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Progressia.
Population: 100,000.
Average Mortality Age: 25
Monthly Birthrate: 350
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This is what Progressia's end goal has always been. To stabilize our population and escape eradication by the hands of the Beast.
With that in mind it requires an enormous amount of manpower and at the heart of Progressia lies this reproduction facility where through a glass window, a facilitator filled with human sized tubes and a diluted blood like liquid could be seen.
The liquid was a substance stabilizing genetic material while preventing deterioration of the original copy of DNA developed ten years ago. Each one filled with future residents with data accessible with a click of my I.S.D; all of their predicted futures, abilities, and even genetic make-up down to the order of their nucleotides lie in the palm of my hand as I studied each of them akin to when I studied plants.
The embryo surrounded by a bubble simulating what I had been told to be a womb that the long-forgotten originals used to breed with; however, our 'womb' serves many purposes outside of carrying the seed. It scans the undeveloped individual, alerting for any irregularities and automatically adjusts accordingly to the anomaly.
Previous records show that our ancestors carried a plethora of diseases and disorders spanning from manageable to torturous for one's day to day activities.
How they allow such illnesses to go untreated for as long as they did I will never understand, nor do I plan on lingering on the matter any further.
Our biotechnology helps discover and treat those issues before the child is ready to begin its first steps in Progressia, but only recently had it been perfected, within the last 8 years in fact by the assumed founder's records. Suspiciously enough, Sis always found that connection between that lost information and Francis strange, though she did not have much time to make light of that suspicion.
Despite their acknowledgement throughout Progressia, there are no concrete details on the Founder's research data or the Founder. Odd considering their close relationship with the Beast should have left Progressia with a foundation to defeat or subdue him. Especially now when it is necessary more than ever.
In District 1, the genetic advancement and development division, the only place in Progressia that you could see the live birth of its residence. The process meticulous requiring the splicing of thousands of the originals DNA samples then creating as many generational unique combinations as possible and finally converting that new genetic formation into a specimen to aid in freeing our people from the beast.
Despite the technological success, ten years ago this facility used to be capable of producing a mere five specimens out of a possible fifty and that in itself were possible if the odds were in their favor for that batch, but now a defect was near impossible to produce because Sis assisted them behind the scenes. Even at her young age of six she was exceptional beyond anything in the eyes of Progressia, a true genius among us mediocre creations.
With such an innovation would be quite easy to explain using Sis' data during experimentation, yet there were none and normally that in itself led to an investigation for any tampering then restaffing to Kayla for that transgression, but their sudden success proved otherwise leading to the present state with the Morrigan to continue funding the project more-so than ever and increasing the number of staff to attend to the increase in production while somehow the population remains roughly the same.
A child could find this information strange, yet it remains ignored like many internal problems in Progressia. Especially these records if I am reading them correctly. Information tells that Progressia produces new citizens monthly yet here they show a daily report dating back to when Sis died.
Most alarming of all. I do not recognize this DNA sequence.
20 per day. By reset of the next day, 100,000. Create 20 and terminate 20.
Was it a malfunction?
That in itself is impossible. The beast and our founder created these machines themselves so outside decay they should be precise as the day they were created. But what I found all the more unfathomable is that a discovery this large yet there has not been a single mention.
Something is amiss and I needed to find the center of it all.
If that creature had been a clone, that means she would no doubt have been created here. But rather question the how or where, the truth lies on whom. Combing through hundreds of thousands of documents to see if Sis' name came up anywhere, hoping to deter these lingering suspicions but nothing. Not a single mention of her name at all.
Impossible.
I was there when she assisted in each and every one of these projects before she died. Someone tampered with these data to erase her achievements from our records.
Not only that. Matthew. Jaycen. Ethan. Their records show that they hold many of those achievements but why? Matty would never so who wou—.
With the beast capabilities he could easily…no. He has no interest in us. His style of approach is much more forceful and blunter. He would never stoop to lowly trickery as this and with his kin uninvolved, the chances of his
Then that only leaves the higher ups including Francis who have access to change this information.
In fact. Who is Francis Morrigan? I have never personally met nor interacted with him directly despite my rank. I must investigate him before I proceed with any accusations.
As I begin to plan my next steps, I hear a ring on my I.S.D and a deep booming voice entering from the sliding door behind that I noticed long before he entered the room.
"Hello there fledgling, you must find it quite difficult to read through our intricately encrypted data."
Jordan Morrigan, the lead of the second shift of this section that I shadowed to access this data without Progressia's knowledge. I already receive permission from the Chief to pursue any research I desire and had deciphered all of it using a decoding program I developed during my time at the orphanage. However, to reveal that I already had all of his information downloaded onto my I.S.D would be foolish, so it is best I remain the fool in his eyes.
"Yes, I had not managed to access even one file."
"Wonderful."
The brown eyed man expresses joy and towers over me attempting to intimidate me with his respectable 182 cm height nearly hitting the metallic ceiling above while rubbing his scruffy poorly maintain brown beard on his square block shaped face.
"As expected from one of Kay—."
Then something occurs.
A change in posture and a shadow in his eyes. That arrogant demeanor became composed andI knew this feeling all too well, the creeping overbearing control that forcefully consumes its victim.
Mind control.
How frustrating that I must deal with him as well.
"Kayla's prized reject. For what possible reason do you have to trespass —tap— on Morrigan territory. Apologies."
Trespass.
"Potential Ace number four, Jaycen Morrigan."
"Do not call me that, I will surpass that beast along with the rest of you defects soon enough then take my place above our so-called ever vigilant —tap— leader—tap—." Jaycen's voice is of the man but the manner in which he spoke revealed his identity too obviously. At least to someone as detailed oriented as I. However they were little things so subtle that most of the population would never notice. The change in breathing pattern, the blink rate and even the way one's eyes move as they watch were all tells I trained to notice.
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Vigilant. Leader.
That being said, Jaycen sounds like he is attempting to convince an outside entity with his scornful words rather than insult me.
"Big plans as usual, but you lack subtlety Jaycen."
"Far beyond your meager thoughts about that failure you call a sibling—tap—."
Sibling.
Unlike that thing I could not afford to lash out in this situation especially considering I have no idea where his main body lies. If he wishes to put on this performance than I must abide by the script he is blatantly telling.
"I am leaving."
"A worthless Kayla reject has nowhere to be. Remain underneath —tap— the dirt and among the filth where you belong."
"Does not mean I intend to stay in your presence."
"You have grown arrogant—tap—."
Arrogant.
"Numbers do not lie. I am second rank, and you will remain below this Kayla reject." I want to cut him off and teleport this man back in the corner, however I chose to restrain myself.
"That might be true, yet currently I seem to hold more information about that copy than you. If you want to know more tha-."
"Sorry not interested. I choose to do my own research."
"Then what will you do about your replacement—tap—?"
The image of Michael flashes in my mind, but before I could snap, I held myself back once more remembering that this is all an act.
"I can guarantee you this, I will protect that boy and all of Kayla along with any citizen you choose to harm. If you choose to harm Progressia while the eyes of Arbiter observe, then you will face my judgement."
"Promises. Meaningless gestures." The man places his hands on my cheeks hoping to get a rise out of me once more to only meet my unfazed gaze. "Results are what matter. Either you succeed or you fail."
Then as Sis would say.
"Then I refute failure and choose success. There are no other choices."
"Do what you will, Kayla reject. But know a lack of presence is as noticeable as a boisterous one." Pointing to a corner of the room where there was camera that I had disabled then his presence fades; however, it was still the same annoying man as before the control, so I took my leave.
For now I will heed his warning and unravel his message.
Trespass.
Be wary of where you travel.
Vigilant leader.
Francis Morrigan has eyes everywhere.
Sibling underneath.
Matthew lies beneath the earth.
Arrogant replacement.
This clue I cannot decipher but it hints something about Francis Morrigan.
The closest person outside myself and Matty was without a doubt Jaycen. No matter what may have happened or his motives he had to assist me just now; I am certain he would never tamper with that data. Even more-so than I or Matty could ever promise. His loyalty lied with Sis and Sis alone. Perhaps he is protecting Progressia in her stead or he deems me worthy of carrying such a legacy.
Either way he is currently not an enemy, but I am not confident to label him an ally.
I teleport back outside to the roof of the building before the man regains full consciousness where I began to extract the information. In an instant all the information about the ongoings at this facility revealed on my I.S.D.
Everything leads back to Francis. That possible clone. Tampered data. Jaycen's intervention.
If I could decipher the truth about that creature then I could begin further into the other oddities as well. Even if that creature was not Sis' clone, there was a chance it had something to do with all of this. Matty still exists on the side of the Morrigan and with the end of the city nearing, one side will become victorious.
Will that creature destroy us or will Francis unknown plan succeed? I must prevent our end at all costs and if Francis Morrigan stands in my way; I accept that I will have to eliminate his interference.
I take a peek at one document which read: The one to surpass God.
In particular the word God captures my attention.
God? Singular person above it?
I may have an incredible vocabulary considering the information I have access to, but that was a word I have yet to hear.
Was it a new project? No, Jaycen presence meant that this project has been long in development and hidden deep in Morrigan's concealed information banks.
But before I can begin to read through the document plans, a voice message appears in my inbox reading that it was urgent.
Salutations Second, I see that you managed to finally get this message from this pigeon.
Pigeon? Another unfamiliar word along with a male voice.
Come to the Morrigan main building as soon as possible if you want to learn more. That is all for today.
I recognized that voice immediately. I have heard it in passing once but I remember it vividly. That arrogant overly zealous tone could only be the work of Francis Morrigan, the current CEO of our city but since it was a voice message, I could not respond, but it piqued my interest.
Why now?
I decided to read the document later and left the facility to teleport to the middle of the street in front of the building.
Although I could teleport to the building, it was three thirty p.m., a perfect time to fit in a light workout as I have not trained my body today so I will use this opportunity to warm up. I had this routine for years and as Sis always reminded me it was crucial to maintain such or fall prey to lethargy. I jog my way thirteen miles past District 3, 5 and 7 before making it to the edge of District 8 where the Morrigan building and the home of the beast rests at its center.
The clock struck 4:17 p.m. I decided to stop for a brief break on the street to catch my breath.
"E-excuse me." I hear a tap on my shoulder making me jump forward, turning around with my heart bursting out of my chest seeing the beast's kin and that creature with befuddle expressions.
Impossible. I should have noticed them; I am sure that my echo location had been activating, how did they sneak up on me?
"She's like a rabbit I ate."
A white haired brown skinned thing dressed like a white furry long eared creature matching with the red-haired kin.
"Was it good? Wait shush, we're lost so let's ask for directions thank you very much."
The other one could only be described with blood-drenched hair wearing a similar fur suit but with so many layers of clothing causing her to waddle as she walks. She seems to not notice who I am at first but as soon as she gets closer and realizes my identity, she waddles back frantically behind the other one.
"Fine my bad that I don't usually use the streets. Hey Sophi, can ya help us out? We got lost and need to get here."
It shows me the I.S.D that pointed to the edge of the city near the garden.
Our forbidden garden.
Were they trying to invade my special haven once more? If so, then I cannot allow such a thing to happen. I reach for my needles in my green waist belt but stop myself. Without knowing the beast's limitations and this baffling thing's intention I knew that I should not engage them in combat, but I could not allow them to go toward my sanctuary either yet, I needed to confirm this newly found information as well.
If this creature really turns out to be a replication of Sis, then how would I feel about…
No, I need to confirm where I stood and who is at fault. Had Matty really let Sis be recreated or is this another scheme by the Beast or Francis Morrigan to torment us?
"If ya ain’ gonna help then we're gonna find it ourselves. Let's go Ophi."
As they left, I heard the last bits of their conversation.
"Is it all okay?"
"Yeah, Sophi super safe to be around even more than Arti."
"B-but."
"She's just scary lookin' is all. We used to know each other a long time ago so trust me on this. Y'all just started bad."
"Oh, that's nice. S-s-should she come with?"
"Nah. This is the bestie time, remember."
Why…why would she think that about me? Does she…know? Impossible.
Clones in themselves were mere genetic imitations of the original, memories do not transfer to the copy, and I am certain our technological state does not have the ability to do that either.
Then why does she speak so familiarly as well as bearing Big Sis lingual quirks?
Besides the fact these two managed to sneak up on me, what terrifies me the most was the I.S.D they were wearing.
The standard issued I.S.D was metallic grey similar to the one I wore with only one button to turn it on and off. Theirs not only had three buttons but felt different than mine. I could not understand why but the material felt alive just like the building at my hotel and far more insidious, especially the kin's which concludes that Syrus involvement in those 'hotels' certain. One thing I became certain of, I am beginning to find the pieces for which I am searching for.
Is this all part of his plan or was it merely a coincidence? No, there must be a connection as Sis always said ‘Coincidences are connections that lack context. Find the root then all will be revealed'.
"Ophelia Akachi. Kyrie Testament. One is not as they seem. The other inconceivable. But where does the connection lie outside of the beast himself?"
Without any other choice, I teleport in front of the Morrigan building knowing that soon enough, I will know that answer.