Chapter 34 - Exploring The Unknown

01.08.1642

The Southeast Military Base

13:59

Now in the early morning, few of those present in the base are waking up, while others have chosen to sleep for just a bit more. From those that wished to wake up though, we can see the Great Leader ending His rest with the help of an alarm that He now closes while He puts Himself to stay on His bed, facing the other side of the room, watching the dark space in which He stays alongside His brother. It's funny though the fact that the alarm only managed to wake Him up but got completely ignored by RY4N, who is still sleeping. It would explain why on his part of the room there is another alarm set for later, standing next to him.

Even so, the ruler now stands alone on His bed to clear up His mind before He reaches for something from His drawers. It's the map drawn by IZUK1 which copied the one got from His father. But now it seems as the map has suffered a few changes, having notes marked by CHE5TER with a few calculations of how long should the road be towards their destination with the help of the way the City of Perfection's area was drawn and how such a big city should be seen on a tiny map. Even though the shape of the city drawn on the paper doesn't really match the actual shape of the present. And it's not an error coming from copying the map, it is just the way it was drawn originally.

By the looks of it, the road seems to be pretty long, considering the length of the city and the distance shown between it and the destination. Taking into consideration that there is also the threat of "demons" which these people fear and the hours spent only on the road itself, it would mean for them to leave the city as soon as the suns rise in order to not catch the nightfall and fight the issue of the demons. It would explain why the ruler has chosen to wake up so early. He needs to prepare everything for their leave before the dawn ends.

Once He has checked the map for one last time to make sure everything is okay, He tends to stand up from His bed and leave the room. Yet something stops Him, making Him look back at the drawers and then going towards them. It doesn't take long before He starts searching for something in them again, taking out the original map given by M4TTH3W, folded so nicely and taken care of as if it is such a precious item that should not suffer any kind of bad events that might damage it. It's not like He can use it though since His eyes cannot see the same thing we can, but He still cannot let go of it since it is the very last legacy He has left from His father. Be it as useless as it is now.

He decides in the end to take it too, just to know that it is close to Him and not lost, and maybe to find a better place for it to stay where it can be protected rather than just staying in some random drawers full of items which CHE5TER uses on a daily basis. If He left it there, He would've feel guilty if anything happened to it for the rest of His life.

16:44

[CHE5TER]-...Mr. D4NI3L, did you make sure everything I ordered to be taken is packed up?

[D4NI3L]-Yes, I did.

[CHE5TER]-What about the people I've told you to inform on the matter?

[D4NI3L]-Only a few didn't get the information yet, Master. But it shouldn't take a lot of time to do so, really.

[CHE5TER]-Okay, then who are those left?

[D4NI3L]-I believe Mr. J4CE, Mr. ER1C and I think--

[KYR4]- --Master!

Whatever is happening now, it sure causes a lot of chaos around the whole base. It's not even the chaos similar to when they get ready for their missions at night, more like worse than encountering a new important assignment. A lot of people seem confused on what's happening at this hour as well, and from those it seems like KYR4 is also expressing her perplexities, coming to ask the Great Leader alongside LUK3, who was being his usual, N04H, who was initially training with him, and C0NNER, who was also pretty puzzled on the whole atmosphere.

[D4NI3L]-...Yeah. Her and Mr. LUK3.

[KYR4]-What's happening? Why is everyone hurrying for no reason? We are about to leave for the Council meeting too, yet I can't find RY4N anywhere!

[CHE5TER]-Don't worry. You won't need to go at the Council meeting today, KYR4.

[KYR4]-What?

[CHE5TER]-You heard me. You and RY4N have something else to do with me. I've spoken to Officer CYRU5 so that he will go to the meeting this time to make sure we don't miss anything important.

[KYR4]-*sigh* As grateful as I am that I do not have to go to that battle ground, I still do not understand your decision...

[CHE5TER]-D4NI3L, can you let us speak alone for a moment? Make sure in the meantime that the others know about what I've told you.

[D4NI3L]-Alright, Master. I will do as you said.

Officer D4NI3L then leaves at the Great Leader's command, remaining the confused group of friends to speak with CHE5TER.

[KYR4]-Okay, so what's the deal here? What do you want RY4N and I to do?

[CHE5TER]-Nothing special. We are just going to do a mission in a few minutes when RY4N comes back from the small request I gave him this morning.

[LUK3]-A mission? At this hour? I thought that we are doing them only during the night!

[CHE5TER]-This is not a simple mission of ours, LUCAS. As you can see, I am coming too, unlike the previous missions from the past months.

[C0NNER]-So what's the mission about, Master?

[CHE5TER]-How can I explain it... You see, the mission of today won't include us going to the City of Above as you might have thought. Instead of doing our ordinary routine or investigations, I've told everyone involved that we will change our objective and do something new. Completely new.

[KYR4]-You said that to the investigations around the Great Walls too. What makes it so "new" this time?

[CHE5TER]-Well... how exactly would you describe a mission outside the Great Walls if it isn't something new to you?

The group got paralysed from His words not long after they were heard. LUK3 got terrified for sure knowing that the outside is a real threat to them, but the others simply got surprised for good.

[KYR4]-...What do you mean outside the walls?

[CHE5TER]-Exactly how it sounds. No other meaning.

[KYR4]-...Y-You've gone insane, CHE5TER! You are not thinking it straight!

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

[KYR4]-Y-You know the best from us that outside the Great Walls are wandering those creatures that are so harmful to the point that they can kill us without anything more than their own limbs! Why would you even think of doing such mission in the first place!? We even told the EZR4H Clan to stop the missions just because of this problem! Now you want us to go instead of them so we can get ourselves killed!?

[CHE5TER]-But I am aware of that matter. If I wasn't, then I would've not come with you all to make sure nothing goes wrong. And it is the same reason why we are doing it during the day, or "this early" as LUCAS said.

[KYR4]-Then why!? From all the possible missions, you want us to go there and risk it all??

[CHE5TER]-We won't risk anything, Officer KYR4. I gave my word to everyone that we will not have anything to do with those creatures at all. We won't go near their places, nor where there is no light, and we will come back before the suns set.

[LUK3]-B-But why?? Can't we do something different? L-Like, like--

[C0NNER]- --Oh, dear. If even LUK3 is this scared of the outside...

[LUK3]-I-I'm not scared, alright?? I-I'm just... concerned! Y-Yeah!

[C0NNER]-Mhm...

[CHE5TER]-Well, there is nothing that should concern you, nor scare you. RY4N was alright with the plan after all. If you do not trust my word, then trust his. After all, him and I stood the whole night to plan everything out so that nothing will go wrong.

[N04H]-But why did you decide to do this mission though?

[CHE5TER]-I am afraid that you won't be able to understand like they do, Mr. N04H. Few people know exactly what I've been doing in my office recently and I hope that nobody spoke too much about it. But just let's say... it has to do with my legacy.

[KYR4]-You mean that...

[CHE5TER]-Yes. I found the answer I've been looking for. But I still have to search deeper to find it as a whole. And it seems as... it leads me to the outside of our area, outside both of our cities, for whatever reason. Yesterday, Officer RY4N and I went to some people in order to speak about the letter and see if we can get some help from the former soldiers of our father. We did get what we wanted, but not exactly how we expected. And it turns out that this small problem that I've been trying to solve all this time was nothing more than a map. A map which... leads outside, as I said. As to where exactly it leads us... I'm not sure myself. There are some symbols here and there that we might recognise when we arrive in those specific places, to know how and where to navigate. I've told RY4N earlier this morning to speak with Mr. EZR4H about what they use when going outside, a reason why you didn't find him, KYR4. He went to the clan's residence to see if he can get some equipment from them, since the Central Base will take a while to make the equipment and also time for it to be delivered and registered in the data. We hope that EZR4H can borrow us a few things that they've been using those years, just this time.

[N04H]-So I don't come this time either, I suppose.

[CHE5TER]-Yes, but you are not the only one, so do not worry. When you will get enough experience, maybe you will be able to come.

[KYR4]-What do you mean he is not the only one? Isn't everyone coming with us?

[CHE5TER]-Unfortunately, no. I demanded only for 15 people to come in total, and the rest shall stay at the base.

[C0NNER]-Oh, it is new for sure... I would've not even dream of such mission to be a part of my work.

[CHE5TER]-Well, worry not, 'cause you aren't included in the outside mission team either, C0NNER.

Yet when hearing that last sentence, it seems as C0NNER got rather shocked, even a bit mad, but not showing it yet. He looks at his master in the eyes with such betrayal hidden in his heart, before speaking again.

[C0NNER]-W-W... What do you mean I'm not included!?

[CHE5TER]-C0NNE--

[C0NNER]- --I've been your soldier for so many years, Master! How could you tell me right into my face that you do not trust me to be one from your team!?

[CHE5TER]-I did not say anything about years here, C0NNER. I just say tha--

[C0NNER]- --Then why!? I've worked so hard my entire life, how can you simply say that I'm only worth being left behind??

[CHE5TER]-Let me finish my sentences, C0NNER!

Of course he is a bit mad, assuming that his own master doesn't trust him at all. But he calms down in the end and looks angry at Him, yet also appearing as if he respects every decision of this man. Even if he does not agree with them all.

[CHE5TER]-...I do not take you with me not because I do not trust you, little one. I trust anybody in this base no matter their actions. But you are not ready to leave the outside of the walls just yet. Simple weapons won't help you with anything in case of an emergency, and I do not want any losses during this mission. When you will learn to control your powers and rely on yourself only, I will be able to accept you and say that you are ready to take part into such missions.

[C0NNER]-...But it's not my fault that I do not know how to use them! It's not my fault at all!

[CHE5TER]-I know, but it shouldn't mean that I can let you come. Those that remain have the same problem as you: they depend on their weapons but not on themselves. Those that do come know how to protect themselves no matter the case. Take the example from those that are next to you. Both KYR4 and LUK3 know how to survive without anything at hand. KYR4 is a good wielder of her powers and LUK3's fighting techniques are very helpful since he adapts to the situations he is in, even if he fights most of the times with his weapon. I did not choose blindly for this mission, C0NNER. I want you to understand that.

While mentioning them, LUK3 stares for a few seconds at KYR4 with a look that... you can't really tell what was its purpose. He smiles with such a face as if he wanted to show her that he is either as good as being compared to an actual Officer or as if he wanted to simply show off without saying anything and letting CHE5TER speak about him. KYR4 didn't give a damn, she only rolled her eyes and tried to ignore him completely after that gesture.

As for C0NNER, the response seems to have gotten on his nerves. Since it is about his powers that he cannot control, he is left out from the mission this time. So, without any word added, he leaves the base mad without looking back, while CHE5TER remains to watch him leave out of anger just for a second, before He continues talking to the others.

[KYR4]-...Okay, I understand why you didn't choose to take him, but what makes you think that we are ready? Demons can kill us easily, remember? With or without weapons, and with or without experience in fighting or surviving.

[CHE5TER]-Well, I trust that you both will be able to escape from an emergency. LUK3 did it so many times, proof being his scars, and I believe for someone that has such a great knowledge on using her powers will be able to do the same. Besides, we will try as much as possible to stay only in the light, remember?

[KYR4]-*sigh* Alright, alright... Then what would we do exactly? What's the mission about?

[CHE5TER]-Simple. We will try and search for whatever the map leads us to. We will separate the teams in three people, so five groups in total, searching for whatever we need to find. The teams will be decided by you if you wish so, I do not mind. I already have chosen which people will come with me. And right now, RY4N is trying his best to get some vehicles from the EZR4H Clan, being a part of their equipment, so that we will be able to move faster and not waste too much time on traveling.

Though the explanation of the plan has only begun, we can move our attention already to when it is executed. RY4N did manage to get the equipment needed, one vehicle for each member that comes in the mission being a part of it. But of course, since they do not use such things, they are not fully adapted to how they work yet.

"Once he gets them, he should instruct us on how to use them with the help of the instructions given by the members which I have told him to ask for. Since we have never used this kind of a device, I cannot simply give them the second they arrive and trust that they will not get damaged because of our own mistakes. We do need to get them back as a whole after all. But when the instruction ends, we should be able to make our ways outside the Great Walls quickly and arrive at the location of the map."

During the road of the tunnels, they are trying to get used to these vehicles while following the instruction, learning how to control them better and how to move even faster. The vehicles themselves are something similar to what we would call "motorcycles", but they do not have wheels or anything to that kind. Instead, they float above the ground, having a more complex form than what we know, since the lower side of the vehicle is almost completely flat so that it can balance perfectly while floating above, and with a design of it that could captivate your eyes pretty easily.

So, moments of them getting used to the vehicles pass, finally arriving at the moment when they understand almost fully how they work and what they should do. The vehicles do have a thing with handles that control the way of where the vehicle goes, similar to ours, yet what they have a bonus is a small advantage for those that are C borns. There is a small screen on the controller of the vehicle on which you can put your hand and connect yourself with the vehicle so that you do not need to do anything more than just to watch where you are going, controlling it with your own mind. And another bonus is that you can adjust very easily where the connection can be set, making it even where you sit if you feel it more easier to handle. So of course they try it too and use it for a few moments to get used to it as well. I mean, just the C borns. The R borns have to use it normally without any kind of a helpful connection.

But it sure takes more for them to get used to this technique. Even CHE5TER has some difficulties at first controlling it, alongside all the others that try it. But when they do manage to get better, they find it pretty fun to use. LUK3 for example gets so excited, screaming out of pure joy with his hands up and moving around where he wants while his C colour lights up because of the connection. All the other C borns' colours also light up during the process. The only disadvantage of this function is that it was originally made for emergencies in case of a battle.

If a C born uses this connection, then he directly uses from his energy since connection means consumption. Any device that uses a connection like this one also has the same issue, even the devices that C0NNER uses as a Defender, being the only thing he has control over when it comes to his power. They are easy to learn as a C born, but they are also as harmful if you rely on your energy in that moment. So because of this C born - vehicle connection will use too much of their energy, the time on this technique is limited. They can use it now for a few minutes to get used to this control function too, but they will later be obligated to use the vehicles in their traditional way.

The first destination for them is the area of the Great Walls in the City of Above. In order to get out, they program their equipment to take the form into a tiny gadget that is easier to carry, being also a function added for easier navigation while on feet. The only thing left to do is to find a good opportunity to leave the city. Now that they are on the walls themselves, being vanished from the naked eye, they look around to make sure when they disable their invisibility, no soldier will be able to see them. And when they see the opportunity of leaving the area, they jump from the walls safely, quickly activating their vehicles and rushing towards the unknown as soon as possible in order to not get detected by any M soldier nor camera installed on the walls.

"...And when we get outside the walls, we shall use the other equipment that they've given us, managing to make ourselves a road to not get lost. We will put some location trackers wherever we go and supervise our ways on our devices. So I do hope that none of you gets lost from their team, 'cause we will be completely disconnected by those from the base and we won't have the chance to know where you are."