Chapter 12 - Gentle Dove

15.04.1642

The Underground City

15:48

Now we are witnessing one of the soldiers of the base at their own apartment, more exactly Officer KYR4, who seems to be sleeping peacefully in her bed. It's not like she is having a dream or something, it's only that she doesn't seem to be pissed off by any movement while sleeping. But of course her biggest problem of her life appears out of nowhere and wakes her up.

[LUK3]-KYR444!! KYR4, wake uuup!!!

[KYR4]-Mmm...

[LUK3]-Wake up, you little rascal!

[KYR4]-...Mmleave me alone, LUK3... Wait! LUK3!?

She gets up in a moment when she realises what's happening and gets confused as hell.

[LUK3]-Yep!

[KYR4]-Wha... How did you get into my apartment!?? You know, it's a goddamn law to not enter people's property without their approval!!

[LUK3]-Aw, not even best friends...?

Behind LUK3 stands a girl which KYR4 recognises in a second. It's MY4.

[KYR4]-*sigh* Of course it was you...

[LUK3]-Now get up, KYR4!! It's only the three of us for the rest of this day!!

[KYR4]-I would prefer to stay only with MY4 rather than staying with you as well, LUK3. Just saying...

[LUK3]-Why are you so meeean? I told RY4N to give you a free day today! Can't you just be happy that I'm doing this for you?

[KYR4]-One: you annoy me, alright? All the stupid things you do are simply unbearable, and now you seem to break the law itself as well. I just don't know if you even have your limits anymore!

[LUK3]-Well, it's not like I stole from your house or anything! I just entered to wake you up!

[KYR4]-It's still against the law, you idiot!

[LUK3]-Yeah, yeah, and number two?

[KYR4]-And two... um... what's today again? Why did you talk to RY4N? Isn't it a free day anyway since the month ends?

[LUK3]-Oh, gods, I didn't know you suffer of memory loss... MY4, do you know how to treat that?

[KYR4]-Stop joking around, LUK3! Just get to the point! You know I don't like when you are just wasting time!

[LUK3]-It's your day, you silly girl! *whisper* And I thought that I'm stupid...

[KYR4]-Oh, for the love of--

[LUK3]- --Come ooooon! It will be fun, I promise!

[KYR4]-LUK3, I have a free day once a month, can't I take advantage of it? It's not my fault I was born by the machine during a last day from a month.

[LUK3]-So what? You're gonna sleep the whole day?

[KYR4]-I mean, if you leave me alone, maybe...

[LUK3]-Just get up already! It's only one day a year, KYR444! You're going to wait for the next one for a whole year again!!

[KYR4]-Yeah... Right... Wake me up when I care then.

She turns with her back on him to fall asleep again. LUK3 doesn't really care about what she is saying anyway. So, he gets her by a foot and drags her off the bed.

[LUK3]-Oh, no you won't!

17:09

So it's obvious that she was obligated to dress up and go with both of them. Most of the times she tries talking only with MY4, but LUK3 always likes to bring himself into the conversation too. They are childhood friends. It's not the first, nor the last time they go out together. As for how they met, it's not something special.

MY4 and KYR4 grew up together at the shelter when they were kids, so of course they are close to each other. LUK3 joined them a bit after, when MY4 met him at school and became friends, which led to him joining this small group. They were simple kids after all.

And even with his strange appearance and personality, LUK3 was just like them. He was no popular kid in their school, though it raised some questions to everyone when they heard the name XANTH3 for the first time. He called himself LUK3 not long after this problem was encountered just for the people to shut up, but he grew loving this name more than his actual name, and so, after some years, the name was no longer used just to hide his bloodline. Rather, it was used to describe who he truly was.

None of them was actually popular. They were nobodies in their school years, like everyone else, and they didn't mind that. They didn't care about having that many friends from their classes, but they did enjoy spending time in this small group of theirs and sometimes with other kids as well. It was not long after they grew a bit older when LUK3 developed feelings for KYR4, which started to annoy her bit by bit. And yes, pretty much after all these years, he still didn't manage to win her heart. Poor little guy...

[KYR4]-So? Did you drag me out of my apartment just to take a walk, or do you have a plan, LUK3?

[LUK3]-Dammit, girl, why are you so mistrustful when it comes to my plans?

[KYR4]-Maybe because I know you for a lifetime? God dammit, LUK3, you are a strange man...

[MY4]-Alright, alright. I know it's not the best way to be woken up, KYR4, but LUK3 tries hard to make you feel happy today! No need of being rude now.

[LUK3]-THANK YOU! LOOK WHO UNDERSTANDS!

[KYR4]-Ughh... Spare me! If anything, we will do the same as we did for C0NNER. What's all the hype about anyway? He is always taking us to the same place we've been visiting each year. Why can't we decide to do what we want? Isn't it suppose to be our choice anyway?

[LUK3]-Well then, Miss I'm-Too-Good-For-Everything, what do you want to do!?

[KYR4]-I don't know... Maybe... GO BACK TO MY BED?? DAMMIT, LUK3! WHAT'S SO HARD TO LEAVE PEOPLE IN PEACE??

[LUK3]-Aww, you're so cute when you are mad!

[KYR4]-...MY4, I suggest you handcuff me before I kill this man with my own hands. If you want him alive, you better do as I say!

[LUK3]-Don't be ridiculous, KYR4! All that you kill is the sadness in my eyes!

At this point, KYR4 is trying to jump at his throat to suffocate him, but MY4 is holding her back, even though she struggles doing so. LUK3 isn't even scared, he smiles at KYR4 while she is trying to get to him. It's even creepy of how confident he is.

[KYR4]-LET ME KILL HIM, MY4! HE IS A MENACE TO SOCIETY ITSELF!

[LUK3]-Aww, thank you! I love you too!

[KYR4]-MY4444!!!

[MY4]-Alright, just stop you two!

[LUK3]-But MY444! You promised you will help me out with heeer! You did nothing ever since we met with her! You promised!!

[KYR4]-YOU DID WHAT!? ON WHICH SIDE ARE YOU, MY4??

[MY4]-Oh, Brother... What are the plans for today, LUK3?

[LUK3]-Well... the bars!

[MY4]-*sigh* Again?

[LUK3]-You have any other idea? There is nothing you can do in this city anyway! We focus on surviving, not on entertaining! It's just boring this city, I swear...

[MY4]-How about we visit a bit the shelter? I have some work to do there anyway and it won't be such a bad idea for KYR4 to see some old pals. I mean, as far as I know, she didn't visit the shelter in a long time, right?

[KYR4]-Yeah! See LUK3!? Anybody can have better ideas than you!!

[LUK3]-Well, I didn't come up with it because I don't know anybody from the shelter! I'm not a shelter child, remember!?

[KYR4]-Yeah!! Because some bastard kids like you get into families and still be ungrateful about that! Your parent raised a brat! Typical for the XANTH3 family!

[LUK3]-And where's my fault that I was chosen as a descendant, KYR4!? People choose kids from the shelter every day! It only depends on your luck!

[KYR4]-And somehow all these kids that get adopted get to grow up like the most brain-dead people in the world! You are an example of them, LUK3! The rest that remain at the shelter have to actually survive and learn on their own! Nobody is there to teach us how to behave properly! I simply don't understand how people like you behave this way even if they had people that taught them in the past!

[LUK3]-Well, if it's that so, I'm gonna tell Officer RY4N about this thought of yours! Let's see how the first son of the Great Leader reacts at this information!

[KYR4]-...You little--

[MY4]- --Okay, I think that's enough. No need to argue again, alright? This day should be relaxing since it's a break, not a stressful one.

[LUK3]-Mhm... And somehow, for a break, some people still decide to work in these days...

[MY4]-Is it really work though? I'm doing it as a hobby, remember? I mean, during a break, we should do whatever we want, right?

[LUK3]-Yeah, Mimi, but not do the same work that you do during the normal schedule. It should be something relaxing!

[KYR4]-And why exactly does it bother you so much, LUK3? Let the girl do what she wants, god dammit! You have your entertaining ways, she has hers!

[LUK3]-But that's not entertaining, KYR4! It's still work, no matter how you choose to see it!

[KYR4]-And again, why does it bother you? It's her choice, not yours. You should stop deciding things for others!

[LUK3]-Ninini... I'm just trying to make this life more lively, god dammit! I'm not doing anything bad! Don't you get sick of working every day!?

[MY4]-Alright, alright, stop arguing, you two. Let's just go to the shelter if that's what KYR4 wishes.

17:21

And there they are, one of the shelters of the Underground City. The shelter itself is a huge building, probably because the shelters in this city are meant to give the people rescued a place where they can sleep, so it is why they are almost the biggest buildings in this city. Doesn't matter the age you have, here you can find any kind of person of any age, even ones that are close to their final breaths. From newborns taken from the central building in the City of Above, to the oldest people in the city, you name it! It is here where the people saved by Mr. M1SH4M and even CHE5TER's teams are given and taken care of. Everyone in this city has lived in one of these buildings at some point in their life. And even if it doesn't appear, LUK3 had his times here too, but only when he was a newborn, which is why he doesn't know anybody here, nor remember anything.

Probably the only people in this city that never lived in these buildings are the survivors of the war from 250 years ago who own an apartment in the city, most of them being just M borns who were convicted in the past since the rest of the races are not capable to live that much. But besides them, there are the two successors of the former Great Leader, as He took them directly from the building in City of Above. From them, probably CHE5TER was the only one who knew a bit about these buildings, since He is leading this type of missions as well. RY4N did visit them a few times, but still not enough for him to know that much.

Everywhere you look, there is a presence of at least a soul. You can barely walk without bumping into a random person here. From the two million population in this city, probably over 65% of it lives in this type of buildings. And from these people, MY4 decides to talk first with one of the helpers of the building.

[HIR0SH1]-Oh? Greetings, Miss MY4!

[MY4]-Hello, Mr. HIR0SH1!

[HIR0SH1]-You came to help us today as well, I assume? You sure like to come and help us around... Hm? Is that Miss ADIN4 I see behind you?

[KYR4]-Hi, Mr. HIR0SH1! It's been a while since I came to visit. But it's KYR4 now, not ADIN4.

[HIR0SH1]-I see... Well, you are more than welcomed to come here! As a former child of this place, this will always be your home!

[KYR4]-Thank you.

But besides MY4 and KYR4 that the man they were talking to was aware about, he sees another man staying with them as well, which he doesn't recognise.

[HIR0SH1]-And... who is the man behind you?

[MY4]-Oh, he is LUK3! I don't think you've managed to meet him when we were younger, but he is a friend of ours.

[KYR4]-*cough* Of hers...

[MY4]-*sigh* Point is... he came to visit the place with us this time. Since he didn't have the chance to see the shelters during his life, I thought maybe it's a good chance for him to get to know this friendly environment. He likes meeting new people as well, so I don't think he will mind anything.

[LUK3]-That's the weirdest explanation you could've given, MY4...

[HIR0SH1]-So you didn't bring him to treat that scar of his, I suppose?

[MY4]-No, no. His scar has already healed long time ago. I've treated him in the past enough for him to feel better. There is nothing I can do about it now.

[HIR0SH1]-I don't think I remember you being a newborn of this shelter either. Were you given to a different shelter when you were rescued from the City of Above?

[LUK3]-Umm... All I know is that my father took me from one of the shelters from the city, but I don't think he remembers which, so I can't tell for sure if I was from here or from a different one...

[HIR0SH1]-It's alright! Make yourself at home, LUK3! All the citizens of the Underground City are children of our shelters, no matter their new houses or parents!

[LUK3]-Aww, thank you, man!

[HIR0SH1]-It's nothing! So I suppose you both came here to help MY4?

[MY4]-It's not necessary! KYR4 only wanted to pay a visit, and LUK3 will just take a look around.

[HIR0SH1]-Alright! Then I will leave you in peace! Call me whenever you need me!

And so, the man leaves them behind. MY4 thinks about who should she visit first for her duty as a Healer, but the other two still don't seem to want to stop from arguing.

[LUK3]-See? Now I'm a shelter kid too!

[KYR4]-Oh, Brother...

[LUK3]-Where are we going first? I don't know the place, but it seems cool!

[KYR4]-Well I don't know about YOU, but I'm going to see some people that I know and hope that I could find them here. Alone!

[MY4]-Okay! I should take my time to work while you are visiting them then!

[LUK3]-Wait, wha--

[KYR4]- --So it's decided! Let's meet here in let's say... two hours from now.

[LUK3]-No, wai--

[MY4]- --Alright then! See you all later!

[LUK3]-WAIT!

But the girls already left. LUK3 was the only one who remained behind. He was looking at both of them going on their separate ways, being a bit pissed off since he was left alone in an unknown place to him at all.

[LUK3]-THEN WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO!? ...Dammit, I don't understand girls. Man, I should've just took them to the bar...

But then, a kid heard him shout after the two women, so he goes towards him by curiosity.

[AX3L]-Hello? Mister?

[LUK3]-Oh? Hey there, little dude! What's up?

[AX3L]-Are you alone?

[LUK3]-Well, seems like I AM SINCE SOMEONE FORGOT ABOUT ME!! ...Oh, why am I shouting anyway? They can't hear me anymore... So? What is it? Need any help with something or...?

[AX3L]-Oh, no, no. Just that... Mind if you play with me?

[LUK3]-Oh, sure! We can kill some time with that! What do you want to play, buddy?