The Underground City

17:29

[LUK3]-Alriiight! Now, where should we go first to visit...

[MY4]-Maybe we can go around the center of the city? It's a good start for him to learn about our city's business and all.

[KYR4]-That's all you got, MY4? Business? You bring a Lost Child of Heaven into a new city and the first thing coming to your mind when asked what to show him is "business"?

[MY4]-I meant that it's where all the trades are happening. From clothes to every possible thing you need! If he ever wants to buy something or he is in need of an item, he should know from where to buy it, right? He has to learn to survive after all, just like all of us. Showing them early isn't such a bad thing.

[KYR4]-Shouldn't we take him easy at first? We will show these kind of things later. For now, maybe we can try and relax as how the initial plan was? Just saying!

[MY4]-You got something in mind then, ADIN4?

[KYR4]-*sigh* I thought we ended the whole thing with "ADIN4" long time ago, MY4.

[MY4]-Hey, I was raised with this name of yours, alright? It's a force of habit until I get used to it as well.

[LUK3]-Oh, oh, can I ask why did you change it if we are on this subject? I liked to call you "little Adi"!

[KYR4]-I could ask you the same thing, "LUCAS"!

[LUK3]-Well, I mean, I sticked to my old name, it's not like I changed it completely like you!

Yet as the three friends talk, little Six stays silent in the back, following them around and looking at the city. For him is out of nowhere to see C borns being free to wander the streets with smiles on their faces and not even a glance of fear to be caught by the M soldiers. But LUK3 ruins the moment for him and takes him by a hand to bring him on his right side, putting his arm around his shoulder and looking at him.

[LUK3]-Alright, buddy, you choose where we should go! Since me and the girls can't think of a spot, maybe you want to see something in particular! It could be anything, really! Maybe you've liked to visit a place in the City of Above and want to see something similar here! Just tell me and I show it to you!

["C0NNER"]-U-Umm... I-I don't really...

[LUK3]-Come ooon! There has to be something you wanna see, right? Anything! You are free to go wherever you wish now, don't waste this opportunity!

But even so, little Six doesn't seem to feel comfortable right now, and even the girls notice it.

[KYR4]-Okay, LUK3, you terrorised him enough. Let him breath.

[LUK3]-What do you even mean!? I didn't terrorise anybody! I'm just trying to be friendly to him!

[KYR4]-Yeah, and that "friendly" face of yours sure scared the shit out of his soul. Little guy is still getting used to his new life, god dammit! You don't have to force him from the first day!

[LUK3]-Ninini... Just 'cause you became an Officer, doesn't mean you are the boss when we are alone, got it??

[MY4]-LUK3, even I think it's a bit too much. Let's take it easy with him!

[LUK3]-*sigh* I don't remember you guys being so boring... Okay, then how about this... we go to a bar, take a quick drink and talk there where we should go next. What do you think? I mean, a drink doesn't kill anybody, and maybe he will like something from there too.

[MY4]-What do you say, Adi?

[KYR4]-*sigh* As long as you don't exaggerate or don't order something very expensive, then I don't care. Yet if this is his start... I don't really see him well in the next years.

[LUK3]-I won't exaggerate, alright!? I know how to control myself!

[KYR4]-Mhm... Tell that to all the times I had to carry you because of how drunk you got.

[LUK3]-It was just a few times!! Until a few years ago, I wasn't even getting my mouth near them, remember!?

[KYR4]-Alright! Alright! Just lead the way already, you idiot!

And so, the group goes around one of the bars near them, as the girls order something by themselves and only Six was left to decide, with LUK3 near him to help him in some advices.

[LUK3]-Alright, buddy! What does appear interesting to you from the list? Look, for example, I would recommend one of these three drinks for beginners! It's the first drink for you, right?

The kid nods silently this time.

[LUK3]-Okay, good! Yeah, these three are good for you! Or, or... this one! I mean, it's not my favourite, but it's loved by the others kids! What do you think?

Six starts looking around the names of all the drinks, yet he seems a bit perplexed. None of them appear interesting to him. Not until he sees one drink called "Dawn in the Night".

["C0NNER"]-...What about this one?

[LUK3]-Hm? "Dawn in the Night"?

["C0NNER"]-M-Mhm...

[LUK3]-Umm... Won't say you are ready for it if it's your first drink. It's a bit heavy this one, trust me.

[MY4]-Isn't it the same one that CHE5TER takes every time we take Him out?

[LUK3]-Really? That's the one? Then how is He so used to it?

[KYR4]-I don't know, His habit? Wasn't He saying that He used to go to a barman almost every day when He was younger?

[LUK3]-Damn, then I am nothing compared to Him if He remains so well in His feet...

Yet Six still looks around the list while the others talk and remains with that option.

["C0NNER"]-...That one.

[LUK3]-Huh? Are you sure, buddy?

["C0NNER"]-I-I'm sure.

[KYR4]-Well, I mean, good thing LUK3 won't get drunk this time, so we have someone to carry you if you can't take it easy. Worse than that, nothing can really happen. So, good luck, LUK3!

[LUK3]-Ha ha... *sigh* Okay, C0NNER, you do you. But don't tell I didn't warn you.

And so, LUK3 orders for himself and Six, getting the drinks right after, before he starts again chatting with the girls.

[LUK3]-Okay, so? What now? Do we have an objective after?

[KYR4]-I mean, MY4's idea of going in the center wasn't so bad... But we should have an idea of what to visit there in mind as well.

[MY4]-Maybe the park in that area? I know that most of the people from the center go to relax there.

[KYR4]-Mm... Not bad... But we can't stay in a park for hours as well. What about after we visit it?

[LUK3]-Oh! Maybe visit the south of the city? I know it's the best part of our lands, right? You know, how all the traditions from our culture are obvious from the architecture and all the friendly people...

But as they talk, Six has taken a few sips a while ago and began to not feel so well from it. He seems to be dizzy, as if the room moves with him. His colour also lights up out of nowhere, though he doesn't seem to wield his power or anything like that. Maybe that's what LUK3 meant by "heavy drink". Everything he hears are like an echo, so he puts his head on the table and covers his ears, closing his eyes to rest for a bit. Of course, as a consequence, MY4 notices his weird behaviour.

[MY4]-Hm? Little C0NNER? Are you alright? You seem pale.

[KYR4]-Seems like it began to do its effect, huh? That was quick, not gonna lie... Good thing it doesn't affect his health or anything.

[MY4]-Yeah, but even so, his head will hurt him for a while...

MY4 looks around her small handbag and takes a handkerchief which she deeps in some liquid, before it hands it to LUK3.

[MY4]-LUK3, put this on his forehead, alright?

[LUK3]-Oh, alright! ...Here you go!

He puts it on Six's forehead as she said, which makes him open his eyes and look around to the people who were staring at him.

[KYR4]-...Or, maybe at this point, we should just leave it for another day and take the little guy back to the base.

[LUK3]-Already!??

[KYR4]-What? You want to take him in the city like this?

[LUK3]-But it's not MY FAULT that he chose something that I've warned him about!

[KYR4]-He already seems like he is ready to pass out, you dumbass! I don't want to get yelled at because we've lost him in the city!

[LUK3]-But we won't lose him! I will keep my eyes on him!

[KYR4]-Yeah! And I should trust you like always, shouldn't I!? Every time I do that, I regret it every single time!

[LUK3]-KYR4, I won't lose him, god da--

But before they continue, little Six cannot hold himself anymore and throws up, right next to LUK3, even a bit on him actually, which makes LUK3 a bit disgusted as well.

[KYR4]-...Yep. We are going back to the base.

The Southeast Military Base

18:14

Now that they got back, little Six stays on a bed, more exactly in his room that was given at that time, even though now, the present C0NNER doesn't live at the base anymore. MY4 is staying with him as well to help him out to feel better. His C colour's light faded, so he does seem to get well.

[MY4]-How do you feel now, C0NNER? Any better?

["C0NNER"]-M-Mhm...

[MY4]-*sigh* You sure didn't take it easy... But, I must admit, you are pretty brave. Even with all the warnings, you still wanted to try it out.

But as MY4 tries to put her things back in her handbag, C0NNER looks down and starts talking again.

["C0NNER"]-I-I'm... not brave... Miss MY4.

[MY4]-Huh? Why do you say that?

["C0NNER"]-...

[MY4]-Come on... You can talk to me about anything. I won't say anybody if that's what you wish.

He takes a small look at the kind face of MY4's, in which everyone puts their trust on, so in the end, he decides to speak up.

["C0NNER"]-I-It's just that... I don't feel accepted here by anybody.

[MY4]-Why not? LUK3 already accepted you and really wants to be your friend, and Miss KYR4 and I are trying our best to make you feel comfortable. Even the others have already got used to you being around, even if you are the first new member of the base after such a long time.

["C0NNER"]-...What about Mr. CHE5TER?

Yet now she looks at him with a feeling of pity, but still that warm vibe that she's always giving.

[MY4]-*sigh* C0NNER... Master CHE5TER has some problems to deal with in these times. We all have at some point. He can be angry, but He can be calm as well. He's just a bit tired because of the constant problems of our city, that's all.

["C0NNER"]-But even so... I-I don't think He is proud of me.

[MY4]-Why do you want Him to be proud of you?

["C0NNER"]-...

He makes a small pause to take a deep breath, before he continues.

["C0NNER"]-...Miss MY4... He is always angry at me and His methods of teaching are like torture to me. I-I know it's only been two days and all, but I don't feel like I will ever make Him proud of me... A-And if I can't make the man that took me as His own disciple proud, t-then how would I ever make the people I lost be proud of me? I did nothing but disappoint Him! I-I disappointed them all...

[MY4]-...

["C0NNER"]-...W-Why can't I be enough for anybody, Miss MY4? Have I done something wrong?

[MY4]-Buddy... you did nothing wrong. It's just that fate was against you... I know Master CHE5TER can be difficult sometimes, but believe it or not, fate wasn't really that indulgent with Him either. This is why you see Him like this. It's normal to be mad when you are unhappy, C0NNER. His whole mistake is that He takes this anger on others, but He only does so to feel better Himself. He means no harm to you, little one. He is just trying to forget His past, just like you do, so don't take it personally. Once the times will be more simple for us, you will see He won't be angry at you anymore.

In the end, he nods silently and looks at her again.

["C0NNER"]-...Alright. I-I will... trust your word.

So she gives him a small smile, enough for him to know that she is already proud of him. But outside of the room, seems that the Great Leader had heard their small conversation, and He looks rather sad than disappointed, until He decides to leave too.

"But besides Him... I knew I had all the other members by my side as well. I always appreciated their help during that year of mine, and I will forever be grateful to them all."