Chapter 4. Unintentionally Participated

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 left unlocked. Red reached the city center with anxiety.

Since it was so quiet, Red pulled over and exited the car. Her eyes swept around across the city, but everything was empty. There was no one there. Red took up her backpack and hung it by Ursula's wrist. Ursula's thumping steps followed behind her as she strode down the pedestrian path.

"Hello?" Red exclaimed.

She knew shouting out to anybody who could hear her voice was risky, but Red wanted to know what was happening. Everyone seemed to have vanished into thin air.

As Red speculated, was it because of the mystery claw attack last night? Was everyone taken in by these aliens?

Red made sure it was impossible if it was an attack by humans on the other side of the world. There was ultimately just one undivided union state everywhere since everyone honored the declaration of peace.

If it's extraterrestrial terror, that's the most ridiculous and impossible scenario. The AIs were accustomed to searching for planets that might require replacements for Earth. Even after the conflict, Red was aware of an Ohm spacecraft created as an explorer to look for a new planet Earth.

The claw, as Red remembered, was composed of metal. Some sort of robot.

There was no answer.

Red cast a glance at Ursula while continuing to her steps. At the very least, Ursula was still helpful for self-defense. But Red must practice being one with Ursula.

Red saw a young man crying on the edge of a rudely put bed outside the hospital. Someone was weakly lying on the bed. Red was relieved and ran straight to the guy.

Between tension and excitement, Red said, "Hi, are you OK?"

"No." Without glancing at Red, the young man replied.

"What exactly happened?"

Red approached the young man and noticed that the patient was a girl who was closing her eyes. There was something peculiar about them; they were both wearing metal bracelets, something Red had never seen before.

"Lein can't fight in the arena because she's sick," the young man said softly.

"Arena?" Red was confused.

As he saw Ursula approaching with her heavy, loud feet, the young man exclaimed in amazement. So the girl named Lein opened her eyes.

"W-what is that thing?" The young man shouted in fear. "Seriously, what exactly is that?"

"It's my robot," Red explained.

The young man's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you allowed to have a big, dangerous robot?"

In fact, no.

With a license or an important position in the government, humans have the authority to possess robots, cyborgs, or AIs. Even pet robots were carefully supervised by the AIs.

Although Red was sure, some people had the foresight to alter their robots so that they may be valuable tools eventually. Now is the moment.

Despite her worries, could Red get away with Ursula? If only her form were tiny and adorable like Feline's robot, it wouldn't look so suspicious.

"I don't know." Red shrugged. "But she's mine, and I just recently obtained her."

"Are you sure? Is she completely harmless?" Call was terrified.

What robot could be dangerous if standing around with a duffle bag swinging from its wrist?

"She is an obedient robot. Relax, "Red responded.

"What's going on, Call?" said the girl Red assumed was Lein.

Call then rushed over to the bed, holding the pale palm of a young woman named Lein. "It's nothing. You must rest."

The man looked left and right before signaling Red to come closer to him. Unsuspecting, Red approached. They were talking near the hospital's wide-open doorway.

"You survived? Then where's your bracelet?" Call asked. He extended his hand to Red. "I'm Callum, and that is my sister, Lein."

They were exchanging handshakes. "I'm Red. And don't know what you're talking about, the bracelet."

"Did you know there was a surprise attack last night?"

"Yeah … I know. Everyone was snatched by the claws, but I escaped," Red explained.

"Everyone was taken by the claws and divided. Like me, they gave me a bracelet to enter the arena." He indicated the hospital. "The Ingo's put these bracelets on Lein and me."

"How many people like you have survived?"

"Five or six people, as far as I know."

"Out of how many hundred people in this city?" Red's eyes widened in surprise.

Call nodded. "I guess so."

Red was perplexed. Call suddenly grabbed Red's hand.

"Please put my sister's bracelet on so she doesn't have to enter the arena. She could die, Red."

Red waved away Call's hand. "What arena? I don't know what you mean."

"You'll understand later. Please, Troy is coming to pick us up."

"Then how can I wear your sister's bracelet?"

"It's easy to take on and off. Anyone who doesn't wear it will be put to bed." Call moistened his dry lips. "I would rather Lein hibernate than let her die."

"But—"

There were footsteps in the distance before Red could explain. Red stepped up to Lein's bed and unlocked the bracelet on the girl's wrist, which was lying heavily on her bed. Red took it in her hand right away. Lein's eyes opened.

"You'll be alright; I'll make sure you won't get hurt," said Red.

"Who are you?" Lein asked.

"I'm Red."

"She'll take your place in the arena, Lein. You don't need to worry," Call added.

Tears fell down Lein's cheek. "Thank you, Red. I owe you a lot. Please take care of Call." Lein's hand reached for Red's cheek. "Don't get hurt in the arena."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of him," Red assured her.

The Ingo's emerged from the hospital as Troy entered the courtyard. Call's face darkened even more, and Red turned to face Ingo, who had come out from the hospital terrace.

"She doesn't have a bracelet, Ingo; put her to bed," Red ordered

The Ingo looked confused, but they carried Lein's bed back inside the hospital without saying anything. In soft whispers, Ingo's soothing tones talked to Lein.

As Troy approached Call and Red, who were already waiting on the hospital terrace, they each took a step closer and displayed their bracelets. Troy gave a stiff nod as one of them scanned the bracelet they were wearing.

"Callum Last. Lein Last," he spoke in a cold tone.

Troy gave way to Call and Red, and all the cyborgs stopped when they noticed Ursula following them. Red turned her body immediately.

"She's my robot. If necessary, put on another bracelet. She's mine!" Red said firmly.

Nevertheless, Troy did not say or do anything further, and the cyborgs continued to walk ahead of Call and Red.

They continued towards the city center, which was practically empty. Red noticed that Troy was bustling with the new structures, stacked high like an assortment of rectangular boxes. The boxes were capsule beds, which caused Red's hair to stand on edge.

People will hibernate for lengthy periods everywhere. Everyone ensnared by the claws was forced to sleep for no apparent reason. Red wasn't sure if she was one of the lucky ones who escaped or was simply a misfortune.

"So what happened to them?" Red wondered softly.

"I don't know for sure. But Ingo's said they'll be OK. Until the arena event is over." Call was answered by looking straight ahead.

"Honestly, you didn't inform me about the arena situation. I'm completely clueless." Red almost cried out. "My sister was kidnapped by the claws, and she was most likely ... one of the people that hibernated there." She pointed at the pile of capsule beds in the city park.

"Both our sisters will be there, Red. Don't worry."

Red gave the nod. "Yeah, you're right."

It wasn't until Red noticed a giant spaceship floating in the sky.

"Is that a spaceship?" Red said, surprised and astonished.

Call let out a gentle sigh. "Yep. The transportation ship to Ohm's."