He saw his face everywhere. Up in the air, Will sat captive in the transport ship. Hands restrained behind his back with a front row seat of every billboard sign in sight. A few minutes airborne, Will saw where they were headed. He looked out the small window next to him, dreading the following events. At the same time, he couldn't help the curiosity that lingered amidst the fear. The rumbling of the transport ship's engine was deafening upon their arrival.

The Imperial's Base.

The engine shut off and a blast of hot air was released, engulfing anyone within its radius. Big hands pushed Will forward. He recalled walking through a retro-styled metropolis of sloped-curved buildings and high walls. The modified technology and architectural designs around him told of a long-time struggle between the past and the future, what could be considered an upgrade of Will's industrialised city back home.

As they neared the colossal, narrow, steel gateway of abstract architecture, Will caught sight of a modular runway expanding from the landing pad behind him connecting the retro, streamline city in which he had woken up in. Separating those in power from those classified as lower-class civilians. Will already disliked this place, having connected the tropes of a world he didn't want to be a part of.

He received a much harder shove, the impact causing him to stumble over the steps leading up to the Imperial's fortress. A fwoosh of air sounded as the synthesized, pneumatic hydraulics of the steel gateway slid open and Will snapped back into awareness, brutal reality taking over. An endless corridor appeared, its glass wall panels extending as high as the colossal gateway, retained by alloy wall joints. Energy strips ran vertically along the glazed tiled floor, illuminating the way ahead.

It was a long walk through the meandering concourse. Will vaguely took note of where he was going. Time became non-existent until he found himself seated in the centre of an interrogation chamber.

Alone.

That was the first thing he noticed. Then the harrowing silence as he sat there struggling to come to terms with the horrible truth of his brother's demise. He couldn't accept what the Imperial Commander had told him. It didn't make any sense. There had to be a misunderstanding. 

Will looked up to lock eyes with the man himself. He stood three feet away from him and now that they were out of the rain, Will could make out his features. A dictator. Powerful in both position and demeanor. His square jawline and high cheekbones insinuated an ego of self-confidence. Long grey, tinted black hair had been tied back behind his ears. He wore a black Imperial Commander uniform over matching synthetic fiber pants and black, leather boots. Will kept silent, having nothing to say to him. He cleared his throat.

"You claim you don't know me," he started. "Yet you've lived here your whole life." If Will thought he was confused, he had just reached another level of confusion. He pulled out the Hologram Projector beacon again and switched it on. Will's face appeared. "Are you telling me this isn't you?"

"I'm not who you think I am," Will answered.

"You're going to have to do a lot better than that, Will, if you want me to believe you-"

"But it's the truth-"

"Why did you kill Victor-"

"I didn't kill him!"

The man released a sigh of frustration, clearly not making any leeway with Will. "Stop making this harder for yourself, Will. Your uprising has caused enough panic in the citadel as it is. Disrupting the peace we've spent years cultivating. Only for you to release the evils of mankind on this world we've worked so long to keep imprisoned-"

"Imprisoned?" Will asked. "What do you mean?"

He was answered with another question, voiced in a gentler tone of concern. "You really don't remember me?"

"I've never met you," Will corrected.

He rubbed his chin in thought, not liking the predicament of his situation. "We will have to run some tests," he finally decided. Then to himself, "Amnesia is my only theory..." He paused, looking back at Will. "In the meantime, you will be shown to your quarters. We can't have a suspect roaming free around the citadel. The public will need to be informed of this 'accident' to ensure the peace. That the Empire has everything under control."

"What are you going to tell them?" Will asked.

Grey eyes met his. "I will say what I have to," he said. He turned to leave.

"At least tell me your name?" Will said.

Right foot on the threshold, he stopped, using the sensors to hold the door open. "Bill Grayson," he said. "You can call me Bill." Will watched him leave, the pneumatic doors sliding shut behind him.

A moment later, before his clouded thoughts could take over, the doors opened again. Two Imperial Sentries entered, equipped in the official imperial armour of the Empire. Will's restraints snapped open.

"This way," one of the Imperial Sentries said.

The thought of remaining in this chamber was unnerving so Will stood up. He made his way towards them, his right hand clasping his left arm, walking with crest-fallen shoulders. He kept his eyes trained to the ground. There was no need to unintentionally start unnecessary conflict with the Imperial Sentries who were only doing their job. Plus Will was in no position to retaliate. Rebelling was one thing. Running would only prove him guilty for the crime he never committed.

Will was escorted down a long hallway that seemed to wrap around the colossal, impenetrable fortress. Aluminium cladding constructed the wall on his left while glass windows produced an exceptional view of the city skyline on his right. Coming to another set of doors, they opened before they were in range for the contact sensors to detect their movement. 

An adolescent walked out, his stride one of confidence. His navy blue Intelligence Officer uniform declaring a visual representation of his rank. Upon closer inspection he appeared to be Will's height and age with white, short, wavy hair, narrow jawline, blue eyes and freckles. He stopped short a few feet apart from Will and the Imperial Sentries.

"Will?" he asked. "I thought you were detained."

"We have orders to take him back to his quarters," the Imperial Sentry on his right said.

"Then as Second In Command, I dismiss you of your responsibility and will see to it myself that Will returns to his quarters," the young Intelligence Officer said. Will remained impartial, having no preference.

"But sir, Commander Grayson gave us firm instructions-"

"Should I file a report stating insubordination of Imperial Regulations?" Any hesitation that the Imperial Sentries had vanished.

"Sir, no sir," they answered in unison.

"That's what I like to hear." The Imperial Sentries left, leaving Will in the custody of his newly assigned warden. As soon as they disappeared through the doors in which the young Intelligence Officer had entered, he made for Will, moving behind him. Will felt a rough hand grab his left shoulder and the tip of a blunt shaft touch the small of his back. Then a firm voice speak lowly into his ear.

"Just keep walking," he said. The doors opened and once they were on the other side, the young adolescent's posture and tone did a complete 180. "What were you thinking, Will?" he asked, exasperated. "Running off like that. Look, I believe you're innocent. That something else is going on. But with that stunt, I'm afraid my hands are tied, Will."

They came to a stop some place down the long hallway and Will found himself face to face with another set of doors. A sensor went off and the doors slid open. Before Will was left inside, he turned back to face the young Intelligence Officer, determined to make his situation adamant. If anyone could understand what he was going through, this boy would.

"Believe me?" Will asked. "I will say it again like I said to Commander Grayson. I'm not the Will Dark you know. You are right about one thing though. There is definitely something strange going on."

The beginnings of a scoff escaped him, stifled into silence when he realised that Will was being serious. "You're not bluffing, aren't you?" Will shook his head. His face took on a more serious turn. "I believe you," he said. "And now that you say it, you're right. You not the Will I know. I'm surprised my father wasn't able to pick up on it-"

"Your father?" Will asked.

"Yes. Bill Grayson. I believe you've already encountered him."

"Can't say it was memorable," Will implied.

The boy chuckled. "My old man's not all that bad. I guess that calls for introductions again. The name's Ezra," he said, holding out a hand. "Ezra Grayson."

Will shook his hand, sensing he could trust him as his Will had. "Will Dark," Will said. They let go. "What do I do now?"

"Don't worry," Ezra said. "We will figure this out. For now, just stay inside. Keep yourself scarce until the panic dies down. Someone will come for you tomorrow morning. Until then, try to make yourself at home."

Will was grateful for Ezra. Whether it had been by chance or luck, Will felt reassured that there was a way out of this rabbit hole. Even if it meant he had to go down it first. "Thanks Ezra," he said. The doors glided shut and Will was alone.