The City of Above

38:09

Hours and hours of constant running after what they need to do and find the people who might help them, yet it looks as it has succeeded. After N04H has spoken to the Great Leader for the approval to go and investigate around the City of Above alongside his friend, he has gone to M1LO to inform him about this information that he has gained and what they need to do.

First, they've decided to solve the problem with the R born code they need to have. They've gone to their old classmates or simply former students of the Central School from their generation to ask around and see who might be interested in helping them out. This being pretty much the hardest part, it took them some good hours until both of them have found an R born for themselves who agreed to help out. Then, they had to solve the problem with the disguise.

M1LO has gone back to the Central Base when that matter had to be solved, while N04H in the meantime has talked to the ruler about the equipment they might need to use during this quest. When M1LO got back with the disguises, yet another few hours have been wasted only to set the disguises properly with some clothes and a whole new appearance for the young soldiers. Not only that the disguises hide their C colours entirely, but they also hide their true identity as well, looking like completely different people.

After that was done, they've went to a photographer in the city quickly enough and managed to take some photos of themselves wearing the disguises, which also kind of costed a lot of Novha since they weren't programmed. But after hours of constant anger, they finally managed to get everything done so that N04H can come back at the base to the ruler again, get the documents ready, pick up the proper equipment and then set foot outside the Underground City after he met up with M1LO and managed to speak with N3MES1O's people from the tunnels who verified of the ruler's approval.

They were exhausted after the whole running for the things they need, and not to mention that they didn't even have time to rest during the schedule. But they've continued with the plan, as they took some drinks to keep them awake for a while before they came up in the city. And when they came, someone sure was amazed.

M1LO never set foot in the City of Above before since he respected the rules his whole life and the Central Base also doesn't have that many missions up there either. It was his first time seeing the city with his own eyes, though N04H saw it a few times already since he disobeyed to the rules, was brought by LUK3 to have some observation on how the missions are going and so on. His reaction when he saw the city was pretty similar to N04H's first reaction though: he found it pretty beautiful for a city in which lives their enemy.

When they arrived in the city though, they didn't go on the roofs of the tall buildings nearby. Instead, since their disguises now help them appear as different people that are R borns, they wander freely the streets of the City of Above, something that even N04H couldn't do all these months. It sure felt weird for them at first, but they got used to it, and they also learnt how to play a role around the citizens in this city, to appear as any other citizen of the above too. And that's exactly what they are doing right now as well. They wander the streets, lie to the other people around them and try maybe to listen to the conversations brought in this city. But they sure got bored since nothing really happens. N04H even seems as he is humming almost silently something that just came up in his mind, which also confuses M1LO.

[M1LO]-What are you doing, N04H?

[N04H]-...Oh, nothing. Something just came up in my mind and I've simply let it out. Did you see something interesting yet?

[M1LO]-*sigh* Nothing so far... Do you know what should we find exactly though?

[N04H]-Most likely we will just need to focus on the soldiers that we see. We can stay closer to their area and hear what they are saying if you want to give it a try.

[M1LO]-Isn't it like... committing suicide?

[N04H]-With all the work we've done to get here, no, it isn't. These disguises should be enough for us to appear as nothing more than just some simple R born citizens. It's not like we have to bother them anyway, we will just stay close and try to hear their conversation.

[M1LO]-You seem like you're talking from experience... Did you do this before?

[N04H]-One time. A few months ago I've done a mission like that in our city.

[M1LO]-Well, you sure like to try new things... But even if we do so, what exactly should we focus on from their talking? Is there a specific topic that interests us?

[N04H]-We should see when we hear it! I don't know what might be interesting either!

[M1LO]-If you say so...

[N04H]-Come on, just trust me, M1LO! I know I'm not experienced and all, but I also know that I'm ready to face a real quest now! I'm tired of forever staying at the base and train all day while the others are going in their mission and leave me alone. Aren't you tired of not following your dream too?

[M1LO]-I don't know... It's just... this is a whole new experience for me, N04H. I've never been in this area in my whole life, and all the stories and legends from our culture about this city just give me chills down my spine knowing what might happen to us just because of a simple mistake. I'm just... afraid.

[N04H]-Then why did you want to join the military in the first place?

[M1LO]-...

It seems like this question alone made M1LO shut his mouth and rethink what he just said. After all, it is true. He wished to be a soldier. But why would you want to be one if you are afraid of doing mistakes?

[M1LO]-*sigh* I guess you are right... I'm fearing nothing.

[N04H]-Alright. Now, where should we go next...

[M1LO]-I saw a group of soldiers a few steps ago if you are interested, though they didn't seem to do anything important. They were just guarding a building.

[N04H]-Guarding a building?

[M1LO]-Yeah. Nothing much. Why? Is it... suppose to be important?

[N04H]-We can give it a try and see what they are up to. How many were they again?

[M1LO]-I don't know... Around nine or ten?

[N04H]-So they were a few...

[M1LO]-Yeah, but... are you sure nothing's gonna happen if we go and investigate it?

[N04H]-Yes, I'm sure of it!

[M1LO]-And if they ask us about the documents?

[N04H]-Well, let's just beg the gods for mercy then!

38:34

And so they went. They've walked back a few steps and began to look around for a spot where they should stay and listen to what's happening first, then when they found it, they went towards it and played along as if they had no business around that area at all, being just a dark part of the city in which they now just stay and try to listen to the soldiers while also being unseen by them. But they seem to have a bit of a difficulty in doing so.

[M1LO]-Do you hear anything?

[N04H]-Nuh-uh... They are too far from us. Maybe if we get closer?

[M1LO]-Closer than this? Hell no, man! We will get ourselves caught if we do that!

[N04H]-And what do you suggest then? Do you know how to read lips?

[M1LO]-No, but we can watch what they're doing, idiot!

[N04H]-Oh, Brother...

They argue for a bit, but then they start watching the soldiers from far away, trying to understand what they are doing at that specific building. It doesn't seem to be a base or anything, more like a simple building with lots of apartments in which the citizens live. Minutes of constant waiting though and still nothing interesting.

[M1LO]-Are you sure it has something to do with our quest, N04H?

[N04H]-*sigh* Not really, but it sure gets boring...

[M1LO]-Should we look around again then?

[N04H]-Yeah... Yeah, let's go and see other parts of the cit--

But before they tend to lose attention to the soldiers and leave, some progress is finally making its appearance. Around two or three more soldiers come out of the building, with a kid being with them, a young one. So, the two boys look back and watch what's happening.

[M1LO]-...Wait, is that a kid with them?

[N04H]-Looks like it...

[M1LO]-Maybe he is a kid of one of the soldiers?

[N04H]-Do you really think they bring their kids to work?

[M1LO]-I don't know. Knowing how corrupted this city is, everything is possible...

N04H tries to see clearer how the kid looks like, while M1LO simply watches the soldiers. Then, he gets rather shocked.

[N04H]-...Wait, M1LO, that's not just a kid!

[M1LO]-Hm? What do you mean?

[N04H]-That kid is a C born!

[M1LO]-So... a Lost Child of Heaven? Makes sense... *sigh* Poor guy...

[N04H]-...We have to help him.

[M1LO]-What!? Do you see how many soldiers are there, N04H?? There's no way in Hell we can help him!

[N04H]-So what!? You want to leave him here??

[M1LO]-*mumbles*

He then starts looking around quickly, thinking of any possible way of helping the guy out, but he looks back at M1LO, remembering something.

[N04H]-M1LO, you knew most of the information about the City of Above from our class, right?

[M1LO]-Wh... Are you seriously gonna start being jealous of me now too!? Don't you see what we are doing?? God dammit, N04H!

[N04H]-That's not even my intention, you fu... *sigh* Just respond to my question! Quick!

[M1LO]-Um... yeah, I guess I know a few things. Why?

[N04H]-Tell me a bit about what happens to a C born when it gets caught! Every process!

[M1LO]-I don't think it's the time t--

[N04H]- --Just say it, man!

[M1LO]-*sigh* Well... most of them are executed?

[N04H]-The executions are cancelled. Tell me about the slaves!!

[M1LO]-I-I don't... I guess they are brought back to the military and then are given further either to other soldiers with higher ranks or to researchers.

[N04H]-Researchers... Researchers... Okay, I got a plan! Follow me!

[M1LO]-What?? N04H, tell me what do you want to do first!

[N04H]-Just trust me! Come on!

N04H leaves the area and starts running towards the location the two soldiers seem to go for, trying maybe to catch them alone on the road. Only M1LO remains a bit perplexed to watch him leave, and before he follows him, he looks at the sky with his eyes closed with such a pitiful face.

[M1LO]-*sigh* We are going to die...