[September 25th. Genf - Nion"s apartment.].
Nion woke up from a long sleep. Slowly and reluctantly, she uncovered her face. Streaks of sunlight that penetrated the gla.s.s window before had disappeared. Her eyelids opened to the empty unlit room. No daylight, no gentler breeze that was present earlier, just a cold wind whispering, calling Nion to wake up. Next to her bed, the pointless alarm clock, glowing red, 7:52 pm. she was unable to tell for how long she was sleeping but it felt like the mysterious dream lasted an eternity.
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Confused about its nature and more importantly the meaning behind those last words she heard in her sleep.
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"My head... It is killing me." She groaned. "I can"t tell if I am still dreaming or not. These dreams, they"ve been... So vivid, it"s almost scary." Nion ran her hands through her hair and realized that half of it is now gone.
"Uncle... "Noah"..." As soon as she mentioned this name, tiny tears began dripping down her face. "Why do I feel like crying all of sudden?" She shook her head. "Who can that be...?"
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She sat up facing the entrance door, dragged her feet off the bed, and rubbed her knuckles into her eyes while her legs were dangling slightly above the floor.
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"It feels like I am missing something..." She frowned. "Something that has a connection with that name, something I should have never forget." Nion talked to herself while stretching her arms, ready to get up.
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Despite the confusion around her latest dreams or rather a vision, she felt surprisingly relaxed, awake, perhaps more awake than she had ever been.
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"How come it is 8 pm already?" She yawned. "Urgh, I am so dull... Maybe I should just stay in my bed, just reading some stuff and doing nothing... It"s been a while..."
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The soft breeze coming from the slightly opened window and sweeping inside the silent room made her turn around her head where she was facing her own reflections on the large window gla.s.s.
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"Look at you!" She slapped herself on the cheeks. "Get your act together!" She jumps up from the bed and going to get ready to go out.
"Good evening Nion." Said a pleasant female voice.
"Ah, Mitera... Good evening." Nion replied to a human size hologram that appeared next to her bed. "Can you make me something too eat? I am starving."
"Certainly, do you want me to cook one of your favorites: Meat Stew, Pasta, Ravioli, Sushi-" Offered Mitera.
"Eh, no... Just a plate with steamed vegetables would do just fine." Nion replied.
"That"s very unusual from you. You never asked for vegetables before."
"I don"t know, I just feel like to have some." Nion shrug.
"Very well, your dinner will be ready in 10 minutes." Announced Mitera.
"Great."
"Also, I must inform you regarding your "Social Credit"." Said Mitera.
"What about that?"
"It appears that since you returned from your latest a.s.signment it dropped lower than the authorized level." Warned her Mitera.
"Well... I kind of saw it coming!" Nion looked at her hand watch device. "Zero? There must be a mistake!! I understand the circ.u.mstances and all... But "Zero"?! She face-palmed.
"There is no mistake, it appears that you"ve left the country premises without an official agreement - By the law of Prosper Aleksithimia it is considered as a crime." Explained Mitera.
"d.a.m.n it."
"Shall I book a "Rehab - Capsule Session" to raise your score?" Asked Mitera.
"Yes please, the nearest one... I can"t take public transport nor call a taxi, right?" Asked Nion.
"Well played Nion..." She mumbled.
"Yes, correct. All of your "Keeper" privileges are currently suspended until you clear out the negative score." Replied Mitera.
"I am sorry, but rules are rules. We need to encourage our citizens to flaunt good credit scores, it is a benefit for everyone to have a healthy community." Explained Mitera System. "If the negative score is not cleared within 48 hours, you will be sent to " The Metro"."
"Genf suburbs... Hmm, wait a minute, now since I have the negative score, I can actually get in there..." Nion wondered. "Anyway, send me the "Capsule" coordinates."
"Certainly." Mitera said.
"Ahem, Mitera?" Nion called.
"Yes, how can I help?"
"Do you know someone called "Noah"? Perhaps it is someone I"ve met before?" Nion asked.
"Certainly. Scanning the global registry..." Replied Mitera Systems. "I found only one name that matches your request, you do not seem to be related in any way. The more detailed information appears to be "locked"."
"Even if I clear my score?!" She asked.
"I am afraid."
"Noah... Who are you...?" Said Nion thoughtfully.
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Nion stepped into the shower, toes flinching as the touched the chilled ceramic floor.
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"Who treated my wounds?" She asked Mitera.
"I believe that was lady Seànn herself." Replied Mitera.
"So I really did fight with her... What is wrong with me seriously?" She sighed then continued removing bandages that were glued to each other because the blood got dry.
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During this painful moment, Nion"s eyes fell closed over and over, each time rewinding the scenes from her recent dream... The last strip of the woven fell to the wet floor.
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"What the?!" Speechless, Nion gazed at her chest reflection. "What is that?! How?!" Her eyes roamed from one feature to another.
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"Why do I have a freaking "hole" in my chest?!" Just under her right breast, there was a giant ma.s.s of coagulated blood that was sipping down. The edges of the wound looked inflated and slightly burned over the extremities as if that part got pierces by something long and sharp.
"The wound seems to have been treated correctly, so there is no risk for your life at this point. However, it is rather a deep cut." Mitera began scanning Nion"s chest.
"May I take a look at your weapon?" Mitera asked.
"Ah, yeah, do whatever..." Nion waved to Mitera. "What in the world happened to me back then? It is so weird, I don"t feel any pain..." She leaned over to look closer at the wound, then touched with fingers. "I do feel it when I touch it, but it does not hurt at all..."
"Nion, I"ve scanned the surface of your weapon. There is your DNA on it." Mitera said.
"Of course there is my DNA on it, it is my "Primary weapon"..." She replied while rolling her eyes.
"I am talking about the surface of your blade itself... Your DNA is on it. It is only a possibility, but that wound on your chest; There are 90% chances that it was done by your weapon." Explained Mitera while showing the holographic surface of the blade.
"Nonsense! n.o.body can touch my weapon except myse-" She gazed at her own reflection.
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"Mitera!" She called.
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"Who came to my apartment while I was asleep?" She nervously asked.
"n.o.body, I am afraid. Were you expecting-"
"You are lying! Aleksithimia came here, I am certain of that." Nion argued.
"I was not designed to alter any kind of information. Here is the video surveillance footage from the moment when lady Seànn brought you home 4 days ago you seemed unconscious but I haven"t detected any critical risks to your health. 24 hours ago you did woke up for a couple of minutes and then went back to sleep. This is not the first time your body is taking more than 48 hours to recover so I decided that everything is normal. Besides that - you had no visitors until this moment." Mitera projected video footage in the shower room.
"No way!!" Nion shook her head. "I remember Aleksithimia talking to me, and Seànn she was there too... But..."
"I am sorry if you are not satisfied with my services, shall I call for better medical a.s.sistance? Perhaps I should call a doctor to investigate your wounds."
"No, I am fine..." Nion said, puzzled.
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The water poured down as her mind faded into dullness where everything looked like a foggy illusion. But the sensation of the steamy water kept her calm.
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"Let"s calm down and think rationally for a second. How can I remember seeing Seànn talking to Aleksithimia when I was on my bed..." She frowned.
"Mitera, call Seànn I need to talk to her..."
"Certainly." Replied Mitera.
She cut the shower. "Actually don"t... That"s fine."
"Understood." Replied Mitera. "Your dinner is ready."
"Later; I don"t feel like eating anymore." Replied Nion as she dressed up and left her apartment.
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Across the traffic lights, taxi lines with infinite ques of white umbrellas; Customers were patiently waiting for their turn. People, in a hurry on their way home, we"re stuck in the traffic as it always happens when it rains in the capital. All vehicle transport was completely automated and managed exclusively by "Mitera System Public Transport Services". This traffic system had been implemented to reduce chemical waste. Only electric vehicles were allowed to enter the capital premises.
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"Think, think, think... What was the last thing I remember from that night: I saw Seànn in the forest... Then she told me to go back, and I removed my "Kanjöga" too-"
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In the Grey City or how the citizen called the capital, during the evening it looked like vehicles were floating over the ground, soundless, slowly advancing with the traffic flow to their destination. Along the wet flickering asphalt street, small groups of people were gathered in front of big publicity screens that were disposed of all around the city that were usually presenting flash news. Multiple augmented reality holograms that were visible only with Kanjöga collar were disposed everywhere on the streets. Each hologram was promoting its own products, starting from the brand-new body augmentations and its upgrades, cosmetics, food, online retail stores and many more.
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"Nion may I?" Called her Mitera.
"Not now." She replied. "Then I was back to the village... Then I saw it...And then?" She stopped in the middle of the traffic.
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"I apologize to bother you but perhaps you will be interested to hear it, lady Seànn left you a voice message." Mitera said.
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"Ah, a missed call!" She realized that she was jamming the traffic in the middle of the street.
"Would you like to hear it?" Mitera asked.
"Yeah!" Nion replied.
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"Good evening, it is Seànn. If you are listening to this message, I hope you are doing better. I am running out of time, so I"ll get straight to the point. When we were in Elpida you mentioned that the brother of the deceased child was in the city hospital, do you remember?"
"100% don"t..." Nion murmur. "OH s.h.i.t!! How could I forget!!" She shouter and then immediately covered her mouth with her hand.
"Worry not. I"ve done some researches and found out that "Doctor Brun" was taking care of him, he owes me some special favors so we could arrange a deal, me and him."
"Please, give me good news!" Nion was impatient to hear what was coming next.
"The good news is that I could find the child. Brown hair, approximately 12-13 years old, brown eyes and pale skin. I am confident that"s the right one."
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Relieved, Nion deeply exhaled as her hands became shaking of joy.
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"So, yeah, he is with me. Waiting until your arrival." Explained Seànn.
"Seànn, you are the sweetest person I"ve ever met...I owe you so much... Too much!" Smiled Nion as suddenly her att.i.tude got much brighter than just minutes ago.
"Okay, now the bad news is that due to the cerebral shock he lost some parts of his memories." She made a short break before she continued her sentence. "It is none of my business but maybe you would share what happened between you and him, them?" Seànn asked.
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The loud noise of children screaming and playing on the background.
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"Good evening Ya.s.sine, I am yours in a minute," Seànn spoke to someone. "So, yes, he is under my care. He asked me about his mother and his brother, I said that someone who may know their whereabouts is on the way. He is waiting for you."
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"Seànn, you are the best!" Nion smiled.
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"When you will feel better, please head to Némless, it is a small village located around 6 hours away from the capital. I am sending you the coordinates, in the case you"ve never been to Némless, be sure to hide your Kanjöga and try to wear something casual, do not bring your "Keeper" outfit. The population around here is mostly rebels and propaganda activists from "The Metro". All of them are very nice, but I a.s.sure you, it is for the best to avoid raising their attention." She explained.
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"Némless huh...Never been there." Nion said full of inspiration. "I guess there won"t be the best moment to travel a little bit, but first thing first, for now, I gotta clear my score."