Inside was another petrified scene, but not of their own making. At least not yet. As its name suggests, the Command Center hosted numerous machines for security; transparent scanners were stuck in the animation of observing the people who came in and out and cameras dotted the area.
Deeper inside were more people going about their jobs. Holograms stood at the lobby, acting as attendants for visitors and workers alike. Massive screens circled the area, hovering above their heads. it highlighted all the events and meetings happening at the Command Center and all the needed directions and locations within.
After asking it a question on the importance of the City Command Center, PS's Orbital Warden answered, "The City Command Center, or CCC, serves as the nerve center for urban safety and crisis management. The people here are dedicated to protecting the city and its residents during emergencies and working proactively to prevent potential disasters. As this is Paris, while this place is the City Command Center, this building serves more as a national line of defense for the entire country."
The size sure sells that, too.
"It would've been nice to know there was an acronym for the building before hand," RL said, "We've been saying, 'City Command Center' this entire time."
"It is the most protected building in Paris." Owen added, ignoring RL's criticism, "We need to go to floor 74. Since the elevators will not work, let us take the stairs in the back and make our way there now."
As they walked toward the elevator, TY walked up to RL and PS, who were walking side by side, "So you both named your Orbital Warden, Owen and… Yun, correct?"
They nodded.
TY smiled, "I find it quite appealing. Beyond being a term of endearment, a short and concise name such as those facilitates clearer communication, particularly in the heat of battle. I should consider adopting a similar approach."
RL's eyes light up, "You should!"
"Now what appellations should I give it… the voice it has resembles a woman's and the designation it was given was…"
"CA-846s9Ky8T," his warden said.
RL rubbed her cheeks with her hand, "CA-846s9Ky8T… What name could that make?"
PS perked up, her silver eyes beaming lightly, "How about Cass?"
TY contemplated, "Cass… It's relatively short to pronounce, rolling of the tongue with ease. I like it!" He looked back to his orbital warden. "What do you say, Cass?"
"That is your decision TY-005. Call me whatever you like."
"Alright, from this point forward, I will call you Cass," He turned to RL and PS, "Much appreciated!"
"No problem!"
"What about you AJ?" TY questioned, "Does your Orbital Warden have a name?"
AJ responded, as he started walking up the floors, "I call it what it is."
TY frowned, "You're no fun at all. Why not name it now? It could prove useful."
AJ shook his head and became somewhat harsh with his tone of voice, "Unlike the three of you. I do not intend to make friends with our Wardens. They are tools, not people. The minds you give names to are fake, created by another person for their own intentions."
TY raised his hands, immediately sensing AJ's hostility on the matter, "Whatever you say. I won't impede."
"Don't mind him," RL said, "He can be a brooder sometimes."
He looked at RL, furrowing his brows slightly.
I hope RL has not forgotten our conversation before. We know absolutely nothing about this world and our Wardens can be lying to us. We should try not to befriend them no matter how cordial and helpful they may be. I also need to tell the other Doomsday Units about this. I'd rather do that when they are alone.
It took them a while to traverse the 74 floors to get to their destination. The stairs were similarly lit like the main lobby, with a soft neon blue hue that lined the bottoms and tops of the walls.
They finally made it to the top of the stairs. A pair of metal doors were closed in front of them, blocking their way forward.
"We do not have the keycard and it would not work anyway. AJ, would you?" Owen asked.
He complied, pushing the tips of his fingers into the crease of the door and exerted enough force to pull the doors apart, opening their way forward.
They were met with a single straight hallway. Unlike the rest of the building, this hallway was poorly lit and emanated in shadow. At the end of the hallway was another set of doors with a keycard.
As they approached, they noticed a man sitting right in front of it. He had dark short hair. An Orbital Warden floated above him. To his side, he held a sleek black spear that rose to the top of the door. Circling the spear was the embroidery of a snake. Its scales slithered up the poll until it met the top. Then opened to its head with four sharp fangs protruding as the blades of the weapon.
There's no doubt in my mind that that's another Auxiliary device.
The man noticed them, standing up from his seated position he waved them over with a smile.
Something about the way the man carried himself gave AJ pause. It was as though he was ready to fight anything that came his way. Still, it wasn't enough for him to not get closer.
TY whispered under his breath to the three of them. "I think he might be the one who awoke before all of us."
The man started to walk towards them now, leaving his spear at the door. He didn't stop until he was just centimeters away from AJ. Up close, AJ could see his bleeding red eyes and intense glower directed at him. There was a small stubble that covered his chin.
"Hello, we're the Doomsda–" Before he could finish his greeting, the dark haired man socked AJ right in the face with his fist, sending him barreling into the right wall and then onto the floor.
"What the hell? AJ, are you alright?" RL said, rushing to his side to help him back up. A red bruise was forming on his cheek.
"What is wrong with you?" TY said, pulling out Heldyr.
The man noticed the rifle and raised up his hands in peace, "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. My entire body was screaming at me to punch him in the face. I didn't mean anything by it. Actually, I probably did. I just don't know why."
"And who the hell are you," RL asked.
"This... thing told me I'm Doomsday Unit AZ-003, whatever the fuck that means." He looked at AJ, "And because I wanted to punch you so bad, I'm guessing your Doomsday Unit AJ-001."
Confused and frustrated, AJ did not answer. He simply staggered back to his feet with the aid of RL and once he gained back his composure sent a fist right back into AZ. AZ reeled back but was able to keep stable footing.
He laughed, "You got an arm on you. I suppose I deserved that. As much as I hated it."
What's this bastard's problem?
AJ tried to go in for another punch, but RL held him back by holding tightly onto his arms. PS and TY joined in, acting as dividers in between the two of them. With their actions, AJ's fleeting moment of anger subsided.
He sighed, "I'm also sorry. We got off on the wrong foot. You're right, I'm AJ."
"Why were you mad at AJ?" PS asked.
AZ shook his head, "I don't know, I just... was. And I can't remember why."
So he's also unable to remember anything. He does look familiar to me. Damn, what did I do to him before we went under?
TY chimed in, "Being amnesiacs is certainly a vexing ordeal. What exactly did we commit ourselves to?"
Owen's eye turned red, "Enough with the questions, all will be answered in due time. Now that all the Doomsday Units together, this door will open.
"The door can time-tread?" RL asked.
Owen's eye went green, "Correct miss RL. Everything in this room can traverse the threads of time. It was made that way."
Made?
Slowly, the doors opened. Smoke spilled out from the inside, briefly obscuring the group's view.
"The Oracle, Rhein, awaits."
The smoke cleared and before them was a hexagonal room filled with a plethora of computers, holograms, robots and more. Whatever the purpose of the room was, it felt incredibly important. Appearing in the middle of the floor, was a blue transparent hologram of an older man with a full beard and rectangular glasses, his arms were neatly crossed in front of his body and he smiled upon seeing the five doomsday units.
All of them watched with bated breath as the hologram spoke freely.
"Welcome, Doomsday Units, final bastions of this world. I am ever so elated to see you arrive unscathed."
To the Doomsday Units, the word 'unscathed' was quite the understatement.