Mission 2: Curiososity can kill

PROLOGUE

• Year 2077 •

• 1st Sanctuary, 4th Ward•

"Focus Ana!" Bryce's stern words rang through the air during their target practice.

Anastasia Moreau, it was the name Bryce had given her after their first meeting. Anastasia meaning: resurrection and rebirth. It meant a new life.

"Straighten your aim, plant your feet firmly!" He scolded correcting her footing.

The cool morning breeze swept her hair across her face. Concentrating, she could hear the grass sway along the wind, the cicadas chittering in the trees, and the occasional birds chirping. She inhaled, keeping her arms steady and taking her aim.

"Now shoot."

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Three continuous shots. Each bullet hit its designated target and all 3 cans fell over.

She smiled at her adoptive father triumphantly. "See, I never miss a shot!"

He looked at her with an annoyed expression but gently patted her head. "No need to be such a brat about it" He didn't want to admit it but the ten-year-old was a genius. She learned the techniques that took him years to master in only a couple of weeks, she memorized every book after reading it once, and...since he gave her a gun, she never - not even once - missed the target.

"The sky is beautiful today isn't it, Father?" Ana said her eyes glued to the sky. The child was about 10 years old but since she lost her memories they couldn't be certain

The 4th ward was known for its beautiful scenery and rich agriculture. The Sanctuary was built 50 years ago by the survivors of a deadly disease that contaminated the world. The sanctuary was then divided into five wards.

Bryce followed her daughter's gaze and indeed what met his eyes was the magnificent vastness of the blue sky.

"Hey, that cloud looks like you!" She shrieked excitedly

"No it doesn't" he deadpanned.

"Yes, it does! See those horns sticking out of it? It looks just like you when you're mad!" She burst into a fit of laughter, his angry face making her laugh even more.

'No matter how much of a genius she is, she's still a child' he thought. It hurt him every time he remembered their first meeting. Seeing such a frail child running for her life, trembling amidst the cold was devastating.

He wanted to protect her for as long as he could but her training was almost over now and the people after his life were close to tracking down his location.

Although it hurt him, she had to cut off her ties with him as soon as possible to keep her safe.

"Hey brat, we're going to the capital after breakfast get ready."

"The capital? At the 1st ward? Why? You told me it was dangerous there? " she cocked her head to the side curiously. As she followed Bryce towards their home.

"Curiosity can kill, Ana"

"But it can't kill ME! Besides, the most important thing in life is to never stop questioning! How do you think the scientists found a cure for the disease 20 years ago if they just gave all because curiosity can kill? " she said stubbornly.

Bryce sighed in annoyance, this child was just as stubborn as him. She must have had those lines memorized from the books he gave her. "We're going hunting"

Ana's face lit up. She was never allowed to go hunting with him before. "Really?! Then hurry up!" She smiled enthusiastically, pulling Bryce's hand along to get home faster.

***

The capital was 2 hours away from the 4th ward by train. All the wards were connected by a train system across the wards. Since the capital was in the middle of the sanctuary, located in the first ward they had to take a train through the 3rd and 2nd wards to get to the capital.

Ana stood face to face with the magnificent that was as large as their house. "Wow!" With high-class steel linings across the train and top-class engineering, it was said to be the latest T-train model.

"C'mon brat, I want to get home before dinner." Bryce said annoyingly as he stepped into the train first. The inside was even more magnificent. It was bigger than it was on the outside, with seats lining the sides. As she was admiring the train she didn't notice she bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, embarrassed.

"Tbot accepts your apology passenger. Destination?" It was a robot about the same size as her that seemed to be levitating in the air. "1st Ward" Bryce answered. "Unauthorized personnel cannot enter the 1st Ward, passenger. Please show me your verification ID"

Bryce rummaged through his pocket and fished out an ID which he shoved into the robot's chest. The robot's eyes glowed red and seemed to scan Bryce from head to toe before turning green. "Passenger identified. BryceMoreau from the RAQCI (Reaper's Association for Qualified and Calculated Intelligence). Enjoy your trip" Bryce's ID ejected from the robot's chest along with 2 passenger tickets. And it scurried away to talk to other passengers.

Ana couldn't help but notice the way the robot was levitating. "Father, that robot seemed to be floating." She tugged at her adoptive father's shirt, her eyes which were now sparkling still glued to the robot. Bryce ruffled her hair and smiled smugly. At least there were some things she still didn't know about. So much for a genius. He laughed at the thought.

The Tbots use the same technology as the Ttrain. Maglev or magnetic levitation. It's a system of train transportation from the 2000s that uses two sets of electromagnets that repel each other to make the trains look like it's levitating. "Wow! That's amazing!" Her eyes sparkled even more. It always seemed to shine and sparkle whenever she was interested in something.

Soon, the train signaled its departure.

Ourside she noticed walls lining the sides of the 4th ward. "What's that?" she asked.

"A wall, obviously" Bryce deadpanned as he opened his watch and a projection of the sacntuary map appeared.

"Yes but whey is there a wall surrounding the sanctuary?"

"for protection"

"protection from what?"

Bryce snapped his watch close and glared at her in annoyance. "Look brat, that wall was built 333 years ago when an uncurable epidemic spread all over the world. It was deadly and  very contagious--"

"If it was was an uncurablee deadly disease that was very contagious why are we alive? Why are we not infected. What happened to the virus that spread the disease?"

"The scientists decided the best way to adress the problem was to isolate the uninfected victims from the infected victims. So they made this place. The perfect elysium. And as you can see, now, scientists are as influential as politicians"

"So, What's outside?"

Bryce clicked his tongue. "How about you?! What's inside that tiny head of yours that makes you ask so many questions?!"

Ana chuckled and covered her mouth cutely.

***

• Capital, 1st Ward•

"Welcome to the Capital, Mr. Bryce Frimin" After another strict system of verifying our identities they were finally able to enter the capital.

Contrary to the lush forest and flourishing lakes on the 4th ward, the capital was a bustling cosmopolitan with skyscrapers and buildings as far as the eye can see. The roads were bustling with both humans and robots and the skies were filled with floating vehicles. The colorful lights and bustling city were almost dizzying to her. Everything and everyone seemed to be moving so fast here.

"Watch out" Bryce said pulling me to the side. "Focus brat! You were almost hit by a car" He scolded. True enough when she looked up she saw cars filling the sky. Some levitating a few inches from the ground, others were soaring at great heights.

She followed Bryce through the streets where she saw tiny spherical robots with multiple hands levitating in the air carrying trays with orders for a restaurant.

Up above she saw people on bubble-like vehicles fly up to the skyscrapers whose windows opened up like doors and swallowed the bubble inside.

From inside a building, she saw a woman trying on different outfits through a projection. She picked the outfit she wanted and it instantly appeared on her body.

She seemed to be in a completely different world. Everywhere she looked there was something new and amazing to look at.

Her eyes lingered on a piece of paper on one of the building's walls. Paper...With the surge of new technologies old media such as paper were long since forgotten. It's been about a decade since the last book and magazine article was published on paper.

But here it is in front of her. With a familiar face printed on it too. "Wanted: Bryce Moreau"

She pointed at the poster accusingly at his face. "What is this?!" she demanded "Wanted?" she asked confused.