05.06.1642

The Southeast Military Base

16:21

And now, we are finally back at the Southeast Base, where LUK3 seems to have just woke up by N04H since they both leave his room and he looks a bit sleepy. KYR4 was passing by in the meantime, so LUK3 greets her as always.

[LUK3]-*yawn*...Morning, KYR4. Where are you going?

[KYR4]-Morning, LUK3. You look like shit.

[LUK3]-...I just woke up, don't be mean with me! I'm going to clean myself in a moment!

[KYR4]-Why are you so sleepy anyway? It's 16 and a half! The whole base already woke up!

[LUK3]-Yeah, but I went out yesterday after the clock hit midnight, so I came back at the base pretty late. I think I went to sleep at around 5:00 or 7:00... Oh, and N04H obligated me to wake up so he can train.

[N04H]-Because yesterday you said we will start practicing at this hour!

[LUK3]-I say dumb things every time and regret them after! And now I wish I had more time to sleep...

[KYR4]-Well, at least you admit the fact that you say stupid things every second of your life.

[LUK3]-Oh, shut up!

But as they talk, the Great Leader passes by as well, yet this time... He looks a bit stranger than usual. As if He was... happy? But it isn't the right word to describe it either.

[KYR4]-Oh, morning, Mast--

Even KYR4 notices that something is off about Him in this morning. So as He looks back to see the people greeting, everyone gets a bit in a shock.

[CHE5TER]-Morning. I assume you all go towards the training ground for little N04H?

[KYR4]-...Something happened? You look awfully... cheerful.

[CHE5TER]-Oh? Is that so obvious? My bad, I guess. Heh...

[KYR4]-You act strange ever since you got back at the base, Master, but I never saw you act like this before. Something on your mind?

[CHE5TER]-I guess I can have my own reasons to act a bit strange at some points in my life. Just like some of you.

As He says these words, He looks weirdly at LUK3, but LUK3 seems a bit scared of Him this time, as he hides slowly behind N04H.

[LUK3]-Ehehey! Why are you looking at me like that!? I didn't do anything, I swear!! You can't be mad at me for no reason! You don't have any right to beat my ass!!

But He doesn't say a word though. He looks at him, at the grown man scared like a child of his own ruler, and He doesn't seem to mind that, more like He enjoys it. He gives him something like a smile... but a creepy one, before saying some final words.

[CHE5TER]-Have fun with your training, little N04H.

And then, leaving without saying any other word anymore. LUK3 sure is afraid of the future now, especially knowing what RY4N told him a while ago.

[LUK3]-Ah, shit! He sure will smack me when I'm not expecting later this day! What did I do wrong??

[N04H]-Are you sure that's what He wants to do though?

[LUK3]-Then why did He look at me like that?? Maybe He is mad at me that I let you on that mission?? Ah, dammit N04H... please stay with me for the rest of the day... I want to make sure I'm safe!

In the meantime though, CHE5TER wanders the hallway on his own, greeting the people He meets while doing so, and even C0NNER passed by alone and considered weird the way He acts.

After a few minutes of doing this, He even meets up with MY4 in the end, who seems to be ready to leave towards the shelter. But she didn't notice Him at first, as He came from behind her back. He puts His arms around her shoulders, but she gets a bit surprised at first, as she didn't know who was behind. She then looks behind to see the person's face, only for her to admire CHE5TER's weird... smile.

[MY4]-...CHE5TER? Are you alright?

[CHE5TER]-What makes you think that I'm not fine?

[MY4]-You act a bit too joyful today. Did you find something when you went out yesterday?

[CHE5TER]-You can say that... But don't I have the permission to act lively sometimes anymore?

[MY4]-Of course you have, but I didn't see you smile like that in a long time. I'm just curious, that's all.

Seeing that He wishes to chat with her, she turns around so they can see themselves face to face and be easier to talk.

[CHE5TER]-I assume you are going to the shelter now?

[MY4]-Mhm! I told some people that I will see them in a few minutes. When I come back, we can look at your wounds as well. Maybe I can try a few things and find out what this state of yours is too...

[CHE5TER]-No need, MY4. I don't think I need my medication anymore at this point.

[MY4]-But I have to make sure that it doesn't get worse! You know that! What if that thing isn't healthy for your body? I have to know that you are not in a bad situation, I can't just leave you wander around as you wish with it and find you later unconscious!

[CHE5TER]-Heheh...

He smirks a bit while He hears these words, closing His eyes, yet MY4 doesn't really understand what's in His mind. When He opens His eyes again, slowly, He comes near her and gives her a small kiss on the lips. The kiss is not long, only a few seconds. But she did kiss Him back while He did so, as this is not the first time when they show their love to each other. Yet when it stops, He starts talking to her again.

[CHE5TER]-...I missed you, MY4. More than anything in my life. I'm just sorry I couldn't come back earlier.

[MY4]-You know I missed you too... But you put me more in a worry as I thought that you will never come back...

[CHE5TER]-I know that, and I will make up for this mistake of mine to you in the future. I promise.

[MY4]-I don't want you to make up for your mistakes, CHE5TER. I only want to know that you are alright.

[CHE5TER]-Then I will tell you now and every time you ask me that I'm fine. Is that alright?

[MY4]-It's... not what I meant...

[CHE5TER]-But it's better than nothing, right?

[MY4]-...

She doesn't really respond since she is a bit worried, so of course CHE5TER notices it and starts ensuring her that He will be fine.

[CHE5TER]-...I will be alright, MY4. Everything is going to be alright. This thing of mine shouldn't worry you. It doesn't affect me in any way.

[MY4]-...Then what is... it?

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* I do not know. I swear I do not. But if it gets any worse and it really starts affecting me, then I will call for your help if that's what you wish. I promise.

[MY4]-...Then you will take your medicine if it gets any worse, right? Even a bit?

[CHE5TER]-I will... I give you my word...

...Liar.

She feels a bit better this time though, even if CHE5TER looks a bit uncomfortable talking about this subject. So, to change it, He reminded Himself that He has other business to do now as well. He doesn't want to leave her or anything, but He still hasn't done all of His duties.

[CHE5TER]-Alright... I think it's time for us to part our ways. I don't want to take from your time. People are waiting for you at the shelter after all. But if you wish, we can talk again when you get back.

[MY4]-...And what are you going to do?

[CHE5TER]-There is someone left in my mind that I want to see now. Do not worry about me, please. I will be at the base and stay safe. See you, MY4.

So, CHE5TER leaves towards His destination, while MY4 remains behind, looking at Him moving slowly far away from her. She is glad that He came back in the end, but the worry still didn't stop there.

16:40

RY4N was called out of nowhere in the Great Leader's office, and from past incidents when this happened, most of the times this means that something isn't at its place, that something bad is going to happen, and that he needs to talk about this problem with his brother, to know how to solve it. So of course he is a bit worried while he walks to get there soon. He thinks maybe it's a problem that he needs to bring up in the meeting with the Council, or maybe a personal problem of CHE5TER's.

But he is rather confused when he arrives, as he opens the door and sees CHE5TER staying in His chair, waiting for his arrival, while in front of Him, on the desk, it seems to be a board game, one that they know the best: Glory in War.

[CHE5TER]-So you've finally arrived, RY4N.

[RY4N]-What is... this?

[CHE5TER]-What is what?

[RY4N]-...Why do you seem so relaxed and everything? Every time you call me in your office, you discuss with me about a huge problem.

[CHE5TER]-Oh? I do so? Well then, I guess I had a change of plans... So? Wouldn't you take a seat?

[RY4N]-...The older you get, the more you seem to act just like your old master in my eyes. You called me only to play a game?

[CHE5TER]-I guess you have a part of truth in your words. But I didn't know you will remember my complains about my master calling me in his office only to play around with me and with my mind.

[RY4N]-It's hard to forget something like that when you cried about it almost every minute when I was around you.

[CHE5TER]-If you stood even a second with him, maybe you would've understood. But... since he retired a long time ago, I guess someone has to take from his bad habits in the end to lead this base, don't you think?

RY4N sits on the chair in front of his brother and they start playing that board game while talking. After all, the whole purpose of it is to stay and discuss, not to see who wins it.

[RY4N]-...All of his bad habits?

[CHE5TER]-Hahah... Oh, maybe not all, let's hope... But I think you've already noticed some of them in me for years now.

[RY4N]-Yeah... I did.

[CHE5TER]-But in the end, you also had someone to take an example from, didn't you?

[RY4N]-I did so, you say?

[CHE5TER]-Yes, don't you see? From both of us, only you act the same as Him. But it's obvious you would take an example from our father since you stood the most with Him when we were young.

[RY4N]-Hm... I don't think the same.

[CHE5TER]-Really? Then maybe I should open your eyes as well.

[RY4N]-As well...?

[CHE5TER]-Look at yourself, Brother. You always worry about the most insignificant things that you encounter. You always want to know every position of mine, every thought that I have, every word that I say. You always want to take care of me, until you even end up even annoying me. You act the same as our father. Do you see it now?

[RY4N]-No... I still don't see it.

[CHE5TER]-Oh... What a pity... Maybe you will realise it one day. Maybe not now nor tomorrow, but one day... I thought 10 years ago that He died and He will never come back, but it seems that wasn't really the truth. That part of Him remained in you, even if you don't see it, while I only have a part from the previous Leader of this base.

[RY4N]-So you will call me "Father" instead of "Brother" from now on or what?

[CHE5TER]-Heh... Let's not cross the line now. I only said you act like Him, not that you are Him. But I guess it's normal since you are the Original of our code, while I am the right Error. Technically, you are the oldest brother in this code of ours, while I'm the youngest. And to think that I'm more powerful than you... Weren't you suppose to be the best at fighting?

[RY4N]-Hmph... Laugh at me now, won't you? Just like you were doing when we were kids.

[CHE5TER]-Hahah! That's the point, RY4N! You wanted everything to go back to how it was before I was titled the ruler of this city, and now I'm trying even a bit to get back to those memories! Now you complain about it? Boy, you sure confuse me sometimes.

[RY4N]-Heh... Yeah... But it's not the same anymore.

[CHE5TER]-Hm?

[RY4N]-...No matter how hard we will try, we could never get back to those memories, Ches. It was something else when our father was alive and when you didn't care about responsibilities at all. We were happy then, now we fear the day of tomorrow every night. We didn't even know what this war was about, let alone that we weren't a part of it! It's not the same as it was before anymore.

[CHE5TER]-It will never be the same, RY4N. The past cannot come back once it was written. I cannot bring back the old me like you always wished, as you cannot bring our father back. But that doesn't mean we have to pity ourselves that we lost those beautiful times. It's never impossible to make a better memory than these ones.

[RY4N]-...

They moved a lot of pieces on the board while they were talking. For now, RY4N seems to be in advantage, but CHE5TER doesn't really mind that. It seems that CHE5TER plays with the red pieces, while RY4N with the blue ones. The game is something similar to Chess, but more complicated.

[RY4N]-...So? What will happen now?

[CHE5TER]-What do you wish to happen? We will continue what we've built all these years. We wanted to honour our father, remember?

[RY4N]-And what will happen to those memories? They will simply fade as we forget about them by each day because of the work we have to handle?

[CHE5TER]-They will never fade. They will always be there. We only need to not lose ourselves, not the memories.

[RY4N]-But one of us seems as he already started doing what he said he will never do...

[CHE5TER]-I still didn't lose myself yet. I only grew older.

[RY4N]-But you are not far from it either.

[CHE5TER]-How so?

[RY4N]-When you were titled the Great Leader, you got lost in your thoughts every night because of our father's death, but you were still you. We were still by each other's side like nothing happened, we even made that group of ours when LUK3 and MY4 joined since you were talking to her so much, and ended up making ourselves some friends after a long time. But now... you barely want to stay with us, CHE5TER. You are always away from us, working on whatever you do there alone. You don't talk to us that much as you used to do. And only since that incident of yours.

[CHE5TER]-*sigh* RY4N... I know that it changed me and everything, but it doesn't help that you bring it in our conversations almost every time. Let me forget about it even for a day. It was only that time, who says it will happen again?

[RY4N]-I can't expect your movements at this point anymore, that's why I'm always worried. But... alright. I won't bring it all the time in our discussions anymore.

[CHE5TER]-Very well.

RY4N seems to move another piece on the board, being a bit confident as it took an important piece out, not the one similar to the Queen, but something that is commonly used in the offensive: the "Suicider".

It is actually a very strange piece this one, since its rules are to get taken three times in a row which will later on make it get the role of a taken piece, yet if it is taken by the piece that is similar to the Queen, the "General", it won't come back ever again on the board. Unlike Chess, this is the only piece that can change its role, where in Chess you need a Pawn to do so, having eight of them. So if you lose it throughout the game, you won't have any other chance of getting back an important piece that has been taken anymore.

What is even stranger about it is that one of its rules says that it also obligates whatever piece is technically able to take it to do this action, no matter what the opponents move was at first. It is why it has this weird name. It is an obligatory move to take it if you found a piece of yours being able to, making it be put on its initial position from the start of the game and getting taken then two more times to do its full role. Yet only the "General" piece is able to actually get it out of the board as said. But again, CHE5TER doesn't care. He actually expected this move of his.

[RY4N]-Can I ask you something?

[CHE5TER]-What is it?

[RY4N]-Why are you so relaxed today all of a sudden? We didn't play a game since your training got harder with your master.

[CHE5TER]-Heh... Why do you think I'm so relaxed then?

[RY4N]-Because... you know something that I don't?

[CHE5TER]-Mm... You are not far from the truth.

[RY4N]-Then what is it?

[CHE5TER]-It's more because... I have a new plan.

Yet with that, CHE5TER moves a small piece and confuses RY4N in a second. He also makes a move because it's his turn now, but doesn't really understand what his brother intends to do on the board.

[RY4N]-...And what's that?

[CHE5TER]-How can I explain it... You know that the only way of ending this war is to get the ruler of a side down, right?

[RY4N]-Yes...?

[CHE5TER]-But from what history taught us, whenever a ruler dies, there is always someone who takes the role for the fallen one. Even in our case, when our father died, I took His title and ruled over the city.

[RY4N]-And where do you want to go with this?

[CHE5TER]-Well... Then I thought... if there is always a successor of the current ruler in both of the sides... what will happen if the successor doesn't take the role anymore?

So, CHE5TER moves another piece, taking the one called "General" from the board, piece similar to the Queen as said. RY4N gets in shock when he sees his piece taken down, as he didn't expect that move before.

[CHE5TER]-By taking the successor out of the board, it is no use to say that there will be someone that would take the role instead of him, especially in the M soldiers case believing that they can only have one descendant and nobody can take that place without waiting at least five years after the new ruler is being chosen. Then, we attack the ruler himself, making sure he doesn't survive in the end and making sure nobody plots anything about replacing the current descendant. So... if there is no successor and the ruler is taken down...

CHE5TER makes another move, defeating RY4N, as He took the piece similar to the King, the "Leader", and taking it in His right hand while looking at His brother.

[CHE5TER]-...Then you could say that it's game over. You've won the war.

And as He says these words, He breaks the piece in His hand, looking at RY4N, but RY4N was still looking at the board, trying to understand how he lost.

[CHE5TER]-And once the game is over... he would never torture us again.

But once he looked at his brother, the confusion of the game didn't matter anymore. He saw that wild part of CHE5TER again, but it was silent this time. All He was doing was to give a creepy smile, looking down at the ground, almost impossible to see something in His eyes, knowing damn well what was about to come, and leaving RY4N concerned once more.