"Where's June?" I ask the moment I arrive at the Elector's office. My eyes instantly narrow at the sight of Pierre - without June around. Panic surges in my system, thinking that something wrong had happened to her.

Pierre is about to say something - like how rude of me to just inquire before the Elector could say something - but before he can do anything, Anden turns his eyes toward me, posh and regal. He then tells me, "Commander Iparis asked to take her leave just five minutes ago. Don't worry, I've ordered men to follow her without her knowledge. The best protection is surely the one that's invisible from anyone - even the ones being guarded."

"So, espionage," I reply.

"That's rather severe. I would say that it is more of, 'undercover'." He sighs heavily and leans back in his seat.

"Elector..." Pierre trails off, reminding Anden about something. And surely, I know what that something is after all. "Even espionage through bodyguards... Commander Iparis will still know about it. She is, after all, the Prodigy."

I clear my throat. "Not to mention that I'd so suddenly acquired a new set of bodyguards as well. Those people who are trying to kill me."

"I would say that they are not trying to kill you, or June." Anden presses his fingers against his temple. "They are much more interested in recruiting you. For the cause that they are trying to fight for. That, having said, is to return the Republic far beyond its history. The Old United States of America that they are trying to reform has been already lost from most of the people's knowledge."

"Apparently, they still know about it. That means there are still others who continue to have an edge about it." I cross my arms across my chest. "They won't stop at anything, will they?"

"You and June were considered the people's champion when you ceased the attack of the Colonies over our territory. For the people who want their cause to reach - and be heard by - others, all they need is the right people for their propaganda. Surely, they know that they can reach you two. Your liberal minds and acceptance of how the people will benefit make them feel that they are part of the minority to be heard as well," Anden remarks. "The only problem though, even if we want to know their real objective... we can't simply do that."

I frown. "Why? Remember that they have a hostage. They are using Tess against me and June. Who knows how many others are being held by them? People are going to start asking what's going on. Unless more than half of the population of the Republic is already aware, or they are part of this group themselves."

Anden looks at me intently for a moment before he turns to acknowledge Pierre. The latter then clears his throat and remarks, "To be honest, Mister Wing, we've recently informed Commander Iparis that this group, calling themselves the ones to return the Old United States of America, are trying to go through the extremities. Your brother almost became a casualty."

I freeze. My blood suddenly turns cold at the mention of Eden. The Republic had already stolen a lot of people I care about; but that was before, when all I ever wanted was to get my revenge on a group of people who made my life even worse, and now that they are gone, there is no use to burn with such anger again. Instead, I inquire, "How is Eden?"

"He is safe," Anden answers. "Thanks to the quick thinking of the bodyguards you've been evading so well. But surely, this is not going to be the last time. Until they know they aren't able to take hold of what they truly wanted, they'll continue to do everything in their power to propel you toward them."

"They must know that if Eden became a casualty, I would much want to hunt each one of them and kill them myself," I announce.

"And these people know that whatever you are vowing to yourself right now is against your principles," remarks Anden, his eyes still boring straight into mine.

I remain silent, not knowing how to respond.

He sighs and twines his fingers in front of him, propping his elbows on his desk. "These people who are calling themselves the 'People of the Old America' have been observing behind the shadows for far much longer than we all know. Surely, they've existed ever since the inception of the Republic and the division between us and the Colonies. They are some sort of parallel to the Patriots, only much stronger and patient enough to wait for the perfect opportunity and time to strike. I can even say that they'd existed even before my father became Elector." Anden lowers his eyes as sadness crosses his eyes. "After that war between us and the Colonies, you transferred to Antarctica to continue your treatment. And after ten years, with you returning here... they are not going to waste another second. To have both the Republic's Champions on their side... they will want you to be part of their propaganda, for a cause that had been brewing for far much longer."

A part of me aches as he speaks. I don't know why, but every knowledge of the past and words of others regarding my treatments... a fraction of a foggy memory settles into place. There are times I'll accept those memories as my past, that I will remember them. But there are also times when I wake up in the middle of the night due to a nightmare, wondering if they are really the past - or predictions of the future, or reflections of my fears. There are also some times when I know that they're real memories, yet want more reminders of them to keep me sane. In short, if someone asks me about a brief history about my life... goddy hell, I'll certainly fail. My answer will come out in such a frenzy, without a proper timeline.

"So... what should June and I do?" I inquire, voice small. For the first time, I know that there's truly nothing I can do now, but to stay put and wait. I hate waiting, but there's no way that I am going to risk Eden as well. I'll need to head back and ensure that Eden will be safe. I need to meet June and tell her that she needs to be safe as well, and we need to save Tess.

Anden and Pierre share a look for a second, before the former turns to me again and says, "For now, tell Eden everything. He deserves to know every detail. Until we figure out what happened, keep both him and yourself safe. If you will wish to meet with June, it will be best to inform me or any of your bodyguards about. Having you two at the same place at the same time will only give these people an advantage."

Before allowing myself to be escorted by guards one more time, I ask Anden to not stop searching for Tess's whereabouts, to which he agreed. And also, I ask him if I can meet June, and he said that he'll inform her about it. That I shall wait for June's conditions, and the details of our meeting.

* * *

I arrive at the apartment I share with Eden. As a given, there are new bodyguards, more than usual. As always, I find Eden tinkering with some spare gears, creating something. I don't say anything when I enter, beyond relief to see that he is safe. Likewise, he doesn't say any word. Instead, he just puts his materials down and the two of us hold on to each other. We fill in each other about what's going on and what happened, and I am surprised to find out that he had been quiet and calm all throughout it. Sometimes, I am starting to forget that he is all an adult right now, and sometimes, he is starting to appear much older than I am.

It is already evening when I receive a message from June, saying that she received my request to meet her from Anden. I don't ask her what took her so long to reply, but in the end, she tells me that we'll meet at the place that Anden has prepared for the two of us, and ensures that we'll be safe. Eden tells me to go, and he smiles at me when he says that he'll be fine. Before leaving with my own set of guards, though, I tell the ones that left that I'll make sure I kill them myself if something happens to Eden.

When I arrive at the meeting place, so happens to be behind the Capitol building, June is already there, waiting for me. She is still wearing her military uniform, but her perfect posture seems marred by the invisible weights on her shoulders. As I enter the dimly lit room, one of the spare office rooms, I ensure that the door is tightly locked, and bolt in the secondary lock.

"Well, what a romantic place Anden has chosen for the two of us," I say, slowly making my way to where she is. When I arrive, she doesn't even look at me. She continues leaning onto the desk with her back against me, looking outside at the view through the windows covered with soft and almost translucent dark curtains. Thanks to those curtains, the only hint of sights here is the bits of light that emanates throughout the city. I stop next to June, leaning on the desk as well and trying to follow her gaze. "I want to ensure that you are all fine."

She bites her lower lip. "As you can see, I am fine. I heard about what happened. How Eden almost..." She gulps in hard. "You surely haven't hear about the other side."

I look at her, waiting.

"Anden told me that he received an e-mail from me a few minutes before the incident."

"That's impossible. We..." We were together at that time.

"He said that it was sent via my computer's IP address. He believes that someone knows how to hack the system and did so." She sighs. "I am starting to wonder if these people truly wanted to recruit us or to destroy our image."

I run my fingers through my hair, fidgeting. "Not to mention that they also have Tess with them."

"Tess is a close friend. I can't even face Pascao because of everything that's going on. I am just glad that he is doing well, or rather, trying to do well. Eden is surely worrying about her as well. And..."

I remain watching her, waiting for her to continue.

She looks at me. "And you'll surely stop stressing as well if Tess isn't being held as their hostage."

I gulp in hard. "Tess is like a younger sister to me. I can't stop getting worried. I know that you are also worried of her. But with these people clearly working in the shadows... I don't have any idea how are we to infiltrate their core without doing any more damage. In my case, without endangering Eden in the process."

"The only way to really know what they are planning is to sneak onto their territory. They want the two of us on board, and they want us to listen to their cause. They will not allow anyone else to do so. Not even Anden. This threat will continue if we are not making a move. It's the proof that they wanted us to reach out to them, not the other way around," June remarks.

I frown. "What are you implying?"

"I am yet to inform Anden about this. But I decided that the only way for us to get over with this is if I go and meet them myself," she says, voice clear and resonant. "You are out of the question. Eden needs you. And I will not allow myself to make the same mistakes again."

"June, I don't think that this is the best course of action to take."

"What choice do we have, Day? The more we prolong this, the more restless people will grow. We are running out of time. Soon the entire Republic will fear for their lives and demand our answers, because this group is trying to tell them that their government is a lie. We can't risk another rebellion as big as the one before."

Before... I am starting to worry if I truly know the gravity of the time that she's referring to But I know one thing. This thing that she is telling me... every word she says is wrong. I instantly turn to face her, slamming my hands on the desk as I trap her against the desk. I look on at her intently, a heavy frown surely right there on my face. "It is true that I can't risk Eden, and Tess, and countless others. But among all things, I also can't risk you, too!"

June just looks at me. Her eyes wide as she looks at me curiously, surprised with my sudden outburst.

"I'm trying all I can to arrange my memories. I know that you're in there. I know them. All of it. I just don't know if I am ready to try and accept them as real or not. I don't know how to fix them completely, and truly, I will never do so. And I know that we had a rough start, but I know too well that the only reason that I am this goddy angry is because I don't want to lose you." I gulp in hard. "June, I feel it. I can't lose you."

"Day..." She tentatively reaches out to touch my cheeks. "I know that you can also feel that this is the right thing to do."

"There you go again, being all selfish and selfless at the same time," I tell her with a sigh. I am completely containing my anger against her at this point. I don't want to tick her off, but I honestly want her to stop acting like that.

"That's a contradiction," she says.

"Don't argue with me. We both know that you're being selfish and selfless." I remark," Selfish: for deciding on your own. Selfless: for thinking that you're not important. We'll resolve this together. We'll plan together."

"I can't just wait," she mumbles.

I look on at her before leaning closer that my forehead is against hers. I close my eyes and whispes, "Please. If what we plan does not work, we'll think of another. What do I have to do to make you know how much you mean to me?"