Chapter 24 - Heartbeat

2 YEARS AGO

06.07.1640

The Southeast Military Base

34:21

"...Do you remember it, Ches? The day you'd almost changed the whole fate of the base? Or have you truly forgotten about it? 'Cause I didn't. And I will never do. No matter how many times you tell me to stop living in the past, I will never forget that day. Even if you try your best every single day to make forget."

Yet again... it looks like we are taken back into the past, before the sad atmosphere around the base has appeared from what it seems. Maybe finally seeing what these people are talking about, that tragic incident that every member of the Southeast Base is aware of, but refuses to discuss on that subject. CHE5TER and RY4N seem to have gotten back from their meeting with the Council at that time, the ruler being already in His office and His brother coming towards Him to talk.

"Remember when we came back from our meeting after we had our break in the city with LUK3 and the others? Our friends? Or the moment when we came back to the base and you had decided to stay in your office alone to think about the next mission? All of that because you told me you work better this way?

Or do you remember when you were still yourself, even with all your responsibilities as the Great Leader and the loss we had way before that day? Because I remember all off this. I remember each detail of that day. I even remember how you were still upset about your fate but still remained the same lively child you ever were, or that you weren't the best Great Leader as everyone thought of you to be no matter how much you were trying to prove it in your childish way, or that back then we had no worries like we have now.

You know, this used to be normal for us. How come now it's only a dream? You tell me that everything was suppose to change the moment I've entered your office to hear your plan for that night? 'Cause if so, that's not the fate I've wished to have."

RY4N opens the door of the office, while CHE5TER seems weirdly excited about the plan. Looking at Him too doesn't seem to us as if we are talking about the same ruler, as His eyes are so lively, so bright like the suns themselves, something that in the present doesn't exist anymore. So when RY4N closes the door and the Great Leader turns towards him, they both start talking to each other.

[CHE5TER]-RY4N! Hell, you won't believe what we have to do this time!

[RY4N]-Why are you so excited? I didn't see you like this ever since Master AL7AN promised you that title of his you now own. What did you discover this time?

[CHE5TER]-Oh, how should I explain this... Here. Look at these papers for yourself.

He shows him some old papers from a previous mission that has happened with the old team which was working in this base before His reign, yet RY4N remains confused while reading them.

[RY4N]-I'm... afraid I don't really catch up.

[CHE5TER]-Oh, Brother... Okay, do you have maybe an idea of what these are?

[RY4N]-Some old papers from a previous mission...?

[CHE5TER]-Yeah! You got it!

[RY4N]-And what does this have to do with the mission of today?

[CHE5TER]-Well, this mission isn't as random as you think, RY4N. This morning I looked into some old documents of the base and found these papers of a mission that had happened seven years ago.

[RY4N]-Seven years ago? You don't mean...

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Yep... The same mission that we both are thinking about right now.

[RY4N]-But why that mission...?

[CHE5TER]-Well, think about it for a second. We've never went in that building before, right? We have no idea what's up with it because of how well guarded it is and nobody reports any kind of important business around it. Yet our father planned the mission there because He knew something that we don't. So... what if we do the same mission once again with the goal of finding out the truth?

[RY4N]-But our father died in that building because of the mission, CHE5TER.

[CHE5TER]-Yeah. That's my point. He risked His own life for that something we don't know about. There has to be an important spot that we've lost from our sight, so now is our time to find it and finish our father's business!

[RY4N]-Are you sure about this, Ches...? Seems a bit too risky....

[CHE5TER]-Was I ever wrong on my plans, RY4N? Look where we are now. We are the rulers of this city and we continue what our father has built during His life as the Great Leader. Don't you think that's probably what He wanted in the first place?

[RY4N]-Alright, alright. You convinced me, Mr. "Descendant". But are you sure we are as ready as you say? Not even that mission has ended up well and people were more trained for it than we are.

[CHE5TER]-Don't worry, I did my research this time. The building has a weak point as well. While the Investigators search for whatever we have to find there, some of the Strikers will distract the soldiers in order for them to leave the building or at least the areas in which the Investigators will have to search in. There are over 30.000 soldiers in it and more than a half are at the bottom. If we get rid of that part, we will remain with around 10.000 M soldiers to battle. Still a lot but better than nothing.

[RY4N]-Okay... then what?

[CHE5TER]-Then we have to find a way to distract the rest and protect the Investigators somehow.

[RY4N]-And how do we do that?

[CHE5TER]-I'm not so sure... But that's where the weak point should be abused by us. That place is no simple building. The thing is that in this building is where we find the General as well.

[RY4N]-How are you so sure? And even if you predicted it right, you don't want to fight him now, do you?

[CHE5TER]-Not really... I'm afraid it's impossible anyway. The General is well hidden from us as there are over 25.000 rooms and I couldn't find anything about his location in the building, but I know that he is there because he was present at the last mission this base did in that place and there is no way it was simply a coincidence. Think about it! I've never heard of him having any inspection in that building before, and no matter how many documents I've searched for, none of them speak of a visit from him there. It HAS to be the building he works in.

[RY4N]-Okay... Then what do you want to do with this information?

[CHE5TER]-Well... this is their weak point. Since the General is there, they will try their best to protect him at all costs. Once the alarm is activated and the Strikers get their attention, most of the soldiers left from those 10.000 are going to protect him, and so we got more enemies out of our way, not to mention that today is no inspection programmed at the hour we will take action. The only problem will be that... we don't really know what we are searching for this time... It will be a pain for the Investigators to find something in that building quickly and will probably mean for some of them to be saved by the Strikers if they get caught.

[RY4N]-*sigh* Hard mission this time, huh?

[CHE5TER]-Yeah, something like that... But we have to give it a try, right? From the looks of this building, maybe it has the answer to whatever that man is planning.

[RY4N]-Yeah... I guess you are right in this point of view. But even so, seem like we have to avoid a lot of danger this time.

[CHE5TER]-Well, let's hope it's worth the risk. I mean, He risked in the past and stood defeated, but we will emerge victorious! We will finally advance in this war and we will get closer to peace without any more bloodsheds needed to end the conflict! And without another battle with weapons to happen like at the start of the war till the end of it from the past...

[RY4N]-It's a bit out of character for you to be this optimistic to be honest.

[CHE5TER]-Save the mocking for later, god dammit! Are you with me or not!?

[RY4N]-You say it like I'm never by your side, Brother.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* You are hard to please sometimes, RY4N...

[RY4N]-I'm just joking! Of course I'm with you! Let's do this and make Him proud of our achievement, Ches!

"...I remember how naive we were, even if it's not such a big difference of age from that day and the present. But you know... we've promised to each other that nothing will change us, no matter what fate will throw at us in the future. Did we keep these promises, CHE5TER? 'Cause it doesn't look like that at all."