章節 45: Ancile
I fidgeted at my dress from all the stares, especially from the man everyone called 'His Supremacy'. His eyes were almost empty, seeking something beyond his reach. As if all that he had accomplished so far was too easy for him. Until it bored the life of an old man like him.
Though I did not think he was an old man. His modest dark beard made him had that sort of appearance.
To get away from all the eyes, I glanced around the room. Surely, it was a room of someone that was of importance to the country. Ornate decorations, paired with all sorts of expensive items lined up across the fine room were a bit overwhelming for someone like me. For I had never feasted my eyes on jewelry and those unnecessary accessories too much for my life.
A huge banner with the Great Corporate United's logo sewed on it was hung at the four sides of the room.
Compared to the palace of Grand Amina back at Neo Africa, it was pale in comparison. Gheele Folami was by far the richest person that I have ever met, having a different kind of items made from gold scattered in his palace.
I looked back at the 'His Supremacy' person. Certainly, he did not have the aura of Gheele, where anyone who took their time to even 'look' at him would feel they were not worthy of being in the same space as that man.
My head shook away the thought.
"Ava," called His Supremacy.
Alexander motioned for me to speak up. "Uhm, yes!"
His Supremacy took a deep breath and crossed his legs. "You see, I'm quite a busy person. So I'll keep this... meeting of ours short."
I nodded, of which Bart smirked from that where he stood. 'What's so funny?' I thought.
"You're a weapon created by the proud scientists of our great country. Though your existence was kept a secret for a long time. But I realized we need YOU in order to take Neo Africa. Unfortunately, Gheele Folami and his Aegis stand in our way," said His Supremacy. My head nodded by itself.
"The scientists that created the Aegis containers never succeeded in creating an Aegis User that was capable of having two of them. Let alone for that person to wield two of it at the same time," said His Supremacy. "And yet you're here. A gift sent to our country for me to properly achieve what I had wanted. You're a living Aegis User with two different Aegis inside you. But I know right now, you can only utilize one. Still, progress will be made soon enough."
Instead of being treated as this 'gift', they stomped their soles at my face. A person who only knew how to rule would never understand what his workers were doing behind their back.
Despite not having my Aegis as a boost to my confidence, I should try to speak up on my own. Somehow, he irritated me.
"Ava, everyone in this room already knew about the plan to take Neo Africa, except for you. And so, I'll tell you the gist of it," said His Supremacy. "About three weeks from now, we will assemble fifty percent of our whole military force in the world to attack Neo Africa. And just to be clear, I cannot afford to send any more than that due to all the rebellions that have been happening around the world. The spearhead of our attacking force will be the Aegis Users. In fact, all of you will descend onto Africa's soil, leading the charge."
Served him right that he had to deal with the rebellions. Not like he knew what his high-ranking officers were up to. Abusing their authority all they could. Disgusting.
"I will take you to the underground factory after this. Any questions?" said His Supremacy.
I took a glance at each Aegis Users that stood across the room. Alexander was still standing beside me, looking the part of a soldier. Aya was behind me the whole time. Miranda glared at me with her purple eyes. Relly stood beside His Supremacy while looking at me. Of course, Alicia and Bart had those same mocking eyes on me. I wished I could just cut their lives out of their bodies.
Then there was Lily, staring at the window next to her, seemingly unaware of anything that she was supposed to know about.
I gently shook my head at His Supremacy and he flicked his wrist.
"Then, shall we get going?"
He stood up from his chair and walked out of the room briskly, followed by Relly just behind him. Everyone in the room took the same approach as our footsteps echoed unevenly as we walked. We soon arrived at an elevator coated with a bronze coating. It was at the center of the HQ, but there was no one near to it or anything. Being at the middle of the heavily guarded military base, one would think every crevice of the place and corridors were filled with soldiers every now and then.
Even surveillance cameras were nowhere to be seen there, which was odd.
The last time I was in a military base, the whole area was guarded with a lot of security measures. And that last time was when Hope and I broke through that base at Mansel Island.
'No one can enter this section of the base it seems,' I thought. Which made sense in a way. His Supremacy did say it was an underground factory. So, only the workers were allowed, was what I concluded.
I noticed a slot of a key card next to the elevator and His Supremacy swiped his card that he drew out from his pocket.
I wondered if he has a real name. Referring to him as 'His Supremacy' all the time rubbed me the wrong way.
The elevator's door slid open and we all entered. Without even pressing a button, which not even one was present, the elevator moved downward by itself. The inside of it was quite big, given there were nine of us.
The atmosphere was unnerving. No one was talking or making any sound as we went underground. With a 'ding' sound, the elevator opened up and we exited hurriedly.
"Wow..."
It was like a whole world from where I saw it.
Dozens upon dozens of humanoid, silver robots were working alongside each other, carrying metal boxes and operating machines that I did not recognize.
A few people in lab coats walked around and jotted at the documents that they held in their hands. One of them even talked to one of the robots. The underground factory was humongous compared to a normal-sized factory. The white ceiling stretched out far up and I found myself trying to guess where it ended. The white walls were encompassed by large, square tiles lined up next to each other.
As we all walked, I realized that the pathway was enclosed in glass, separated from the actual working site.
"You have met those robots before, Ava?" asked Relly in front of me as he threw a sidelong glance.
"Grand Amina," I simply answered.
"Ah, yes. Those humanoid robots are used as the base model for Ancile. They're built for combat. Tough, and very durable. Even under extreme temperatures, their performance was excellent," explained Relly.
"Ancile?" I muttered.
"Yes, it's the unit's name," said Relly.
Just after he said that we passed a small section of the factory, where the familiar Aegis containers are inserted inside the newly-made parts of Ancile units.
"The Aegis containers that we used for those Anciles are the most basic variation. It can only produce a limited amount of Aegis crystals during combat. Also, the A.I of the Anciles are designed in a way that it will distribute particles of the crystals evenly through the specially-made metal parts," said Relly.
"So, even the shape of the Aegis crystals that they want to form is limited," I said.
Relly frowned at me and looked forward. "Yes. I see that your experience with them was a good thing after all."
His statement made me clenched my fists. It was their fault for bringing in those weapons to my knowledge. And they used it as a way to capture me.
His Supremacy was silent as we neared another section of the factory, separated by the glass window.
"Aegis Containers Production," mumbled Alicia.
Aya poked at my shoulder to get my attention. She wanted to say something so I slowed my pace.
"Um, Ava. This is where Mommy and Daddy work. You see, they were involved in creating Aegis," whispered Aya. "I saw them once talking to the other people in white coats. Oh, and they listened to everything they said."
"Hmm. So, they're the lead scientists that are involved in the development of Aegis," I stated.
Aya leaned in closer to my ear. "But you see, Ava, there was a small room at the far end of the factory... Mommy put my Aegis inside me in that room."
"Oh..." They managed to make their human experimentations a thing that the country's leader approved of. But those were inhuman practices, and yet His Supremacy allowed such thing.
From his eyes, it was evident that he desired power, and everything that had happened around the world proved that.
A bright light hit my face and I squinted. There was a female being dragged by those Anciles. She struggled but her attempt was futile as they brought her to the small room Aya had spoken of before. One of the Anciles opened the door and they all went inside.
The corner of my right eye caught a glimpse of Aya shivering when she saw that. Looking at His Supremacy just in front of me, he kept silent. Of course after seeing that ever so often, one would not care much about it, nor even wished to know.
"Um, may I ask a question?"
Everyone turned to me as they walked, except for His Supremacy.
"What is it, Ava?" asked Relly.
"Why am I here again?"
Lily displayed her creepy smile at my question, her sharp rows of teeth shone under the light. Miranda scowled and moved her eyes away without second thought. Alexander observed me for a few moments before he strained his eyes forward.
And as for Alicia and Bart, they did the same thing every time I even took a glimpse at them.
Not worth mentioning.
Relly coughed. "His Supremacy wants you to know how far our great country has achieved after all those endeavors we had gone through." He waved at a scientist behind the glass door. "All of this technology that we have, I'm sure no one can stop us. Our military might is unparalleled in terms of strength and manpower. You can already see how we got as far as we are now."
I lifted my head at Relly's bold statement. I knew someone who could stop the Great Corporate United. "Then why did you even need me in the first place? Surely, you can take down Neo Africa as it is. Oh wait, you can't. You're all scared."
His Supremacy finally took a good look at me, giving away his not-so-happy-with-what-I-just-said expression.
'Good, I hate you too," I said in my mind.
"Watch your mouth, Ava." Relly had formed a small Aegis knife protruding from his left palm, bearing the color of ocean blue.
Lily covered her mouth as she giggled. "I like you, kid. I want to learn from you too," she said as her yellow eyes were wide open.
His Supremacy puffed up his chest and forced himself to ignore me. Relly's Aegis knife dissolved while Lily froze her smile at me.
"Why did you do that?" whispered Aya to me.
"I just need to tell them what I think," I replied. "Fortunately, I'm a bitter human being. So saying those words actually do me a huge favor."
Indeed, their decision to use me against Gheele Folami was something I really disliked. I knew I cannot do anything about that, but eventually, I would find a way to run away from them.
There was another elevator at the opposite end from where we came from. Again, His Supremacy swiped his card and the door slid open.
"I was wondering, Aya, what is his real name?" I asked as we get inside. She did not answer my question until we came back from the underground factory. Or experimentation site.
I took in the cold air when we exited the elevator.
"I think his name is Melker. Melker Holm."
His Supremacy turned around to face us and Aya and I jerked up in response.
"All of you can resume your duties," said Melker. "But Ava, Relly, you two will come with me."
Aya tugged at my dress, her cheeks beaming with red. "Um, I'll see you next time then, Ava. Take care."
I subtly nodded. "Okay. Goodbye, Aya."
It was weird that our names almost sounded the same, and with just a slip of tongue, both of us could respond to the person calling us simultaneously.
I waved at Aya as she followed behind the departing Alicia and Bart. Lily seemed to be lost somewhat, turning his head to every direction. And finally, she settled to follow Alexander and Miranda going the opposite way from Aya.
"Let's go." Relly showed me the metal cube controller and I flinched. Knowing what he meant, I walked beside him as Melker went back to his room.
"Let me, Your Supremacy," said Relly. He volunteered to open the door and just as Melker was about to walk inside, a young woman was already waiting in the room, standing near the dark blue banner.
'What is she wearing?' I thought. I never set my eyes on that specific fashion of clothes that she wore. The woman was definitely wearing an elaborate, purple dress, with a particularly stiff corset at her waist. It expanded the lower part of her dress to the shape of a cone. Her blue eyes were gleaming brightly, with green beads hung loosely from the small, red hair bow.
She ran her fingers across the long, silver ponytail she had. She dyed her hair to silver, which was a weird color for me. Compared to Beatrice's green hair, that woman had that part complimented her beauty.
"Oh, father. I was waiting for you," said the woman.
"Maltyie, why didn't you call me first?" asked Melker. He had a shocked expression on his face, making his pale eyes filled with life for once. He led us all in and Relly closed the door.
"Who's this?" Maltyie eyed my figure from top to bottom.
"Ava," answered Melker as he sat in his own chair.
Maltyie shifted her gaze at the white mat for a while. "Oh... she's one of your Aegis Users, isn't she?"
"Indeed. I intend to get her to the frontline soon enough," said Melker.
"Hmm, then she's like Aya then. Poor girl." Maltyie stared at me for a few moments before her eyes lit up. "Oh, I know!"
Relly sighed and stepped towards a bookshelf behind him. It could be my imagination, though he seemed to know what was coming.
'Wait a minute, she's his daughter? She doesn't look like him in any way!' I said in my mind.
"What is it, Maltyie?" asked Melker in a low tone.
"Can I borrow Ava for a while?"
"What?!"
I did not realize I had taken a step backward from what she said.
"You do not have any use for her now, isn't it? Then I'll take care of her until then," stated Maltyie with her hands at her waist. "Besides, I know you have injected that Aegis suppressor drug inside her. I'll be fine."
Relly gulped when Melker narrowed his eyes at him. "Er, as of now, Alicia already had the results that she wanted. The only thing that's left is to wait for the analysis of Ava's blood sample."
Melker then gazed at his daughter. "What if she escaped?"
"Nah, that won't happen. I HAVE taken care of Aya once before, right? Besides, you're underestimating me, father. She wouldn't have even the slightest room to run away," said Maltyie.
She might be right in that regard if she was in a dream.
"And if it comes to it--" A silver knife dropped from her dress's right sleeve and she managed to grab it before it fell. With a blink of an eye, that knife was at my throat. "I'll just have to make her behave myself."
She was fast. I could mistake her for one of the Vlasta's Maidens just from how swift her movement was. With no wasted energy on unnecessary parts of her muscles, straight for the kill.
"Hmm, good point. And she does not have a place to stay right now." Melker crossed his legs and sighed heavily. "Alright, I'll grant you permission. But this is only because you have a huge influence inside the military."
"Thank you, Dad! Love you!" Maltyie skipped happily as she hugged her father. Then she smiled at me, satisfied with the outcome.
"Nice knowing you, Ava. I'm Maltyie. I'll be taking care of you from now on."
I did not know what to say at that time. However, I did know one thing. And any place was better than being inside that crystal room.
"Um, Please take good care of me," I said as I lowered my gaze.
創作者的想法 
HavenlyJeep
HavenlyJeep |Volume 2|
Upcoming Chapters:
* Chapter 46: Maltyie and Ava
* Chapter 47: A Fortunate Soul
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