Our grandfather always told us to be wary. Typically he'd tell scary stories around the campfire, and although we burned salvaged chairs for wood, I felt like a King. "Those things are still human, you know." He used to tell us. "Whatever they've become just traded communication for power. Once they get strong enough you'll be able to talk with them clearly. Makes me wonder if we're really safe here, or if they just don't care that we exist."
…..
People used to call me "the outcast" when I was younger. Instead of playing tag like normal children, I spent my time training around my grandfather. He's one of few survivors who lived in a time period called the 'apocalypse' by our history books. Stories about Earth made my training feel like play time.
Grandpa used to be a soldier. Apparently millions of people had this profession before stronghold time, and they were trained to fight. Now the stronghold relies on divers and knights to keep back corruption. My dream was his- to someday awaken powers of my own, like those knights who defend humanity.
Stacy though- I left her two weeks ago. Without a word I snuck away from the apartment, withdrew my balance from our dual account, and headed towards a diver enrollment center. Only 2,000 credits stay true to my name- a meager amount which could only last two months. Items like bread or canned food cost about 15 to 30 credits a pop. That would be fine for me, if rent didn't cost a near fortune. Food is much easier to come by than living space.
While Stacy and Gwen made a good point about diving being the riskiest profession, nearly every piece of food and equipment is found outside the stronghold.
[Oddjob Dives] became my backup plan when thinking about risky ideas. They're a diving company known for collecting miscellaneous employees, often seeking quality over quantity. Rumor has it that Oddjob Dives will take any job for the right price.
So, I found myself sitting inside a train for District Eleven, the city housing Oddjob Dives.
Our stronghold used to have 10 cities when I was born, renamed to "districts" after people got the courage to expand. District Eleven brought about diver professions, and through their efforts became a rich city, home to the diving business' leading pioneers. Even the first knight can trace their steps back to this district. Buying a single train ticket costs 1,600 credits both in or out of District Eleven.
"Your name is… Nick-" An employee dawning some fancy suit and tie flicks his wrist, exposing a shiny silver watch. "Recommendation by a Duke family knight captain.. You've had a previous.. anomaly experience-" The man suddenly adjusts his posture before reading any further, like my resume garnered some surprise… "and rejected from the knight's tutelage, fourteen times! Hell, I've never seen anyone that desperate to waste a fortune so quickly!!"
My pointer finger taps the ragged leather armchair I've been shown to, inwardly doing my best not to start a fight. It's like this everywhere- All across the stronghold people control others using strength and connections. What people like this need is…
"You won't make a profit for us, Mr. Nick."
"I-"
"~I.. Can assure you that any further talk is a waste of our time. Now, If you'll excuse me." The interviewer motions for a door- one with seventy people standing outside, waiting for a turn. I know that because I also waited two hours straight. There was barely enough room for me to stand. Hundreds of people, from experienced divers to mercenary knights are competing for the same job.
"Thank you for your time.." I nearly bit off a piece of my lip. Whose time got wasted? Clearly, it wasn't the rich man who grins; his shampoo cleaned hair shining comfortably, from a shower the night before. People like me don't get time to wash up.
Things were different in my grandfather's time. Back then.. Back then….
My mind goes blank when I look at the woman to my left. She's next in line, aside from the person who just went in.
The woman has silky white hair, and the athletic body to match. A deck of playing cards is attached to her waist. Her clothes are patterned green and pearl white. Her jacket compliments these colors of green, a noble house emblem on its sleeve. It's the telltale sign of a knight. Those playing cards are probably related to her ability.
"Never seen a knight before?" She scoffs at my glare, then rolls her eyes and adds, "commoners.."
"You crossed the line." I say, wanting an excuse. This woman did nothing wrong to me. I knew that.
Still doesn't change the fact of me punching her in the jaw.
My attack knocks the lady out cold, and at a crucial time. All these people are veterans or prodigies with similar resumes. Her head crashes through drywall nearby. I get one moment of silence before everyone decides I'm their biggest resume booster.
"Fuck."
I loosen my posture for the last time, because I can't say I'll breathe after this fight.
WHAM!
Right away, someone's right hook shakes my brain back and forth.
THACK!
My returned punch knocks out the man. He was a normal person- not a knight with superhuman abilities. People who considered charging right away in hesitation. "Come on, we don't have all day. Everyone at once-" My hubris spoke loudly because I knew I could probably die for punching a noble.
Shing!
A knight's katana nearly slices my chest. She lunged from near the back of the line. I dodge by retreating one foot.
WHAM!
My fist collides with her forehead, the momentum of her strike not stopping in time. I've never heard about knights' screaming after a human's punch, but the secondhand pain I feel makes me wanna forget that noise. Next-
Next is a rifle. I charge. My index finger throbs- hurt because I caught the man's magazine before it slid through the socket. Someone's projectile ability shoots daggers from above- My thoughts flow smoothly like back then. Like when the monsters attacked our district!
CRACK! WHAM! POP! SLAM! POW!
Three, then four- then six.
Ordinary humans drop like flies one after another. I need space and numbers-
Slink!
Thin, sharp wire nearly catches my throat. "He dodged?" Says a young man in surprise, who also dawns a noble emblem, this time colored in red.
By now people have disregarded their place in line, knights approaching the front and humans staying back. "That's one odd ability…" Says a bulky and built man to the noble knight's side, who seems unphased by my sudden brawl. I watch him carefully. One glance at him makes me cough up blood.
"What?!" Everyone mutters at once, including me. "Dammit.." I feel my strength weakening. Why was it so hard to make eye contact with that knight? I thought he was just a commoner!
"Now's our chance!"
I dodge someone's plant ability before the rich man opens the door. Everyone, including my attackers, pauses at his mere presence. He's not stronger than a single person here. Hell, two punches by any construction worker might kill the man at once. It's because he can decide these people's fates, that he gets their respect.
"So, young man.. Care to explain?" The previously interviewed man wanted to leave but instead gulps, trapped standing behind the powerful businessman. My brain twists and turns for survival. It wants me to solve this unsolvable problem, until a sudden joke solution makes me laugh.
"I'm a diver.… I've come to put myself in debt." My words refer to the industry standard which preys on opportunity. Every single day, thousands of people sign themselves off into predatory contracts, knowing exactly what would happen. They hope that maybe awakening a knightly ability will change their life.
"Ha!" The man scoffs, a grin wide across his face. "What's the debt you're thinking of?"
"There's five bodies unconscious, six if you count the knight who just woke up. Not to mention how her head broke through the drywall.…" My comment leaves many people stunned. If the fight wasn't enough, how could provoking a diving company executive work any better? "Fifty million per body, and another fifty for the drywall."
"..." As if the silence wasn't enough- we see the man pull out his phone. 'Tap, tap, tap-' His hands move slowly on purpose. I don't let down my guard for one second. "I've got many options here Nick…" The man repeats my name, causing a scoff to leave my throat. "One of the best ones would be to let these people fight you~ and the winner gets a job at the company."
I suddenly glance over my shoulder, realizing the danger I'm in. "Or, I could double your debt.. You pay me back 600 million over a year and I'll consider your silly offer." My shoulders relax. I sit down against the drywall, on top of a red colored exit path. There's barely enough room to fit my legs between me and those people I knocked out cold.
"Since you're doubling the debt- give me five minutes.. Then we'll fight. You'd probably enjoy a live demonstration better, anyways." Murmurs echo down the entire hallway. People ready their weapons. I'd be lucky to survive against a knight who's activated their ability. "This life wasn't so bad after all.." I mutter, wishing a cigarette could be burnt at the moment, though I'd never been rich enough to try one.
The old man purses his lips. "...fine. You make a good point, and I'm bored." A few people gasp, the suspense getting past their patience. "Today we'll change our trial environment. You've all been through corruption once before, right?~" The man laughs happily, reaching for his inner coat pocket. From inside comes a T.V. remote.
Click-
What button did he press?! I barely saw it, but our surroundings changed completely.
We're no longer at the center of a giant skyscraper. Instead, we stand inside a giant white box. Stretches of tables house diving equipment to either side. I see trackers, jumpsuits, and weapons. Backpacks made to store unlimited material sit side by side- from brands which I'm certain cost millions.
"You'll get a unique tracker, Nick." My diverted attention returns. The rich old man stands before me, frowning. Something feels so uncanny about his frown, like he'd been disappointed for the first time in thirty years. I notice a single device in his hands. "Take it. These gloves are another fifty million."
"..." I silently take the gloves from him, and slide them into place.
"Nick will be your prey. If you can take him down in 24 hours, you will be granted a proper position. Anyone who stays behind can try making a bet with me!"