The first word that comes to mind, 'smooth'. Rubbing his hand against the wall, Rhaegah experienced everything he wanted for his kitchen walls...that Level-5 Finish. For people unfamiliar with these things, you could say it had that smooth marble feel. The slight irritation in his nose, an unpleasant consequence of the lack of attention this place got, kept him on edge. An abandoned building was rare in the city, raising the likelihood he was far from home. Rhaegah wasn't one to get uncomfortable in silence, in fact he thrived in it. This nightmarish silence however, broken only by the sound of his footsteps, was the pretext for every horror movie.
Even in this situation he found himself thinking of the beach, and how nice that signature sea breeze felt. The relentless assault of thoughts about the beach began to take root, each wave of salty sea breeze in his mind feeling more real, more imminent. It was as if his senses were conspiring to convince him that, just beyond the next step, the cool, soothing sands and the rhythmic crash of waves awaited him. A sanctuary from this oppressive darkness.
Treading lightly, his nose picked up the strangest of things "Saltwater?". Apparently, he had been picking up on the faint smell of saltwater which then led to the random thought of the beach. Contrary to his rationale, he ventured with hastened steps towards whatever exit he convinced himself existed ahead, still having no idea why he was here. It was a large structure with no objects within, an impossible detail for him to miss. However long he'd been walking was another helpful clue. Experience played its part in making his body oddly tense in large spaces, evolving into a subconscious awareness he couldn't turn off. The faint breeze that whizzed by at intervals was proof that an opening wasn't far ahead.
His aimless trudging was abruptly interrupted by a crack in the floor, sending him sprawling, his fingers slipping from the wall. Instantly, anxiety erupted within him, his mind whirling, eyes blinking too rapidly to focus. He staggered, desperately trying to regain his footing but failing, the darkness closing in, thick and suffocating. His racing heart brought with it an emotion he was sure he'd buried long ago.... fear. In his daze, his hand brushed against the wall and he flung himself on it. The young man had somehow regressed to a lost child who'd found his mother. In this pitch-black darkness, that wall functioned as his only real guide.
He'd remained seated with his back to a wall when he first came to, hoping this was only a kidnapping and not one of those bad days. Setting off on the only route available, he'd been taking steady steps forward with hopes to reach an exit at some point. At first, he remained calm knowing his eyes would adjust to the darkness providing more to work with in his navigation. His initial discomfort had now become a gnawing itch he couldn't scratch. This place had done the impossible task of making him feel like a pitch-black room, had gotten even darker over time. It was a nigh impossible task to ascertain if he was heading in the same direction as before, given that he lost his bearing and was lucky to find the wall again.
A few dozen steps later and he was beginning to feel like he'd been walking in place.... An even more twisted trick of the mind. Another whoosh of the saltwater breeze confirmed he was indeed heading in the right direction. 'And what if the very act of trying to avoid the path, takes you farther on the path?' That one line, the last thing he remembers. He'd gotten himself into a conversation with some guy who seemed down on life, looking for a listener. Rhaegah had no love or even general concern for strangers, and would never go out of his way to try to help one. Not much good that ever did. An instinctive familiarity he couldn't explain, provided a temporary lapse in judgement, giving rise to his forever-long conversation with a shady adult. "I stop to listen to a guy's problems and he ends up abducting me. Next time, maybe I'll help a blind woman.... if she doesn't shoot first"
A few blinks confirmed "Is that.... light?". Just the possibility of a good enough light source hastened his steps till he arrived at a doorway. The switch was too fast to notice, but at some point, the clear smell of saltwater had been replaced with the after-burn of a fried circuit. You'd think a change that drastic would be noticeable. A hovering ball of light pulsed quietly above him. The bright purple glow of a Bio-Lume threw his senses off quite a bit. Being an everyday household item that literally ran on air alone, seeing one with such a bright glow in a place as stuffy as this was akin to seeing a solar inverter with full charging speed at night. "The air is way too thin in here. How is this so bright?".
A once-over confirmed he had been on a large corridor, too big for just people-sized movement "Vehicle route perhaps? But driving up to a set of stairs doesn't really fall under the 'sane' category of things", not that he didn't approve of the practicality of it. Why would anyone bother walking that distance only to then descend an untold number of stairs, when you could simply drive up to them. Next on the list of complications came the stairs in question. Rhaegah trusted three things in life: his head, his heart, and his gut. Though his heart rarely got much screen-time, all three were now in unanimous agreement: descending those stairs was a dreadful idea.
With his eyes now an active part of his council of senses, he was both relieved and sinking down into despair at the same time. The Bio-Lume provided a field of light which was great, the problem? Outside the zone of light, the darkness around seemed more ominous than before. He was currently standing at the center of the light field, straining his eyes to see what lay down the flight of stairs. One option was to push the light down to get a view of things. Surely an object that blatantly defied gravity would have no problem with descent, knowing it would simply return to the highest point of the room after a given time. This option though logical, wasn't without its risks. For one, there was no guarantee nothing was down there to put the Lume out of commission leaving him in the same darkness he's dreaded so far.
Deep in thought, he was jolted back to reality by the sensation of something crawling over his face. With a sharp shriek, he brushed it away, only to find himself dumbfounded as his fingers merely tangled in the hair that occasionally fell across his face. "Calm yourself Rhae" he muttered, returning to his train of thought. It couldn't be said how long had passed, and he was really starting to miss his phone. He was however, certain he's been staring down for close to an hour, the unsettling feeling in his gut not wavering even a little. "Still nothing after waiting this long? What's the point of all this? That old shit's gonna pay for this.... assuming I even make it outta here". With those words, he began his slow descent down the stairs. Sweat trickled down, making his jet-black hair cling to his forehead like a second skin. The dim, violet glow of the Bio-Lume cast dancing shadows across his wood-brown eyes, mirroring the fierce determination in his heart. But even that fire, so intense and bright, felt like it could be extinguished with a single breath in this suffocating, eerie place.
. The stairs ran along the circular walls of this chamber, boasting an infinite number of steps. Perhaps because he was being cautious about it, or the accumulated stress of this whole shitshow, he found each new step immensely difficult to take the lower he went. The Bio-Lume hovering above him was his sole assurance that he was still descending, casting eerie shadows on the walls. His legs felt as though he'd been climbing uphill for hours, each step a Herculean effort against the mounting fatigue. "Alright Rhae, we're either halfway or close to the bottom by now" After descending till his legs felt like warm jelly, He sat heavily on a step, praying to all the deities he could think of that he was right. A halfway point would be a glimmer of hope, just needing to retrace the same distance to freedom. Even better, he imagined spotting the end of the stairs soon. But the unthinkable gnawed at his mind—what if he wasn't even halfway yet?
Perhaps he'd been in the dark too long, but between the eerie silence only broken by his snuffles, steps, and ragged breathing, he couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched. Now clearly able to see the walls he'd been feeling up, he was taken aback as it looked nothing like it felt. Strange crack-like patterns ran across almost every part of the walls, with certain spots missing entire chunks. The violet hue from the Lume did nothing to alter the actual color of the dark walls, not that it mattered.
A cold shiver crept up his spine, an unshakable feeling that unseen eyes were boring into him from the shadows. The darkness seemed to press closer, suffocating and alive with silent whispers that tickled the edges of his consciousness. Every instinct screamed that he was being watched, each breath growing more ragged under the weight of the unseen presence. "Nope! Darkness does things to a person's mind, not that I'm shamefully trying to ignore the possibility that whoever brought me here is obviously keeping tabs on me". Could a person really have the patience to observe his actions for this long? Such people were the most dangerous to encounter. This he knew for certain, being cut from that same tree. Nevertheless, his only way forward, was down.
Further down the stairs, he was now certain the lack of strength he felt in his body, was indeed non-fiction. Breathing down here proved a herculean task in the presence of more dust than clean air. Barely able to stay on his feet, he all but dragged himself down the flight of stairs not wishing to pass out partway in a place no one would find him. "Adrenaline really does come in handy" he chuckled laying eyes on solid ground before rising to his feet at the sight of massive double doors. The doors were plain, old looking but not lacking in the toughness they were built for, at least visually.
With only a few steps from the doors, a certain sound seemed to reverberate around. It was light, short, and distinct.... A beep. It resounded once, then again, and again with each new beep resounding faster than before. There was no mistaking that sound, it was the signature beeping sound that cruelly lures you in until you stumble on something you knew you should've stayed far from. He pushed the doors open with little effort, peering inside for any clues. His mind focused on the beeping and not questioning how such heavy doors parted so easily. As if confirming his thoughts, somewhere in the pitch-black room a flickering dot of red flashed in sync with the beeping. "Oh shit!" He exclaimed before turning to run out, only to bump into the doors he'd pushed open. "Shit! no NO!!" The doors had somehow sealed themselves shut, leaving him in proximity with whatever explosive renovation this building was about to undergo. Realizing the futility of struggling, he turned to face the flashing light, its brightness searing his eyes, forcing him to shield them. The light grew more intense, as if mocking his helplessness, filling him with a sense of impending doom.
With a throat-ripping scream, he jolted upright, drenched in sweat. Droplets trickled down, an underlying chill settling into his bones, the shivers from the dream gripping him tightly, refusing to let go. Still hearing the dreadful beeping sound, he turned to grab his alarm clock, hurling it against the wall and relishing the clutter of broken pieces that rained down as the beeping finally stopped. He squinted and turned away from the light forcing its way through the windows. "That fucking dream again"
The bed felt unusually comfy today. Rhaegah wasn't the type to remain in bed once awake, but being blown up in your dream isn't something you simply shake off. His hands and legs still twitching at intervals, he thought hard for a reason the dream changed again. "Felt just like that day" Deep in thought, he was drawn towards the memory of rain pouring furiously over the Masons' estate. He'd been adopted by a wealthy couple after spending the first couple years of his life in a foster home. Upon arrival at the mansion, the couple properly introduce themselves as Brandon and Olga Mason. Starting that day, they were his parents, and he was their adorable son. Apparently, the heavy storm had caused a blackout over the grounds of the estate, not giving him much to see on the way to the room provided for him.
In a completely different place, Rhaegah could hardly find the calm to fall asleep. A range of emotions flowed through his mind, the strongest was that he might be dreaming and would wake up still at the group home. Over time he found a sense of comfort by letting the heavy downpour drown every other sound out, until he could visualize the rain when he closed his eyes. That was the night the dreams began. As if losing his memories the moment he went to sleep, he would experience the dream for the first time every time. He could never forget what he felt the first morning. That paralyzing fear as a kid trapped in nothing but darkness while slowly running out of air, not even aware it was a dream....that same feeling viciously invaded his body right now. With a heavy sigh, he bid farewell to the bed.
Mindlessly going through his morning routine, he was still at a loss for information. "Never made it down the stairs before though, and now a door? Just how deep does it go?" An orb of light hovered above him. The Bio-Lume was an early innovation of the R&D division of the Legion Research Empire, a mega corporation with a hand in literally everything. The glowing orb housed a rare plant that could give off its own light.... a luminous plant one could say. The hard exterior served as both a protective shell for the plant, as well as a means of altering the color of light produced within. Try as he might, Rhaegah could never fully grasp the detailed technicalities of how this thing worked. All he knew was that the orb housed a glowing plant, continually bathing it in UV rays to maintain its life. The base of the orb was fitted with tiny gaps that sucked in air to nourish the plant within, while using that same channel to propel itself off the ground. A dock situated on his desk served as the resting point for the Bio-Lume which contained enough water to properly hydrate the plant.
"I didn't shut the windows to stare into the sun here. Adjust Bio-Lume to dawn". The orb whirred in response, dimming its light to a bearable dim glow like the look of the sky before the sun revealed itself. Reaching for his phone, he noticed his shaking hand. The shivers were still very much present. This dream had been an irritating companion, barging into his consciousness at somewhat regular intervals for over a decade. As usual, he'd have no recollection of past experiences while in there, only for them to flood his mind the moment he wakes up. The real conundrum were the rare 'updates' in the dream. Getting to the end of the corridor was something he'd never accomplished till now, and like all other times he gained new information, he couldn't shake the feeling that his life was about to take a drastic turn.
Looking ahead from his bed, a pile of messy clothes laid loosely, calming the stir in his heart to a degree. That chaos in his room was ironically refreshing today, it proved he was back in his place. A deafening cacophony of musical instruments boomed from the phone on his desk. The childish tune from a kids show long forgotten, rang loudly enough to wake the neighborhood. "I'm gonna kill someone today". He grudgingly answered the call to be met by the expected cheerful voice of his closest (and one could say only) friend, Kaneko Sanji.
"It's too bright out for you to still be in bed" Kaneko boomed
"Coming from someone who's probably still at NPC 13's house" Rhaegah snapped back
"Quiet! What if she heard that? And can you stop referring to my ladies like that?" Kaneko was audibly pleading
"Can't do that when you keep moving on to the next before their names get the chance to really sink in"
"Whatever, I'll be over to pick you up in like 30 minutes" "Meet me at the bridge instead. Need a stroll to clear my head"
"The dream again?" Kaneko was genuinely concerned
"Yeah. Remember, 30 MINUTES!" Rhaegah emphasized before hanging up.
As was routine, he connected his phone to the apartment's sound system (the whole place had regions in the walls that gave the impression that the apartment itself was playing his songs), making his way to the bathroom. He preferred cold showers, but the feeling of cold droplets hitting his skin warped him back to the night he arrived at the Masons. "Fucking dream". He cranked the heat till steam filled the bathroom, a desperate attempt to clear his thoughts. Stepping back into the room after a hot shower, he could feel eyes on him the moment he turned to face the mirror on the wall. Like every other morning, he was reminded of his 'unique trait' as he wasn't fond of being referred to as 'abnormal'. The narrow region between his eyes and cheekbones was faintly covered in what he termed as scales, given its resemblance to that one anime character when in dragon force. After a wasteful period of medical centers giving a different diagnosis each time, he simply gave up on trying to figure it out concluding he was just one of countless people with peculiar conditions. Without any negative effects originating from it, that was fine.
His dark brown eyes slyly observed the room through the mirror, a slight shift of his socks laying at the foot of his bed raised his alert levels significantly. He'd been waiting patiently and was no doubt ready for whatever came at him. He caught a glimpse of a figure rushing at him from the corner of his eye, but he already anticipated this. He nimbly dodged to the side just as the figure landed at his previous location. Reaching forward with fiery intent, he grabbed the assailant, bringing the perpetrator to meet his gaze "Looks like I win this round". The cat in his hands growled at his mocking expression before fussing to be put down. "You gotta work on your stealth young man". Mittens, a rare-bred tabby feline he'd taken in as a kitten almost two years ago, leapt off his grasp landing perfectly on the bed. "You're so much bigger now so you need to work on your stealth more" Rhaegah chuckled.
Mittens was very much the only one capable of easily drawing such a reaction from him, compared to his usual flat energy with everyone else. Mittens, clearly understanding nothing he'd said, simply stared at him before dropping to the floor and strolled out of the room with pride in his stride "At least he takes criticism well". Rhaegah put on a pair of black cargo pants, a sleeved top of matching color with prints of white and grey lined along its sides. He made to pick his usual black boots but decided to switch things up since today was, in Kaneko's words, special. A pair of white boots sat to the side; shoes he wasn't particularly fond of given that they were the opposite of what he was used to. Finding solace in the fact that the matte black soles would balance it out, he strapped them on and was ready to head down.
A sharp beep brought his attention to his wall of screens, an error prompt beeping from the center screen "SOURCE MATERIAL UPDATED....CLONING PROCESS HALTED". Not giving the nauseating ringer a chance to even start, he picked the incoming call "I'm gonna kill you for this stupid ringer" Rhaegah snapped into the speaker knowing who was on the other side "You didn't complain the first time so I thought you were feeling it out" the other boy's hearty laugh caused a vein to nearly pop in his head "Fuck you.... I'm guessing you received the same prompt?" he brought the focus back "Yeah, what the hell? The OS got updated a week before schedule. Think they're onto us?" Kaneko didn't sound very worried even as he asked that "They wouldn't need a drastic move for that. Early Christmas maybe?" "Look who's a comedian now" Kaneko teased. "Gimme a few minutes. I can probably adjust the program to accommodate the new version" "That's why you're the tech guy" "You pick up things when you spend enough time with a Hound. I'll need about 5 more minutes before heading out" Rhaegah said calmly "5 more minutes of Janice time for me...hehe" "Right, Janice" Rhaegah sighed, ending the call.
The two had enrolled at the training facility of the Legion Research Empire (The L.R.E) a year ago, but met after about a month in. The L.R.E was the undisputed leading faction in all innovations related to all walks of life. The Empire rose to power at the later end of 2025 after ridding the world of the deadly Predator Virus earlier that year. A single company, Nerola-V, had emerged literally out of nowhere and not only produced a vaccine for the mortally infectious virus, but went ahead to develop cures for most known terminal illnesses afflicting the world. Left with the chaos of a world trying to rebuild, the company quickly absorbed the leading organizations that had tried developing a vaccine, alongside other top factions from all walks of life and grew into the Legion Research Empire of today.
The Empire later built a large island facility to train candidates for deployment into the various branches all over the world. Enrollment into the training facility was originally open only to exceptional applicants that the L.R.E deemed a necessity to further push their stand as the leading organization in the 'new world' as people had come to call their new reality. Over time, the facility began opening its doors to people from wealthy and powerful backgrounds, gaining the support of the ruling class of society, which in turn cemented their place as the most powerful organization in the world. Rhaegah applied at the behest of his guardian Walter, a long-standing employee at the Empire's HQ. Clearly having pulled some strings for him, Rhaegah was eventually accepted into the facility.
The OS the two boys had been trying to clone, was developed for the mobile assistant tablet (the MA tab) which the Empire granted to all accepted candidates. People called it the culmination of all the digital technological advancements of mobile devices of the 21st century, and was further improved upon now that most of the organizations of the world had fallen under the Empire. Rhaegah saw the vast potential of such an innovation, but with the Empire's unnatural focus on security over everything they oversaw, not much could be done in terms of activities with questionable intent. Kaneko had been the one to suggest creating a custom device capable of utilizing the features of the MA tab, and then clone the OS into the new device giving them free reign over all features of the MA tab without fear of discovery.
The process had been tricky, and the two came close to giving up several times. A breakthrough appeared in the form of the source code rooted at the core of the OS that Kaneko had finessed from Tris (or NPC 6 as Rhaegah had called her), who was an employee at the facility and a tech genius. She considered Kaneko a total airhead and didn't think much of revealing such information, a lapse in judgement Rhaegah was more than thankful for. After a few minutes of careful coding, he resumed the cloning program fully aware that this was the worst time to tamper with the Empire's tech. What choice did he have? Today was the last day as a trainee in the facility. Better now than when he became an employee and would be more closely monitored.
Leaving the program to run, he grabs his hoodie and heads downstairs to the living room. Walter had gotten this place for him after Rhaegah agreed to move to the city for enrollment. The rooftop condo was a single space apartment with an upper region for his bedroom and bathroom while the lower space had his living room and kitchen with other minor spaces for miscellaneous purposes. Walking past the bathroom, the muffled chaos of Mittens, his feline roommate clawing at the towel rack reached his ears. Descending the stairs, he entered the kitchen, where a peculiar bowl with tiger stripes lay on the floor. The Bio-Lume had navigated here using the home grid feature, glowing a mystical violet hue that bathed the apartment in an otherworldly light. He retrieved Mittens' favorite treat, the smell that initially made his nose wrinkle, now part of life's tapestry. "This'll have to do till I'm back," he muttered, stepping past the sofa to the front door. With a call from Kaneko imminent, he set his phone to vibrate, reminding himself to find a new ringer soon.
Connected to his apartment was an elevator, a stroke of luck or perhaps deliberate intent, a mystery Walter never clarified—one of many things that ticked him off about the old man. As the elevator doors slid open, the city's cacophony burst in, rudely shaking him from his thoughts.
The capital city of the Phoenix Federation is a sparkling metropolis, with towering skyscrapers reaching up towards the smoggy sky. Though a labyrinth of narrow streets and alleys snaked through the packed buildings, the main streets were the picture of order. Despite the constant noise, the city is always alive with focused energy and ambition. A little too much energy for Rhaegah who preferred the quiet of the outskirts on the edge of town. Everywhere he looked, people were hustling and bustling, driven by the cutthroat environment. Making a name for yourself in this new world was something people would do anything to accomplish. The government surely maintained order, but it was impossible to prevent or intervene in conflicts that never see the light of day.
Unlike most days where all manner of people filled the streets, the streets today were filled with wealthy elite in their sleek, self-driven cars. Self-driven cars were in no way a rare commodity, but anyone could easily spot an elite's car in the crowd. Money speaks after all. The graduation ceremony was the day most families anticipated the most. A certified placement in the Empire's sphere of influence was worth everything. The city was dominated by massive corporations which ultimately fell under the umbrella of the Empire, whose logos boasted a variety of colors while changing nothing about the city's hue, all vying for the attention of the masses towards their products which lined the shelves of stores around. Making his way through his usual route, he couldn't help but feel a sense of both woe and trepidation. This is a place where anything is possible, but also a place where one misstep can lead to ruin. This city, a monument to human ambition and innovation, bearing warning of the dangers of unchecked power and greed.....was situated in a region once called Florida. Now, it's one of the many zones under the Phoenix Federation.....formerly the USA.
Compared to where he spent his years after fleeing the Masons, this was a peaceful city. Rhaegah never truly felt comfortable here, or in any other city before this. For everyone he met, they truly belonged wherever he happened to meet them. Knowing where you're from, and understanding who you came from are great influences when deciding one's place in the world. His parents had left him at the home. Yes, they 'left' him there and didn't 'abandon' him. He refused to assume the worst before even knowing about the circumstances of their actions....they deserved that much, and he would find out which it was. The 'note' they left addressed to him, contained his name and a page filled with symbols nobody could figure out. Ironically, he had the Masons to thank for setting him on this path. A single positive memory of that place could have made him second guess his decision to run far away from them.
At age 8, he arrived at his first clue. Either nobody bothered to look through the note in detail, or they thought it pointless seeing as it was filled with gibberish, a part of the note was written in distinguishable words 'Nerola', 'stay far', and 'end'. These words were spaced well enough for no possible meaning to be gained from connecting them. The young lad woke up that morning with the realization that he was trapped in a dark corridor. Another case that certified that his dream was indeed timed with major shifts in his life. That was something new to work with for his real world problem, yet he couldn't bring himself to celebrate. 'Nerola'...just what was the name of the most powerful organization in the world doing in the note left behind for him as an infant. Sure the 'V' was missing but that was nowhere enough to quell the thoughts that his quest to find himself had just evolved into something impossible.
Nerola-V, the organization that saved the world, might have a part to play in his truth? Years of investigation yielded one thing so far, his DNA was a match with someone in the Nerola group. The parent company had faded away after the founding of the Empire, and all information regarding the company was wiped from records. Even with the help of renowned hackers, getting any information on Nerola was a task no one could accomplish. This left him the only option of infiltration. In a hilarious twist of fate, Walter had found him shortly after, and invited him to enroll at the training facility. Walter felt responsible for everything Rhaegah went through since he had promised to help him all those years ago. A placement in the Empire would secure whatever future he wanted.
A better opportunity couldn't have presented itself. A company so determined to remain invisible to the world was surely a dangerous one, including the Empire as a whole, in association. Being a part of the Empire, Walter was someone he shouldn't trust, but the older man had proved he was indeed on his side. The note, and his true thoughts about the Empire were among the few things he kept from Walter. The two years after that were devoted to preparing Rhaegah for life in the Empire. The first year focused on his knowledge of the city and how well he could integrate himself into a community. The second year solely focused on the academic knowledge he would require. Now, one year after, he would graduate. "A full year? I didn't think I'd make it past a month". Time really did fly by for him, and today he would take the next step.
A final cut through an alley brought him to the highway. The bridge he would meet Kaneko lay ahead. He felt minutes go by staring out to the island in the distance. Graduates would be deployed to various sectors of the L.R.E around the globe. Rhaegah and Kaneko had chosen a path that secured a place at the training facility. Better to work in a familiar environment if you feel there could be trouble ahead. Neither of them told the other the real reason they needed to infiltrate the Empire, but both were equally aware of the other's resolve and desperation to see their mission through, alongside the fact that both depended on the other for the progression of their goals. That alone was enough.
A distinct high-pitched growl brought his attention to the other side of the bridge. That raspy metallic undertone of the engine he couldn't help but admire, revved with each second. Kaneko was obviously being a delinquent again. Rhaegah loved the car the moment he laid eyes on it. Kaneko commented on his thoughts that a Porsche was more Rhaegah's look than his, and always insisted he drive. Rhaegah turned him down each time claiming he'd rather be driven. The car pulled up to him and the streamlined shape of a typical 911 series and seemed to glimmer in the light. Watching Kaneko walk up, Rhaegah was drawn to the boy's eyes.
Once his black hair was out of the way, Kaneko's heterochromia became evident. Unlike other cases where each eye held a different color, Kaneko's right eye instead had a gold hue splashed over the base brown of his eyes. His face always formed a grin you couldn't pull off with open eyes. When his eyes did open, the obvious difference in them would glare right at you.
"Stare any longer and I might start to think you're into me", "Can't believe lines like that work on those poor girls. So, who are you basing your outfit on?". Kaneko had on black trousers, a white T-shirt, and a cropped black jacket. He'd tinted his hair the same gold as his eye. Other gold pieces of jewelry rested on strategic locations to project an individual thrust in wealth. "You clearly haven't seen enough anime to ask that. I'm clearly the very image of the king of heroes" Kaneko replied with a chuckle before his face took a stern expression "Get enough thinking done?" "Nope....spent the whole time thinking about everything but the dream. I guess that means I need to focus on the main event" Rhaegah replied curtly. The wind picked up, rushing ahead of them towards the island as the two turned to set off.
"Don't even think about tossing those keys" Kaneko was held frozen by Rhaegah's remark. He was indeed reaching into his pocket to do exactly that. "And just like that, you killed the mood" he sighed. Their idle chitchat along the way ended abruptly upon reaching the island security station. Past this station lay the short highway onto the island. For a place he passed every day, today felt much different. Maybe due to the higher number of guards stationed here. The graduation ceremony evidently had the management in high alert. The large number of VIPs gathered at this event today was a recipe for danger that nobody wanted.
"Identification" the guard who walked up to them demanded sternly "Easy John, I get the beef up today, but it's still your lovable duo so cut back on the death glare" Kaneko's casual remark raised an eyebrow on the guard in question. Protocols demanded all guards always keep their visors down, putting John in a position for some lectures later. "I gotta play the part today" the hefty guard whispered, clearly not wanting the others to listen in "If t'day goes off without a hitch, I might just get that promotion" he finished with a wink "Bout time too" Kaneko replied before resuming the drive.
A basic blueprint of the facility would display the main building as a large hexagonal structure that towered over everything in sight. The structure was split into eight wings. The northern block held the Technological Wing, where the research and development department of the facility was broken down further to cater for all technological innovations necessary for everyday life. The northeast block housed the Medical Wing, where all health-related research was conducted, also playing the primary role of catering to the needs of personnel on the island. The different floors were dedicated to various fields of medical science making it the most advanced medical center in this part of the world. The Education Sector (or Edu Wing as every set of applicants called it) which made up the southeast block was the center for all academic activity. It was safe to say one year of learning here would grant a person more than several years of academic growth as with standard institutions around the world. The southern block was the Administrative Wing. This was the center of all matters having to do with personnel registered under the facility, alongside personnel within the Empire as a whole. They were headed to this wing.
All graduating trainees were required to pass through a final interview before released to venture the grounds till notice of their deployment was received. The southwest and northwest block held the Financial Wing and Environmental Sustainability Wing respectively. Means of efficiently handling money was an obvious importance in any organization. Working to restore nature to the world, the Environmental Sustainability wing was developed to tackle that. Straight ahead from Rhaegah was the Admin Wing. Kaneko had dropped him off and had gone searching for a parking spot. He insisted on walking the short distance to further get his thoughts together before Kaneko returned. Any chance to walk was a chance to think, which somehow turned into a personal preference when covering certain distances. This made him question Walter's choice in a gift when the car showed up. Walter had acquired the old car, and made custom modifications to the car. Thankfully, it continually proved useful to Kaneko so he didn't worry about leaving it to pick up dust. It was a straight path to the main building.
The grounds were lined with marble, clearly stating that this was a 'walk, not drive' zone. Trees lined up the path on both sides, looming over every passerby. The huge palm trees were the latest prototypes of the R&D division. With research data from the Environmental Sustainability wing, they were able to incorporate their nano tech into the organic structure of various plants. The Predator Virus had begun infecting plant life around the globe before settling into humans. The desperate desire to battle the rapid drop in human lives led to a neglect for the vegetation that humanity relied on. Rhaegah had seen palm trees before, but the ones here seemed so full of life. He couldn't help but ponder though: If the Empire succeeded and indeed globally saved the plant life with their nano-infusion, how much of 'nature' would truly be left? Not that it mattered anyway, he didn't meet enough of it to care that much.
The marble floors of the facility, were the Empire's signature look. The unique pattern on each tile of marble was in perfect synchronization with all connecting tiles around it, giving the entire facility grounds the image of a never-ending bed of flowers. What should be a beautiful sight, was at this moment, an image from nightmares. Gaze fixed on the now ominous flowerbed; he recalled a vital piece of information. There'd been no reason to even think of this before today. "The floor....is the same?" The black void he wandered through each time he fell into that dream, had been just that…a void. The addition of light for the first time in almost a decade, brought the room to overlap with his current view. The floors of that place, that void, had the same unending bed of flowers.
"Rhae, you good?" Kaneko's voice brought his gaze away from the ground towards the side where the boy stood confused. "I kept calling out. You good?" Kaneko tapped "It's probably just in my head, but I keep getting vibes like that update was done ahead of schedule on purpose, besides simple maintenance" Rhaegah quickly replied. The details of the dream were something Rhaegah never shared, only that it was a reoccurring dream. "I keep telling you, you need to relax more. Can't get girls if you're stuck in your head all the time, thinking up scenarios that won't happen. I get your worry, and that update had nothing to do with us. The Empire wouldn't go through all that just to flush us out. You said that". Rhaegah nodded in agreement having successfully diverted Kaneko's attention.
The reception was located on the ground floor of the Admin Wing. The reception was as spacious as it was elegant. Bio-Lumes hovered closely to the ceiling giving the area a feel of natural light to better compliment the modern furniture. The lobby was designed to be both functional and welcoming, with comfortable seating areas and a help desk staffed with knowledgeable professionals. The walls were lined with the same marble finish as the floors, expanding the bed of flowers into a picture-perfect enclosure anyone would feel sad to leave. Stepping in, Rhaegah could find no way to ease the rising pressure in his chest. He shut his eyes upon reaching the walls to the stairs, rubbing a hand along the surface to disprove his thought. It is important to note that not once since his enrollment here, did he have a reason to touch the walls on the inside of this building.
The comfort he sought immediately warped into a myriad of countless scenarios as reality hit. "It's the same. I've experienced it long enough to know. This slight roughness had been the tile patterns this whole time?" he visibly paled. "You only get like this when it's bout that" Kaneko didn't seem to buy his earlier attempt, something Rhaegah had caught on. "This is why friends are annoying. The mystery is gone". The other boy's silence signaled the end of that sorry excuse for a topic change. "Finally gonna tell me what it's about?" The specifics of the dream weren't really something that required such secrecy. Most would sooner treat it as the result of a broken mind. To him, this was the one thing that was his to figure out. All his life there had been someone there to cover for his inadequacies. He had nothing and seemingly came from nothing, so this felt like a journey he had to overcome himself.
Given, there was much the two kept from the other, and this continually came in the way of any deep trust that could have formed between the two. They were content with the fact that each had come to need the other for their goals, and that was enough. At least for Rhaegah, it was enough, but was the person he called his friend fine with that? He never even thought the boy would stick around this long. That had to change now. He still couldn't tell him what his goal was, but with the path of uncertainty ahead of them, some element of trust would go a long way.
"This is just me spit-balling but, is it possible your mind simply overlapped that environment with this one? The two places give you about the same level of unease. It could be a way to ground your worries to get you focused on the premise that solving one will help with solving the other" Kaneko's comment after over ten minutes of Rhaegah explaining everything about the dream, was something Rhaegah did consider but couldn't simply accept. That was too convenient a situation to occur. Could he have unknowingly blocked the original path the dream was on by incorporating it into his challenges in reality?
The interview had been a simple survey. The facility took records and statements from all graduates to further improve on the performance of the facility. He stepped out of the reception to meet Kaneko staring at his watch. "Good, you're out. We've got time, one spar for old time's sake?". Combat ability was something Rhaegah was forced to develop in order to survive after leaving the Masons. The chaotic world left little for those who couldn't do what was necessary to survive, and with nothing to lose, he quickly became a problem to deal with. Not long after enrolling here, he'd stumbled into the gym one day and the sorry state of Kaneko's opponent brought a sense of competition he hadn't felt before. This person was strong, and he couldn't resist wanting to find out just how strong.
"You just wanna show off again" Rhaegah replied to the obvious taunt. Rhaegah was confident in his combat capabilities, at least for someone his age. He couldn't dare boast of being able to defeat everyone, but he was always ready to take on anyone. While Kaneko never seemed like it, he possessed a skill for combat that was beyond what Rhaegah was capable of. There'd been instances where Rhaegah would be knocked out quite early into the fight, while most times it ended up in a drawn-out match that still resulted in his defeat. His win-loss ratio was basking in the losing side. "Not this time" Kaneko replied "I checked, and nobody's logged into the gym today" he continued "Other people actually give a shit about today" Rhaegah retorted. Beyond Kaneko's obvious grin, the boy wasn't wrong. Unnecessary thoughts fade when in combat "Sure, let's go". There was too much activity in his head, so he pushed it all to the back of his mind and instead focused on what came next "Time for you to catch these hands".
Several smaller structures lay strategically around the main building for the many activities the facility provided. The fitness gym was one they visited frequently, at least whenever Rhaegah was willing to tag along. The gym was a state-of-the-art space filled with training equipment for all manner of improvements. It was half the size of a standard football field, and had a smaller room below it for more contact related training. As Kaneko stated earlier, the gym was empty save for a few guests making use of equipment around. The island was open to the public today so it wasn't strange to see new faces here and there. Heading below, the two recounted their previous matches to get themselves in the right mindset for their bout.
In the dimly lit gym, the two boys squared off, their eyes locked in a force gaze. Sweat glistened on their foreheads, depicting the intense pressure as they circled each other, each one waiting for the other to make the first move. Suddenly Kaneko lunged forward with near-blinding speed, his fist aimed at Rhaegah's face. Rhaegah in turn, ducked and countered with a swift kick to his opponent's stomach, causing Kaneko to stumble backwards. Kaneko quickly regained his balance and lunged forward once again, this time with a series of rapid punches aimed at Rhaegah's head. Rhaegah dodged and weaved each blow, his movements fluid and graceful, as he countered with a series of quick jabs to Kaneko's chest. The two continued this exchange, their movements almost too fast to follow. Rhaegah seemed to have found the perfect means to really let his stress out, and Kaneko was more than eager to match up.
Each was determined to emerge victorious from the intense spar, and neither was willing to give an inch. As the minutes ticked by, the boys began to tire, their breaths coming out in ragged gasps. Still, they fought on, their determination never wavering. After what seemed like an eternity, Kaneko managed to land a solid blow to Rhaegah's chin, sending him crashing to the ground. He looked up to catch a glimpse of Kaneko standing over him, his chest heaving with exhaustion as he looked down at his fallen opponent. For a moment, there was total silence in the gym, broken only by the sound of the boys heavy breathing. In that moment, Rhaegah was back in that pitch black corridor. With his eyes shut, the pressure he felt in his chest resonated with the feeling of oxygen deprivation he felt in that dream. The mutual factor was the fear of being overcome by something he should be capable of fending off. He'd buried this feeling all those years ago, fear being a dangerous thing for a lone child to hold on to in this world. Never again....Never again would he let himself feel that way. He would eradicate all traces of that fear, leaving no trace.
Deep in the turmoil of his mind, a word repeated itself until it was loud enough to hear "RHAEGAH!!". Light returned to his eyes to find himself inches from Kaneko. He was out of it for more than a few seconds. His eyes rested on his arm, raised forward with no clear intent. "I say we call it a tie" Kaneko clearly had caution in his eyes, but the wide grin didn't give reason to think much of it. Behind that cautious gaze and grin held a look that showed how impressed he was. "I'll meet you at the square. I got a call to make" Rhaegah hurried out not granting a chance for a reply. "That was….interesting to see" the soft, light, but blatantly unimpressed voice of a young girl echoed from a corner of the gym. The little girl slowly walked up to the only other figure in the room.
"Never thought girls were the ones to peep". "Judging from your reaction earlier, I assume what happened wasn't normal?" The girl clearly had no intention in entertaining pointless chitchat "Just how long were you peeping for?" Kaneko jabbed. Once again, the girl blew past his tease. Under the dim lights, the brown of her hair shone mildly. She looked no older than fourteen, and that was stretching it. "As I'd heard, that one is dangerous. Shame. He might have some potential hidden away". "A man has a right to his mystery. Why's that a shame?" Kaneko asked with a raised brow. The young girl strolled ahead not sparing him a glance "Unlike him, you should be preparing yourself for your 'bright' future". The emphasis on that last part hinted that she didn't consider a path with the Empire to be that great. Once again, the conversation, if it could be called that, ended with Kaneko left behind before he could let out a reply. "Did Rhae just make me invisible to a girl?"
Leaving the gym, Rhaegah's mobile assistance tablet (the MA tab) prompted a 10 minutes reminder for the assembly at the square. "Call February" he voiced after putting on his earphones. Anyone looking at his MA tab would be puzzled as to why it showed no activity. He was in fact placing a call from a secondary device he used for the singular purpose of communicating with this person. "Rhaellie!" The hearty call of an absurd modification of his name was proof the right person picked up. "Been a while since you called. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten bout little ol' me" "Not the time Feb, I'm the one feeling like I'd call and this number would be disconnected" " That was one-time Rhaellie. And I did reach out again, right?" a hint of sadness in the voice "Right. So, I think it happened again" Rhaegah brought the topic back "You don't sound sure" "It was only for a few seconds so I can't be 100% sure, but I was gone for a few seconds" "Looks like you're gonna be busy for a while, and you're gonna be late if you don't start walking"
Of course someone with her skills would be able to pull off this degree of remote surveillance "Call me when you're home. You know I don't enjoy buzzing around in Empire servers" "Sure, later then". Annie February, a hacker prodigy he'd met years ago. More precisely, she caught him looting her place and took him in. A child resorting to burglary obviously didn't have anyone else to look after him. In her pre-teen years, she became the first one to successfully navigate her way around the Lost World, the now corrupted online space that contained the 'World Wide Web' before the cyber wars. Over the course of her visits to the Lost world, she was particularly taken aback by a category of animated works people of that time referred to as 'anime' and made it a task to attain more in addition to whatever led her in there in the first place. Rhaegah himself had been so immersed in the episode she left playing when he tried looting her place. She returned later to find a strange kid in her secret apartment, eyes glued to the screen.
"Shit, she was right" another prompt from his MA tab caused him to hurry off. Rhaegah didn't have time to explain the situation surrounding the experience and hear her words that seemed to always provide a calm in the storm long enough for him to find his way out. He would have to face Kaneko having no clear thoughts on how to smooth it out. "How are you late when you left the gym before I did?" The subject of his internal debate had seemingly lost memory of the event. "Of course he didn't forget. He's just an idiot like that" he thought to himself before joining the grinning loudmouth ahead.
The Square, as everyone took to calling the auditorium, was the main attraction for guests visiting the island. The inhabitants of the island themselves never got enough of the luxurious feel the hall exuded. Stepping into the grand auditorium, your eyes would immediately be drawn to the awe-inspiring square ground stretching out before you. The signature polished marble flooring glimmered under the soft glow of Bio-Lumes, while plush crimson seats arranged in a gentle arc beckon you to take a seat and bask in the regal ambiance. Though the aforementioned would indeed be a stunning sight for your everyday citizen, it's the translucent dome roof that truly steals the show. As you gaze up, your breath catches at the sight of the stunning glass ceiling, allowing natural light to filter in and bathe the entire space in a warm radiance. Be it the bright blue of a summer day, or the soft golden hue of sunset, the ceiling transforms with the changing sky, adding an ethereal quality to any event hosted within.
The Empire spared no cost with the state-of-the-art technology seamlessly integrated into the design, with discreet speakers, screens and holographic projectors mounted at strategic locations in the Square, ensuring every corner of the auditorium is filled with crystal clear sounds, visuals, and augmented reality displays. Settling into the cushioned seat, one can feel the anticipation building, knowing that you're about to witness a performance that will stay with you for years to come. From the intricate lighting system to the plush velvet curtains that adorn the stage, every element had been carefully considered to create a truly unforgettable space. Important meetings have been held here, and even more conferences that determined the future of the Empire itself were held within these walls. Today, it would be the grounds for their graduation ceremony.
Rhaegah understood that the grand speech by the Empire's representative today, the man who introduced himself as Mr. Randdulf, was the highlight of today, not that he cared. He drowned out most of it, only catching on to few points that really had him pondering. After all, the training facility wasn't there for the likes of him. With nothing else to do while standing in formation with the others, he took a scan around and confirmed what Kaneko had earlier commented on. A total of roughly 150 trainees had made it this far from the 400 candidates who enrolled "And here I thought I didn't have what it takes. 150 outta 400 huh? Not bad Rhae, not bad at all. And all without incapacitating anyone". An untold number of minutes went by, until the speech ended with a bout of spirited cheers. "Remember, everything we do is for the betterment of the world".
With that, the auditorium slid open and anxious youth exited in a mild rush. They had barely stepped through the doors when MA tabs began reeling in the notifications. At long last, the moment the two had been waiting for. For the remainder of the day, graduates would receive their new assignments and employment status, and were free to do as they pleased till then. The facility grounds had somehow turned into a replica of popular entertainment districts. Somewhere along the way, NPC 13 had snatched Kaneko away leaving Rhaegah to walk the grounds. He'd barely began walking when a familiar voice called out from a corner "Well if it isn't the ghost of the new recruits". This girl again "Casually talking to a ghost makes you just as weird wouldn't you say, Percy" Persephone Briar, also a graduate today, was the only other person Rhaegah actively conversed with even now. Kaneko had been a unique enough existence in this fish tank for the children of society's elite. He wouldn't go so far as to call her a friend, an acquaintance maybe?.
Her standing as one of the elites was something he had no business with. Yet for some reason, she was of the opinion they'd become buddies, or at least she never cared for formal speech when speaking with him. What kicked off this unnatural relation was an unexpected bathroom incident. In his first week of starting there, he'd unknowingly walked right into the girls' bathroom and stumbled on a puzzling sight. One of the most popular girls in an environment built for kids of powerful and wealthy backgrounds, was crouched low in the corner of the bathroom totally immersed in a ninja-based anime. A quick glance confirmed he was indeed in the wrong place, but this was something he couldn't ignore. Her timing wasn't coincidental given that tutorial classes were ongoing in all parts of the facility, making this the last place anyone should be.
Her blonde hair fell perfectly around her, pale green eyes glued to a mobile screen. One had to look closely to spot the difference between the fairness of her skin, and the blondness of her hair. Not able to hold his curiosity, he goes on to ask how she acquired such a thing. The governments of the world had banned all access to the Lost World. The Cyber War had resulted in the creation of the most powerful AI-induced computer virus to exist. A new online world was then created after order was restored. This new web existed in its own contained world completely cut off from the old web. They termed this new web the Innernet. It provided all the features of the Lost world, but with none of the data that existed within it. This meant every content available on the Innernet had been uploaded post-crisis.
Access to the Lost world, authorized or not, risked giving the virus a chance to spread once again. This made acquiring data from the Lost world a severe crime with heavy consequences. Something as unique as anime could only be found there, making this girl a heinous criminal. The discovery of someone in similar circumstances, overshadowed the fact that a boy had casually walked into the girls' bathroom and became an accessory to a highly punishable crime. Since then, she would casually initiate banter with him, or simply throw subtle jabs in passing like now. Occasional chitchat like this was within reason for him. "I didn't know there'd be exhibitions today" he commented after now noticing the setup and trainees around her. "Not an elaborate one anyway" she replied "We had this whole thing planned for a final project but decided to present it as an independent launch from our department. Might as well get the public's opinion on our product" she seemed to have no time to spare to even look towards the one she conversed with.
"Knowing you, you made sure you were allowed to do that right?" Her gaze met his "Well well Ghost, you think you 'know' me?" Her chuckle while seeming cute on the outside, clearly indicated he was venturing onto unstable ground, a vague sense of danger running up his spine "So... uh.... what you got there?" He could have sworn he saw her eyes sparkle before handing him one of the devices on display. Her attention had reverted to her exhibition and the impending doom had faded as well "Girls are scary dude" he sighed before Percy turned to leave as quickly as her MA tab received its notification. She'd handed him a small compact device said to contain a 'programmable algorithm'. He casually placed the device in his pocket resuming his stroll of the grounds. After walking a couple feet, he stopped to wonder if it was alright to simply walk away with the device. If no one had called him out by now, they probably didn't mind. "A programmable algorithm huh. Could be worth checking out".
Dusk began to creep in, and Rhaegah was yet to receive his deployment notification. Kaneko finally located him a bit later, assuring him there was nothing to worry about. Apparently, Kaneko received his notification just minutes before meeting up with him. Not wanting to simply hang around doing nothing until whenever his arrived, the two head off the island before the much-anticipated afterparty began, much to Kaneko's displeasure being the one driving away from a party he'd looked forward to. The drive to Rhaegah's place was short. With most people either heading to the island or already on the island, they had no trouble making their way to his place quickly.
Going up the elevator, Kaneko's twitching had already become noticeable. Rhaegah never understood why the two never really got along, but surely Mittens could be more mature about it now, and would be friendly with Kaneko. The elevator doors open to reveal not a mere cat, but a predator about to engage a rival. Rhaegah walked past the hissing cat, taking a glance at the kitchen to confirm Mittens' bowl wasn't empty, and made his way up the stairs. The two downstairs would work out their issues. The cloning program he left to run had just crossed the 90% benchmark. He muttered a comment on how heavy this new version must be. "Whatever they got in this new version has to be insane cos what the hell?" Kaneko had appeared up the stairs before Rhaegah could even see how he escaped the predicament with the cat. "Yeah, I was hoping we'd be able to at least boot it up to be sure it even works".
An alert from the side table by the bed, warped their attention to their MA tabs 'CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL DEPLOYED CANDIDATES. THE EMPIRE LOOKS FORWARD TO YOUR EXPLOITS' While this message brought about cheers that could be heard from neighboring apartment buildings, no sound could be heard from this apartment. Getting a placement was something he never doubted. No deployment meant the Empire had no use for you. Apparently, it wasn't unheard of for graduates to not get deployed depending on various circumstances. The ceremony would hold for them still, but only to maintain the pleasant energy of proud families. Most people would see this as being thoughtful, but the Empire was just calculative.
"What the fuck is this? There's no way this is happening right?" Kaneko broke the silence with an outburst. Rhaegah was still at a loss for words. This hit him somewhere he didn't even know could be hit. He was quite confident in his performance this past year, though his conduct especially towards people of authority brought a lot to be desired. But stuff like that was precisely what Walter was around for. "Walter" His eyes snapped open as his mind began its deep dive.
The older man had a habit of contacting him at random intervals to 'check in'. This was the longest he'd gone without hearing from him. Almost two weeks had passed since Walter left for The Legion Research Empire's headquarters. "Did something happen?" "Happen to who?" Kaneko's question broke his focus. Frankly, he'd already forgotten the boy was still there. "I'll fill you in later. You gotta prepare, don't you?" Kaneko felt a strangeness to Rhaegah's words. He wondered why those words poked at him more than they should have.
He hesitated to leave, though from a place of guilt. Kaneko was just that type of person. Rhaegah probably didn't want him to spend the rest of the night feeling bad about his own good news, and should at least go have fun. "Call me if anything happens. The day isn't over yet" Kaneko reassured "Don't forget anything this time. I'm not making a trip anywhere close to that party to drop anything off" Rhaegah called out to him "Oh shut it. When have I ever forgotten anything" Rhaegah responded with an eye roll then picked his phone to call Walter.
In the time it took Kaneko to exit the apartment, Rhaegah had tried severally, yet failed to reach Walter. "Call February" The secondary phone from earlier served that singular purpose. "You really know how to keep a girl anxious. All day? That's no fair" "Feb, it's an emergency" Rhaegah's tone was flat "What happened?" The hearty and playful person on the phone was gone, leaving only the hacker prodigy on the call. "I didn't get a placement, and Walter's been AWOL longer than usual" anxiety present in his voice "Any thoughts?" "Not really. All I know is he got summoned to Empire HQ bout two weeks ago" "Got it. I'll see what I can find"
The buzzer for the elevator rang consistently, indicating the button on the ground floor was being pushed repeatedly "I'm seriously gonna kill him one of these days. I explicitly said not to forget anything" Rhaegah sighed "K?" Feb asked in a higher-than-normal pitch "Yeah, not sure what he left behind this time" "Strange. He should be long gone. We'll pick this up later" she drops the call just as the elevator doors open. "You've got the memory of a fish you know that?" Rhaegah jabbed not sparing a glance at the entrance "That sounds truly awful to deal with" a non-familiar voice replied.
The aged voice of a 30-something year old man froze Rhaegah in his spot. "You have no need to be wary, I am a representative from the Empire. You can call me Erik". A man possibly in his thirties stood just beyond the elevator doors. His black suit stuck closely to his body. A deep burgundy shirt could be seen underneath his jacket. His face looked strangely ordinary at first glance, later revealing unbelievable perfection. He repeatedly glanced over towards the man to be sure he was real. If one focused only on his eyes, the man called Erik looked to be an aged man, like an old soul. Rhaegah could already smell the metal bars of the prison cell that would make up his new home. He casually let a higher-ranking member of the Empire into his house while currently working on pirating their prized OS in his room. "This is bad. This is very bad" He'd gotten used to the idea of Kaneko casually popping by without him having to question who was asking to come up. This lax attitude to security was precisely his concern in the first place.
"I seem to have really thrown you off. But I was sure you would be expecting me". Realizing he hadn't replied or even said a word the whole time, "I just wasn't expecting anyone this late, and now an executive member is in my living room" he had to keep him talking, and under no circumstance give him any reason to go upstairs. "Expecting you?" The words didn't sink in till now, and he wasn't sure he would like where this conversation was heading. "Never mind that. I hear you moved to the city three years ago. Where did you stay before then?" "If you don't mind me asking, how do you know that?" Rhaegah was aware that the facility took detailed records of all trainees.
Digging into all applicants was a no-brainer, especially for an organization with as much emphasis on secrecy as the Empire. That much was true, but why him specifically? "Shit! Walter. I don't like this. I need to do something fast" "No need to be so tense, Walter speaks highly about you. In fact, all he ever does is talk about you. It's only natural we get curious" a smile briefly crossed Erik's face "Can I ask where he is?" Rhaegah was done with the mind games. Was the jig up? Could they have already figured out his tampering with the OS? Was this something totally outside his scope of things? The man's puzzled look hinted Rhaegah was missing some vital information
"He never told you did he" Erik seemed to smile though not enough to be noticed under the dimly lit Bio-Lume. Rhaegah being stupefied wasn't something he'd expected. "He's waiting for you at HQ. You didn't get a deployment notification because you've been handpicked for a position at our Headquarters, as a member of our latest program" In that moment, his MA tab rang with a call from Walter. He hurriedly picked up "Walter?!" "Yeah, kid it's me. Is Erik over there yet?" The question seemed to confirm that the man was indeed telling the truth. Walter sounded as he always did, with no sign or hint of any danger whatsoever. "Why weren't you picking up?" "Uhm....surprise?"
Walter's shaky reply stemmed from him feeling a bit bad for worrying the boy. "Anyway, you're heading to HQ tomorrow, so let Erik know what you wanna take along with you so you can start prepping. Gotta run now, let me know how when the team arrives in the morning" Rhaegah was once again faced with the man named Erik who patiently waited for Rhaegah to conclude his call. "As is a privilege made available to all members of HQ, you're allowed something from this city besides what you already own. The Empire will ensure to cater for the maintenance of whatever you decide".
Rhaegah didn't need to think much for a blasphemy of a request to form in his mind. But first, he had to be sure "Does my cat count as something I own or do I have to use my privilege for him?" "He already counts as part of your household so you don't need to do that. And even if he wasn't, you could take him along anyway, he would be provided for all the same"
Good, next "In the likelihood that what I request for is attached to an apartment's worth of baggage, what then?" "You're putting a lot of thought into this. I'm impressed. It doesn't matter, since you simply need to state what you want, and the Empire is obligated to fulfill it" "Then what I want...is a 'who'. I want Kaneko Akira Sanji to accompany me. That's not breaking the rule, is it?" It was Erik's turn to have nothing to say. This young man had found a way to circumvent the idea of choosing what to take along. All candidates before now, would simply request for something they'd wished to get but couldn't afford. Not to say they were wrong, given that to be alive is to desire. Nobody this far had considered requesting for another person.
"SPLENDID! Absolutely splendid!! Have him ready by the time the team arrives" Erik made for the elevator not before waving his goodbye "Congratulations Rhae, I'll see you in Nerola" Now certain Erik was indeed gone, he rushed to his MA tab to call Kaneko. The boy would never believe what just happened. Their plans relied solely on what they had access to at the training facility. Never in their wildest dreams did they think they would even get to see the mysterious HQ the Empire hid from the world. Getting in there was virtually impossible for someone like him, now the two had the opportunity of 10 lifetimes to operate at the heart of the Empire. He was one major step closer to his truth.
He would find out what Nerola has to do with him. There was still the matter of finding out who matched his DNA within Nerola-V. A click came from the other end of the call "Oi Kaneko! Get over here now" "But the party-" "NOW!!" Rhaegah didn't have time to ease him into it. There was too much planning to be done. The intense pressure in the room had only just been lifted, but he was still cautious about the setup he had upstairs, and only now did he hear the sound he'd been waiting for. 'CLONING COMPLETE....DISCONNECT DEVICE'.
Just as he feared...that dream always gave him something new when his life was about to take a drastic turn, a turn he looked forward to this time.
Chapter 1- Final Day