I paced back and forth in my room, thinking my next actions carefully. The thing with civilizations these days are really peculiar. The center of all civilizations is the F.A.R.M. corp. building, surrounded by 5 buildings connected by high walls. These 5 that surround the farm building corp. is the IRIS corporation, it's where the members of the EYE council reside.
F.A.R.M. is a dating app, it's a Fully Automated Romantic Matchmaker. Well, in the past it was just a simple dating app, but after it accumulated billions of dollars in just a few months, they turned bonkers and started taking control of everything, first it was all technology, it was simple after that. The whole human race was at this corporation's bidding.
The EYE is an organization of people who's got enough power to order around everyone they wish, who are also hell-bent on making sure that everything falls into place. That everyone gets matched and stays matched. The IRIS is a bunch of trained specialists who protect the first district and the EYE itself. After the five buildings wall, that'll be us, the first district, the perfect families who are extremely rich, either by inheritance or something else entirely. The mansions are placed far apart miles upon miles of snobby rich people. Extremely large gardens and cars enough for more than the members of the family. There are also commercial buildings in our district, mostly franchises owned by people here or personal businesses that they set up themselves.
Outside of the first district is the second, separating the two is a barrier that fries any living creature that passes through, unless you are given permission to pass that is. On the outer circle of the second district is another barrier, this one less menacing as anyone can pass through at any time. Through checkpoints that are again littered with android and human soldiers alike. The catch is that when you enter a certain civilization you didn't originate from, every single move you make is being watched. The second district is mediocre at best, everything is bland and boring, it's designed to just get the people through comfortably. All exterior and interior designs are the same, with white boxy walls as exterior and plain white and blue color schemes for the interior.
Scattered around the second district are lifts and elevators that descend to the third district, the underground. Where the general workforce lives.
That place is shady business, I can't say any more than that because frankly, I'm not particularly fond of going to that district. SO, I'm not well versed when it comes to knowing what goes down...down there. Just like how long I have been waiting here for my brother doing who knows what.
I have the address of my father, and I want to go there now this instant. He may be in the third district but I really couldn't care less, I don't know how I'll get through the barrier but I have a faint idea as to how. The reason me and my brother aren't really permitted to pass right now is because of the recent issue dad and mom were exposed to. The fact that they weren't matched by society, so the council is currently investigating them both. So the three of us left here in the first district are not allowed to leave. But I have my ways-
Finally! after what felt like a decade, Anthony shows up in front of my room, looking as clueless as ever. He doesn't even look like he's lost a father. He sits down in front of me, legs crossed, his hand on top of one knee.
"What's up Ash?"
"Don't, 'What's up Ash?', me," I replied mocking his slurred way of speaking. "We just lost our father, did you even try to track him or something?"
He scratched the back of his head smiling at me sheepishly. "Well, I knew you would do it on your own, so I didn't bother."
"Ugh, whatever, mom's coming home any minute from her matching, we should get out as quickly as possible," I held up the map, the location of my father blinking a few times on the animated paper, " I found dad."
"Alright then, let's go," He said getting up. We are avoiding our mother, cause I'm sure as hell my use of the override code is logged into the records and my mother's AI will surely tell her when she gets home. We both went and dressed up before heading out, making sure that the house is locked. My brother followed behind me. Before we traverse our way to the underground, we have to make a quick detour, something Anthony won't really like.
"Where are you both going?" Hayden, a small blonde guy, speaks with his hand on his hip. He's an heir to a position in the EYE council, something that his father is training him for. We "bumped" into him just as he was making his rounds in the village neighborhood.
He's incredibly annoying and Anthony just makes it worse by spouting useless insults at the guy, which prompts a retaliation, and then an argument ensues. They're just both annoying to listen to. Something happened when we were kids, and now the two of them just can't stand each other's presence.
"We need an escort to the underground, you would come with us," I said, pulling all the confidence I can muster, let's hope this works. If it doesn't then I'm just gonna have to steal his card and think about the consequences later on.
"What?!" Both of them said at the same time, giving each other a glare as they did so.
"You heard me, take us to the underground." I stood my ground, not breaking under the blondie's intense scrutinizing gaze. I sent a glare towards my brother, who crumpled underneath my gaze.
"Ashie, are you kidding me? You're no longer a part of the first district, I don't take orders from you anymore," That's right we used to order him around, like to buy us something, or to drive us to a certain place. It's what the upcoming heirs are made to do before they ascend to their position. To be errand boys for the first district families.
"Nope, We don't move out till next week so technically we're still 1st district citizens," I said, hoping that he'll fall for my bluff, I mean it's technically true, but as of right now me and my brother could be practically be considered as nomads or, worst-case scenarios, exiles.
"What? Is that even-"
"Of course it is, don't tell me you didn't listen in school?" Anthony spat, crossing his arms, staring down at the guy who was shorter than him.
"I listened-! How dare you even-!"
"Don't tell me you're scared of the third district?" I said, just adding a bit more flame just to get the heat right, if we do this correctly then this guy's gonna break and-
"Fine! let's go, you losers. A bunch of wusses," He kept on grumbling incoherent insults under his breath as Anthony and I smiled in each other's directions. We took the fastest train that would take us directly to the barrier between the second and third districts.
"Where to headed, Sir Pierce?" The android officer pointed his arm gun at our heads as we just stared at him blankly and by we, I meant Hayden and me. Anthony was shaking where he stood.
"3rd district, Prime children here need escorting," Hayden said as the android's arm transformed back into being a normal arm. Prime child, Prime children, Prime student. I would really miss being referred to like that, now that we're moving into the second district because we aren't the "perfect" and complete family we once were. That and our parents literally lied to the council's face, we deserve to be exiled in their eyes.
"Alright then, have a good day sir!" Hayden walked by first, Anthony and I followed closely behind him. Anthony kept a close eye on the android as we passed, who only smiled at him innocently.
"Afraid of an android Davis?" Hayden looked back, teasing my brother who was still taking quick glances behind him as if he was being followed.
"Can it Peirce!"
The second district is what one may call boring. It is the most populated of any civilization so the people who build it just make sure that there are houses and places to buy things, that's why a lot of the architecture in 2nd districts looks similar. Ours was no different, the outside was painted white and it's incredibly boxy with a lot of glass. Androids, with no AI, stood outside the commercial buildings compelling people to enter. Hayden led us in front of a simple square white building, though with that description that could be any building here. There's a person inside, typing away at her computer, a lone elevator was to the right of her desk, a plant on the other. There's a light in every corner of the room and a black carpet in front of the desk. The place is bland, with no taste nor personality.
"Greetings, I'm escorting these two to the underground," Hayden walked up the desk and handed the lady his identification card, she began typing away again. After a few minutes, I grew concerned whether she even heard us or she was now ignoring us and is attending to different matters, whatever they may be. Anthony was getting impatient, I could tell by the way he kept moving around, his feet thumping. If he does standstill, he whistled and hummed. Which was getting onto Hayden's nerves. The guy held his anger back well, but I could feel him about to burst. I rolled my eyes and sighed as I moved away from them. I turned my head to look at the grass plant beside the receptionist.
"CAN YOU JUST SIT STILL?!" I heard Hayden snap and turned to look and saw that his pale face turned a comedic shade of red. His full body was turned towards Anthony, hands balled into fists at his sides. Anthony stared at the boy quizzically and then smirked as he found what can entertain him for the next few minutes.
"Really Hayden, what has got your little panties in a twist this morning?"
"Seeing your ugly ass," Hayden spat, which is nowhere near the truth. Girls from our school, no matter how stuck up and annoying they act, always fawn over my brother whenever he so much as breathes in their direction. He enters a room and girls and gays would talk about him, whether positive or negative, his presence just calls for your attention.
"You want me, admit it."
"No thanks."
"The lift is here," The receptionist said as the elevator chimed and the doors slid open revealing a nice hotel-like elevator. All three of us got in as the two continued their bickering, on normal days I would back up my brother, but I'm dreading what's coming next. The ride was silent, the void only filled by the elevator music as both Anthony and Hayden figured that they were wasting their time.
The elevators chimed once more, it opened and revealed a room that was similar to the one back up, but the catastrophe of a city that was outside the glass doors left an uneasy feeling in my gut.
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