Before Britannia ends

 Sounds of hydraulic machines echo through the hallway, enveloping every room besides it, as if trying to make its presence known to every living being on the facility. Vapour being released through pipes connected to a cylindrical glass container can be seen from the windowed door, from the hallway. The contents of this recipient aren't clear, since its surface is covered in humidity.

“Sigh… I didn't sign up for this.”

“Cmon, cheer up! It does sound terrifying, but it's a necessary kind of terrifying.”

“I know, I know, it's just that… this whole place doesn't feel like how I imagined.”

“Really? How does it make you feel? I've been here since it began, so I didn't react too much to its gradual change.”

“This place looks and feels surreal. Like it doesn't belong to our world. Kind of like a fantastical place.”

“Hmm, I guess you are right.”

As their conversations come to a halt, the worried girl checks their surroundings for the seventh time, marvelled by its design and yet, terrified. For reasons unknown, inside the building there is a particular rule: cyan, magenta and yellow are the only permitted colours. The uniforms of the pair sitting beside each other, the walls, roof, floor and even decoration plants are subject to this requirement. Rooms and hallways shine from their cleanliness. Black and white are the only colours to violate this rule, as they represent all and nothing.

“The Imperator sure is a dramatic one.”

Her thoughts are interrupted by a beeping sound of an alarm ringing, accompanied by a magenta light contrasting with the cyan walls. The man is visibly annoyed, but does his best to compose himself.

“C'mon, we have to move”, says the man with a smile to tranquillise her new partner. Although reluctant, she convinces herself to respond to the call of her duty.

“Alright, let's do this”, says the girl with clear uncertainty shining through her eyes.

“It'll be okay, I've done this many times. Trust me, White”, the man says while imposing a firm posture.

“I will, Green.”

They both approach the metal windowed door. The clear glass does not let outsiders see what's inside. For a moment, the building shuts its lights off for half a second. The door that was previously there disappeared out of sight. Instead, a white wall with a granulated texture appears in its place, sticking out like a sore thumb.

Intuitively, the pair move their right hand to their left wrist, almost at unison. When they both reach their wrist, they roll up their sleeves to unveil an artefact that they get from entering their job. Their fingers touch a singular black point on their wrist. As they press it, a part of their arm de-attaches itself to reveal its true form.

The upper part of their arm starts to float above where it's supposed to be, exposing the nature of the arm: a metal arm attached to the elbow. Clean metal is what the remaining part that is still attached to the hand and forearm is. The section of the elbow that was cut from Green has already integrated with its foreign new arm. The same fortune doesn't follow White, as a squeal comes out of her mouth. Sprouts of blood fall down to the floor.

“Ugh, I can't get used to this yet!” shouts White, cleaning her new arm with a towel that was nearby.

As she's cleaning, Green stands still, speechless. His eyes are fixated on White cleaning her blood on the floor. A certain hate is boiling within him.

“Get up. Now” says Green, with no emotion whatsoever

Confused by the tone of his words, she gets up, with blood dripping from the towel onto the floor, being the only sound that is heard through the hallway.

“W-what is it”

“SHUT UP” His words could have resonated through the whole building. Rage is the only emotion felt by Green, conveyed by his aggressive stance and his menacing look.

“How dare you stain this sacred place?”

“It was an accide-”

“SHUT UP!” At the same time, he reattaches his arm to make it complete.

“What is wrong with you!?” She says, while attending to her bleeding elbow.

Instantly, Green grabs White by the neck with his amply superior augmented arm.

“One, two, three…” He whispers a countdown to himself for an unforeseeable action.

Without a sound, nor a reaction from White, they get transported to the outside, to a mountain with a perfect slope to have a forest. Coincidentally, magenta leaves fall down as a reaction to their immediate quasi teleportation.

The forest, full of tall trees covered with moss mimicking the same colours of the leaves, with grass that is still green, sets a perfect view of the facility. The architecture of the building recalls the memories of a forgotten empire at its most glorious form. A certain era can be pictured in everyone's mind at the sight of that castle, with of course some modifications due to the times that we are in now.

The Victorian era, pinnacle of industrial revolution and the most glorious state of its now revived empire, Britannia, is given a new life through the gargantuan sized castle located in an unknown magenta plateau.

Shining yellow light reaches the leeward sides of the mountain, contrasting with the darkness of the night, penetrating even the highest of clouds making its presence known to everyone around the area.

“A testament of time, converted and transformed into a contemporary household of the greatest emperor of all, the only one close to touching divinity… and you dare profane its home”. He opens his hand holding her neck, finally realising her from a prison of pain.

White's coughing is swept by the increasing winds surrounding the valley. She already knew how the followers of the Imperator were a bit… fanatical. But not to this extent.

“The one that actually wants to change things for the betterment of humankind. The Imperator, he who has the wisdom and knowledge of all our history. Using his infinite pool of consciousness, he chose to help us when he has no purpose in doing so.” He makes a brief pause.

“Look at it. Look at it and tell me if you understand what I just said”. He says, while he sits down on the ground and stares at the castle. He looks a bit fazed and tired, but regardless, his admiration for his leader is greater.

“I.. I do *cough*. I do” Her words were cut by a cough, while touching her bruises. Although confused on how they got to that place, the strength that he had made her afraid and enraged at the same time. For now, she had to obey.

This psychopath could kill me and no justice would be served. She thought. For the mission's sake, I'll endure it all. After all, this is my grain of sand. But teleportation? That is beyond what I was told.

Green, snapping back to reality, has a sudden change of humour, cutting White's train of thought. After focusing on the castle, he turns around as he stands up.

“Good. Good! Now that everything's clear, let's go back, shall we? We are making It wait for us” A smile decorates his face, with some drops of sweat covering his forehead.

“Yes, let's”.

“Don't worry, your wounds will be attended to in its due time. Consider it a punishment for now.”

“...”

A moment of silence envelopes the pair. Green gets closer to her, grabbing her by the shoulder with one hand and gets closer to her ear.

“You might have a chance to have your little revenge against me when you get upgraded. But for now, you follow me.” With a smile on his face, he taps her shoulder twice.

Extending his hand to White for her to grab it. “C'mon, don't be shy” As he says so, she obliges, gritting her teeth.

Calm down. Calm. Down, Juliette. Better things await if I suck up this bullshit.

“One, two, three” Is whispered by Green. And almost instantly, they're back at the front of the white wall.

Like a robot completing its only purpose, Green activates his augmented arm again, detaching his upper arm from his body by pressing the black dot on his wrist. He then gets closer to the wall and sends his detached metal body part to the wall. A screen can be seen detailing the real info of Green's identity. White tries to get a closer look, but the screen isn’t visible from where she’s standing. Suddenly, the wall melts into a liquid on the floor and evaporates seconds later. The door is visible again.

He then opens it and makes a gesture for White to enter.

Okay, this is the first time that we can get a look at the Imperator. Don't screw this over. The CEC is counting on me. While encouraging herself, she proceeds to enter the black humid room, into the unknown.

Please, Julian, I trust you.