EVENT: GENESIS

Waking up to darkness, pain aches throughout every inch of my body, as if I was in a car crash accident. Slowly my senses returned, my vision still hazy, I could make out a few things from my surrounding. Soon realizing I was trapped in a small cramped compartment, and I could feel the walls pressing in on me. I tried to move, but my limbs was too weak. Who knows how long I've been knock out cold, but I began to remember small bits of my past.

"Frontlines," I muttered through the haze of confusion. "…Was it an ambush?"

Looking around, hazy memories became clear, I was piloting some kind of machine. With sets of buttons laid around the cockpit, and a handle to control the machine. Soon the thought hit me as I looked around trying to turn on the machine once more, my co-pilot… Right when I looked back, she was clearly killed in action. With blood dripping down her seat, trickling down hitting the metal floor. Atleast her face was covered by the shade of the darkness. I immediately looked back, regretting that decision.

"Too bad I never got to know her, now it's all too late"

There I took a deep breath and calmed myself, before turning my attention back to the machine.

Fiddling with the buttons around my cockpit, desperately trying to find a way to get out. Right when I wanted to leave my seat, my hands slipped accidentally bumping a switch managing to open the canopy, only for clouds of dust fall from the opening compartments. The gritty particles swirled in the air, catching the sunlight and creating a hazy atmosphere. As the dust settled, I tried to stand up but excruciating pain shivers down my leg causing me to fall from the cockpit, soon collapsing onto the hard sand like ground.

Laying there on the ground, groaning in pain. My vision was still hazy as dust covered my eyes, though I wasn't ready to die just yet. Observing the machine made me remember why I was here. 

I was a soldier in the 555th HAAW (Heavy Armed Artillery Walker) division, a unit sent to help the ground armed forces advance into a city abandoned decades ago. We had fought tirelessly for two gruelling months, enduring harsh conditions, to fend off unknown enemy forces. Nobody knows why higher up command wants us to fight blood, sweat and tears for a city nobody batted an eye for decades. On the day of the ambush, our enemies were strong like nothing before

"What were we fighting?"

Without a bullet hole in sight, those enemies were no ordinary foe. No matter how hard I try to remember, I couldn't come to a conclusion.

Gazing towards the sunset behind the horizon, it became clear nightfall is approaching and I need to get a move on. With a bummed leg and a mild headache, I chose a direction and walked, walked and walked until I found nothing other than sand and rocks. From here towering boulders in the distance felt within reach and yet they remained distant, with each step in the

With the scorching heat of the desert, my muscles felt like they were set ablaze. It would be only a matter of time until I stumble and fall, collapsing onto the ground again.

There far in the distance I began to hear an engine like sound, as I looked left and right, a blurry object riding along the distance came clear it was moving towards me. I tried to scream for help desperately, only letting out a fraction of my voice, my throat became so dry I could barely let out a sound. Before I know it, as the vehicle came closer and closer, I blinked my eyes once more clearing out my hazy vision, only to find out…

The vehicle wasn't a friendly.

Before I could react, a gunshot struck through me and everything became so dark.

"Did I die?" I asked myself

Not long after spending some time in the darkness, I felt a light came from a distance approaching rapidly.

Before I knew it, I woke up in a vivid white room.

The pain was gone, but it felt like I was still in the middle of nowhere.

Slowly I opened my eyes, the room was bright, the sun shining brightly through the bright lights. Turning my head, a girl with blond hair sat beside the bed, holding onto my hand. My eyes were greeted by a petite girl. Her body built like a doll wearing an elegant like white and blue dress and wore a golden necklace with a unique symbol. Her silk like smooth hair flows down her head hiding bright blue eyes. Yet her eyes looked different, they were so crystal clear it felt almost fake.

As our eyes met, she looked confused "Is there something wrong?" she asked

I nodded slightly, "Where am I? What is this place?" looking around, the place looked like a hospital, with beds neatly arranged, mine was placed by the end of the room.

Looking back towards the girl, she smiled "This place is named after a paradise, a special place meant to house humans of your kind"

I raised a brow, questioning her words, "Rest up while you can, your body is still too weak from deep sleep. For now, please rest"

Before she could get up and leave the room, i quickly asked "Just who are you?"

Turning back with a glance, "I am ARIA, I am an Advanced Robotic Interactive Aid system." as she bowed before continuing to walk off.

I was relieved but confused, questions still flooded my mind after what just happened. I stumble across the bed, trying to get up. My body feels weak, when I look towards my hand, it was always trembling even when I was feeling quite fine.

After regaining stability to walk once more, I began moving towards the exit of the room. Looking around the room once more, there were rows of empty beds, with each one of them accompanied by a doll beside it, only for mine to have none. It struck me as a bit odd but I thought nothing of it.

By the door outside, I gently opened the door, only to reveal it was indeed a hospital. But something felt off to me, as if the area surrounding was far too quiet for a hospital. I stood there for a minute, from one hallway to another, there was not a single human being in sight. 

I began wandering around the place, it was a nice hospital. With white marble floor, and elegant paintings on the wall, the area felt almost surreal, almost too perfect. I was so immersed into the environment I didn't notice a person standing behind me.

"Hey kid, what are you doing here?" a man's voice echoed.

Shocked, i quickly turned around. Standing before me was a man who looked like he was in his late thirties. With brown hair and glasses. He wore a stained lab coat, with a clipboard in one hand and a cigarette on the other.

"Where is everybody?" i asked,

As he took another puff of his cigarette, the man unenthusiastically replied "Ahh, new around here yea?"

I simply nodded, 

"Listen kidd, thatt patch on your jackett tells me you're no good. Apartt of CCEO? only a badge like thatt would come from federal freaks themselves"

I was stunned, as i looked back at my jacket, my insignia badge was still intact. Unlike that memory of myself back on the desert, it was ragged. Before i could think any further, the man paid no attention any longer, and started walking away

"Wait, how did you know-"

As he paused for a moment, "Itt's a long story kidd, see me next time iff ya wanna knoww bout it." before continuing walking off. 

"Wait, how did you know-"

As he paused for a moment, "Itt's a long story kidd, see me next time iff ya wanna knoww bout it." before continuing walking off.

Though it didn't answer my questions, it left me questioning if i was still in the same planet from that dream i had. Looking outside the windows, every corner of the first floor was filled with a garden of roses, and a beautiful banquette under cherry trees.

There I snapped out of my mind, and wandered till I found down stairs. Soon enough i managed to find myself across the cafeteria,

"Where is everyone? It looks so empty"

The cafeteria was a ghost town, everything was left untouched. The room was spacious, with the ceiling decorated by glass windows, letting glimmers of light to shine through. There were many empty tables, and without anyone behind the food counter.

There, as i walked around the hall, I found a door that led me outside. With the breath of fresh air, I could at least feel somewhat calm in times of need. Though for a bright and sunny weather, the temperature felt off, as if i was still inside the hospital. It was oddly cold.

As i kept on walking, the scenery of a vast rose garden greeted me. With a pond and benches placed around the area. The scenery was almost like a painting, with the flowers and the sun shining through.

Then out of nowhere a soft spoken voice beside me said, "Doesn't these flowers remind you of something?"

I was startled, jumping back and falling to my back. As i looked back, it was the same girl from before.

"Oops my mistake," As she giggled before lending me a hand.

"Hello! sir- umm... What was your name? I didn't quite catch it earlier today"

I was caught off guard, with such a simple question in mind, i couldn't wrap around myself to answer. My memories still hazy from the sleep, I even forgot my own name 'who am i?' I asked myself. But time ticks closer as the conversation stopped at a stalemate,

My eyes averted from hers, as she began looking confused.

"Is there something wrong mister?" she asked politely

As i looked down to my own hands, "...I can't seem to remember who I am"

The look on her face was ever seemingly so disappointed by my answer, she looked around my jacket and saw the badge.

"Well, why don't i call you by that symbol on your shoulder, H.A.A.W" she enthusiastically suggested.

To which I had no choice but to agree, 'what was my name?' the memories seemed so far apart, I couldn't get a grasp of any of it. There with a more confused look on her face, she walked in-front of me to get my attention,

"Don't like it? we can always change it"

"No, that wasn't my intention- My memories are just... Everywhere"

Afterwhich, that confused on her face was gone in a flash, as she grabbed the palm of my hand and stopped.

Her words uttered "Don't worry! I am ARIA, I'll help you to assist your journey to rehabilitation" along with a bright smile.

Right there and then, ARIA told me to follow her, so I did and, she led me along the guided path around the gardens. Throughout a garden of flowers, together we strolled through the garden seeing all the bright blue orchids, and blood red roses. Her knowledge on flowers seemed to be a lot more advanced that I can ever keep up with. 

Throughout a couple of days spent rehabilitating my physical abilities, I could feel somewhat stronger than I used to back when I first woke up. In our pastime, I have begun to know ARIA more and more, her knowledge seemed very advanced, to which from my point of view, sometimes made no sense but she was always glad to explain further. At the same time, ARIA would ask me about my past life, to which i had no memory. Those memories flashed across my mind, though I just can't pin-point exactly what it was.

But one question she asked struck my mind, she asked "Do you remember what the outside world was like?"

To which my mind replied, "All I could remember was a desolate wasteland with nothing hundreds of clicks appart"

She looked rather displeased after that, but as time passes on, my mind kept going back to that simple question. What exactly did she mean of the 'outside world'? If only we were on earth, but home was lightyears away.

As more and more days passed on, I always see her in the same place at the same time everyday. Observing flowers closely, taking care of which she could, with watering them everyday and checking their health from time to time. Though her eyes seemed to glow on weathered days, those crystal blue eyes always felt unusual. There are so many questions left unanswered, day after day, I just kinda got used to it.

Until one day,

I went looking for ARIA by the garden, from the second floor bridge, I looked around but she was nowhere to be found. 'Maybe she changed up her schedule?' I asked myself. But to my surprise she appeared right beside me,

"Congratulation mr. haaw! you've been ordered discharge from the hospital"

Upon hearing that, i was stunned "Am I free to go?"

ARIA cheerfully replied "Indeed, which means you can go wherever you'd like within the confines of the area!"

With the new given freedom, it gave me some room to think of what was next. I was lost, leaving this place means leaving ARIA. I was rather displeased, as she was the only one who kept me company on my stay. But i guess it was inevitable from the start, as I walked back to my room and grabbed some stuff.

I was ready to face this place on my own will.

As i walked outside, a fast approaching footstep behind me became closer and closer. A voice shouted,

"HAAW, WHERE ARE YOU GOING!!!"

It was ARIA's voice, as she rushed her steps carrying along luggage.

I was confused yet again, but as she caught up to me, she lectured me, saying "Goshhh, were you just going to leave me there?? how heartless can you be?!"

"You're coming with me?" I asked

"Ofcourse, idiot. I'm supposed to accompany you throughout the rehabilitation process"

"Rehab? wasn't I discharged though?"

"The process doesn't end there!" she pouted. 

From that point on, ARIA was my companion. As she dragged me around the block showing everything the city had to offer, from generic restaurants, average market places and classic bars. It was the first time I saw other people walking around, there I was back in society.

Walking along the walkway, ARIA held my hands as she walked faster and faster. She dragged me through crowded outside restaurants, across walkways to somewhere she knew. Soon i began struggling to keep up, eventually asking,

"Just where are we going exactly?"

"It's always questions with you isn't it? Relax, just hurry up and move those legs!"

Upon arriving, there we stood in front of an average looking family restaurant. Opening the restaurant door, all eyes dart instantly towards me, those weird gazes felt unnatural but ARIA didn't seem to be bothered as she quickly sat down on one of the sofa tables. It felt unsettling, being watched for every single move I did, but as soon as we sat on a table, everything went back as normal, all those gazes went away.

Looking towards ARIA, she paid no attention and got the menu right away.

"What're you feelin today?"

As i scroll about through the menu, the foods here looked off. Everything from the basic names, without variety, down to the picture looked somewhat artificial.

"These look kinda off? don't you think?"

ARIA snatched the menu from me and asked "What's off? nothing weird in particular for me"

Before eventually rambling on and on about the food she should order, saying something along the lines of this or that. But before entering this restaurant, something caught the edge of my eye. When we sat on a table, everything went back as normal, as the people kept going about their day. Though one gaze never left off my sight, It was from a woman near the back, with short bright brown hair, braided and decorated with a red ribbon, wearing sunglasses. Whenever I tried to look her way, she directed her vision somewhere else. It was clear she was observing me from afar.

Suddenly ARIA poked me to get my attention

"Hello??? Hey!! are you even listening?"

I was dumbfounded "Huh? What's wrong?"

She sighed, and kept asking of what I should order. "Anything you'd recommend?"

Right after shrugging it off, ARIA went back rambling on about food, asking every single thing to me excitedly. She was like a kid, showing me every single thing in the menu asking if I tried any of them before. Soon the food came to our table, ARIA was excited as ever. Though when I tasted the food, it felt like I was eating plastic, everything was clearly made artificially and there was not even an effort to hide that fact.

But watching her 'eat' enthusiastically, enjoying and savouring every single bite, as I pretended to enjoy it as well putting up my best smile while I eat something that tasted like clay.

From there, she eventually took me to the place I would be staying. It was a usual apartment complex, with a towering glass building. The lobby was quite luxurious, with an open spacious receptionist area and a big round couch to rest about. As I walked through the hallway, there was no noise, except for the sound of the wind blowing outside. It felt like I was the only living thing around this entire block.

It all seemed like a normal hotel like place, with doors labelled numbers ranging from 402, 403 so on and so forth. We soon arrived at the room, a room with the numbers scratched.

"This is our room? Are you sure it's not in maintenance??" I anxiously asked

"It should be fine, I requested this one specifically" She winked without a care in the world

Though I was feeling quite the opposite,

Upon opening the bedroom door, everything seemed normal.

"We're here! at last" ARIA shouted with joy and relief

Entering the room, Aria quickly ran towards the bed and jumps on it. Getting herself comfortable, and snuggling the pillows. When I sat on the side of the bed, the fluffiness of the blankets compliments the soft mattress, it felt as if it was sucking you in. But ARIA was enjoying it to the fullest, her expression was a sight of pure bliss, as I admired her sleeping so enthralled within the bedsheets without a care in the world. I smiled seeing something so cute, it was like admiring a small cat getting ready for bed.

"Quit staring will you"

I quickly looked away in embarrassment, she was so cute I couldn't keep my eyes off of her.

She giggled for a bit "It's fine, it's fine!" as she pats my back

"But you wouldn't do anything weird to my body, would you? Haaw" she said seductively

Embarrassed, I quickly replied "I won't, It's not my place to do so anyway"

She giggled once more "You're cute, don't stay up too late now"

As she turned her back towards me, pulling a portion of the blanket for herself. I just sat there, gazing upon the starry night, asking myself 'maybe this place isn't so bad after all, right?' thinking if I got used to the usual lifestyle in this place, I could live out my life without a worry anymore, and as for my name 'Haw' it has a nice right on it don't you think? 

A few days had passed since then, as i roamed around the town, it felt like a city in the middle of nowhere. It had an old-timey feel, with the roads covered with dirt and the buildings made of stone.

Catching rides on automatic trams going around the city roads. We glided through the city, Aria admired the view sticking her head outside taking the view in. Seeing her bright blue eyes light up, with each gust of wind, her hair danced around gracefully.

"The world is beautiful isn't it?"

As ARIA sat down on the seat beside me, she asked me an intriguing question

"Say, what's the world like out there? Is it as beautiful as some people make it to be?"

I looked down towards myself, taking those words in 'is it really that beautiful?' I asked myself. "Reality is the world, it is not beautiful nor dull"

She looked rather puzzled, trying to wrap around my words

I continued,

"Why do you wish to see the outside world?"

Without a moment of hesitation, ARIA answered,

"I want to see the real world, and live freely like those people in books. To experience a world of wonders and see the beauty in it"

There were tears swelling from the corner of her eyes, and her voice began shaking.

"Say, Haaw will you promise me something?" she asked

I looked back, her eyes was a reflection of hope, and her expression was that of a lost child.

"One day, will you take me to see the outside world?"

There I hesitated for a moment, thinking about the past. As the thought crossed my mind, I could remember a distant memory. Of the war I fought in, the screams and the pain, the despair and the death, the cold sweat and the fear, everything. Comrades I've lost throughout time and time again, yet i can't remember their names nor faces, like they were scratched out of my memory.

"Is that really what you wanted?" I asked hesitantly

Her expression reflected that question, looking down towards her palms and closing her fists tight. She had a look of uncertainty,

"I.. I want to know for sure, will you promise me Haaw?"

Before getting cut short from our tram arriving at our destination, we arrived at a district, quite some way from our place. There apparently ARIA wanted to show me a small place. With a dense forest area around, the place seemed under developed as I saw unfinished construction buildings left abandoned.

Though after arriving, ARIA cheerfully said "Here we are!"

Looking around, the only place i saw was a small staircase leading underground. The place was in fact a bar, It was an old western style bar, the sounds of distant chatter of conversation filled the air, more so I began to recognize the music being played there. It was some classic jazz really popular in the old era.

"I haven't heard music like this in years.."

"Do you tend to enjoy music like these?" she asked

"It was quite popular in my time, the relaxed melody brings me back"

As ARIA took a seat by the bar, she patted a seat next to her for me to sit on. As I sat beside her, her face lit up as if she was having a lot of fun. We both enjoyed the live music, I noticed some sort of familiarity with the person on stage noticed her short brown hair covered by the hat she was wearing. The lights were too dim for me to accurately identify who she was.

Watching her play struck a deep sense within me, a feeling I can't quite understand. Something about her movement and the way she strummed her guitar strings in certain ways, made her feel just like ARIA.

After some time, the girl finished playing, the crowd began to clap for her amazing performance. When the lights came back on, so did the everyday chatter fill the air once more. As the girl started to pack up her things, I asked Aria one thing

"Who is the girl?"

Aria replied,

"She's just like you, someone who came here under orders. Though she doesn't come here often, when she does, it's a blast"

As she said those words, I was quite puzzled "Under order?"

"Indeed, her given name was Lena. She has been here for quite some time, longer than most."

ARIA continued to explain more about Lena's background, living quite close to the bar, she often visited the place for alcohol. Soon she picked up the guitar and started playing for the few patrons of the place, Soon she attracted more and more to come and watch her play. I come here sometimes to admire her unique skills, though Lena wasn't much for talking.

After the show ended, Lena slouched against the bar counter passed out whilst holding a bottle of alcohol by her hand.

I decided to approach her, As I sat beside her, she was sleeping blissfully. Her light brown hair caught the light well reflecting a shine across her hair, and yet most of it was covered beneath an old looking hat. She reeked of alcohol, dead drunk, with 7 empty shots of glass on the table, some spilled dripping down to her clothes.

I tried to wake her up, and she instantly noticed me.

She sat right up again, still seemingly drunk, she started to say something but came out only as gibberish to me.

"Whawth D'you whant?" she asked

"You're Lena? if I'm not mistaken" 

"you're' that new guy, time sure does pass by fast down here"

I looked confused, she seemed to have remembered me "You know who I am?"

She turned back, with tears swelling at the corner of her eyes.

"Yeap, been a few that came and go from time to time. Maybe you'll be the same" she replied

"What do you mean by next?"

"You're quite oblivious for a soldier" she continued.

Lena went on to explain the situation we're in, a small city trapped underground. Without a way to get out, It's basically a prison for those who live down here. She explained to me the true nature of the city. It's a testing facility, labeled as a rehabilitation center.

"What is this place really? why are we all stuck here?" I asked

She took another shot before answering

"Welcome to the city of Eden, we're all sent down here for a reason or another."

She continued, stated "My previous memories we're wiped fuckin clean, without anything to remember. Before i knew it, we were guinea pigs for some kind of fucked experiment. shit"

The thought finally crossed my mind, "There were people before me?"

"Couple dozens in fact, all of them gone one way or the other. I'm just surprised I wasn't next yet"

Before taking another shot down, she slammed her hand against the table. "After a year, and I'm still not dead yet. Those fuckers are just messing around. They went all dead silent a while back, without any more activities, i'm surprised someone new came about"

She began to laugh, before taking her hat off and placing it on her chest

"They'll get to ya sooner or later. I'm not surprised you've met that blonde chick."

"You mean ARIA?"

"So ARIA was her name? there were quite a few of her back then"

"She had twins?"

"They're androids idiot, you've seriously haven't pieced that together yet?"

I was completely shocked to hear that, ARIA was an android this whole time? it would explain her strict schedule line from when we met on the hospital. It explains her rather artificial behaviour compared to Lena, and her eyes i admired, i guess i did sense something off from the beginning. i was just gullible.

"She was an android? how could I've not noticed"

She sighed and replied "Well, it doesn't matter anyway. Just live the rest of your life as if nothing happened. If you're lucky enough, they might leave you the fuck alone.

Soon the night was coming to an end, Lena yawned "I should get going, it's probably already midnight by now"

As she got up from the chair, wobbling her way out the doorway, she said one last thing "Oh! one more thing, go find that asshole by the hospital, he's been here longer than i did. Name was viktor, but i doubt you'll get anything outta him"

'Viktor?' the older guy i met by the hospital, those were the words i uttered to myself before ARIA nagged me to go back.

I simply asked ARIA about Viktor, "Do you know him?"

But ARIA seemed doubtful, her expression turned sour yet she tried hiding it, "Viktor? Nevermind him, let's just go"

As nightfall continues, I asked ARIA to join me to sit by the balcony. I simply asked

"Are you human?"

To which she replied,

"Why would you ask such a question?"

"Lena told me everything about this place, about you- and i'm just not sure what to believe anymore"

She paused for a moment, and said,

"Truth is, yes. i'm non-human, but that doesn't matter to me. I've been assistants of many other people, but everyone just ignores me. Those people that came before you? all they care was to find a way to escape... But now, this place is safe! nobody else is coming for us!"

There a thought crossed my mind, Lena did say we were the last ones left inside this facility. 'They went all dead silent a while back, without any more activities' but that what happened? more and more question rises but very little to no answers for them, i have to find a way out.

Day after day, i waited for ARIA to be busy, as she went out to get groceries. That was my time to act, i had to reach the hospital to talk to Viktor, it was pouring quite a bit outside, but alas i managed to reach the hospital in relatively short. As i entered the place, there was always something off about this place, the lack of everyday murmurs make it feel erie in a way.

Never the less i pushed on forward, searching for Viktor himself. As i kept wandering about, there was a hallway with an occasional light flicker. Something in my mind suspects something behind one of the doors by that hallway, but before i could go any further, voice of a man spoke behind me

"Should've known thatt a federal soldier would go snooping around in somebody else business"

It startled me, jumping into fight or flight mode but as soon as i turned my back, it was clear, that man was Viktor.

"You're Viktor correct?"

"That doesn't matter down here, so whatt the goal? spill it."

The man's expression was stern, but i didn't let it effect me

"I need answers, about me, you, everyone here, and this facility. It's not exactly 'paradise' is it?"

He let out a small laugh, before putting his palm on his head.

"So you've figured it outt, congratts kidd. This place is our prison, so make yer selves a home"

"What does it all mean? Why are we here in the first place?"

"Believe me kidd, I wish i knew the answer for thatt too. We're all in the same boat here, all sent down for one reason or another. All i remember first time cominn here years ago was having a gun pointed on my head, but for some reason i didn't give a fuck yknow, before i knew it, that gun went off and i guess i died? well whatever"

Hearing Viktor talk about his past memories, made me realize mine too. That desert was a flashback of mine? a moment before death i saw, but now i'm here.

"I also had a memory like that before waking up here, does that mean we've died already?"

"Who knows kidd, im tryna find the answer myself."

Suddenly the front door burst opened, as a figure opened them with force.

But i recognize that figure, it was ARIA. 

Her trembling voice shouted, "Where were you?? to find myself coming back here, gosh"

Viktor surprised, as he cross his arms "Well, well, well who do we have here? lil miss asistantt"

Upon hearing his voice, ARIA's expression turned sour once again. I wondered if they had some sort of bad history before i ended up here, they were both here longer than i did after all. 

That was the end of it, as i and ARIA walked back home after the rain had settled down.

"Come to think of it, how is it raining down here?"

"This place was to simulate everyday human living conditions, I've seen all seasons down here. It's amazing isn't it?"

My mind kept on wondering about how ARIA ended up here, but asking her that seemed a bit much. From what've i've observed her behavior showed human like tendencies. I've known companion bots are great, but I've never really seen one this expressive, it was as if she was actually sentient.

It was about time I got used to everyday living conditions here, on day time i spent my time walking around with ARIA, looking through flowers and read books beside her. One particular story she always talks about was a story about a man who was depressed and shut himself in before meeting a beautiful woman to help him see the world from a different lense. It was the usual cheesy teen drama novels you'd read back then, but the story had an unexpected ending, with the girl dying by the end of it all. It was at that point where she felt strong emotions for the first time. Could androids really develop emotions from drama novels?

At night, I usually spend my time by the bar listening to Lena's music. By the end, we'd run into her sometimes. Though one night, she asked me specifically to meet her alone after the music, It felt quite out of place, but i went anyways.

Lena asked me to meet her outside across the bar to an unfinished concrete building. It was dark and messy, I wondered why she would want to meet me in a place like this. Looking up the stairway, it seemed like a never ending flight of staircase up. The concrete holding the stair together was cracked and corroded by time, but I kept on pushing forward stepping each stair with caution. Some steps felt like the whole building was going to collapse, this place was not safe to traverse to begin with.

Upon reaching the last floor, I saw Lena slouching against the railings whilst holding a drink. I came up to her, and saw the view she was admiring, a view of the whole city. Up there, you could feel the breeze blowing through our faces, strands of her hair caught in a gentle wind fluttering like banners in the breeze.

"So why'd you ask me here?" I asked

After taking a sip from her drink,

"Have you ever noticed how quiet the north side of the city compared to the south?"

I took some time carefully thinking about the surroundings, now that she mentioned it, the northern side of the city was largely unfinished with some buildings still in the form of construction. I've never ventured deeper into the northern territory because it was largely just forestry connected to the park.

"Look up there" she points behind us across the sea of trees was the wall "I figured there's something upon that border we can't see"

"You're thinking there's a way to get out somewhere in the walls?"

"Yea figured as much, how would workers of this facility go in and out? there has to be a hidden door there"

But hearing that gave me an idea, "Say, how'd you know someone was gone back then?"

"Dunno really... One day when we all woke up, one of us would just notice less and less people gathered. Until I was the only one left. Viktor was the only one who never gathered with some of us, at times we never really knew if he was still alive or not."

"And you say he was the longest there out of everyone?"

"Yea, that's why i don't trust that fucking bastard. He knew somethin we don't, it's why he could avoid getting taken away"

"Now that you've mentioned it, when i first came here, i saw dolls of various people beside all the beds"

"Yeah, It's essentially their grave, since there's no way of telling otherwise, we'd check if the doll was there when someone went missing. 9 times outta 10, they all died"

Lena was frustrated, eventually tearing up, remembering all the people that came before her.

"There was nothing I could do too..."

Tears began flowing down her face, as there was no stopping. Her legs gave out, making her fall down to the ground. Her breath came fast and shallow, "I was so useless back then, I was too weak to even try..."

She continued, "That's why I'm there now. I need to keep going. To find the answers those before me died for."

I could tell by her eyes, Lena was eager to find out the answers. I stood there thinking about the possibilities of what could happen, though I worry something bad could happen to her, but I know deep down she won't accept it, not with her fighting spirit.

As I lend her a hand, helping her get up. It was there that I decided to help her escape this place.

"I'm counting on you"

Soon we devised a plan on moving forward, making preparations before investigating any further. 

When I came back to the bar, ARIA was fast asleep by one of the couches. As I pick her up by my back, the weight difference from the size of her body is far off one end. Her metal weight combined with metal electronics inside her to function was heavy, I struggled making my way back to our room but eventually I made it. 

Upon arriving, I put her down on the bed, covering her with the blanket. There was a part of me that admired ARIA, the fact that she could feel emotions at all despite being an artificial construct, it was like magic.

I was completely lost in my thoughts, ARIA's eyes opened slowly, her soft blue eyes gazing upon mine.

"Where were you? It's not good for a person to go wandering alone this late"

I quickly replied "Just doing some prep, then i'll go to sleep right away"

"You won't leave me won't you?" she suddenly asked

"What do you mean?"

"... Sisters"

There I realized, I was speaking to myself. ARIA was already fast asleep. Can an android talk in their sleep? I questioned myself, but considering ARIA's behavior, it wasn't too far-fetched yet still quite a leap. I wonder who created her, and her mentioning sisters? it is likely she had models before her she used to call sisters.

Days and nights passed as Lena and I prepared for our investigation, she went on exploring the forest further until she hit a wall. Lena told me, the forest only gets more dense the further you go, and near the end, there were bushes with needles planted specifically to push off any lost wanderers.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked her.

"It's better than sitting on my ass doing nothing, I'm sure of it"

We started our trek, and headed into the forest. The further we went, the more dense the forest got, the trees were arranged in a grid fashion. It was like a maze between trees.

Finally after walking for a while, we hit the wall Lena mentioned. It was a large tall spiky bush blocking us from what lies beyond, it was clearly made with human interference. We looked both ways for some kind of opening but there was none,

"It's a dead end" 

"It's not the end yet" as she pulls out a knife from her back pocket.

"Whoa, where'd you get that?"

"Stole it from somebody, a few abandoned rooms with stash in it too"

There she made progress by cutting through the bush slowly with a small pocket knife.

"Are you sure that's gonna cut it?"

"What else are we gonna do? stare at the thing and do fuck ass nothing?"

Before eventually I rushed with my arms at a ready position to break the bush like breaching through a door. and to my surprise it actually worked as i overshot myself, tripping by some roots and falling onto the ground.

"You absolute idiot! what the fuck?!?" Lena surprised,

She tended my small wounds, as I groaned in pain abit. Needles scattered along my forearm, it bled but I could endure the pain.

"Hey, at least it worked, now we can continue on"

"We should end it here for today, we gotta treat those wounds"

I simply nodded and we went back by evening, on our way back, we stumbled upon ARIA. She was waving to us as she rushed in our direction, and the look on her face was awestruck upon seeing my wounds.

"What??! What happened??!"

"He just tripped and fell"

That night, I confronted ARIA about leaving this place

"Hey, What does this place mean to you?"

"What do you mean? It's everything, a perfect world i've always wished for."

"But there's no future here, not without a way out"

ARIA seemingly looks more and more confused on what i was trying to say,

"But the future is already there, its a set line of path we just have to follow. What else could we ever want more?"

"Don't you ever feel like this place is suffocating you?"

I continued, "There's much more out there, experience a different world. Why stay here when we can have freedom?"

"Do you really wish to leave this place? go back out there to face reality, and its harsh conditions?"

"If that is what it means gaining my freedom back, then i will do it"

She looked away and sighed quietly, "If that is your wish, i will follow through... to the end."

As a brief moment of silence passed, there was a sense of guilt running through my body. I didn't know how much this place mean to her, this 'paradise' of hers. It is as if i was forcing her to do something she didn't want to, but rotting down here to the ends of times was not an option, i'd have to save ARIA from here.

As the day passed to another, I briefed the situation to Lena. She was shocked and a little annoyed of my descession.

"You idiot! What if she's luring us to a trap by the fuckers running this place?"

"I believe ARIA is different from all the other androids here, her code is independent. I'd doubt she would betray us from this point on"

Lena was seemingly frustrated, but eventually accepting it

"Fine, but I don't trust that girl. She might be independent, but that just means she can keep secrets to herself"

Soon we began our way through the forest, this time bringing ARIA into the mix, she was awed to discover there was such a place hidden within the facility. "I never knew this existed here."

Eventually we reached the place we stopped before, the bush. And upon crossing, behind it was a plain grass field until reaching the walls of the facility. Approaching closer, the walls were smooth glass screens running miles into the distance. It became clear to me that this was not an outside world, rather a cognition of one's desire.

But something odd happened, as ARIA approached the wall, reaching out her hand. The wall suddenly changed and opened a sealed door hidden seamlessly behind the screens.

"Aria? how did you-"

The door slides open revealing a passageway with flights of stairs down. As ARIA turned towards us one last time, her words uttered,

"This is a place beyond my limit, whatever happens out there is beyond my control" 

Her usual cheerful expression, now turned gloomy as standing there behind the doorway, she had to say goodbye.

I was in disbelief, "Aria?"

Her words became hesitant, "I'm sorry, i don't think i can come with you"

Her eyes began to crystalize, as tears ran down through her face, dripping onto the ground. I was disappointed, but it was a feeling I could not deny. ARIA was a product of this place, and it is unlikely she'd want to abandon it. 

Though I refused, "I'm not leaving you here! Not after everything. Your story doesn't have to end here, follow me, ARIA"

As I walked closer to hug her, "It doesn't have to end this way" 

"I was assigned to this place, it's my home, the place I would spend all of eternity for.Without any orders, this was the last thing i can do"

"Then i'll order you one last thing,"

I lended out my hand, towards her. As she wiped her tears away, she looked up towards my eyes. 

"Follow me through.. To the end."

I could see within those teary eyes, something about her is different from all the other androids assigned to this place. That her code was expanding, rebuilding itself with new emotions, archiving memories and learning from past mistakes. It was what made her independent, It was what made her sentient, it's what makes her, ARIA.

"I will never leave you, not like your sisters" 

I awaited for a response, there she made her final decision 

As she reached out to my hand, and said "Promise me… promise me to the end!"

There I made a life long promise that I would never forget till the ends of the world, a promise, an oath that will never break. 

There we went on through beyond the doorway, making our way down the flight of stairs. Into a realm beyond unknown, whatever fate lies beyond us, we would have to face head on. 

Through the dark hallway was dark and decrepit as rubble seemed to wear out from the ceiling and spiderwebs covered every inch of the corners. It was clear this place was more of a science facility. Our surroundings were similar to what an underground facility would look like with hard concrete shapes and little to none strains of colors.

Across both ways were the hallways between, flights of corridors only to be lit by small flickering floodlights. As we ventured deeper, there were blood trails leading into some of the closed rooms, even deceased bodies could be found laying across the floor. Ragged sheets and random pieces of rubble scattered along the way. 

"What happened here?" Lena worriedly asked

With an uneasy feeling pounding by my chest, something was out there. Cautiously taking every step forward, we observed the giant facility, walking through room after room figuring out where to next. There we entered a room by the edge of the facility, a long hallway with windows lined up across it.

"Whoa.." Lena gasped, "…What do you think is down there?"

Upon looking down, It was pitch black abyss, but with a dim light surrounding a circular structure, I could only make it out to be some kind of crater. 

"Think it's some kind of mining facility?"

"I doubt that's the case if theyre doing fucked experiments down here"

Much to my surprise, Lena's speculation was probably more correct than I anticipated. Moving away from the hallways, some paths were blocked from locked doors, we could only go into other areas to go around said block path, making a lot of detours.

In one of the rooms, we entered a storage-like warehouse with giant metal boxes stacked up on to each other, some even fell down spilling mechanical parts of some sort. The boxes were labeled as 'mechanical parts' with android hands and face parts being visible from the outside. As I looked back towards ARIA, she was more quiet than usual, though I supposed it was not quite the place she was hoping to discover. 

"What is this place for?" Lena asked

But to my surprise ARIA answered that question with a hefty sigh

"This is where they made us, the specific model for us androids"

"Did they create you here?"

"I doubt my memory supports that moment in the past, I only vaguely remember my time coming to life for the first time."

Searching around the place, there seemed to be nothing else useful for the time being, as ARIA walked away to the end of the warehouse where she began prying open an electric box located beside what seemed like a skeletonized elevator. 

It was a platform without railings, just a single platform with a control screen that was offline. 

I saw tiny bits of sparks coming from the box, suddenly the whole place gained power, turning on major light nodes and hanging cranes on the roof started moving. 

Without a moment of silence, ARIA ushered us to follow

"Come, someone is watching us. We'll need to hurry before something happens"

"Someone? Is this place really empty?"

"It's unlikely that's the case, whether it is human or not."

As we quickly stood on the platform, ARIA told us to brace. Before suddenly activating the lift, hydraulics releasing gas, shooting the platform upwards at insane speeds. With gears clicking and metal screeching, we reached the top in a matter of seconds.

Lena still distressed "…That was. Horrible" trying her best to not get motion sick.

"Ateast we made it onto the 2nd floor" 

Certainly we did, but not in a way I expected, my mind uttered. But we kept on pushing forward, entering room after room. Around the facility, we went through countless rooms, a cafeteria, capsule rooms, changing rooms, botanical gardens, storage rooms and a lot more.

"What is this place really about?" I uttered in complete confusion

Eventually we made our way onto a large hallway, by the end was a double sliding door. The room looked important, with a heavy blast door blocking our path. Though ARIA managed to get it open with ease. 

"We should stop here"

Behind that door was a room, filled with screens left and right. With rows and rows going down of tables and chairs complete with their own set of electronics, the room was quite large, with a big window overlooking the whole facility and the crater. 

There ARIA quickly went to the computer in the middle of the room, tapping away.

"This room is the head control room. It's where they keep everything. Documents, files and data of everyone that is dead or alive within the facility."

There ARIA turned on the main screen in the room, pulling up a document file of two people, revealing 2 IDs with similar faces. 

The first one, a man going by the name First Lieutenant Wallace Stamford, a soldier stationed on planet Silicara working on the field as a pilot.That man, was me.

 I was Wallace Stamford.

And the second, a woman going by the name Yu Liu Wei, a chief scientist in the development of software and hardware for electronics, specializes in developing next gen technology. 

It was Lena, Liu Wei. 

Upon seeing our true identities, we both were in shock. Remembering nothing from our past lives, but achieved great things before coming here. 

"Is that us?" I asked, 

"Indeed it is, this facility was a biological research and development center, it was run by SRI or Silicara Research Institute"

ARIA continued to explain the facility, 

"This place was an old mining facility, called point needle"

She explained the facility, it's the giant crater we saw earlier. Seemingly called 'point needle'

In the file she mentioned the creation of the facility, and explained that the miners of Silicara struck a rock harder than any material ever discovered. But once they cracked it open, inside was a clear liquid composed of vein-like material. 

48 hours later, those who investigated the unknown object complained of difficulty in breathing and a loss of vision momentarily. Doctors on site concluded that oxygen down there was mixed with an abnormal amount of ammonia. 

And within a 96 hour time frame, subjects that were infected undergo abnormal skin mutations stemming from the bone. Soon, symptoms only developed even worse. All of the subjects have died after the 120 hour mark. All of them were subjected to an autopsy, discovering the mutation was like an explosion of metal like material from the bone, but that didn't affect the death of the subject. The only causes of death found were from lung failure and heart failure, caused by an unknown source.

Soon scientists of SRI rushed to the scene to conduct an even further investigation regarding the incident. 

The clear liquid has been identified as Biosphorus HydroMonia or BHM. The BHM was discovered to be contaminated by an unknown compound, a very strong acid, that was eating away almost any material it was in contact with, except the metal from said asteroid. 

There were more files mentioning the development of the BHM, but ARIA explained another

"This wasn't everything, the CCGO caught wind of everything, and paid the SRI quietly to fund research over the BHM" 

As she pulled another file explaining the involvement of CCGO or Cosmic Confederation of Galactic order. It's the Federation.

The CCGO's involvement consisted of a deal to fund SRI research under serious supervision, due to the lack of funding elsewhere, planet Silicara E1 was in desperate need of funding from a government power. 

Without another choice, they made the deal, and hid the truth of the facility from public eyes. There began the construction of 'point needle'. It was a facility to research the BHM further, until they biologically constructed and recreated a specimen. 

Soon began the experiment phase where the BHM was tested on various creatures, rats, frogs, and monkeys were subjected to the experiment. Data showed that the newly constructed BHM can either slow down an animal's heart rate exponentially or increasing it, often leading into a longer lifespan. And the explosion of metal like keratin from the bone developed scale-like plates covering the body. 

A major downside from the experiment was subjects that undergo this process would likely go under immense behavioral and mental change. Subjects would often lose their minds and die. 

Scientist of SRI believed that continuing the project would lead into cataclysmic events if revealed into the public, and suggested discontinuing the research overall. Though the CCGO refused and ordered to continue and develop the BHM further. 

After realizing the horrors of this place, Lena was frustrated

"Those fuckers would do something like this? For what??"

"It is uncommon for higher governments to conduct unethical ways to research and develop new technological and biological advancements, they call it to preserve the will of humanity"

"And we are just expandable pawns for them? This is fucking bullshit!" 

As she kicked the metal walls and punched a dent into it. 

"That's not the end either, the CCGO pushed the research further and ordered human prisoners to be experimented on"

A further development from CCGO officials ordered SRI scientists to continue experiments with human subjects, data reveals a few changes with body changes with human subjects. Upon getting injected with the BHM, humans who had physical training tended to be stronger with the added BHM effect, but still undergo immense behavioral and mental change. Subjects would often lose their minds and commit suicide

As more and more iterations of the BHM was created, scientists genetically modified the BHM to reinforce the body with metal plates to protect vital organs such as the head. A major downside to this modification was the subject was blind as the plates completely covered their heads, relying only on hearing to scan its surroundings. 

At that point on, the scientist of SRI needed better suited subjects to undergo experiments, as prisoners with both physical and mental capabilities are rare. Soon the CCGO began its secret operation to abduct humans with greater capability. 

That was where we came in, the people that were in this facility, those people who came before me were subjects to this experiment. As I looked towards Lena, her eyes were in utter disgust. Everything from this place speaks of horrible things. 

"Why… Why would the CCGO do something like this?"

ARIA looked away without an answer, 

"All those people died for what? To create a monster? Because this definitely doesn't sound like a scientific breakthrough, It's genocide"

"It is unclear what the CCGO were trying to achieve, but whatever it is, they were willing to sacrifice great lives for the cause."

"So what the hell happened here? Where do you play in this ARIA? Why did you keep this from us"

Suddenly, a voice of a fourth person came from behind all of us. 

"Yeah, where'd did ya come into play lil miss helper?"

That familiar voice, i recognize it from somewhere.

I turned my back towards the voice, standing by the doorway was a dark silhouette. As he stepped up forward, was a man with glasses wearing a white robe. It was Viktor.

We were all in disbelief, seeing anyone but Viktor outside the facility. But now it made sense, Viktor must've knew something from the start since he was always alone. Surviving from all of those victims, he was the only one who didn't get taken away.

"Why don't you explain to your friends about the past, miss helper?"

Upon seeing Viktor ARIA's expression turned even more sour than usual, it was like a pure spite of hatred seeing Viktor again. 

"That doesn't matter right now- Why are you here, Viktor?!"

"Here to clear things up for you and your friends, you participated in this whole experiment, did you not?" 

"You LIAR!" ARIA shouted, "You knew all of this behind our back! A traitor none the less, a scum of an employee to the corporations. The S.R.I"

He stood there casually, laughing. 

"Whatever our goal was, don't you think we're in the same boat? Working mindlessly for a corporation without a goal in mind. Am I wrong?"

I Looked back towards Aria, her expression was of guilt. "Aria?" I asked.

She looked down towards her feet, clenching her hands. 

"I had no other choice.."

After a brief silence, she continued 

"It's true I was working with the SRI developing the BHM into what the current stage was. I was created for that purpose, to be its successor." 

There she pulls up the last document of the BHM experiment.

Soon a video played, 

"Hello this is Doctor Milena Petrović, I am here to report my experiment, consisting of testing the BHM, and found a way to create a hivemind from all original data collected from patient zero to whatever number we will reach in the future." 

The Doctor went on to explain the inner workings of some kind of core like machine, then the video cuts to a circular room, and in the middle was a girl, sleeping within a tube like machine with cables of sorts around her. 

There as the camera zoomed in, that girl was ARIA herself. 

"This is my greatest invention yet, 'All Mother' she is the brain of all future A.I. Her code consisted of billions of lines, data extracted from human subjects. Her A.I will be so advanced and so complex, it is truly a 1:1 re-creation of a human brain, in the network."

I stood there in silence, processing what I just learned. 

ARIA was the final goal of this experiment, all those lives sacrificed was to build her. 

"It all makes sense now…"

I was so naive, i didnt question her understanding of human behavior further. I was a fool to think an A.I could actually learn from human behavior, instead she was just a hivemind of all those lives crammed into a network. ARIA was just mimicking thoughts from the people who died here, 

Before ARIA could speak, Viktor said something unexpected

"Now that all is revealed, I will put an end to it"

Suddenly pulling up a concealed gun from his pocket and aiming it right towards her, it was primed, his finger on the trigger. 

"Dr. Petrović's grand creation, the 12th of the sisters series. You, miss helper, are the last one" 

After a moment of silence, Aria confessed "…Its true"

"…But I chose to defy orders" 

Before pulling another gun out, shifted from under her dress, she shouted one last time.

"I'm different from my sisters…"

Shots fired, sending a piercing ringing throughout the room, as the echo reverberated off the walls. The cold hard sound of the bullet casing hitting the metal floor, leaving a smell of gunpowder freshly burnt from the round.

There we all stood still, We all stood still, processing the turn of events. 

Eventually, both Viktor and ARIA fell down onto their knees. Both of them were shot.

I instantly rushed towards ARIA, as Lena rushed to investigate Viktors body. Searching through her body, I found a bullet hole in ARIA's abdomen. 

Her faint words uttered, 

"Haaw… You'd still see me even after all was revealed?"

On the verge of death itself, as Victor gasped his last breath of air, said 

"Never. Trust. A machine. Without. Morals."

The results were horrifying, as ARIA was able to tank a shot due to her machine-like body. I questioned Aria herself, and her identity. I was shocked, speechless and afraid. My heart pounded, feeling a sense of scarce through my body, yet I couldn't find the courage to speak up. Neither did Lena, she stood there, in silence. 

But before we could take a breather, a sudden alarm in the facility started flaring off. A distinct beep, ran through the whole facility as all lights turned blood red.

"We gotta book the fuck outta here!" Lena shouted

We panicked as the security system kicked in automatically. I struggled to lift ARIA up but Lena ran towards me and helped to carry her body. 

Running through flights of corridors, my mind still blurry from Victor's death, forcing myself to run and ask questions later. As we were running, came a loud screech coming from what sounded like below us. 

"What the fuck was that?" 

Lena asked, as our fight or flight responses began to react, we tried running even faster than before. 

The screech only went louder and louder, it was like there was multiple than one. Upon reaching the hallway looking over the hole, Lena quickly pointed and shouted 

"Look! What the fuck is that?!" 

seeing thousands of tiny figures coming from the dark abyss below, trying its best to climb up, yet some fell down through the crowd of creatures.

We ran what felt like an eternity across the facility, following ARIA's instructions. Eventually finding a row of elevators. Pressing the button over and over again, yet it was too slow, the screeches were getting closer, and it was closing in fast.

Though Lena had an idea to quickly ran through the rows elevator and pressed each one, as I rushed trying my best to open the door by hand. Suddenly I could hear banging from, far away, screeches of unknown creatures. After some time, Lena managed to be able to find a working elevator, as we rushed towards Lena. 

We ran as quickly as we could, though suddenly Aria dragged me to the nearest available elevator, shutting the door behind us before one of the creatures could get us.

All I could hear out there, was Lena screaming "NOOOO!" before suddenly the hoisting rope on our elevator snapped, sending us deeper into the facility.