Area-1

James Echo

James Echo Like any other Arean, he has dark brown locks, black eyes and standard physical shape. What makes him different from the general population is not just because he is the head of a department, but one that leads three of them at the same time.

Leading the biggest laboratory enclosed in Area-1, James Echo is head of the Botany, Entomology and Mineralogy departments. And his place has the best interior architecture compared to any other department, even mine.

How can it not be? He used a combination of botany and mineralogy to create a haven of wall garden around his office, as well as hundreds of levels specifically build for plants to grow. This towers until it reaches the sky limit. There is also an automatic sprinkling system that will water the plants from the top. The water then will travel from top to bottom in even dosages (thanks to the help of advanced robotic systems), making this entire set-up a resource-friendly creation.

His place is so breathtakingly environment-considerate and technologically efficient, that it induces jealousy on any outsider.

“Lini,” James catches me examining one of his experiments. “That is one of the plants we’ve recently retrieved from Area-32. Quite the fascinating thing, isn’t it? It is called a tomato, one of the planet origin’s main agriculture plants. They are very popular to be used in food processing.”

It is very singular and solid in color, and possesses a round shape, which can be considered rare compared to our multicolored, glow in the dark color and angular shape.

“You are supposed to eat it? Is it safe?” I can just imagine the Culinary Department going head over heels with this thing, among other discoveries.

“Completely. The Biology Department found out that our physics are not only similar to that of Area-32’s in terms of environment, but also the people. The difference is just that we are much more advanced than them.”

Speaking of Biology Department. “James, are you and Michael in a fight again? What is it about this time?” These two head departments are as close and incompatible as they can get. From what I know, they’ve been friends ever since they entered the educational system.

Seemingly unphrased by my forwardness, he simply confirms it. “Yes, we are, but I don’t think you’d like to know what it is about.”

“Why? Is it about me?”

He bites back a grimace, looking as if he is considering whether to lie to me or not before ends up with, “You can say that.”

I change into my ‘serious posture’ and wraps my arms under my chest. “You can either tell me now, or I can hack into security cameras and find out myself. Either way, I am psychologically too curious to respect your privacy.”

There are a few things the general population of Area-1 knows about me. First, that I am the eldest of the High Commander’s children. And second, before being the Head of Futurology, is my ways of finding out secrets.

Just as James is about to spill, someone calls out to me. I let a split second slip to express my discontent, before turning around to find the source of the voice. My discontent suddenly disappears when I see my younger cousin, Mark, waving his arm at me.

“Hi, Mark, how are you?” I smile at him. Both mine and Mark’s mothers are siblings. As we belong to the same family tree, we share a hive together. He is only a few years younger than me, thus making him someone like a brother to me, discounting Colton.

“Great. We’re studying some rocks that the expedition team has recently discovered. You won’t believe how many SiO2 mineral we’ve found in them!”

Mark is James’ apprentice in Mineralogy. Aside from that, he also has deep knowledge in Astronomy. Although he is still undecided in pursuing which department, he has been rather active in Mineralogy lately.

“That sounds fantastic! Wow, this Area-32 is just so resourceful, isn’t it? It almost makes me jealous of you guys.”

Departments such as Archeology, Biology, and James’ deal with outer space discoveries 50 percent of the time, since they often run out of materials to research on. In other words, it’s either our technology that is just way too advanced or we are just that knowledge-hungry.

On the other hand, Futurology deals with forecasting technology necessary for the future. Since our planet has the most advanced technology, my research mostly centralizes around Area-1 only.

At least I get a free pass to roam around other departments as part of my research. Futurology collaborates with different departments most of the time, especially when it comes to making inventions related to a particular field.

“By the way, do we still have some of those frozen sweets at the hive?”

“Didn’t you have dinner yet?”

“Yeah, but I still want some of that stuff. They taste awesome!”

“We still have a few flavors left from last time, but I’m pretty sure we ran out of the blue one.”

“Great, then I’ll order more.”

“What about the rest? Aren’t you going to finish them? If not, we should return it to the market.” Areans do not waste food. At all.

“Sure, I’ll do that, too. Okay, I’m almost done. I’ll wrap up and be quick. See you tonight.” He waves and hops off.

“Don’t forget to check on Colton and Dad, too! They might still want some,” I shout as he goes. I am not sure he heard me, until I receive a message through my head screen.

‘Oh puh-lease, Lini. They obviously favor the blue ones!—Mark.’

I smile at his message, before slowly turning my attention back to James. Unexpectedly, I find myself being stared down intensely. Something about the way he looks at me is in sync with someone else I know. Those dark, almost hungry, over-consuming look, trapped in the dark orbs that harbors its emotions.

“James, are you okay? Did I do something wrong?”

He blinks. Once, then twice. “No, I’m okay. It’s not your fault. As I was about to say—”

All of a sudden, an alert goes off.The lights turn red instantly, signing an emergency. An emergency message pops onto my head screen, informing that I am needed for assistance. I look at James, and he nods. Go. You are needed.

“Save that talk for sometime in the future.”

While others begin to rush in co-ordinance to their designated emergency shelters, the direction I am heading goes against the wave of the current. “Lini!” I can hear Mark panicking when he passes by and sees me, just further ahead at north east. I slow down to order him, “Do not worry! Go according to orders. I have my duty.”

He looks like he is about to say something, but I turn away before he does. Quickly I give orders to my head screen and activate a set of machinery. There is an open junction just at the mid-section. My goal is to reach that destination and meet my vehicle.

Using a pair of air-booster boots, I fly up and trail close to the ceiling, where it is not occupied by rushing Areans.

“An unidentified aircraft is breaching the first outer-layer of the atmosphere. It’s approaching fast. Securities are on alert and ready. Your assistance might be needed to contain this alien force. Stand by at your sector. We are still estimating its precise destination.”

A video message arrives from Dad, along with a live surveillance of a falling plane. Based from the general shape of the vehicle, it looks similar to that of a Capitol military aircraft, but I can be wrong. Interspace Trading Department is more experienced on this matter.

In less than a minute, I reach the exit and get out of the building. I proceed to the exterior bridge that lies just ahead, one which connects this sector with the next. A few seconds later, I can hear the sound of my vehicle arriving.

Rising from below this 3,000 feet high bridge, the giant capsule casts a large shadow over me. It has just flown directly from the laboratory of my department sector. It hangs in the air, gradually lessening its speed, waiting for my order.

“Knightframe, activate.”

[“Voice confirmation received. Knightframe: activating.”]

The giant capsule parts in the middle, then parts the other way. It opens up like a blooming flower at dusk, its parts separating themselves like a falling cherry blossom.

One more time, I activate my air-boosters and fly up. This time, towards the middle of the waiting capsule.

And once I do, the mechanical parts begin to wrap themselves around me. My limbs, my torso, my bottom, and my head. I can feel gravity begin pulling me back down when the transformation is done.

Bloomer 0.1., which is the name I have given it, is the first of its kind. Nowadays, Knightframes come as rigid military vehicles that are either driven from the inside or remote-controlled from the distance. But my Bloomer is piloted as a suit. A very solid and—like any other military vehicle—very dangerous suit.

“Lini. What. In. Origin’s. Name. Is. That?” I can hear the vibration of Dad’s unapproving tone all the way from here through my earpiece.

“Don’t worry. It’s (laboratory) tested. It has the firepower of a regular Knightframe (estimately), but much more physically flexible. On itself and on me.” I deliberately edit out a few words in order to stop him from being over-concerned. Technically, this is Bloomer’s first real life test drive on the field, based from actual work, but I will not let it stop me from utilizing my new invention for this situation.

“Incoming. The space plane is landing head your range. Machine guns are ready to back you up by land. Knightframes are approaching for backup.”

“Copy that. Lini Dynasty is standing by. Permission to approach the target. Waiting for approval.”

There is a short silence from the other end of the connection, before he says, “Request approved.”

Nano VirusEvery Arean is injected with nano robotic virus that keeps us healthy by maintaining our internal body’s needs. From organ functioning, bones strengthening, muscle flexing and even blood circulation, the nano virus takes care of it all. They even handle unnecessary factors such as sweat and pimples.

One of the advantages is that it keeps the heart pumping in even speed, even when the individual is under pressure. This factor benefits a lot when it comes to military services on field.