We started our friendly (nope, the air between us is very awkward) tour. Rose is leading the way and I am just following her. I am not a tour guide before but I am pretty sure a tour guide's job is to explain to their customer where are they going but Rose does the opposite. Before we started the so-called 'tour', she told me "Just ask any questions you want while we are walking, just make sure to follow me" I nodded and that is pretty much our conversation so far. But I didn't reply to that, does that count as a conversation?
Welp, my honest reaction to this place is simple, this place is huge as heck. I don't know if this is a standard size of a compound nowadays but I am pretty sure you could fit a thousand people here with no problem. They have many facilities from a clinic, a farm, a big kitchen, a sewing area, a vocational school, a research facility, and many more. I've noticed that the farm uses artificial sunlight which makes more certain where we are but I'll just ask to make sure.
"By the way, are we underground?" I asked.
"Oh, you just noticed? I know this compound is very spacious but I think a normal person could tell this is underground by just the humidity and lightness of this place." she answered, "For your question, yes, we are indeed underground."
She might have a poker face but I could tell she is mocking me. Hah, from that reply alone, I could tell we will have a rough relationship.
"I see" I answered, hiding my annoyance, "But this place is way too big for a normal underground compound, and by the looks of it, this place is very old and you guys just restore it. If I were to guess, this place is either an underground military base or an underground research facility." I talked, and she stop and looked at me.
"Hmmm, impressive, I thought you are just a man who knows how to fight, you are also smart and wise, you are a threat" she answered.
"I don't even know anymore if you are hostile to me, or just simply looking down on me, but either way I don't care" I retorted back.
"Hahahaha" she laughed, and I was taken aback, why is she laughing? I knew she was looking down on me, now I am very angry.
"Ok, ok, ok, I'm sorry. Sorry, I laughed. Your tone a while ago was funny" she apologized but for some reason, it just increased my anger.
"First, yes, this place is an abandoned military base. The government of UCW abandon this place due to the fact they can't fund a military base very far from their main base" she explained.
I see, if she is telling the truth, we are probably at the continent of South America since UCW's main base is in the north.
"Judging by your face, you probably know what continent we are right? We are in Argentina right now, but I won't tell you what city, I still can't remove you from being a spy on my list."
Wow, she is indeed a mercenary, she is very good at judging one's facial expression. Also, I am included on her wanted list. Well, now I know where I am but it just makes the whole escaping plan useless. I have no idea what Argentina looks like from a geographic standpoint. Without any knowledge or information about this place, escaping will be hard, but depending on her answer to my next question, then I have no choice but to escape this place tomorrow.
"This might be late to ask, was I kidnapped? I am pretty sure I was on North America rather than south." I asked.
"Yep we kidnapped you," she answered.
Okay, that was a bad answer, I was expecting her to say 'No, we saved you because you have a cyberbrain, your life was in danger but that hope was crushed by her stupidly honest answer. I have to escape this place tomo---
"But we have to do that because Rick Nio is our enemy, negotiating with him is useless that is why kidnapping you was the only option" she continues.
"Enemy? Why and how?" I replied.
"You are good at questioning other people, were you a detective before?" she jokingly said that but I didn't answer, "Fine, for the 'why', it is because he wants a cyberbrain but that is not all, he also wants to research and rebuild it so that he could have an army of people with cyberbrains with them. In short, weapons." she answered.
I see, then that makes sense why he befriended me after I left the army. But does that mean he knows I have the cyberbrain in the first place? Why just kidnap me the moment we met? I was confused by my thoughts but Rose continues with her answer.
"For the 'how' however. It is quite complicated. You could say we have sworn enemies not because our agendas repel each other but also to our each other's circumstances. That is why Rick Nio is our enemy." she concluded.
I see. Then staying at this place is my best option then. It is still plausible that Rick is still finding me so staying here is my safest bet. Now that I know both parties are sworn enemies, staying here is advantageous to me. Now for my final question.
"But I still can't trust you." first I started the conversation.
"Me either but for my sake, what will make you trust me," she answered.
"Prove it to me, that you have a cyberbrain. Also, I want to know if I have one. If you can't prove that you and I have a cyberbrain then trusting you will be quite difficult." I answered.
She stared at me for a while. A person walked by and says hi to us. Rose answered back and I feel like I just embarrassed myself. Then she pointed at the reflection of the person who walked by us.
"I don't know if you've noticed but we are walking in reflective tiles all along. Do you see your reflection?" she answered and I looked down.
What? How? The reflection below me is empty as if I didn't exist. Does that mean if you can't see yourself in a mirror or any reflection, does that mean you have a cyberbrain. I looked at Rose and looked down at her feet, but she has a reflection.
"Hey, so it means you don't have one then. I could see yours on the floor."
"Well good for you then, but unfortunately, I can't see mine. Also, I could see your reflection by the way."
Huh? I did not get what she is pointing out.
"There are symptoms that will prove you have a cyberbrain. One of those symptoms is you can't see your reflection on any reflective surfaces," she answered.
I am very confused right now but by the looks of it, that is not all.
"Then, tell me about the symptoms," I asked expecting my answers would be informative.