Regressing From Clean Slates

Through the wooden planks, the filtered light at least grants Noah the satisfaction of knowing the daylight cycle. It’s been only a few days, but it feels endless to be stuck in a room like this.

Noah’s tried to ply off the planks, but they’re held in place by old nails embedded through to the wall. The only feasible way to escape is through the door.

For however long he’s stuck in the bathroom, Noah’s bitterness grows endlessly. Bitterness towards Aiden. Bitterness towards his father.

He doesn’t care what kind of purpose Aiden’s superiors need him for. Or whether his only purpose is to be dragged along with Simon. The mere fact that he isn’t allowed to leave by choice is enough to tell him what kind of people they are.

The day before he’s released, he hears a faint conversation between Simon and Aiden. He gets up close to the door, trying to listen through the sliver between it and the wall.

His father has had enough of waiting. They’re running out of food. And fast. His father expects Aiden to be able to get them past the border.

Aiden replies that it’s impossible. They’ll be spotted before they reach the border. Even flying high into the sky is a death wish because of the anti-aircraft defense tech in New Kansai.

Of course, Simon knows this, but he argues for Aiden to look for alternatives.

The conversation finishes when Aiden says they play an important role until the defense systems are knocked out once more. Whatever that means.

Simon doesn’t know either, apparently, as his demands for Aiden to elaborate prompt no response.

There’s nothing until Aiden approaches the door the following day. His metal boots grating on the floor snaps Noah out of his trance-like state.

Aiden stands by the door, slicking back his black hair and staring Noah dead in the eyes. Noah’s immediate reaction is to shy away, but he wills himself not to falter.

“Your father thinks you’ve been in here long enough,” Aiden says.

Noah thinks of a comeback, but stifles the urge to say it. Then, he thinks it through and says it anyway: “Since when did you care what he thinks?”

For a fraction of a second, Aiden’s nose crinkles in rage. Then, he appears amused by Noah’s sudden spark. “And I think it too. Come out.”

After Aiden exits, Noah hesitantly walks to the door. He grabs it with one hand, watching Aiden walk down the hallway.

Realizing he isn’t being followed, Aiden turns to face Noah. That amused smirk of his makes Noah clamp his hand tighter on the door.

Aiden gives him a carefree shrug. “Or don’t.”

* * *

Hugo finds himself alongside a couple hundred recruits at a training base nestled into the mountains. He mostly keeps to himself while others arrive, only replying to those who introduce themselves to him.

Through his brief exchanges, he discovers many of these recruits have also lost someone in the bombing. Everyone’s reason for joining seems to be related in some way to the recent attack on the Capital.

At the end of the day, the recruits are called to a large hall, where they’re addressed by existing members of the military. A familiar face addresses them first:

“Welcome to the Recruit Military Center.” Casey stands up the front in a proud stance, holding his arms behind his back. “This will be your home for two months while you complete your training. The program will test your physical, mental, and technical capabilities. Not all of you will pass. I understand that most of you have been spurred to join our cause after the bombing that took place on the Capital a week ago. If there was anyone close to you that lost their lives in the attack, what you will experience in this program will be especially tough on you.”

Hugo tries to swallow, but it’s like there’s something stuck in his throat. He knows what Casey means by this – his encounter in the clean-up efforts taught him that. But he’s prepared to be here, regardless of how difficult it may be.

“Should you pass these challenges, you’ll be placed in a squadron matching your abilities. We determine your abilities based on several stages of testing. First, we instruct injury prevention and firearm handling – only in incapacitation weapons, of course. Then, we look into your skills regarding the assembly and disarming of explosives and other tech. If you make it to the end of the training, you’ll get the opportunity for flight training in an ornithopter.”

There’s a quiet stir among the new recruits – learning to fly one of New Kansai’s cutting-edge military aircraft seems to cause excitement.

“All the while, you’ll develop your physical strength and endurance while working in mock squadrons. In most cases, you’ll remain with your group for the entire program. The instructors and mentors who’ll train you will now introduce themselves.”

Casey takes a step back, returning to his seat.

Over the next few minutes, instructors wearing the same military uniform step forward and introduce themselves. They’re existing members of the military, but they all seemingly rank low in position. At least, lower than Casey.

After the first few introductions, Hugo recognises one of the instructors.

Emily stands, takes a few steps forward and addresses the recruits. “My name is Emily. I’ll be the instructor of Squadrons E and F. Nice to meet you.”

It’s only a short address. An average recruit wouldn’t realize it, but Hugo’s years with her in their childhood give him a more informed insight – she’s not pleased to be giving this speech. It’s as if she had no choice but to be here as an instructor.

The induction meeting doesn’t continue for much longer. The recruits are told where to find a uniform of their own, as well as where to schedule for an initial medical check. Casey returns to the front and finishes his address. He dismisses the recruits and exits to the back of the stage.

Hugo leaves the hall by the front doors, pushed along by the flow of other exiting recruits. He doesn’t return to his dorm, however, but curves around the footpath to the side of the building.

A white airplane sits behind the hall. It’s a small, private plane, with the forked tail of a bird. Two large bars down the length of the aircraft support two blades on each wing. These kinds of aircraft are rare in New Kansai, and they’re reserved for the transportation of key personnel like Council members.

Casey walks to the aircraft, accompanied by a couple of instructors at his side.

Hugo won’t let him get away so quickly. He doesn’t have to yell loud over the quiet whirr of the blades. “Casey!”

The man in question turns a shoulder to look at Hugo.

Hugo marches over, staring Casey square in the eyes. “Tell me more about Eugene.”

Casey gives him a warm but apologetic smile. “I would, but I’m needed elsewhere. So, unfortunately, that’ll have to wait.”

“What did you mean when you talked about his vision?” Hugo demands.

“If you want to know, pass the training. Then I’ll tell you,” Casey replies, giving him a dismissive wave.

“Come on, tell me now.” Hugo takes a step forward, but the instructors by Casey’s side do the same.

Casey chuckles. “Eugene always said you were driven. But if you’re not careful, you’ll get asked to leave the program before you’ve even begun.”

He climbs aboard the airplane, and the instructors form a barrier, preventing Hugo from getting any closer. Hugo can do nothing but tightly grip his hands in frustration.

The cockpit closes, the blades whir faster, and the airplane lifts off the ground vertically. Hugo watches it fly away, only snapping out of it when an instructor tells him to return to his dorm.

But he’s determined to get answers. And he’ll get them now.

* * *

Later that day, when the orange sun descends and slips in through the windows of the warehouse, Noah finds himself wandering into the hovercraft’s carrier. It’s been open since they arrived.

The humanoid robots stand upright in a formation, sleek black guns in their hands. They’re commanded to come out by Aiden only when he needs help working on the hovercraft or doing heavy lifting.

Noah hasn’t been inside the carrier since the moment he arrived. Some kind of irrational fear used to make him think that, the moment he steps inside, it’ll shut and trap him inside.

But now it’s different.

Aiden and Simon should be in the worker’s quarters, eating what Noah imagines is almost the last of their food supplies. Having been stored in the hovercraft, the meat and vegetables are canned and processed. Nowhere in New Kansai would this kind of food be produced or consumed. In fact, the first time Noah took a bite, he couldn’t help himself from gagging.

Tonight, Noah chose to forgo dinner. He needs to do something impossible if Aiden was around. Not to escape, of course; Aiden isn’t so much of a fool as to leave Noah alone if there’s a chance of him escaping again.

While Noah was locked in the bathroom, Aiden secured rails on the windows and bolted the doors shut. How this makes it easier for them to escape should they be inevitably found, Noah has no idea.

He approaches one of the humanoid robots. Up close, it’s clear their black armor’s identical to that fused with Aiden’s body. But these are only robots – they wear a helmet and act only on command.

Noah’s eyes rest on the robot’s gun. He can see where the neon orange detailings appear when the gun is turned on. For now, however, they’re replaced by a black see-through material almost indistinguishable from the metal. He raises his hands and places them lightly on the gun. Half expecting the robot to sense that someone’s trying to steal its weapon, he pauses.

But the robot doesn’t move, so Noah takes this as a green light. He grabs the fingers of the robot, prying them softly away from the weapon. As he does so, he observes the weapon, searching its sleek curves for some kind of power button.

After a few seconds of manipulating its fingers, he’s able to remove the gun from one of the robot’s hands. His heart leaps as he realizes how close he’s getting to using the weapon.

Just as he begins to work on the second hand, the clang of a metal boot on the ramp behind Noah makes him jump. He immediately lowers his hands and pretends to observe the robot’s helmet. It seems to stare back at him.

As Aiden approaches, Noah casually turns to greet him. Not in a friendly way, but with a cold glare.

Aiden ignores Noah’s uninviting glare, joining him in observing the robot. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

Noah ignores the question, whether it’s rhetorical or not.

“Pity they don’t have a brain as complex as a human mind…” Aiden pauses. “But they will one day.” He walks back down the ramp, stopping to turn back and face Noah. “For now, though, their minds – and their weapons – only turn on when I want them to.”

With a single sentence, Noah’s plan is completely demolished.

* * *

The instructors' dorms are a 10-minute walk from the recruits’. As Hugo walks it, the glare from the orange sun forces him to squint.

He reaches an assortment of wooden lodgings, plants growing up their exterior walls. He can’t help but notice their similarity to buildings in the ecovillages. He knocks on the door of the first building. There’s a second before there’s a reply.

A female instructor opens the door, peeking around it to look at Hugo. Her eyes slant suspiciously. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“I’m sorry to bother you.” Hugo’s overly polite. “In this dorm, is there an instructor by the name of Emily?”

The instructor’s eyes widen a fraction in recognition, before she immediately furrows her brow. “What for?”

“I’d like to ask her a question about my brother,” Hugo replies. “If she’s here, would you mind telling her?”

The instructor shifts, thinking it through. “You’ll have to ask her later. You’re not meant to be near instructor dorms. Commander Casey clearly stated that in his address.”

Hugo shakes his head once in frustration. “Won’t you please just tell me if Emily’s in this dorm or not?”

The instructor responds uncomfortably to his question, so he prepares to thank her and leave. All of a sudden, a head peeks out below the instructor’s shoulder.

“Hugo!” Emily throws him an exaggerated grimace. “I know you’re excited to see me, but you’re not allowed to visit whenever you feel like it.”

Hugo exhales in amusement, unfazed by her playful remark. “How much do you know about Casey and Eugene?”

“No fun. Always cutting straight to the chase.” Emily sighs in disappointment. She stands upright, replacing the other instructor in the doorway. “You do know I’ll have to report this. I’ll strongly recommend you not be expelled from the program, being the first day and all, but–”

Hugo ignores her. “So, do you know about–”

“Nope! Nothing at all.” Emily cuts him off. “But you’ll have to report to me tomorrow morning for a hundred pushups.”

“Huh? Why do you get to call that?” It irritates Hugo that his childhood friend can boss him around so easily.

“Because I’m the boss and you’re not.” Emily folds her arms over her chest, raising her chin high. She opens an eye to look at Hugo. “And I’ll be your instructor, after all.”

* * *

In the dead of the night, Noah keeps himself awake much later than Aiden and Simon. He stares at the ceiling, careful not to fall asleep, but also careful not to will himself to stay awake. The human body doesn’t react well to those kinds of thoughts, after all.

The time is almost 3am. The watch on Noah’s arm is solar powered, thankfully, or else it’d have been long dead by now. He tries to stay wake a bit longer, but he feels his eyes drifting shut on him. So he swings his legs over the side of the bed and stands as quietly as he can.

He tiptoes to the door in complete darkness, using his surroundings to guide him. The door doesn’t creak when it opens – something Noah’s ensured to have worked out already.

The walk in pitch-black through the workers quarters is difficult, but Noah knows exactly how many steps it takes to reach the bathroom. He doesn’t risk using any form of light, just in case Aiden or Simon are sleeping with their doors open tonight.

He runs his hand along the wall to keep himself from bumping into one. The last thing he wants now is to accidentally make a noise. He feels the wall fall away at the door frames and he counts the number of those too.

When he finishes counting the number of steps in his head, the wall falls away at another door frame. He opens the door. It creaks slightly and he tenses, but it’s quiet enough that no one further away than a couple of feet should have heard it.

He closes the door and turns on his watch’s torch in dim mode. Walking up to the bathroom mirror, he stares at himself. In the fragments of cracked glass, his head distorts in all directions. The color of his face appears lighter than it usually is – it’s more ghost-like. It makes him question himself. Question what he’s about to do.

He’s never hurt anyone before. Not physically, nor mentally. But that’s about to change.

With Aiden’s neck fused in that black metal, he’s impossible for Noah to kill. But he can do something that’ll make it very hard for Aiden to boss him and Simon around anymore.

Noah reaches to the mirror, touching his face for a moment, before collecting the shard of glass. He clenches it too tightly, and grimaces as it slides through all layers of his skin. The blood pools on the bottom of his hand before dripping into the darkness.

Then, he’s back in the hallway, watch light turned off. He tiptoes – not back to his room, but in another direction.

After several minutes of creeping, he reaches the doorway he’s after. None of the rooms have locks on them, so he’s able to turn the doorknob and push the door without a fuss. It opens to the same void of darkness.

Noah managed to see Aiden’s room earlier tonight when he excused himself for bed. He knows how many steps it will take to reach Aiden’s bed.

So he takes those steps. Not by creeping forward, but in a reckless charge. As he leaps off the floor, he turns on the light of his watch. The high beam forces him to squint. In that same second, he lands on top of Aiden, pinning him down. As he pushes Aiden’s neck into the bed, the cold metal takes away the warmth in Noah’s hand.

Aiden’s eyes instantly shoot open, a weapon of their own. From below Noah, he yanks an arm free. He grabs Noah’s wrist – inches from his face – stopping it from lowering any closer.

Noah yells as he pushes down against Aiden’s grip, glass shard clenched tightly in his hand. He holds it tighter than before, letting it cut even deeper into his hand.

The blood beads around the side of Noah’s hand. It drips onto Aiden’s face and into his eyes. This catches Aiden off guard for a fraction of a moment, and it’s enough for Noah to lower the glass shard a centimeter from his left eye.

Noah drives it down even harder, but Aiden lets out a rising bellow. With a sudden increase in strength, he throws Noah off the side of the bed.

Noah’s head smacks against the concrete floor, instantly making his mind go all fuzzy. As the world spins around him, he groans in pain. It continues spinning as he’s dragged out of the room and into the hallway.

He must have let go of the glass shard because, when he goes to grip it tighter, there’s nothing there. There’s nothing for him to defend himself with.

His mind and stomach lurches as he’s picked up and thrown over Aiden’s shoulder. He clenches his eyes shut in an effort to block out the pain in his head. 

And, as he does so, the thought becomes clear in his mind – he’s failed.