CITY CENTRAL OF ELDORA 

✬ 13 DAYS BEFORE DISAPPEARANCE OF MACHINA KEY ✬

Tightening her corset and tossing a glance at the mirror, she left the bathroom. Her twin brother was sat on his bed, buckling a fourth belt on his upper left thigh, completing his look. When his eyes met hers, she touched her shoulders. It was enough of an indicator for Ares to grab his black hip-length jacket, tossing it over his frame to hide the white-and-black top. A yawn escaped his lips, making her grin. A cuckoo chime, faint from the living room, alerted them of the time.

"Why are we awake this early after last night's escapade?" Ares' tone was dyed in tiredness. As he brushed a callous, fingerless-gloved hand through his hair, forcing wavy strands to one side, he walked past her to the bedroom door. "We don't have to report to work for another two hours."

"Now, now," she said, slapping a hand on his back. "We need to see Massimos, remember?"

"I'm sure he's a busy man. To entertain children like us would be a waste of his time," Ares said as he walked into the kitchen. Grabbing a ceramic bowl and a container of their dry cornflakes, he poured some into it. And then seemed to think twice before he tipped his head back and poured a bit more into his mouth. "Can we just skip it?"

She frowned at the uncouth behaviour. Ever since cornflakes had been introduced to their country thanks to the treaty with Underground City Central of Europium, her brother developed an unhealthy obsession over it. Snatching the container from his grasp, she placed it on their kitchen counter. 

"No," she said. She crossed her arms against her chest. "Why am I the only one putting in the work to keep us together?"

The words must've stung because he turned to face her with eyebrows furrowed and a huff of a breath. "Don't be ridiculous," he said. He remained quiet for a few seconds before he took his bowl and moved to the kitchen table. "I merely don't see the point. That is all."

Capella's heart tightened in her chest, rendering her momentarily breathless. Moving to sit in front of him and stealing a few bites of cornflakes with a spoon, she rotated a few words in her head for the right thing to say. The last thing she wanted was to send him off to their enemy nation. Trading wasn't the future she envisioned for him. Massimos surely would agree. He didn't deserve to be among the scapegoats.

There was a reason why families mourn when one of them got sorted into Trading.

And she would not want to wear black for a funeral. Not again. She preferred it closer to a fashion choice rather than anything depressing. Perhaps that was a child's wish. But nevertheless, she hoped that the very man who had known them since young and had been there since their parents' passing would fix this mess. The government must've made a mistake. Even if she never dared to voice that idea out in fear that she would be labelled as an ungrateful brat.

Ares sighed. "I know you want us to not be apart like this. I don't wish to leave you alone too. You're my only family, Capella. But...reality is what it is." He took in a deep breath. "Reality is what it is."

And she despised that infamous phrase of his. It only served to resolve the notion of keeping her brother glued to her side. No one should ever say that the Elos willingly separated. Not today. Not ever. Stealing another mouthful of cornflakes, she tossed the spoon on the table. It clattered, ringing in a way that had Ares' shoulders jolting.

"Come on," she said, snapping her fingers and pointing to his ceramic bowl. "Be done with that. Quick."

"Capella—"

"I'm older than you," she said, holding onto the five minutes distance between their births to play her big sister card here. "Don't disrespect me now. What would Father say?"

Ares frowned. He sniffed and took another three bites before he stood up, adjusted his jacket, raised an eyebrow and gestured to the door. The mocking tone in his body language was apparent. It had her sticking her tongue out like she was back to being that annoying thirteen-year-old whose past time was to pull dying plants from her neighbour's yards. That particular memory had her smiling. Her brother rolled his eyes.

"Does Massimos know we're visiting him?" Ares asked as they got out of their home, the front door locked tight with a few extra gears turning clockwise to fully seal the building. "He does, doesn't he?"

Capella shrugged, taking in a deep breath. Smoke and ash. A fine morning indeed for Eldora. One can hope it would become finer once they were done with the visit. Her brother nudged her, the frown threatening to remain a permanent fixture on his face. This time, she rolled her eyes and began walking.

"He would meet us if we want to meet him," she said. It had rained again. The paths were wet once more and if she stood still, a few raindrops would hit her. "We're not strangers to him."

Ares hummed under his breath, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "That may be but he is still an important figure. He might not have time to see us."

"Then, we'll see him after work," she said, irritation sparking in her chest at the constant doubt tossed at her plan.

She chanced a glance at Ares only to see a emotionless face that she had come to know as him hiding his true feelings. He must be feeling as desperate for a change like she was. He must be sad. Why he was fighting so hard on an opportunity to have him be shifted to a better field was beyond her. His defeatist attitude was cumbersome and not for the first time, she wanted to trace back on who in their family harboured such a personality. Because their parents certainly hadn't been this pessimistic about life.

"You're angry," Ares said, catching her attention. "I thought so."

"I'm not. I'm just irritated." She sucked her bottom lip before releasing it. A particular loud horn from a running tramp a few feet ahead of them, cutting through a small crowd crossing from one side of the city buildings to the other, silenced her for a moment. "If I were you, I'd be fighting until my very last option exhausted to not be a Trader."

"And where would they put me if not a Trader?" he asked, halting her steps. "Because you must've forgotten that I'm practically useless."

The sentence struck a chord so hard within her that she could only turn to face him and grab his arms. She narrowed her gaze. "You are not useless. You are my brother."

He pulled—no—wretched his arms away from her as if she had set him ablaze. "You do realise that means I have more to work towards to?"

She furrowed her eyebrows, confusion making itself known in the depths of her mind. Flexing her fingers into fists, she dropped them to her sides. "Nonsense. There's nothing to work towards to. We're a team, Ares."

"Are we?" he said, so low in volume that for a second, it seemed as if he didn't want her to hear it.

But she had and it only served to tighten these chains in her chest further. Had her brother's confidence shattered this much? How had she not noticed? She opened her mouth, ready to give him superfluous words of amazement and encouragement but they died behind her lips at the way he stood straighter than before. Pride had always been his best features, one that she didn't know how to wear. While Ares would fake it until he fooled a crowd of people for skills he didn't have, she would rather skitter and hide in the shadows at the very mention of a praise.

Was this his defence mechanism?

"Come," he said, giving her a smile that looked broken at the edges. "Let's see Massimos and discuss the options." Since you are adamant that firm decisions can change, was remain unsaid. It was in the air, implied nevertheless. "Come along."

She had nothing to say to that. She would just have to prove to him when they talked to Massimos. Their journey to the erected building, shades of gold and black just like the rest of the towers, was filled with quiet. Even when they had to navigate through a few people to get to the fourth floor where their parents' friend was, neither shared a word.

Walking up to the desk where a secretary automaton was, she smiled. "Is Massimos available for a short meet-up?"

"Ah," the automaton said; Shelly, the name tag proclaimed. "He is. Who are you and why would you like to meet him?"

"I'm Capella Elo," she said. "I would like to meet him to discuss about the fields we were sorted into."

Shelly nodded, standing up before tucking a strand of blond hair behind its ears. The mechanical joints were still visible at a space between the elbows and upper arm even with it clothed as a human secretary. Dark skirt and white shirt with a brown corset and belts. They were making them more and more lifelike. And she liked it. Ares remained standing stiff next to her when she tossed a glance at him.

They didn't have to wait long. Massimos came out of his office with a grin on his face a moment later, Shelly walking back to the reception desk. He waved a hand as a gesture for them to come into his office. Heart hopeful, she patted Ares' arm and followed the older man. He moved to sit on his chair, gesturing the twins to take a seat before him. Capella did without a second thought though her brother dilly dallied until a sharp look from her had him doing the same.

"Well, it's a nice surprise to see you both here," he said. "I was going to visit you both tonight for a celebratory dinner. How exciting, Capella. Part of the Maintenance team."

As always, words of praise merely had her shoulders hunched closer to her chest. Her face became hot. Giving him a smile that she certainly didn't feel, she phrased a few sentences in her head. While she was glad they had someone whom could act in the place of their parents, they did little help at the moment. Rigid as a stick was her brother next to her. This already hadn't been going according to plan.

"That would be lovely," she said. "However... I am here to discuss about... Ares' field."

Massimos frowned. "Ah, yes," he said. "What is your field, Ares?"

A little odd that he did not know his team, she spoke for him lest to avoid him having to spit out such horrid words. "He is a Trader."

It was deadly quiet for a few seconds before the man before them breathed out air. "Trading. That is... unfortunate."

She winced. "Yes... I'm wondering if..." She grabbed her brother's hand. "Surely, there's a way to not have him be a Trader."

Massimos' eyes glistened in realisation. Sitting up, he leaned closer to his desk and placed his intertwined fingers on them. "You want me to see if there's a way to change his team."

"Yes." It was a blunt answer. Enough to have the older man tilting his head a little to the right. "Please. You work with the employment department, don't you?"

"I do." There was hesitation in his words that sunk her heart into her stomach. "But you must understand... I'm not that high up in the systems. I'm merely the Administrator." He stood up, moving around the desk to perch his hip on the wood once he was in front of them. "I'm not part of the council who decides who goes where. Occasionally, I would be notified of a few special candidates for a few special areas and I investigate if they are appropriate for their roles. Just like how I had recommended you strongly to be part of the Maintenance when they brought your name up."

She tightened her grip on Ares' hand. "You are saying then that it's impossible to have Ares changed to another team?"

Massimos crossed his arms against his chest. "I didn't say that." At the furrow of her eyebrows, he smiled. "I can sway a decision. But I am not the one who ultimately decides the final placement." His gaze flitted to her brother. "I cannot guarantee anything even if I were to speak to the council on this."

It was the closest to an assurance he could give. A little disappointed, she nodded. Ares sighed, moving his hand from under her grasp. "I don't foresee my situation changing anytime soon," he said, piercing through Capella's heart with the conviction in his tone. "We're here just to ease my sister's mind if there's anything could be done. Now knowing that there is little chance—"

"Which field do you wish to go into if I can change their mind?" Massimos' words cut Ares' speech.

"Engineering," her brother said, voice now lower than before, lacking the fire from a moment ago. "I would like to go into that field."

Massimos raised his eyebrows but he didn't comment on it. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "I'll see what I can do. I'll be meeting the council today so should anything come to fruition, I will inform you both." Capella smiled. At least there was that. At least there was hope! "But keep in mind...even if I could change their minds, it would take at least three months or more before a shift can be made. The government rarely likes changing what they have already decided on."

It was a warning that she didn't find the need to heed. Massimos wouldn't disappoint them. There was still a silver lining for her brother to not be a Trader and that was enough. Ares stood up, alerting her of his sudden movement. She followed him, nodding at the man they deemed as their uncle.

"Thank you," Capella said, unable to hide the giddiness in her tone. "That's all I ask of you."

Massimos smiled. "Hurry along now. You don't want to be late on your first day of work."

"Yes," Ares said. "Goodbye."

"I'll see you both tonight for dinner," the older man said, standing straight and moving back to his chair. "See you, Elos."

Capella waved at him before she grasped her brother's arm tight once they were outside of his office. Ares stood still, eyebrows raised with a clear question on his face. When she grinned, no doubt smug, he rolled his eyes and pulled himself away from her. In return, he pressed a finger on her forehead and pushed her away from him.

"Stop grinning like a child," Ares said. "We're twenty-one. Act like an adult for once, can you?"

"Stop being so snobbish," she said, slapping his arm. "I told you Massimos would help us."

"He said he would try. It is not a guarantee. I would keep my hopes low if I were you."

No matter. If her brother wouldn't be excited for a possible change of future, then she would in his stead. Smiling, energy burst through her at the upcoming verdict tonight. As they exited the building, it was then reality came knocking at their doors when the big clock tower, located four buildings behind, chimed. Loud.

"I suppose that is our cue," Ares said. He turned to meet her eyes. "Good luck with your job at Maintenance today."

Her happiness vanished to be replaced with dread and the need to vomit. She had tried to forget about it this morning only for the very idea to be smacked against her face by the Central Clock. Swallowing past her dry throat, she nodded. Following the nervousness was fear for her brother. Something must've shown on her face because Ares took a step towards her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll be safe," he said.

It wasn't what she truly wanted to hear but it was something to hold onto. Her brother would be out of Traders by the end of tonight. He had to.

Then, she would tackle her own misplacement in Maintenance and seek a change of her team too.