I AM TANK

Red awoke with pain all over her body; she opened her eyes and gasped as all the incidents from the previous night instantly through her mind. Her eyes blinked, every joint under the surface of her flesh aching. She was in the arms of a gigantic robot that leaned against the cold cave wall. Red reached up and tapped the robot's arm, but it didn't respond. She had no idea where she was. Like the cave, Red had seen on the knowledge tablet. Wires stretched out in the cave as though no end was in sight. Some type of altar was in the center, but it was covered with buttons on the floor. That was more or less like a hideout. Red walked carefully around the cave, inspecting the surface of the altar floor with strange symbols. A holographic screen appeared before Red's face when her foot stepped on a green triangle button, causing the girl to flinch in alarm. A blue light scanned Red's body, followed by the appearance of other holographic screens. Red was amazed by it. "Aegea Harts. Fáilte.

City 10226 was the name of the city center around three miles distant from Red and her family's housing complex. A transparent dome resembling a massive upside-down bowl could be seen from afar. Red had no idea what it was made of or had never paid attention in school since she didn't believe it was necessary. In Red's opinion, the city center, designed to be aesthetically pleasing and resemble the original, was a fake. Entry gates were in four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. The gate is guarded by Troy, a cyborg resembling Ingo but with a taller and more muscular frame. They are neither friendly nor violent. They solely monitor the movement of cars and the ownership of cyborgs or robots accompanying their owners. Other than that, they only stated technical issues. Red was initially concerned about not knowing Ursula's state if she was scanned by the Troy, but after she got close to the city center gate, there was not a single Troy guarding. Even the gates were le

Claws appeared from behind the backs of the Troy standing guard at the podium, instantly grasping the Troy. Not to injure them but to protect them. Everyone in the room was shocked as the claws appeared, even though no claws approached a single human. “Geez, the Claws! Are they going to hurt us?” Call shriek. “Not sure. But, they grab the Troy.” Red look suspicious. Call glanced at Red worriedly. “The Claws are going to toss the Troy at us?” “No, Call. It just ….” Red stopped. “There’s something fishy around here,” she continued. People muttered, they were confused. Who knows what kind of Savage Glory game Viz was referring to. But no one seemed suspicious or alarmed. Instead, they looked at each other and spoke in whispers. Unaware of the lurking danger. Red looked back, scanning the moving wall system, and suddenly sensed danger approaching. “Like what?” asked Call. “Put on my mask, Call,” Red stated abruptly. “What for?” Call seemed confused. “Just do it!” shouted Red. Viz

The corridor was dark as Red walked along the path before her. That is, until she heard a weird sound up ahead, a chirping murmur as the light refracted a few meters before her. She stepped forward, following the people before her, already sprinting towards the brilliant light ahead of them. When she neared the end of the corridor, Red's eyes narrowed. She stepped on a green grassy surface with damp soil and a blue ceiling. Green trees, sycamores the likes of which Red had never seen, surrounded her. Birds were flying around, and it was from there that Red heard the sound for the first time. Red approached one of the bushes and stroked the strands. It felt strange and moist and gave out a cool aroma; Red had never felt anything like it in her nineteen years on Earth. Was it because Ohm's ship was involved? So, on a spaceship, things that are inconceivable on Earth become possible? "What is this place?" she wondered herself. Red took a step away from the crowd, who had the same reac

"Red? Are you OK? Red ignored Call and searched the area for Aamon. Her left eye began to scan every person within her peripheral vision, but there were too many. She had no idea where the young man was; for some reason, Red was instantly drawn to Aamon. She gave up and settled on the stone steps once more. "Don't you want to go?" Call looked surprised at Red, who reclined in her seat and peered at the sandy field below. But Red remained silent, her gaze fixed on the man about to compete in the Cirque arena. A tall young man entered the arena, holding a shield in his left hand and an axe in his right. Meanwhile, from the bleachers, a towering figure in all-black leaped out elegantly, his hair purplish in the sun-like light bias. There was no sound at all as he landed. Only a sand cloud congregates between his feet. "Wow, he's cool," whispered Call. "Aamon?" Red cast the young man next to her a quick glance. "You think Baron is cooler? "He's pretty OK." Call made a shaky motion