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"I can't believe we made it to the gate!"

That was my good friend Jonathan, a "down to earth" kind of guy.

"Calm down, this is the hardest part, remember?" I reminded him.

"Yeah, but once we're through this gate, we're free!"

He was right, of course. While there was a certain level of uneasiness about venturing into the unknown, it did free us from that Hell we escaped from. That… genetic farm. The "Center for Human Advancement" they called it. What a joke. They weren't evolving the human race, they were mutilating it. We were a perfect example of that.

"Yukari, the code isn't working," he said, uneasy.

"Well, that's to be expected. Who knows how old that code is. You'll have to melt it down."

"Oh, right, that won't be suspicious," He rolled his eyes sarcastically.

"Just do it. I want to get out of here as soon as possible," I said, glancing around nervously.

He placed his hands on the gate, and the hard steel began to glow red hot. Slowly, the gate began to melt down. It had to be over a foot thick, and seeing something as dense and strong as steel melt like butter was a sight to behold. It created a strange large mound of steel, but it served our purpose, leaving a hole where the gate used to be. This was a part of his ability. He could decompose and create any non-living thing, provided he knew how to make it.

"That's it, Yukari. We're breathing open air now!" he exclaimed.

I was happy to see my skin wasn't bubbling up, and I wasn't passing out from radiation. The rumors were true after all; the outside really wasn't dangerous anymore.

"Alright, let's go find Michael. I'm sure we set off enough alarms to call in the entire army."

"Michael… You think he's gonna be here?" Jonathan questioned.

"He said if he made it out alive he'd be here. So he'll be here." I replied.

Michael was another former resident of the genetic farm. He attempted an escape a year ago, with two others: Sienna and Scott. We had decided before the escape attempt to meet here, today, outside Eternal Gate 31. Of course, the guards at the genetics farm told us they'd been killed, but we weren't going to believe that.

Keeping in mind the looming threat of more guards, we scurried out the melted gate. It was then we saw the sailboat. Not a water-faring boat mind you, but one that sails on air. We stood at the lip of the port, while the boat suddenly thrust into motion.

"I hope that's Michael sailing that thing," Jonathan remarked.

"You and me both," I replied.

A moment later the sailboat drifted sideways into the port, hitting it with a loud clang. A few tense seconds passed, as we stood awaiting the revelation of the captain of this small boat.

"You're 3 hours, 4 minutes and 27 seconds late, Yukari," a voice called out.

I knew who it was instantly. The smartass remark, the mathematical accuracy, and the slightly odd vocals were like heaven to my ears. It was him. Michael, as mentioned earlier, was another subject to the testing done at the "Center for Human Advancement." He was one of the first people subjected to the new DNA modifications. However, the scientists failed miserably with him. Slowly his body began to fail, despite the amazing abilities he was demonstrating. Of course, rather than to toss him out like a piece of trash, they decided something even better, even more sinister.

Michael's power was his insane reaction time. It was almost as if he was moving on a completely different time scale than us. Thus, the scientists thought up a perfect use for such an ability. They created a robotic shell, and interfaced his brain with it. From what I heard, it was incredibly painful, and took months of work and training.

Somehow, though, Michael survived, and his brain learned to interface with the computer inside his new robotic body. With his incredible reaction times, he was able to "keep up" with the speed of the computer inside him, granting him the ability to continue life, although behind the eyes of a robot. They developed a skin for the body which looks absolutely human and lifelike, so that he would fit in with his surroundings. Make no mistake, Michael was now a cyborg, but his memories, thoughts, and soul live on.

"Shut your mechanical pie hole Michael. You know damn well how long it takes to walk that distance," Jonathan yelled.

Michael stepped out of the cabin area and waved. We jumped onto the ship, and ran over to meet him.

"It's been a long time…" I said tearfully.

"Yeah, it has. But you made it!" he replied with a grin.

"Where's Scott and Sienna?" Jonathan asked. "I don't see them in the cabin."

"Sienna stayed back at the refugee center," He said quietly.

"And Scott?" I pressed.

"He… didn't make it out. Sienna worked on him for quite a while, but after being shot during the escape, he didn't have a chance. It's devastated her." He said solemnly.

"Damn it! Those government bastards!" Jonathan ranted.

"Look, we've got to get out of here ourselves, Michael. We didn't exactly leave undetected." I warned.

"Right, let's move then."

"By the way, Michael?" I asked.

"Yes?"

"You said refugee camp… there's a whole camp of refugees out there?"

"You have no idea. Come on inside, I'll tell you everything I've learned over the past year."

We ventured back inside. Michael took the wheel, and then began to tell us about the refugee camp, and the rebellion. He told us how the impoverished and sick were thrown out of the dome city, secretly, by the government. It was covered up to make it look as if the city was simply a wonderful place to life. After all, there was not a single homeless, sick, or disabled person to be found in the city. These people did not give up, however. They set up a new life outside the dome, living off whatever could be scavenged from the dome's trash.

"There's also something… rather, someone else I wish to tell you about." Michael said.

"Someone else?" I replied.

"Anna! You can come in now!" Michael called, in the direction of the rear of the cabin.

A door opened up, and out stepped a young girl. She had a sweet face, and a ragged, but warm dress. She bowed, and stepped up to the table where we were sitting.

"Hello!" she said cheerfully.

"She's another subject of the genetic farm. Scott found her on the way out of place, and grabbed her. He gave his life to save her. Sienna and I have looked after her since." Michael said quietly.

"I see! Well hello to you, Anna! My name is Yukari, and this is my good friend Jonathan. How old are you?" I asked.

"Just turned 10!" she said, still beaming.

"Wow! So, since she was… does she have any… you know?" I stuttered.

"Abilities? Indeed she does. She's a gifted child, raised under the wing of her father, Senator Riggins. While impressive, her genetic ability is… strange."

"I can read minds!" She exclaimed.

"What?!" I said amazed.

"Well, not exactly. She can feel the presence of those around her, and can feel their emotions. She's also pretty good at telling when you're lying or not." Michael corrected.

"I'll have to watch my words then," I said with a smirk.

It was then that Jonathan, who'd been sitting quietly for the past few minutes, decided to speak up again.

"So Scott saved Anna from the genetic farm. However, didn't you mention that she was the daughter of Senator Riggins?" he questioned.

"Yes, I did," Michael replied. "It seems even the senators aren't truly aware of what goes on in the deepest levels of the military."

"That's a bit disturbing. Still, wouldn't they go after a senator's daughter?"

"You've no idea. Anna, why don't you step outside for a second, see if anyone is out there?" Michael suggested.

Anna's face suddenly became far less cheerful, more depressed. She knew Michael was going to talk about something sad, she could feel it. She slowly walked to the door, however, and stepped outside.

"They came after us, without a doubt," Michael explained."The Senator himself came in an assault ship after us. The government wanted to just kill us, erasing any evidence that we exist. The Senator, when he discovered their goal, turned his ship upon the rest of the military vehicles chasing us. A battle ensued. He established communications with us, as we fled. He told us that he suspected the government was doing something to his daughter, but he didn't want to believe it. He was deeply saddened that he couldn't keep her safe. He asked us to take her to the camp, and to raise her as our own. The communication cut out at that point, and there was a loud explosion far off, in the direction of the battle. He gave his life to get Sienna, myself, and of course Anna the time to escape. I've many misgivings with the government, but Senator Riggins taught me something."

"What's that?" Jonathan asked, taking the bait.

"He taught me to remember who our enemies truly are; not the people, not the government itself, but the ones in the shadows," Michael answered.

Michael began to explain the refugee's defense force, when Anna suddenly clambered inside.

"It's them! The military! They're coming!" Anna cried.