Past The Prison

     Their story started the moment that they stepped theirbfoot outside the prison where they are created, a prison that they willingly shut themselves out in exchange and power and things that no one can get their hands on. They left the selves of their past as they leave the big and barred gates that kept and contained them, and emerged as a different being. A part god, part human, with the expectations weighing like the sky on their shoulders. How long has it been the last time they saw the world where they once lived in? Is it still the same? The same corner, the same streets, the same people?

     The three felt like new born children, their eyes opening with wonder once again. It isn't the same, one of them thought, the girl with intensity born inside of her, the cunning one, the one that already knew what she is supposed to do the moment she opened her eyes and took her first breath as someone she's used not to be. She wondered as she heared everything surrounding her, the wind and how it went against the prison behind her, how the world outside the walls looked like. Will that be her new home? Where will she belong when she left what she used to be right behind her?

     Unlike cunning the girl, the man with his kindness, the one with the bones and nerves of steel, the one who had terrifying confidence and will about his own beliefs and sense of what he is, thought the opposite. Nothing had changed, not one bit. The same place where he came from, where he was raised as a simple, young man, under the shadows of glorious lives that passed him everyday—it didn't change one bit. Only he, only them, are the ones that changed. The young man did no know if that was a good thing, or otherwise. He was changed, but he wanted to be the same person he used to be, the same person that he hope he hadn't left behind.

     And there was the ghost, the one that does not know her purposes, her reasons and her wishes. Leaving the first place that she remembered the moment she opened her eyes, she felt like a child that left her home the first time, on her own. With no memories to accompany her, with no reasons to tell her and remind her to keep pushing forward, she felt torn apart and desperate, like a phantom that is groveling for someone, to have connections, to say that it has its identity, even for a moment. She does not know who she is, like a jar that's drained so suddenly, replaced with void. What will become of her? Will she even become someone?

     And so, the three continued pushing forward, with their own reasons and purpose, their beliefs and senses, their own desperations and hopes, but the same questions played inside their head. What will become of them from now on?

     Getting deported to Aegis almost immediately was unfortunate, that, they know. It was sudden and surprising, out of the plan. They didn't know exactky what to do, or to ask, but there was Diana Sandoval who saved them all the details.

     "I still wonder, though," Ygnil had the nerve to corrupt their last chance of peace and quiet. Shiina threw him a despising look, which he ignored, while Anael kept staring outside the windows of the car, seemingly unaware of what he had said. "Why we are sent immediately to the Core. I didn't even get to see and experience my Anda form."

     He was replied with nothing but silence. And a disgusted look from Shiina. Frowning, Ygnil followed up, "Look, guys, I know—"

     "No one wants to hear something from you, Bard." Shiina snapped.

     Ygnil's lips parted, but then he realized that his words will do nothing on their current situation. He was pretty sure that among the three of them, he is the least confident. Unlike Anael Price who already experienced bus Anda side, and Shiina Mashiro was, of course, who seemed like she knows exactly what to do, he was basically nothing compared to them. He had no experience nor he does not know what to do to activate and let his Anda side take over. He tried not to be disheartened with this thought by thinking of the things that might be waiting for him if he gets over his current situation.

     "Nah, kid, I think that you need some words of encouragement now," said the man that was ordered to accompany them on their way to the Core. He was an old man, with the marks of age etched on every inch of his face. He was friendly enough, but everyone knows that it won't do something. "Going to the Core and trained under Aegis itself will be quite the challenge... Especially with the people that might train you three. They're quite hateful right now because, instead of having the chance for them to get the job they worked for, they became your babysitters instead."

     "Uh, babysit?" Ygnil repeated, laugh in his voice. "I'm sure that we're not that hard to handle, sir. We were trained and have our own abilities before we agreed to be Doctor Tanner's subjects."

     "Boy, that'd another one of the reasons that might get all of you killed. Tanner. If you've been outside the whole time you three are in NEXUS, you will get me. Some people are basically protesting about Tanner's project, about you three. They're led by someone we don't know, but one thing's for sure, they don't like what's happening." The old man replied, his brown and tired eyes looking kind of distant. "They think it's wrong, and I'm pretty sure that not of them are the people that Tanner did wrong through out the years. Hell, maybe some former scientists from NEXUS are also in the movement."

     "Who cares about them?" Shiina deadpanned. "They're all brainless idiots, anyways. They can go die if they want."

     The old man just glanced at her then offered an uncomfortable smile. "Well, sure. All I'm sayin' is, you three be careful out there. You've been gone for too long. Arcane is not what it used to be."

     Shiina huffed, but didn't say anything.

     "Sir, can you tell us what happened while we were gone?" Ygnil asked politely, like he always did. He looked genuinely confused. "I just don't understand why those people would hate such a project, and doctor Tanner, when it was basically the only thing that might save them and keep the Den safe."

     The old man scratched his chin, thinking. "Well, the last time I got out on the streets, I've heard that someone  started a movement against Tanner and the project. Said that it was a sin and a mistake. Told them and maybe, bribed them with some money, that instead of helping them, it might turn into something horrible. That you three might turn into something terrible."

     "Like, what?"

     "You're aware that before anything of this happened, the citizens of Arcane kind of hates the Liberators, right? They think that you three—and the others—might be turned into a weapon and a puppet by the Liberators." The old man answered. He shrugged, "Well, I'm not gonna blame them. The Liberators has been choosing the wrong choices lately. I mean, destroying the biggest part of Antes just to have it's natural resources all by themselves? Who wouldn't hate that? Most of the protesters are from Antes, too. Others even threatened the Liberators of killing them, which, I really think they're capable of."

     Ygnil was confused. "Is that true?" he asked. "Why would they do that?"

     The old man shrugged, "Who knows? The Liberators have their own ways." He said. "So, yeah, you three take care because instead of pouring their hate on the Liberators and NEXUS, they might spill it on you."

     "That's fine," Anael suddenly said, gaining everyone's attention. She turned to them, looking blank, her face emotionless. "We just need to do what we are supposed to do. That's all that matters."

     "Big words, ghost girl," Shiina laughed mockingly. Anael's pale amethyst eyes flicked at her, seemingly unbothered. "That's what you say because unlike us, you literally threw yourself at Tanner and beg him to make you one of his subjects. I guess you're so full of purposes to do that."

     Anael stared at her, then looked away. "I suppose."

     Shiina's eyebrows twitched, followed by a curse under her breath. She just doesn't get why Anael Price was a little advanced than her, even with Tanner's promise of her own potential. She never really  liked Ansel Price that much, ever since she saw her. Rather, she could not see something likeable enough about Anael Price. The thing she hated the most is being overshadowed, especially by a girl that acted like a dead person, pushed herself to be one of the subjects and practically throwing herself towards it. For Shiina, Anael was nothing but a tool, and she acted like one.

     She hated that.

     There are plenty of things and people she hated. NEXUS, Neill Tanner, Diana Sandoval, having to sacrifice her humanity just to get out of her prison—basically everything, really.

     "I suggest you don't go bark at each other," the old man suddenly said, earning a glare from Shiina. "The last thing you'll need is having your own fangs towards each other. Aegis has a fair amount of fangs readied for you three, you don't want to add some more."

     Shiina didn't really get why the old man felt like he's that entitled to say something, but she didn't bother. Ripping off her piercing eyes from everyone, she let out a quiet sigh, her irritation and other unnecessary feelings leaving her for a moment. She's still bothered about everything Tanner did, anyway. Why he immediately sent them to Aegis, without completing the appropriate time for them to even recover from their shock. They are definitely hiding something, only an idiot would think otherwise. As she was about to create theories inside her head, she realized she doesn't care.

     She's not in NEXUS anymore, not under Tanner's nose. She's out. She's free. The last thing she should do was to think about everything that involves it. She has her life back, although a little different, but she does. The only thing she needed to do is to outrank and crush everyone that might stand in her way in the future, and she had a feeling Anael Price will be one of them.

     So, what's the problem of establishing hate now?

     "You really like El, don't you?" Ygnil said to Shiina, immedietly regretting what he said. In a blink of an eye, Shiina  Mashiro has here small dagger unsheathed, holding it up for Ygnil to see whole giving him a glare. "I'm kidding."

     "Don't get comfortable." Shiina snapped, sheathing her dagger back again.

     Sighing, Ygnil played the good guy. Leaning closer to Anael, who still had a blank look on her face, he whispered, "I'm really sorry for that, El."

     Anael turned to him, her cold and pale amethyst eyes betraying no emotion. "I don't understand." She said, scrunching her eyebrows together. She didn't get why Ygnil would say sorry, when nothing wrong was done. Shiina Mashiro maybe even had gave her an idea, a piece of her past. And, if possible, she wanted to hear more from Shiina.

     Ygnil blinked at her, confused. Then shrugged, knowing that whatever he say about this situation, Anael would not get. It has always been that way ever since she met the old Anael, and the one in front of him. Scratching the back of his head, he did not say anything anymore, realizing that his attempts of lighting up the situation they're in is all in vain. Who is he kidding? They were about to do their some purpose, and he's trying to act like nothing's wrong. If being stupid has its own competition, he'd be the champion.

     "Buckle up, kids," the old man said, announcing his presence once more. He was grinning from ear to ear. "We'll soon reach Theios."

     The moment they saw the light coming from the end of the tunnel, they  knew there was no coming back, and that, they had sealed their fate.

     Theios was unbelievable. That's the only thing they thought of the moment they are the big, modern buildings, the air passages where countless air-baded vehicles took their way. It was one of the things Theios was famous for—their air lines, and the technology all over the place that even the last three part of the Den does not have. Theios has the air of superiority, to its solid foundations, the orderliness and the stern faces of the few people walking its streets. From the gigantic statues that seemed to rocket towards the sky, representing themselves as gods. The buildings with seemingly-infinite spaces and the vehicles zooming across the sky, bothering no one from down below.

     Theios is uncluttered, solid and orderly, its atmosphere controlling, enough to choke and overwhelm anyone if  they let their guard down. It was a beautiful place, but it felt like a prison, disguised and decored with glory. Theios oversees all, they said, and it's true. It felt like behind the buildings, or up in the sky, there were eyes watching everyone's move. You can feel it in your bones, on your skin, smell it in the air.

     "I..." Ygnil trailed off, craning his head, staring at the vehicles zooming  past above them. "What the heck? Is that..cars I see? What—"

     "Welcome to Theios," the old man said, following behind the three right after he sent their car back. "The Abode of Gods, as they say."

     "Explains a lot," Shiina murmured under her breath, eyeing the carvings that's on every place, depicting some kind of story that she didn't care as of the moment. "So, what now, old man? Where are we supposed to go? I don't want to stand here and marvel at everything I see like a kid, unlike someone."

     Ygnil threw her a confused look.

     The old man grinned at her, his features becoming lighter and younger. "You can start by calling me Val. I'll be the one that will be your guardian for now. And, about where you three are supposed to go, Aegis will pick us up from here." before the three can say something, Val continued. "Tanner can't let you three in the hands of Aegis just like that, you three should have known that."

     "There really is no escaping him, huh?" Ygnil mused, trying to say those words as a joke, but came out depressing. He has no problems about Tanner, not really, even with what the whole world thought of him. He never really became involved with him and the whole NEXUS until he was picked to be a subject, a guinea pig that happened to have more potential that he was expected of. "But why? Why does he need you if we have Aegis itself to tell him our progress? In a way, they're working together."

     "Doctor Tanner might be a someone that's not...closing the distance between hate and like as of the moment, but he has his own reasons, too." Val answered, his grin slowly fading. "Back then, before any of you happened, there's another person that Tanner experimented on, and he turned out to be much better than Tanner anticipated. He was his first true success, and he bacame attached to him, in some ways. Think of it as a person, inventing his first machine."

     "What happened to him?" Only Ygnil seemed interested and curious. "What did they call him?"

     Val shrugged. "I don't know what's his name, really. But everyone called him Subject Zero. Like, literally, that's what everyone called him. Unlike you three, he worked alongside Tanner and the others, so he became quite known in NEXUS back in the days. At least that's what my cousin told me. Then one day, he just disappeared. No one knows why, exactly, but Tanner didn't say anything  about it, acted normal in the first few days Zero disappeared, then he grew... Horrible, like he is now. NEXUS has its own legends and stories, so I don't really know if Zero even existed."

     "He's not true." Shiina firmly said.

     "How can you say that?" Ygnil asked, still in thought.

     "Probably because I'm not an idiot."

     Val stared at her, a thoughtful look on his face. How could he forget the other legend that NEXUS has? The Lost Girl. The story that everyone talked about in the hallways. A story about a girl wandering inside NEXUS' abandoned places, at the hallways, inside the rooms that held no patient. A story of an abandoned girl, left inside its walls for eternity, with not escape, with only despair to accompany her. Many thought of that as a silly story, made fun of it, but little did they know, it was true.

     And the girl in that story was right in front of them.

     Shiina Mashiro caught his eyes with her own, piercing one, an understanding passing between them. After all, Val is one of the people that knew Shiina existed outside the legends and old stories inside NEXUS, he knew her father, too, for he worked with him back in the days. But of course, Val kept her identity in secret, let the stories go all around NEXUS. Besides, even if he did tell them that the Lost Girl was true, they would not believe him. For the people of NEXUS, the people that surrounded him, he was a mad-man, some person that turned crazy for being a certain doctor's guinea pig.

     "Okay, you two, let it go," Val said, stepping in between Shiina and Ygnil. "Are we really going to talk about NEXUS now? When we've got the whole Theios in front of us?"

     "You started it," Ygnil mumbled.

     Instead of replying, Val said, "Some officials will be here anytime soon, you three should get ready."

     "I haven't really thought about this, but, Val, how long will out training be complete? The last news I've heard that the walls of Theios has been crumbling, and the Parasites and slowly eating their way in." Ygnil whispered, avoiding any attention from the very few people passing them without even knowing who they really are.

     "The Defenders are on it, Bard. You don't have to worry about trivial things. The walls are completely steady, and the chance of the gods infiltrating Aegis—the Den, is zero. The first thing you need to think about is how you will control your special abilities and your Anda side," Val patted Ygnil on his back multiple times and continued, "Heard you haven't even saw it yet, your god."

     Almost immediately, the light mood that Ygnil had brought himself disappeared without any warning. That's the last thing that he was trying to avoid thinking, his lack of experience. Compared to the other two, Anael who experienced her Anda side first hand and Shiina who looks like she knows how all of these things run like it's etched on the back of her hand, Ygnil was a total loser. No experience and no knowledge about whatsoever.

     Ygnil stepped away from Val, offering him a small smile in hopes that it will  cover the hopeless and nervous look on his face, he said, "I can always learn. We're all here because all of us has potential in the first place."

     "Telling yourself that won't do anything at all, kid. But, well, lucky for you because the best of Aegis are there to help you in any kind of way. The Defenders, the Soldiers, even the brains and mentors will be there... So it's up to you if you fuck up or not." Val cackled. "A little bit of a warning, though, you three, I won't be there all the time to keep an eye on you. I've mentioned some people are hateful about the Gods Implanting Project, and some Defenders from Aegis is a part of that, too."

     "It will not be a problem," Anael spoke, making Val turn around with a little gasp escaping his throat. He forgot that Anael was there.

     Val stared at Anael, who still had the soulless and impassive look on her face. In Val's eyes, Anael appeared like a weapon, a tool or even a robot, with the lack of emotions and her empty eyes, but something tells him that whatever made Anael like this, it was better. In the battlefield, when the day comes where the Walls won't  protect them, emotions would be a hard obstacle to overcome. Unlike the boy, Ygnil Bard, seems to like being soft and emotional.

     "It is a problem, Price," Val replied. "You three are in the real monsters den now, and you're right under their noses. A little snap of their fingers, you're dead meat. You three might be the.. what do you call this, the beacon of light now, but the real control is up there," Val pointed at the place above the three's head, where the tallest building stood, bearing the mark of Aegis. "not here. Not yours."

     "You're really good at pep talk, Val," Ygnil chimed in, scratching the back of his head.

     "We're pretty aware of that. We know that the moment that we chose to be a part of this shit." Shiina sounded grudging. "After all, Tanner is just another leech who's desperate for power. That makes us the same."

     "What?" Ygnil looked confused. "I'm pretty sure I agreed to be a part of this because this place seriously needs our help about the gods."

     "I don't know if you're just plain stupid or whatever, Bard,  but–oh, my gods, really? You thought that you can actually—" Shiina bursted out laughing before she finished her sentence, pointing at Ygnil Bard because of his ridiculousness. She let out a few chuckles before stopping, the blood on her face and ears. "Pfft.. ahaha.. that's probably the most stupid thing I've heard my whole life."

     She couldn't even believe that Ygnil Bard said such a thing. Saving Arcane from the gods, really? Everyone knows that such thing is impossible, always have been. The last time that humanity had the hope of banishing the gods from Earth was centuries ago, and they all died. They are lacking everything. Power, protection, brains—humanity is hopeless against the gods. She always knew this, and the only reason why she agreed to be one of Tanner's subject is because of the chance that she might escape that hell hole where she came from, and for the chance to find somewhere she belonged—and that might be outside the walls, for all she knows.

     On the other hand, Ygnil was thinking the opposite. He does not get why people—especially the girl in front of him, doesn't even acknowledge the fact that they might actually stand a chance against the gods,, regardless of the reason why Tanner came up with such an idea—the Implanting project. He genuinely thought that he can do some change around, well, everywhere. He lived his whole life in the sidelines, and Tanner gave him a chance to do what he wanted to do ever since he was a kid—to stand a chance against the gods. He hated them  instead of fear them.

     Something unpleasant boiled up inside him as he watch Shiina Mashiro look at him like he's some kind of an idiot. Insulting and belittling. Something inside his stomach, deep inside his ribs, spreading up fast inside his whole body made him feel like he wanted to beat Shiina to a pulp. He clenched and unclenched his fists, waiting for the strange urge to fade away, controlling his thoughts and keeping his temper for there's a chance that it might slip away from his grasp and act on that feeling. Anger. Irritation. Hate. He despised Shiina in those short seconds to the point that he imagined smashing her head to something hard until it cracks.

     "I'm not gonna say anything," he mumbled to himself as he turn away from the people in front of him. Shiina has always been like this, a bit too much of a salty and sarcastic person, he doesn't understand why he would feel such things right now.

     "You fine, boy?" Val called out. "Brace yourself, they're coming."

     "What?" as he turn around, he saw three fugures walking their way. They looked nothing special, too bland looking, actually. With their white, casual clothes. They looked like normal Theios citizens, with the air of superiority around them and you can sense it a mile away. These people never experienced the life outside the Walls of Theios, pampered with only the best. You can see it in the way they move, the way their eyes look down on everyone.

     The three persons wore similar badges on their right chest, a symbol of a shield and spear, the symbol of Aegis Corporation. Behind them was a hovering vehicle, one that the three god carriers has never seen before. It was a vehicle in the shape of a horizontally flattened bullet, with the color of dark liquid. It hovered the air smoothly, like it can zoom past everything and travel the whole world in just a snap. Of course, that's impossible, but imagine if it can.

     Before any of the three men get give steps away from them, Val approached then first, stopping them without even closing the distance with the three.

     "Took you three long enough," was the first thing that Val said. "How are things holding up?"

     The man in the middle answered, his brown eyes piercing at Val's, "Things are great, sir." the man had answered. "I take that you are the one that will serve Doctor Tanner's replacement as—"

     "I'm no one's replacement, mate. I'm their guardian. Sent by Tanner, yes, but not his replacement." Val immediately replied. "There has been some...issues at NEXUS, and he told me to send his apologies to Aegis for the sudden decision."

     "That is not to worry about. The Liberators are thrilled to see them."

     "That's good to know," Val mused as he turn around towards the three behind him, then back at the men in front of him. "Well?"

     "Ah, of course," the man said, then gestured towards the vehicle behind them. "Please. And do pardon if we're going to travel through land. The air lane is a little hectic, as you can see."

     "I don't think some of us will actually care if we're on air or land," Val replied jokingly as he turn towards the three once again. "You three finished knotting your guts up? We're leaving."

     It was Anael Price who first approached them, not hesitating for even a second. This is the life she had to live in now, the start of it all, there was no time to hesitate. If she can't remember her life before being a god carrier, she'll create one for herself instead, and being into her purpose, the reason why she's even a god carrier, will help her. This is the new life that Vincent Chase was talking about. Or whatever. She was filed with void, and she will do everything to fill that up. Just like water, she took the shape that is served in front of her.

     If being someone with a purpose is what meant to be alive, then so be it. A phantom, a non-existent being that's desperate to feel connected to something, that's how she felt.

      Val started to introduce her. "This is Anael Price—"

     "We know, sir." The man cut in. "She's the one that Doctor Tanner introduced back in the last meeting."

     "Well, that's good. And please know that they can eliminate you in a snap. Don't try to do anything while I'm not around."

     The man looked at him strangely, "I beg your pardon?"

     "You heard me."

     Despite the man's cold-looking eyes and frigid expression, he managed to let out a small laugh. "I apologize if we made you feel that way, sir. But they're too important for us, so I assure you, we won't do anything that can harm the God Carriers in any way."

     Val squinted his eyes, still seeming suspicious. Tanner's words replied inside his head, the stories about the Aegis, how they took control of Zero and brainwashed him. If there's a slightest chance that that rumor—or so to say, legend—was true, the chance of the same thing happening to the three god carriers, is one-hundred minus zero. After all, he's there to stop the exact possibility in the first place.

     "I'm just making sure," Val replied, making the man nod and offer him a smile. Val turned to the other two, looking at them expectantly. "Well? Are you two just gonna stand there?"

     "Don't act like a high and mighty son of a bitch, Val."  Shiina spat with poison that she's been holding back for almost the whole time. There are many things that she doesn't like, but being ordered around and talked to in a smug manner is in her top ten. Her blood eyes shifted from Val to Anael and the three men in front of them. Of course, she immediately hated their faces. Groaning, she murmured, "This is far from what I expected."

     The thing that kept her boring herself to death through out the she trip from NEXUS to Theios was the thought of being greeted grandiosely. Say, a crowd of people peeing themselves as they look at her face, some kind of fancy greet party, really. She mean, seriously? How long were they stuck in that hellish NEXUS place? A month? A year? And all they get was three men in white and black suits that looks like they haven't even experienced having a little paper cut. Where's the spice? The things that can at least hype the three of them up about getting their asses thrown outside the walls and forever slaying creepy-looking creatures that came from nowhere?

     But whatever, the least thing that she can hope for is for Aegis to actually treat them right, not some kind of tools that they're created to be.

     "I apologize but, sir, are we all ready to leave now?" the man in the middle asked.

     "Of course," Val  answered as he glance at the three subjects. "After all, it's not like we have that much of a choice."