Chapter Text
The city was bordered with gray steel barriers, radiation, and thick gasoline mixing up with the polluted air. Trains arrive and leave the city as days turn into nights. People hide all day in their apartments, hoping that they’re not the next ones to be killed by the merciless Civil Protection. Some people ignore the fear, rebel against the system and flee the city, creating their own army to bring justice. However, you are not one of those brave rebels. You are an ordinary citizen being transported from a place to another.
(Y/N) fell asleep right after the train left the station of the city. She packed up as many clothes and necessities as possible, but the suitcase that was given to her was probably too small for everything. She, like many other citizens, was forced to be transported to a new city due to the relocation program. During the train journey, she didn’t dream about anything. Her body was numb due to the poor nutrition and the stress that she had experienced during the past two weeks before being told that she would lose her apartment due to the relocation.
After hours of traveling, (Y/N) wakes up hearing a loud announcement about the arrival. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around. The people were still sitting but the train began to slow down. The train was almost there. When she turned her head towards the window which was located next to her seat, she saw a gray sky that was lit up by the lights of the city and a few old apartment buildings. As well as soldiers patrolling the borders of the city. The only thing that (Y/N) had heard about her new home was that it was safe, thanks to the relatively large Civil Worker’s Union, a union for ordinary citizens, which protected their rights.
Minutes later the train stopped at the main station which was located in the middle of the city. There was the following announcement. “You are now allowed to enter the City 17. Please proceed to apply. Welcome to our city.” It told. The citizens on the train began to stand up from their seats and walk towards the doors soon after they opened, but (Y/N) decided to wait until the train was almost empty. She had no energy to compete who’s going through the door first with the other citizens. One man happened to notice the reluctant behavior of (Y/N), and stopped in front of her. “Shouldn’t you move up? We’re already here.” He asked. (Y/N) nodded. “I’m just politely letting others to go first. I’ve got plenty of time.”
When most of the folks were already outside and walking forward, (Y/N) finally stood up. She followed the other citizens and stepped out the train. Oh, how much the city reminded her of the old one. The apartment buildings were as worn out and gray as the previous one where she used to live. It brought a lot of nostalgia and melancholy into her mind, but it was grand that she would never be able to return. This was the beginning of her new life in a new town. Suddenly, she heard a vocoded voice behind her. “Citizen. Isolate.” Said a metropolice with an impatient tone. When (Y/N) turned around, those creepy, glowing blue eyes made her feel immediate fear. She simply nodded at the metropolice before she continued to follow the other citizens.
It felt as if she had walked forever until she reached the checkpoint. The citizens had to form a line between to chain fences that led to an open space. There were too metropolice units standing and talking with a citizen, soon letting him proceed into the city. When it was finally (Y/N)’s turn, she turned to face the metropolice unit. He stared down to her, since (Y/N) was probably a foot shorter than him. He gave off some creepy vibes, since he his figure was so towering and impressive. His black armor was waxed and shiny. “Citizen. Apply.” The unit emitted after some while, wanting to hear (Y/N)’s full name and her ID. “My name is (Y/N) and my citizen ID is 2345..” She stopped as she apparently forgot the last digit of her ID. The unit seemed to be very amused and chuckled at her. “A citizen should never forget their ID. If they even have one, in your case. It can cause them a lot of trouble.” He said with his thick Russian accent, crossing his arms upon his chest. (Y/N) felt herself getting more and more nervous until she managed to remember. “My ID is 23454.”
(Y/N) was finally let go and she continued her journey to the city. The cop had given her the number of her apartment and some directions. It was quite easy to get in a city so complex, but she ended up to finally find her apartment. The door was easily opened with her ID, even if it looked like the wooden surface was coming apart. Maybe the texture was just a camouflage. The outlook of the lobby was okay, and there were some people sitting and watching television together. They didn’t pay any attention to her. Not that they even heard her; her entrance was very silent. (Y/N) looked at the floor plan that was on the wall next to her, eyeing the numbers shown on it. Her apartment’s number was 15, and it was on the third floor.
After walking two stairs up and finding the door of her apartment, she opened the door and walked in. The first impression was something basic; the floor was intact, a fridge existed, a bathroom with a toilet and a shower and the most important thing, a bed with a mattress on it. (Y/N) left her suitcase to lean against the wall, walking to the bed, laying onto it. It had been such a long day, and she needed to rest well before exploring the city any further. After all, it was nearly 2 AM and the journey took about six hours. (Y/N)’s hand hovered to touch her damp forehead, rubbing off some sweat. She needed a shower, but she thought that it would be better if she’d take it the following day. She was way too tired to even stand up.
The following morning (Y/N) woke up late. Probably too late, since it was nearly 12 PM in the afternoon. At least she got her batteries charged for the big day. Her body felt heavy, as if it was glued to the mattress. After several minutes, she managed to get up. When she turned to look at the window, the position of the sunlight made her realize how late it was. “Oh fuck, I seriously need to take a shower right away.” She spoke to herself, grabbing her suitcase on her way to the bathroom. She rose the suitcase over the sink, opening it. There were some clean underwear and tees, and she grabbed what she needed before undressing and opening the chilly stream of water.
(Y/N) headed out after she took the shower and gussied up a little bit in front of the bathroom mirror. The day before she was told that rations could be collected from 1pm to 3 pm from the railway station, the exact place where (Y/N) arrived at nearly 12 hours ago. When she stepped out the apartment building, the city looked somewhat more bright in daylight, and it turned out to be quite clean when everything was visible to the naked eye. The citizens, just like (Y/N), all of them in blue denim boiler suits, were heading towards the railway station quite eagerly to receive their own ration. Upon the city was rising a very, very tall metallic building. That must be the Citadel, (Y/N) thought to herself, and she was apparently right about that. Dr. Breen, the Earth’s Administrator under Combine, lived there and was kept under high-level protection. His voice was heard daily in the announcements that echoed through the city.
While (Y/N) was standing in the line, being the last one, a man pushed her out roughly, nearly making her lose her balance. “A new face! I bet I’m more hungry than you are, so get out of my way, newbie. We don’t need more citizens here! Get the fuck back wherever the hell you came from.” The man told (Y/N), who was thinking of what to say next. She didn’t have to open her mouth, because a metrocop who was monitoring the line of the citizens soon stepped into the situation. He didn’t look an ordinary metrocop; the glowing eyes of his mask were of the color yellow, and judging by the markings on his armor, he was a medic. His figure was semi-muscular and tall, probably 6 feet.
“Get out of the line, citizen. You are not permitted to have a ration for the next 24 hours.” The medic emitted in his vocoded voice, apparently with a notable German accent, and reached for his stun stick that was clipped into his black leather utility belt. His menacing gesture caused the man to back up until his back was pressed tightly against the concrete wall behind him. “Out of my realm or take the hit.” That sentence was the last part of the conversation before the man walked out the door as quickly as he could. After this, the medic turned to face (Y/N), taking a few steps forward. “Citizen, you can enter the line again, the man is gone now and won’t bother you anymore.” This left (Y/N) speechless. His voice sounded so soft, the opposite of what it sounded when he talked to the man. Was the medic actually being nice and defending her? If that was the case, his behavior for a Civil Protection unit was totally unusual and rare; the units were often found beating citizens and not paying any attention to the daily harassment between them.
“T-thank you so much, sir. Appreciated.” Was the only thing that (Y/N) managed to say, looking up into those yellow glowing eyes of the medic. The unit nodded and walked back to where he came, to monitor the line and make sure that things went smoothly. (Y/N) was left to wait for her ration, and it took about five minutes until it was her turn to be given hers. It was the time to go back to the apartment to eat some breakfast, however it was nearly 2 PM by that moment, and the proper term for it would be “lunch” or “super late breakfast”. The ration included basic canned food with a can of water, which was something that a citizen would receive every single time, but it was enough to fill (Y/N) up. And just when she thought that this city wouldn’t be so bad after all, she heard gunshots outside. In fact, the gunshots could be heard so clearly that she dropped the can of carbonated water into the ground. Seconds later, more gunfire, Civil Protection joining the fight. “Oh my God--” She was interrupted again after hearing a loud siren going off. It was the judgement waiver. Somebody triggered it.