World of Advent

Chapter One:

The year was 2020X. Many changes had occurred in the twenty years since Ragnarok fell from the sky, among them the existence of Advents. Advents, the half human, half reploid marvels of science now populated the world ever since the renowned scientist, Ciel, found a way to implant Reploid DNA into that of a human's. Ciel had even found Zero's remains and reconstructed him, along with the four guardians. It was an era of fragile peace, something that all were thankful for.

Weil was gone. Zero had made sure of that. But some evils can't disappear with the stroke of a sword. Among them, prejudice and fear found their way into the people's hearts when the first Advent crawled into existence. Thought to be heresy against their creator, some even formed a group dedicated to opposing the very existence of the children of both human and reploid. Templar they were called, and sought to revoke the right each Advent had as they evolved from that one human embryo.

But in time, the world learned to accept these newcomers. Templar lost power. It was no longer heresy for a human and a reploid to be together. It was a time of social peace, if a fragile one. But the delicate threads of prosperity had won their battle against fate. It was a new era, a new age: the Age of Advent.

Cipher looked up at the clear blue skies of Neo Arcadia, relishing in the sight of the pristine clouds lumbering across the stratosphere. His boss and Head of the family, Tom, always condemned laziness and relaxation, but personally, Cipher envied the carefree clouds.

Cipher, like so many his age, is an Advent. Bright blonde hair and blue eyes contrasted with the bright red clothing he loved to wear. He didn't know why he loved the color so much. Part of him supplied that it reminded him of the parents he never knew.

You see, Cipher was Unclaimed, something that meant he was born without anyone, human or reploid there to call him their own. So he was assigned a family and a job to do when he was old enough to do it. Seventeen years had passed that point, and Cipher was beginning to wonder where his origins lay.

But for now, Cipher decided to simply enjoy his day off. It wasn't often that Tom gave him a day off, and he wasn't about to ruin it on the age old debate he held with himself concerning his heritage. Today was to be a day of relaxation and fun, two things he knew Tom disapproved of. Perhaps that was what made the thought of it so much more enjoyable.

Cipher decided that the first thing he would do would be to find out what was going on with the world. Picking up a newspaper from a nearby bin, Cipher began to read.

Cipher smiled when he saw Neige's handiwork on the first page. She was a good writer and an even better friend to him.

It's the year 2020X, Neige stated in her column. We're past such petty squabbles to be worrying about the Umbrians. Since when should we be afriad of children?

The Umbrians, Cipher recalled, were the children of one of the most wanted reploids of the time, Umera. At first, he was the shining star of Umbra Inc., known far and wide for their advances in biochemistry. When Advents were first introduced to the world, Umbra Inc. was the only place to have your children's birth overseen by. In time, however, Umera's true character was revealed.

With the DNA of thousands, he began experimenting. Yes, humans and reploids got their own child, happy and healthy, but their DNA was also to be experimented on with Umera's own. In time, hundreds of Umera's children were created before the authorities were notified. That, and his experimentation on the living Advents earned him a lifetime sentence. The only problem was, the could never find him.

Cipher read on.

It would not be Ciel's wish to see the discrimination of reploids manifest itself in their children. Let the past lie in the past. The Umbrians are here to stay.

Not only are we afraid of these children, Neige reported, we divide them, separate them by Families, and assign them Heads of their Families. Many of these Families are being neglected by their heads, even being forced to work at a young age. As an inside source reports...

Cipher scratched his head sheepishly. He had a funny feeling who that 'inside source' was. Cipher put down the newspaper to see the one responsible for it waving at him from across his station.

"Hey there!" Neige called out to him. "Do you like the article?"

"All your articles are worth reading," Cipher said wearily. "But did you have to add that part about your 'insider's information?' Are you trying to get me fired?"

"Oh don't be like that," Neige said playfully. "Where else would I get my info? Besides, it's not like losing your job would be a major loss. He only pays you what, half of minimum wage?"

"Still," Cipher said, "I'd be the one who'd have to live with him. You don't want to be on Tom's bad side."

"Oh, I'm on many people's bad sides," Neige said. "It comes with being a reporter. But I don't let that stop me."

Cipher shook his head. "Come on inside, where it's warmer."

The workshop in which Cipher worked was a small one, but a cozy one. Inside, people no older then seventeen worked tirelessly on machines, armed with complex blueprints, a screw, and duct tape. He knew all his workers very well, having lived with them all his life. The oldest of them, (and the smartest) he was assigned the job of being Head Mechanic.

"Hey there, Cipher," one of them called out. "You know the boss won't be too happy if he finds out she's here again."

"Don't worry about it," Neige called out. "I'm more than a match for old Tom."

Cipher cleared off the gears and other pieces of his latest project to make room for Neige. "So what's been going on in your life?"

"Nothing much," Neige said. "I visited Craft's grave today."

Cipher looked at her sympathetically. Neige had already told him the tragic story between her and the reploid Craft.

"Anything else? A new column, perhaps?"

Neige shook her head with disappointment. "There just aren't as many good stories around now. I thought I heard something about the Maverick Virus, but everyone knows that Zero stamped it out ages ago. All that remains are Weil's old robots." Neige paused. "Maybe I'll write a story about them. 'Panic with the Pantheons,' how does that sound?"

"Sounds cheesy," Cipher said. "So I guess it works."

"Ha ha. Very funny. Maybe I'll do one about your hopeless love life," Neige countered.

"I have all I need right here," Cipher said with all the dignity he could muster, patting a hoverbike next to him. The C-Slider is my true love."

"So I guess you'll be riding her, then," Neige said wickedly. "Make sure to use protection."

"I always wear a helmet," Cipher said stoically.

"Fine," Neige said, laughing. "Have it your way."

Cipher stood up, brushing dust off his pants. "Well, I have the day off, is there somewhere you want to go?"

Neige thought for a moment. "How about the Pier? Isn't that where all you young folk go meet together? I have something I want to show you."

Cipher shrugged. "Why not?"

Cipher let Neige borrow one of his Sliders as he hopped on the C-Slider. It was a short ride from Tom's Tech House to the Pier.

Seabirds squawked in the distance as Cipher slowed his bike to a halt. "Here we are."

"You don't say," said Neige.

Cipher and Neige walked to the edge of the Pier, where they watched seagulls divebomb tourists for food, jewelry, and the occasional finger.

"Sure is peaceful out here," Neige said wistfully. "It's not often that I get to relax."

"Funny," Cipher said, "that's what I was going to say. Now what was it that you had me go out here for?"

"Look there," Neige said, pointing across the harbor. "See it?"

Cipher did indeed see it. The Resistance outpost of Neo Arcadia. At times when he was feeling low, Cipher would come out here and pretend he were part of the Resistance, doing a reconnaissance mission for the Lower Families.

"What about it?"

Neige fumbled with something in her pocket. "You know, Zero and Ciel and a son."

"And?"

"Well," Neige said, "he looks just like you. I wouldn't be able to tell the difference if the kid were a few years older."

"We've been through this, Neige. I'm not discussing it again." Cipher gave his friend a hard stare.

"Look, Cipher," Neige said. "I know you were made for bigger things than what you have now, but what if you were born into them as well? Zero and Ciel had two sons who went missing during the Umbra Incident."

"You mean they died." Cipher tapped his foot impatiently. "You read the report. Two Incubators, both with Zero and Ciel's DNA were busted open. The inhabitants were never found."

"Exactly! What if they lived," Neige asked him. "What if you were one of them?"

"And what if I'm not? What then?" Cipher intensified his gaze. "I won't be the fool who dreams of having a family only to find that he's an Umbrian. I'm not going through that."

"Just take this, at least," Neige said, handing Cipher two packets. "One's a blood test," she said. "The other's an application to the Resistance. I know you've always wanted to join."

Cipher accepted the two ungraciously,stuffing them in his pockets. "Fine. But I'm not taking the test."

"Stubborn mule," Neige sighed. "Oh well, I tried. Anyways, I have to go now. See you. And don't you dare throw away that test!"

"See you," Cipher muttered.

It was amazing how that one subject could ruin the day, Cipher noted. Sure, he may look like Cero, the Resistance leader's kid, but that meant nothing. He could be the garbage-man's son for all he knew.

He could be no one's son at all.