He woke up to the sound of whispering voices. Elion struggled to open his eyes but lost the battle against blinding white lights directly overhead. There was a relentless pain throbbing against his temples. He tried to cover his eyes, but his arms couldn't move. He tried to lift his head, only to find it was firmly restrained. He squirmed, but his lethargic limbs were useless against the straps.

"We haven't started the procedure yet, sir," he heard a female voice say as footsteps drew closer. Elion froze.

"What's his current state?" A familiar voice asked. His father.

"His bpm is elevated, but all other vital signs are normal. His neurolink has been deactivated so we have to monitor him through a direct link." the voice answered.

"When can we proceed with the operation?"

Operation?

"Yes, we can start the memory replacement with your consent."

Memory replacement?

"Go ahead," his father said.

"Wait" Elion croaked. His throat was sore, and his mouth was pasty.

"You're awake," his father sai,d void of concern. Elion squinted, braving the harsh lights. Slowly, his father's face came into focus. It was as indifferent as expected.

He turned his head as much as he could. The female voice he heard was another version of the CANA they had at home. This one wore a white coat with the insignia for POLARIS printed on it. A simple grey star over the horizon.

"Is this the Enforcer's office?" Elion asked as his eyes explored the room. The room was mostly empty except for the bed he was in and a conspicuous machine that hung from the ceiling directly over his head.

"Is that why you did this?"

"I... I was curious," he lied.

"Well, look where curiosity has gotten you. You've been protected all this time, Elion, my son. But you're too weak," he turned to CANA, "start the replacement–"

"Wait!" Elion shouted with a scratchy voice. "Just tell me what's happening."

"Mr. Strider–" CANA began. Quinn held up a hand.

"It's a simple and painless procedure to give people a second chance at life. Rewrite all the wrongs they've done. To make sure that they don't commit the same crimes again."

Quinn stepped aside, allowing CANA to take over.

A single tear streamed down the side of his face. This is what they did to her, they erased everything. They erased her. There was a stinging pain as CANA injected something in his neck.

"Please, father, don't do this," Elion begged as his vision blurred. "Please–"

~~~~

*April 16, 2125*

Elion stirred to the sound of chirping birds. He opened his eyes to a display of birds and monkeys in a jungle. He sat up, straightened his back, swivelled his legs over the bed and stood up. He put on his slippers and walked straight to the bathroom to get ready for the first day of the internship. While fixing his academy pin, he checked his neurolink for messages. It was a routine he'd adopted since he started the academy. There was one message from his classmate, Jax. It said: This is the start of our future.

He responded. Yes

Satisfied that everything was aligned, he spun on his heels and waited by his bedroom door for CANA to announce their breakfast meal time. When the communication came through, he exited at once, making his way to the dining room.

He had arrived right on time, with his father and mother taking their seats. Arion was late. He sat upright in the chair with his hands placed squarely on his lap. Arion arrived moments later and slid in right across from him. She fiddled with the cutlery and stared directly at him.

"Arion, stop fiddling." Nyran command.

"Sorry, I didn't realize," she said, slouching back in her chair.

"Sit up straight." Nyran scolded. She did as she was told.

Elion said nothing as his father placed the breakfast order. He ate the boiled egg and toasted bread with precision, ensuring no crumbs escaped onto the table. He wiped his mouth clean.

"Elion, are you ok?" Arion asked.

"Yes," Elion answered simply.

"Arion, don't ask such ridiculous questions," Quinn admonished. Arion nodded her head without protest. When they finished, they stood up in unison, exiting in a perfect line.

At the door, they went their separate ways into one of the matte black self-driving SAVs that POLARIS manufactured. Quinn and Elion rode in silence to the company.

They arrived at the large grey structure that towered above all other skyscrapers in the city. His classmates were lined up in the lobby, waiting for their assigned roles. Quinn disappeared through a glass door without a word. Elion went to the front of the line. Many versions of CANA walked about the space, inspecting each student. They were anchored to their spots, and no one spoke. On a large monitor, a video of CANA appeared, describing the role of POLARIS:

At POLARIS, we are dedicated to creating a safer, more equitable society by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. Our mission is to reduce crime, eradicate poverty, and eliminate illnesses—fostering a future where every individual is protected and cared for. Through innovation and intelligence, we aim to craft a world that thrives in harmony, though where the individual voice may sometimes be softened for the greater good. We envision a future where security, health, and prosperity are not just ideals, but realities for all.

"You will be assigned to groups based on your aptitude throughout your time at The Academy," CANA said, standing before the line of students. The only distinction between it and the others was the dark blue jacket it wore, while the rest were dressed in white. "You will undergo a series of tests to determine your place in society," it continued. "The sectors include: Security, Health, Traffic, and Education."

One by one, their names were called, and they meticulously split into different groups. Jax was placed in the security sector. Elon's name was the last to be called in the Education sector. He joined the group, forming a perfect square of students. A designated CANA led each group. As the Traffic sector was leaving, a loud crash resounded throughout the lobby. Someone had knocked over a statue. Everyone turned to the student who had made the mistake.

The glass windows exploded in a shower of shards. A can had been hurled through the window, and before anyone could react, yellow smoke billowed out, filling the air and blurring their vision. Students scattered in panic, covering their eyes and mouths. A group of masked men stormed into the lobby, dousing the students with a strange liquid. Elion pressed his back against the wall, shielding his face. One of the men sprayed the liquid on him. Elion braced for the sting, expecting it to burn, but it didn't. He glanced at his hand—it was covered in yellow paint.

In an instant, the space was swarming with RPs. The men tried to flee, some breaking free from the officers' grasp while others were Tased and dragged to the ground. Their screams of pain echoed through the chaos. The emergency system had started exhausting the yellow smoke.

"You will never stop us!! The Artisans will bring colour back to this world!" one man, yellowed with his face pressed into the tiled floor. His eyes looked wild, and he had a large "A" tattooed on his shoulder. The RPs dragged him away from the students as he continued to shout and struggle against the RPs' grip. He was tasered again and again until they shot him with something in his neck. He stopped moving after that.

The scene before Elion was unbelievable. The unblemished floor was covered in smoke remnants. Footsteps were left in the powder as CANAs rushed to maintain order. Every student had paint splattered on them. CANAs could not escape the onslaught either.

"Students, remain orderly. Stand in your designated sectors." They did as they were told. The murmurs settled immediately as they proceeded to their designated areas. Cleaner robots marched in the opposite direction toward the lobby. Elion watched as they erased all the evidence of what had just happened.

He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt anything. While others screamed in fear, he felt a rush of something coursing through him. He stopped himself. That wasn't possible. It was just the unpredictability of the moment.

"You will be outfitted with new uniforms. Please make your way into the changing area," CANA directed. They followed filed into the room, stripping away their stained clothes and changing into the grey POLARIS suit.

Elion tried to wash his hands, but the yellow stain would not come off. It was the same for all the others. Some of their faces were marked in yellow streaks. They scrubbed furiously, but it wouldn't come off.