"The fuck are you talking about?" Tenshi's once childlike and admiring demeanor had QUICKLY shifted once we entered the Garrison. "Oh- uh, nothing..." He narrows his eyes, before turning away, continuing toward the main square.
"Anyway," He says, "I didn't bring you with me just to go sightseeing. I, alongside a few others, have been working on something for quite some time."
"That's awfully ominous..."
"You see," He says, "The reason the Legion sought to conquer or land was for resources- more specifically: Kurul. An ore prized for its unique energy retention trait." He nods his head at one of the factory buildings. "See that? That's an extraction chamber. Due to Kurul's HIGHLY volatile nature, it's taken into facilities here wherein they can break down the electric properties in a more enclosed space, where in the event of an...incident...only those viewed as less than human will be harmed. This is all without the mention that it's radioactive in nature. And we're FORCED to work under these conditions. Less we be killed without honor."
HOW THE FUCK AM SUPPOSED TO RESPOND TO THAT?!?!
"Uh...Damn..."
He doesn't respond.
Shit.
It's fine I guess. It seems like he's moved on already, as we've now entered the town square. It's like a peddler's HIVE, droves of less than cleanly establishments lining the entirety of the rounded street. All of it is centered around one point, though. A bronze statue depicting a gorgeous, almost godly woman enraptured in a pose with her hand extending toward the heavens- a blade and pole shoved through her heart, her expression a perpetual sob. As opposed to the rest of the grimy, unkempt town, this statue was practically spotless...
Oh shit. I had stopped walking to take in my surroundings, and Tenshi had already far outpaced me. Quickly, I jog back to his side. He is NOT concerned with what I do in the slightest, it seems-
He stops. Shocked, I halt as well. "What's the matter-"
He hushes me, peering around the corner as if checking for anyone who might be watching. Finally, he advances, and enters a...pawn shop? I mean, it's just a random building, but it has a wooden plank that has the words "Pawn Shop" written on it in marker.
I nearly let out a genuine scream when I realize they forgot the "o" in "shop".
I don't really wanna follow him, but I really have nothing else to do, so reluctantly, I cross the threshold into the building. It's a rather empty interior, confirming my suspicion that this is NOT a pawn shop.
Tenshi looks around for a bit, before croucing low to the ground. He knocks on the wooden floor in an almost rhythmic pattern for about ten seconds- BEFORE THE FUCKING GROUND OPENS. With a whoosh, he falls into the chasm. I just stand there, dumbfounded.
"Uh..."
Fuck it I guess.
With a running start, I leap into the trap door- right as the floor closes back up above me. That could've been VERY bad. With a thud, I land beside Tenshi, rolling, before springing back onto my feet. It seems we're in some sort of elevator. Flashing lights and muffled sounds of labor drone on outside the dense metal walls.
"It would be VERY nice if you would inform me on what the fuck is happening."
There's no response.
"Alright."
To my surprise, though, moments later, the mechanism creeks to a stop, and the doors to my left slide open.
I narrow my eyes at the author. "You just didn't wanna write dialogue..."
The doors have already begun closing, and Tenshi has already stepped out, leaving me sitting there like a dumbass. The doors fucking SLAM as I step out. VERY structurally sound elevator. I lift my head to observe the terrain around me.
It's like one huge storage locker. Various mechanical constructs carry out differing tasks, all monitored and controlled by men and women covered in soot and grime, some even scurrying about, working independent, manual labor operations.
My main takeaway: Loud.
However, there is one thing that stands out from the rest. Though it's partially obstructed by what appears to be a large, mechanical dildo, I'm able to make out the structure of something...oddly familiar. It's a bird. One of nigh irrational size, though it seems barely operational. It looks as if it's still under construction.
"This," Tenshi says, "Is the base of our operations. A place unbeknownst to even Kiryu. It was originally used as a hub for the construction of various goods before the attacks, but has since been repurposed into a mass armory."
I trip over a severed leg. "I'm going to assume you have a better plan than just charging into their base headlong, with just uh..." I feel the strong urge to say cannon fodder, but I refrain. "brute force?" As I say this, I realize that I have no fucking idea where their base is to begin with.
He glances back at me. "You REALLY like nitpicking shit before I've finished explaining."
"My bad bro."
He continues. "After they had raided and seized control of the plateau, they left it in the hands of what they call Commodores. Think of them as leaders of small sects- skilled in combat. They hold LESSER Keycards. Small, rectangular devices that allow access into Kitsuji. Due to their ease of defeat, we have plenty of those. But..."
Oh shit. He's boutta say something crucial. Oh shit.
"After the Commodores were given dominion over Kitsuji, the REST of them were sent down. Into the valleys. Those who reside there are the highest ranking Commodores, the Dukes, the Archdukes...and Him.
"The Dukes, despite their ranking just above the rather weak Commodores, are DRASTICALLY stronger, wielding abilities that could each easily level a nation. And the Archdukes far outshine them. The Dukes are the ones that withhold GREATER Keycards, the card needed to descend through the barrier separating the plateau from the valley."
FUCK.
This is a shit to ton take in. I got NO idea how to respond. I just gotta improv this one.
"Uh. NIiice."
"HOWEVER,"
Oh boy.
"There is ONE Duke that remains atop the plateau, within Kitsuji. Douglas, The Sex Driver-"
"WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!???!?"
I can feel his hand itching toward the hilt of his blade, when we finally arrive at a central sort of concrete pillar. There's obviously an interior- there's a few blacked-out windows and a front door- it's just very bland. Tenshi hops over a few wires, arriving at the door, and it opens with relative ease, as he simply pushes on it a bit.
Within is a large, formal meeting table. Seated around it are faces foreign to me, staring in a puzzled stupor.
All but one.
------------------
As sharp ring cut through the silence of the tavern. Most everyone had long since left, leaving but one woman and a bartender. Politely, she covers the speaker of her phone, before ducking out of the doorway, into the rainy street.
Finally, she raises the phone to her face, answering the call.
"This is Charon."
"Hi hiiiii!!"
She flinches at the sudden bombastic noise.
"Your field report is due Charry!"
Shit.
She had been dreading this moment for the last week, but she knew she couldn't avoid it.
"I...I lost the boy."
The woman on the other end lets out an audible gasp.
Dumb bitch.
"I managed to plant an A6-0 though. That should stunt any operations he would pull otherwise."
"That's the uh..." This wait goes on for minutes.
"It's the memory-thingy! Right Charry?"
"G-good job...OH!"
She had almost forgot.
"That kid from Neo City was with him- Enshi or whatever- I took care of him. His last words were 'my clothes are healing modules that will revive me once this bitch kills me'. Weird."
"Yeeeeaahh...ANYWAY!"
she could at least TRY to sound interested.
"I think I'm needed elsewhere now! Terrible work, Charry!"
The line cuts out.
Sighing, Charon ruffles in her jacket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She ignites one, placing it in her mouth, exhaling a breath of smoke.
"Fuck you Buzzelle..."