**6th of June 2055, Dover, Southern Shore of UCN Stronghold 11**
"So, what do you think? Should I go for it?"
"uh... what?"
"My hair. Should I cut it?"
"I really don't care."
Two boys laid head-to-head on grass, gazing at clouds. One had long red hair that ran to his shoulders, green eyes, and handsome angular features. He was wearing jeans and a tight white vest to show off his toned physique. He was tossing a pebble into the air and catching it over and over.
The other had dark, fluffy curls burying boxy headphones. He was shorter, his face softer but bearing the same green eyes. His expression remained vacant even as he was mid-conversation.
The pair stayed silent for a while.
"Don't you need to cut it for NTC?"
"Huh?... Oh yeah, no. I can tie it up like the girls. "
"What about the Navy, though?"
"I don't know actually, I'll ask Smithers on Monday,"
"mmm..." Dozed the dark-haired boy
The boy with red hair yawned, shook his head, sat up and took out his phone.
"Going out with some NTC lads tonight. Interested?"
"No thanks, I've got that project to do."
"Come to pres though?"
"I can't drink, need my hands to be steady."
"Just have one then. "
"Maybe next time,"
"Alright, I'm off to Rozza's. See you later."
"In a bit."
The red-haired boy got to his feet and tied his hair into a messy bun. A loud bang rang out in the distance. The boy looked over his shoulder in the sound's direction.
"Sounds like they got one," he says
Another shot rings out.
The black-haired boy groaned and rubbed his face in frustration before turning on his headphones.
The red-haired boy spoke again and quickly realised he was being ignored, before giving a facetious wave and meandering off to meet his friend.
Casper laid alone, listening to his songs, hoping the cannon fire would be over before he got up. He stretched, removed headphones, and heard birds, wind, and waves in the distance.
As much as he loved the peace and quiet, the deadline for his project was looming and he had procrastinated all morning. With a sigh, he pushed himself up and wandered out of the meadow and into town.
Casper rustled through the treeline and trotted up the dirt path onto a cycle path where he could see the rows of identical new houses built through what had once been an empty green field. The city of Dover had been creeping further and further into the countryside as the navy became more prevalent. Diesel and gunpowder replaced the salty air Casper remembered from his childhood, and the serene washing of waves; always interrupted by shells from massive guns.
Casper kept along the path until it met a road mostly populated by cyclists and the occasional car, if you were lucky. He turned, passing repeating copies of his home until he arrived at his own.
-----
Johan knocked a tune into his friend's front door. A tall, well-built boy with a wide set jaw answered.
"Alright, lad?", said Johan
"Aye," said Rozza, cocking his head to say that Johan should follow him inside.
Johan obliged, following Rozza to the living room where several other boys huddled around a low coffee table rolling cigarettes.
"Hello lads," Johan said, to be met with the cheers of already inebriated friends. Some boys shuffled up the couch to make room for him to sit while Rozza picked up a beer and handed it to Johan.
"Is your brother not coming?" sneered one of the boys
"Nah, he's got that thing he's doing for Harrison. Besides, not really his thing, anyway," said Johan, taking the remark in stride.
"Fair enough," replied the boy
Another one piped up, "He's a bit weird, your brother."
"What?" asked Johan
"No, I mean there's nothing wrong with it," he quickly corrected. "It's just he doesn't seem all that... social, I guess."
"So what?"
"Well, he only does compulsory NTC. If it weren't for Harrison, he'd be off to the farms or something by now. Like, do you not worry?"
"I think he wants to do some sort of designer, you know, like those guys who work with the Navy"
"What? why? If you go with the Navy, you get paid more, and the work is steady."
"I've tried to talk him around before, but he hates the drills. Can't stand the noise."
"How's about the trip next week then?"
"What, off to the sea wall? Not a chance. Those cannons already drive him mad when he's just out and about."
"you're coming, though?"
"Yeah obviously"
-----
Casper sat in his dark bedroom. His bed was hastily made and tchotchkes litterred the space. Soundproofing foam suffocated every available inch of wall, including his window as he worked under a dim yellow desk lamp. He took a screwdriver to a tightly packed set of gears attached to some wheels. And counted the clicks as he turns the screws. He stopped to scribble something in a notebook and repeated the process with a different screw.
After filling several pages of his book with these notes, he picked up what looked to be a makeshift toy car from his desk and placed it on the ground before pressing a small silver button. The little machine ticked, whirred, and drove forward along Caspers bedroom floor. Before it hit the opposite wall, it swerved right back towards Casper.
Casper did a little victory hop as he watched his creation successfully navigate the room and then drive back towards him for another lap. Unaware of his footing, he let the small vehicle bump into his leg, knocking it slightly off course.
"Shit"
The clockwork car spun off it's designated path and found itself skimming against the skirting board of Casper's left-hand wall. After making some poorly timed turns, it drove continuously into the corner of the room like a blind tadpole.
Casper took a deep breath and waited for his machine to peter out before trying again. In his frustration, he made a mistake when reprogramming the course and the car, again, clipped something and crashed into a corner.
Casper returned the car to his desk and took out a variety of small tools from the drawer before partially disassembling his creation.
-----
A pack of young men stumbled down the street arm in arm, smelling of cheap beer and smoking cigarettes. Their shouts and laughter echoed through the otherwise silent road of the town centre.
One boy stuck out a lolling hand, offering a half-smoked cigarette to Johan.
"Take it..." the boy hiccups, while dangling from Rozza's enormous frame.
"Nah mate, you know I don't," replies Johan
"Bo-oring," Burps the boy
Rozza says to Johan, "Listen, pal, I'll catch you later, yeah? I've go' tae take this fuckwit home," in a thick Scottish accent.
Johan gives him a nod and peels off from the group across the street, waving his goodbyes.
Johan made his way into the estate, sleepy from the liquor, and counted the houses before pulling out his keys and opening the door. He marched up the stairs and headed toward his room. Passing Casper's room, Johan pauses and peeks inside.
He sees his brother still bent over his small desk tweaking whatever the hell he was working on.
"Christ, are you still up?"
"Shh! I'm nearly done." Said Casper.
"I thought you were 'nearly done' this morning"
"Yeah... there were a couple of setbacks."
"What's it do, anyway?"
"I'm trying to get it to drive on a set path using stored energy from springs"
"Like those wind-up cars Mum used to get us?" asked Johan.
"Yeah, but it can turn by itself"
"Oh... Why?"
"Because I set timers to pull -"
"No, I mean like, what's it for?" Johan Interrupts.
"It's a weapon," says Casper bluntly
Johan, confused by his brother's remark, "Okay whatever you say. I'm going to bed," he says wearily.
As he leaves, Johan turns and asks his brother, "You coming to the sea wall on Monday?"
"Oh, fuck no" replies Casper
Johan exhales through his nose slightly, rolls his eyes, and goes to bed.
Casper marvelled at his creation. The little car still looked like a palette with wheels, and a mass of watch parts on the back. However, it now had two antenna-like whiskers poking out from the now obvious front.
"Okay," he muttered, "one test before bed."
Sunday Morning Johan was up early. He crept across the landing so as to not wake his mother or brother. He snuck downstairs and opened the fridge, poured himself an orange juice, and scurried back up to his room. His phone buzzed on his dresser. It was a text from Rozza.
Didn't hear from me, but there's gonna be a spot physical next week
when?
idk, just heard my dad talking about it
thx
no worries
Johan knocked on his brother's door and opened it without waiting for a response.
Johan stopped in mid-sentence, saying, "Thought you might—."
Casper had fallen asleep at his desk.