The Underground City

22:13

And here they are, on the streets of the Underground City. The group wanders the city together, enjoying a peaceful day. Everyone is dressed up in a much comfortable way, KYR4 and LUK3 being in the same clothes as when they first found little N04H. But only CHE5TER refused this idea, as He hides from the public eye, so that nobody can see who He truly is. He is dressed up in His crevaator clothes so that everyone will avoid Him completely, but besides N04H, nobody really seems to care about that.

[LUK3]-Alright! So, I was thinking of going first to see some of our old classmates, the barman that we saved with N04H, maybe some people from the south...

[MY4]-But where exactly are we going now?

[LUK3]-Oh, I thought that we could just walk around this area first! You know, just to relax a bit!

[N04H]-Why don't we let the Leader decide though?

[CHE5TER]-...

CHE5TER refuses to respond to his question for some reason, so the boy turns to the group for an answer.

[MY4]-He... doesn't like to go in the city just for the fun.

[LUK3]-If it was for Him, we would have probably just stood in some closed areas anyway! For Heaven's sake, Boss, you have a problem!

[CHE5TER]-...You know very well that nobody can know about my identity, LUCAS. Bringing me in an open area full of people isn't a wise choice.

[LUK3]-It's not like people know about your position in this city. Come on! Everything I hear from my father is the same. "Uh, Master M4TTH3W this", "Master M4TTH3W that"... For fuck sake, I can't bear that man...

[CHE5TER]-Even so, they are aware of the previous man in this position and His descendants, as well as the information that the one called "CHE5TER LENKOV" is supposedly dead.

[N04H]-Wait, what?

[CHE5TER]-...

[KYR4]-...It's a long story, Green Head.

[N04H]-Does this has to do with the whole "incident" from a year ago everyone is talking about?

[MY4]-No... That one is... different.

[CHE5TER]-...And I cannot explain it to you here. We either need to switch the place, or stop talking about the subject now. *sigh* It's not like it's going to be easy for me to explain about the situation of the true ruler anyw--

Then, a young boy bumps into the group by accident, as he looks at the group and starts apologising.

[RY3]-I-I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going! I swear, I didn't want this to happen.

[MY4]-Hey! Calm down! It's okay! You have nothing to worry about.

Yet as the boy apologises, CHE5TER looks at him with a face of fear. He recognises the young man. But then the boy looks at Him as well and manages to remember Him too. The Leader tries His best to hide His face from him when He notices that he is staring at Him, avoiding anything that would cause Him trouble.

[LUK3]-You seem to be a soldier from the North Base, right?

[RY3]-Huh? ...Oh, yeah. Yes, I am.

[N04H]-Wait... RY3?

[RY3]-O-Oh? ...Oh, hi N04H! I didn't expect to see you here.

[KYR4]-You know this guy?

[N04H]-Yeah! He was in the same school with me! I met him during the breaks and managed to exchange a few words with each other!

[RY3]-Um, N04H... Do you... know these people?

[N04H]-Yes! I'm working with them now!

[RY3]-So... you know Seven Two as well?

[N04H]-Seven who...?

[RY3]-The guy over th--

But as the boy starts pointing at a spot near the group, he notices that the man was already gone. It doesn't take long before the group then realises that CHE5TER, and C0NNER for some reason, had already started moving away, letting them behind. N04H sees them behind RY3, as they walk without looking back, so he tries to end the conversation quickly.

[RY3]-...He was here a second ago. I swear, he was... How did he just left without me noticing?

[N04H]-H-Hey, RY3! I think we will talk in another day, okay?

[RY3]-Oh? Oh, alright... Well then, I will see you later, N04H. Have a good day!

So, the group starts running towards C0NNER and CHE5TER, as N04H was a bit confused and all the others surprised.

[LUK3]-Hey, hey! Hold on there! Wait for us!

[MY4]-Why did you guys leave without us?

[KYR4]-Master, do you know that guy??

[CHE5TER]-...

[N04H]-Who is Seven Two??

[KYR4]-Seven Two is the name that He uses whenever He doesn't want to tell His real identity. My question is: how did that guy know Him??

[CHE5TER]-...

[KYR4]-Wait, did he say that he wa--

[CHE5TER]- --Didn't you tell us earlier that you want to see a barman that you've saved, LUCAS? I think it is a good time to stop talking and go find him. I suddenly want to drink something refreshing.

22:45

After a while of walking around the city, they find themselves near one of the bars of the east. And as the group enters the bar, the barman recognises the four faces that saved his life, and along with them two unknown people to him. The barman welcomes everyone with a smile though, even if he doesn't know everybody.

[D4N7E]-Greetings everyone!

[LUK3]-Hey, D4N7E! How's it going?

[D4N7E]-I see that you've come in a larger number this time... What's the occasion?

[N04H]-Oh, we are only having a free day, so Mr. LUK3 decided that we should visit you as well, just so that we can see how have you been.

[D4N7E]-I see... Well then, take a seat. We can discuss while you rest.

Everyone sits down and look around to see what they could get.

[LUK3]-So, how's life going, man?

[D4N7E]-Well, I guess the answer is the same as the last time you came here. Nothing really changed. I've met some people now that are currently working in this area and made a small collaboration with them, as well as starting a small friendship. And very recently, I adopted three kids, two girls and a boy. So... I can say that I'm doing pretty well.

[LUK3]-Aww, when can I see them?

[D4N7E]-Well I guess I can take you one day to see them if that's what you wish... Though you might have to wait for a while 'cause I'm a bit busy these days. But anyway, you cannot just stay here and look at me the whole time without me giving you anything. What can I get for you today?

Everyone makes their order as they all already had decided on what could they get, the only problem being with C0NNER, who at first didn't even want to order, but the barman helped him decide in the end. The only one left to decide was CHE5TER. When the barman finally had to take His order, the man just stands and looks deadly at all the drinks, as the barman observes the strange figure, waiting for His response, maybe to find out more about this mysterious person. After some time, the man looks at him in the eyes and simply says two words.

[CHE5TER]-...Surprise me.

Because of this strange request, the barman doesn't understand His command at first, as the person didn't seem so easy to read for him to get an idea of His preferences. But he thinks that maybe he should try to make something that probably He didn't try before, or at least that He simply doesn't want something ordinary from what it is usually sold in this city. The barman gives everyone the drinks they ordered, CHE5TER being the only one left waiting for it.

Everyone starts chatting, trying maybe to explain more to little N04H about what they are doing and maybe to get to know themselves better. Everyone, except two people. C0NNER doesn't seem as he wants to talk about anything, he rather stares down, waiting for the moment of leaving, while the ruler seems to think about something this whole time.

In the end, C0NNER decides to take a cigarette as he seems to got bored, but when he searches for his lighter, he seems to have either forgotten it at the base or lost it on the way here. He sighs as he realises that, but then the one next to him hands him His lighter. The Great Leader, as He stood in his left side, had realised that C0NNER had lost it, so He decided to help him a bit. So, C0NNER looks at Him before he takes it, but He still seems to be thinking about something else, staring deadly at nothing. In the end, he takes it from His hand without bothering Him anymore.

After some time, the barman finally comes with CHE5TER's drink. He stops and watches the strange figure analyse what He got, as if he wants some kind of feedback. It doesn't take long before the man notices that, so just to be sure He asks him a question.

[CHE5TER]-...I assume you wait to see what I could say about it? Before that, could I ask you why did you choose to go with this one? Of course, it is a made up recipe which makes it unique from the other drinks here, but I am curious to hear why did you try this one.

[D4N7E]-It is... a drink that I used to serve someone special to me. As I knew she loved it, I thought that I have nothing to lose when giving it to someone else.

[CHE5TER]-And you decided to try your luck on me?

[D4N7E]-To be honest, I had no idea of what type of drinks you would prefer, so I thought that trying to combine something old and something new for you would be a good choice. It's not that I couldn't come up with a different recipe, but giving that I don't know anything about you in particular, I just went by what my mind told me. To me, a person that hides from everyone else is the type of being that has a past like none other, and a future without a specific path, one that the being has to make in order to survive, giving this idea of the combination between old and new.

[CHE5TER]-I see...

Some people stopped chatting as they all were a bit curious to find out the response. Most of the times, CHE5TER is used to order the same drink over and over again, reason that is only known to Him, but this time, He changed the plan of the game, just like a type of a test.

[CHE5TER]-...To put my answer simple, you've decided to combine something traditional from both of the cities, which would mean combining quality and quantity. A risky decision, if I may add. I do assume that you've practiced this recipe before, as it is harder to just do something like this in such a short time. But even so, the drink in cause is still the equivalent of an "Energy Killer", not a drink that is served in our bars.

[C0NNER]-...What do you mean by that? Can it really be the same thing we use for medicine?

[CHE5TER]-You see... I am sure you are aware of the recipes they have up there, don't you, Mr. C0NNER? The people of the above focus on putting the quantity on the top, which is why the most drinks there are heavy, while we focus on the quality of them. This is the same reason as why most of the drinks used by the people of the above could be also used in medicine for us, C borns. The M borns and the R borns do not function on energy as we do, so the quantity of the "Energy Killer" isn't important for them, rather, it works like a drug if exploited. But because our bodies work based on our energy, the quantity really matters to us. I mean, it can still be used as a drug for us as well, but in very large quantities of the ore like this one.

And it seems like MY4 wants to add something up to the explanation too.

[MY4]-In medicine, we give the injured people to drink this type of liquid and depending on how badly the injuries are, we have to give a specific quantity, so that they recover their energy and that the body is able to heal itself on its own. It is injected only in emergencies, like when a person is dying, badly injured or unconscious, because the injection has spontaneous effects, regaining the energy of the person in just a few seconds, but it can also cause a lot of troubles.

[CHE5TER]-Exactly. It is the same reason as why just this glass alone, if injected, could put a C being in a two months coma. It could give a lot of energy at the moment and could be used for some time, but when the effect is done, the whole energy of the person is wasted, leaving him to wait until it is regenerated naturally and making him unable to move as well as before. This is why they are called "Energy Killers". But is very interesting indeed that you chose to mix a drink like this for some time now. I assume the "special person" was a C born herself, because I don't think that those from the above like this type of recipes. Quality isn't really what they search for.

[D4N7E]-She... was indeed...

[CHE5TER]-I think it's the best to say that this drink could be a good investment in this industry. After all, everyone loves things that are new. You could try and sell it from now on as the house specialty. But take it easier on the quantity as an advice. It's still a bit dangerous to put too much of the ore in it. The M borns and R borns from the city might be affected by such a drink for days, just from one glass. We do not want to drug our city like those above us after all, do we?

[D4N7E]-I will do as you said, don't worry. I'm not really used in tasting what I'm combining in the drinks since it's not really necessary, so probably that's why I didn't know about this before. As an M born myself, I wouldn't really want to risk anything. Maybe if you didn't tell me, I wouldn't even know about it until I got into an unwanted incident.

[CHE5TER]-I'm here to help after all. And at least you've learnt from your mistake on this one. But again, the C borns might like it, as they do not suffer as much as the other races from the combination. Rather... let's say it helps us a lot sometimes.

[D4N7E]-Alright. Thanks for the advice, Mister...?

[CHE5TER]-...Seven.

[D4N7E]-Right...

[LUK3]-Oh, D4N7E! Can I get what He got as well? I wanna try!

[D4N7E]-Su--

[CHE5TER]- --I don't think it's such a good idea, LUCAS. You've already had one drink. Putting this one as well might not end up very well for you. Well... for the others. You probably won't even know what's happening during your drunkenness.

[LUK3]-Oh, come oooon! That's not true! I will just take a small sip and then stop! What's the worst that could happen, man?

[CHE5TER]-I was just saying...

CHE5TER takes another sip from His drink, then looks a bit at C0NNER who was standing in His right side, moving the glass around with his head on the table as if he is bored or thinking about something. He looks rather alone as well, as he doesn't seem like he wants to talk to anybody.

[CHE5TER]-C0NNER, stand straight. What's with that expression on your face and this lack of interest?

[C0NNER]-It's nothing, Master...

[CHE5TER]-Then if it is nothing, don't you want to have fun with them?

Yet C0NNER looks down, while standing straight as the Great Leader commanded, and still with that upset face of his.

[C0NNER]-...No, Master. I'm waiting for our leaving.

N04H looks again at C0NNER as he feels that he isn't so pleased, but he can't understand what's in his mind after all. He stays and wonders as he keeps looking at him, a man with such a strange character that does not really want to reveal anything about himself.