Chapter 1

Identification Process

Six years ago, back when I was twelve years old, I watched my own brother go through Rebirth that easily wounded up our own family. I begged him not to go, can you imagine that a little child was trying to concede his brother's decision to stop him from doing that kind of big mistake, but we didn't get to rule out his decision, we can't stop him. He basically doesn't need our parents' consent 'cause he's grown up and can do whatever what he wanted to make his life better and that leave us hanging by a thread hoping he would come back for us. However, there's no word we heard from him again. And then we just make ourselves believe that he's dead just as the time he left us.

"Go on, son, make me proud..." My mom tearfully said hugging me as he watched her another son walked away to go through the mandatory Rebirth initiation. I didn't make it fast to leave on her arms, there's no turning back once we get there and the only thing we can do is to do what we can to survive. She loses her arms on me and cupped her hands-on my face, she can't make her emotion go away. "Be with your brother..."

When mom spill out those words, I couldn't think of anything but to put him behind all of this. I shook my head against what she said, "I won't be the same as him, mom. I would do better and I'll get you out of here."

She smiles a little, "I would love that son, but you know that in this world, that's not going to happen... I failed my test and I am going to regret it for the rest of my life."

For the last time, I hugged her because we don't know maybe this could be the last time we'll see each other. I lose my arms on her and walked out of the house. I follow a lot of young people going in towards the big metal tank military truck transportation that will serve us to go in the first part of the Rebirth.

As I walk away and try to look back at my mom who's just watching me putting my life at risk. She knows what could happen there, whatever might it costs. It's either you die or you failed. My mom didn't make it until the end and all she hope was to have a better life on the Noble Land.

There were army's all over to secure and keep the protection among the null people—at least once a year, we get to feel safe within them. They were holding rifles, I think to make these people scared and frightened just to make then follow all their instruction per se.

We see a High Council public relation officer highly surrounded by armed men and is to give surely a brief announcement.

"I'm an officer from the High Council, gives you good luck as you will proceed to go through Rebirth and to change your life as it is. Please follow in line, follow all the instructions as we proceed to the identification process. A change of fate may you receive. Good day, Filthy Waste Land.

There's no such thing as filthy to what they are treating to people who they just don't like to be with.

We followed their instructions, I stay on one line and proceed to go inside on the metal transportation. There are almost twenty of us inside the vehicle, I don't know much of them, but I get to see their familiar face around. Obviously just by looking at their faces, I could say that they're afraid and some are excited.

"Hi," I approached some girl with curly red hair and has freckles on her face, "you don't like 18 to me."

She looks at me, stares just like she's examining me, "well, you look old to me though." She answered.

I didn't get to respond to her 'cause some with us laughed at it. I keep myself silent knowing that these people are also going to try to find their luck on this process and to seek a better future. And I hope, it won't end up in bloodshed—because what my mom told, it always going to end up like that, no matter what happens.

While we're waiting to come on our destination, I keep observing these people around, they and I were quiet. Their head was bowing down that seems like they don't want to be seen by anyone and some are just confident and if I could know their strengths and weakness that would be my against to them because I'm one step above from them—well if that happens.

Not that long when the vehicle has stopped, we were thrilled by it because we basically don't know if this just one of their location stops or we are already on our destination. We waited for like, more minutes when we heard rattles outside and banging the vehicle and we were terrified by it, who knows who was it, right?

When the metal door opened and the clanking sounds are such a creepy thing to hear. Our eyes were welcomed by blinding light and so I looked away trying not to go blind by it.

"Null people, ready yourselves. Exit the tank one by one and follow each other until you reach the passing area, understood?" Said by one army officer.

"Yes, sir!" we all said in chorus and pull themselves out of the vehicle.

As I step out of the vehicle, I get to see a lot of young people, who are coming out of their respective vehicles. And I think almost a hundred or maybe almost thousands were gathered here for the annual Rebirth.

"Oy!" when I heard that familiar voice. I found her in her line and she was about to go on me, but an officer came to her to stopped her from leaving her line. I just give her a nod to knowing that it is okay and we're going to be fine after this, she smiled at me and I have to do it back on her. She's a great a friend, had a lot of hesitations not to go through this process, but she can't do it, she has to follow everything and also her father is on the Noble Land.

We were lined to enter the facility to begin the identification process. As to continue whether the person is denied or approve to go beyond the whole initiation of the process. A thousand of us wanted to go through this, but there are only people who can go and some are failed to pass it

When I think most of us are in the passing area, a voice came from everywhere dominated the premises.

"Welcome to the 87th Rebirth of High Council. For all of you, this is just the beginning of everything. And your life will change as you walk through these different process and will determine your quality to pass the process. As proposed by the High Council, a change of fate you may receive. Good luck and see you on the Noble Land." The sound ended in static sound followed by an alarm which begins the first part of the identification process.

We were guided by the armed officers to enter the room to proceed with it.

The first part of the identification process is the Health and Ability stage which they determine your strength and weaknesses by taking your blood. It is not much of a problem for anyone because this is just a minor part of the process when they will examine yourself.

As it may turn comes and step a foot inside the private room held by a degree holder who performs in the medical profession. We are also guarded by two armed officers which will secure the whole process.

"Please, sit down, as I get tiny blood from you," she said and followed her order. I sat on the stool as she grabs my arm and cleans it with a cotton ball. She then injects it with a syringe and pulls out after she gets enough blood for examination. "This will take few seconds to have the result." She says and put the blood on the Petri dish.

It doesn't take any longer when she goes back to me, "you did a great job, and per se, you got good health and well proceeded to the second part."

"Thank you..." I said and left the room and heading towards the next room to check what examination I would undergo next. I really don't get what they did that and how it did happen, but I'm positive that I did great and nothing to happen by all means.

When I enter another room, there is only one staff inside. He accommodates me to sit right into the one and only chair in the center of the room.

"What's this for?" I asked.

He didn't answer. Instead, he's making a calculation on his digital tablet which automatically operates the whole room. I grab the chair and seated properly as he orders and wait to see what's going to happen. For a minute, I thought this was all just a joke and then the whole room went black-out. I didn't panic around. I stay in silence until the light went back on. I took a breath when it goes back, but when I found that the staff who was with me has gone in a blink.

I didn't make a move, I just sit on the stool and I think this is just part of the test and I don't know how it will work.

Not too long, the lights went out again and suddenly it goes back, this time he's back on his position.

"We're done." He directly said to me and that confuses me. "Wait, how is it done? We didn't do anything?" I asked.

"You didn't do," he said, "but it's over now and you can proceed to your last test."

The door opens automatically. I just wanted to ask for more, but he didn't bother to tell me what happened. And I think I passed the second part of the identification process.

The second part is called Behavior and Attitude test which determines basically what we are and what we do and the funny thing, I didn't do anything about it, but glad I did pass on it.

I proceeded to the last part of the identification process, where it will be the Identity tests. In which it will be the most crucial part, where they will decide whether the person is capable of going through the Rebirth or denied and failed to be a part of it.

I seated on the chair and leaned back. As the personnel put such medical equipment on me. As she said it is to determine my identity and also the rate of my system to go approve. She puts on sides in the temple of my head, on my arms and chest.

"This will take time, but you will definitely be fine," she stated.

I lied down and wait for the results to come out, she's on the computer screen and examining all the data's been encoded and for a minute, she goes back to me and ready to give me the result. I also notice the electronic gun on her hand.

"Oh, don't be afraid of this, but be happy that you passed the last part of the identification process. And with that cause, we have to put a tracker system on your neck to keep you monitored all the time."

"Is that necessary?" I asked.

She nodded, "it is for everybody."

I slowly nodded to her giving the consent to put the tracker on me, "ready, this may hurt a little."

She put the electronic gun on my neck and without giving heads up, she clicks it and she didn't lie because I felt it and it hurts a little. She handed me a mirror to see the tracker on my neck.

"Why it has three dots?" I asked because it is three dots formed by a triangle.

"That's a therefore tracker, which will conclude your journey beyond Rebirth." She smiles, "congratulations as you are a part of the 87th Rebirth. You may now proceed to the changing room where you can have fresh clothes, descent foods and shelter for the night."

Before I left the room, I asked her one thing, "can I ask what will happen if one person didn't pass the last test?"

"They can't go through 'cause they fail, that's it, Dylan."

Dylan? Did she just say my name? 'Cause it sounds so really weird hearing it from them.

I nodded to her and left the room. I was escorted by an officer to head in the changing room and give me clothes to wear, a towel, jumpsuit, underwear, and footwear. I think this may be a good start and I still don't know how this would work, but I need to keep moving on and fight to get what I really deserved.

It's now or never. But, if it won't they willfall.