Prologue- Javier-Zero Glass
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Children play all around the medium sized playground. Parents of these youngsters watch over each and every one like they are their own. Children our laughing, giggling, yelling, and just simply being young human beings. Well, not all are. There is one at the end all alone. He wears blue and grey striped stockings to show he is an orphan. Orphans are not common anymore. Actually he is the last one.
Javier-Zero is his name. He goes by Zero. Zero wears a black jacket over a black shirt and dark jean shorts. Theres a silver chain hanging under his shirt where no one can get it. His hair is white. An unusual color to have as natural hair color but he has it. Theres nothing they can do to change it. All the treatments the doctor has given him have concluded that his hair is going to be that way for life unless he dyes it for a little bit and then it wears away.
“Cato!” Zero yells to his caretaker. Cato turns to look at the young boy whipping his longish brown hair.
“Yes, Zero?” Cato asks. Cato starts heading toward Zero in a fashionable manner. Something he picked up from the kids when he was a kid.
“I want to go back to the dorms.”
“You and me are going out to eat remember?” Cato looks nervous because the kid could start to cry any minute.
“Lets eat first. I am quite ravenous.” Zero shoves his left side into Cato’s clothing to hide his Chelsea smile from the world. They get on the train to go downtown to Zero’s favorite restaurant to eat out at, Silver Rose. The Silver Rose is a fancy restaurant that is expensive on certain dishes. The dish he normally orders is lasagna. Wheres Cato orders pea soup and a cheese filled soft pretzel.
Inside the place is metal walls and white wooden tables. They take a seat in the top floor. The top floor houses the taller chairs and tables. The both of them like it there the most because they find it relaxing that they can see what is going on under and around them. The food that they ordered earlier this morning comes to them steaming and ready to eat.
“So, I am going to be going away for three weeks to a different city. Its up to you if you would like to go or not.” Cato springs on Zero.
“Why?”
“Its to do some tests.”
“Where will we be staying?”
“A nice hotel. I have already checked it out. You can have your Titus and Yatter logged on and everything. I would really like if you would go.”
“Are you scared?”
“Yes, I am scared.”
“Please remember soon.” Was the last thing he said before falling silent to finish his food. Cato leaves him alone for the rest of the night. They get up and they pay with the ID’s. They reach the Bullet. The bullet is train that goes super fast and can get you across the city of Baxter in four seconds at full speed. Most people do not like that so they decide to have the train go slower but still fast enough to get them across Ghastly in three minutes without stops. Ghastly is as big as the old North and South America combined. The wars to create Ghastly killed many people young and old.
Inside Ghastly is two different teams. The Alleviate and the Zippy. Each are out to destroy Ghastly and remake a new world. A world with their modern technology but like the old countries that sat before Ghastly came.
Cato opens the door with a sleeping Zero in his arms. He takes him to the room in the far corner. The room that belongs to Zero. Everything inside there is modified for whoever enters. When the both of them enter it changes to Zero’s settings. Cato lays the boy on the bed before leaving to go to the kitchen to make tea. The kettle is already heating up because Cato has it set for nine o'clock every day that the stove starts to heat up the water from when Cato fills it at noon. He gets down a cup that was made for him from Zero. The cup has his name on it in blue. Then he gets a tea packet out placing it ever so gently into his cup of now scalding water.
Cato walks to his own room with his warm cup and turns on Titus. Once Titus activated he starts watching a program called Rain’s Marks. It is about a boy named Rain and his life in 2015. Cato finds it funny because they talk different than they do. The slang used is so much different. They have some very weird words themselves but the words used back then were hilarious. Cato giggles and watches the show not minding the silence of the building like he first did when he moved in to be Zero’s Caretaker.
On the other side of the dorm is a wide-awake Zero. Zero sits in front of his wall saying random codes that he knows. Finally Titus shuts down and so does the whole building's security cameras. Zero lays on his bed with a touch screen keyboard in his hand. He finally gets to another system a system he isn't allowed to use. Microsoft is the name of it. Apps of all kind are displayed on his wall now. The one he clicks on is the Video Chat. He has to type in a username and a password. Nothing more. No blood, eye scan, or even a figure print just like they did all those years ago. Zero likes this more because the government has no control over it anymore. They can’t record searches because it runs off of the internet from different signals and a different system running it. It helps him with his mission. The boy’s mission is to get Cato to remember where he is from and to bring him back into the Zippy forces. They have no idea how Ghastly got to him but they need him back.
“Get online you stupid-. Hi, brother!” Mile yells into the camera on the other end of the conversation. Mile’s hair is a mop on top of his head in curls. His hair is white and brown instead of just white. The white in their hair at a young age runs in the family and always has. It proves genes are everything that makes up a person.
“Hello, Cato hasn’t made any progress. I have no clue what to do anymore. I think I need you to send the pills.”
“The pills?” Mile now looks very worried making his good looking features shrivel up. The pills are only to unlock suppressed memories the government has done and if any Zipper says they need the pills that means they think the person will never get their memories back on their own. The pills have many serious side effects. The most common is death. It kills plenty but they have no clue about Cato since he was a born Zipper. They have never used the pills on a born Zipper before and it could be dangerous.
“Yes. How quick can I get them?” Zero looks so determined on getting those pills for Cato. Zero loves Cato like a brother and only wants the best for him. It would secure his future as a Zipper and put his programmed mission back.
“I can bring them tomorrow night. Late though. So, meet me at the tower at the stroke of mid-night. I will be there.”
“That works. Make sure they dissolve in to the meal. I am gonna sneak them in his tea. Then once he remembers the next day we will contact you and he will be on his own leaving me here. I am not done.”
“I thought getting Cato was your mission. Nothing else.”
“That was the original plan. Things have changed severely. I am to stay here and collect two people to send. I can’t back off of none of my missions assigned. That would be disloyalty to Zippy. I am a true Zippy and I always will be.”
“I really wish you weren’t even though you are a descendant of the first. You are too loyal to anything you do. You have been that way as a child. Stubborn, loyal, brave, and you little brother.”
“I also thought I was my mother when I was a baby. You are truly stupid, Mile. Anyway I miss you and I will see you in a few more years.”
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A boy stands outside near the tower in a thin jacket and boots. He looks very nervous being around here. He knows that he isn’t welcomed here because of his known Zippy status. His name is Mile. A small littler figure runs in black to him. That is Zero his baby brother. The brother he misses dearly wishing he could hold him tightly again. The let go of each other after several minutes have passed. Mile gives him a few doses of the pills. Just in case he needs them in the near future. It will help not having to come pack.
“This is more than I asked for, Mile. Do you not know how to count?” Zero stares at him angrily.
“Just in case you might need them in the future,” Mile answers.
“I’m sorry for indirectly calling you stupid and for calling you stupid the other day. Sometimes you have no common sense. Anyways any mail?” Mile produces vanilla envelope of letters. “This is for you,” Zero hands over a small bag full of letters he wrote and put in envelopes. There’s pictures, writings, and other little goodies. Then he reveals a big bag bursting at the seams. “There are name tags for each and everyone. They are gifts. I love you, Mile. Have a wonderful trip back.”
“Everyone will be happy to see that you got them city gifts. Thank you alot, Zero. Have a safe walk back to your dorm. I love you.” They embrace each other once again in a brotherly manner. It is a pretty sight to see. Even more because you can see the real resemblance between them and they look real. They don’t look like city folk when near another. Its real, family love the boys have. Zero slips something into his brothers back pocket hoping he finds it on the way home.
They go their separate ways knowing they will see one another soon. A long soon maybe but soon. Mile looks devastated on having to leave his brother. He doesn’t want him to get hurt. Not the way he has been hurt. Mile never wanted to see that wound on his brothers face making him depressed. Mile knows he should’ve been there to save his baby brother.
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Mile’s trip was safe. “I”ve came home bearing gifts! These are from Zero.”
“Thanks, Zero,” everyone in the community says. They have a tradition to say thanks even though the person isn’t present and cannot hear. Mile starts handing out the childrens gifts. They each got a bundle of clothing with a toy resting on top. The clothing was warm and it will last them all a very long time. The adults get clothing with survival packs. Survival packs for a family of four. That was good enough. Then for Zero and Mile’s parents they got a bigger survival pack.
Mile looks at his gift. His gift is much more expensive and rare. The gift is a whole battle armor suite. Why would his brother give this to him? He takes his and goes back to his shared home with Zero. Well, if Zero was here it would be shared. For now it is just his. He places his gift on the homemade bed and runs out the door to the post office.
Mile sees the postman and his son, Al. Al makes the deliveries. Mile places the bag full of letters from Zero on the table. “Why, thank you for delivering this to us, Mile. How is Zero?” the postman, Jackson, asks.
“He’s doing really good. The scar healed fine. Its noticeable still,” Mile replies.
“It always will be. Zero is such a good boy. I am glad he is doing good. That was sad you had to bring the pills for Cato. Cato always had a memory issue as a kid. I am not really surprised. Well, anyways thank you. Al!”
“Yes, father?” Al asks. He moves his blond hair out of his eyes.
“You have mail to deliver.” Al nods his head and grabs his blue vest that declares him a mailboy. He snatches the bag and runs out the door to finish his run for the day unless someone brings in more to be sent out.
Miles bids his good-byes to Jackson before heading out to go to his job. Mile’s job is to watch the perimeter for new Zippies. He gets on his helmet. On the left side his initials M.G. are engraved. On both sides is a white Z with a blue border. Its to tell you where he is from and is loyal to. Mile walks like a proud man to his home. Inside he feels his pockets before dropping his pants to the ground. Mile finds a letter folded up to the size of a normal picture. Pictures were outlawed long ago. Well, the ones on the a slick like paper. It makes him wonder what this really is. Inside he pulls out is a picture. The picture is of Zero and him a year ago. They were smiling and playing in the fields.
“Be careful, my lovely brother.’
Mile slips on his new armor over his boxers and tank top. The dressing suits him fine making him look bigger. It would help to scare others away. Mile doesn’t always needs to fight like he always seems to be doing when put on patrol. That isn’t very safe for him because one day someone could hurt him very badly.
He speeds to his line of perimeter tapping on the guy who has the day shifts. “It’s my turn now, Jake,” Mile whispers. Jake nods and tramples all the way back to the other side of camp which is where his daughter and wife are. Mile stares at him before turning to walk to the tree fort. Inside is a little thing of weapons and food. The weapons are only for emergency except for the one rifle that is to be slung across your shoulder at all times. Its scary out in the woods where anyone could catch you and murder you with no mercy. That is scary.
Mile stares out the little window in the tree fort seeing nothing suspicious. Nothing out of the ordinary.