Chapter 25: Fate Arising
All Terrchel's abilities were sent into overdrive. He sensed the presence of two individuals in the room before he was able to see them. His eyes struggled to focus, the blurry outline of Lawrence Abstainace slowly took shape before him. The sound of his own ragged breathing filled his ears, and the pungent aromas of formaldehyde, disinfectant, and something sweetly acidic wafted up, making his stomach churn. He tried to lift his head, but a wave of dizziness washed over him, forcing him back onto the cold, metallic operating chair he was tied in.
Lawrence's voice, low and even, cut through the haze. "So, Terrchel Flyman, I wasn't expecting you to be awake this soon; usually that injection knocks intruders out for days. You must be someone special. See, I have something that belongs to you," he said, his hand closing around Terrchel's swatch. Terrchel's gaze went to his bare wrist and back to Lawrence. "I don't care about that junk," he stated, his voice flat. He wasn't afraid or phased at all by the threats being thrown at him, nor did he have any concerns despite being in an obviously unfortunate situation. He decided to ignore Lawrence's presence and use his abilities to focus on the hushed conversations a short distance away. When he hyper-focused on their conversation, the hushed tone amplified, and he felt as if he himself were part of the conversation. His swarm sensors indicated that there were five individuals gathered together. He overheard discussions regarding the expedited timeline for deploying the Echo × Cygnus bots to meet the president's deadline.
Lawrence mocked, "So what is a spy doing here?".
Terrchel, with a hint of amusement, retorted, "So what is the Arcadian President doing here? Another Public relations event exploiting the weaknesses of the people of Arcadia?".
Lawrence's face twisted with egotistical amusement. "Heheh, a funny fellow, aren't we? How dare you address me in such a disrespectful manner. Know your place, Undergrid Rat. Anyone who isn't registered on my system can't be a true Arcadian". Lawrence pulled up a high-tech holographic display of Terrchel's information based on the Arcadia Records. "As you were asleep, I took the liberty to look you up. We don't have much information on you, so who are you and what are you doing in my City?".
Terrchel, witty even when restrained, replied, "Who I am is irrelevant. Would you rather me address you as the asshole who promised this city prosperity but gave them nothing but crippling crutches?".
"Ezriel, tell this green-haired slug just how prosperous the Arcadian City is," Lawrence commanded.
Ezriel's eyes scanned the holographic projections streaming across his comms device, the data painting a picture of unprecedented growth and transformation in New Arcadia City. Since President Lawrence's ascension to power, the city had undergone a technological renaissance, with:
* Cybernetic enhancements increasing by 35% among the population.
* AI integration rising by 62% in industrial and commercial sectors.
* Virtual reality adoption growing by 78% in entertainment and education.
* Energy efficiency improving by 25% through widespread implementation of sustainable power sources.
The charts also revealed a significant surge in economic activity, with:
* GDP increasing by 18% over the past 5 years.
* Investment rising by 32%.
* Unemployment rates dropping to a historic low of 4.2%.
Ezriel's gaze lingered on the data, a hint of satisfaction creeping onto his face. President Lawrence's vision for a futuristic, high-tech utopia was taking shape, and Cygnus Industries was at the forefront of this revolution. The capture of the Celestial Orb Energy, with its unique... abilities, was a huge breakthrough step in solidifying their grip on this brave new world.
"And I'm just supposed to believe what you're telling me, opposed to what I've been seeing?" Terrchel challenged, his voice laced with skepticism.
"My father entrusted me with a legacy that I am committed to maintaining. He paved the way, and I have improved upon it," Lawrence declared, his chest puffing out. "Rating systems provide individuals with a sense of significance and value; I have given the Arcadians a sense of purpose along with improved transportation methods. A teleportation station, heelys, and jetpacks. The digital age simplifies everything, reducing hassle and ensuring happiness for all, and now we're at the brink of solving the issue of love!".
"Yeah, and what's your intentions with all these so-called improvements?" Terrchel countered, his voice rising in accusation. "Because the way I see it, you're gaining more and more control, and the people are becoming mindless sheep, too consumed by their star ratings and latest tech gear to even appreciate anything real anymore. In regards to solving love as you say, I'm not a love expert, but it sounds more like you want to eliminate it".
"Ahhh, you must have seen our latest project, the Echo bots; don't worry, soon you'll understand. I don't expect a nobody like you to understand anything I'm building here," Lawrence scoffed, dismissing Terrchel.
"And tell me where does The Undergrid fall in all this?" Terrchel pressed, refusing to back down. "You claimed to care about all Arcadians, but The Arcadians living there have moss covering their homes, broken-down infrastructure; they have to source most of their own resources and get by with the daily minimum. They aren't allowed to seek out any opportunities in the New City because you've created a drift amongst all!".
Lawrence angrily stared at Terrchel, who lay strapped down in the laboratory chair. He walked away, instructing Ezriel to find out who he was, to run tests, and let him know as soon as it was done. Leaving the room, Lawrence called back to Terrchel, "Oh, and Terrchel, welcome to the family. Meriella called, but I made sure to decline on your behalf, it must have been important." He winked and laughed wickedly, walking away, his coat trail following.
Meriella's Point of View
Meriella was on her way to the hideout, jumping from building to building with the agility of a ballerina under the moonlight. She was brought to an ugly halt when a group of Arcadia Patrol Bots stopped her, claiming she was in possession of illegal heelys to be able to move the way she does. Meriella assured the Arcadian Patrol Bots that she did not have any illegal tech gear, but instead of letting her go, an Arcadia Patrol member approached and insisted on searching her the old-fashioned way by patting her body down. Meriella stated there was no need for that because they usually used the AI scanners to detect any illegal possessions or criminals in disguise, but the Patrol officer insisted. Meriella was highly irritated, just wanting to get home. He threatened to have her locked up in the electrocution cells by insinuating that she assaulted him. She knew if she wanted to knock him out along with these robots, she could, but the memory of what happened to Poppy Margaret was still too fresh in Meriella's mind; how she screamed and her eyes were seared all before her eyes, and it possibly being all her fault.
She didn't want to cause any more unnecessary trouble, so she gave in, to get it over with and go home. When the Arcadian Patrol searched her by patting her down, he did so annoyingly slow, mocking her purposely. But when he approached her chest area, he felt an unusual amount of heat emanating from her chest. But no heartbeat. He staggered backward, "What are you? I assumed you are a human with cybernetic enhancements, but you have no heartbeat!".
Meriella pulled away. "Is that all!? I'd like to be going now". The man emphasized that she could be a threat to Arcadia and she needed to be taken back to the headquarters for further investigation, but Meriella stated this wasn't fair and refused.
Meriella's eyes blazed with fury as she faced off against the Arcadian Patrol. "You think I'm a threat?" she spat, her voice venomous. "I'm not going anywhere with you!". The Arcadian Patrol Robot stepped forward, its mechanical arms outstretched. Meriella's patience snapped. With a fierce cry, she launched a flying kick at the bot, sending it crashing to the ground. The alleyway erupted into chaos. Meriella's fists and feet flew in a whirlwind of motion, taking down the three patrol robots with precision and skill. She was a force to be reckoned with, her mind racing with strategy and tactics.
But just as she was gaining the upper hand, the human patrol officer's scream pierced the air. Meriella's eyes widened in horror as memories of Poppy Margaret's brutal demise flooded her mind. Her concentration shattered, she stumbled backward, momentarily frozen. The human officer seized the opportunity, pinning Meriella to the ground. His hands closed around her hair, knocking her head to the ground. She struggled to break free, but he was too strong, pinning her down and causing blood to smear across her face. She couldn't think straight, paralyzed by the trauma of Poppy and the pressure of her head being knocked too many times. With a cruel smile, he injected her with a liquid vile, and Meriella was paralyzed.
As she drifted off, the officer's laughter echoed through the alleyway, sending chills down Meriella's spine as she lay there unable to move. "You're already dead," he sneered, dragging her limp body across the ground. "No heartbeat, no life. I'm doing you a favor." Meriella's vision faded to black as the officer's words hung in the air. But even as she lay helpless, she knew she'd left her mark on him. The beating she'd given him earlier was evident in the bruises. The officer walked away, leaving Meriella to die alone slowly.