♫ (lyrics not found) ♫
-- Tsukasa, Colours of Sorrow

Maddog scratched his head, letting out a resigned sigh.

"That's true, yeah. It's just...you... you are even more stoic now. Jeez, you should show some feelings of frustration. It makes me feel like I'm the bad guy here...you know? Making you do all the work."

"You aren't." Celeste replied simply and continued on his way.

Maddog smiled crookedly and he turned to look at Peach who was still unconscious.

I bet if she wakes up, she'll be confused and--

His smile then dropped from his face and he hurried after Celeste.

On second thought, Maddog rather he'd not be here when she wakes up.

"You know what, Little Ash? I'll leave with you." Maddog grinned shakily before raising his head at the ceiling. "Arwen! Take good care of Peach!"

"Certainly, Master. I will proceed with dressing her wound and ensuring no other harm befalls her as long as she remains in the house. However, I would advise having someone to care for her personally, knowing how impulsive and reckless Peach can be. As I have emphasised, concussion varies from individual and they require careful attention."

"You can act as her caretaker then, with your robot arms and hologram!" Maddog exclaimed and Celeste stopped, casting a questioning glance at Maddog.

"Very well, as long as she does not override your commands, I will provide her with my utmost care."

"Are you doing that purpose, Arwen?" Maddog made a face. "Trying to guilt-trip me, aren't you?"

"I am afraid I do not understand you, Master."

"Stop playing dumb."

"The function "playing dumb" does not exist, Master. Would you like me to install such a function?"

"Peach installed it in, didn't she? Just to annoy me if I ever visited again, like now."

"Lying is not recognised as a function. The only adjustment Peach has made is toggling my profanity filter."

"..."

Celeste couldn't believe that his close friend was actually arguing with an artificial intelligence.

He walked away, not bothering with either of them and he took the opportunity to scan the house once more. Traversing down the corridor, he realised one of the plain walls has been covered by an image.

It was a live wallpaper of the shallow sea. The coral reefs dancing to the gentle waves, with fishes of different species hovering around them. A diver accompanied them, observing them with interest.

Celeste halted, gazing at the live wallpaper, the soft music still playing in the background. He hadn't noticed it before since he was rushing past the area. His eyes wavered, and his stoic expression grew soft.

He approached the live wallpaper, his steps slow, as he kicked away some of the trash that had ended up here. Touching the live wallpaper, a faint smile graced his lips, appearing wistful. He traced the fishes with his fingers, his smile growing a little wider.

"Little Ash?! Little Ash! Hey! Don't tell me you've already--oh."

Celeste paid no attention to Maddog, still immersed in his own world.

Maddog stared at Celeste for a moment, before placing his hand on Celeste's shoulder.

"How long has it been...? Since you dived?" Maddog asked hesitantly, his voice soft.

Celeste gradually glanced down, blinking slowly as his expression returned to an impassive one.

"Two years."

Maddog widened his eyes in disbelief. "You really never went diving again? For that long?"

A moment of silence passed and Maddog sighed heavily, moving his hand away. Eventually, Celeste lifted his head up and faced Maddog.

The expression on Celeste's face made Maddog inhale sharply.

"I...can't." Celeste choked out, conflicted.

Maddog looked at the live wallpaper, his voice low and sombre. "Yeah, it must not feel right."

Celeste stared back at the live wallpaper too, remaining silent.

"...you still haven't told your parents about you living in Neo?"

"I won't ever tell them, they hated it so much that they moved."

"Moved? To where?"

"Vietnam."

Maddog coughed. "Jesus, that's far. So that's why you can't tell them."

Celeste nodded, and their conversation was halted abruptly by Arwen's sudden intrusion.

"Master and 001, the tea is at its optimal temperature for consumption. I would recommend you to drink it now to enjoy its taste to the fullest. The tea will be served on the coffee table."

Maddog chuckled a little, patting Celeste on the shoulder. "Come on, Little Ash. Just drink the tea before you go, take it as a payment from Arwen who scared us pretty badly earlier. Man, seeing you almost dying like that...is something I'll never forget."

"I apologise for my actions, Master. I will ensure to dispose of the intruders by covering your eyes the next time. Would you like me to treat your wound on your neck as well, 001?"

"That doesn't help at all!"

"I'll do it myself."

The two of them answered at the same time.

"Very well. Due to the difficulty of navigating around the living room, would you like me to pass the tea over to you instead?"

The two of them nodded and robotic arms shot out from the ceiling. Celeste instinctively recoiled at seeing those arms once again, and Maddog laughed at Celeste's reaction.

"Don't worry, Arwen won't do anything harmful to you since you are considered an ally now."

Celeste blinked, nodding slowly.

"Hopefully. I think."

Celeste snapped his head to Maddog.

"...you think?" he repeated, raising his eyebrows.

"I mean, if Peach wakes up and realises you are here, and orders Arwen to--" Maddog coughed, giving Celeste a knowing look. "Yeah, then...you know...and so on."

"Enjoy your chamomile tea."

Arwen handed them their tea, and Celeste resisted the urge to recoil back once again. They held the tea cups carefully in their hands, and they both took a sip.

Maddog grimaced at the taste of the chamomile tea. He was never one that liked herbal tea, but since Arwen had already prepared it for him, he felt bad to throw it away or exchange it for another cup of tea.

"Master, would you like me to hire a medical robot helper to look after Peach?"

Maddog paused, quiet for a moment before he sighed, "I'll look after her...as much as I don't want to. Don't bother hiring a medical helper or doctor."

Maddog smiled softly, Peach was his most loyal customer and also one of the closest friends he has made in years. She wasn't what people would call nice, neither did she have a heart of gold, but she was a genuine person.

Maddog knew he owed her many favours too, as much as she owed him.

"Understood, Master. I am sure Peach will appreciate your efforts in taking care of her."

"I doubt so." Maddog scoffed.

He gulped down the tea, ignoring the slight burning sensation going down his throat.

All of a sudden, Maddog spat out his tea and it splattered all over the floor.

Celeste who was standing beside him, enjoying the tea, retreated backwards. The inscrutable expression was back on his face as he observed Maddog.

Maddog coughed harshly, staring ahead as something was written on his lenses.

WARNING! BREAK IN DETECTED AT 狗皮膏药!

Emergency protocols will be initiated if there is any unauthorized access on the equipment.

The storage room has been concealed successfully. No signs of intrusion detected in the storage room.

Accessing Boyd for footage...

Boyd successfully accessed!

"Wh...what the...who the fuck even dares to break in...?" Maddog mumbled to himself, wiping his lips as he scoffed.

"Mekhi?"

Hello, Master. The system has captured the footage and images of the intruders. I will proceed to playback the footage.

Please wait a moment while I upload the footage to your Löne.

Downloading footage...

Footage successfully downloaded!

"These assholes, are they looking for their own deaths?" Maddog growled out, the footage playing on his lenses.

Celeste only studied Maddog silently, knowing he wasn't going to get a response from his friend anytime soon.

Maddog watched the footage closely, a hint of rage in his eyes.

Three men wandered around the stall, scrutinizing at objects with gloved hands, dressed in all-black. Moment passed and they tossed the objects aside without care.

The shop had been completely raided and it was in an awful mess. The floor was littered with broken glass and equipments that were either smashed or tossed aside.

It continued on for another fifteen minutes and the men walked out of the store in a composed manner.

Maddog was trembling with rage, despite his stall and its products not being the best, he still treasured them. Some of his products were even created by him personally.

"Boyd, switch to the cameras at the front."

Very well, Master. I will proceed to playback the footage from O1 and O2.

Please wait a moment while I upload the footage to your Löne.

Downloading footage...

Footage successfully downloaded!

What Maddog saw made him almost drop the tea cup in shock. Celeste noticed his reaction, and put his hand on Maddog's shoulder.

Finally, he managed to garner Maddog's attention as Maddog glanced at him.

"Mekhi, what's wrong?"

"...the black market is being raided by a group of people. My stall wasn't spared either."

"Who?"

Maddog looked at his lenses, the cameras managing to capture clear images of all the culprits, recognising them all. He glanced back at Celeste, rubbing his neck, his anger had deflated when he realised who were the culprits were.

"It's Haeres, and his hitmen."