Chapter 3: Walking without guidance.

The blank paper within the citizen's mind became flooded with memories.

She couldn't discern if she was awake or not in this current state.

The paper flowed with various colors representing the feelings of fear, hatred and sorrow.

Fear of everything her masters warned her about. The tyrants who wished to take her away from their loving embrace. The hatred of the few who ignored their teachings and wrongfully lived selfish lives without remorse of their actions.

How dare they think they're better than everyone else!

As a result, she found herself crestfallen without an ounce of hope.

She strongly wished to return to her existence with the masters speaking in her mind.

But now their voices have become silent..

She feels naked and afraid to the ongoing nightmare that's taking place in her existence.

She envisioned the voices of the monsters who stole her away from them.

Their disgusting filthy sounds seared into her mind.

HATE!

That is what has been roaring in her mind ever since heard their voices.

Especially that one. The one who led that band of disease-ridden animals. The one who wasn't afraid to break the distancing rules.

How arrogant could he be?

Or is he just stupid?

Ofcourse he's stupid! Along with the rest of those savages!

How careless could they be!? Don't they know that human beings are disgusting walking disease machines!?

FOOLS!

Her mind continued to flounder wildly, aiming her ire in the direction of the faces responsible.

Stirring in her sleep, she finally opened her eyes into the physical world.

She felt the warmth of the morning sun caressing her feet through the grey dusty curtains to her left.

Lying in a bed under a quilt, she scanned the room of wooden walls.

A fireplace calmly smoldered embers with a grill of meat sizzling away.

Tending to it was a figure in a leather trenchcoat.

Glancing over his shoulder, he made eye contact with the citizen's blank expression.

"You're awake. I take it the operation was a success then."

"Operation?" She thought as she rubbed her neck, feeling lines of stitching with a slight ache.

Removing her hand from her neck, her heart began to race wildly as her eyes vibrated.

"What happened to me?" Thoughts and questions entered her mind.

Endless questions and emotions that she never experienced before. Even though she didn't understand why..

"How do you feel?" Asked the looming shadow that smelled of hickey.

".." The citizen continously opened and closed her palms as she struggled to grasp what was going on with her body.

It was.. an unprecedented feeling..

The man stood up, revealing himself as Hunter.

Although, she didn't physically recognize him.

Citizens have difficulty recognizing faces, even one's who leave an impression are incredibly difficult for them to accomplish.

All humans appeared identical in her eyes.

The only thing that differs, is the citizen's actions against the masters mandates.

Regardless of her not recognizing his appearance, she did somewhat recollect his voice ringing in her mind.

She glanced at him, noticing he wasn't in his leather trenchcoat from before, along with his metal longbow.

Instead he wore casual clothes with a vest and a flannel red shirt underneath.

Hunter approached her as the old floorboards creaked underneath his steps. He observed the bald headed girl before him.

Her eyes remained lifeless and detached from reality as they continued to stare into the space before her.

"Seems that your behavior remains unchanged." He sighed solemnly.

The citizen seemingly paid no attention to his words as he continued to speak aloud.

"It's hard to believe that you are even alive in the wilting state your body's in. Without that mouthpiece, you cannot eat the way you used to. So with that being said.."

Hunter turned his attention back to the fireplace where the slabs of meat was being cooked.

He stood up and slid the meat onto a white porcelain plate as it aroma filled the room.

He returned to the foot of the citizen's bed once more with the plate in hand.

"Venison.. Might be tough for someone who've never chewed before." Hunter muttered as he leaned forward, offering a peice of meat at the mannequin-like girl.

*SLAP!*

She aggressively back handed the plate aside, sending the meat to scatter on the floor boards.

Her expression became wrinkled with hatred and she let out a deep growl like a agitated dog.

Hunter returned an smirk to her childish behavior.

"So your behaving like a dog now? How appropriate of you."

Hunter straightened his back and glanced at the mess on the floor.

"Although, a real dog wouldn't be rejecting a treat given by it's master. So I would say your less like a dog and more like a stuck-up housecat with a chip on it's shoulder."

The citizen continued to scowl at Hunter as he took his leave with the big wooden door shutting behind him.

As the citizen sat all alone in the bed, she ponders her plight whilst glaring at the cooked meat on the floor.

"These people truly ARE savages! To think they actually eat the flesh of other living beings!" She shouted angrily in her mind. "They were probably trying to brainwash into joining their cult by feeding me this flesh!"

Meanwhile outside of the cabin, Hunter leaned on the balcony contemplating his decision.

Not too long later, Bandit appeared with exuberance on his face.

"Hey, Hunter! How's she doing?"

Hunter returned a smile. "Well.. She's making facial expressions at least. But could really use a behavior adjustment."

Bandit chuckled innocently. "Hehehe! That sounds about right! Geek said she'll have a hard time learning our ways. Compared to her plugged in life, this must seem completely alien to her."

Bandit parks his elbows on the railing next to Hunter, overlooking the cristal glistening lake.

Hunter opened his mouth to speak. "I'm wondering if this was the right decision.."

Bandit turned his head towards Hunter and listened intently.

"I think bringing her here was a mistake.."

"Why's that?" Bandit asked immediately.

"Because.." Hunter responds with his eyes aimed at the community hard at work with various outdoor tasks. "I think there's no way she can be rehabilitated into human life at this point. It would only prove to everyone that humanity is truly lost at the hands of the Vast Conciousness."

"Then why did you bring her here in the first place?"

"For myself.." Hunter answered with a sigh.

"What do mean?"

Hunter shook his head dismissively. "Nevermind.. It's not important.."

Hunter rested his hands in his pockets and wandered off, leaving Bandit with questions tumbling around in his head.

"What did he mean by that?.."

Bandit glanced over his shoulder at the door leading into the cabin where the citizen resides.

Curiosity got the better of him as he pondered entering the room.

"Hmmm..."

Bandit kept his wits about him as he nonchalantly walked closer to the door.

Cracking the door open, he peeked through the door slit.

The small hairless girl sat in an upright position in the bed, staring blankly at the wall.

Bandit felt like he was looking at a horror scene from a movie as he quickly observed her stationary body.

Slowly inching his way into the cabin, Bandit cautiously approached with a shaken voice.

"H-hey.. are you awake?"

Like a doll head pivoting on a screw, she quickly turned her blank expression towards Bandit.

Bandit leaped back from the bizarre sight, slipping on the meat on the floor he failed to notice upon entering the cabin.

*SKIID!*

"WHAAA!?"

Falling on his rear, he let out a groan of pain.

"Ouuuuuuch~ What's this meat doing on the floor!?" He whispered loudly in annoyance as he lifted a smooshed peice from the floor.

He then looked up at the citizen who blankly looked back with mild confusion striking her face.

Bandit jumped to his feet, nervously chuckling whilst rubbing the back of his head.

"Oh! Um.. sorry for sneaking up on you like that! I was just curious about how your doing after your surgery. So how are you feeling?"

Bandit knew he wouldn't get an auditory response from her, but he nevertheless felt like asking anyways.

The citizen thought as she observed the strange young man.

"That voice.. He is also one of them.."

Bandit angled his head trying to catch a glimpse of the scarring on her neck.

"Sooo~ A38462HDF-R007? That's what the barcode that was once on your neck said. So.. Was that your name? Does it hurt?" He asked as the citizen quietly observed him back with a mild gasp in her breath.

"What is he talking about? My barcode is gone!?" She thought loudly in her chaotic mind.

No! No! No! It can't be gone! Could this be why I can't hear the masters voices!? No.. no..

"That's lame.. You could use a better name than a freakin' barcode!" Bandit chuckles playfully.

"Arrogance!" Her mind burned angrily. "To think someone could have the nerve to spit on my masters gift to ME!... I must kill these people.. For the glory of the MASTERS!"

Leaning forward, She found herself sliding off the bed and falling onto the floor.

*THUD!*

"Damn.. my body's so weak.. I can't even move - let alone kill these people.."

Quickly, Bandit rushes to her aid, helping her off the floor.

Since she was in nothing but a gown, Bandit noticed her incredibly thin a frail legs that appeared skeletal in structure..

"It's a miracle you managed to walk at all with legs like those.. Have you eaten anything today?"

"That's it!!" Her mind raced with an epiphany as she dragged her face close to Bandit's neck as he lifted her back onto the bed.

"Hmm?" He felt her breath on his neck as his face became flushed.

"Uhh.." His heart stirred with the confused delight of his adolescence.

*CRUNCH*

"!!" He suddenly felt a sharp sting on his neck as he pushed her away and grabbed his neck.

Pulling his hand to his face he saw that no blood was drawn but it the pain still surprised him regardless.

"Why did you do that?" Bandit questioned her with anxiety entering his face.

"I couldn't kill him.." The citizen grumbled dejectedly in her mind as she slumped into a sitting position.

Bandit wasn't angry nor scared, he was just confused by her actions as he contemplated a solution.

"I see!" He resounded with his hands clapping together. "You must be THAT hungry, huh!? Don't worry, I'll make something you can eat easily!"

"These people are cruel.." The citizen agonizingly thought to herself.

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Far away from this place was a city full of bleak lights, trash and rodents filling the corners. A stark contrast from the pristine Emerald city, this city was nothing short of a slum with gunshots echoing throughout the skyline.

Ruby City, The city of rejects.. Those who fail to follow the guidelines of the Masters find themselves living in poverty and a life of crime.

Looking down from a skyscraper that stood high above the horizon.

A woman who appeared to be in her twenties stared down at the city of endless riots and resistance.

Pale complexions with green eyeshadow around her eye sockets. Long jet-black hair draped to her shoulders with an empty expression.

What stood out the most, were her vivid purple eyes that practically lit in the darkness.

A male mechanical voice called out from over her shoulder.

"How's your morning, Remy?"

She turns her head at the voice and responds with a lackadaisical tone. "The same as ever, Avalon."

She said as she faces a flickering light embedded on the white wall.

"Delightful! You have seven new messages today! Do you wish me to read them for you?"

"Whatever.." Remy said as she slumped into a flawless leather couch nearby. Her surrounding area was pristine with glass decorative tables and polished wooden dressers sitting about.

"Messages one: An advertisement for hair loss. That doesn't concern you obviously, so moving on."

Remy leaned back as the machine continued to read the messages to her while she nearly dosed off.

Suddenly the mechanical voice spoke loudly, waking her from her state.

"Remy!! Hey! Did you dose off!?"

"Hm!? Ah.. Maybe?"

"Could you stop doing that! This stuff is important for a disciple, you know!"

Remy leaned up and moaned in an irritated manner. "Hey come on! A girl my age needs her beauty sleep!"

"Beauty isn't something you should concern yourself with! I tell ya, you really are a pain my circuit's!"

"Yeah, yeah.." she said as she freely disrobed and strolled into the shower which activated automatically upon entering.

The voice continued to read the messages dispite her seemingly disinterested response.

"Hmph! Anyway, the one urgent message is from your *favorite* Elite enforcer, General Irongrave."

"That jackass again? Pl~ease, doesn't he have anything better to do? Like, shooting street-rats or something?" She grumbled whilst she massaged her scalp in the steamy water.

The mechanical voice continued with a huff. "I know, I know, just humor him for a moment."

The voice then activated the playback with a deep and stern voice that had a neanderthal-like overtone.

"A Message to all disciples! There has been yet another terrorist attack on a railway transport. This time it was between sector K-7 and L-4. Fortunately, I didn't house anything of importance. So for those who work in the information department, make it a convincing performance for the people, will ya? May the masters smile upon you, Bwahaha!"

"Blowhard!" Remy snarled after the audio message ended.

After she threw on a black tunic with white filling. She then slid into black leather pants with a hoping motion.

She then sauntered out of the room as the electronic voice yelled behind her. "Wait, Remy! There's still three more messages!- Aw.."

Remy Fronmire: Daughter of the great architect who designed the trinity cities. Emerald city, Topaz city and ofcourse.. Ruby city.

It's quite apparent that these cities represent a class system from affluent to poor.

Remy doesn't have any qualities that set's her apart from her father. She's not creative nor has a knack for planning ahead. She's actually quite reckless for a disciple and has a tendency for disobedience from her peers. Aside from that, she doesn't even have any talents which gives her the privilege above the average citizen.

She made her way down to street level as a few metal-faced enforcers glanced her way with eyes like they saw a ghost.

"T-The architects daughter!" Nervously exclaimed the enforcers who cleared the nearby citizens aside as they kneel before her as if she's royalty.

Disciples were treated like kings or queens to the mere citizens of the streets. And above kings and queens were the gods; the unseen masters themselves..

"Hey, Miss Fronmire!" An enforcer called over to her, waving her into a hovering parked automated vehicle.

As she leaned into the vehicle. The citizens stood back up with tears of happiness. To be graced with a disciple's presence is a blessing for them.

But Remy couldn't care less of the lavish treatment. After all.. she led a boring life with no dreams or aspirations to strive for.

In her mind, she was no different than citizens.

No different.. Than a bird in a cage..

She angled her gaze outside at the endless riots taking place in the city below as the fires spread and gunshots howl in the night.

"Remy." Said the familiar voice of Avalon through a wristwatch she wore.

The audio linked to an earpiece she wore.

"Where are you headed today, Rem?"

"Somewhere.. Different." She answered.

"Do tell!" Avalon rejoiced as Remy relaxed her back in the car seat.

"There was a strange rumor about a R057 citizen model."

"R057!? That means it's been reconditioned 57 times, yes?"

"Exactly. Apparently he's a world record holder for the amount of times he's been reconditioned. There was also odd reports about his cognitive behavior. Seemed like an interesting thing to look into for today."

"I wonder what it's like to be reconditioned that many times.. He must get embarrassed by his fellow citizens when his personal info is displayed to them.. They probably pick on him for being a flawed human.."

"Avalon.." Remy mumbled in lethargy.

"Hmm?"

"Please don't speak."

".. Affirmative." Softly said Avalon as the vehicle smoothly coasted the sky to their destination.

Atop a platform seated up high in a skyscraper that reached the heavens.

The wind was strong and one could see the gentle curve of the world from this height.

Atop this building was a bright red light that lit up like a beacon in the night.

"It's been awhile since I've visited one of the nodes of the central united mainframe. It's somewhat nostalgic.."

Each of the trinity cities has a network relay known as nodes that route secured information worldwide. All information is funneled to the central united mainframe, where it is said that the masters reside, a skyscraper that makes this one look like a puny dwarf.

"Are you sure this is wise, Remy?" Avion urgently said through her earpiece. "I mean, are you sure you're not getting into something that will get you into trouble?"

"Relax, Avi. We're not going anywhere we shouldn't. Promise."

"I don't feel reassured, Rem."

Remy approached the twin doors as lasers scanned her body. They slid open shortly after a calm electronic female voice resounded.

"Welcome, Remy Fronmire."

Remy waltzed through the pristine metallic building with white floors that had a reflective polished surface.

Rows of rooms with one-way glass windows observed what appeared to be classrooms with children housed in isolated seats.

They silently listened to their lessons with a teacher observing their behavior. Outside of these rooms were observers in lab coats with clipboards, jotting down notes.

These particular hallways were isolated from any citizen traffic, only disciples were allowed here.

Remy made her way to the elevator which also scanned her before opening.

Eventually she reached the office of Doctor Heinrich, the lead mastermind of Ruby city's citizen program.

Nodes also served as a laboratory and incubator of up-and-coming citizens.

Remy stood at the door, peering at the camera above it.

"Doctor Heinrich, I'm Remy Fronmire. I wish to talk about the R057."

A slow and sophisticated voice spoke eagerly through a speaker on the wall next to the door. "Ah~ daughter of the architect. What an honor."

Remy was unamused with the obvious sarcasm is his voice as she responded with mild annoyance. "Spare me the ass-licking, doc. Is the model here or not?"

The door abruptly slid open as a lanky middle-aged man in a lab coat walked out. Blonde short hair with exaggerated sideburns reaching his upper lip.

"He is~ indeed he is~ I placed him in a nearby isolation chamber. We can't be having him tainting the rest of the batch, yes?" Doctor Heinrich slowly said with a pleased tone.

He then led her to a section of the building with tight security around each corner.

Eventually he reached a vault door and accessed with biometrics.

*Shiff!*

The metal door electronically and swiftly slid open.

"Is all this security necessary?" Remy questioned with inquisitiveness in her breath. "It's just a kid, right?"

Heinrich scoffed. "Just a kid, you say? Talk to him and you'll know why."

"TALK to him? He can talk at this age?"

"Hmhmhm.." Heinrich's voice quivered with excitement. "You'll see. He's both a tragic yet remarkable failure."

Remy then entered the room where a small child was bound to a wall with bindings on each limb. He appeared to be a six year old, but was actually a one year old citizen.

He seemed quite relaxed as he raised his head and extended a pleasant greeting to the woman entering the small empty room.

"Ah, a visitor? Nice to meet you."

"So polite?" Remy thought to herself.

It was odd to see a child with such a calm expression dispite the days of isolated confinement. Although, this IS practically the general life as a citizen, so it wasn't too much of a stretch.

Remy questioned him. "How are you so calm? Aren't you worried about your situation? Aren't you afraid of what will happen to you?"

The child smiled through a black metal face mask wrapped around his mouth.

"Not at all. This is nothing compared to what I've been through in the past."

"How odd." Remy thought.

What does he mean? Isn't he only a one year old citizen? How can he claim to have such experience from a nearly nonexistant past?

One year old citizens are practically toddlers. To claim such things let alone speak is nearly impossible.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Remy asked as she continued to explain. "According to the reports, the moment you red-lighted is when you underwent the only bad experience in your life. There is no other reports about you."

The child dipped his head. "Oh, I see.. I guess I'm just getting mixed up with the dreams I've been having. They just seemed so real I must've mistook them for real events.."

"Somethings not right.." Remy thought to herself with slight uneasiness. "How could a one year old citizen have such a advanced vocabulary? What the hell is this?"

Remy proceeded to ask the bound citizen questions.

"What are these dreams you speak of?"

".." The citizen fell silent as if he nodded asleep right at that moment.

"Hey!" Remy spouted the followed up with a stern voice. "Citizen Y423211AZA-R057, I'm not finished with my discussion with you!"

"Hmm.. hm?" The child groggily lifted his head during her reciting of his ID. "Sorry but, can you please call me Yaza instead?"

"Yaza? You gave yourself a name?"

"Sort of, it's actually in my citizen ID number. Reciting numbers is tedious and boring, don't you think, Remy?"

"!!" Remy stepped back with shock entering her eyes. "How did you know my name?"

"Hm? Oh, I don't know, your name just popped up in my head when I saw you. You seem.. familiar.."

Remy fell silent as she contemplated a rational explanation. "What the hell is going on? Is the doctor fucking with me?"

Remy gathered herself not long after opening her mouth to speak. "Anyways.. What are the details of these dreams you mentioned earlier?.."

A nervous expression graced his face. "Well.. They are memories that are vast with emotions of hate, pain, fear and loneliness. What I commonly remember is the sensation of death."

"Death?" Remy tilted her head with a indifferent voice.

"Yes.." He sighed. "The rush of emotions just before death was so intense It usually wakes me from my peaceful sleep. In these dreams, I've died in many different locations, but the sensations felt exactly the same from eachother.."

He shifted his mood to a more lighthearted state. "But.. I don't like focusing on those aspects.. What I have seen in these dreams are the outside world through glass windows. Vast forests, seas and the settling sun.. I wish to feel the wind on my face and the sand beneath my toes once again.."

"Once again?"

"How do I put this.. I felt that sensation in my dreams and I wish to feel it in this life aswell.. If possible.." He said with eyes eagerly glistening with hope.

*Shiff*

Hissed the door behind Remy after exiting the room. She turned at Doctor Heinrich and quickly stormed towards him.

*Thud!* Remy pushed him against the wall and spoke bitterly.

"You have a lot of nerve, messing with me like that!.."

Doctor Heinrich cackled deviously. "Hehehe! So you think I'm somehow responsible for the child's astonishing intellect? You give me too much credit! Hehehe!"

Remy released her grip from Heinrich and settled her temperament aswell. "So.. Is it true? Does this kid have memories from his previous versions? Is that even possible?"

Heinrich rubbed his collar and voiced his intrigue about the child named Yaza.

"I'm quite astonished aswell. Perhaps through the process of recycling trace DNA from previous failures led to a unique genetic mutation. Memories must've became embedded within the genetics of this particular version. Therefore, leading him to remember through manifestations of genetic memory. Whatever the case, he is quite fascinating, yes?"

"Fascinating?" Remy asked with other thoughts entering her mind.

Thoughts of what the doctor intends to do with this discovery began to bubble to the surface.

Remy further considered what the Masters themselves must've thought of this child.

It was obvious to her..

This child is a living threat to the Masters..

Imagine if other citizens began to question the Masters teachings and eventually think objectively against them.

They would lose the control of the general populace they gained over the course of several generations. Heinrich is potentially studying a solution to prevent this from ever happening again.

That is what Remy is sure of what the true intentions are. At the same time, she realizes that Heinrich IS deeply interested in the child, but he cannot disobey what the Masters order him to do when to job is done.

Out of a newfound interest, Remy then proposed to asist in his studies.

"Hah!" Heinrich scoffed with amusement. "What could you hope to accomplish? You're not an intellectual, you'd just get in the way."

Remy smirked then lowered her head with a chuckle. "In that case, let me monitor the child's behavior. Maybe we can trigger memories by taking him to certain locations he witnessed in his dreams."

"What would that accomplish?" He sneered.

Remy coaxed the doctor's curious side. "Surely you're interested in what this child's memories contain? Who knows, maybe his past lives are connected to his condition in some way."

Heinrich leaned back with a ponderous look on his face as he put his hands together.

"Hmm.. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to study the specimen's physiological synopsis. Very well, I'll let you take part in studying the citizen's cognitive behavior. However, you cannot take him beyond the cityscape and your time with him is limited."

Later, Remy looked out of the window at the flickering city skyline. The flames on the streets and the blaring of sirens in the distance was commonplace in Ruby city. A melting pot of civil disobedience and compliance was the purpose of this city, an experiment.

Remy was used to seeing bodies torn to shreds by crowds followed with the cries of the damned. She was aware of what has been going on in the streets of this city.

As a result, she now doesn't see any value in human life.

These civil unrests are meant to accomplish just that, to dehumanize and pitt the two forces against one another.

Anything to keep the disobedient persons attention fixated at other citizens through acts of violence.

Would the Masters fear ants in a driveway?

Do they enjoy watching the ants kill eachother?

Nobody - not even the disciples know who or what these Masters are.

They could very well not even be human to begin with..