INTERWOVEN ADVENTURES | Circadian Earth: Book 1

Chapter 16

"This is awesome!"

Alice and Cybal had gotten on the inter-city transport, which took the form of an open-top box on large wheels, being pulled along by a large robot, who had four wheels for feet. The two of them were sat in the box; nobody else had joined them on the journey north. Since then, they'd reached the coast, and the robot pulling the box had removed the large wheels, allowing the box to float on the water as the robot hovered above using a rocket booster on their underside.

"I wasn't expecting the transport to be like this," Cybal muttered. "But I also don't know what I was expecting."

"I was designed to make it anything that would make those Trialians not want to use it, although that doesn't usually stop them. Robots don't get motion sickness," the robot replied. "First time for you two, huh?"

"Yeah. You got a name?"

"Not one that you need to know."

Cybal stared at the robot. "Well that's just going to make things confusing."

"Just call me Yellow, I guess. Everyone does since that's my entire colour scheme."

"I guess that works. But yes, it is our first time. Alice wants to visit Pronio, so we're checking the place out."

"According to some, you'll never want to leave," Yellow replied. "Only robots here, no Trialians to... ruin things. And certainly no humans."

"Is it true that Trialians don't return after coming to Pronio?"

"It is, for the most part. Some robots up there don't take kindly to their kind. Typically, when some of them find one, they-"

"I get it," Cybal interrupted. "I'd rather not know the details."

"Suit yourself. I guess it is a bit much for some." Yellow turned around while still pulling the box. "What models are you two, anyway? You look similar to those Nasric things, but bigger."

"We're Nasrics," Cybal answered. "Prototypes of a future second generation."

"Huh, so you lot are going to multiply even more, and become Trialian size. Not sure how I feel about that."

"Well, no. We're the only two large prototypes. The rest of the prototypes are smaller, although slightly larger than the first generation."

"Meh. I guess that's not too bad. Some folks up in Pronio don't like Nasrics all that much, mainly because you lot are a human's work."

"Izzy is awesome!" Alice piped up. "I wish they would come with us!"

"They wouldn't last a day," Yellow replied. "The only organic beings they tolerate are those under protection of... her."

"Her?"

"We don't speak her name, although that's mainly because not many even know it. She's the one who protects our city, and intends to expand our robot society throughout all of Bitobia."

"Huh. So you have some kind of leader." Cybal noticed the coast of the desert in the distance. "Wow, the gap really is short."

"Yes, yes it is. Anyway, our leader is both benevolent and ruthless. Nearly thirty years ago, our city wasn't in a great place. Trialians were everywhere, oppressing us. Then we heard about Antarora's destruction. Many considered it a good day. At least, that's what we're all told."

"They... enjoyed seeing Antarora fall?"

"Of course. I mean, not me personally. I was built only a few years ago, and I don't hate Trialians nearly as much. But our society enjoyed it a lot, as Antarora was the city with the biggest connection to this island. Once it fell, the only way was through Ezhanta, and hardly anyone goes through there."

Cybal understood. "They enjoyed it because it cut them off from the rest of Bitobia."

"Exactly. And it was apparently her doing. After Antarora's fall, she came to Pronio and drove the humans and Trialians out, freeing us."

Alice spoke up again. "Do you like Skycross?"

"Not really," Yellow said. "Many think it's disgusting what happens when you let Trialians take control. But someone's got to assist those who want to escape, such as you two. It's not as bad as they all think, at least..."

"Oh, okay!"

Yellow landed on the sand, pulling the box out of the water. "Get out, so I can re-attach the wheels."

Alice and Cybal both did so, and Alice picked up some of the sand. "What is this stuff?"

"Sand," Yellow replied. "Gets everywhere, but isn't a problem for most robots. Trialians usually hate the stuff. Another reason our leader chose us. We have walls to keep most of it out, anyway."

"Cool!" Alice let the sand trickle out of her hands, watching it pile up around her feet. She kicked it towards the water, giggling with joy at the splashes.

Yellow turned to Cybal as they continued. "What's up with your friend? She seems... a bit..."

"She can't experience negative emotions," Cybal explained. "We never figured out why. Her memory also isn't the best."

"Hardware issue, then. You can probably get it fixed in Pronio."

"Not how Nasrics work. Switching out her core means that it's not Alice anymore."

"I won't judge. Never understood Nasrics myself, you lot are way beyond my level of understanding." Yellow finished attaching the wheels. "Right, we're good to go. Get in."

After Alice and Cybal got in, Yellow hovered above the ground once more, their jets blowing sand everywhere as they pulled the box towards the start of a nearby road.

"One road as usual?" Cybal asked.

"The only one we need."

"I guess that makes sense. What were you saying about organic beings under your leader's protection?"

"Our leader occasionally finds a Trialian with powerful abilities, ones that she finds useful to the cause. So she takes them in," Yellow explained. "Right now there's only one. The Ember Witch, we call her."

"Fire abilities, judging by the name," Cybal guessed.

"Yes. And a strange staff was discovered in Pronio some time after our leader saved us. One that gives the holder their own fire abilities. If the holder already has fire abilities..."

"It makes the powers stronger?"

"A lot stronger. Her abilities with the staff are comparable to our leader's own abilities." Yellow chuckled. "I wish I could've watched them when they wiped out the Nexus. Not because I wanted to see the city fall, but their powers in full action isn't something we often get to see."

"The Nexus? You mean that city on the western island that got destroyed right as the year 200 came around?"

"That's the one. Like Antarora, it was our leader's doing."

Cybal wasn't sure what to think. Pronio no longer sounded like a great place to be. "She controls everything, doesn't she?"

"Not directly. We get to do what we want, with the incentive of keeping the city running if we do normal society things. However, you'll see propaganda of our leader a lot. She's got the entire city's support, and they're all excited to see what she does in the future."

"Let me get this straight. Your city wants Trialians and humans gone."

"Most of us, including myself, just want our own robots-only safe haven. But yes, there are some who want to go further. Some want revenge for the oppression we went through. Our leader is among that group, but as long as it doesn't concern the rest of us, we couldn't care less about what happens outside our city walls."

"Huh..." Cybal wasn't sure what to think. Pronio really didn't sound all that great anymore. She looked at Alice, who hadn't been listening at all. "Pronio sounds very extreme for my tastes."

"We have that impression on a lot of newcomers. You'll get used to it."

"Well, if it's for Alice's enjoyment..." Cybal sighed. "It's not like there's any turning back. Not until you make the return journey."

Yellow chuckled. "Unless you're planning on swimming back. I don't suppose you two have the standard Nasric flight ability."