Chapter 1: Wake-Up

"Wake up" A soft-spoken voice echoed throughout the eerie darkness that encompassed everything like an oppressive force. Yet, it seemed calm and gentle. Almost fatherly.

Yet something about it seemed almost empty, devoid of all emotion. As if it were hollow.

"Wake up" The voice echoed again, as what felt without feeling slowly began to feel an intense cold. Breathing into existence life. Where there once was nothing but a shell-less form. Slowly became a chest, then upper and lower torso's of a feminine shape. Soon arms and legs sprouted from the body, followed by a head with black hair that seemed to appear from the bleak nothingness. Soon the body was flooded with a nervous and immune system. A heart and other important organs to circulate and clean the blood that circulated through the body delivering nutrients and cells where they needed to go.

The woman laid there still, floating in the infinite black that went on forever. The body could be seen clear as day, almost as if illuminated by a sourceless light. Every detail of her fair skin, every wave of her black hair.

It was then, the woman's body finally began to feel the intense cold. Assaulting her body with the freezing cold sensation.

"Wake up." The voice spoke, driving away the feeling of cold, and replacing it with one of warmth.

"Wake up." The voice spoke for a fourth time, echoing through the woman's eardrums reverberating on itself infinitely until Lanie shot up gasping feeling cold air fill her lungs. Her heart hammered in her chest as she looked around the dimly lit room. Her eyes focusing on the details of the small closet, and dresser that were on the opposite end of the room.

Quickly she glanced at the source of the light, which came from the cracked bathroom door, where a dimmed light shone. 

A small shifting in the bed drew her attention from her surroundings, and to the space next to her. Where a man lay asleep. His long black hair sprawled around perfect features.

Taking a moment, Lanie forced herself to do a breathing exercise in an attempt to calm down. But it wasn't working, because it never did.

Every night she felt that intense cold, that lifeless sensation. Those formless words echoing through her mind, feeling as if she was reborn time and again. Feeling as if there was something missing completely.

Finally she expelled a shaken breath, feeling a well of emotions threatening to pour out. It was always a result of that dream. It always tore her emotions to shreds, leaving her a bubbling mess whenever she awoke.

She moved as carefully as she could to get out of her bed without waking her partner. Slowly moving across the cold wooden floors carefully stepping on the ones that made the least amount of noise.

As she entered the bathroom, she gently closed the bathroom door feeling a stray tear fall down her cheek. She touched the light sensor causing the bathroom to brighten.

Turning, she faced the only mirror in the entire apartment. Staring at her reflection. She leaned against the sink, getting close enough to the mirror to inspect her features. From her bright green eyes, to her button nose, to her full and plump lips that had that delicate cupids-bow shape to them.

Then she turned to observing her naked body. Observing the love marks that covered her shoulder, chest, hips and inner thigh. Combing over every inch of her toned bisque skin. Staring at the well developed muscles of her petite frame. Eventually she focused on the single scar that covered her stomach. Observing the jagged skin that was lighter than the rest.

She looked away from the mirror, no longer wanting to be reminded of her inability to hide how she felt. Lanie fell to her knees, wrapping her arms around her knees. Pulling them close to her chest. Placing her back against the freezing cold metal wall, as she allowed her sobs to wrench free from her throat.

At night, it was always colder in the apartment. The walls were cheap, thin, and the only thing that separated them from nature. Luckily it wasn't winter, or her tears would've frozen to her cheeks.

There was a knock on the door that made her jump a bit before the door opened, with Juno peeking his head through the doorway, his blue eyes full of worry.

"The dream again?" He asked softly, earning a small nod in response. He nodded softly before entering the bathroom taking a seat next to her and drawing her gently into his well muscled arms. His bronze skin was warm enough to make her forget just how cold she felt. It was nights like these that made her want to stay in his arms and forget that the world ever existed.

"Yeah." Lanie said in a low tone, slowly looking up at him, her exhaustion more than evident. Crying like that had drained any energy she had from her body. Though, most nights it felt like it did more than that to her. All because of that recurring dream that felt more like a nightmare than anything else.

And honestly, it scared her to death.

"We should go pay Yesterday a visit." Juno suggested as he ran his hands gently through her medium length black hair.

"Maybe…" She hesitated as a small sliver of cold made her breath catch for a moment. It was because of the dream that she really hated any slightest bit of cold. It was one of the things that Juno knew best, so more often than not. Lanie found herself in his arms whenever she could.

"Well come on then." Juno said gently, picking him up in her arms. Earning a small yelp from Lanie as he carried her towards their bed. "Let's get you dressed and pay Yesterday a visit, we could even stop by Zoey's and get you some of the sweet bread that you like.

"Could we just stay here for a while? Please?" Lanie asked not wanting their shared friends to see her like this. Out of fear that they'd worry for her too deeply. 

Juno stood there for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yeah, we can go when you're ready." He said, placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

Project Machina

"Are you sure we have to visit Yesterday?" Lanie asked, buttoning up her dress shirt. Looking at Juno who was looking over their equipment, ensuring they were in top shape.

"It's better to get a handle on things like this early, never know when it'd affect your duties as an Agent." Juno said, placing Lanie's katana back in its sheath. "Your wellness determines your position, if any of the higher ups were to learn of what you were going through. It could mean things will become worse for you than they already are."

Lanie stood there letting his words sink in for a moment before nodding slowly. "I know you're right…I-I. I just don't like feeling like I'm being poked and prodded like an experiment."

"No one does, especially Yesterday's version of experimentation. Why do you think I have to drag Lance and Septum to their appointments when it comes time to do it?" Juno said, looking over to her as she pulled her dress slacks on.

He did have a point. Lanie thought to herself as she pulled her belt around her waist, making sure her sheath loop was secure at her right side.

"Speaking of our trouble making duo. Aren't they supposed to be returning from their mission soon?" Lanie questioned in part wondering what fared their friends, and the other trying to delay the visit to Yesterday as long as possible.

"If their mission went without a hitch, but there's no telling being in No Man's Land. There's no telling the kind of Androids they've had to face or how deep they had to go." Juno answered walking over to Lanie, handing her her Agent issued weapon.

The Katana was a traditional weapon that had belonged to a nation long ago some direction to the west. That existed long before the Androids had even been deemed a thought.

It was the common weapon of an Agent because of it's sleek design, it's light weight. The materials alone were some of the highest grades that they could manufacture reliably, and the techniques that were used to make them and the techniques given to the Agents to care for the blades were a recipe for a blade that could be used for a long while, and take a great deal of damage when used in battle against the Androids, or in a training match with another Agent.

The hilt of the blade was made with a comfortable synthetic plastic that after a while of use, could mold itself to the shape of it's users hand. Making it much more comfortable to wield. The butt of the blade was made with a pointed dark metal, used primarily to break through hard surfaces, or to use in melee with an Android. It additionally worked as a way to keep the blade at an almost perfect balance.

The Tsuba of the blade was a small piece of thick metal that barely protected the entire hand. But an Agent's training more than made up for that.

"Hopefully they're okay." Lanie said, placing the blade in its holder on her right hip.

"They'll be fine. After all, I am the one who trained them to be Agents. I know best what they can and can't handle." He said gently walking Lanie to their front door.

"Couldn't we wait until they get back to go?" Lanie suggested. Still attempting to get out of the situation she was currently in.

"We could, but this is a pressing matter Lanie. We need to get this checked out, or else it could effect your duties negatively if you don't have a way to treat it. Last thing you want is to lose your rank and privileges over your own negligence." Juno said in a near scolding manner.

"Well, when you put it that way. I don't really have much of a choice in that case." Lanie sighed dreading the visit to their mostly insane doctor. "What would I do without you?"

"I dread to think of such a timeline." Juno shuddered, pressing the sensor next to the door as the door slid open. Allowing sunlight to assault their eyes, greeting them with a temperate fall morning.