Location: Taikal
[Police Sirens blare throughout the city]
A man is seen running into the back alley carrying a bag full of money. Before running into the alley, he turns around and shoots a laser blast at a nearby building to cause a distraction.
Police Officer: You two, take that black over there. I'll go through the back
Officers: Copy that
[An older man and a teenage girl are sitting by a small fire in an old abandoned building, their home]
Man: Keep the fire going. I'm going to see what food I can get with today's wages.
Girl: But Hiroshi, don't you hear the sirens? You know what happens when the police find people like us
Hiroshi: Don't worry, I know how to keep to the shadows
[The girl is left alone, tending to the fire, staying close to keep herself warm]
The man continues to stumble through the back alley. He eventually comes across an old, abandoned building, and decides to hide from the police in there
Girl:[Looking confused] You're back already? I didn't think you would be that qui-
Oh, you're not him. [Looks around] You must be the reason for all of the sirens
Man:[Panicking] Stay back! You're just a low ranked girl. You don't stand a chance against me
Girl:[Calm and relaxed with a slight smirk on her face] Well you're also clearly a low rank or else you wouldn't be hiding from the police in an abandoned building.
The girl notices that the man is still panicking with fear shown across his face
Girl:[Calm and reassuring] You can relax. The police never come back here. Even if they use their x-ray, they couldn't. Hiroshi's ability is strong enough to hide us.
The man starts to calm down. The girl motions him to come closer to the fire and have a seat, He walks over slowly, surprised by her calm appearance, and sits down, still remaining cautious.
Man: Who's Hiroshi
Girl: He's my caretaker, basically the only parental figure in my life. He has always taken care of me since I was an infant. It all started whe-
Man: [Starts getting up from seat]Listen, I don't have time to listen to your sad life story
Girl:[Scoff] Why? You have somewhere else you need to be?
The man sighs and sits back down, ready to listen
-Flashback- Location: Coast of Taikal on a cargo ship
Girl: Hiroshi has been with me since I was an infant. 17 years ago, he found me, abandoned, on a cargo ship heading toward Relicta Island. He didn't understand why someone would send me there, but it didn't take him long to find out.
-The man and girl continue to sit by the fire-
She looks down with a disappointed look on her face
Girl: I was born without an ability. My biological parents were probably high ranks. With Putrum dictating Etro, they would have never been able to raise me without ruining their status. To make sure no one found out about me, they put me on a ship to Relicta Island.He couldn't bear the thought of a baby being sent there, so he took me in.
Man: That's terrible. Why would anyone do that to their child
Girl: Why do you think? You're a low rank. You know how the system works. Only the high ranks can live a good life in this world...[Slight smile and a hopeful look on her face]but it hasn't been all that bad living this way.
-Flashback-
Girl: Hiroshi, being originally from Tamashi, was able to teach me how to fight and defend myself. The school system for low ranks isn't the best, but I was able to make friends...and get somewhat of an education.[pause] -but most things I learned from Hiroshi. How to be compassionate, be kind, and...how to love.
-Flashback- Location: Taikal City Middle School
Girl: It wasn't long until the other kids found out that I didn't have an ability...
Even though they were also low ranked, they treated me just like the high ranks treat us.
There wasn't a single day that went by where I wasn't picked on. Only one kid stood up for me, Sveinn. Sveinn is originally from Sal Island, so he didn't have many friends here in Taikal. The two of us were constantly picked on, but we had each other. We're still best friends, but its been hard getting to see him...ever since we were forced into this part of town...
-Current day-
Man: So how'd you end up in a place like this?
Girl: It's a long story.
Man:[Smirk] It's not like I have anywhere to go.
Girl:[Smiles at first but then looks down with a sad look on her face] The kids at school thought it would be funny to tell the police that there was a rank 0 at their school
Man:[Shocked] They wouldn't...
Girl: I guess they didn't realize how Etro's "great leader" view people like me.
-Flashback-
The police raided the school, ready to shoot me on the spot. If Hiroshi hadn't trained me all those years, I wouldn't have gotten away.
I was able to meet Hiroshi at the harbor where he worked
Girl(young): [Sobbing and hugging Hiroshi] Hiroshi...the police...they found me...they know I'm powerless
Hiroshi:[Shock spreads across his face] Shhhhh...It'll be okay[Looks into the girl's eyes with a hopeful look on his face] You know us. We can get through anything
-Current day-
Girl: Taikal was no longer safe for us. We planned to escape to Tamashi Island.
-end-