July 1st, 1112
Two sets of footsteps echoed through an empty hallway, the sound bouncing off the decorated walls. A woman wearing a military outfit and a white haired girl wearing a red jacket and scarf.
"What's wrong?" The Woman speaks
"What?"
"You're in a bad mood, I can guess from your shoelace style, You have something to say, don't you?"
The girl gives an annoyed expression as she guessed right.
"Yesterday..." the girl speaks
"Yeah?"
"... could they really be trusted?"
"Oh? You're worried about them?" the woman asks in a teasing manner.
"..." the girl replies with a glare
"Don't worry, I know they're trustworthy. For those kids, Rhodes Island can take care of them just fine"
The two continue to walk through the long halls of the edifice.
"On another note, I'm going to Lungmen in an hour"
"What are you doing there?"
"Attending the Inauguration for the new Chief Executive of Lungmen"
"New Chief Executive?"
"Yeah, this'll be their first time in decades to have a new Chief Executive. After the former Chief's death, the city was under the direct authority of the Yan government during the Seaborn Crisis five years ago"
"That so? You sound happy about that"
"Of course I am. After all, the new Chief Executive..."
The woman smirks at the girl.
"...is my sister"
"..." the girl sighs
The two open the front door of the edifice and are greeted by the morning view of Ursus summer.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"
"No, I'll pass. I don't like festivities"
"Are you sure about that? I heard a big motorcycle shop opened up recently in Lungmen"
The girl folds her arms, and contemplates for a few seconds.
"Alright, I'll go"
Lungmen Convention and Exhibition Centre, 09:30 AM
30 minutes before the opening ceremony, dignitaries, government officials, and invited guests arrive. Media and journalists are all over the venue to cover the event. One stood out from the rest. A 12 year old boy is walking around the venue, greeting the guests he recognizes.
"Woah, I didn't expect this many people to be here"
The boy looked around to see if there's anyone he knew. His eyes stopped once he sees a woman in a military uniform.
"Ah, Auntie Talulah!"
The boy walks up to greet her.
"Ah, Ren-kun" she gives him a head pat
"How is my Птичка doing?"
"I'm good as always" he says as he smiles
"Where's mama?"
"She's still getting ready back there"
"Hmm... Let's have a chat then while we wait, I want to know how much you've improved your Ursine"
The two sit down on the guests chairs, a little further away from the other guests.
Meanwhile, the soon to be Chief Executive is still getting ready in the back. The preparation is very taxing, that she even asks for help from the person she beat in the election..
"Have you prepared your speech?"
"Yeah, I have..."
Ch'en looks down at the floor, thinking of how far she has come to finally be in this position. She looks at Lin who has been helping her in the process of the inauguration.
"Sorry, Lin"
"Huh?! What are you sorry for?!"
"Making you help me with all of this"
"Saying that is the same as spitting on my face" Lin says angrily
"Look, I'm helping you because I want to. So quit acting like you're burdening me" she continues
"Besides, I would've asked the same thing to you if I had won"
"Heh, of course you would" Ch'en chuckles
"Yeah, so just enjoy your victory. Cause next time, it'll be the reverse"
"Oh? We'll see about that"
While the Convention Hall is full of people talking about the inauguration, the same can't be said about the people outside, particularly a certain girl walking around the streets who cares more about what part of her motorcycle she can modify.
"Tch, they said to wait until the inauguration is over, then they can continue working on my bike? What a pain. What am I supposed to do now?!" she grumbles to herself
Most of the shops are closed, mainly because the people want to see the new Chief Executives. The Lungmenites gather around the city center, making the streets in the other parts of Lungmen empty. She walks the empty streets feeling bored, until she sees a fairly tall parking building close by.
"Oh?"
10 minutes and 20 floors later, she's at the top of the parking building. She stands at the edge, overlooking the streets. Being fairly high up, she can see a good view of Lungmen city and its buildings including the Convention Hall and the Lungmen Square.
"So, people around the city went there to see one person. Hmph, what a bunch of idiots"
She keeps looking around, until something catches her attention from the Lungmen Square.
"Barriers?"
She looks again to make sure.
"Yeah, those are definitely magical barriers surrounding the town square. But they're not active yet. Strange, magical barriers are usually dome shaped to protect the people inside. But this one's a box shape"
She looks around the area some more.
"What? There are magical barriers everywhere, it's like a box around the city.. How did I not notice this from below..."
"These barriers are getting smaller in size from the city edge. And the smallest barrier..."
She looks at where the smallest barrier box is.
"The town square..."
She descends the building then she goes to the closest barrier..
"As I thought... even with my eyes, these things are almost unnoticeable at ground level"
Examining the magical barriers thoroughly, she starts to feel like the barriers aren't meant to be noticed by anyone.
"These barriers... they're not part of the city. Someone... or something is putting up these barriers. They're waiting for the right time to reveal it and cage the people inside"
"Looks like it won't be so boring after all" she says as she looks up at the sky
"Guess I'll let her know"
YOU ARE READING
Arknights Alternative
FanfictionAn alternative timeline 10 years after the Lungmen-Chernobog Crisis, a world where the heir of the Sarkaz King failed to bring hope to Terra, allowing otherworldly beings to roam the land. A child awakens amidst the chaos, stripped of his memories...
