All around me the world keeps going as though the two of us are just spectators in a mad house. The buildings themselves are made of something similar to concrete. I don't actually know much about it since I never really cared but it's clearly sturdy and that's all that matters to me.
There are no windows though. Not one single house has a window. This is the town so it's not surprising. There aren't many rich and eccentric people who live in the middle of town and if they are then they're rather famous anyway so they don't need to stand out by having windows in their property.
Honestly all the houses blend together after a while. As much as they might vary in colour and shape occasionally I actually can't tell who's is who's. Of course that's only the houses. The shops on the other hand are absolutely unique at every turn.
I spot a sign on one such shop that's in the shape of a cute robot maskot. He's got that weird square head that some of the more cute robots have and though he's only a head his little antenna are wiggling from side to side invitingly.
The rest of the shop is just as distinct. With the entire building being covered in a hologram. The image makes it look like the shop is one massive metal head with inviting antennas. Except the sign.
On the sign by the way is "Chatbot cafe. Come I won't bawk at any problem! I'm the great Nanibot 12 after all.". There are similar buildings everywhere I look. A massive hologram of an old man sitting on a table with a book in hand looking at you over his glasses with a kind smile is also covering one building with a completely different sign.
"Malarie church counselling services. We provide free counselling and therapy services. Choose between a bot or a member of staff and tell us your woes so we may bestow upon you the blessing of Malarie" I'm fairly sure that one's a government building but they present themselves like they're just some quirky shop.
Another appears to be a massive junkyard. Piles and piles of metal objects that I can't quite discern the identity of on top of each other in one massive heap. In front of the heap float the words: "Techking. We have the latest tech from all over the star field. Come see products from companies such as Frame Products Ltd., Flux corporation, Lily's handy items and more!".
We pass all of these extravagantly decorated shops as we walk down street after street until we arrive in an area that seems far less inviting. All the buildings here appear to just be blocks of concrete. They don't even vary in colour all that much. Just greys, blacks and whites. Looking closer they're clean but…
Noticing my incredulous stare Tommy tells me "It's actually a conscious design choice. This is the place if you wanna stay on the DL" with a smile. I mean sure it's certainly not going to be noticed by anyone but isn't that a problem in itself. Where are you taking me that they spend this much effort into the appearance being bland and uninviting.
We approach one of the many blocks of concrete in the area. Even if you asked me to come back here I probably couldn't pick this concrete block out of the crowd. They all look the same to me. Yet Tommy confidently strolls up to this random block and knocks on it.
"uhmmmm…." I mumble to myself unsure if the man's gone crazy. This is a concrete block isn't it? Why are you knocking on it like it's a door or something? Thinking about it why isn't there a door. Are these literally just blocks of concrete thrown away from a construction site or something.
My doubtful stare pierces Tommy's back but he chooses to ignore me and stare fixated on a single spot. I look over at it myself and find absolutely nothing. Just as I'm starting to think Tommy got lose the concrete block dissolves like it was never there in front of my eyes.
"It was a hologram.." I mutter to myself absolutely dumbfounded. Who would bother to make their building seem like a massive brick. Especially considering the appearance I see once the concrete block fades away.
In front of me is something no one would mistake for anything but a bar. Not like the ones in the town we just walked through though. Not that there were many there come to think of it. I never paid attention but there's gotta be a bar in town right?
Well that's not the point. This looks like an old fashioned tavern more than a bar. The building appears to be made of wood. Ordinary wood. Not the white and orange one earlier but just normally brown wood.
The door has a golden metal door handle which is obviously made of brass and the door itself is also wood though it's slightly darker than the wood used in the rest of the building. There are even windows.
I notice the windows either side of the door. The door itself by the way is slightly indented in the wooden structure. Like it's the wooden goliath's mouth and you're actually walking into it's stomach to be devoured rather than coming here to devour food yourself.
The sign is also typical tavern. Hung by some sort of metal rod and attached to a wooden plank with the words "Secret tavern dungeon" carved into the wood itself. I'm pretty sure that was done by hand. Wait by hand…. "Who does that by hand?" My mumbled question was not answered as my arm felt a slight tug which was likely Tommy's way of saying hurry up and enter.
I mean the whole building has a rustic death trap vibe to the place. Do I really want to go anywhere near this building? Still Tommy's here and he's not stupid. Reluctantly I step towards the gaping maw of the wooden door and Tommy opens it gleefully.
Wait didn't the sign say this was a dungeon? I look around confused at the insides of the place. Sure it's rustic and wood is everywhere but that's the end of the non-modern stuff. A machine with a bunch of buttons is the first thing you see when you enter and the tables themselves are clearly made in today's age.
I mean the tables themselves are wood but the chairs. They look really high quality. I can't tell if that's leather or something but man do the chair's look comfy. Two black swivel chairs face each other at each table and the moment I see them I can't help but feel comforted already.
The smell in the air isn't that of alcohol either like I assume an old tavern would smell like. It's incredibly fresh and smells like vanilla. There's also a smell I can't quite place but it's really relaxing.
The moment I entered this place I suddenly felt at ease. But at the same time there was a strange invisible tension in the air. The atmosphere felt as though I was watching a secret dealing with a client or something. It had that hidden feeling of danger and calm all at once.
"Cool place right?" Boasted Tommy with a smirk beside me. I had to agree but I was also extremely confused. Where are we and… Why?…. Just why? My question would apparently go unanswered because Tommy walked up to the machine like he'd done it hundreds of times and pressed the unfamiliar buttons.
The machine itself was unfamiliar to me. It looked a little like one of those things you use to order at fast food restaurants with the screen above buttons on the bottom... But all the buttons had strange characters on them I couldn't understand. I unconsciously blocked it out before because I had no idea what's going on with that.
Yet Tommy pressed the buttons in a practised motion as though he knew exactly what those buttons said. I even saw him scroll through a number of images on the screen and press on one. Apparently it was touch screen.
While I was trying to decipher his odd actions he apparently finished what he was doing and took my arm once more. This time instead of being a gentlemen it was more like he was dragging along a stunned piece of baggage. I had no idea what was going on.
Yet he took me to one of the tables scattered across the room and sat me down on one of the chairs. Instantly all my questions melted away with my fatigue. Yeah who cares what this place is I love this chair. I need this in my life.
Noticing my melting expression and posture I consider being more alert since I don't know where I am but in the end I decide who cares and continue to melt into this absolute bliss. I hear a chuckle in front of me like an evil mastermind watching his dastardly plot and I look over to find Tommy.
"What?!" I ask indignant. You saw nothing. You've seen worse than this anyway. Shut up I'm comfortable. My mind starts making excuses for why I'm melting into these amazing chairs. Tommy's reaction to the chair appears to be the opposite though.
"I'm not sure why you find these things so comfortable but I can tell by the look on your face and it's hilarious." He explains before bursting out into giggles. Is it giggles when it's a guy doing it? But I feel like he's giggling. For some reason I feel like Tommy can pull off giggles.
"These are amazing chairs ok? I need a rest for once and these are incredibly comfortable." I pout at him like a child. I have my usual twin tales right now and normally I have an aura of dignity such that they just seem a bit weird but right now I bet I look like an adorable child. So stop laughing and give my what I want like any responsible adult should.
"The chairs might be comfortable but that's really not the point. If the owner of this place knew you found these to be relaxing he might just remove them." Says Tommy clearly joking but sounding somewhat serious for a joke.
"Why though? I like the chairs. That's a good thing right?" I ask
"Yeah it's a good thing but…" He trails off and looks around for a moment before speaking again.
"This place is supposed to be for a certain group of individuals with certain proclivities. Like people who want to be evil masterminds or play a lot of make believe games and stuff. You're supposed to… Let me demonstrate." Tommy explains before seemingly getting an idea and leaning back in his chair.
Then he starts tapping his fingers on the arm rests in a rhythm that I don't quite understand and he puts a devious looking smirk on his face before saying "So… You wish to enter a contract with me. How delightful!" Then he leans forward and places his chin on his now balled together fists before continuing.
"Do you know the cost? I'm a busy man you know. I can't pause my machinations for just anyone." His voice sounds incredibly serious and gives me that slimy feeling I get from those really bad clients. Though my intuition is telling me he's just playing it up even though I already knew that apparently I need to be warned again.
Then he stares at me with another slimy look before breaking out into cackles. His laugh is grating on the ears and extremely uncomfortable to hear. Then suddenly he stops and stares at me expectantly while saying "That sort of thing."
The only thing I do is break out into a laugh. "You're… Surprisingly good…. At that." I say trying to stop myself from laughing and clearly failing. So this place is for hobbyists huh? I guess the atmosphere makes sense now. Just sitting in this chair must make people feel like a mastermind.
What a waste of a perfectly good chair. Why is that the first thought that comes to mind after thinking about it? "I know right? I wonder if I'll ever have to play the evil mastermind for work?" Tommy gets out between his own laughter. Apparently he wasn't offended that I laughed at his mastermind impression.
"Don't you think Mainframe kinda fits the stereotype though?" He suddenly asks and it catches me off guard. Yeah I suppose she does now that I think about it. A mysterious mechanical voice. No one knows who she really is. She has some sort of mysterious connection to everyone.
She even has enough influence to gather all of us in one place despite most of us being lone wolf mercenaries. "Now that I think about it you're right. She's dead on what an evil mastermind is like. I mean I haven't heard of her plotting anything but aesthetics alone…" I reply trailing off at the end.
Yeah Mainframe does fit the stereotype. "Strange isn't it? Maybe she's just a rich kid with a hobby." Jokes Tommy sounding surprisingly serious.
"I don't think so. I don't get that vibe from her actions thus far. I don't think she's as invested in this as we are but I get the feeling she wants revenge on the company as well for one reason or another. Former operative of theirs? Another victim?" I ponder out loud getting a few nods from Tommy but nothing more concrete.
"Whatever the case may be on a more serious note her motives are unknown, her methods are… extreme and she's clearly rather controlling. You notice that she had someone pick us up and take us there then back again with her own ships. It's not unusual precautions to take but…" Tommy explains trailing off towards the end so I finish the sentence for him.
"But the way she does things is rather unnatural. Robot pilots. Civilian class ships. An entire deserted planet. She clearly doesn't trust anyone and while she hasn't been outwardly monitoring us it wouldn't surprise me if she was keeping an eye on us just in case." I reply listing out all the things that have me spooked about this Mainframe character.
Tommy nods then a robot approaches the table and I immediately notice the difference between this one and the one in Mainframe's ship. For one the facial features are indistinct at best. Also there's no hair, the clothes are very basic with only single colour schemes and it's movements are a little janky. Like watching a puppet dance on strings rather than a human carrying a tray.
It places two trays on our table and since tommy is staying silent while the robot's around I follow his example as I keep quiet and watch the robot retreat until it leaves through a door at the other side of the room from where we came from.
"Sorry 'bout that. It's custom here to shut up whenever the waiters show up. Mastermind thing again. That and there's a rumour the lenses in the robot's eyes send the videos to the manager of the place. Don't wanna take any chances." Explains Tommy before looking at the tray in front of him.
I also turn my eyes to the meal we're given and an impressed wave reverberates throughout my brain. Since the food in under the Papysee of Malarie is mostly free it's also extremely underdeveloped. Yet what's on my plate can hardly be called underdeveloped.
Some sort of bright red mince meat tangles together like spaghetti all over the plate. Inside this spaghetti like meat I see vegetables and even fruits of all different kinds. Psuedo apples, psuedo carrots, some sort of leaf that appears to be in the shape of a cross and even the famous Malarie fruit.
The latter looks a lot like a gumdrop or little ball. The colour appears to change depending on the species of Malarie tree you harvest it from but generally the colours are bright. Orange, red, blue even green. All sorts of colours and like I said they remind you of gumdrops or teethsmashers if anyone other than me remembers those.
The fruits in this meaty spaghetti are of all sorts of different colours. I spot a red Malarie fruit but if I look a little closer I also spot a bright green one. Next to the meal on the tray given to us is a fork. That's it. I suppose the only utensil you really need when eating food like this is a fork or maybe chopsticks if you're more cultured than I am.
Regardless the meal impresses me. I am a little worried about the price given that Malarie fruits are rather expensive and only occasionally sold by the church to fund government projects. "Like it? Oh and don't worry it ain't that expensive so this time's on me." Tommy tells me with a smile from across the table.
"There isn't anything that makes a meal more tasty than eating it on someone else's dime." I reply with a grin. My way of thanking him and I'm sure he knows it. It isn't the first time we've treated each other and usually Tommy's the one buying but I mean he's the man here so it's just proper manners.
Then we both start speaking the before meal prayer in unison "Thank you Malarie for bringing us all together." Our voices ring out in chorus across the otherwise empty tavern and we start digging in to our meals.
Honestly we don't actually believe in Malarie all that much. She was just an average woman with great achievements. I respect her sure but I don't worship her. That said we were taught in the orphanage to always give thanks and the habit's been ingrained in us by now.
I plunge my fork into the mess that is the meat spaghetti and scoop up a portion with a bit of Malarie fruit in it. Then I bring it up to my mouth and chew. I get through the meat spaghetti pretty quickly. It's soft and tender with a taste a little like roasted chicken and bread put together.
But the real explosion of taste comes when I bite into the Malarie fruit. It's an incredibly chewy fruit and apparently it tastes completely different depending on the race that eats it. To vampires it tastes like O- blood from a young human woman apparently which apparently is a close comparison to how honey would taste to us, To beastkin it tastes gamemy and somewhat meaty with a bit of sweetness like a sweet sauce drizzled over Gammon.
Those are the descriptions I've heard of what other races believe it tastes like. Though truth be told I have no idea what O- blood from a young woman tastes like and I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be able to tell the difference even if I did.
To me though the Malarie fruit tastes a little like honey-apple milkshake. Except that flavour is coming out of a chewy fruit so it's got a completely different texture. It's somewhat similar to chewing gum in the fact that it takes a very long time to finish chewing it. Not as long as gum though but still it's a very chewy fruit and each time you chew you get a sweet honey-apple milk flavour.
I smile at the delightful sweetness in my mouth and Tommy across from me smiles back. We chew in silence for a few minutes just enjoying the flavour of the fruit until we both swallow and let out content sighs.
"No matter how many times I have this fruit I love the taste." I say with sheer bliss on my face.
Tommy replies with a smile of his own. Though it's intensity doesn't even come close to matching my own. "Yeah I'm perhaps not quite as fond of it as you are but I do enjoy it from time to time."
Scooping up another ball of meat spaghetti on his fork he asks "Do you know what this is called?" Showing me the spaghetti on his fork. Obviously I've been calling it meat spaghetti so I shake my head.
"Animal noodles" He says with an extremely serious look on his face. I can see the corners of his lips twitching so at first I think he's joking and give him a stare.
But then he affirms it once again with a serious look on his face still quirking his mouth up at the sides. "Animal noodles" He repeats in a tone similar to a comedian. Emphasizing the word noodles and making it sound absolutely ridiculous.
Luckily I didn't have any food in my mouth at this moment or I would've just spat it out as I started to laugh. Seeing this Tommy finally lets his smile free from it's restraints and starts laughing a little himself.
Once we're both done with that he explains where the name comes from. "Apparently this was discovered on a primitive planet as a combination of a gelatin like plant and rodent intestines. They had loads of rodent bodies but couldn't eat them safely but the gelatin plant is apparently similar to honey in it's antibacterial properties so they ended up surviving off rodent innards for a while because of this. Thus they named it animal noodles. Because rodent noodles would put people off trying it."
Huh that's cool I wonder why he knows tha… Wait did he say rodent innards?! I cough as I was actually trying to eat some in that moment. I manage to swallow it a few seconds later and then I stare at him incredulously. He once again breaks out into laughs.
"Why did you tell me this was made from rodent innards you idiot!" I harshly rebuke him trying to keep myself as quiet as possible without losing the power in my voice. He just continues to laugh for a little while under my sharp glare before he finally speaks up.
"Don't worry they changed the ingredients once it became an intergalactic product. Now the meat's artificial and it's closer to cow meat than rodent." His explanation is punctuated by another fit of laughter and my continued glaring.
"You could've told me that sooner." I say with a pout putting on my cute face. If I was working as a merc right now I'd never do this but we're off duty so it's fine. Though if I run into any of my clients or merc friends and they see me doing this I think they might faint. Then I'd shut them up forcibly.
Just as my mind goes in a more violent direction Tommy steers the conversation back on track. "Ignoring the rodents sacrificed to make this delicious meal." He says with a smirk and seeing my pout increase he giggles a little before continuing.
"The reason I brought you here is to talk about our mastermind friend. You mentioned the theory that she might be a former Flux employee or another victim. But I think it's more likely that we've met them before. Or at least they know us well." Posits Tommy with a more serious look than a moment ago.