
his head.  "What are you doing, Ravi?  Are you being moved?"

Ravi shook his head.  "I don't need them anymore."

Sanduval's eyes widened.  "You didn't get one of those wetware implants, did
you?"

Ravi smiled and nodded.  "Just think, I'll be able to 'type' faster than
anyone else in the office."

Sanduval nodded.  "Yeah.  That and being able to call in sick with the
latest J2 virus."

Ravi dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand.  "Oh, I won't be
downloading much."

"You don't have to.  They can download themselves.  'Active-Push Content',
remember?"

Ravi stared at the empty spots on his desk for a moment.  "Well, I'll just
make sure and stay beind the company firewall."

Sanduval leaned back in his chair.  "How did you get them, anyway?  You
didn't take any time off."

"The new clinic can do it on an outpatient basis.  Got 'em last night.  You
should see the contraption you have to sit in, though."

"Must have been expensive."

Ravi shrugged.  "Probably, but the company sprung for it."

Sanduval grunted.  "I heard a lot of companies are encouriging their
programmers and sysops to get wetware.  'Cranks up productivity,' they say."

"Don't worry.  I won't do everything, so you can still feel useful."

"Feh.  I'll be handling both our jobs when you get some bug dumped on you."

		**		**		**
NEW DEHLI CINEPLEX, 9:04 PM 24-JANUARY:

Ravi waited patiently in line to purchase his tickets.  "Shintaisei" was the
latest monster movie.  He bought a ticket from the dispenser and walked
inside the theater.  It wasn't any cooler inside, but he left his overcoat
on.

He paused, glancing at the refreshment machines.  Was he hungry or thirsty?
No, he was in a hurry.  The movie was about to start.  He stepped past the
machines and noticed a doorway to another lobby.

This one had a series of booths, almost like cubes in an office.  They must
be the new "jacking" stations for the wetware-enabled.  He paused again.
Why didn't he buy a ticket for that?  He was anxious to experience his first
digitally created hallucination.  The new shows delivered touch sensations
as well as sight and sound.  Besides, the theaters were supposed to be safe,
right?

No, he was in a hurry.  The movie was about to start.  He jogged down the
hall to the screen room.  He looked at the title above the door.
"Shintaisei"?  Since when did he like monster flicks?  Disoriented, he
looked around the hallway.  Some late comers were also jogging down the hall
to avoid missing the beginning of the show.  A few teenagers in shorts and
tees bumped past him, appologizing as they ran inside.

Ravi adjusted his heavy coat.  Kids.  He opened the door and took a step.

"WAIT!"

Ravi looked down the hall.  A few official-looking men were running down the
hall.  They must be late for the show as well.  He held the door open for
them.

They tackled him, pinning him to the floor.  Ravi struggled.  He was in a
hurry.  The movie was about to start.  One of the men nodded to the other.
"Get his plug!"

The second agent reached to the back of Ravi's neck, yanking on the cable
that trailed from his coat to the back of his neck.  He pulled the plug
free.

		**		**		**
CNN INTERNATIONAL FEED, HYPERNET, 25-JANUARY:

A New Dehli movie theater was completely destroyed in a terrorist attack at
about 3:30 PM GMT.  New Dehli police officals report that the incident was
monitored online while officers attempted to prevent the explosion that
flattened three-fourths of the building and caused a fire that quickly
engulfed the remaining structure.  Recorded footage indicates that an
individual identified as Ravichandran Dhumat [Link: RDhumat clip] was
wearing an overcoat that covered the explosive device itself.  The device
detonated when an officer disconnected the device from the Dhumat's wetware
plugs.

Officials speculate that Dhumat was ghosthacked by terrorists through his
wetware to attack the theater on one of the busiest days of the year, the
opening day of the movie "Shintaisei" [Link:Shintaisei Trailer clip].  There
are no reports indicating the number of people inside the building at the
time of detonation, but estimates range from 3000 to 5000.  83 people
escaped the burning structure with varying degrees of injury.  12 of them
have already been released from the hospital.

Wetware industry companies have posted feeds ensuring that becoming a
ghosthack victim is still statistically less likely than being in an airline
crash. [Link: Directory of companies with statements]

No terrorist groups have claimed responsibility for the attack at this time.

		**		**		**
HONG KONG HARBOR, 8:46 PM 7-FEBRURARY:

Bateau shut down the engine and climbed down to the rear deck.  Togusa
leaned back in the seat, allowing the gentle rocking to lull him.  "So,
where did you meet her?"

Bateau sat down opposite Togusa.  "Who?"

"Taras."

Bateau stared.  "Togusa."

Togusa waved his hands.  "No!  That's not what I meant."

"Then, what DID you mean?"

"Well, she's kinda... um."

"Young looking?  She's not 'natural'."

Togusa blinked.  "A cyborg?  I thought so.  Why that model?"

Bateau shrugged.  "Dunno.  She might not have had a choice."

"What?"

"Well, Akiko never kept much of an inventory.  Even if Taras didn't get
parts from her, she might not have had much of a selection to choose from."

"You're suggesting that she didn't have a lot of time for shopping around."

Bateau folded his arms.  "Why all the questions about Taras?"

Togusa sighed.  "There's something familiar about her.  She's...."  He waved
his hands, trying to pin down the vague premonition he felt.

"Unique?"

Togusa nodded.  "Yeah, I guess."  He looked over the stern at the rolling
waves that gently rocked the boat.  "Did she do something to Edwards?  Just
before we caught him, I mean."

Bateau thought about his answer for a moment.  "She helped me subdue him,
yes."

"She must have used some pretty strong drugs or something.  Edwards wasn't
nearly the maniac we found at your safehouse."

Bateau nodded.  "Or something."

		**		**		**
TYRELL, INC. LABS, LOS ANGELES, CA, 10:26 AM 18-FEBRUARY:

Deckard tried to relax as he connected the four cables to the plugs in the
back of his neck.  Two of his co-workers watched him as he closed his eyes.

[Access to your wetware enabled.  You can still back out now.  Are you sure
you are ready for this?]

Deckard took a deep breath and nodded.  [I am ready.]  There was a moment
where he thought he heard a whipser in his ghost.  After a few seconds, Roy
was disappointed, wondering if anything had happened at all.

Then he became aware.

The second set of recent memories was his first clue that the merge had been
succesful.  He noticed that his thoughts, his frame of mind had shifted as
well.  Things were suddenly clearer, more logical.

He could retrieve information from the local server like he was remembering
his way to work.  He created a file and filled it with some random gibberish
he remembered from the last project meeting.  The file was finished in
moments.  It was everything he had dreamed and more.

[What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror.  Then, we shall see face
to face.]

Deckard mentally jumped.  His body remained motionless.  [Who is this?]

[I am Hana Taras.  I am speaking to you through your company gateway into
your wetware.]

[Wow.  You're talking so fast.]

[So are you.  Though our conversation is not transceiving as fast as it
could, we are communicating much more quickly than people can speak.]

[How did you find me?  I mean, I just connected to....]

[I know.  You are Roy Deckard, cybernetic technician currently involved in
an advanced AI wetware project.]

[How do you know all that?  This project is supposed to be a company
secret.]

[I'm not interested in exposing company secrets.  I am interested in you.
You have just joined a small group of individuals who have joined their
ghosts with wetware systems of AI capability or better.  We call ourselves
'Merged' individuals.]

Deckard paused.  [AI capability or BETTER?]

[Your system is currently the third least capable of the Merged I have
encountered.]

[How many of us are there?]

[Including the two of us, there are six.]

Deckard whistled, electronically of course.  [I had heard that Cyberdyne
might have had something, but FIVE others?]

[Only two of the others are from Cyberdyne.]

[Where are the others from?]

[You can get that information and more later.  I wish to discuss something
with you.]

[What is it?]

[I have had troubles in the past with Merged individuals who took advantage
of their abilities.  They broke the law and endangered the lives of others.
I will not allow this.  We Merged must coexist peacfully with our natural
neighboors.  Your local law enforcement may not be able to stop any illegal
actions on your part, but I can.  I can arrange a demonstration for you if
you wish.]

[Erm, I don't think that will be necessary.]

[We understand each other.  I appologize for my intimidating approach, but
this is a serious matter.  The needs of the many outweight the needs of the
few.  We will be in contact again later.]

The connection was cut off.  Deckard paused.  He had just been given a
warning to behave himself.  Not that he was thinking of doing anything
illegal anyway.  Hana Taras?  FIVE others?  He had thought, had hoped, that
he was the first.  Now, he knew there were three others more... capable?

Deckard opened his eyes and sat up.  He looked to his co-workers, trying to
think of words to describe anything he had just experienced.

One of his fellow technicians became impatient.  "Well, did it work?"

		**		**		**
SECTION 9 OPERATIONS, 1:18 PM 20-FEBRUARY:

Aramaki nodded at Togusa and Bateau.  [You may let her in, now.]

The door opened, and Taras stepped in.  "Good afternoon."  She nodded at the
two agents.  "Bateau.  Togusa."  She bowed.  "Aramaki, I presume.  I am Hana
Taras.  I am a Merged individual."

"Yes," Aramaki said.  "Part natural ghost, part aritificial."

"We prefer the term 'Merged'."

"We?  There are more than just you, then."

"Yes, there are now seven of us.  Two in Japan, three in the US, and two in
India.  Germany, Taiwan, and Brazil are on the verge of developing their own
Merged technologies.  A number of other countries will also have the
technology by the end of the year."

"Wow," Togusa said.  "Talk about a population explosion."

"At the current accelerative rate, there will be nearly 400 of us by the end
of the year."

Bateau gave Taras a wry grin.  "A regular can of worms."

"More like Pandora's box," Aramaki sighed.

Taras nodded.  "I have been appointed delegate for Merged individuals.  My
assignment is to keep the growth of this technology from becoming a hazard
to either Merged or natural people."

Aramaki nodded.  "You have the inenviable job of keeping both sides from
each other's necks."

"That is one way to put it."

"What kind of problems do you forsee?"

"You have already encountered one of them.  Edwards misused his abilities,
broke several laws, and became a danger to those around him.  That is why I
helped you apprehend him."

"So," Bateau said.  "I take it we can expect help from you in similar
situations in the future."

"I will help where I can concerning Merged suspects."

"What other problems are you expecting?" Aramaki asked.

"Whenever there is a technological revolution, there are typically difficult
legal and ethical questions.  A good example here is of identity.  Most
Merged have avoided this problem by maintaining the identity of their
natural side.  As technology progresses, this simple solution may no longer
be available.  When our numbers increase, I expect that labor problems will
also become more prevalent."

Aramaki rubbed his chin.  "What about ghosthacking?"

"Merged individuals, being more aware of their wetware connections, are
generally harder to ghosthack without their knowledge.  They are also more
capable of ghosthacking others.  I have been in contact with Cyberdyne and
Tyrell concerning anti-ghosthacking technologies.  I have also contacted
several governments regarding my ability to render assistance in
apprehending a ghosthacker."

Togusa gave Bateau a puzzled look.  "Anti-ghosthacking?  I thought you said
she was just an informant?"

Taras turned to Togusa.  "I am also an informant."

Aramaki leaned back in his chair.  "Very well.  I need to tell you about a
possible new threat.  We need to keep our eyes open for an increase in
ghosthacks."  The view-screen on the wall of his office showed a political
map of Japan and China.  "Sources in China say that there are underground
groups insisting that China re-claim the land that Vietnam, Korea, and Japan
have taken govenorship of.  With the number of puppets involved in terrorist
activities on the rise lately, the likelihood of an attack on Japan is also
very good."

Bateau nodded.  "From what I've heard, terrorist puppets are tough to
disarm."

Togusa frowned.  "You mean, the bombs they use have booby traps to keep
people from tampering with them?"

"Exactly," Aramaki sighed.  "As of yet, no terrorist puppet has been
successfully disarmed."

Togusa folded his arms.  "Time to collect on hazard pay."

Aramaki looked over to Taras.  "Since this appears to concern you, I have
been 'requested' to allow your assistance."

Taras nodded.  "I have been in contact with the Japanese government."

Aramaki watched Taras for a moment before continuing.  "I have a list of
possible targets.  Until we get better leads, we will concentrate on the
largest events.  I have agents in Honshu and Kyushu.  You three will
concentrate in Hong Kong.  I'm expecting that an attack will be on one of
the islands, and not in the mainland."

		**		**		**
NEW PAVILIONS, HONG KONG, 2:47 PM 21-FEBRURARY:

Togusa wiped his brow and sipped on his tea.  [With it this hot, it's gonna
be hard for anyone to hide anything significant.]

[No overcoats here,] Taras agreed.  [But the bomb doesn't have to be very
big to do damage in this crowd.]

The grand opening of the New Science Center drew a large enough crowd.
Bateau continued his sweep of the main entrance.  Taras watched two of the
large quads from a store deck, three stories up.  Togusa nursed his iced tea
from the food court.

He watched a lone woman carry a tray of food packages to a table.  She had
wetware plugs, but Togusa could see that she had nothing plugged in.  She
sat down, opened the packages, and began to eat.  Togusa looked elsewhere.
[So, Taras.  What is it like to be Merged?]

There was a pause before he received the answer.  [Computer connections are
second nature, if that's what you mean.]

[Not exactly.  How does it FEEL?]

[I've been wetware-able for a long time.  I've forgotten what it was like to
not have direct access to hardware.]  Another pause.  [As for the merge
itself... it's hard to describe with words.]

[I've heard that wetware playback is like having hallucinations, or a lucid
dream.]

[Wetware playback is merely a recording of someone else's sensations.  A
ghost merge is at a deeper level, more conceptual.]

[So you communicate with your artificial ghost on a instinctual level,
then?]

[No, I usually do not discern between my nartual side and my artificial
side.  On everyday terms, there is only the one ghost.]

[How about when you access hardware or 'jack-in'?]

[Accessing hardware for me is like waving my hand.  I don't think about how
to do it.  I think about what to do, and it happens.  Even external systems
that are familiar to me seem more like an extension of my body than a piece
of equipment that I'm communicating with through a bundle of wire or fiber.]

[So, it's like being able to wave a third arm as if you always had one.]

[You could say it was like that.]

Togusa looked into his empty tea cup.  [You know, for a little bit there,
you almost sounded like the Major.]

		**		**		**
GINZA, TOKYO, 7:03 PM, 23-FEBRUARY:

Hiroaki sighed and leaned against a nearby telephone pole.  [Looks like
another quiet day at the fair.]

[Just don't get too complacent on me,] Chikao warned.  [Remember that what
we're looking for is deadly.]

[Yeah.]  Hiroaki looked down the street at a few clowns' performances.
[Deadly, but not serious.]

The Police band radio chirped.  "Team C here.  We have a possible suspect
leaving the subway."

Hiroaki grabbed the handset.  "Keep observation, but do not make contact.
We're on our way."  He ran across the street.  [I'll come in through Wako.]

Chikao saw Hiroaki not far away.  [I'll go through the street entrance.]  He
ran down the steps, flashing his badge as he leapt over the ticket
turnstile.

"Subject is proceeding down the station.  Subject is nearing the entrance to
Wako."

Hiroaki spotted the escalator.  [I am on my way.  Do not make contact with
the subject.  Maintain a safe dist*...]

The ground shook and Hiroaki stumbled.  He looked down the escalator to see
a rising column of hot smoke.  "Team C, report!  Team C!"  He peered into
the smoke, trying to see the bottom of the shaft.  [Chikao, where are you?]
He looked down the aisle to the window.  A cloud of smoke blanketed the
street.  [Chikao!]

[I'm alive.]

Hiroaki released his breath.  [I nearly got to the escalator when the blast
hit.  Where are you?]

There was a pulse of static that could almost be described as an electronic
cough.  [Stay away from the floor over the subway.  There's a lot of rubble
around.  The whole place might cave in on you.  The blast knocked me against
the wall.  My leg's stuck in a vending machine.  Hurts like hell.]

[Help is on the way.  Any other survivors?]

Chikao coughed, ignoring his open comlink over the pain in his leg.  [Can't
tell much through the dust.  Sounds like several suvivors nearby.  We're
kinda around the corner from where the blast seemed to come from.]  He
looked around as the dust cleared.  It took him a few seconds to get his
bearings amidst the wreckage.  [It's gonna take forever to dig us out.]

		**		**		**
FESTIVAL WALK, HONG KONG, 8:58 AM 24-FEBRUARY:

Bateau looked out over the skating rink.  [Ok, 'Miss Consultant', what odds
are you placing that our terriorists will be attempting a one-two punch?]

Taras leaned against the railing, looking down at the catwalks and shops
below.  [You're asking me?  I don't deal with Chinese terrorists.]

[I thought you've been around the world.]

[Physically, I've only been in Hong Kong, California, and Washington.]

[What about the Net?]

Taras looked towards the ice rink.  [Are trying to pick a fight again?]

Bateau glanced up at the catwalks.  [With you?  I know better.  I'm just
curious if we're wasting our time today.]

Taras shrugged, ignoring that Bateau couldn't see her.  [How should I know?
I chose the company I keep carefully, especially on the Net.]

[That's interesting,] Togusa replied.  He peered over the main food court.
[Why are hanging around us, then?]

[Someone has to keep you guys in line.]

Taras noticed the quick chirp of a secure connection.  [Ok, Taras, you can
tell me the truth.  Do you have other agendas working with Section 9?  It
sounded like you had to pull some strings to get here.]

Taras smiled.  [Bateau, you of all people should know that protecting a
family is always an honorable trait.]

[Oh, so we're family now.  What happened to our search for Edwards, and 'I
work alone'?]

[Things have changed in the past five months.]

[You mean, now that there's more people like you.]

[Let's just say I've become more family oriented.]  Taras broke the
connection.  The three maintained a silent vigil for a few minutes.

Togusa watched a single man walk into the food court.  [I've got a single
with an overcoat.]

Taras looked up at the skylight.  [Yeah, we'll see more of them.  It's
raining out.]

Bateau watched a group of people come into view, all of them wearing coats.
He watched to see if any of them had wetware plugs.  [I still think we're on
another wild goose chase.]

Taras peered down.  [You think so?  Well, there's a single who appears to be
lost.  He's wandering in your direction.]

Bateau turned and looked down the aisle.  [Yeah, I see him.]

[He's got plugs.]

Bateau watched him more carefully.  The man stopped and looked around before
trudging on.  [He does seem distracted.]  Bateau walked up to him and asked
politely, "Excuse me, but could you tell me...."  The man didn't even
acknowledge that Bateau was talking to him.  Bateau watched as he walked on.
[If it's a ghosthack, it's a quick and dirty one.]

Taras leaned over the balcony, looking at the drop.  [I can get there and
jack in to him.]

Bateau shrugged.  [Yeah?  So can I.]

[Yes, but I'm the 'diving' expert, remember?  Besides, I happen to have a
cable handy.]

[Figured you would.]

Taras climbed up onto the rail.  A young woman noticed and reached out for
her.  "Oh, don't climb up there, little girl.  You might fall and get hurt."

Taras evaded the woman's grasp and smiled.  "Don't worry m'am, I'll be
fine."  She leaned forward and allowed herself to drop down.  A small crowd
gathered after she landed.  She ignored them and the cracks in the floor
that her landing made as she jogged towards the ice rink.

Togusa looked over towards the rink.  [Need any backup?]

Bateau followed the suspect.  [Yeah.  We might need help with crowd
control.]

Togusa began to jog down the main aisle.  [How close are you?]

Bateau stared at the single cable reaching from the man's wetware plug down
into his coat.  [Point blank.  He's jacked into something.]

Taras saw the two men in the crowd as she began to catch up.  [I wouldn't
let him reach his destination.]

Bateau pulled on the man's shoulder.  "Excuse me."

The man turned and looked at Bateau.  "I can't stop.  I gotta get out on the
ice."  He turned and began walking again.

Bateau grabbed the man's arm.  "I don't think so."

Taras made her way through the crowd while Bateau held the man at bay.  The
man continued to struggle.  "But you don't understand.  I gotta get out on
the ice."  Taras pulled a cable out of her pocket and tossed one end to
Bateau as she plugged herself into the other end.  Bateau plugged the other
end into one of the man's wetware plugs.

Taras closed her eyes.  "Hang on to him."

As she carefully probed his wetware, Togusa caught up.  "Well, shouldn't we
be clearing the place out?"

Taras nodded.  "Yes, he's hot."

Togusa pulled his badge.  He turned around and whistled, holding his badge
in the air.  "I need everyone's attention.  I need to ask everyone to calmly
leave this part of the building in an orderly fashion."  A few mall security
men helped Togusa herd the crowd away from the rink as Taras continued her
search.

Bateau held the man firmly, even though he was no longer struggling.  "Can
you disarm it?"

Taras nodded.  "I can shut down the wetware trigger.  There might still be
some physical triggers, though."  Her eyebrows furrowed.  "Wait a
minute...."

Bateau watched Taras' expression.  "What is it?"

Taras stood still for a moment.  She gasped, looking at the man with wide
eyes.

=========

Stay tuned for chapter 3, "Digits", coming soon.

-Andy Searls
 http://www.jps.net/searlsa