FUNCTION DISORDER :: VOLUME ONE

2

KOTA [KJ] began messaging L. KUHMALA at 20:25

KOTA: Good morning Mr. Kuhmala, this is Kaleva

KOTA: Is Usko okay?

--------[22:46]--------
KOTA: Are you there??

KOTA: Damnit

Kaleva set off shortly after dawn, the streets still shadowed by the horizon-crushing Wall and the rows of identical houses that stretched all the way between it, himself and beyond. A frosty breeze was sweeping through the streets. Kaleva pulled his comfy black hoodie more tightly over his head and strode forward with haste.

Usko lived much closer to the Pale Bastion's centre, near where the spires stood tallest and all Eight Orders met. He lived still within the Sixth Order's boundary, but closer to the edge. He'd need to be careful to avoid accidentally crossing the boundary into another Order. It would set off alarms and his parents would know instantly. He'd made that mistake before. He didn't want to meet the pink-robes again and didn't want to get berated by his family any more than he had to. While they could always check his location manually, that was an unavoidable risk. Besides, his parents were busy people and they wouldn't have any reason to check.

Kaleva set off down the Sixth Order's main road.

The daunting spires of the Eight Orders towered in front of him, dominating the sky more and more as he approached, with smaller intermediate spires, spaced evenly in lines radiating from the centre, rising up on either side.

He began to approach the university, along with a growing cascade of other students. Before he got too close, he took a right turn and strode off with purpose.

The sun had risen a little higher by that point, and brought most of the streets out of shadow. It did not penetrate the dense nest where Usko lived, in a district of taller, hexagonal structures, packed closely together around one of the smaller spires that stood next to the boundary.

As he approached, it grew busier. In addition to the regular citizens beginning their days, mostly headed in the opposite direction to himself, he saw something more troubling.

A group of officials. Four pink-robes, each one bearing several copies of the Pale Bastion's sharp octagonal seal, emblazoned in white on both the front and back of their lavender uniforms.

The Innocence Agents crowded around a young woman. Probably another student, judging by her age and her full-looking backpack. They quickly apprehended her and led her into an equally pink van, which then drove into one of the narrow streets of Usko's neighbourhood. He didn't like that, it made him feel like they might still be around. Not that he had done anything wrong. At least, not to his knowledge.

While the green-robed Extraction Agents dealt mostly with demonic activity, the pink-robed Innocence Agents were from a different government department. Their job is to ensure the safety of children and uphold the Eight Orders system of values. Troubled children were put into what the authorities called "therapy". That's probably what'll happen to that student back there. Kaleva shivered at the thought.

Kaleva scampered into the shadow of Usko's family's apartment block. He walked around outside its base, peering up at its angular walls. Nothing seemed amiss from this perspective. It looked just like it did the last time he was there. He paused to glance around, cognizant that he was uncomfortably close to the boundary.

He checked his phone to see if, somehow, Usko had replied. No luck; he only received a message from a new instructor regarding his upcoming Demonology class, which Kaleva needed to attend in less than an hour at that point.

He retraced his steps hastily to the front of the building. Could he get inside?

Yes, he could. A group of people soon opened the door from the other side. Three teenagers, with a supervision drone following close behind. Glad that he didn't have one of those, he caught the door as it closed behind them and sneaked on in.