Characters, arcs, and general plot:

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[City name TK] is a city state built to keep humanity alive after nuclear apocalypse, and is highly controlling. It's your classic evil dystopian city, so it's obvious that people would want to escape. Outside the city, there exists escapees, children of escapees, and maybe even descendants of nuclear-survivors. Any potential threat to the city must be eliminated, so they are locked in an asymmetrical war against those who live outside. 

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Due to a population problem within the city, an engineering unit is sent outside to establish an outpost in hopes to expand the settlement's borders. Jonathan's transport is ambushed and raided for parts by the desert-dwellers outside the city. As the only survivor, Jonathan ends up their captive and is taken to a rebellion meeting aiming to destroy the expansionary outposts. At the meeting there are many different outlaws volunteering to fight, two of which are Kiera and Missy. 

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Before the simultaneous attack on three outposts, Jonathan escapes captivity and warns the city's military. In the eyes of the military, Jonathan could either be part of a trap or telling the truth. So, they prepare for both options by increasing security and interrogating Jonathan. 

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The battle commences, and the increased security kills a ton of rebels including Missy. One military member uses a face-binding mind control device on Missy, and Kiera has to beat her to death with a rock. 

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This part of the story ends with Jonathan escaping captivity again to help the rebels, most of the rebels dying, and Jonathan remaining stranded in the desert. Forced to wander, he stumbles onto Diz, helps her fix her van, and she takes him in. Kiera is set up to be the main antagonist later.