The Southeast Military Base

49:46

Now, everyone is returning from the mission disappointed, while some people help LUK3 walk as he doesn't seem to be able to stand by himself for now. N04H doesn't seem severely affected as LUK3 really tried to protect him back there though.

[ER1C]-Should we call MY4 for you?

[LUK3]-Naah... I'm fine, guys! I just need to take some rest this night. We were lucky the gas didn't affect us back there.

[ER1C]-I was actually thinking maybe she could fix your stupidity that lies in your head, not your body.

[IZA4K]-Hehe, I don't even think Miss MY4 can fix such a huge problem.

[LUK3]-HEY! WHY ARE YOU MOCKING ME?

[ER1C]-Aww, I thought you like it when we make jokes...

[IZA4K]-Yeah, Mr. I'm-The-Best! You always enjoy when we are joking around, don't you? Especially when it's about you.

[LUK3]-YOU KNOW WHAT!? I CAN WALK ON MY OWN!

[IZA4K]-Alright then, big guy! If you say so!

Then, they both let go of his arms to let him walk by himself as LUK3 is really stubborn when he gets mad and doesn't want to admit he needs help now. So of course, instead of walking, he falls on the ground because of the lack of powers he has now. N04H stands behind all this time and can't help but feel bad about him, seeing him this way.

[IZA4K]-There you go, buddy! Walk!

[LUK3]-*mumbles* I hate you guys...

[IZA4K]-Oh, what was that? You need our help after all? See? I knew it you want us to walk with you!

[ER1C]-You don't need to act brave, LUK3. It's normal to need help sometimes.

[LUK3]-Yeah, yeah, just shut up and get me to my room.

[ER1C]-Yeesh, man. You are hard to get through today, that's for sure...

They finally get to LUK3's room, where the two guys put him down on his bed, nod for goodbye and leave him alone with N04H, who was still not feeling well about this.

[LUK3]-What is it, N04H? Why are you staring at me like that?

[N04H]-Why... do you act like nothing happened?

[LUK3]-Because nothing happened? It's not the first time any of us does this. As long as you don't see blood around me, I will be fine, buddy.

[N04H]-But you still got injured.

[LUK3]-Meh... Not really. I mean, the gas didn't affect me, neither did affect you, which means it is only a shock of the body that responds to the impact. I will get back to my powers tomorrow, though I think it will still hurt a little to be honest.

[N04H]-But still...

[LUK3]-No, just stop thinking about it. Don't make it look like it was your fault. I was the one who started this so I was responsible for saving my disciple.

[N04H]-...Disciple?

[LUK3]-Yeah! You don't see me as your master? Haha! I mean, I'm the one who is teaching you everything! A-And you don't need to be ashamed of that... Everyone had their own master at some point, even the ruler. Though, I'm not so sure I met that guy before... Point is that I have to take care of you for a while until you are ready to do everything on your own. My master told me once that a disciple takes a bit of the master's ideas and personality, just like a child copying its own parent.

[N04H]-...Your master seems wise.

[LUK3]-Nah, he was a dumbass. But he had his times of logic too!

Now it all makes sense to him. Everyone acts the same as the one that they had as a model. C0NNER acts the same as the Great Leader because he was taught by Him in the first place. LUK3 has his stupid ways of doing things because his master was doing them as well. All of these people took a part from their models in their actions. But now that he thinks about it, what kind of master did the ruler have to become this way? Was he also someone who sought revenge his entire life, or was he different?

[LUK3]-Hey, N04H...

[N04H]-Hm?

[LUK3]-Let's... stop everything about involving you in the missions. Maybe we should really wait until your whole training is done, okay? We should've listened to Master CHE5TER from the beginning after all, hehe...

But even as how stupid LUK3 was until today, he never confused N04H like this before. Or maybe, it wasn't confusion, but he didn't know either. It was his first time hearing him call the Great Leader this way, why did he change that all of a sudden?

50:03

N04H left LUK3 to take a rest alone, so he wanders the hallway a bit searching for someone that might have to talk. He doesn't really know where he could find him, but he can try the Great Leader's office. After all, they are siblings by code, aren't they? And so, when he enters, he sees Officer RY4N standing on a chair in front of the seat of the Great Leader, looking at nothing and rethinking his decisions. None of them say a word though, but RY4N knows N04H is behind him.

[RY4N]-...I'm sorry that I put you in danger, N04H. You don't... need to forgive me.

Even from his voice you can tell that he didn't make up his mind about his brother's absence. But does it really surprise anyone? Everyone says that these two were inseparable when they were younger. And even if everything changed all of a sudden, they still were there for each other. But, truth to be told, N04H never seem them that close before, only the ones that worked here before him.

[RY4N]-Would you... tell me the truth if I would ask you a question?

[N04H]-Yes...?

[RY4N]-How much... did I change in your eyes?

[N04H]-...

He waits for a response, but he already knew he will never get it. Not because of what he thinks though, it's just that N04H doesn't really know that much about these two siblings. CHE5TER is a weird man in his eyes, one time you see Him dead serious about His work and other times you see Him in the city with the others, without even wanting that much, and that is not to mention the time he saw Him catching those who were giving the city's money to the M people, a wild being that he never saw in his life before. What could he say about RY4N? He didn't stay that much with him to know him better nor did hear some things about him. In his eyes, these two are different from one another, but all of the people here say that they are very alike.

[RY4N]-*sigh*...What happened back there wasn't something that I intended to do. I didn't want to involve you in that dangerous place. But in the end... the mind doesn't win the battle with the heart. I... only realised what I've done only after I heard you were chased down. Heh... seems like even if I didn't want to, I still sought revenge, just like him. Now I understand his actions, even if it's a bit too late.

[N04H]-But... maybe it isn't too late.

[RY4N]-Maybe... You are optimistic, that's admirable. But, knowing him, he would had came back at least once from everything.

[N04H]-Maybe something just came up?

[RY4N]-Who knows... But that's not an excuse for him to not answer the calls.

[N04H]-Then... what will happen from now on?

[RY4N]-We will stop these missions for a while, that's for sure... And maybe I will talk to the South Base Leader so we can help them a bit with the investigation of the City of Above.

Then, he looks a bit down, takes a deep breath, and says his final words to the young recruit.

"...No more danger. I promise."