The story so far:

---- Aija is a Volunteer at the Pristine School at Innermost. She works along with Zuri and Ze, who are her friends. Aija witnesses a strange event one night – light emanating from Rez's body. The kidnapper is after her soul, next, but he leaves her alive and goes away. Another man finds her, he wants to take her somewhere else - Aija though wary of him agrees. Aija learns of the existence of the aliens – the Ytai. Also, about the R'ies and H'eon, Harvesting and Àvo from Etrie. Etrie tells her that the man, who Harvested Rez (Thieron), will now go after her. He tells her that the spy/kidnapper's name is Luka. Etrie asks her to work along with him.

---- Nala seeks Zuri out. They spend the day together, and go to the APC. Zuri introduces Aija to Nala. Nala is contacted by her partner, who sees her mingling with humans. Nala is confronted by her partner – Luka. Luka tells her that Thieron is trailing Zuri's friend Aija. Alton ordered Thieron to Harvest Aija.

---- Aija is invited by Etrie for a Harvest Stopping Mission.

---- Aija tells Zuri about Quinn – she's to meet him as an order from the Leadership.

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****10.2 - Aija****

Ze came around seven with fruits. 

They had dinner; all the while Aija was thinking of the Harvest and Zuri, and Ze had a great time, talking about things, laughing and having fun.

Ze took his leave at around nine since there was school the next day. Zuri and Aija spent the next hour discussing Quinn and Nala and wondering when Zuri would get her notice. Aija noticed that Zuri spoke of Nala affectionately. She thought about what would happen if things really got serious between them. How would they handle it?

At ten, Aija said, "I'm tired."

"Yes..." Aija drawled, getting up from the small couch. "I'll get going."

"Sure," Zuri said, sticking out her lower lip.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Aija kissed her on the cheek.

"Fine.... Get lost already."

Aija hurried back to her apartment, wondering how Zuri had let her go quickly. Usually, she would ask Aija to sleepover at her place. She must have been tired. She wasn't sure what to wear, so she just changed out of her dress into something more comfortable – black shorts and a navy blue t-shirt.

Her Scroll vibrated. A message from Etrie: 'Be outside by eleven. Kuna will pick you up. He knows you.'

Who was Kuna? Why couldn't Etrie himself pick her up? How did this Kuna know her?

She used the stairs to get herself to the bottom of the building. She hadn't been using the stairs for a long time – since Rez. She stepped out and looked around; no one seemed to be there. She adjusted the straps of her tiny backpack on her shoulders and looked at her Scroll now at its smallest, on her wrist, secured by a band. She was ten minutes early.

She yawned, thinking if it would be a long night; she had to go to school the next day. She absent-mindedly twirled a strand of her long hair in her fingers as she looked at the time again. She stretched as she looked around, and she spotted a young man walking in her direction. It had to be Kuna. As he neared, he smiled at her, and from that distance, she could make out he had curly brown hair with red highlights. It was tied into a bun and sat atop his head.

"Hi, Aija, I'm Kuna." He introduced himself. His voice had the same lilting accent that she had observed in Etrie.

"Hi," she said, still unsure of him.

"What's that you're wearing?" he asked, looking at her shoulders.

"My backpack."

"Really? Why?" he smiled, biting his lips, trying not to laugh. "You won't need it."

Aija huffed. Kuna was tall like Etrie. It was probably a Ytèan trait – that tallness they seemed to have. He wore dark brown pants and a shirt. They looked like a gear. Etrie and Maya had worn the same last time she had seen them.

"I'll need water." she frowned at him. She, however, didn't mention the two bars of chocolate she had kept as well. "I like to be prepared."

"All set then." he teased leading her.

She followed him, still frowning.

"You need to switch off your Geo-location," Kuna said, turning to look at her.

"Geo-location off," she commanded her Scroll.

"How do you know me?" she asked, falling in step beside him.

"I have been trailing you for quite some time now," he informed her as they made their way towards the wall of the Gated Housing.

"Did Etrie ask you to?"

"Of course," he said, holding his hands out to help her over the wall.

Kuna helped her climb the wall before hoisting himself over it. He then jumped and helped her down.

"Is it imperative that you follow me?"

"If you want to live, then, yes." he smiled.

He had beautiful eyes. They were as dark as black near the pupil and then radiated out into the lightest of browns. Two-toned eyes are a Ytèan trait as well; she noted to herself. 

"I've seen Thieron and his partner trailing you," he told her as he led her through the nearly empty streets of Innermost.

It reminded Aija of the night Thieron killed Rez. Thieron was following her? A shiver coursed through her just thinking of it.

"Are you okay?" Kuna asked, observing the change in her.

She nodded, unwilling to admit she was scared; scared of Thieron.

"Where are we going?" she asked instead of answering him.

"Enger town."

Etrie and Maya joined them at the Sub-Terra Turbo station. Aija instantly hated the idea of traveling on the Sub-Terra. It would track her movement; it might even go to her father. Seeing her hesitation, Etrie assured her that he would ensure that her track would be erased.

"How?"

"Don't worry. I have a good Tech team backing me up," Kuna assured her. "I'll make sure your entry gets canceled, eliminating any doubt."

They went through the Pay Gate, each one tapping their left index finger into the scanner. Just as Aija came out, she received two messages – one confirming the entry (free since she was a volunteer) and a second one confirming an error in the listing and its cancellation.

She looked at Etrie mouth wide open, shocked at how fast that had happened. He winked at her, utterly pleased with himself. They took the Outbound train, Etrie and Kuna sat next to each other. Aija sat next to Maya, who growled at her, got up and took a seat far away from her. She was, apparently, still angry with Aija.

Etrie frowned at Maya as Kuna came and sat next Aija.

"Sorry about Maya," he said.

"You have nothing to apologize for." Aija brushed it off. "Why not take the car?"

"This is faster," Kuna explained. "Also cars attract unnecessary attention, especially in the smaller towns. We take it only if it's absolutely unavoidable."

"How long is this going to take?"

"Why?"

"I have school tomorrow."

Kuna thought about it, before saying, "Maybe you can be back by then. If it goes well, you'll be back sooner."

Aija was angered at that. Of all days Etrie had called her on a school night.

"Don't worry," Kuna told her, noticing her discomfort. "You'll make it to school."

They reached Enger town in thirty minutes. They would have taken over seven hours by car or Terra Turbo, according to Kuna. Of course, Aija had no idea. She had never traveled out of Innermost before by the trains.

They emerged from the station into the open land. Aija immediately noticed the difference. The air was harsh, and it pricked her lungs as she breathed it in. The breeze was sharp, blowing strands of her long hair wildly into her face. She tied it up in a bun, glad that she always kept a hair tie readily available, as she followed the three Ytai into unknown territory. She regretted wearing shorts. But, she hadn't anticipated it to be cold.

Maya glared at her, "See the difference between Innermost and the outer towns, you little privileged human? You, humans, did this to this beautiful planet."

"Maya," Etrie's voice was stern.

Maya glared at her again before turning around. Kuna took his place beside Aija, trying to ease her hurt.

Aija felt terrible, and the air stinging through her chest didn't help either. She had never imagined it was this bad. Then again, she had to be honest with herself – she hadn't given much thought to life outside Innermost. She had lived a comfortable life at Innermost, not wanting for anything; she had all she needed, wanted, and more. She had assumed all parts and all towns were the same.

She shivered as the strong breeze blew; it was cold. Innermost always had the same pleasant temperature maintained. Kuna removed his jacket and put it on her. She half-smiled at him in thanks and slid her arms into the sleeves. She felt guilty; guilty that she had had such a good life.

They walked through narrow streets, quarter the size of the roads at Innermost, crowded with small houses and other buildings, and Aija couldn't help but compare it with the Capital where the buildings and homes were luxuriously and had abundant greenery. She was also aware of the blatant lack of drones and Secures. There were at least four drones, and two Secures per street at Innermost.

Kuna glanced at her every now and then, very much aware of the thoughts running through her mind. But he kept quiet, letting her process them herself.

"Alright," Etrie said, stopping in front of a big building – not big at all compared to Innermost standards but, here it was. "The girl works here. Her shift ends at three a.m."

Aija looked up at the building. It was old, and the paint was literally peeling off. The worn-out board was barely visible in the poor lighting – it read, Food Packaging Inc.

"All the food you eat," Etrie spoke, seeing her interest, "they are packed here."

Someone was working late at night to pack the food she ate every day. People were working late at night for it, and she had always eaten it without much thought towards it. And, the people who packed her food lived in such terrible conditions.

Why had she lived in such a bubble? Everyone at Innermost lived in a bubble if she thought about it. It included her family.

Maya scoffed. "She doesn't care."

"Maya," Etrie reprimanded. "This is my last warning." He told Kuna, "Maya and I will wait near the girl's house. You two follow her from here. You know what to do."

Kuna nodded and led Aija to the opposite building. They watched as the other two walked away.

"She hates me," Aija whispered, looking at the two Ytai, before following Kuna inside the empty building. He had opened the DigiLock using a small handheld device. The inside was filled with different glassware. A screen was on displaying a flyer – Wholesale Price, it read.

Kuna looked at her, stayed quiet for a moment before saying, "Who cares? Etrie and I like you."

Aija smiled, looking at the now empty roads.

✽✽✽

Character Reference from Index

Quinn - Ot/Chr 3.r

Etrie - Ot/Chr 3.a

Kuna - Ot/Chr 3.b

Maya - Ot/Chr 3.c