I only have one memory of my dad. It was from when I was seven years old. It was a saturday morning. I heard crashing and struggle in the next room. The next room suddenly became quiet after a loud shot noise. My father came struggling in. He was holding a handgun. Our eyes connected. I remembered I had been watching the T.V at the time. So I immediately stopped and looked at him as he came in the room. Even now I can't remember his face. He spoke.
"Don't be like me. Just finish watching cartoons." He said as he walked over and patted my head. He walked out the house. I didn't see him for the rest of the day. The next day I woke up in the morning and saw him on the news. When I saw it I realized I had something to prove. That's all I can remember. But that's what happens in the society we live in. Any one who can't fit the mode is erased. For years I've clung to those left over memories. They're all I have. The government owns the rest of me. But not those memories. In the society we live in we all fight for our future. We fight for jobs, social standing, and love. Who ever is the strongest gets it all. Those who are weak or break the law get deleted. Erased from the world. But it doesn't cause pain. Because we all forget. Forget every single detail. It was like the person never existed. We all know this goes on. But no one dares to oppose it. We would surely be deleted if we did. Then everyone we know and love would forget all about us.
But that doesn't bother me.
This is the society I've lived in for as long as I can remember. I'm currently 18 years old. My name is Rock Light. But my registered name is "Megaman DLN-001" When everyone turns 18 they have to fight for their future. To do that you get these code names. So no one will know who their fighting. Putting on armor and fighting against your friends and family. The person who wins in the end gets a chance to fight the ruler of the city. His name is Albert Wily. He's been reigning over our city, Monstropolis for 30 years. Ever since he was 15 years old. None of the winners after him have ever beat him. To be honest when ever I see him on T.v its a little intimidating. The man has a heartless stare. What's even more intimidating is that he doesn't look like the 45-year-old he's suppose to be. Instead it's like he never ages. He doesn't look a day over 23. I lived my life knowing that I'd have to fight in this tournament. Although I can't say I'm ready. I've trained all my life at the academy, Today's my graduation day. I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself after this. I have no job. I have no family. I've been living inside the school since they found me.
Tomorrow marks the end of my life. I just know I won't make it to the top. I'll have to fight among the people I went to school with. They were all amazing. Not to say that I completely suck. Its just that there were so many others better than me. I felt like I didn't have a chance. Plus I'm a pacifist. Who wants a bunch of bloodshed just to decide a title? I'd have to see where that idealistic thinking gets me.
These were the thoughts running through my head as I put on my cap and gown. After today regular life would cease. After today. Destiny happens. When I was all dressed. I walked down to the livingroom from my dormitory, I saw some familiar faces. It was the people I've been living with for as long as I can remember. Blues and Bass. They were total opposites. Blues was the calm cool and collected older brother type. No one ever knew what he was thinking. He always wore sunglasses. Some people theorize that he's blind but I just don't think that's true. He's far too picky about what he wears and how he looks for that to be true. Not to mention his hair.
Blues wasn't always serious he made jokes, offered advice and gotten into some fights. (Mainly with Bass) Bass on the other hand was hot-headed, sloppy and had a knack for pranking. He was always getting into trouble with the headmaster and starting riots for no apparent reason. He and Blues were always bumping heads. You could tell they honestly didn't hate each other. We were like brothers. We'd been in the same dorm room for about nine years. But it was a sad occasion today. We would be parting after the graduation ceremony. Possibly to never see each other again. When I had gotten down the stairs I saw them conversing as if nothing big was about to happen.
"Just you watch bro. I'm gonna make it to top class." Bass said with a cocky tone.
"Yep just keep telling yourself that dude." Blues said as if he were in thought. Blues seemed like he was worried. I walked up to them to join the conversation.
"Hey Rock ready to become an adult and take orders all your life?" Blues said sarcastically. I just sighed in response. Blues always did have the darkest humor ever.
"No I'm silently dreading the future." I said with a sigh. Both Blues and Bass looked concerned. It immediately made me want to change my attitude.
"Ah you'll get over it. Hey it might not be that bad." Bass said seeing the noticeably distraught face.
"Seriously your bound to do better than this reject over here." Blues said with a smirk. It made me laugh a bit.
"Take that back I bet next time I see you in ten years your going to be on the street corner, showing your leg off to pervy old men." Bass said back angrily. Blues laughed.
"I just doubt that would happen. No way I get dropped down to being some scuze." Blues responded as if Bass' comment hadn't hit him. I just sat back and watched as all this happened. Laughing at their back and forth banter. I always felt like Blues was going to go to the top. His combat skills were at the top of his training group. I hadn't been in the same one but I heard many of stories. Bass was the under dog he wasn't perfect but he had a lot of potential. Then there was me. Bland and in the middle. Neither good nor bad. Suddenly I heard something that snapped me out of my thoughts.
"SHIT. We're gonna be late for the ceremony..." Bass said as he grabbed his cap and ran out the door. Blues gestured for me to follow them. We all ran out of the door hitting that intense speed. Running for our lives. Literally. There was a rumor that if you were late you'd be deleted. In the end we ended up getting there on time to join the other students behind the stage. Just making it. I saw some people I knew and waved Hi. After that I got into my rehearsed spot. But I felt my body bump into someone. It felt like they were a lot taller than me so I wasn't really ready to look behind me. But when I did I wasn't all that paranoid. It was just Acid. Sure he was always a bit creepy to me. With his White hair and red eyes. His voice also really sinister but he was one of the nicest guys ever. Looks can be misleading. He specialized in hitting targets with weapons and physical attacks. He was one of Blues' friends so I knew him but we weren't really all that close.
"Hey. Sorry about bumping into you." I said as I apologized.
"Its all good. It was probably my fault. I'm a bit shaky. I'm just so nervous about graduation." Acid said as he sighed. God I knew how he felt. Suddenly a third voice started talking. We turned next to us to see a guy with orangish brownish hair.
"Man this guy is right. I feel like I'm about to break dance out of frustration." The guy said. I looked at him harder to see if I had known him. I hadn't I'd probably remember a person like him. I felt the urge to ask his name.
"Er I don't think we've met what's your name?" I asked the stranger.
"Axl and I don't know you..." Axl paused and walked closer and grabbed my hand. Then spoke again. " But I wanna know you." He said with a wink. I immediately felt embarrassed. What was the wink for? Suddenly Acid laughed and turned to talked to someone else. Great I was stuck in this conversation with this wierd cool looking guy I don't know. A stranger's voice dipped in and saved me.
"Axl what the hell are you doing?" The voice asked. I turned around to see it was a guy with long blonde hair. He was taller than me too. Why did I have to be so short...
"Trying to hit of course. Zero gosh don't kill my vibe." Axl said sarcastically. This was funny to me for some reason and I laughed.
"If you are you're not doing a good job cause this kid looks like he's about to faint." Zero said with a look of disapproval. Axl just stuck his tongue out at Zero. My glance went away from the two because our headmaster had walked in the room. Everyone got quiet.
"Do you know what ahead of all of you today?" He asked. Some bold girl raised her hand. The headmaster nodded to her. She spoke.
"The fight of our lives." She answered.
"Good Job Alia. Now then, you all have made it here with hard work and diligence and skill. Even if some of you slack around I'm not pointing any fingers...Bass..But anyways I know all of you can do this. You were all a very bright group. I just know this'll be the year Albert Wily is defeated." The headmaster said. Suddenly he stopped and walked off stage. The curtain came up. There were people in the crowd. I knew no one was out there for me. But without a doubt I walked out when it was my time. I tried to pretend to be happy. But when I grabbed that diploma, it felt like a curse. Still I kept my spirits up falsely. This diploma meant nothing but violence. Violence to come.
When my stage time was over I walked off the stage going back behind the curtain. I rejoined my roommates. Blues was the first to speak.
"It feels like this day wouldn't ever come. My hands are shaking with nervousness." Blues said.
"Yeah I almost froze up on stage just now." I responded with a slight nervous smile. Suddenly that Axl kid sat down next to us. He sighed.
"I feel like I just accepted my death certificates." Axl said sadly.
"You did" The Zero guy said as he sat down as well.
"I think we should trust in the system." A blonde girl from the back said. We all looked at her crazy.
"What? Its done wonders for my parents so I think it'll be fine." The girl said. I recognized her as Kalinka. She was another one of Blues friends. Like with Acid I had known her... but I didn't KNOW her. Ya know?
"Your right we're probably just worry to much..." I said as my voice trailed off.
"I think your gonna do fine kid." Axl said putting his hand on my shoulder.
"My name's Rock. By the way." I said nervously. Why I was so nervous I do not know. But what I did know was that around this guy...I had a overwelming urge to be cool.
"Rock...Do you know Roll?" Zero said with a smug face.
"Yes I know her." I said as I mentally face palmed. How many times were people gonna make those jokes. Shit got old. Suddenly another person sat down. It was the school idol. his name was X. Everyone loved him. He was notorious for breaking up fights and keeping peace. He also a force not to be reckoned with. Zero started a conversation with him that sounded slightly quiet. I just ignored it. That was until, X and Zero shared a kiss. That was when I got up slightly awkwarded out. When I turned to Blues he was gone. Bass was still there but it looked like he was in the middle of hitting on Roll and getting horribly rejected. I had not want to get in on that. I turned next to me and Axl was still there. He looked like he was spaced. I felt the need to start a conversation. Out of shyness I didn't. I just sat there until we were all dismissed. There were after parties afterwards but I hadn't want to go. One was because I had no family to celebrate with. Two was because everyone there was getting plastered and I'm not the type to get plastered. Thank you very much. So I headed back to Dormitory to pack up. Tomorrow they'd be placing us all in new housing for the tournament to decide our fate.
I had finished packing up all my stuff when I noticed it was really late. I had laid down to go to sleep. But as I did I heard the door open. It was Bass coming in. By the sound of it. He really had gotten intoxicated. I had gotten up in slight concern wanting to make sure he was alright. He was. He was just mumbling stuff about how "Roll could choose some douche over him" I decided to leave him be. I laid down contemplating tomorrow.
The hands of fate were turning. Was I even ready for it?
To be continued.
