PARDUS
"Here is that place you are looking for, are you even sure about what you are doing?" Axel escorted him, and they went together to the ugly-looking old, exploded building with new infrastructure rising in the terrain. The fumes wretched the wind.
"I don't have plans yet but... Seems that way." Raj looked in confusion as he scanned the place "You mean? This is where it happened?" Axel responded immediately "Yes, this city, the damage traveled far, a few people considered themselves gifted because of the result of the explosion. They acquired certain abilities that other normal people cannot do. Others mourned miserably as their body could not take the input of too much radiation. They would just mutate or die." Axel lunged from the partition of the construction "Anyways, rest first you still look beaten badly." He tapped Raj "before proceeding on what you will be doing. At least you already knew the place. If you are still looking for that…uhm…I do not know if they really can tell. You can just ask them anytime tomorrow."
The filth of the environment cannot be saved by my miracle, the vicious city, and the slugs from the street.
From that view, you can see with your eyes and even sense with your skin how polluted, and wretched, and how people are having a hard time and are suffering in such distress.
Pardus Cube, the capital part of the city. A scenery of a depressed color of the environment, lifeless and weary. People in the streets are covered with a foul smell that can make your bones shiver. Raj visualized everything along the way. Displeasing. Frustration left him with no choice. He looks at Axel but for him, it seems that Axel was already used to this kind of view.
Two tales are still under debate about where Pardus Cube derived its name from. The name Pardus refers to a male Leopard. The place before was a savanna filled with various animals, and the Leopards were the dominators of this field.
Others said that time and foreigners changed how it originally was pronounced. They said it was originally called El Pardo which also translates into grayish brown in some languages, because of the color of the land that sits in the area. However, people fought over the territory because of its richness and later had been called Pardus due to its alteration and the foreigners' pronunciation.
Indifferent from where Raj came from, emerald, green grass, and crystal-clear lakes. It was not just the exact opposite but more than just that, as he discovered each part of the city. As he strolled around some more. Realizing everything, he wishes to know how authority functions. How do the folks in the city have a hard time living and even walking in the streets?
"But why isn't the life of the province seeming, and somehow separated from this".
That moment there he was standing in an aisle looking at his bracelet. He wears it one time at that moment. A golden yellowish old but good-looking fancy bracelet with an unusual chain design. It is the last part of his father for him, for he did not even know who he was. It was the only precious thing he had after her grandma. He realizes he wants to do something, but he still does not know how to take the first step.
"I wonder what fate had in me. Is this happening all these times?" He said to himself. He closed his room and lay down in his bed waiting for the days to pass. Five days have passed.
Axel wanted to recruit him as part of his team. Axel introduced Raj to the organization where he worked since he was out of the orphanage. "I need you to come with me," he said jolly as he headed towards Axel's vehicle. After traveling for a while, Raj saw an indifferent view from what he witnessed "Is this still part of the city?" he wondered. Axel answered him happily "Oh, yes, this is the neighborhood residential district. I know what you are thinking it was different from the slums…" he how Raj's expression changed "That area is the downtown suburbs. This region here is where mostly the businesses occur, where the wealthy people reside, including the middle class."
High-rise buildings were different from the high rise in the downtown. As Axel's car moved buildings slowly stood in the skies one by one. "why can't the people downtown also move here?" asked Raj.
"I mean they can…there were also businesses there that are different from here. But it is expensive here, people in the slums were also radioactive because of the nature of the place. They cannot also just live in the streets here, as you can see there are no beggars unlike the downtown, it is stricter here. It just happened that I was recruited by a good company when I was starting and was transferred to another organization."
Well-suited people are noticeably passing down the streets. There were no ragged-looking people. The grayish color of the city downtown cannot be compared to the vibrant environment that runs the place. Axel parked his vehicle. Upon unloading himself, Raj inhaled and exhaled the breeze of fresh air. It gives him the feeling of the province. People stared at him because of his lousy look. "don't mind them, Raj, you can dress better when you start to work here."
He was perplexed "Me? I will work here. But did you not say that the one that matched the fliers is to the other part of the city?"
"Yes, yes. I can just give you a ride if you plan to roam around. You can just leave the store you work from and train here before getting into the job. They will probably be needing new undercover agents."
They went to their Regulus's headquarters. Entering the building is not quite huge only four floors but a wide area. It was a symbol of an Estoile star with six rays with lines from each corner all diverging towards the center.
Treading behind the doors. The large lobby made him feel like he was an ant. The white-painted walls gave an even more spacious look matched with the lobby's glass tables. The marble floor reflects the light from the chandelier that was hung above. He needs to screen his eyes for a moment from the new look he witnessed. Friendly staff greeted them at the front desk.
Then there he met the twin brothers Peolo and Paulo Gargan. They were part of Axel's team of agents. "but Axel what do you do? I mean all of this for what?" before even introducing everyone Raj cut him down for a question. "we implement the law, of course, that includes the downtown and they provided us these privileges because of what we are doing. Just think of ourselves as police officers."
Continuing, Thomas Leo, our IT specialist. "he was just new here, for about eight months and I believe you can get well along with them." they continued to walk past them.
"The other busy people. Lance Dust, Ken Ric, Chris Vicad, Ron Riet." Raj gazed upon the people he saw. "Lance works at the office, Ken, Chris, and Ron come with me when we patrol at night." Both sat down in the lobby. "before I forget, that is Lee under training. You would probably be like him when you first join us."
"You're my invitee, would you?" Axel passes Raj a cup of coffee. Axel handed down the papers which contained the benefits offered and terms of condition upon joining his organization.
The offers and the agreement are written in good terms. Raj browsed and scanned the papers. Axel was confident he would agree "Nah, it was really good, but I'll pass for now" he was surprised when he turned him down. "why would you turn me down, these offers are ten times better than the one you are living with right now?" Raj replied "I know, it is better, but what is written on your vision doesn't match my vision, we also don't share the same mission. Enforcing the law is just too broad for me." The reason Raj declined. In addition, he had a different objective.
Axel is not the pushy type of person. He just leaves things as it is "Don't you want to join the organization? You could be a huge help here. I mean if you have other goals you can achieve it faster and better if you have us" Said Axel.
"Regulus?" clearly Raj wanted to be answered.
"Yup don't even ask about the name I don't know how they came up with it."
Regulus is the organization which Axel is affiliated with. He was a person who existed a long time ago. One of the prominent persons from a group of wielders. He is said to be one of the great wielders. They were the first to establish the organization to protect their mother and for the justice of their father. There was no clear history of records as to why, and what happened. But the mission of the organization was to bring in people like Raj who has a Zodiac energy embedded within.
"So, this man is Raj? The one who you are talking about? With the..." as Axel rapidly covered one of the twin's mouths Peolo. Both stare uncomfortably. "I was wrong maybe it was just my eyes." with a grin he whispered to Peolo. "okay, okay" he zipped his mouth.
"Who was that?" wearing his tribal cape and distinguished provincial look in the formal setting of the room. Thomas gazed fiercely. He heard it from his distance. He probably thought that Raj was a creep who liked to talk behind others' backs.
"Don't mind him he is always like that." Axel shifted the topic and pointed out to their living hall. "check that out." After being declined Axel does not know what to ask next. But even before he continues the conversation Raj managed to ask first in chorus. "Now what?"
"If you choose to you can stay here, we still have extra rooms for emergencies and visitors." Axel still plans on persuading Raj to be part of his team. Showcasing everything, it seems like Raj did not show any interest in all the things he showed. Raj refused Axel's offer. He stayed still in the old bodega of the old man where he was working.
Days passed by him he began to gather data about the organization that takes after what he found on his chest. He did his research and asked street people. Luckily, some individuals happened to have a bit of information about it. "Maybe you can ask a guy named Socrates, we do not know exactly where he lives but it is said that he happens to also work. Or had been affiliated with that mark" until he was directed to the name "Socrates".
"Who is this guy that they are talking about." Raj wandered in the city.
The intelligence that led him to this information was the street people. The area they call "Empty Cube Street" is the ugly part of the city that the government does not take care of.
Socrates is one of the strongest men said to be alive. He kills without hesitation during serious battles. While still a generally young fellow, Socrates battled in the Gemini armed force during the Second World War. The specific dates of his administration are obscure, however, traditional sources recommend that he battled valiantly and was viewed as a decent fighter.
"He sure is a hell of a guy. I wonder what he looked like when I met him." Raj said to himself wandering. The people he asked about the logo talked less and were always hesitant to give information about his random questions.
When he had the time Axel and Raj roamed around the city bringing him to the beautiful and ugly places in the city.
They visited places, went inside bars, and went to arcades in shopping centers. To Flouvre's Garden to see the nightfall from the hill.
The inception of the name "Flouvre" is discussed. A few researchers trust it is gotten from the ancient word Flouv, which signifies "extravagance, joy, or joy," from which we get the expression "Heaven." Others think it comes from the word Edin, signifying "plain" or "steppe," and identifies with the area of the nursery. Which matches the location of the said place in the city. But the exact area of the Garden of Flouvre is a secret.
Someone told him that "this guy Socrates lives among the slumps in the area of the city." Raj then went to this Socrates guy. Unknown of his exact location he immersed himself. He went where several people pointed to the same place. They parted ways with Axel. Axel needs to report events to his organization.
Undirected towards his destination. He suddenly found a beautiful garden in the slumps of the city. There was an open lot where unknown and rare flowers grew "Flowers do still grow here?" apart from this garden is the dump site.
Several people flock to this area scavenging trash. The people were skin to bones. Their jaws were dropping, and saliva would drip from their mouth to the filthy ground. Their hair would fall off freely and you cannot tell if they are even humans or monsters. Flies are hovering everywhere. Their dead eyes say that they would be ready to eat him. It was like a scene from an apocalyptic movie. The stinking smell would make him feel nauseous.
A man was loading a garbage bin onto his truck "Excuse me" he approached him from the dump area and asked, "Mind you you know which part this man named Socrates lives?"
Standing still for a while "Oh my! What is that foul smell! It's like a rotten egg and a dead rat" he was troubled. He was about to puke. His voice is volumed while covering his nose and mouth with both hands. The noise caught the attention of the scavengers, everyone sighted only him. Raj entered the place without notice. Each step he takes creates a damping sound towards the ground. Passed the fence, he already made a few steps inside.
Raj coughed and everyone feasted on him. Everyone was drawing themselves near to him. "Hey!" grabbing himself away from the beggars. Removing their hands off him. "Help!" with the scavenger's malnourished and almost-bones-left body look. "Move out!" one man shouted. Seems he was the trash collector.
All the scavengers moved out and returned themselves from where they were. It was like pressing a rewind button from a tape. He thought that he was provoking these people to his puking act.
The collector feels the tension climb through his limbs as he is in a rush "Come on boy" he seems nervous and gawky. "Faster boy." Raj moved himself from the tight spaces of the dump area. "the! Damn is this" his foot was sipped by the muddy ground. The damp feeling touched his foot.
"Stop complaining' holy, why did you even bother to follow me all the way here? Can you not see that I am doing my job? Faster boy before they all return. They are already preparing for their next attack" he whispered to Raj.
"What brought you here, there are cannibals here you see. Do you want to be eaten alive? They might not look like it but these people you see here" Raj checks his field of vision "They are all cannibals, aren't you wondering why no one takes this route."
"But don't fret they are not like the cannibals you watch in movies. They will only attack you when they are provoked."
Snapping back to his senses he was reminded what he had come for "Oh yes, I came here for this man named Socrates." this man looked at him and mulled over for a while, while they were walking towards the exit. "Why are you looking for him?"
Finally, a reciprocated question. Raj felt a slight of thrill "So, you do know him? Right?" the collector finished the last batch of his trash "he is not someone you can easily find dude, and who even told you that you can find him a place like this." The collector came to realize who led him to the place. He walked past Raj and told him.
"If those homeless people, street beggars taught your way here, well they are preparing for dinner." His sweat popped from his head and slowly slid down his face. Looking at their way out from the dump. The exit was not so far just behind the fence, but the muddy ground was slowing him as he stayed cautious. But the cannibal scavengers are rallying on their way blocking the exit.