8 Those Who Protec

[the Year 2193 – September 20th. Genf - Next day after the incident at Elpida boarders]

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During the day, Genf - the capital of the Land of Aleksithimia that was also referred to as 'The Grey City' because of the rising volumes of Solar and Longwave radiation mixed with the pollution that was released into the atmosphere, these began to for the \"Toxic Gray Shrouds\" all around well-developed cities. Otherwise, Genf was usually very calm. Most of its inhabitants were busy at their jobs, as due to the city policy the majority must sustain the daytime work. That kind of pace made the city roads almost empty during the day and busy at the beginning of the evening. As sunset comes, the city begins to live and swarms with millions of peoples as if it was an anthill.

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Ever since the beginning of climate change, the spore volumes grew in number every year, until the scientists across the world had to raise awareness of its existence. Later on, Geosmin had been acknowledged as a harmful bacteria that if combusted with others toxic or hazardous chemicals, such as Benzene, Dioxin and other variety of gases that can be found in the air, is an imminent threat to the human body; Specifically dangerous in big cities or industrial areas.

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In the capital, Autumn had changed into a warm winter season as snowflakes melted before even reaching the surface making that particular period specifically toxic for the city inhabitants.

As the countermeasure, the world leaders have issued specifically designed facial masks that must be worn during the rainy periods.

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Out on the streets, Quarta wore a black hooded jacket, becoming an unrecognizable silhouette that looked like a saturated form of a shadow enveloped by the soft rain, surrounded by city lights. Small pellets of water were spitting on her hands as the remainder of the drops quenches the scattered puddles decorating the asphalt and the busy road, she was on her way to the Head Quarters.

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A chaotic fragrance was spread out around the perfectly clean asphalt streets; the Uprising odor of 'Geosmin' quickly filled Nion's nostrils. Geosmin was a variety of spores that were produced by Streptomyces microbes which particularly dangerous when it is raining as they become active after the long-lasting doze during the dry season.

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\"Sigh, this city smells awful...\" Nion mumbled.

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Once through the security gates, Quarta was on her way to the very top of the HQ offices where she had a meeting with the prosper regarding the latest events that occurred at the borderline. At the end of a narrow corridor, she finally arrived at the destination.

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The moment when she was about to reach for the door handle. The door briskly opened and almost hit her face. Quinto (The Keepers rang #5) walked out of the room.

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\"Tsk!\" Said Quinto while leaving the door open behind.

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After he passed the room entrance, he realized that when he kicked the door, it almost hit Quarta who happened to stand just behind the door.

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\"Huh? Quarta...\" He muttered.

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\"Good evening.\" Quarta bowed.

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\"Do you have a lighter?\" Quinto waved his hand while also ignoring Nion's greetings.

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\"Pardon me?\" Nion asked.

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\"What don't you understand? I am asking you if you have a lighter?!\" Quinto insisted.

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\"Euh...No, I don't.\" She replied.

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\"Tsk! Get out of my way then.\" As he said that, Quinto continued walking down the corridor.

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\"What's wrong with him...?\" She watched him go as she pushed the entrance door.

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The prosper Aleksithimia was standing against a massive open glass window looking at the city while holding a glass of scotch.

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\"I welcome you Quarta. It is always a pleasure to have you here.\" Said a charming male voice.

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The prosper Aleksithimia appeared, in all his grandeur. A tailored black suit with a charming black ribbon underneath of which he wore a beautifully designed white shirt that was covered with thin metallic chains that were hanging down over his shoulders. His chiseled jaw lifted with a proud, pleasant smile. Short dark hair with long wavy curls that looked majestic on him. He possessed dark brown pensive eyes, that one would look for in a poet or dreamed rather than the ruler of millions of people.

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He was skinny but powerfully built, his skin was slightly bronzed by the sun that was shining at his neck that was fully covered with linear & cubic tattoos artwork that looked sublime on him as these exquisite forms were going all the way up to his soft neck where they joined with large tribal piercings on his left ear. On the other side of his cheek, he had a small reversed cross tattoo.

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He was projecting wiry energy that gave him an effect of youth despite that this year he turned 37 years old. He possessed the body language of a charming prince and the mental strength of a confident king.

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\"Mitera System has reported that you had an 'Emotional stasis' on your first assignment? I was worried about your well-being. But, seeing you here reassures me that you are fine.\" He said.

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Every word he said sounded beautiful but impossible to feel compassion and trust as if Quarta was facing two different personas at the same time.

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\"You see... This is what the 'Emphatic Concern' emotions sound like. Do you miss that?\" He immediately changed his tone to something more distant and perhaps intimidating.

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As he said that, there was something puzzling in his gait, enough to jump off and holster your weapon because of how unusual usual he acted. But Quarta knew him very well so she stayed calm.

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\"Why don't you say something? He insisted on employing a different, much mature tone.

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After a brief moment of silence, Nion has opened her mouth and spoke out.

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\"You knew about that all along...\" Nion said.

\"Pardon me?\" He kindly asked.

\"Do you think that I became a 'Keeper' to become another pet of yours?\" She asked furiously. \"You've forced a 'Mandate' into me! What is wrong with you?!\"

\"Wait! So, you do remember about the 'Mandate' phase?!\" He sounded extremely surprising.

\"Rewriting and manipulating other people's memories and making them acting the way 'YOU' is that how you operate others 'Keepers' as well?!\" She insisted. \"Today, I am certain that it was not the first time you've done that to me, a year or so ago I felt that same thing... I've felt my memories being altered and erased somehow; I thought it was nothing, just a bad dream - What happened yesterday made my mind clear that it was you playing with my mind all along!!\"

Aleksithimia was totally ignoring her questions. \"Interesting! Very interesting...\" He began making circles around her. \"When you first mentioned it, you sounded so vague so I thought there was some kind of a mistake... But you do actually remember what happens during the 'Mandate' phase... And that's my dear is 'Fascinating'!\"

\"Fascinating? What is wrong with you?!\" She asked confused.

\"It is! The fact that you can maintain 'Multiple Memory Lines' at the same time!! Isn't that obvious?!\" He waved his hands. \" A normal human being cannot do that, that's impossible!\"

\"I don't care about any of this, I order you to stop doing your experiments on me.. And the others too...\" She ordered.

\"Stop? No way! No, no... Absolutely not! I can't! You've proven my theory that there is a possibility of 'Multiple Memory Lines' within one individual, that's a scientific discovery... And then...\" He changed his tone. \"Who do you think you are talking to? You are working 'FOR ME', you have a place to live because 'I' allowed it, you have everything you need because 'I' decided so... Don't get over your head.\"

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\"Truly inspiring from the leader of this continent...' She sighed.

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\"I am simply here to tell you the facts...\" He made a long pause. \"You are an official member of the 'Keepers Unit', it is natural that I have my way to... Reassure the quality of your services. You have to understand that you all are representing the whole continent and sometimes... I am afraid, you may get things complicated, specifically for me and my 'Prospering'. In the past, we had various cases when a 'Mandate' had to be issued. Sometimes it is a necessity, but I assure you - Mitera System deploys it only in 'Extreme' situations.

\"That's what I am saying... We are your pets.\" Nion replied.

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\"Well... Don't be that harsh to yourself. In fact, for your first assignment... The thing got a bit out of control, but this is exactly why these mandates exist, you see.\" Aleksithimia explained.

\"I can only see it as a trust issues.\" Nion mumbled.

\"Do not get me wrong, I do trust all of you with my own life, therefore, I do not trust your emotions.\" He explained.

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\"Was not there a better way to manage the situation back then? I still feel like being used as a tool... So many useless deaths, I don't want you to use my body in that way... In no way!\" Nion sounded furious. \"I've spent 2 years of training to became a 'Keeper' to make things better, to resolve conflicts peacefully... And here is what I get on my first assignment? Massacred everyone who disobeyed your foreign policies! That's so wrong!\"

\"I see, I see... Let me return that question back to you; would you rather risk your friends and families' safety for a group of strangers whom you know nothing about?\" He asked.

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Nion said nothing back so Aleksithimia continued.

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\"Let's presume that you know absolutely nothing about them, neither their past nor their present. Potentially exposing people who are dear to you because you are getting a fright or a strong empathy feeling every time you see someone who is weaker than you are, just remember that puppy you tried to protect when you were a kid.\" He said.

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\"Huh?\" Nion inhaled, ready to speak but Aleksithimia continued his speech without giving her a window to speak.

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\"Let me elaborate on my thoughts...Imagine a situation when you have allowed a group of outsiders in our lands under your responsibility. Let us suppose that these family members are great people, respectful and polite. At some point, you will build a great relationship. At some point, they will ask you who is responsible for them if they can bring the rest of their family members from the outside to join them. It would be natural for them to stick all together so that nobody feels left out.\"

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\"Now, let's assume that this second group of ten people, there are two men who are mentally unstable because they were forced to leave their hometown. Starting with the moment they successfully reunite with their family; they will live with a strong feeling of nostalgia and deep regret leaving their home country for a new place that they do not specifically like. Soon after, they begin to complain about their new life and quickly became excluded from the inner family circle.\" Said Aleksithimia.

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\"I don't get your point.\" Nion said.

\"Quite! Just wait and listen...\" Aleksithimia shushed her.

\"So, where was I... Ah! So, these two men will find themselves in an unknown place where they are rejected and will get frustrated because nobody is willing to understand their pain of not being able to go back to their hometown. Their frustration will further transform into grief and despair... There is a high possibility that these two men will try to attract all kinds of attention by doing random unpleasant action, from the beginning it could be some minor crimes such as stealing and can surely evolve to something much more dangerous.\" He said.

\"What are we even talking about?! I am sorry but it is wrong!\" Argued Nion.

\"Huh, and how am I wrong, please, enlighten me with your thoughts then.\" Said Aleksithimia.

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\"You are literally trying to convince me that outsiders are the absolute source of unnecessary problems and danger without giving me a rational explanation of your thoughts about this subject. Besides, according to you, these people and their actions are the major reasons for our land's potential concerns.\" Said Nion.

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\"And they are...\" Said Aleksithimia

\"You are the one who taught us to think twice before acting, but I am starting to think that the whole Keepers project is operating on blind trust.\" Argued Nion.

\"Please, elaborate.\" Aleksithimia crossed his arms.

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\"I am more than proud of all the hard work that has been accomplished; you have saved and will surely save thousands of lives. Your devotion to this country is absolutely admirable, and I am nobody to judge the way you operate. But... you and I, are still human beings and that means that sometimes... We have to step back on our decision and review them from another point of view...\" Nion explained.

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Aleksithimia went back to his desk and serves himself a glass scotch.

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\"Oh, how rude of me! Do you want some?\" Asked Aleksithimia while hanging over another glass to Nion

\"Please, let's focus on the current subject!\" Nion said firmly.

\"You... Seem quite irritated today, aren't you?\" He said while enjoying his drink. \"You know, I hated the old times, when the elders managed this country. Propaganda was the way the would spread lies and terror, empty promises to keep us, the next generation shut.\"

\"Don't you think that you are not different in the end?\" Asked Nion.

\"Only time will tell... For now, my only priority is those who are within these walls. I have to keep them safe... If for that reason I must sacrifice hundreds or even thousands... So it will be.\" He said.

\"Understood!\" Nion threw her report on the prosper's desk and then walks towards the entrance door.

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Aleksithimia looked that he is enjoying Nion giving him a moral lesson so he just sat on the desk and kept listening in silence.

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\"I am aware that some people who are coming from the outside world can cause some problems. But even then, it is going to be what? 3-5% out of everyone who is suffering out there? There surely is, there has to be, a better way to deal with these people rather than executing every single one of them because they did not respect your statement.\" Said Nion.

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As she finished her phrase, she gave him a couple of seconds to say something back, but since he did not, she continued.

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\"Last night, I saw fire coming from the forest area across the borders of Elpida. I need your permission to cross the borderline and investigate that area.\" Said Nion but Aleksithimia abruptly turned himself in her direction and raised his tone.

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\"Rejected.\" He said.

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\"But, I may get some valuable information regarding the recent increase in incoming raids from Elpida. This could be potentially used for our cause!\" Nion insisted.

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\"Quarta. I am not repeating myself twice...\"

\"But why?!\" She insisted.

\"Because I am the one who decides.\" Replied Aleksithimia.

\"How many innocent people do I have to sacrifice before you open your eyes?!\" She shouted.

\"I've established rules in this country, these rules must be respected and whoever doesn't - they will learn how them by force.\" He replied.

\"Just listen to me!\"

\"I heard enough.\" He stopped her, but she didn't stop.

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\"I have been observing this area for a while now and there is definitely is something wrong going on out there. These raiders, I was there and I saw it with my own eyes. These families, they were blindly running away from something. I can tell when someone is ready to die, that's what I saw in their eyes!\" Nion raised her voice.

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\"I do understand that you are raising your voice because you want to be heard. It is really interesting to hear someone, full of emotions, so alive... Perhaps you think that nobody can understand you... That I can't understand you, but let me correct you for a second.\" Said Aleksithimia as he stood up from his desk and approached her.

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\"I wish Seànn would be prosper instead of you!\" She threw her arms around her neck.

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\"Look at you... So upset that you are trying to bring 'Sean' into this... What you are experiencing right now is called frustration. A frustration that collides with sadness.\" He made a pause. \"You need some time off duty, I will organize that with Mitera... And, what comes for your request, the border policy won't change, at least for now.\" Said Aleksithimia.

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\"Time off? That's how it is going to end...\" She asked.

\"Yes.\"

\"You know what...? Maybe, it is time for you to go outside and take a little tour! Don't you think that it is quite easy to control everything from the capital?\" Nion looked at him with penetrating eyes.

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\"You are acting stubborn at this point. Our current situation is much more complex than you improving strong emotions to whomever you've met at the borders. If we do open borders with selective entrance, considering the state of our current economy, there is a big possibility that we would get an overload of demands and I do not want to make the same mistakes elders have made before, I do not want to promise something we cannot accomplish right now.\" He said.

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\"If we accept selective entrance, give permission to people from outside, we will possibly face an inner conflict coming from our population. There is a high chance that our population would split into two counterparts. Those who will support refugees to arrive on our land and will do their best to help them establish a new life in our lands and another group of people who will be absolutely against the idea of outsiders who will also bring their own culture with them, won't specifically obey and respect all of our rules which will become a potential problem and even more.\" He said.

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\"Conflict is something easy to generate. There is a high possibility that emotions of hate and rejection will reappear again as before. This is possible although most of our land's population is using \"Emotional Suppressors\" and I would say 99% do not even remember what \"Hate\" feels like. If what I just mentioned happens, these emotions will come back and possibly destroy our current stability that took long years to put in place. Racial hate and exclusion... This is something I do not want the new generation to experience anymore... Not on my lands. This is why my main task for at least right now is to maintain the peace and serenity of this land as it is.\" He explained.

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\"Your piece of junk over your neck does regulate the emotions, but you should know that humans cannot be tamed the way you are trying to do; soon or later you will have to face the consequences.\" Said Nion.

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\"I am aware of that...\" This seemed to give him something to think about.

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Doors open, Seconda (The Keeper - Rang #2) enters the room...