"Noah....huff....please tell me The Great Rebellion was just a bunch of morons trying to defeat the top security force of high city via melee fight!"
Risha's cry make Noah laugh, "Of course not. I know these guys have almost nothing compared to the place you grew up. But still they managed to survive amidst this chaotic land for a decade without any help. They are not foolish enough to think that they will be able to engage in a melee fight with robots and win. "
"Then just why on Earth am I going through this hell?"
Risha said as she was panting. It as been two months since they arrived in Painted Street. After the first night, both she and Noah was given a routine to maintain. Except for sleeping time, the rest of the must be dedicated for three works mainly: Study, physical training and designated job. For Risha, her designated job was related to code,sign language, etc. She liked her job. Since childhood, things like coded communication gave her thrill. But study in high-tech city was strictly monitored. So if she wanted to study or research about these topics outside the syllabus, each time she had to get her parents sign a consent form,submit it to the headquarters of Study Facility and even after the approval, she would have to study under surveillance. And any small gesture from her can cause the approval to be nullified without prior notice and worse yet, she could be fined. So in this place,where she can work on it without getting interrupted or being overly cautious, of course she'd be happy. As for study, she had liberty to study anything. It was sort of personal time. She was satisfied with this one too. The real problem was the physical training session. Here an old man collected some scrap metals and faulty engines, remade and modified them and tada! He started a gym and almost everyone of the Painted Street would come here for training. It is also a gathering place for the rebels. The place itself isn't bad, they have different sectors for different trainings. And trainers are too well trained people. The problem lies in our protagonist. She absolutely hates physical exercises. In her school where just some basic exercises were mandatory, there was a student who really sucked at those. Her name was Arisha Haydar. A genius at academics, she was known as the loser of P.E class. A brainy weakling, that's what Risha was. As she was nearly done in high school, P.E became optional. She thought she had finally escaped that hell and here she was. And now she had to go through that hell again.
Noah chuckled, "Even of you are not directly fighting a melee fight, maintaining health is essential. You already have a disadvantage for you are not used to an environment like this. What if you catch some kind of illness and die suddenly? Who's going to help them create incredible codes to cope with AI?"
Risha was going to say something but her attention went elsewhere. Other trainees are whispering. So she put down her gear and went to see what happened.
Pushing through the crowd, Risha spotted a middle-aged Nishat. Everyone was talking to him eagerly. She guessed it was Nishat's uncle, the man she was waiting for, it was Arafat Rahman. Risha didn't have any intention to catch his attention immediately. She wanted to wait until she talks to Noah and discuss what to do.
"Yo, Princess is here," the one to point at Risha was a girl of her age. She, Asha, was an active member of the Rebel force and she happened to be involved in the same work as Risha. Risha, taking the lead jobs without any efforts, naturally ignited jealousy within her. She didn't like her and even taunted her sometimes.
Prof. Rahman looked at Risha, "So you guys had new additions while I was away. Hello, little lady, I am Arafat Rahman, you may call me Uncle Arafat."
"Hello, uncle. I am..."
Asha interrupted again, "The princess is called Risha, she is a blue blood from High-tech City."
Prof.Rahman frowned at the mention of High-tech City but Asha was yet to stop, "I heard princess came here to join us because she had to ask for a favour from you specially, meaning she has no loyalty for the plan."
"Youn...Risha, you may have come here with high hope but I regretfully inform you I have no intention of helping someone from that place. So don't request you time here and go back to your high and mighty life."
"Uncle, you may have bad blood with the city but please I'm not of the authority. I'm just a civilian. I am just a daughter who want to save her parents. Helping me won't get in the way of earning your justice and rights, I..."
"You're wrong, little lady. My grudge with the Karahan authority has nothing to do it morality or anything, it's purely personal. My whole point in joining the rebellion is to turn the lives of that place a living hell. Even if it's a civilian like you, as long as you are from that place, I will enjoy every bit of the agony you experience."
His eyes lightened up as he said his piece. Risha felt a chill in her spine. Noah had previously told him about this guy. Before the entry bann was enforced, Arafat Rahman was selected as a student of the Research Facility. But due to his origin, he was discriminated against and all looked down on him. When he was about to surpass them with sheer talent and hardwork, some conspired against him and caused him to get expelled and effectively ruined his career. Since then, the once bright star was no longer working for the betterment of humanity. His sole drive and willpower came from the desire to take revenge. To cause even a small misery to them, he will give his all. That's how much he had fallen. And now Risha had to convince this vengeance driven man to help her to save humanity, to save three people from High-tech City l, the very place he loathes and wishes to destroy.