Chapter 16 - It Has Begun

11.05.1642

The Underground City

13:26

It's a bit too early for anybody in this world, as you can barely see signs of life on the streets. Nothing is open at this time, not a single merchant selling what they have. But still, there are some people around the streets. Few, but at least there are some. And one of them... is Him. After His strange disappearance a month ago, He finally decided to show His face to the people that knew Him dead.

CHE5TER seems to be pretty serious about the situation though, as He wants to see RY4N and explain what happened, though it doesn't seem as He wants to do it that much. More like, He felt obligated to do so. It's been a whole month since He disappeared out of nowhere after all, and He doesn't really know what happened around the base at all.

He wanders a bit a closed area, where nobody can see Him, or at least that's what He thinks, as two pairs of eyes seem to be staring at Him from the stairs of the buildings, watching all of His movements. But only one gets closer and closer to His location, as the other one has vanished.

He walks a bit further, but He can sense that He is being watched too. And in a blink of an eye, the pair of eyes jumps out of nowhere on Him, or at least it tries, screaming with all of its power. He knew this action coming, as He moves a bit to the right and catches the little figure by its clothes from the back, leaving it hanging in the air. And from what it appears though... it seems to be a little girl, strangely.

[K4T1E]-Aw, man... I thought I'm going to get you this time!

[CHE5TER]-...And I thought that I told you to stop doing this whenever you see me. Why are you here?

[K4T1E]-I don't know... Maybe because...

She smiles creepily, as another girl jumps on His back in the next second, letting her finally on the ground as He wasn't expecting this one.

[AD3LYN]-Ha! I got you! I got you good!

[CHE5TER]-What's into you both, god dammit?

[K4T1E]-Well, I remember someone who promised us that he will do something in exchange of whatever information we have!

[CHE5TER]-...I'm a little busy this time. Tell me later.

[K4T1E]-Nuh-uh! You avoided it for some time now! You promised, Seven!

[CHE5TER]-I know I promised, K4T1E, but I said I'm busy now. If it's not that important, then no need to rush it.

But at the stairs, it seems that it was another one with them as well. Yet this girl seems even younger and a bit scared. She was watching them all from her location, but too afraid to jump as well. CHE5TER notices her in the end and begins to look rather disappointed at the two girls.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* You brought IZUK1 too?

[AD3LYN]-Hey! You told us to let her stay with us!

[CHE5TER]-Yeah. To help her, not to torture her. Oh, for the love of... IZUK1, you can jump! Don't worry!

She does seem as she wants to, but she's too afraid to do it. She looks down to see the height and climbs on the protective fence, but she slides by mistake and falls. Luckily, CHE5TER catches her. Yet admiring her you can see that the girl is a bit weirdly dressed though. She has something that covers her mouth completely, nothing you see casually on these streets.

[CHE5TER]-Now please! Can you three leave? I will fulfil my promise, but not now!

[K4T1E]-No! Look! I have some useful information for you! I promise!!

[CHE5TER]-I told you so many times in the past already! I don't care that the barmen are not co-operating!

[K4T1E]-No! Not that!

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Then what?

[K4T1E]-The adults said something about the crevaators wandering in the city because of the overpopulated area of theirs! I even saw two or three in the past five days! And they don't even wear their insignias!

[CHE5TER]-K4T1E...

[K4T1E]-But it's useful! You told me everything about the crevaators is useful to you!

[CHE5TER]-I know, and I'm grateful that you help me. But I said I'm busy now.

[AD3LYN]-But you are always busy!!

[K4T1E]-Pleaaase! We just want to have fun! You told us that you will teach us how to navigate around the city more effectively! Please...?

Both of the older girls give Him puppy eyes, and He does seem a bit annoyed about this situation. The younger one looks at Him too, but her face looks so innocent.

[CHE5TER]-Alright... Fine. But only ten minutes, okay? I really have to solve something out.

[AD3LYN]-Ahahah! We won! We finally won!

[CHE5TER]-Alright, alright... Stop the celebrating. But what exactly will IZUK1 do? You know that I won't be able to stay with the three of you at the same time.

[K4T1E]-Hey, Iz! Do you think you can keep up with us?

The girl doesn't say a word though. She only nods negatively, but such a gentle nod that you can miss it.

[K4T1E]-See? She said yes!

[CHE5TER]-No, she did not.

[K4T1E]-*mumbles*

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* IZUK1, you will stay with me, alright? Let's just get this done so I can leave...

So, they leave and climb up a building. After doing so, the girls seem to watch the scenery when they arrive on the roof of the building, as they are so amazed by it, but the younger one looks down, scared. CHE5TER takes her in His left arm though, but doesn't look at anybody, only further, pointing at something. The girl then squeezes His body out of fear to not fall and doesn't let go until they are done with this.

[CHE5TER]-Alright. You see that building over there?

[K4T1E]-Uhh... Oh, yeah! Why?

[CHE5TER]-We will do a little race to get there.

[AD3LYN]-E-Ehehey! Wait a minute! It's too high! W-What if we fall??

[CHE5TER]-You said you want to learn a way of getting easier from a point to another. This is your way. Weren't you begging me a minute ago for it?

[K4T1E]-Y-Yeah, but...

[CHE5TER]-Just follow my moves and you will be fine. Trust me.

And so, He starts running and jumping towards the next building. And He doesn't even seem to struggle, as He lands easily and looks behind at the two girls that were staring at Him. One of them gathers a bit of courage and does as He did, and manages to land safely as well. She screams out of joy as she succeeded and now the other one does the same too, succeeding just like her.

They start a bit of a chase after that moment. The girls sure have fun, but CHE5TER still looks serious about the situation for whatever reasons. But He made a promise in the end, what can He do? They get far from the initial location and become more braver in this practice. One actually becomes a bit too brave... as one of them thought that she could do a huge jump, but didn't calculate the risk of it. She realised it only when she began to fall, getting afraid in the next second she knew that she fucked up and screaming while starting to fall towards the ground. CHE5TER then hears her screaming and rushes back to her location, grabbing her hand and raising her in the air, even looking at her pissed. So when the girl finally calms down and sees His face of disappointment, she gives rather a forced smile.

[AD3LYN]-E-Ehehh... Thought it's a smaller jump...

[CHE5TER]-Oh, dear M1NERV4...

13:42

And so, everything was put to an end, as CHE5TER began to go back to His work, while the girls still seem to follow Him. They are way in front of Him now though, talking to each other, while He seems to slow down and be left alone. He doesn't seem that happy today at all, rather even now seems like something more than just His mind is bothering Him. Voices, multiple ones, whispering from different directions.

But it doesn't take a lot of time to go back into His character, since He senses something from behind, a familiar sense, getting closer to Him... which is a guy jumping on His back before He could even react, with such a weird joy in his voice. It's LUK3!

[CHE5TER]-What the...!?

[LUK3]-IT'S YOU! IT'S FINALLY YOU!

[CHE5TER]-LUCAS! Get off me, now! What's wrong with you, LUCAS!?

[LUK3]-OH, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MUCH I HATE WHEN I HAVE TO CONFRONT HIM! WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME IN THIS SITUATION!? NEVER LET ME GO TO THAT HOUSE AGAIN! PLEASE! I WILL OBEY TO YOUR ORDERS, I PROMISE! BUT DON'T LET ME DO THIS EVER AGAIN!!

[CHE5TER]-LUCAS! Stop this! You are talking nonsense!

From behind though, it seems like the whole group is coming towards them, C0NNER, N04H and KYR4 being a bit closer to stop LUK3.

[KYR4]-Alright, LUK3! Stop! Give Him some space! He just came here!

They take him by his arms and get him off from the Great Leader's back. He looked so confused on what's happening here as a consequence.

[CHE5TER]-...What is this!? "Jump On My Back" Day!? Why would you even consider acting like this??

[N04H]-You did left for a whole month though...

[CHE5TER]-Oh, spare me! So what if I did? I told Officer RY4N that I will come back!

[KYR4]-Yeah... but...

The girls who were in front of Him seem to have heard the noise from behind, and go towards them.

[K4T1E]-Eh? What's happening?

[AD3LYN]-Kat! Look! It's LUK3 and the others as well! Hi, LUK333!!

[LUK3]-Huh!? Wait, aren't you the girls from two months ago that I got out from the execution room and started making a scene at everyone in the team about how grateful you girls are?

[AD3LYN]-So you remember us!! Thank you, LUK3!!

They start playing around him, trying to talk to him and the others nearby, but he notices that weird younger girl which he never saw before.

[LUK3]-Oh? And who is she?

[K4T1E]-Oh! She is IZUK1!!

[LUK3]-IZUK1, you say? I don't remember her... Hi, IZUK1!

But as he tries to get closer to her, she starts hiding behind one of the girls' back, even almost crying, as she seems so terrified.

[LUK3]-O-Oh?? What did I do? Are you okay, Izu?

But as he tries to get even closer to see if she is fine, she starts crying.

[LUK3]-What di--

[K4T1E]- --Oh, it's not you! She is just like this. Leave her be and she will get used to you!

[LUK3]-O-Okay...

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* You didn't even arrive well and you start with your bullshit, LUCAS...

[LUK3]-BUT WHAT DID I DO??

The Great Leader then looks at C0NNER and gives him a sign with His hand, indicating the number one, and then putting two fingers at His mouth. C0NNER understands what He means, and searches in his pockets a small pack which he shows to Him. In it are his cigarettes, and CHE5TER takes one of them, but doesn't seem to want to use it now. He just keeps it.

Then He looks a bit behind him, just for a second, only for Him to look again as He sees two other people getting closer to their location: RY4N and MY4, those who suffered the most from this whole disappearance. RY4N looks almost paralysed at Him, but MY4 as she looks further, she becomes a roller coaster of emotions. She gives a huge smile, than it transforms into a sad face, and then... it turns even into tears.

She then starts running towards Him, but CHE5TER is only confused as hell. When she gets to Him, she leans on His body as she tries not to fall, keeping herself up with the help of His clothes, almost as if she tries to hear His heart beating over and over again. CHE5TER doesn't understand anything of this, so He looks at His older brother for an explanation.

[CHE5TER]-...I thought I've told you to come alone.

[RY4N]-They wanted to see you too, CHE5TER.

[CHE5TER]-...

MY4 was crying like her whole life just crashed in front of her and couldn't stop no matter what happened. CHE5TER looks at her and hugs her with His left hand as a consequence, moving it slowly to calm her down. He kisses her on her head and continues trying to calm her down, though He doesn't really succeed in doing that. He is so confused on what's happening right now.

[CHE5TER]-...Why are you crying, MY4? I'm here. I didn't leave you.

She is still crying, though she does try to say something. It's hard for her to do so now, so she waits until she calms a bit down to say what she wants. And when she manages to do so, she doesn't have the energy to say it on the tone she wishes, more like it gets into a whispering scream.

[MY4]-...We all thought you died, CHE5TER!

But it only makes Him even more confused now. He doesn't really know what happened during this time He was away from them and from the whole base.

[CHE5TER]-...What do you mean by that?

[RY4N]-She means that we thought the M soldiers got you a month ago and killed you right away.

[CHE5TER]-Got me? Got me when? H... How exactly did you even get this information, RY4N? I told you that I will come back, but I don't know when! Who the hell told you that I died!?

[RY4N]-We found out from the mission we were suppose to complete with you the same day you left and didn't come back!

[CHE5TER]-Then who completed it?

[RY4N]-Oh, you want the truth, Brother!? I put N04H to complete it, alright?? And from it, we found a conversation between two Colonels about how they got you! At least I'm telling you the truth! You only tell me lies!

[CHE5TER]-...You did what?

CHE5TER got a bit mad as He heard this from His own sibling though. He looks at him dead in the eyes, as rage appears in His lifeless eyes, yet RY4N seems pretty confident in telling Him no lies.

[RY4N]-You heard me! And want me to continue the story!? I made a mission myself and put him to complete it again! At the building somewhere in the east, near the center of the city!

[CHE5TER]-You put a newcomer, a CHILD, in the Suicide Building? Are you even hearing what are you saying, RY4N!?

[RY4N]-I DID THIS TO HELP YOU!

[CHE5TER]-...YOU RISKED A YOUNG LIFE ONLY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE CANNOT ACHIEVE NO MATTER OUR ENDEAVOR, BROTHER!? I GOT THE BODY THAT I HAVE TODAY FROM THAT BUILDING! OUR OWN FATHER DIED IN THAT BUILDING, RY4N!

[RY4N]-I ONLY TRIED TO HELP YOU! YOU DIDN'T GIVE US A SINGLE SIGN OF LIFE EVER SINCE THAT DAY, CHE5TER!

[CHE5TER]-BECAUSE MY COMMUNICATION DEVICE BROKE, ALRIGHT??

He shows him His left hand, in which is the device. The screen seems to be broken and it does seem as He has worked hard to fix it so it can function properly again.

[CHE5TER]-AND YOU DON'T HELP ME WITH ANYTHING IF YOU LET ME LOSE MORE PEOPLE! IF I GAVE YOU MY WORD, WHY DO YOU TRUST MORE A RANDOM SOLDIER OF THE M THAN ME, YOUR OWN BROTHER BY CODE!?

[RY4N]-MAYBE BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST YOUR WORD ANYMORE, CHE5TER!

CHE5TER was so mad at this point, nobody probably saw Him this mad before. Even His C colour was lighting up from His anger. He looked like He could kill even His loved ones only to achieve what He wants. And it seems as... He actually tries that risky idea. He raises His right hand as if He wanted to get his throat and strangle him till he passes out, and RY4N does notice that, and out of fear, he closes his eyes and looks away, being a call from his instinct.

But even so, he doesn't feel anything as if He tries to kill him. He then looks slowly back at his sibling, opening his eyes, and seeing CHE5TER in front of him, but doesn't seem to be Himself anymore. He was forcing His right arm with the left one to stay down, struggling hard, with His head down and closed eyes. His face even says how much He struggles now, as if He tries to stop something even more powerful than Him.

He looks a bit at CHE5TER, noticing His right arm. It seems like it is covered with some white bandages rather than a darker colour, as He used to wear. And there is even some traces of blood around them. Even if they both are mad at each other now, he is a bit concerned seeing Him like this.

[RY4N]-CHE5TER...?

As He hears His name though, He looks back at His big brother, but this time, it doesn't seem as He is mad, but rather... He is afraid. He then forces His look away and starts running away from MY4 and RY4N, towards a closed area nearby...

[RY4N]-No! Wait! CHE5TER!!

...while they start following Him.