Rebel
Chapter 1: Ross City: Eden 1
by Lu, MarieThe chapter introduces Eden Bataar Wing, a brilliant and inquisitive young man who excels academically at Ross University of the Sciences. Despite his achievements, he feels overshadowed by his older brother, Daniel Altan Wing, a revolutionary hero from the Republic of America. Eden’s identity is often reduced to being “Daniel’s younger brother,” a label he has reluctantly accepted. He reflects on his passion for understanding how things work, from machines to natural phenomena, but laments that his true self remains unseen by others, who only recognize him through his brother’s legacy.
Eden harbors deep emotional scars from the war in the Republic, which haunt him in the form of recurring nightmares. He masks his trauma with a cheerful demeanor, avoiding discussions about his past or his grief over losing his mother and brother. While Daniel appears to have moved on, Eden remains trapped in memories of their homeland, unable to reconcile the horrors they endured. His decision to pursue an internship in the Republic stems from both a desire to rebuild it and an unresolved need to confront the ghosts of his past.
Ross City, Antarctica, where Eden now lives, is depicted as a futuristic utopia, starkly contrasting the Republic’s turmoil. The Sky Floors, where he and Daniel reside, are a marvel of technology and luxury, featuring biodomes, virtual displays, and stunning auroras. Despite its beauty, Eden feels like an outsider in this alien environment. His curiosity extends to the city’s infrastructure, though some aspects, like the biodome’s mechanics, remain frustratingly elusive to him.
The chapter concludes with Eden at Ross University, sneaking out of class amidst the neoclassical architecture that symbolizes Antarctica’s homage to ancient civilizations. This setting underscores the disconnect between his past in the Republic and his present in this advanced society. Eden’s internal struggle—between his intellectual pursuits and his unresolved trauma—paints a poignant portrait of a young man caught between two worlds, yearning for understanding yet grappling with the inevitability of loss.
FAQs
1. How does Eden describe his personality and interests, and how does this contrast with how others perceive him?
Answer:
Eden describes himself as a naturally curious and analytical person who enjoys understanding how things work, from machines to natural phenomena like ant behavior. He takes pride in being a tinkerer and inventor, excelling academically at Ross University. However, others primarily see him as “Daniel’s younger brother,” overshadowed by his brother’s legendary status as a revolutionary hero. This contrast highlights Eden’s internal conflict—while he values his intellectual identity, society reduces him to a secondary figure in Daniel’s narrative, ignoring his individuality and accomplishments.2. What psychological burdens does Eden carry from his past, and how do they manifest in his daily life?
Answer:
Eden suffers from unresolved trauma stemming from the war in the Republic, including the loss of his mother and brother. These experiences haunt him through frequent nightmares, where memories of violence blend with happier times. He avoids sleep to escape these dreams and hides his distress behind a cheerful demeanor to comfort Daniel and others. His obsession with understanding the Republic’s history reflects his struggle to make sense of his trauma, though he acknowledges some events may never have logical explanations. This emotional weight isolates him, as few recognize his pain beneath his outward positivity.3. Analyze the significance of Ross City’s Sky Floors as a setting. How does it reflect broader themes in the chapter?
Answer:
The Sky Floors symbolize both privilege and alienation for Eden. As a technologically advanced utopia with pristine environments and simulated natural wonders, it contrasts sharply with the war-torn Republic of his childhood. For Eden, this “multicolored wonderland” feels artificial and unfamiliar, mirroring his own sense of displacement—despite his academic success, he remains emotionally disconnected from his surroundings. The biodome’s controlled perfection parallels Eden’s facade of happiness, masking inner turmoil. This setting underscores themes of identity and belonging, as Eden navigates life in a world that feels both awe-inspiring and isolating.4. Why does Eden pursue an internship in the Republic, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Eden’s decision to return to the Republic stems from a mix of nostalgia, guilt, and a desire for closure. He aims to repurpose Trial stadiums (symbols of oppression) into constructive spaces like hospitals, reflecting his hope to heal his homeland. However, his motivation is also deeply personal—the Republic haunts his dreams, and he seeks to reconcile with traumatic memories he cannot intellectually “solve.” This choice reveals his resilience and compassion, as well as his refusal to fully escape his past, despite the emotional cost. It underscores his dual drive to fix broken systems and mend his own fractured history.5. How does the chapter explore the theme of unresolved grief? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
Eden’s grief is pervasive but unspoken. He avoids sleep to dodge nightmares of his mother’s death and the war, and he masks his pain to avoid burdening Daniel, who seems unaffected. His fixation on the Republic—reading articles, revisiting memories—demonstrates his inability to move on, as if understanding the past could undo his loss. The line “Sometimes things just happen” encapsulates his struggle to accept irrational tragedy. Even Ross City’s beauty cannot distract him; his grief manifests in quiet moments, like startling at fireworks (mistaking them for gunfire), showing how trauma lingers beneath his polished exterior.
Quotes
1. “If you asked me to tell you about myself, I’d say first that I like to understand things. I always have. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been a tinkerer—prying apart old gadgets and laying out the innards of a broken radio or clock or toaster, delighting in the puzzle of making something new out of something old.”
This opening quote introduces Eden’s core identity as a curious and analytical thinker. It sets the stage for his character arc and his struggle to reconcile his intellectual pursuits with the shadow of his brother’s legacy.
2. “But most people don’t know me like this. Instead, they’ll say: This is Eden Bataar Wing, Daniel’s younger brother. That’s who I am to others.”
This poignant statement captures Eden’s central conflict - being defined by his brother’s fame rather than his own accomplishments. It highlights the theme of identity and the weight of familial legacy.
3. “They don’t see the boy who startles awake at the sound of fireworks popping outside, convinced that it’s the thunder of gunfire as soldiers break into our home. They don’t see the boy who forces himself to stay up one more hour just so it means one less hour of calling for his mother in his dreams.”
This powerful quote reveals Eden’s hidden trauma from the war, showing the contrast between his public persona and private suffering. It underscores the lasting psychological impact of their past experiences.
4. “Sometimes things don’t happen for a reason. The family we lost. The war that engulfed our lives. There is nothing to figure out, there is no how or why. Sometimes things just happen.”
This philosophical reflection represents a key moment of realization for Eden, where he confronts the limits of his analytical nature in processing trauma and loss. It marks a significant emotional turning point.
5. “Ross City is the capital of Antarctica, one of the most advanced nations in the world. Compared with the Republic of America, it’s an absolute utopia.”
This description introduces the striking contrast between Eden’s past and present environments, setting up the physical and cultural backdrop for the story while hinting at themes of technological advancement versus human cost.