04.08.1642

The City of Above

10:42

It is so early in the morning that not even the most populated city has woken up at this hour. Not a soul wandering the streets, just some soldiers doing their duty of patrolling during the night while switching places every half an hour so that everyone can get some equal rest and not feel tired after. Yet the Great Leader and His "abductor" are resting on the roof of the same tall building on which they came to yesterday, since they couldn't leave until the ruler felt better and able to walk on His own. Just for the sake of remaining hidden after all. But it seems as the ruler refused to sleep close to this stranger, which would explain why the kid stands on the opposite side of the roof with its back towards the small wall that protects them from falling, a border no taller than a meter, and with its face towards the Great Leader, while CHE5TER is laying on the ground with His view towards the sky.

Minutes later though, the ruler wakes up, simply not being able to sleep anymore 'cause of the bonus rest He took yesterday so that He can recover from His injury faster. Of course, the first thing He does is to check up that part of His body which caused Him to stay in this city over the night. Even though He seems to need some more rest, the pain is almost gone when He's pressing gently on His stomach to check it out. So, He tries to get up, slowly succeeding, but limping at first until He gets used to the small pain that didn't go away. A few steps in the morning and He can later move properly, nothing more. Then He looks at the boy, still sleeping on the ground, while He is ready to wake the stranger up and go back to His city.

[CHE5TER]-General. General, let's get moving. I have to go back at my people and I don't think you want to be left alone in an unknown city to you.

Yet the boy doesn't respond, continuing its sleep. So, the ruler gets a new idea. If the boy isn't looking, then why not get back what is His? He gets closer to the boy, sitting down and beginning to search through the clothes, gently so He won't wake it up. But He found Himself being stopped by a hand that pushes Him away as a warning to back off, as the boy looks at Him sleepy, with one eye half-open and the other still closed.

[General]-...Don't you even dare, buddy. Just because I don't look like I'm paying attention, doesn't mean I cannot protect myself in any state I am.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* It was worth a try though, wasn't it?

[General]-Ha ha...

So when CHE5TER finally backs off, the boy starts wiping its eyes, looking around at the dark sky in which the suns didn't even rise well yet.

[General]-...Why are you even waking me up? The sky is as dark as the void at this time of day. Let me sleep for a few more minutes at least...

[CHE5TER]-Little one, I have my duty to complete. I cannot stay in this city for too long without going back.

[General]-Then leave without me, what's the problem? I can always go back to your place since I know the way.

[CHE5TER]-I am not going anywhere and leave you alone with my ore, thief. Remember that? And it's not like you will have access to my building again after what you've done.

[General]-*sigh* Okay, fair enough...

The boy gets up, stretches a bit its arms to begin its day fully and yawns while doing so. The Great Leader though seems to get ready to leave at any point, simply waiting for the boy to come.

[General]-Where are we going first? Are we going to see the city of the underground or this city?

[CHE5TER]-I am going somewhere, not "we". YOU are going to wait for me until I come back and then we will see.

[General]-I won't bet on that, buddy. Who says that I cannot simply leave with the ore while you are not looking and never come back? I have to go back home too, not only you.

[CHE5TER]-So you want to get back at my place and get chased down again by my soldiers?

[General]-Soldiers... Pfft...

[CHE5TER]-What's so funny?

[General]-Oh, nothing! Nothing! Just a thought of mine! ...Anyway, I won't be chased down by anybody, okay? I will stay hidden while you do your work.

[CHE5TER]-Mhm... And who says you are a good hider though?

[General]-Well, I did managed to enter your building pretty easily without anybody noticing me, remember?

[CHE5TER]-Okay, so? You got caught later on.

[General]-And yet I also managed to get out of the building while carrying you with me, nobody knowing where I went nor what happened to us.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Alright, alright... You win, General. But because of this idea alone, I will hurry up just 'cause I don't want you to stay in my base for too long and cause trouble.

[General]-Such lack of trust, I swear... Okay, Seven. You do you. But what exactly do you need to do at your "base"?

[CHE5TER]-Work? And I also have a few things to take with me. And... also change my clothes and clean myself up... I just have a few things to do since I left so suddenly because of you.

[General]-And... how much will it take exactly?

[CHE5TER]-I don't know, but I will hurry up. If anything, I won't do much with my papers and just focus on what I need to do when I get there.

[General]-Alright. Lead the way.

Yet before they start jumping from the roof to get down, safely doing it so they won't harm themselves, the kid has some more questions.

[General]-...Soo, what's the plan of sneaking down there?

[CHE5TER]-We will simply avoid the soldiers and hope that they do not see us.

[General]-Okay... and the guards? I mean, I can try again what I did last time, but the space is so small to even do something from the entrance.

[CHE5TER]-What do you mean?

[General]-Well, it was a bit hard for me to get into this city since there are a few people protecting the entrances down there. Weren't you aware of those guys?

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* I forgot about them, god dammit... No worries though. I will create a small disguise and we will get down there without any kind of problem.

[General]-Disguise? Are we taking masks or something like that?

[CHE5TER]-Masks? No, no. I will simply create something for myself and say you are with me, alright? You will see what I mean later.

[General]-If you are so sure of yourself, then alright... Though I have a few doubts about this plan of yours.

The Southeast Military Base

11:06

And even with the boy's doubts, His plan succeeded, getting themselves inside the base in the end. As to why it succeeded, the Great Leader simply used one of His disguises that the soldiers from the other bases are aware of, with a wig and some contact lenses, convincing them in the end. A single problem was encountered with the ID card, since He didn't have the fake one He uses with Him at the moment, so He had to create another one and lie further. As for the stranger, He told the guards that the boy is a base soldier's son who wishes to learn about this work so that he can join them later, having the approval of the ruler of going to the City of Above. Something easily handled by the Great Leader after all, even if the boy was surprised.

When they got to the base though, they had to make sure first that they don't get caught there either. The boy is a wanted enemy of the base now after all, so the ruler doesn't want to alert everyone so early. But since the base is asleep at this hour, that isn't really a problem. They go to the ruler's office, where CHE5TER starts to do His thing. He looks for His equipment, which is His sword and a few packed things like Energy Killers and so on, then for His disguise device which He needs the most and then even looking for one that He could give the boy too so it won't catch anybody's attention, especially in the City of Above.

[CHE5TER]-...So, where did you say you wanted to go first?

[General]-Are there... more cities? Let's go wherever we can. I do not know anything about these two, so how should I know where I want to go?

[CHE5TER]-So the Underground City will be... Okay but first, we need to find you a disguise before anything.

[General]-Like the one you used? Won't be so hard to make though... Why even bother searching for something like that?

[CHE5TER]-That one was simply because I didn't have anything with me at all. We will use the device this time.

[General]-"Device"...?

[CHE5TER]-Hm? You don't know about the device that disguises you in whatever you set it to be?

[General]-I don't, actually... It's the first time I hear about something like that.

[CHE5TER]-Okay, better question: what the hell do you guys have in that village? How come you do not have devices like these? These things are literally essential for our survival. How the hell do you guys hide from the M soldiers? Or do you even have those guys in your village?

[General]-M soldiers? So you are a C soldier?

[CHE5TER]-I will take that as a "no" then... You made me so curious about this home of yours now, General.

[General]-I didn't mean that. I know what's an M soldier. But why do you have to hide from them?

[CHE5TER]-Huh?

[General]-You know what... Never mind. I confuse you and you confuse me even more if we continue this conversation.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* You are a strange guy, little one...

They stop chatting, the boy simply looking at the window noticing the view of the city once again, staring at it to admire the sleepy place hidden so well in the ground. It is so beautiful for this stranger, even without being a child of this city. It looks at the buildings with no light inside them and the empty streets, and even without people present, the view remains wonderful.

But it doesn't take long before it is stopped by CHE5TER, who has found the device He told the boy about, looking a bit through it to set it up.

[CHE5TER]-Alright... Let's see if it fits your style, Mr. General. I don't think the clothes will be too big or anything, I hope. After this, you can go back to staring at the city while I complete a few papers and go wash myself.

[General]-Do I really have to change my clothes though...? These are clothes that represent me, that represent my village.

[CHE5TER]-You don't have to change anything. The device will simply create a small illusion which will appear for everyone else as different clothes, or even different people. I have this one set already, so we don't need to stress ourselves with setting another one.

[General]-Alright... And how do I activate it exactly?

[CHE5TER]-I will help you at first to show you how it works, then you should be able to do it yourself.

[General]-What do I have to do then?

[CHE5TER]-More than simply coming to me and staying still to pay attention to how I set it, nothing. Now stop talking and move.

The boy obeys to His words, coming in front of Him while the ruler sets a small helping device for this small thing to make a place in which to set it, putting it right into the stranger's chest, being one of the special spots of them. Other spots can be on the hands too, right inside the communication devices, but since the boy doesn't have the soldiers' equipment, CHE5TER is just setting it on a spot in which He can be sure the boy won't lose it by moving too often.

Then, He begins to set the disguise itself, putting the sphere-shaped device into its special spot, then pressing a button on it to change the clothes of the young man. But something doesn't work for some reason. When He presses it, nothing happens, giving only a tiny sound, two beeps, which indicate that the device doesn't work properly. Then, He tries again and failing once more.

[CHE5TER]-Strange... It didn't give any error until now... Might it be because you do not have the equipment needed?

[General]-I guess? But what does the beep represent exactly?

[CHE5TER]-Technically it means that the device didn't find any kind of body near its position to function, and usually the problem comes because it isn't set properly to be right on the surface of the skin. Some of the soldiers got the same problem when using these devices for the first time too, but I set it pretty well now...

[General]-Do I need special equipment for it?

[CHE5TER]-I mean, yeah. The equipment we use for it is an armor too, where this device can be attached and it's making this connection between all the things we use, whether is clothes or the armor itself. But that's why we have helping devices too, for those that did not get their equipment. *sigh* I swear, if the Central Base gave me a disguise device that doesn't work by being connected to these things, they've went insane for sure... I told them that I do not want the devices to change their connections yet! Why do they have to remove it anyway!?

[General]-So I guess we give up on this idea, huh?

[CHE5TER]-Unfortunately, I think so too. I do not have another one, and it takes a few hours to set them... I guess you can remain in these clothes when we are in the Underground City, but in the City of Above, you might have to create a wig and a few contact lenses for yourself if you want to survive. I will take care of the documents if needed.

[General]-Alright... And what will you wear? Or you can go this way since you are the son of this city and all these people are your brothers and sisters?

[CHE5TER]-I have my own disguise, no need of worry.

[General]-So you hide from them?

[CHE5TER]-And?

[General]-What do you mean "and"? Why would you hide from your home siblings? True warriors trust themselves no matter the appearances, and those that are your kind are your relatives. "Hurt my home and you hurt my kind. Hurt my kind and you hurt my brothers. Hurt my brothers and you hurt me. Hurt me and I will make sure you will not come back alive."

[CHE5TER]-It's hard to explain it, buddy... And even so, what do you know about true warriors anyway? You are just a child, what fears do you even have?

[General]-Aren't you a child too? You don't seem that old either.

[CHE5TER]-So what if I am not old? I've witnessed more than I should to call myself a warrior. What exactly did you do in that village of yours?

[General]-Oh, you wouldn't even know...

They stop talking since both of them got annoyed from the responses they got. In the end, CHE5TER takes the devices off, putting them where they staying before and going to His desk to take a few papers quickly and solve them before leaving. He signs a few of them, writes something on another few, and some of them are just read quickly since they are just some reports of a few problems around the city. Not huge problems, just some local issues that the citizens have and reported to the Council or the Northwest Base, which later those that are thought to be important and in the need of being seen by the Great Leader arrive in His possession and then back to the soldiers.

Meanwhile, the boy went back to staring at the view of the city, now sitting down on the ground and resting while doing so, waiting for the ruler to finish His work and leave. It passes a few minutes, the boy even getting a bit bored.

[CHE5TER]-You know... You can go there if you wish. There is another exit of the building that leads directly to the city without the need of use of the tunnels. Just that be careful so nobody will see you. We need the building to remain a secret. And just make sure to wait for me outside. I don't want to hear that you've run off and I've lost my only chance on obtaining information on a whole new object.

[General]-What about you then?

[CHE5TER]-I will come, do not worry. But I have a few things to solve first. You can wait for me at the exit.

[General]-*sigh* I am more surprised that you let me go on my own, but at this point everything is possible... Alright. See you at the exit then, Seven.

[CHE5TER]-See you.

So the boy leaves the ruler behind, going outside the room to find the exit on its own, while CHE5TER remains a bit in His office to finish His duty. Before He leaves though, He takes an empty paper in which He starts a different type of work, then leaves His office after a few minutes to go and clean Himself up, before finally meeting up with the boy at the exit as planned.

The Underground City

12:21

And minutes later, they found themselves on the streets of the city wandering around the empty area. It isn't much to do since the city is asleep and there are only a few people around, but it is the boy's wish to see both of the cities after all, and the ruler tries to fulfil it for the sake of getting a reward as well. Now He finally has His crevaator clothes too, alongside His equipment, making Him able to walk around as He pleases.

[General]-Where do we go now? What do you guys have as places to visit?

[CHE5TER]-We don't have much though. Most of the areas of visiting are bars and a few parks. The city doesn't have that many special places, we focus only on survival. Do you guys have any?

[General]-Let me think... Oh, I think I know a few! We have the central building of the village which is the biggest building in our area, and in which we also have the machine that creates us.

[CHE5TER]-The Underground City doesn't have it, but the City of Above has it for sure. It is a tall building right in the center of that city in which we've rested yesterday. But it has the same architecture as all the other buildings in that city, so I don't know how yours looks like.

[General]-I guess it is something similar to a simple house, but a bit taller. Not as tall as your buildings of the above though. Compared to them, our building is tiny. But it is the tallest for us.

[CHE5TER]-I see... Anything else?

[General]-Hmm... Oh, we have a small lake of Histvorh that we've built years ago. Some of our people went into the wilderness and found a lot of supplies of solid Histvorh, so they've moved them during the night and put them in a nearby crater, exploiting it after as a source of Energy Killers during the day when the ore is getting to its liquid form.

[CHE5TER]-Really? We have very small areas of Histvorh being let to flow on the ground though. Our people keep the supplies in some special compartments to keep the ores in their liquid form all the time. Most of those areas are the parks to give an effect of a natural light, but below the liquid, there are a few lights to keep it in that liquid form. So it isn't as natural as people think... The ore lights up, don't get me wrong, but there is always something that keeps its form over there. What about the people there? How are they?

[General]-They are nice, how should they be? After all, why would I call them my siblings if it wasn't this way?

[CHE5TER]-So no conflicts?

[General]-I won't say that... Conflicts exist everywhere. We cannot do anything about that. But I guess my kind gets along pretty well with its people.

[CHE5TER]-...

Yet the ruler makes a small pause while He thinks of something. By how this child explains its village, it is a huge difference between these places that they call "home".

[CHE5TER]-...Do you... feel free there?

[General]-Hm? What do you mean?

[CHE5TER]-Just a thought...

But the question seems confusing for the boy. Maybe because it doesn't understand what the ruler wants to say.

[General]-...Well, what is the concept of "freedom" for you?

[CHE5TER]-To be able to do what you love, without the need of hiding in the shadows...

[General]-And aren't you doing what you love already? You do not seem to battle anything in particular to me. Whatever you consider this battle to be, it seems more like an illusion, simply hurting yourself by thinking about something that isn't there. You seem pretty free to me. You are free to wander these streets of this city, you are free to go above the ground and see the sky, even if you or your Original get concerned about each other. You do not consider it to be freedom too?

[CHE5TER]-...But I am hiding for this "freedom" of mine. I am not able to do it as myself, only as someone else. Why should I call it "freedom"?

[General]-It is too complicated to simply say what freedom really means, Seven. It is one of the concepts that is seen different by each being alive, so it doesn't have a proper description. I can say that I was free up to a point in my life too, and then complained that my freedom was lost or stolen later. But as long as you are alive and you can live with those that you love, wouldn't it be considered "freedom" too?

CHE5TER stops talking though, as He lost Himself in His own world again. Even if this child looks pretty young, younger than the ruler for sure, it has such a mind that you wouldn't even thought it had. Maybe because their culture is different?

[General]-Let's stop thinking about that. We have so many subjects to discuss after all. Like, what do your people consider to be fun here?

[CHE5TER]-...Fun? Well... there are a few games that the children are playing... But personally, I enjoy doing something else.

[General]-"Something else"?

[CHE5TER]-Say... you are not afraid of height, are you?

[General]-Hm?

But the boy looked a bit confused at the ruler, not until He began to lead it somewhere, to do this thing that He considers "fun". It is one of the buildings nearby, climbing it with the child and waiting for it to be ready.

[General]-So... what exactly are we going to do?

[CHE5TER]-Never jumped from a building to another, I assume?

[General]-Eh? Why would you do such thing though?

[CHE5TER]-For fun.

[General]-Fun? Isn't it disrespectful for those that live in these houses in the first place?

[CHE5TER]-If you put it this way, it was disrespectful the moment we got on the roof of this building, buddy. And you did it too without me leading you up there, when you took me away from my people.

[General]-*sigh* Fair enough... Alright, you won, Seven. So what's the destination then?

[CHE5TER]-We don't have one. It's just for the sake of losing some more time until the city wakes up. Just follow me and nothing will happen. Now go!

And so, the Great Leader starts moving quickly, getting from His initial position to a different one, while the boy simply stood a bit perplexed looking at this strange man moving.

[General]-...What's the point of doing this if you don't even have a destination?

But it begins to follow Him in the end, jumping to the next building and trying to catch up. A chase is now began to go on, with the ruler being on top for the moment and even beginning to get bored that the boy doesn't seem so good at it. He looks back at it and begins to encourage it.

[CHE5TER]-Come on, you slow rock! You are remaining behind! Stay there and you get lost!

[General]-Oh, I will show you who is slow, bastard!

So the ruler continues running, amusing Himself from this child that thinks it's the best. But He laughed too fast, 'cause in a blink of an eye, a force so quick travels next to Him, getting far away before He even noticed. When He looked in front of Him, He got surprised to see the child with its C colour lit up looking back at Him while showing its tongue as a way of taunting the ruler, while the strange mist evaporates from the way the child came. And then, it disappears again, going faster and faster from a building to another, like a lightning traveling around the city, which makes CHE5TER stop on a random building to analyse this strange being. He sure is confused since no such power was ever seen in history, but continues to try and catch up too, even if it's impossible to do so.

When the boy gets done with running around, it stops to wait a few minutes for the ruler, who was waaaay behind it and struggling to get to its position. When He arrives, He breaths so heavily since He ran as fast as He could to catch up with the boy, staying down for a bit of rest.

[General]-So who is slow now, hmm?

[CHE5TER]-...How can you... move so fast...? I couldn't even... see you jump...

[General]-Mhm, cry now that you lost to your own game.

[CHE5TER]-I'm serious... General! Nobody has such... speed...

[General]-I guess that's what makes me special. But, to be honest, it was rather entertaining. You didn't lie about fun! What's next now? Do you have other games that you play too??

[CHE5TER]-I need to... take a breath first... We will... wait until the city... wakes up then...

[General]-*sigh* But I wished to do more...

[CHE5TER]-...Oh, shut up!

16:13

Hours later, the city finally woke up while these two stood on one of the roofs of the buildings for the ruler to rest. The boy admired the view in the meantime as always, so nothing much happened. After CHE5TER woke up from His nap, they got down and began to wander around the city again, going towards the merchants, the nearby bars and so on.

CHE5TER took a drink for Himself when He found the occasion, thinking that the effects of the drinks shouldn't affect Him anymore like they did last time, and even the boy wished to try one, but it didn't know anything about those drinks at all, of course. So, the ruler helped it to get something soft for it, to not get drunk or anything as it seemed to Him that the boy has its first drink ever. Or at least first drink in this city.

Then, they went to the merchants to look around, thinking that the boy would wish to buy a few things to bring to its home and show to its people. It didn't want anything at first though, but it got interested later on when it noticed a small object that looked like a key ring with a tiny handmade sculpture of one of their gods, faceless, which simply caught its attention because of this design of a god. Though it didn't ask who this goddess it, as it didn't seem to care that much about this subject.

And then, they simply got to walking through the streets while the ruler says a few words about each area, like how many people live there, what are their occupation and a small fun fact wherever He can. But it doesn't seem as the ruler wants to bring this boy anywhere besides the general city, like the areas of the "walls" which include a few buildings that belong to smaller clans or even the clans of the Council, the crevaators' area, some important yet abandoned parks and so on.

[General]-...And why exactly are you hiding from those of the above?

[CHE5TER]-I guess because of a small conflict of ours. We've been hiding from them for some good years now, and who knows how many years in the future we will continue doing so. Some of us do go up there because of work, or even a bit of wandering, though the rules of our city have changed a while ago and only those with permission can now enter the City of Above.

[General]-So in other words, you guys like to complicate yourselves with laws, huh?

[CHE5TER]-Something like that. But it is a way of protecting everyone after all.

[General]-What about those that rule over this city? You've told me that both of the cities are ruled by some people, right?

[CHE5TER]-Right. It's not much about them though, because the information regarding the ones that protect the city isn't revealed to the public eye, so I do not have any kind of words to say.

[General]-But you work in a base, right? And told me that you are a soldier too.

[CHE5TER]-That shouldn't mean we are a part of those people though. We are just a small organisation, which I guess it has some kind of connection to the protectors, but we do not get much information about them either.

[General]-So another complication of yours... Then what do you know about them?

[CHE5TER]-Just that they are called the "Council" and over them there is a "boss" that is actually the ruler of the whole city, making all the decisions that are put in practice later on, the "Great Leader". It is a general information that each citizen of the city knows about it, so no matter who you ask, they will tell you the same thing. Or, well... maybe a few more things about each clan from that group if you are lucky...

[General]-What about that "Great Leader"? Do you know anything about that guy?

[CHE5TER]-Not really. The Great Leader wished to be anonymous His entire existence, even the first one that had this title. The descendants simply did the same, so nobody knows exactly who He truly is. The best you could do is to ask the Council since they are led by Him after all.

[General]-Alright... So then, what exactly are you? Do you have a title too?

[CHE5TER]-No. I'm a simple being. My whole title is probably one of a "soldier", but nothing more.

[General]-*sigh* Disappointing...

Of course the ruler lies. The boy is still a stranger to Him, so why would He tell the truth? Everything He said is kind of true too though, even if He wished to not say who He is. It's true that the Council is the one protecting the city, it's true that the Great Leader is the ruler of everyone, and it's true that people will tell the boy the same information that the ruler said. But it isn't true that His title is simply of a "soldier".

[CHE5TER]-What about you then? You called yourself "General" to me, so it would mean that it is your title, right? How did you get it and who do you lead?

[General]-Well, I am a General, it's true, but I do not lead anybody.

[CHE5TER]-Hm? What do you mean?

[General]-My people do not believe that a simple being should lead anyone else, so we are all having an equal right when it comes to laws and freedom. The village in which I live doesn't have a ruler, we live without the need of one. When a problem comes, we unite ourselves to fight against it together. This "General" title that I have is nothing more but a word of showing my power. Titles are given to those that show what they are capable of, but we do not lead anybody in particular. At worst we simply make the plans which we have to execute it with the others, but people will make actions only based on what they believe it is right anyway. This is why we call ourselves "brothers and sister", since we all are equal no matter our titles.

[CHE5TER]-A world without a ruler... Wouldn't it cause chaos? People have different mindsets after all. Don't we all need a ruler to make everything peaceful?

[General]-It is simply my people's belief. It was an old saying around our village that went like this: "A ruler is the interpretation of the Devil Himself, a fallen god that came to us to cause chaos in order for Him to get revenge on those that hurt Him. A sinner". We believed for many years that if we let someone be our ruler, then that person will take advantage of this title and abuse everything He can with His new power. But if the ruler of this city is doing nothing more than just taking care of His own people, then I guess I might change this mindset of mine...

[CHE5TER]-...You are... not wrong though... The ruler of this city is alright I guess, but the one from the above is doing nothing but inspire fear to his own people. A sinner as you said. It depends only on the person that is left to lead that city, or village in your case. If you let a scumbag as a leader, then you did it with your own hand. But if you let someone that is capable of leading, then the ruler cannot be truly called a sinner, right?

[General]-Right... You know a lot about these subjects, Soldier Seven. Did someone teach you about them?

[CHE5TER]-No. I've learnt them on my own.

[General]-Hmm, alright... Then what about personal questions? Can I ask that?

[CHE5TER]-"Personal questions"...?

[General]-Mhm. Like... how old are you exactly? You do not seem that older than me.

[CHE5TER]-I got to the age of 24 a few months ago. Anything else?

[General]-So you are three years older than me... Alright, what about your ancestors? You told me you are the eleventh LENKOV, right? And I will guess that your Original is the tenth one.

[CHE5TER]-They were simple beings like me and my brother. They've died years ago though, all of them.

[General]-All of them? How so? Why did they die?

[CHE5TER]-I don't... know.

[General]-Huh?

[CHE5TER]-...I don't really know what caused their death. I only know that my father died being killed by someone from the above, but all the others died mysteriously, or even simply disappeared out of nowhere. I guess it's a... curse of the bloodline... 'cause I was close to being affected by it too.

[General]-...You mean close to your death?

[CHE5TER]-Yes.

[General]-So that's why I found you affected by the gas? And the same reason of your scar?

[CHE5TER]-...

And the ruler stops answering to that question. So, the boy asks something different.

[General]-...What about your true name? I know you have a name other than LENKOV, and Seven is simply a nickname of yours.

[CHE5TER]-I will... tell you my name when I consider that the right time has come. Until then, I am simply "Seven".

[General]-*sigh* Is it because I didn't tell you my name either?

[CHE5TER]-Maybe.

The boy seems a bit annoyed by the response at first, but it gets back to its character not long after, as they continue walking around the streets of the city. They visit some more places, chat even more about the city and finally take a pause from this whole tour. They sit on a small bench nearby, watching the view of the lively city going on, as it woke up in the end and the people are active as always.

[CHE5TER]-...When do you think you will go back to your village?

[General]-Why are you asking? Heh, you want the ore so badly that you cannot wait for me to leave?

[CHE5TER]-Maybe...

[General]-Well, I don't know. To be honest, I don't even know the way back. As I said, I just found myself in this area guided by the calling of the ore. Who knows if I will be able to find it alone though... I guess that my siblings are waiting for me to come back already.

[CHE5TER]-If you managed to come here, you will manage to go back too. Isn't that right?

[General]-I hope so... Yet I have a feeling of regret that is killing me now, and which I... don't know why it even exists. It feels like I've forgotten to do something important, but I can't remember what... Maybe I had to be with someone?

[CHE5TER]-If it was so important, then why would you forget?

[General]-I don't know... Believe me that I want to know that too. But I just... can't remember it.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh*

They stop again from talking, continuing to admire the city. Yet seconds later, it seems that the boy's attention was caught by something else, being a small ball, a toy of some children, which was thrown by mistake towards its position. The ball touched its leg after all, which is why it got its attention, so it looks in front to see whose toy is, seeing a few kids running towards its direction to take it back.

[Child1]-Sorry, Mister!!! Can you give us the toy back? We didn't mean to disturb y--

--Yet the kid that was talking seems as he is stopped by another kid from running, taking him by a hand and dragging him a bit back, while looking in terror at the figures that simply stand on the bench.

[Child1]-Hey!! What was that for??

[Child2]-C-C... C-Crevaators...

So, of course the boy got surprised hearing that reaction, getting a bit scared too and backing off.

[General]-Crevaators?

[CHE5TER]-Beings that like to eat their own ki--

[General]- --I know what a crevaator is, genius! I was asking rather why the kid got scared all of a sudden!

[CHE5TER]-Right... Well, I am wearing their clothes after all, and yours aren't far from this design either. Of course the kids confuse us with that clan. It is the same reason why I am wearing it after all.

[General]-Bastard...

The boy takes off the hood it had, looking at the kids friendly and taking the ball from the ground.

[General]-I am no crevaator, children of my kind! You do not need to fear me! I am one of your people!

Yet the kids were still afraid of this young man. Seeing that it does not succeed this plan, it gets up from the bench and intends to give them the ball. Of course when the boy gets closer, the kids make a few steps away, so it tries another method. This time, it does a little trick, throwing the ball a bit up and then catching it with its leg, playing a bit with it, until the boy throws it gently towards them to catch it with their hands. Yet it seems that this plan succeeded, as it caught the kids' attention and amazed them with the few tricks it knows. One though, dares to ask the stranger something.

[Child3]-...Can you... do it again?

[General]-Hm? Oh, of course! Throw it back to me!

So the kid throws it back, only for the stranger to begin to play with it again, showing them some more tricks and getting the kids a bit more comfortable. When it throws it back, the kids seem to start playing around with this guy, passing the ball to each other and to it as well. Of course the Great Leader chuckles for a bit seeing an adult showing off to some kids just to impress them, yet He stands on His bench, waiting for the boy to finish its playtime.

The stranger has its fun with these kids for sure, in a city that is not its. It is an outsider, maybe even a threat to all of them, yet it seems as it just wants to get accepted by those people, by this new culture that it found, being only different people, but same beings at the end of the day. And maybe a rest like this is not so rare as it seems, at least for it.

So, when it gets back to the ruler, He already had His amusement, but He wishes to continue with it for a few more minutes.

[CHE5TER]-Are you done already, little child?

[General]-I just had a bit of fun, Seven! Why didn't you join too?

[CHE5TER]-I'm not the type of being to show off to some kids that I already know to not have the skills that I do, just for the sake of impressing them. I let them play with each other rather than disturb them.

[General]-Is it a rule of your culture?

[CHE5TER]-No. But I simply had no other rephrase for the answer "I need to stay hidden". So? You seem good at this game. How come?

[General]-Well, playing with toys like this one is something like a... tradition... I guess. Every child in my village has played this game before. So when I was younger, I've spent much of my time doing this type of stuff with my friends.

[CHE5TER]-Your "brothers and sisters", huh?

[General]-Heheh... Yeah, something like that. Anywaaay... where are we going now? What's next on the list?

The Southeast Military Base

16:26

Yet it seems that while those two were out in the city, the other soldiers were waking up for their daily routine. A few already left towards the City of Above to begin their search for the Great Leader again, while others are still trying to get themselves ready for the morning. RY4N is still looking a bit off, since the stress he got as a bonus didn't help at all.

He talks to a few people about searching for the ruler after all, but most of them already lost hope in thinking that they can actually find Him in the City of Above. The city is way to big, with all kinds of areas that might be good for a hiding spot, so who exactly tells them that they have a chance of finding Him?

[RY4N]-Have you got any information about the area that I told you about, Mr. D4NI3L?

[D4NI3L]-No. I did not find anything with it that it might help you.

[B4S7IAN]-...Master RY4N--

[RY4N]- --Then what about those from the other teams?

[B4S7IAN]-Master RY4--

[D4NI3L]- --Nothing from them either. I'm sorry.

[RY4N]-Then we will search again until the night falls just like we did yesterday.

[B4S7IAN]-Master RY4N!

And it seems that a group of people are watching the young Officer stressing himself even more, before he stops to see what they want. He looks tired, a bit pale and as if he didn't sleep that well the previous night.

[B4S7IAN]-...We've done everything we could to find the Great Leader, Master RY4N. But even if we search further, the intruder probably already went far away from our area and found himself a good spot of hiding. We have no chances of simply finding Him in that huge city at all. We can work as much as you wish, but nothing will give us such a big luck. You have to stop this nonsense and get some rest.

[MY4]-...CHE5TER is strong, RY4N. If He really is in trouble, I believe He can handle one man alone. Sooner or later, He will come back to us. He always comes back. He promised...

[IS4MU]-We know that these past moments in this base were tough for you, we know how much worry you have on your shoulders, but forever living in constant despair won't be the answer to your problems. Ever since He got injured, you've stopped thinking about yourself completely and worried only about your brother. Does it look like it solved something? It only made everything worse for you the more you've thought of the ruler.

[N4THAN]-...We do not wish you any harm, please believe us. But we all want you to take a pause from all of this and trust His powers again. He is the Great Leader in the end. We know it might be a problem if we lose Him, but He can handle everything alone too and He showed it to us these past months. You have to trust us. We can handle the situation and protect our city as well, without needing you to overwork.

[RY4N]-But you don't understand... I--

[MY4]- --Please, RY4N. If you are not doing for the sake of this city, then do it for Him. Take a rest. Everything is going to be alright.

Yet he doesn't respond. He knows one day he has to let CHE5TER go anyway, they cannot be together forever as he wishes. But they are tied up by the code, and it hurts him so much knowing that his little brother might just disappear completely when he expects the least. Being raised with Him ever since he was a newborn, playing with Him all day, training with Him, learning at school with Him... Everything they ever did in this life was together.

He leaves the group of people without looking back though. You might think that the third incident won't have any effect on him anymore, yet it seems as it gets worse as more problems come. First time, CHE5TER was injured, so he was, of course, worried, but he knew He is a warrior and can survive this fate. Second time, He disappeared, letting the whole base think that He died, killed by the M soldiers, which broke him into pieces the moment he heard such rumour and cried. Now, the third time, the ruler is abducted by a complete stranger, injured by this man and taken away towards an unknown location, without even knowing if that person was an M born or not. And knowing that it might be a threat to the whole city too, not just his brother, it simply stressed him more than ever, while even being sick.

He arrives at the Great Leader's office, where he closes the door behind him and looks around, searching for the old broken photo of them all, a bit unhappy. He sits down on the couch and stares at it for a few minutes, but he doesn't say a word. Then, he sighs, getting up and going towards the ruler's desk, where he puts the photo down and prepares to leave the room. Yet before doing so, something on CHE5TER's desk catches his attention. It is a small paper, folded, on which is written his name "RY4N", covering the whole space on it.

It seems to be the ruler's writing, a message for His brother that is concerned, waiting for Him at the base. So, he opens the paper and starts reading it, only for him to have a breath of relief and finally being able to enjoy a rest he needed the most in these times, even chuckling for a bit. And after he finishes reading it, he goes towards his room, where he prepares himself a small handkerchief, sits down on his bed and begins a long rest without any kind of problem bothering him.

"...Hey, RY4N. I know it might be strange everything what I'm going to tell you now and you might have a lot of questions after, but I want to start this letter with a simple sentence: I'm sorry if I made your time at the base a living Hell. The intruder from yesterday was an unexpected visitor for both of us and believe me that I did not wish for anything of this to happen at all. But here is how everything is going for me now.

I managed to talk a bit with this strange guy and sorted everything out. He is no enemy, at least for the time being. He is a young C born that comes from a distant land which I wish to learn about and discover more, a reason why you don't see me at the base right now. He might be lying and all, but he made me curious. I can't lie on that matter. I will keep my eyes on him for a few days to know that he doesn't bring any kind of danger to our city, nor to us.

Funnily enough though, it seems that the kid is interested in learning about our culture, or more like about our cities, the City of Above and the Underground City. From what he explained, I would guess that this action of abducting me was simply an instinct of survival kicking in, but he said he meant no harm for any of us. If anything, I will show him around the two cities in the meantime in hope that he will take me to his home too. Who knows, maybe he is the key to whatever our father wanted us to find. Maybe we needed to find that village from which the boy comes. But again, I cannot tell for certain at the moment.

Please do not worry about me. I came earlier today to take everything I needed, so I will be fine. If you do not see me around the base at all for the next days, then you know the reason. And if you want to talk, you can give me a message whenever you want. I promise, I will respond whenever I can. We will see each other soon, I will make sure of it.

Oh, and one more thing."

"...Take a rest, you rascal."