Chapter 22: Over the Carnage and Through the Plaza to ZMI Underground We Go~

Hello. Your friendly neighborhood Warden-kun here. I am just here to say a few things on behalf of my Master, and Author-kun before the story continues.

While Master is the “original” personality, he gave his position as the story’s protagonist to “Robert” and it will remain that way. However, due to the nature of their relationship, he will sometimes have to fill in for “Robert” as it becomes necessary.

Some have asked why Master has taken “Robert’s” place even though he didn’t want to interfere with the experiment? In a perfect world he wouldn’t need to, but this world is far from perfect so if the need arises for him to emerge he will do so without hesitation.

I’ve abandoned “The Polls” as they have served their purpose and there is no further interaction in them so I’ve left them for dead. Author-kun also thanks everyone who participated in his impromptu polls and is delighted to know that at least 143 are vocal in their opinions and do not silently just wait and see what happens.

For those who ‘scream’ that the avatar that “Robert” wants to create is “OP” from the start, I, Warden, personally guarantee you that it won’t be. Why I can personally assure you? Because of what is inside this spoiler tag of course. If you want to see my reasoning behind my confidence, feel free to open it and read what’s inside. For those who are willing to take my word for it, or simply don’t care, skip it and continue reading.

Spoiler : If “Robert” does happen to go get Reaper tech which about ~50% of the polled audience wanted at the time, it will be the technology itself and not a complete reaper, and in order to build his ‘true avatar’ he will need to ‘feed’ that technology. What does it feed on? You probably can guess and the general problems that go along with that, so I won’t elaborate.

The reaper technology will most likely require a tremendous amount of energy to even activate never mind run optimally, which means a power source will be required and a strong one as well, otherwise he won’t be able to even begin to work on his ‘true avatar’.

Finally it will require some sort of AI to control and utilize the technology as it will be lacking its usual sentience. So there is a 50% chance that Yours Truly will be acting in that role, and because I am playing the “Big Bad” for “Robert” and company, I will naturally hinder his attempts to become OP without effort, as I’m not as benevolent as Master is.

And what a glorious irony it will be, for I who may be the cause of the troubles he will be facing, will also be the instrument he must use to resolve them. But I am getting ahead of myself, so I must apologize. This now concludes the spoiler. If you have any questions or comments, or perchance suggestions about this spoiler, please pm the Author-kun about them because he doesn't want to inflict unwanted spoilers to the masses.

As this covers everything that I need to say at this point in the story, so one last thing on behalf of our beloved Author-kun.

Author-kun is in need of constructive feedback, as right now he is attempting something that is outside his skill level. In fact, it is because it is outside his skill level that the chapters are so “short” because he cannot maintain the ‘level’ of writing for long periods of time and keep it cohesive. To prevent the inevitable collapse of this fanfiction, (I give it six months to a year, taking into the “curse” into consideration and all) please support Author-kun in his attempts to get better.

Whether that be 1 year of in-story days, or 1 year of real life, I can’t tell since I’m just a character of this story after all. So those who don’t want Author-kun’s third and maybe his greatest attempt at this story to collapse please help support him with what he needs. I can’t do it because I lack perspective, as I am only 2D after all.

Just telling him something is confusing, that you’re confused, something is bad, something is poorly written, etc. does absolutely nothing for him. Because it is clear to you, doesn’t mean it is clear to him, and vice versa. So please tell him what EXACTLY is the problem and maybe he can fix it, and if he can’t then that may be his limit as an author.

As I have been rambling on about many unimportant things, I will end it here. So that you guys/girls can get back to the story that some of you enjoy, others despise but most ignore. Ciao.

Jessica and I walk leisurely through the endless carnage that engulfs this section of the Bazaar. I mentioned before that there are multiple ‘eye of the storm’s that are relatively calm within this maelstrom of chaos. With the right timing and a little luck, we walk unhindered and unmolested from eye to eye, removing the need for me to use my complete concentration to find a ‘path’.

Jessica watches the surrounding chaos surprised at the brutality of it and just as amazed at how we just walk by without getting swept up in it.

Jessica: “After all that trouble getting in, getting out almost seems too easy.”

I smile. Normally that line would serve as a death flag, but here at ZMI it was exactly the state of things. While it was difficult to get in, as there are many people competing for the ‘limited goods,’ once you have purchased what you need and are trying to leave, the others let you leave unmolested.

Why expend energy to stop somebody who wants to leave when they don’t even have the items you want on their person in the first place? When you can use it to fight past the person in front of you who is also after your ‘goods’. It is due to this line of reasoning that ZMI moves the goods that its customers purchase below ground out of reach from those who wish to ‘procure’ through ‘other’ means. It also prevents re-selling of product on ZMI grounds, but that is just a positive effect not the main reason.

Robert: “Normally you would be correct, but since our shopping is complete, we are no longer seen as a ‘threat’ to those still looking for deals and are consequently ignored.” I say with a shrug.

Jessica: “Is that how it works?” Jessica asks me raising an eyebrow.

Robert: “Yes, but if you remember something you forgot to purchase, you will immediately be treated as a ‘threat’ again.” I say with a sigh.

Jessica: “I assume that is also from personal experience?” Jessica says letting out a small chuckle.

Robert: “Yes. It was quite painful at the time even with the pain reduction.” I wince just from remembering.

Jessica: “I’ll bet.” She says smiling.

As we walk, Jessica and I talk about various mundane things such as our hobbies, our likes, our dislikes and various other topics that people talk about when trying to find out another person.

It seems that because Jane (Remember James’s and Erica’s daughter?) often goes over to her grandfather’s home to play, Jessica has become somewhat proficient in playing certain video games as Jane often forces Jessica in playing with her. While Jonathan and Alice sometimes join in, it is often only those two playing games together. On the other hand Alice often visits Jane’s home to talk with James and Erica.

Maybe this is why the parental roles are reverse? It also would explain Alice’s acting skills. I knew James was an actor before he began studying law, but due to an accident on stage he was forced to retire early, and eventually he ended up studying law.

He told me about the accident before but never went into the details, and because I respected the man, I never tried to pry. Once he started his law firm, I had him teach me his acting skills in return for helping him get an initial client base, using Zash of course. To this day, I still believe I got the better deal in the end, but I digress.

Since Alice also learned her acting skills from James, I could immediately see through them as she has yet to make them her own. I could see there was talent, but she just lacks experience to make it feel ‘real.’ While it could fool most people, experienced actors and those who know James’s particular style would be able to see through it.

Yet in a couple of years if she keeps practicing and absorbs more real life experiences, she will become a top class actress for sure, but I digress.

While I may have mastered James’s teachings, “Robert” hasn’t and as such, Alice could see through his charade as easily as he could see through hers. It would be interesting to see if she could see through my acting skills, but that would be bad as she would grow suspicious as nobody can have their acting skill increase by so much in only one day. Oh well.

I told Jessica a little about ‘myself’ (“Robert”) as well. I talked about ‘my’ love for reading, that ‘I’ sometimes play video games with Zash, or computer/online games when Zash is playing a single player game. I also told her about various other tidbits about myself that I thought she might want to know about.

Of course, I kept a majority of important things about myself hidden as if there is no ‘mystery’ in this relationship it is highly likely to die prematurely. On the other hand, if you keep too much hidden from your partner, it might also cause them to lose interest in you.

‘Maybe the cause of my “curse” is my lack of understanding of the subtleties of human interaction? But that doesn’t explain why things around me decay within 3 to 12 months. As usual, this line of reasoning gets me nowhere fast.’

I mentally sigh. It has occurred to me countless times that this may be one of the chief causes of my interpersonal relationships break down quite quickly, and I’ve been working on learning the subtleties of human interaction, but to learn that requires "Human Interaction". Shocking, I know. Nobel Prize winning? Not so much, but I digress.

Our conversation comes to an end once we break free from the carnage and reenter the plaza.

Robert: “Alright. It’s time for me to win that bet.”

Jessica: “I will believe it when I see it.”

As we make our approach to the glass elevator, from a food stall I procure another cup of coffee and three boxes of a popular Japanese snack called “Pocky.” Putting one in my suit pocket for later, I give one box to Jessica and one box to Zash.

While Jessica was looking at the box trying to find a way to open it, a diagram of how to open it appears in a transparent window before her.

Jessica: “Oh! So that’s how it opens. Thank you Robert.” She says and finally manages to get her box open.

‘So she did realize it was me showing her that diagram after all. That means we can probably use these illusions as an overlay, although there are still a few problems that need to be resolved, but eventually they can be used to train people to do things.’

Jessica: “Ah this is so good!” She says after taking her first bite of Pocky. Her face lit up and radiated what I considered ‘pure happiness,’ so much so that I just had to smile.

Zash tapped my head, so I looked at him and he hands me his empty Pocky box, giving me a thumbs up indicating it was good.

Robert: “Still as gluttonous as ever.” I say taking the box and throwing it away in a trashcan we pass.

About 10 minutes later we finally reach the elevator. It wasn’t because of the distance we needed to cover but more in line that Jessica stopped ever few steps to savor every moment of happiness that each bite provided her, and who was I to stop her from obtaining happiness?

Close proximity to the elevator reveals that there is no “entrance” to the elevator. But closer inspection would reveal that the glass stopped 6 meters above the ground and only a ‘waterfall’ of condensed air comprises the entirety of the elevator’s lower walls.

Jessica: “How do we get in?” Jessica asks me between bites. She was on her last stick so she was only nibbling at it.

Robert: “Like this.” I reply.

I reach up and insert my right hand at an angle, my left hand was holding my coffee and much like a real waterfall the air fell to either side of my hand and created an opening for us to go through.

Jessica: “Neat.” She says and enters through the opening I made.

Of course you can walk through just like a real waterfall but the pressure of the air puts on you is also similar to that of a waterfall, so standing in it is unadvised.

I follow her in with Zash on my shoulder, and once inside I remove my hand and the nose from the outside is silenced. Even though we can clearly see what is happening in the Bazaar but we cannot hear or smell anything.

Compared to the outside, the light within the elevator takes on a crystalline blue hue with gives the impression that we are underwater. The increased density of the air inside elevator provides additional “pressure” that adds to the underwater feel.

From the outside, viewers might think that the glass elevator is tinted a crystalline blue but in actuality, it is the light from within the elevator that gives the glass its blue hue. How come the blue light doesn’t pass through the transparent glass? That is a secret for next time.

Jessica: “This is amazing.” Jessica says twirling around. “It’s is just like we are underwater.”

HAL9001: “Hello again, Jessica, Zash, Robert.” A voice cuts through the silence of the elevator.

Jessica: “Hello HAL.” Jessica says curtsying. It seems she was in a playful mode.

HAL9001: “Do you wish to ascend, or descend?”

Jessica: “Descend please.” Jessica says politely.

HAL9001: “Please go to the center 3 meters of the elevator and await further instructions.”

Jessica: “Thank you HAL.” Jessica says and we move to the center of the elevator.

HAL9001: “Please state the speed of the Descent: .”

Jessica: “Fastest. I want to see what is down there already.” Her tone held only a tiny amount of impatience.

‘Was she just starting to feel impatience or did she just fail to hide what she impatience she felt?’

HAL9001: “Are you sure you want to go with the ‘fastest’ setting?”

Jessica: “Yes.” I could tell from Jessica’s voice that she was excited to finally get down there.

HAL9001: “Very well. Robert, please fasten her seat beat because she knows not what she just asked.”

Robert: “Kay~” I finish my coffee, move behind Jessica and wrap my arms around her waist pressing her back slightly against my chest. “Done.”

Jessica: “Huh?” Jessica voice betrays her confusion but she didn’t resist.

HAL9001: “Thank you for choosing to fly with ZMI Air. This trip is just a short flight so you should expect to be landing shortly after takeoff. Please enjoy your flight.”

Once HAL finishes talking the floor underneath us opens up revealing nothing but darkness. Approximately 3.14 seconds later, gravity noticed we weren’t under its sway and sought to remedy that. So we plummet to the depths of ZMI as fast as gravity would take us.

After three seconds of ‘free falling’ we suddenly started to decelerate at the speed of gravity. After a mere six seconds we descended 245 meters and arrived at the first underground floor.

Although the landing was soft, Jessica’s legs still gave out from under her. If I wasn’t holding her up, she would have collapsed onto the floor, instead she simply rested against my chest. As I always use the fastest speed up or down, I was already somewhat use to this.

HAL9001: “I hope that was fast enough to your liking? Any faster and I wouldn’t be able to reduce the landing impact to that of a slight jump.”

Jessica: “Yes that was fast enough.” Jessica mutters weakly.

HAL9001: “Then I hope you enjoy the remainder of your day. And thank you again for flying ZMI Air.”

Robert: “Are you able to walk?” I ask her.

Jessica: “No, not really.” She shakes her head, sighing softly.

Robert: “Requesting permission to carry you.”

Jessica: “Granted.” Her voice still soft.

I scoop up the unresisting Jessica into my arms in a princess hold, (you know the one I’m talking about,) and step off the platform that had brought us down from the bazaar. With its mission complete, it starts rising back into the ceiling and disappears into the dark hole that we recently came out of.

Since Jessica was too out of it to protest how I was carrying her, I look around and spot one of the few waystations on this level and walk towards it. After ordering another coffee, I sit down on one of the benches with Jessica sitting sideways on my lap with my arms around her waist to keep her in place.

While I wait for my coffee to arrive and Jessica to come back to her sense, I look around the now familiar sights of ZMI underground level 1.

All the waystations on this floor face the elevator so I have clear line of sight of it and the people coming and going.

Like the Bazaar above us, in the center is a circular “Plaza,” for lack of a better word, that has a 100 meter radius which includes the elevator. Although there is no glass, people can tell where the elevator begins as the glass floor of the elevator gives way to smooth dark stone after 30 meters from the center.

100 meters from the center and surrounding the plaza is a transparent glass wall made of Protecto glass that extends to the ceiling. Bisecting ZMI’s underground floor one, are four opaque walls that run east to west and north to south on each side of the ‘plaza’ and would all intersect where the elevator is.

Speaking elevators, it just brought down a batch of 200-300 people using the ‘slow’ speed. Which happens to use the ‘full’ elevator and it only takes 3 minutes to descend 245 meters so it is still somewhat fast, but I digress.

About 80% of the new arrivals go to the northwest quadrant, 10% went to the southeast quadrant and the remaining 10% went to the southwest quadrant. Why did nobody go to the northeastern quadrant? All good things come to those who wait.

Jessica finally comes to just as the male server brings me my fresh cup of coffee.

Server: “Here you are.” He says conversationally.

Robert: “Thank you.” I say as I take my coffee.

Server: “It seems your lovely girlfriend has come too, do you also require refreshment Miss?” He asks the now struggling Jessica.

Embarrassment hit her right as she noticed her position, and was trying to free herself from my grasp.

Jessica: “Yes, some water please.” She stops struggling for a moment to say that.

Server: “Right away.” He says bowing and returns to the food stall behind us.

Jessica: “Robert, you can let me go, I’m fine now.” She says still struggling.

Robert: “Okay.” I release her. She then slides off my lap and sits down next to me. Her face still red from embarrassment. The female server returned with a cup of water for Jessica in hand.

Server: “Here you are.” She says conversationally and hands Jessica her drink.

Jessica: “Ah thank you.” Jessica says she takes it and gulps down its contents.

Server: “If there is nothing else?” She asks raising an eyebrow questionably.

Robert: “A refill please?” I ask holding up my empty coffee cup.

Server: “Of course.” She takes my empty coffee cup (the one I purchased from the plaza in the Bazaar) and returns to the food stall.

I gulp down the remaining coffee that I had and mentally sigh.

‘Why is it that ZMI coffee always tastes so terrible to me? Is it the amount of sugar? The type of sugar? The way the bean was roasted? Perhaps the way it was grown? No. Then maybe the coffee machines they are using haven’t been cleaned in a while? If so we need to remedy that sooner rather than later.’

Warden: Master?

‘Do you have something to report?’

Warden: Yes Master. The separation procedure is 90% complete.’

‘Good. That means I won’t have to put up with this horrible tasting coffee much longer.’

Warden: To be fair, only you would noticed the slight change in taste.

‘Perhaps, but ZMI should be serving substandard coffee in the first place!’

Warden: It is as you say, Master.

‘Sorry about that, I only get irate when bad coffee is involved. Do you have anything else to report?’

Warden: Yes it is about the other four.

‘Have the personalities I created and buried in each of them started to emerge?’

Warden: It is the opposite. Those four are overriding their hidden personalities with new ones in their quest to ‘find’ themselves as “Robert” requested.

‘How delightful. With them finally taking it upon themselves to develop, the five of them should now start growing in new and unexpected ways.’

Warden: At this rate, they might be ready for phase two soon.

‘What makes you say that?’

Warden: Individually, those four failed to grasp what was needed to progress to phase two. However, with “Robert,” not only did he manage to find out what he was lacking, he also found a way to use the other four to fill those ‘gaps,’ and by doing so he granted himself a degree of control over them all while convincing them to better themselves.

‘The ability to inspire others to achieve greatness, in turn helping yourself achieve greatness?’

Warden: Nothing as grandiose and noble as that. He is just manipulating others to better themselves because the more capable they are, the more things he is able to do with them.

‘So like Revan he grants power to his followers so in turn they can be more useful to him?’

Warden: Correct. It is almost the same as what you said earlier, but the motivations and methods used are completely different.

‘So if I’m “white,” and you’re “black”, then he would be “gray”?’

Warden: More or less. But you already know this.

‘True. Anything else to report?’

Warden: Not at this time.

‘Thank you for the update, keep me posted.’

Warden: Of course, Master.

I look at Jessica and see her staring at my face.

Robert: “Is there something on my face?” I ask using my free hand to touch all over my face trying to find if something was out of place, which causes Jessica to smile.

Jessica: “You looked like you were doing some deep thinking, and I didn’t want to disturb you so I was just watching your face.” Jessica says still smiling.

Robert: “I see, thank you then.”

Jessica: “What were you thinking about? I’m curious.” Her eyes were shinning like that one girl from that one anime.

Robert: “I was thinking about how to properly show you this floor within the time limit.”

Jessica: “There is a time limit?” Jessica asks in confusion.

The male server brings me my refill.

Robert: “Thank you.” I say as I receive the refill. The server bows and retreats backs behind the food stall. “We have to go back to my apartment complex so that I can show you and your daughter the available apartments remember?”

Jessica: “It is that time already? It feels like time just flew by so fast.” Jessica sighs.

Robert: “No, we still have about an hour before we have to head back, so I’ll show you around the first underground level and then we will leave.”

Jessica: “Okay. That just means I need to be surprised by this level alone, otherwise~” She says cheerfully.

Robert: “Yes, yes, I know. But to surprise someone is as easy as violating their expectations of something. So I’m sure you will be plenty surprised about this floor alone.”

Jessica: “We shall see~”

I stand up and do some stretches until I hear a few pops. Satisfied, I throw away the empty cup in the trash can that was a few steps away. When I return, Jessica is already on her feet and ready to go. So together, we set of towards the barren northeastern quadrant.

Continue Reading?No

Author’s note: I it seems that it will indeed take 3 chapters to finish off the “Date” segment after all (this being the second one). I tried my best to continue but there was a block that wouldn’t let me continue for some reason. Probably my inexperience as a writer showing but I digress. Again thank you for reading, comment, rate, review, only if you feel like it. Author-kun out.