As the blazing horizon consumes the sun, the inhabitants of level zero encroach upon the border to level two. Having surmised the resentful glares and slanders of the level one population, they have diligently passed through without disruption.
The repeated chills of soft winds trickle down Kita's back as though the tension is constantly thickening. Their arrival at the border will be the true test of Reiku's planning. Kita glances over at Ms. Eeve, who's walking behind her- and slows her pace.
"What are you planning?" Kita raises an eyebrow.
"Planning?" Ms Eeve scoffs, "I'm not as nefarious as you think,"
"Mmm, I'm sure you felt that way when you decided to make children illegal?"
Ms Eeve shrugs, taking a moment to think up her response before she softly says, "You're no stranger to doing whatever is necessary to get what you want," She looks at Kita, "The only difference is what we want,"
Kita feels the breeze tingle through her again- This bitch is definitely up to something.
"And what is it that you want?"
"Me?" Ms Eeve chuckles, "To be the greatest mind to ever grace this wretched planet,"
Kita squints, digesting the lack of relation she has to the pursuit of intellect… Discovery. In contrast, she finds her wants rather simple. She hasn't thought about the life she'd want to lead once she's gotten her soul back.
Getting it back is fucking difficult enough.
"How do you plan to do that?" Kita asks.
"Once I perfect immortality, I will have the time to discover everything."
"Everything?" Kita stammers.
"Civilizations rise and collapse. It is simply a matter of time before the next one rises from the ashes of its predecessors. I will be there for it… And the one after that."
If Kita's learnt anything lately, it's that she needs to set some bigger goals.
"It would be quite a shame if I killed you before any of that, wouldn't it?" Kita chuckles, with a devious grin on her face.
Ms Eeve chuckles, "It is not yet my time,"
Kita lightly scoffs under her breath- Feeling unsatisfied by Ms Eeve's response and turns to scan the level one inhabitant's unwelcoming scowls. It takes Kita a brief moment before she realizes that all the level zero inhabitants around her are wearing military uniforms with camouflage and weapons strapped around their shoulders. She glances at Ms Eeve, who is no longer standing by her side. Her stomach drops as she looks to the ground, where her feet crunch amongst luscious green grass with each of her steps.
"Wha-" Kita stammers, looking at the level one citizens to find no one watching. No scowling. No River City- Just a large valley with mountains stalking her from afar.
"It's happening again," She whispers to herself, taking a deep breath in an attempt to wake up.
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To stop this memory.
"Quiet!" Yells the soldier standing where Ms Eeve was.
"I, uh-"
"What'd I just say," The soldier yells before hitting Kita over the back of the head.
A shiver of discomfort fills Kita as a familiar lack of control arises- Prompting her to contemplate taking the soldier's soul, and breaking free from whatever the hell this is.
In an attempt to raise her hand, she realizes they are both tied together, and she nearly stumbles over as a result. She can't feel whether or not she has any souls and briefly remembers that every time she's had one of these visions, she's awoken where she previously was.
But, this time is different. This time, her memories aren't fading- She isn't attaching to this… place.
Not this time.
Would killing this soldier kill Ms Eeve?
A part of Kita is curious but she knows better than to try finding out. What if it's Reiku? No, it's not worth finding out.
She looks to the front of what is now a military unit and notices a distant encampment of tents, and various vehicles she can't quite remember the name of- One of which she knows is designed for flight, with a series of propellers that spin in tandem or something of the sort. It doesn't make much sense to her how that would induce flight but she's sure that's the procedure.
What was it called? Her mind strains at the strange availability of two sets of memories before she chides herself for getting distracted. No, Why am I here? As the unit comes upon the gate to the camp, the unit splits into two groups, one of which heads inside the encampment.
"Take them to Site Sixteen," Orders a more decorated soldier standing behind them.
"Yes, Sergeant," Call out four soldiers amongst the group.
On either side of the Sergeant, are two teenagers, not too much younger than Kita- Whatever age she was at the time. Both of them have their hands restrained as well, and their clothing brings to her attention that all three of them are wearing pale, light-fabric outfits. The same ones from the village.
The group splits in two again, and the majority of soldiers head inside whilst the Sergeant and four other soldiers escort the Kita and the other two village kids to Site 16- An encampment on the other side of a nearby hill. Hidden between two hill areas and completely concealing it from even an elevated view.
The facility is that of a lab, similar to Ms Eeve's but dwarfing her's in scale and technology. There are so many tools here- Many of which Kita is certain she's never seen before. Despite this being a memory.
Upon arriving, the soldiers guided the three of them to a shared living space that consisted of three steel beds with sleeping bags and a bathroom. Giving Kita the impression of a prison more than a home. After three scientists with masks covering their faces come in to draw blood from each of them, a Man with a lab coat and bright blonde hair enters the room. The three masked scientists entered and left without saying a word and once they'd left, the blonde man took a brief moment to stare at each of them. As if he was learning something through their eyes- sending an unsettling feeling in Kita's stomach.
"Welcome to Site Sixteen," The blonde man says, "I'm Doctor Monroe,"
The three village teenagers pass wary looks to one another, the other two too frazzled to say anything. Kita looks back at Dr Monroe, and squints in an attempt to get a read on the man. Was the intense stare he did just a power trip? Or is the sincerity in his voice for real?
"What is this?" Kita asks, glancing at the soft, cushion-like walls.
"This is the Monroe Institute," He says with a smile on his face. "The military hires us to help you unlock your true potential,"
"We never asked for help!" Yells the girl sitting beside Kita. Her short, black hair and green eyes jolt as she aggressively stands up and approaches Dr Monroe.
"Please, stay calm," Dr Monroe says as two guards step into the room and stand behind him. Prompting the girl to take a step back and take her seat. "The three of you are like delicate Roses that have been uprooted from their homes to serve a higher purpose. I am here to help to reach that higher purpose,"
"Sounds like a cult," Kita says with a snarky grin.
Dr Monroe chuckles lightly whilst glaring at Kita with a smile on his face, "It looks like we have a volunteer to do initial testing first,"