EVERGREEN RESIDENCE A
VIRTUM, GRATA - 11:38 PM
Rain patters against Zack's bedroom window, creating a rhythmic yet soothing sound with the absence of thunder. Zack lays down on his bed, but withdraws himself from sleeping. Instead, he picks up a small box, its written content unreadable due to the darkness of Zack's room. Opening it up, Zack retrieves a curious-looking device from the inside. Shaped like a headset yet with glasses attached, Zack decides to wear the unknown gear.
Pressing a button situated near the left earpiece, the device lights up with the ocular portion displaying a startup screen, almost like a computer. When the device finishes loading, it proceeds to display four options.
Link to MEMORIA
Unlink from MEMORIA
Choose memory
Shut down
Zack chooses the first option by directing his pupils toward it and blinking. Several blue lights dance around his head, performing a scan of his brain. The scan finishes, and the device greets Zack with a message followed by a timeline ranging from September 21, 1973 to June 28, 2017.
Thank you for linking to MEMORIA. Please choose a memory:
Zack scrolls to August 5, 1992.
25 YEARS AGO
ETERNAL TOWER - 16TH FLOOR
EVERNIGHT, NAZENDEL- 2:06 PM
Several Eternal Drive scientists pace back and forth in a facility focused on demon research. Only two scientists remain calm in this ordeal: Zack Evergreen and Raymond Altair. The two continue with their experiments while the rest continue to panic.
"What the hell are we gonna do? If my wife finds out, I'm so fucked!" One scientist exclaims.
"I can't breathe- I can't breathe- I can't breathe-" Another says, panicking in the corner.
"Fuck that! What's Damon gonna do to us when he learns that it went public!?"
Raymond loudly claps his hands, drawing the attention of his dismayed colleagues.
"Leave this facility if none of you plan on working today. Your noise is a nuisance to our work." He says as the scientists all walk out of the room. Raymond resumes his business as Zack looks towards him.
"Were you the one who leaked it, boss?" Zack asks Raymond.
"...What if I was?" Raymond replies, pouring a solution into a beaker.
"I respect it." Says Zack as he assists Raymond in sorting different chemical mixtures.
"Why? Do you disagree with Estreval's methods?"
"Not exactly, in fact I think it could lead to a scientific breakthrough at some point. But I'm not fond of Estreval, and I'll respect anyone willing to stand up to him." Zack replies.
"Do you respect me, Zack?" Raymond asks, as the two continue working.
"I do, boss."
"So what if I told you it was me?"
"I'd respect you even more, boss." Replies Zack as Raymond puts away several cylinders.
"...Was it you?"
"...Tell me, Zack. Have you ever loved someone?" Raymond suddenly asks, only for Zack to return silence.
"..."
"You have a mother, right? Why is it you never visit her?"
"She made life growing up a living hell." Zack answers, still holding disdain for his mother.
"So you don't love anyone, then."
"What's your point?" Zack asks, growing frustrated with Raymond's prying.
"Estreval's experimentation on humans… You've seen the horrors of it."
"They're prisoners. At least this way they can contribute to society instead of taking part in destroying it." Zack confidently retorts. Raymond looks at him with a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"They're humans, Zack. I would have asked you to imagine someone you love going through the experimentation, but…" Raymond replies, letting his words trail off. Though Zack had no love for his family, it was not as if he was incapable of loving. His mind wandered as memories of Jason started flooding in. The laughs they shared, the times they cried; their friendship was a rare instance of humanity in the dystopian metropolis they lived in. Zack shifts in his chair as he continues reflecting on Raymond's words.
"The only thing that separates us from them is that they lived life misguidedly. Had we grown up under the same circumstances, lived in the same conditions… Would we have not turned out the same?" Raymond continues as Zack reflects even further.
"No one is born evil. No one. How society treats them… how they see the world… That is how people become evil."
"What if society itself was evil?" Zack asks Raymond.
"Society is evil. Look around you, Zack. The extrajudicial killings against those who speak up, vile experiments being performed on human beings, the loss of livelihood due to constant monopolization…" Answers Raymond, listing few of several Eternal Drive transgressions. Curiosity mingled with skepticism in Zack's eyes.
"If you despise them so much, why do you continue to work for them?"
"The system is damaged, but not irreparable. I work with the hopes of creating a better future. For my daughter, for my grandchildren, for the future generations, for you." States Raymond, pointing to Zack. With their conversation wrapped up the two resume their work, but not for long as three loud knocks on the metal doors get their attention.
"Dr. Altair?" Exclaims a young woman wearing formal attire who walks in nonchalantly.
"Yes, Lily?" Asks Raymond as Lily approaches him, the two whispering things inaudible to Zack. Zack continues to work while slowly approaching the two, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. Raymond notices him, calling him out.
"Zack!" Shouts Raymond as Zack flinches.
"You haven't met Lily yet, have you?"
"No, boss." Zack meekly replies.
"Lily, this is my apprentice, Zack Evergreen. Zack, this is Lily Winchester, Damon's personal secretary." States Raymond, introducing the two to each other. Upon closer inspection, Zack takes notice of Lily's beauty - her flowing blonde hair, her glimmering blue eyes…
"Hi! Wow, your eyes are beautiful." Says Lily, reaching her hand out to Zack as she compliments him.
"Thanks, uh. You too." Zack awkwardly replies as he shakes Lily's hand, caught off guard by her compliment. Unbeknownst to him, Lily had been secretly admiring him from afar which Raymond had noticed, thus the sudden introduction. It does not stop there, however, as…
"Wellll, I'll be taking a break, so keep doing what you do, Zack. Don't worry Lily, he's a professional." States Raymond, leaving the facility. The two inside are left to awkwardly stand in silence, before Zack breaks it.
"I know it's not any of my business, but what'd you tell him?" He asks the young secretary.
"Just stuff about the leaked documents." Lily replies as Zack goes to work.
"...You know who did it, don't you?" Asks Lily as Zack briefly stops.
"No."
"Ooh, Doc Altair was right. You are trustworthy." Lily states, confusing Zack.
"What do you mean?" Zack asks as Lily approaches him, whispering in his ear, her cold breath tickling Zack's right lobe.
"I know Raymond did it. I helped him." Lily replies, stunning Zack.
"Why?" Asks Zack as Lily signals him to follow her outside. The two step out of the facility, walk through an automatic sliding door and stop at a balcony with artificial plants. Raymond can be seen smoking in the balcony as he nods his head towards Lily, giving her the go. Lily and Zack sit on a black rubber bench as Raymond continues smoking.
"I received a job offer from Eternal Drive at seventeen, same as you. My family and I were so excited about it since Roscher had little to offer." States Lily as Zack listens.
"I was expecting to meet some HR guy, but waiting for me was Damon Estreval himself. I didn't expect him at all so my nerves ramped up to a hundred. I was shaking from anxiety since one wrong move and I could have lost the opportunity of a lifetime." Lily continues.
"We talked about the job which was being his personal secretary. Starting pay was 12,000 dies per month. I was ecstatic about it since my family never had a real breadwinner."
"...But there was a catch, of course. There always is. This fucker told me that in order to get the job I had to…" States Lily, gritting her teeth in anger.
"I was SEVENTEEN. Call me naive, stupid and ungrateful but from that moment on I despised Estreval. Being his secretary makes it even worse since I see his face everyday. A constant reminder that I was violated with no justice." Lily passionately explains, her hatred for Damon only fueled since that day.
"I got the job but also lost a part of myself. I never bothered telling my family about the incident because of the look on their faces when I broke the news… But I was dying inside. I wanted to get Estreval out of my head. I wanted him gone." Lily says, ending her story.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that but why… Why are you telling me this?" Asks Zack.
"I need allies. If I can't get Damon to bite the dust, then causing his downfall is good enough for me. Doc Altair told me you could be trusted, so please, Zack. Help me." Pleads Lily. Zack looks towards Raymond who stares back, signalling that Zack needed to make his own decision. Zack reflects on his days in Terminus, how Eternal Drive handled the playground attack, how his community suffered at the megacorp's corruption, how even in Nazendel people continue to suffer…
"Show 'em what you're made of."
Jason's words ring in Zack's head. Is his peak staying a subservient employee? Or can he achieve something bigger?
"What do you want me to do?"
"I know that these leaked documents won't come far. President Rivers is doing damage control as we speak. Estreval's inevitably going to continue those experiments; I need you to take part in them so we could learn his motives." Lily tells Zack.
"Me? Why not boss over there?" Zack asks, his head turned towards Raymond who finishes smoking.
"Estreval does not trust Doc Altair. You on the other hand…"
"...Alright. I'll sign up for Estreval's next project when the opportunity arises." Zack replies as Lily sighs a breath of relief.
"Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me." Lily says, grinning at Zack who smiles back, before reverting to his stoic face when he notices Raymond looking proudly in the background.
25 YEARS LATER - PRESENT DAY
EVERGREEN RESIDENCE A
VIRTUM, GRATA - 11:55 PM
After reliving his first memory, Zack continues with his reminiscing by scrolling to March 6, 1993.
24 YEARS AGO
ETERNAL TOWER - 21ST FLOOR
EVERNIGHT, NAZENDEL - 3:36 PM
Operating a supercomputer, Zack skims through Eternal Drive documents before stopping at a folder titled:
PROJECT Z
Zack opens the folder, revealing a lengthy 200-page file that documents Arthur Zeta, the first recorded demediom. Eternal Drive at the time was a pharmaceutical company that supplied Palladium with boosting drugs. Similar to demediom serums, these drugs were made with the blood of demons. If one were to take them, their physical strength, stamina, speed and agility would temporarily be boosted for 72 hours. Unfortunately several side-effects would arise, including deformed muscle structures, enlargement of hearts and irregular levels of dopamine and blood pressure.
Eternal Drive was forced to find an alternative when Ricard Mayhem, the leader of Palladium confronted them due to several of his soldiers being forced to retire as a result of these abnormal conditions. As an alternative, Eternal Drive worked on a new substance - a serum of several different chemicals infused with the blood of demons.
It took quite a long while before the tests ended up being successful. Several subjects would undergo even worse deformations to the point that they began to resemble demons in appearance and nature. After years of trial and error, Eternal Drive had finally achieved success with their new project. Or so they thought.
Arthur Zeta was a 43 year-old man from Terminus, Grata. Just a week prior to becoming a labrat, Arthur had killed his wife and children in a drunken rampage. He was arrested and taken into Evernight where he would serve as the latest experiment for the demediom project.
At first it seemed as if it was another failure. Arthur had not responded in hours after being injected with the serum. After two days in isolation however, the guard that usually brought IV fluids to patients was found dead in Arthur's room, with Arthur himself nowhere to be found.
The scene was a total mess. If it weren't for CCTV footage of the guard entering Arthur's room, Eternal Drive would have never recognized his identity. The guard's head had exploded with blood splattered all over, painting the white walls a crimson red. His spine was shattered in two hundred places, his corpse mangled and curled up into a ball in the corner.
Though the horrid scene was enough to make even the strongest of men puke, Eternal Drive was ecstatic that its experiment finally worked; unfortunately Arthur was a lost cause. Parading in the streets of Evernight, Arthur would continue his psychotic rampage before eventually being gunned down by Eternal Drive forces. His corpse would be taken back to the Eternal Tower where it was to be inspected, with E-Drive finally perfecting the demediom serum.
At least, that was the story sent to the public. According to the document Zack opened, Arthur Zeta was a normal citizen who worked as a landfill attendant. Arthur had the unfortunate luck of stumbling upon a poorly-shredded document that recounted the previous victims of the demediom experiment. When Arthur questioned the local Eternal Drive officer about it, he was arrested and his family was killed in order to silence them. The massacre was indeed true, but it was the experiments that broke him. The years of isolation, being watched and tested by Eternal Drive had driven Arthur into insanity.
By this point Eternal Drive had made thousands of serums and the incident with Arthur was long-forgotten. E-Drive started to have leverage over Palladium with these serums, eventually overcoming the latter as the big ruling power in Lavia. Viktor Mayhem, Ricard's grandson and the current leader of Palladium had grown curious regarding the incident with Arthur Zeta, having witnessed it in the news as a child.
Viktor came to Terminus to investigate and learned from Arthur's coworker about what truly went down. Though Arthur was a beloved man in the community, they could not do anything about his kidnapping nor the murder of his family as they feared suffering the same fate. With this information, Palladium had regained leverage once more by blackmailing Eternal Drive. In response, Eternal Drive threatened to halt the production of demediom serums, forcing Palladium to buy out their stock, making Eternal Drive even richer and more successful.
However, though the production of demediom serums was threatened, experiments were still being made. Eternal Drive was not yet content with the demediom project being successful. It needed a superweapon - something to bring down Palladium once and for all.
And thus began a new, unnamed project. Eternal Drive was making a superhuman with the traits of several demons, all mashed into one. Damon Estreval spearheaded this project in the hopes of taking over South Lavia and eventually North Lavia, too.
Zack copies the document and pastes it into an external harddrive. He removes the harddrive, puts it in his pocket, closes the document and shuts the computer down. Zack tries leaving the facility but ends up bumping into a tall, blonde man wearing the same scientist gear, but with a crimson and black jacket instead of a white one.
"Evergreen? Where are you headed?" Asks the man.
"Outside for a smoke." Zack answers hurriedly.
"Why the rush?"
"I'm addicted to the nicotine." Zack replies before the man holds him back, stopping him from leaving.
"Hand it over." Commands the man, prompting Zack to hand over his box of cigarettes.
"Too much of these and you'll end up like that sad fuck Altair." He says, dumping the box in a garbage can.
"Go ahead, take your break. Trent will take over your shift." The man continues, dismissing Zack who leaves, bumping into a young Trent Omega.
"Sorry." Says Zack, who is glared at by the junior scientist before the latter enters the facility.
"Fuck's his problem?" Zack whispers to himself as he takes the elevator down, stepping into a black SUV and driving out of Evernight, stopping at a two-story apartment in Roscher.
LILY'S HOME
ROSCHER, GRATA - 4:02 PM
Zack presses the doorbell where his face is scanned by several red lights, eventually turning green when the scan finishes. The door opens by itself with Zack letting himself in. He makes his way up a spiral staircase and knocks at a bedroom door where he is greeted by Lily.
"Zack? You're back already!" Lily exclaims, surprised at his presence.
"Damon's been giving me early dismissals since that new guy came in." Zack replies, referring to Trent. His hand reaches to his pocket where he pulls out the harddrive from earlier. Zack hands it to Lily whose face lights up.
"There. Information about the first demediom as well as proof of a stirring coup against Palladium."
"Holy shit…" Mutters Lily as she rushes towards her laptop, inserting the harddrive. She loads up the document and reads it, partially horrified due to Eternal Drive's crimes but also partially euphoric due to Zack's achievement.
"This is massive… If this reaches Palladium…"
"A civil war could take place. And the catalyst is right here in our hands." States Zack as Lily gets up from her chair and hugs him.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!" Lily says, showing her gratitude to Zack who softly smiles.
"Okay, okay. I get it." Zack replies, hugging her back.
CLEMENTINE HILLS
ROSCHER, GRATA - 4:36 PM
On a bench overlooking the city of Roscher, Lily calls over to Zack who can be seen holding two cans, one containing soda with the other being coffee, both obtained from a glowing vending machine. He hands over the soda can to Lily before sitting beside her on the bench. The two open their cans and take brief sips before Lily breaks the silence.
"I never thought we'd come this far."
"I don't think anybody did." Zack replies, taking another sip,
"Doc Altair certainly didn't." Lily says, making Zack crack up.
"I think it's the opposite, really. I think Raymond knew we'd succeed and he wanted no part of the fallout." Zack replies, contradicting her statement.
"Well either way, that son of a bitch is finally going down." Says Lily, referring to Damon as she gulps down her soda while Zack looks at her endearly. Lily notices this and briefly chokes before turning away, embarrassed.
"Wow. You dehydrated or something?" Zack jokingly asks while Lily wipes her mouth with her sleeve.
"No, no, I'm just… so excited about the future."
"A future without Estreval?"
"A future without Eternal Drive! Or at least with better management." Lily replies.
"Say, Lily. If they still exist in that future, would you keep working for them? I mean you've made enough money to be well-off…" Asks Zack.
"Not sure. Would you?"
"Probably. I'd like to go down in history as a legend someday. Zack Evergreen, the greatest scientist who ever lived." Zack answers as Lily chuckles.
"That's very ambitious of you."
"What purpose is a man without dreams?" Zack replies, making Lily laugh even harder.
"I think the greatest philosopher suits you better. God, you sound just like Doc…" Lily sarcastically replies, before realizing she added fuel to Zack's flame. She points her hand up at Zack's mouth, silencing him before he can even speak.
"NO! NO. Don't you dare spout some shit like "The student is the reflection of his teacher."" Lily continues, mocking Zack as he grins.
"...But in all seriousness, yes. I would keep working for Eternal Drive-" States Lily, answering Zack's question from earlier.
"-if it means I still get to see you everyday."
Zack's pupils widen from Lily's sudden proclamation. Just a year ago the two had barely known each other, but their time as whistleblowers created a special bond in their hearts. If there was a bright side to working under Damon, it was that Zack Evergreen and Lily Winchester were able to meet each other.
24 YEARS LATER - PRESENT DAY
EVERGREEN RESIDENCE A
VIRTUM, GRATA - 12:01 AM
A single tear rolls down Zack's right eye before he scrolls to the next memory: August 13, 1993.
24 YEARS AGO
LILY'S HOME
ROSCHER, GRATA - 9:33 PM
Carrying a bouquet of tulips, Zack steps into Lily's apartment hoping to be greeted by the cheerful secretary, only to find the apartment empty with the lights and air conditioning turned off. Zack calls out her name to no response.
"Lily? You here?"
"..."
Zack tries once more to no avail.
"Lily? Hellooo?
"..."
Before he can try a third time, footsteps prance behind him as a pair of hands grabs him by the collarbones.
"BOO!" Shouts Lily, spooking Zack who jumps not from fright, but from the sensitivity of his collarbones. Lily howls in laughter at the sight of the usually stoic scientist, frightened by a basic prank.
"Seriously?" Zack asks, unamused at Lily's shenanigans. Lily however, continues laughing to the point where she starts to tear up.
"I can't believe you fell for that!" Lily exclaims, wiping a tear from her face.
"You really had me worried for a second there, you know that? I thought Estreval got to you…"
"Oh, lighten up, would you?" Lily replies before turning on the lights and air conditioning.
"Hey, speaking of Estreval, how'd the meeting with Viktor go?" Lily asks, sitting down on a circular sofa as Zack does the same.
"I think it went well. Obviously he was shocked and appalled to find out, but the look on his face afterwards… There's definitely a war coming." Replies Zack as Lily begins eyeing the bouquet in his hands.
"And what's that?" Lily asks, pointing to the tulips.
"Did you need to ask?" Zack replies, handing the bouquet over.
"Happy birthday, Lily."
"Wow. And here I thought the only time I'd receive flowers was on my grave." Lily jokes as a huge grin forms on her face.
"Thanks, Zack." Lily exclaims as she goes in for a kiss, which Zack happily returns.
"Did you order this all the way from Precidia?" Asks Lily after pulling away, curious about the flowers' source. Uncommon was an understatement, they were near extinct in the other portions of South Lavia.
"No, no. I have a coworker who owns a flower shop down south at Lutherford." Replies Zack, referring to Neverglow.
"Well-" Lily says, putting aside the flowers.
"It's only fair I give you a gift too, right?"
"I don't think that's how birthdays work." Zack sarcastically replies as Lily signals him to follow her upstairs.
LILY'S HOME
ROSCHER, GRATA - 9:46 PM
Zack turns off the lights as Lily begins to strip naked. Zack follows suit as the two passionately kiss on the bed. As Lily lays down, Zack begins making his way towards Lily's lower body before noticing her flinching at a touch of her inner thigh. Zack looks up at Lily, written in her face a mix of fear and uncertainty.
"We don't have to… If you don't want…" Zack says, trying to comfort Lily.
"No, no, it's…"
Images of Damon Estreval flash inside Lily's head, reminding her of the assault on her first day. Lily springs up, covering her body with her arms and curls up, beginning to cry as Zack repositions himself, embracing her from the back.
"...I'm sorry."
"It's alright."
"Everytime I think that I've gotten over it… I see his fucking face. That smug look, those words he spoke…" Says Lily, wiping off a tear.
"When I came home that day, I locked myself in the bathroom and cried for hours. I felt like complete garbage. Like I wasn't a human, just some toy meant for the pleasure of others." Lily continues.
"I… I really contemplated killing myself that night, even though I got my dream job. But… when I heard my mom yelling over the phone about how proud she was of me…"
Tears stop falling down Lily's face as she turns her head towards Zack.
"I want him dead, Zack. I need him dead. I know it's unhealthy, but every fiber of my being completely loathes that man- no, that demon." Proclaims Lily as Zack tightens his embrace.
"That's not who you are, Lily. You aren't someone who lets hatred consume them, nor are you a tool whose sole purpose is to please others."
"You're the silver lining in this crime-filled shithole. Not once have I ever looked forward to work, but I always look forward to stepping inside this apartment and seeing your face one more time." Zack continues as Lily grabs his hand.
"You're more than whatever Estreval made you contemplate otherwise. You're Lily Winchester, the light of my life." Says Zack as the two kiss once more.
"I think Lily Evergreen has a nicer ring to it." Jokes Lily as she and Zack continue their business.
LILY'S HOME
ROSCHER, GRATA - 11:27 PM
Zack's phone rings on the bedside table, with Viktor Mayhem being on the other side. Zack, half-awake, groggily picks it up while still in bed beside an asleep Lily.
"Hello?"
"Evergreen. The other S-Ranks want to see you."
"Right now?" Zack asks.
"Immediately. A black van will pick you up near the Raya Hotel in Briken." Viktor replies.
Zack turns towards Lily, still asleep. He contemplates for a bit before making his decision.
"Okay, I'll be heading there."
"See you soon." Says Viktor, hanging up. Zack hurriedly gets dressed and steps inside his vehicle, driving straight to Briken.
RAYA HOTEL
BRIKEN, GRATA - 12:16 AM
Arriving at the Raya Hotel, Zack parks his vehicle inside. He steps outside the parking lot to be greeted by the black van Viktor was referring to. Two men wearing tactical gear step outside, and take Zack in. The van's windows are tinted externally, thus prohibiting any vision to the outside world. Zack is left to wonder as to why Palladium would overlook such a flawed design, but concludes that it was an aesthetic choice after remembering Viktor's taste in outfits.
While in the drive on the way to Valcove, Zack tries to make conversation with the two soldiers but fails to elicit any response. Getting bored, he sleeps on the way, being woken up just a few minutes later.
??? - ???
"We're already here? That was quick…" Zack says, yawning as he steps out of the van. He finds himself in an empty warehouse where Viktor awaits in the shadows.
"I'm here. Where's everybody?"
"Unfortunately they ran into an emergency in Feez. They are unable to make it here." Replies Viktor, stepping out of the shadows to reveal a tall, brooding man with long black hair. Zack scoffs at the news.
"What? So what'd you bring me out here for?" Asks Zack as the two soldiers kick his knees in and begin to restrain his limbs.
"What the fuck?!" Exclaims Zack as he looks towards Viktor, who walks up to him, the latter's appearance abnormally changing. Viktor's dark hair starts turning blue, his stress lines disappear, his face slowly morphs into…
"...Omega."
Unbeknownst to Zack, Damon had grown suspicious of him and sent the junior scientist Trent Omega to investigate Zack's activities. Trent was a demediom with the ability to shapeshift into other creatures, a fact that neither Zack nor Lily were aware about.
"Zack Evergreen. What were you thinking?" Trent condescendingly asks.
"You fucking rat!" Shouts Zack, realizing his efforts the past year might amount to nothing.
"I'm the rat? I'm not the one running off to Palladium now, am I?" Replies Trent before kicking the restrained Zack in the stomach.
"What did Estreval promise you?!"
"Not much, believe it or not. Just your place as the head scientist…" Trent says, kneeling down and raising Zack's head.
"...And that phase two of our project finally commences with you as our first experiment." Trent continues as Zack's heart drops.
"If you thought Arthur Zeta's case was terrifying… Well you better brace yourself for what we plan on doing to you." Trent concludes before a mask is dragged over Zack's head, knocking him out with an unknown gas.
To Be Continued…