Chapter 5 - Follow The Leader

28.02.1642

The Southeast Military Base

20:41

LUK3 is waiting for the little recruit to come, standing alongside Officer KYR4. With them, C0NNER seems to be around as well, training with his weapon in one of the corners by himself, while LUK3 seems to be joking around as always, as he is trying to make KYR4 laugh in the meantime. Just their usual, not something special. After a while, N04H finally makes his appearance in the room, as he goes towards LUK3 so that he can find out about what is going to be next for him. LUK3 ignores him for a while and the little man doesn't understand his actions at first.

[KYR4]-...LUK3, stop it. You are embarrassing yourself every time you're asking me this.

[LUK3]-Come oooon! Don't be like that! You know it will be fun!

[KYR4]-At least ask some more people to join rather than us going alone, 'cause every time we are alone, you act like a creep!

[LUK3]-How do I... Yeah, fine. Hold on then.

Then the man turns to N04H, finally deciding to speak to the recruit who was waiting to get his attention.

[LUK3]-Hey, little guy! What's up?

[N04H]-What were you two talking about?

[LUK3]-Oh, I was just inviting KYR4 to go out with me today! You know, like we did a while ago! Nothing special.

[N04H]-I see... So, what did you prepare for me today?

[LUK3]-Hm? What did I prepare? I didn't prepare anything, buddy.

[N04H]-Huh?

[LUK3]-It's the last day of the month, which means that we have a free day! Because we don't really have holidays like you guys had at school, we take a few breaks at the end of the months, just so that we can have a small rest for ourselves.

[N04H]-But the previous month you didn't seem to have a free day.

[KYR4]-...That's because the first month and the last month of the year are the hardest ones to bear. The new recruits are joining the bases in different times and there are also lots of supplies distributed to all the areas. We have to make sure that in these two months nothing bad happens. You will be surprised how often students get caught by the M soldiers in these times every year, by the same reason your friends got caught that day.

[N04H]-And yet when you saw me for the first time, you were also surprised.

[LUK3]-Well, don't you think it's a bit out of nowhere for a student to wander the roads, crying, when nobody is supposed to know about these situations? I personally thought at first that you were joking!

[KYR4]-...Anyway, this is a break that you should take advantage of. You will have to wait for the next month if you would want another one.

Yet the boy then looks at C0NNER, who was still minding his own business.

[N04H]-Then what about him? Shouldn't he take a break as well?

So, LUK3 looks at the young man then starts screaming at him.

[LUK3]-C0NNER, you stupid ass! Take a pause from that bow and join us!

But it seems as C0NNER ignores him at first, yet LUK3 persists in annoying him.

[LUK3]-Boy, you didn't hear me!? I said put the weapon down!

He gets angry at the man screaming at him, yet he tries to hold himself and not fight him yet. N04H notices that, so he tries to change the subject, maybe feeling a little uncomfortable about the situation.

[N04H]-By the way... how did you guys enter this base? I'm just a bit curious.

[LUK3]-Oh? Easy question! Back when we were your age, the whole censorship didn't exist! The base was available to be one of your choices, but it didn't provide people with useful information of what you were suppose to do here. So it was the last one on the lists.

[KYR4]-LUK3, MY4 and I have been friends from the first year of school, even though MY4 and I know each other for a longer time than that. We were raised at the shelters together, even though there were more people with us. After we graduated, LUK3 came with the idea of going in the same base together, all of us.

[LUK3]-But KYR4 betrayed me and went to the Central Base instead of coming with us! She played with my feelings!!

[KYR4]-I explained this to you many times before. I can't trust people who don't provide any kind of information of what I have to do when I'm working for them.

[LUK3]-*sigh* Anyway... MY4 and I went together in this base, so we separated our paths with KYR4. But one year later, KYR4 realised her mistake and came back to me!

[KYR4]-I came because those bastards were lazy and never did anything when it came to work, not because I "came back to you"! I do not like people who don't do anything besides avoiding real problems and you know that! Did you really think I will work for them for the rest of my life?

[LUK3]-Just accept the fact that you missed me, god dammit! You cannot lie for too long!

[KYR4]-Oh, dear gods...

[LUK3]-Oh, and there were also some people from our school that used to work here too, as they were transported at the same time when MY4 and I were! But they are no longer here since they left one year ago. And, as far as I know, KYR4's transportation was the last one which was made for this base, as the next year after that, the censorship was implanted and nobody was able to join anymore.

[KYR4]-The rest of the people here are much older in this system than us. Most of them even worked with the previous Great Leader, Master CHE5TER and Master RY4N's father. A reason why we might appear so young compared to the others...

N04H makes an idea of how many people are here for a very long time, like most of the soldiers that he met during his time here, but then he remembers that the man training is even younger than these two. He looks a bit to wonder how could he possibly enter this base after all these rules, but because of his obvious curiosity, he makes LUK3 explain to him without even wanting.

[LUK3]-Oh, yeah! Right! I almost forgot! C0NNER joined us afte--

Yet before he could end his sentence, an arrow flies towards his direction, hitting the wall behind him. It seems that C0NNER has purposely pointed at his direction in order to make LUK3 shut his mouth. He looks at him with a cold expression, as he got angry at the man for talking way too much.

[LUK3]-Hey!!! What was that for!?

[C0NNER]-...That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. It's none of your business to talk about others.

[LUK3]-You have no reason to act like this! I have the right to talk about everything I want! I'm a living being like all the others!!

[C0NNER]-Need I remind you that you've informed a student about our secret base, which means that you broke one of the most important rules written in this building? You have to learn to not talk about every little thing you think of, dumbass.

[LUK3]-So what? He joined us after all that have happened back then! He is no danger for us!

[KYR4]-*sigh* Here we go again...

[C0NNER]-And what if he was an enemy trying to trick us all this time? Can't you think of your actions just for a minute?

[LUK3]-Well, he wasn't! And even so, I make the decisions here! Don't forget that I'm older in this system than you, meaning that I'm your superior!

[C0NNER]-Older or not, you have no rank to prove that you are worth to make the rules. In the end, you are just a soldier, just like me or all the others.

LUK3 gets angry at the man that was confronting him. He points at him and asks just to make him somehow shut up.

[LUK3]-Oh, you want me to prove it to you that I'm your superior!? Then, come on! Fight me, you little brat!

He takes his own weapon and both of them take their position. Then, after some death staring, they start running towards each other and start the battle, like warriors on a battleground, or in this case some idiots not managing to deal with each other and making a scene over everything. Meanwhile, KYR4 looks at them both, tired of their stupid actions. It does seem that this isn't the first time they do something like this, that's for sure.

Suddenly, MY4 and CHE5TER enter the room, as it seems that the Great Leader has accompanied the Healer until she came here. And the first thing they see when they enter, obviously, is the two boys fighting. So they go to KYR4 and N04H, avoiding the battle area.

[MY4]-*sigh* Are they fighting again?

[KYR4]-Yep...

[CHE5TER]-...What's the reason this time?

[KYR4]-LUK3 told N04H about how we all joined, and C0NNER, being himself, got angry and tried to make LUK3 shut up. Then, this happened.

[CHE5TER]-I swear, the next time that man asks me about his son, I will just keep my mouth shut... I'm tired of forever helping LUCAS with this subject anyway.

[MY4]-Should we stop them?

[CHE5TER]-Give them two more minutes. Maybe they will finally learn to stop fighting over every possible subject and get in their senses.

[KYR4]-Yeah, great joke, Master!

They look a bit at the boys fighting, the ruler looking like He is really interested in every movement they make, analysing them in details. But the two girls seem to want to chat more than watch two idiots fight like some kids from the schools.

[KYR4]-By the way, MY4! LUK3 told me that he wants to go out today. Are you interested in coming with us?

[MY4]-Sure! I guess I can take some time to go visit the city before I go to my work. Is little N04H coming with us as well?

[KYR4]-Ask him yourself.

[N04H]-Oh, me?

[MY4]-Mhm! You are a part of the team too after all! And with this occasion, we can get to know each other better!

[N04H]-Oh, then... I guess I have nothing to lose.

[CHE5TER]-I'm sorry to interrupt, but hold on your words for a bit.

The Great Leader goes in the middle of the fight as He saw the two boys jumping at each other's throats, both strangling each other as they got on the ground. So, to calm them down, He makes some simple moves and manages to knock the boys for good. As His two soldiers stand on the ground, obligated this time from the pain He gave them, He turns back to the girls and closes His eyes, talking with the back on them.

[CHE5TER]-Mr. LUCAS, Mr. C0NNER, mind explaining your behaviour to me?

[LUK3+C0NNER]-IT WAS HIS FAULT!

[CHE5TER]-I do not care about whose fault was. I expect both of you to behave properly. As my soldiers, I do not want any of you to act like we are on the battlefield with each other. Save your energy for the real work. Did I make myself clear?

The two men get up on their feet and look at Him, a bit ashamed. Then, CHE5TER turns His head towards C0NNER.

[CHE5TER]-...Especially you, Mr. C0NNER. I expect a better behaviour from you.

The boy looks down, even more ashamed of everything that had happened, while the other man just stands there, still angry.

[C0NNER]-...Yes, Master.

N04H looks at him as he says these words, as he doesn't seem to be so happy. Then, he remembers some words that LUK3 had said before. "You know this feeling better than any of us after all!". Words that he had said when he explained about his friends situation. He stands a bit to think of what could have possibly happened to him before he joined them.

[CHE5TER]-You should go out with them so you can take some fresh air. Maybe it will clear up your mind. Just a suggestion...

Yet as He says these words, He walks towards the exit of the room so He can leave, but N04H notices that and tries to stop Him quickly.

[N04H]-H-Hey! Wait! You don't come with us too?

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

[N04H]-I-I mean... It's a free day for everyone, right? Why don't you come with us as well?

He looks at the young boy as he is staring at Him, waiting for His response. Then He looks at MY4, which was trying to make Him accept this invitation, even begging from her movements, before He stares down and sighs.

[CHE5TER]-...Alright then. I will join you this time. But, let me get something from my office first.

From behind though, as He tries to leave again, He could hear LUK3 whispering to KYR4 something.

[LUK3]-Did you see? I won the fight!

[KYR4]-Yeah, sure...

So, CHE5TER looks at LUK3 before He does any more movements.

[CHE5TER]-Oh, and Mr. LUCAS?

[LUK3]-Huh? What is it, Boss?

[CHE5TER]-You should train more on your defence on the left side of your body.