Chapter 22 - Our Words

12.06.1642

The Southeast Military Base

16:12

"[CHE5TER]-"Lands of a peaceful civilisation, like watching the sky in the midnight. Each star an unique person, each black hole a fear, each galaxy an united friendship. These were our lands, taken away from us long time ago. Where promises were broken and dreams were shattered, yet you cannot even imagine that these were our ancestors, our people. There was no war, no conflict between the races. Nothing. It was beauty, like the dream of an innocent child. It was the Heaven Itself."

[RY4N]-Are you done quoting our father's words already, Ches?

[CHE5TER]-What? I cannot dream anymore now? You like quoting from your books as well!

[RY4N]-I know, but it gets a bit annoying repeating the same thing over and over again. Don't you think?

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* You are such a joy killer sometimes...

Yet another memory, with the two small boys seeming to be on a roof of a building in the Underground City, looking up at the city's "sky". Not exactly a sky, more like the ceiling of the cave, while talking to each other out of boredom.

[CHE5TER]-Hey, RY4N?

[RY4N]-Hm?

[CHE5TER]-How do you think these lands looked like?

[RY4N]-I don't know. Old houses side by side? How could it look like?

[CHE5TER]-Just that? What about machines? How do you think they were making their machines back then?

[RY4N]-CHE5TER, it was almost 250 years ago. I don't even think machines existed back then. Probably it was a normal and old-looking city. We've evolved in technology, remember?

[CHE5TER]-But then, how did we get so many ideas from nothing? Are we really that creative or did we got inspired from something from the past?

[RY4N]-Well, isn't your kind suppose to survive by evolving its creativity? I mean, we wouldn't had anything if your kind didn't exist in the first place.

[CHE5TER]-Hmm... Then why do you think the Creators are the only ones to have these powers?

[RY4N]-I don't know... Maybe that's how the First Man wanted you all to be?

[CHE5TER]-But couldn't He program the machine to create beings with more powers? Like... Oh, a C born and an M born combined! Or maybe even more powers! How about flying beings? Or invisible beings? Why do we have to be only three races?

[RY4N]-Why don't you go and ask Him on your own? Why do you think I have the answers to these questions?

[CHE5TER]-Then how am I suppose to find Him? Nobody knows if He is even alive at this point, not to mention that nobody knows how He looked like!

[RY4N]-Probably He was an average-looking guy. You can start with that idea in mind.

[CHE5TER]-Then... there is a possibility that He might be hiding among us all?

[RY4N]-If He is alive, then maybe. Who knows.

[CHE5TER]-So He might be Master? Or Mr. AD4M? Or anybody that we know?

[RY4N]-I could be Him as well, did you think about that?

[CHE5TER]-Nahh. You don't look THAT old.

[RY4N]-I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not...

There is a small silence, before they start talking again.

[CHE5TER]-Do you think that people back then had everything they wished for?

[RY4N]-Why do you ask that?

[CHE5TER]-Everywhere you read or hear from tells about how happy those people were in those times. If they were so happy, that would mean they had everything, right?

[RY4N]-Maybe they weren't that happy as everyone says.

[CHE5TER]-Why do you think that?

[RY4N]-If they were so happy, then why did they start a war in the first place?

[CHE5TER]-You got a point... But they seem more happy than us at least!

[RY4N]-But aren't we happy too?

[CHE5TER]-I mean, they had freedom and technically everything you could ask for, while we are trapped down here not being allowed to go up there at all.

[RY4N]-But we have freedom as well! Even if it doesn't look like. I mean, you are an example of that! You are free to wander around the city without anybody telling you to stop and stay still.

[CHE5TER]-Well, it's not like someone can catch me!

[RY4N]-Yes... And besides that, we have each other, remember? Isn't this "everything"?

[CHE5TER]-Yeah, but I wish to be able to go wherever I want as well! I want to become an explorer and see the whole world, remember? Being trapped down here won't get me anywhere!

[RY4N]-Well, you can have everything you want in life, but I wouldn't imagine a future without my sibling. I can have everything I dream of, but you are my little brother in the end. Would you be able to live a life in a world in which every dream comes true but without me in it?

[CHE5TER]-I...

He shut his mouth in the end. The joyful face of his is now lost in its thought, just because of what his brother said.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* No... I guess you are right...

[RY4N]-See? You already have everything. We will always have everything as long as we remain together.

[CHE5TER]-Yeah... Yeah! You are right! Then should we promise here and now that we will never part our ways in the future, no matter the situations we'll encounter?

[RY4N]-Heh... Alright, then!

[CHE5TER]-Then I, CHE5TER LENKOV, younger son of the Great Leader M4TTH3W LENKOV, promise to you that I would never EVER separate my path from yours, no matter what Goddess M1NERV4 prepared for me!

[RY4N]-*giggles* And I, RY4N LENKOV, older son of the Great Leader M4TTH3W LENKOV, shall promise these words to you as well! I shall keep my promises until my path meets its end and never go off my word!

[CHE5TER]-From now on, we shall work together in whatever problems we might encounter throughout our journey of this life and continue it as partners!

[RY4N]-It's a promise, Mr. CHE5TER?

[CHE5TER]-It's my word, Mr. RY4N!"

And yet, the memory ends, being thrown back into the present where RY4N looks at the ceiling of their room as he just woke up. On the right side of the room though, CHE5TER seems to be still sleeping. Looking at Him really shows how tired He might be now as well.

So, since it has no point of staying and doing nothing here, he gets up from his bed, leaving the room silently as the Great Leader still rests. He doesn't stay at the base though, as he takes his leave and starts going around the city on his own. He seems to buy some things around to make another offering to the statue, not before he goes to talk with someone again.

Some hours have passed as he stood in the city, almost as if he didn't even realise how fast the time went by. What stops him from his business now though is seeing a figure that wanders the city alone, almost a familiar one. Then, he starts following that figure to see what it is up to. But of course he knows it is his brother just working, maybe the reason why he started following Him in the first place.

The Great Leader gets in a closed area again, where He meets up with a crevaator to have a talk. On what subject? We don't know yet. So let us see it.

[RA4V'SZEFNAGH]-Master CHE5TER! Sorry I'm late!

[CHE5TER]-Took you long enough. You know I don't have all day, right?

[RA4V'SZEFNAGH]-Y-Yes! A-Apologies!

[CHE5TER]-Never mind that now. You know why I told you to come here?

[RA4V'SZEFNAGH]-Our leader only told me to meet up with you, but I'm afraid he didn't say the reason as well.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Useless as ever... Anyway, you know how to enter the City of Above, don't you, little crevaator?

[RA4V'SZEFNAGH]-I-I mean I've lived there and all but...

[CHE5TER]-So you do or not?

[RA4V'SZEFNAGH]-Y-Yes, yes! I do! But--

[CHE5TER]- --Good. Do me a favour then and go up there, now.

[RA4V'SZEFNAGH]-But Master! The members from Mr. N3MES1O's group are guarding the entrances! There is no way in Hell we have access to that city now! We can get caught and sent to be investig--

As the crevaator talks, the ruler creates with His left hand a small fake ID card, which He throws to the crevaator the next second it is done.

[CHE5TER]-Go wash yourself and dress up more formally. Tell the guards from the entrances that the Leader from the Southeast Base put you in a quest around the City of Above and you have the Great Leader's approval to go there alone. Do you understand what I'm saying?

[RA4V'SZEFNAGH]-Y-Yes, Master!

[CHE5TER]-Very well. Then here's what you have to do: I want you to meet up with someone called 0ZUL. You will find him somewhere on the north side of the city, near the abandoned academy. Tell him that Young LENKOV informed you about a sabotage plan and that he has to do his part of the work today at 41:00. He will know what to do from then on. Understood?

[RA4V'SZEFNAGH]-U-Understood!

[CHE5TER]-Good. Move!

And so, the crevaator runs away, as the Great Leader remains alone and takes a cigarette to rest. As He lights it up though, He starts talking again.

[CHE5TER]-...You know, I didn't invite you here, don't you? Stop hiding, RY4N.

He then looks at RY4N, who was hiding to spy on Him, before he leaves his hiding spot and approaches his little brother who was calling for him. It's funny actually, because CHE5TER hands him a cigarette like nothing happened, as well as His lighter. He doesn't refuse though, he just takes them and does the same thing.

[RY4N]-How did you know that I'm here?

[CHE5TER]-Isn't this enough for me to know?

He shows him His right hand, more exactly the signs on His arm, as two parts are brighter, while the last one, the left part, stands dark as ever. The signs of the Creator and his two Errors, the bright ones representing them.

[CHE5TER]-Maybe you forgot that I hate when people spy on me. So? Why did you come here?

[RY4N]-*sigh* I simply wanted to see what you're doing here by yourself.

[CHE5TER]-Hmph. And? Are you surprised of what I'm doing?

[RY4N]-No, not really. I expected it for years now.

[CHE5TER]-Oh? You've expected me to have crevaators as people that work for me?

[RY4N]-I mean, you never told anybody who these people are, so I did expect it from you to work at some point with them. Plus that... Officer KYR4 already told me.

[CHE5TER]-Right... Officer KYR4... Then if there's nothing else, you should go back to the base. Neither the Great Leader nor the future Leader are present there and I don't want the people of the base to cause chaos again.

[RY4N]-...You really want to get rid of me, don't you?

[CHE5TER]-Harsh way to put it. But I simply have to go back to my work.

[RY4N]-Consisting in...?

[CHE5TER]-A small plan for today. You are more curious than I was at this point, Brother.

[RY4N]-I can be curious just like you. I'm not banned from being so.

[CHE5TER]-Okay? So what's your point?

[RY4N]-My point is simply that I want to hear your plan, Mr. Great Leader.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* I arranged with some of my people a small sabotage near the walls of the city. By doing so, we could have some time for us to search for a small information that I've heard about. Seems like the General is finally putting his plans in action...

[RY4N]-How do you plan on sabotaging them?

[CHE5TER]-They rely their existence on the electric energy gained by the slaves' powers. We will create a small distraction for the M1SH4M's people to take them away from the M soldiers. So, they remain without a source of energy for a few hours and we will be able to enter the buildings more effectively. I mean... I will do it. This way, not even M1SH4M's people will see me.

[RY4N]-So we will get back to our old business, I see?

[CHE5TER]-Just this time for now. It's a bit too risky to do any of our old missions now since the M soldiers are everywhere. We will have to wait for a while until everything calms down.

[RY4N]-*sigh* Good to hear, I guess...

RY4N doesn't seem so happy about this though, even though CHE5TER tried to ensure him it won't be a problem. Maybe because he knows the risks of doing a mission when it's about the General's plans?

[CHE5TER]-Very well. Then you are free to go.

[RY4N]-...How about a refuse?

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

[RY4N]-How about I stay and help you this time? Since I know the plan and all...

[CHE5TER]-Are you serio... RY4N, I told you that I cannot take you with me for now!

[RY4N]-Does it really look like I'm listening to you anymore?

The Great Leader has that empty look again, yet RY4N doesn't seem as he wants to give up on his words. He just waits until He gives up, winning this weird game of theirs.

[CHE5TER]-...You simply don't want to give up that easily, do you?

[RY4N]-Yeah, something like that.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* Alright. You win this time. For the gods' sake...

[RY4N]-Oh, so I was right.

[CHE5TER]-Right? Right in what?

[RY4N]-Right in the thought of you simply avoiding me to be around. How come you accept now but didn't want to accept before?

[CHE5TER]-Because now it's not something much I would do anyway? And it's not like you are going to leave me alone.

[RY4N]-Then why didn't you want me to come in the first place?

And again He looks at him straight in the eyes before He speaks again, a bit disappointed.

[CHE5TER]-...2 - 0 for you, Mr. RY4N. But don't get yourself cocky. We will see who wins in the end.

[RY4N]-Heh. Stop crying now. Let's get going and see what you got for me.