Meubena

“Where are we going?”

Gemma asked as the motorcade continued, sprinting over of the outer ring road east of Ayria city, instead of heading for the headquarters of the Archturian branch west of Ayria.

Judging from the direction, they were now heading towards the place where a city was built for Archturians and Elenio’s elites, Meubena. Located 45 minutes from the capital, Meubena is inhabited by Archturian troops and high-ranking state officials, including the residence of the country’s leader.

“Are we going to the main base?”

Gemma was quite surprised, if that was the case. Was the matter so important that they took her to headquarters? Could it be that those two people were Archturians?

Gemma shook her head quickly, trying to shake off the last thought. There was no way people with such pitiful fighting abilities were Archturians.

“We were going to pick you up earlier. It had nothing to do with the fuss you made.”

Jo explained. His face was not as irritated as before, but his tone was cold. “But you still have to take responsibility for your actions. We’ll take care of that later.”

“You sound exactly like a boring curmudgeon,” Gemma sneered.

“Thank you,” replied Jo. Gemma couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“But—wait. Wow... Picking me up? Did I suddenly become an important person among you guys?”

Gemma’s sarcasm got no response from Jo. Yes, the heartless joke just now is simply not something to respond to. She even felt the pain in her heart again when she heard her own babbling. Gemma looked out the window to relieve the tightness that was squeezing her chest.

Gemma had set foot in Meubena several years ago when she took part in the Archturian entrance selection which was held for three days. That is the last stage before they decided on who to accept. Gemma has passed the administrative selection, health, written test regarding general knowledge, country defenses’ knowledge, and everything about Archturian.

Through an announcement letter sent to her home, Gemma learned that she had a near-perfect score in all areas. Even the results of the physical tests and her armed and martial skills were the third highest in the history of the Archturian admissions selection.

But all those great results were broken by one thing, which Gemma still couldn’t accept until now.

Gemma could hear the waves crashing as the car drove by the beach. She sighed in admiration. Gemma rarely went to the beach, so she didn’t want to waste the opportunity to see the turbulent expanse of blue water, a stage of nature that showed how strong they were compared to all humans on earth.

In her hometown, Fiend, there was also a small beach. But considering Fiend is one of the poorest areas in Elenio, the beach there is also not as beautiful and clean as the beach in Meubena.

It stunned Gemma for a moment until something caught her attention. A nine-meter-tall statue of an Archturian warrior, grayish-black, stands proudly on each side of the road. Gemma’s feelings when she saw the statues were still the same as when she saw them for the first time a few years ago. There was horror in the cold eyes and haughty face of the great Archturian statue. It was as if they could read every human thought that crossed here.

The two statues are a sign that Gemma has arrived in Meubena. To further confirm that this city is the city of the Archturians, the next thing that can be seen upon entering the city is the main Archturian headquarters.

The symbol is shaped like the letter J with a more sloping angle, as if almost falling backward, has a branch in a long diagonal line, with a dot in the shape of fire above the symbol. The symbol was called The Arc, blazing majestically in a fiery-red color. At first glance it looked as if it was on fire, on the Archturian main building that soared high as if to embrace the sky with arrogance.

The Archturian Headquarters itself comprises two large buildings as the main headquarters. The towering one is made of glass, shining with the afternoon sun. The other building was a pale gray, lower but about three hundred meters long.

Gemma kept staring at it until she realized the car wasn’t going there.

“Where are we going?” Gemma asked Jo. Jo turned and smiled. Not a pleasant smile.

“You always ask what division I’m in, don’t you?”

“Erm... Yes ... and why is that have something to do with this?”

“Now we will head there.”

Gemma didn’t want to ask any further, because Jo seemed reluctant to answer her question again.

There must be something important that Archturian wanted her to come to one of their top-secret divisions.

Gemma looked back at the street. At first glance, there is nothing different from Meubena. This city has facilities like the city in general. Street lamps with iron poles planted on the sidewalk in neat rows, interspersed with lush trees that are sure to provide shade on a hot day.

Gemma could see how luxurious this city was from the signboards and shop displays that lined the streets. Everything looks expensive. It was the kind of place that Gemma wouldn’t enter.

There are small gardens, sports areas, and, not to mention, houses that are twice the size of the average house in Ayria. From the fences of the houses, it is clear that the occupants are not ordinary people.

Gemma was quite surprised when the car they were traveling in swerved and crossed a four-meter-high gate. A long hallway full of orange light greeted them. Soon the car stopped.

“We’ve arrived?” Gemma looked around questioningly. The dim lighting of the orange lights reminded Gemma of the street lamp she had seen earlier.

“Not yet,” Jo answered, paused for a moment, and then continued. “We’ll change cars.”

“What?” Gemma couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Just standard protocol. Just follow it.”

Jo took out a black cloth. He looked at Gemma with an apologetic look.

“You want to cover my head with that?” Gemma raised an eyebrow. She cannot believe it.

“You can’t refuse.” Jo smiled again, and as before, it wasn’t a smile that appeared in a propitious moment.

“We’re friends, Jo.”

Joe shook his head quickly. “No, Gemma... We’re family.”

Then, before Gemma could reply, Jo quickly wrapped the cloth around Gemma’s head. Gemma hadn’t finished counting to three, and consciousness had left her body.

*