Chapter 4:

Chapter 4

FORCES


Wayne swung the door open. He saw Mason sitting there with a blank look on his face. Wayne wanted to tear up but couldn’t, he was on the job. He looked in his hand, and there a shining dog tag sat. It was Dean’s dog tag. Wayne sighed, but he was prepared. He didn’t have time for sorrow, because he was a soldier, and though not usually this spectacularly, people often died around him.

The draw bridge was down and soldiers across it were waving Wayne forward. As Rust was all caught up, Wayne got back in the vehicle, and he drove off into Requiem via the draw bridge. The wheels of the vehicles grinded the ground of the draw bridge. Mason regains his focus. He then opens the top hatch and stands out looking out to pasture.

He then see’s and iron coming up hill side. “Wayne!” Wayne responding is met with a never mind by Mason as the creature got sniped and killed. That is when Mason notices a slew of dead irons lay about before him. He turns around, what he sees is a sight he will never forget, a giant city of metal with a huge dug out body of water sitting, towering in front of him. The sight was so surreal that Mason actually cried. It helped him let out all the feelings of his situation and was a sight to behold. Towering, shining metal city, or Requiem, as it was named.

Once in the Armored DB had to pass through a real dirty, dingy, and filthy district. There were crowds of people outside that sounded like cheering. Mason couldn’t see any of them. He looked over at Romeo’s dead corpse. “They are cheering for you, I wish you could hear it.” Mason said to Romeo’s corpse. Deciding on changing the scenery Mason opens the top hatch and stands up for everyone to see. Mason’s jaw drops to what he was hearing.

“Why are you guy’s wasting more of our tax money!” one man said.

“Yeah we’re starving!” said one woman.

“More needless deaths!” yelled another.

There was no cheering, there was no welcome back party. “What is this?” Mason thought.

“Why are they?” the crowd made Mason’s blood boil.

“Why were they disrespecting the people who put their lives on the line?” He thought.

“Shut the hell up!” Mason screamed as the crowd stopped yelling to look at him.

“Do you have any idea what these soldiers went through? Only hours ago I held a man’s hand as he died!”

The people after a second of shock quickly regain their thoughts and begin chucking rocks at Mason and the vehicle. Yelling at the passing soldiers. Mason still shocked looks over at the mechanic being piloted by Rust. Rust makes a slight and continuous hand gesture for mason to get down. He reluctantly listens and ducks back into the vehicle. He has a furious look on his face. He then looks at Romeo. Romeo’s dead body lay peacefully, with unconscious Sampson Miller right next to him.

“At least you guys don’t have to witness this.” Mason said with a growl.

He then grabs Romeo’s gun the “Lady Killer”. He checks the weapon for ammo then stands out again, he has the gun in his hand unexposed. He looks out at the people again.

“Huh?” Mason says then looks at the way they looked and the way they talked.

“Who is that?”

“Is that who you wasted good lives on getting?”

“We ought to kill that bastard!”

It was then when Mason realized that those were people just like him who haven’t even seen the outside world. They ARE him. They wake up each day to a world they don’t understand and go about their lives. Just like Mason when he first woke up, they constantly go to sleep, then wake to a world they don’t understand. And like Mason as a Scientist, they as people hate not understanding.

Mason once again slips back into the back of the DB. The door to the cockpit slides open. Wayne peeks his head back to tell Mason they are almost to their destination. Mason wondering where that is isn’t dignified with a response. Mason is then called out of the back by Wayne as he emerges to see a somewhat busy train station. With Rust loading the mechanic onto the back of a black train with a star on the side.

“Where are we going Wayne?”

As Wayne pulls Romeo gently out of the back of the vehicle, he then starts talking to Mason.

“Romeo’s gun, you have it don’t you?” Mason backs up a bit.

“It’s okay, you keep it Mason. It’d just get confiscated as military property anyway when it wasn’t.”

Wayne puts Romeo in a metal box on the back of the train. He looked so sad sitting in his metal casket. Wayne slid Romeo out of sight, and Mason felt a small sharp jab at his heart. Wayne then drives the Armored DB into the back of the train.

“Wayne?” Mason said to Wayne as Wayne looks at Mason.

“Romeo’s ring wasn’t on him, hand it to me and I will have it delivered to his fiancée.”

Mason throws the ring to Wayne. Wayne looks at the somewhat bloodstained silver ring.

“I’ll have to have it cleaned before I send it to her.”

Mason looks at him as Rust emerges from the back of the train.

“Wayne, I know you want me to decipher my buddy’s notes and all, but was I really worth it?” Wayne walks Rust, and Mason into the military train.

“Well Mason that is what we are going to the Capitol to find out. Plus our esteemed Commander Clive Crews seems to think you were worth it so, I don’t know.”

“What’s the Capitol?”

“The Capitol is where all the military big wigs discuss new policies, and make all sorts of plans. There are also mission debriefing’s as well as classified matters discussed. I was fortunate enough to sit in on those discussions.”

Wayne asks one of the personnel to get Mason some food as well as some hot cider.

“And actually Mason some discussion with you is going to be classified so feel excited!”

Mason wasn’t excited though. He used to develop weapons so he has had tons of quote on quote classified discussions. All they did was make him paranoid, but he didn’t feel the outreach of paranoia this time. Rust put her hand on Mason’s

“It is all going to be okay Mason.” and Mason believed Rust.

“This could be a new beginning for you Mason!”

Mason put his hand on top of Rust’s to give her the reassurance that she just gave him.

“And you too Rust, you’re going to get that promotion and help your family!” Rust smiled at his words of kindness.

“You are kind Mason, just don’t forget who’s protecting who here.”

Underneath all that dirt, and attitude Mason noticed a flower, and it wasn’t whittled away like you might have expected. Just growing.

“I won’t forget Rust, and about your name.”

“What about it?”

“You see Romeo got his name legally changed, maybe you could do the same?”

“Maybe I will consider it.” Rust said smiling distantly looking at the ground.

The Military personnel came back with hot cider as well as warm rice, and a vegetable dish for Mason. Mason’s face lit up, he then began digging in. he could feel the foods warmth on his tongue. He sat there and just appreciated it for a second. The food almost warmed his heart. But for everything that is good there is something worse around the corner. Mason spilled a bit of cider on his pant leg.

“Ah Ouch!”

As he was rubbing his pant leg with a wipe a man walked up to Wayne.

“Sir after examination Sampson Miller should be fine.” Wayne patted the guy on the back with a smile.

“That’s great news! Man that damn bump on his head had me worried!”

The man then puts his hand to his own mouth, and grunts.

“You didn’t let me finish sir. He will be fine, but however he will most definitely be in a comma for a while. A long while.”

Wayne who was about to take a sip of his own cider pauses.

“I am terribly sorry sir.” Softly says the man before walking away.

At first the trio was silent, and motionless. “Damn it!” in a fit of rage Wayne chucks the cup of cider at the bullet proof windows of the train shattering the cup, Mason gets startled then jumps.

“Why? Why? Why?!”

Wayne then continues to slam his chair on the ground. He sits on the floor with his face in his palms.

“What was that thing?! Perfectly capable soldiers in armored vehicles dead!”

Wayne points his finger showing the number one.

“One Iron kills two of my more capable soldiers who sported advanced weaponry!” Wayne snorts then continues.

“And Romeo just replaced one of my dead men from three months ago!”

Wayne tries to calm down as he puts his face into his palm as his fingers press into his forehead. He stopped breathing so heavily. Wayne looked up at Mason, and he then looked at Rust then back at Mason.

“Mason, it is about to be one hell of a debriefing.”

Upon arriving at the Capitol, Mason along with Rust was sitting outside of the H.Q. building. Wayne had gone inside to find if everything was ready with the meeting. He also had to write a report of the overall mission success. Mason looked around of this utter utopia of an inner city. There were green grass yards with self-watering systems, and people who have their own automobiles of which there were none in the first part of the city. Not to mention the sky itself. He noticed the sky was blocked from the people in the first district near the entrance.

“No wonder people were pissed! Look at this place, these people are living it up while others live in a slum dump like that!”

Rust then nodded with agreement as well dressed, and groomed officials walked up and down the steps that they sat on.

“Not to mention my family also lives along with me in those slums, its selfish but as a soldier I’m glad that I get better meals than them and get to sleep at the barracks sometimes while I’m not on leave.”

Rust meant what she said, but even though because of her status she has it a bit easier she still sends most of her money to her family, and lives with them most the time but it does little to help with the hunger.

Rust looking sad gets Mason singing in an attempt to cheer his new found friend up. He then whispers a song into her ear. Smiling Rust then begins humming the tune, and beat at which he was singing, he then finished the song a few minutes later. Smiling Rust looked at him.

“What was that song?” Mason smiles then begins explaining the song.

“You see it’s called Tracks of my tears by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. I always connected with this song because I am always putting up a brave front even though I want to cry.”

“Well crybaby, then that song is perfect for you!” Rust says while pushing on Mason. She is so strong though she actually pushes him over followed by a quick apology on her part. Mason brushes himself off.

“It’s okay.” Mason then looks at her

“So, got any other talents rather than blowing up monsters scattered across the country.”

“Well my mother practically burned herself out of money with piano lessons, she said I was going to learn a little bit of etiquette. I don’t like playing piano though, and it’s because my mom wanted me to.”

“Well if you are good you could play in a bar or something, and make some of that good performer’s money.” Mason says while rubbing his fingers together as if there were money in his hand.

“Yeah right, ya know I haven’t played in years! Plus I said I don’t even like it. What about you Mason, you have any skills?”

“Well I already mentioned I was a pyro-maniac, ironically I was allowed later in my years to help develop bomb’s as well as missiles in particular so yeah. But even before then I was skilled in making makeshift bombs, you know Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs, mini, and hell even big flamethrowers. Yeah I liked fire.”

“That seems like it would have been a dangerous set of skills Mason.”

“You may be right, but I think there were more petrifying, and crazier people with scary, and crazy hobbies back then than probably now. They were just spread out a lot farther back then.”

Rust didn’t hesitate to believe him but she already knew why.

“Well Mason wouldn’t that only be because there was a ton more people back then?”

Mason looked at her and decided to just nod as a response.

“So, have you thought of your new name?”

Rust looked at him.

“You say it like I said I was going to do it!”

“Ah come on you don’t want to keep that name for the rest of your life! New beginnings right?” Mason quoting her earlier words.

“Yeah you’re right, I was thinking my grandmothers name. Sylvia, a bit girly but I think it has a nice ring to it.” Rust said as Wayne then walks outside.

“Alright Mason! Chin up, it’s time to come in.” Wayne ordered.

Mason stands up to follow with Rust right behind.

“Sorry Rust but this is too classified, even for you.”

“I’ll wait outside then?”

“No need Rust, they say you are currently on leave. Go home to your family, I bet they miss you.” Wayne says as he head nods Mason inside.

Rust waves goodbye to Mason in which he in turn waves goodbye back. Mason then walks behind Wayne through the doors of, and then the fluorescently lit halls of the Military H.Q. There was very little soldiers walking through the halls. But a lot of suits and ties.

“Doesn’t seem super secure for such an esteemed Military base?”

“Yeah well its broad daylight and terrorism isn’t technically a thing anymore so we don’t worry about human threats as much.”

Mason thinks back to events such as 9/11 and Pearl Harbor, and what the United States did to the Native-Americans, and African Americans.

“Sometimes humans are who you should fear the most. It’s ironic that we, people of all creatures are considered the most compassionate and emotional species yet some of the things we can do would make us at times worse than any wild animal.” Mason said.

Mason was whispering that statement but with a voice so fierce that Wayne who never experienced what he meant before now believed it. Even if Wayne would never admit the fact that he believed it.

“Well here we are Mason, you ready?”

“Um uh yeah, I guess so.”

Wayne pressed a button as a metal door slid open. Sitting next to each other at an oval table, one was a bald old man with a grey mustache. The other had a suave wave of hair that was a little grey, and black. After permission to be seated both Wayne, and Mason took their seats, the bald old man then reaches his hand over the table toward Mason.

“Well were missing a person but I am sure he will show up anytime now so let me get introductions out of the way, you must be Mason?” Mason proudly shakes his hand.

“Yes sir! I am Mason Wright sir.” The old man smiles.

“I am General Miller, head of most all military operations with few exceptions of course. And this surly, and frowny looking gentlemen right here is colonel Bellmore.” Miller looks over at Wayne.

“So Commander Wayne. I read in your report, since this doesn’t have anything to do with Mason directly that there was indeed a deadly new iron to look out for on missions. If the beast you described is real than it seems we will have to make some permanent upgrades in on-field missions in order to combat the possibility of such a threat again.”

Bellmore seems quick to speak out against the plan though.

“But sir! We simply cannot expend anymore funding to that division! We…”

After putting his finger up to hush Bellmore, Miller continues.

“Don’t worry Bellmore, if it ensures our men on the field get home safely then central taxes will be raised. Even if each rich person is five dollars poorer they are still rich Bellmore.”

“Speaking of finance while we have time Bellmore, what was your decision with the raise in regards to Miss Moore?” asked Miller.

Bellmore putting on some reading glasses then stares at a lengthy piece of paper.

“Are you speaking of Rust sir!” Mason asked as the general nods.

“Well general, given the circumstances of the mission I would be given no other option to say than… no.”

Mason’s eyes widen “But sir she deserves…”

“Deserves what?” Bellmore exclaims.

“She doesn’t deserve anything! I read the report! Getting separated in the mission putting the target, you in danger!” he then points with Mason interfering.

“With all due respect sir don’t call me Yu, I am not Japanese my name is Mason, and…”

Bellmore’s face red hot then takes over.

“Don’t dare interrupt me… Mason. Next she has her expensive military machinery beat to no return, wasted fuel on an effort to Lake Erie, rather than regrouping as quickly as possible, then on top of all that… she was drinking on the job!”

Mason backed down. He then looked at Wayne who gave the report.

“Wayne, how did you know?” Wayne looked at him vicariously.

“Did you forget Mason? I was in that vehicle driving, I was practically a part of it! I flipped a switch to hear what was going on back there!”

Mason then looks at Miller for a plea of help.

Miller gives in “Okay Mason, why do you believe she deserves the raise?” Mason shakes Miller’s hand only with a friendly demeanor. Bellmore sat not believing that he was even given a chance to defend her.

“Thank you so much sir!” Miller then nods and sits back.

“My friend Rust, kept me from falling into the darkness. It was dark and all of a sudden wouldn’t you know the bright lights resonating off a metal suit of armor were what saved, a terrified me, and now I had a knight in shining armor.” The room was quiet other than Mason’s heavy breathing and him gulping after every other word spoken.

“She saved me. Shared feelings with me. Protected me from evils, and cheered me up. I the target was lost, and alone. Therefore she saved me, and showed me the way out!” Mason swallowed again as sweat dripped down his forehead, and his hand shook.

“And as for the drinking sir, she along with Romeo were just trying to show me there was still fun to be had! Sir!” Miller stares at Mason.

“Well Mason, I just can’t…” Mason’s heart sinks.

“I just can’t deny your honesty. Your friend corporal Rust Moore will be promoted to Sergeant Moore!”

Bellmore’s face is angry but he doesn’t dare to speak up again. Both Mason, and Wayne’s faces light up. Then the metal door behind Mason, and Wayne slides open as Wayne’s otherwise happy expression then sours. The entire vibe changes.

“Well Colonel Bellmore you are looking rather German this afternoon, but you always look angry so don’t mind me.”

Mason then looks over his shoulder while angrily Wayne refuses to look.

“Even though I can only see the back of your head I can tell you too Wayne are also angry. That won’t do, anger doesn’t help the situation.”

There stood tall the six foot sharp, Commander Clive Crews. Tall, slender, as well as long blond hair. The man seemed to be the opposite of the strong, buff, big, and black haired Latino that was Wayne. Clive then sits down next to Mason. Mason staring at Clive is shocked that such a nice looking person is a soldier. Clive then looks over at Mason then shakes his hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mason. I am Commander Clive.”

Miller then speaking welcomes Clive, and reminds Mason to the knowledge of this man being the one who devised the rescue mission for Mason in the first place. Mason then shaking his hand again says.

“Thank you sir! Thank you! But how did you know I would wake up around that time sir?”

Clive then tells him “That my friend is classified.” Miller then looks at Clive with a strange look.

“Well then.” Bellmore says “let us get down to business.”

Miller then agrees then talks directly to Clive.

“Did you acquire what you were looking for on your mission?”

Clive then smiles than pulls out a little red book. “Yes I did sir.” He then slides the book over to General Miller. The general then skims through a few pages of the red booklet.

“My God.” Miller said as Mason then cringes at the thought of that name.

“This really is Daikov’s journal isn’t it?” asked Miller. Mason confused asks just who that is as Clive explains.

“Daikov was a Russian spy who went to work with Miles Crews years ago.”

Mason with more confusion asks even more pressing questions.

“Wait! Why were the Russians after Miles?! And when do the irons come into the equation!?”

General Miller then takes the reins “You see Mason, Miles’s research was being funded by the Russians years ago, and after Miles had his needs fulfilled by the Russian dollar then he abandoned them. So in turn the Russians weaved their way into Miles’s employment line with Rem Daikov, who was hired to steal all of Miles’ life works including Weapons, Medical achievements, you, and finally project evolve as most call it though we aren’t sure what it was actually called.”

Mason feels anger toward this Daikov already for wanting to steal beloved scientific achievements from his friend. Making the Russian government seem like frauds. But he couldn’t deny the fact they were cheated by his friend.

“Daikov however was also to be tasked in not the simple murder of but assassination of a one Miles Crews. And after skimming the end of this notebook it would seem he succeeded!”

Miller then slamming the little red journal on the table. Mason has a quick spark.

“Then that means Miles is innocent!”

Wayne now jumping “Calm down Mason we don’t completely know that for sure yet okay? It is now possible it was the Russians, and or Daikov but this doesn’t change the fact that it was Miles’ research or the possibility of him still being the, or a direct link to the irons.”

Mason still holds on though. At least now it is possible that his friend Miles wasn’t a monster.

“Mason?” Mason looks up at Miller.

“You don’t know what year this battle began do you?”

Mason then shook his head no.

“The irons appeared thirty-one years ago.” Then Clive looked directly into Mason’s eyes.

“I was no more than one year old Mason.”

Mason then realizes that the threat of the irons were much newer than he originally thought. No wonder so many of these guys had screwed up parents like Rust did. It was all effecting them.

Clive then speaks again.

“Now Mason, you are going to take this journal, and take the poetic research notes of Miles and find out these things weaknesses, why Miles and or Daikov did what they did, and whatever else seems useful okay?”

Mason looks at the book. He then looks at Clive.

“I will do it, to prove my friend innocent!”

Clive then whispers toward Mason with the harsh tone as if a snake were talking to him.

“What if your friend isn’t innocent? What if guilty is the main course?”

Mason nervously responds “I will accept it then, as it is.”

Miller, Wayne, and Bellmore, as well as Clive stare at Mason.

“Then it is settled!” Says Clive.

As the men are leaving Clive asks Mason to see his new work place as well as place of rest by Clive but is interrupted by Miller. Miller asks to barrow Mason first. Mason hops in a car with Miller then heads to his house. Outside the H.Q. Wayne then began arguing with Clive.

“Clive! You put my men through a cheese grader with this op!”

“I lost a man too Wayne! I am not in the mood”

Unsatisfied with Clive’s words Wayne goes in with a punch and like usual is tossed over the shoulders of Clive with Clive declaring victory already.

“No more today Wayne, you will embarrass yourself, now I will be waiting near Miller’s place to retrieve Mason when he exits!”

Clive drives off toward Miller’s estate. After picking himself of the ground, Wayne then makes his way to a pay phone. Cell phones are only for the extremely wealthy and there is only one signal tower in all of Requiem. The person he then calls is Rust. “Hey Rust.” Rust on the other end begins talking but is overshadowed by the sound of playing children in the background. She then enters the bathroom of her home she shares with her brother.

“Wayne is that you? Why are you gasping so hard?” Wayne wipes the blood off his forehead.

“No reason. I talked to Clive today though.” Rust already knew that meant he fought with Clive.

“Why don’t you leave that shady guy’s team and you join my squad?” Rust rolled her eyes on the other end of the phone.

“That is the Forty-eighth time Wayne, remember that?”

“Oh come on Rust you have to join!”

“And that is the forty-ninth so one left! Don’t spoil my family meals with this call, are you done? We are having cheese-pizza night.”

“Where’s the peperoni?” Wayne asks.

“We can’t afford it Wayne I’m hanging up!”

Wayne now begging her not to hang up. “Maybe you can afford that peperoni after all.” Rust then sits atop the toilet seat.

“You didn’t have my attention but now you have my curiosity.”

“You got the promotion sergeant!”

Rust’s jaw drops as she raises her hands to the air in excitement. “How?!” Wayne clears his throat.

“Well my little Latina/Caucasian it would be your new friend Mason, who fought like the dickens to get you promoted while they were going to ignore your request.” Rust felt a warmth in her chest.

“Thanks for telling me Wayne. That was great news!”

After a few farewell’s they hang up on each other. Rust then exits the bathroom to her family, her brother and his wife, and her niece and nephew with the good news. She sits down with her hand to her chest. Back at Miller’s place Mason sits as Miller’s wife served them both tea on a balcony. The two of them sat and stared at the setting sun.

“This must have been a wild first day for you Mason. Showing up on the shores of our metaphorical island so called paradise by the rich!”

Mason along with Miller took a sip of the tea. “This is a nice brew your wife made sir.” Mason said to Miller as the old man agreed.

“On days that I wasn’t feeling depressed I would gloss over the idea of coffee, and get me a nice cup of tea before work.”

Mason looked into the clear tea then spoke.

“You see sir when I look into this cup it is so clear I see the bottom of the cup, but unlike water it has flavor.”

Mason takes another sip as Miller asks “What is your point Mason?”

“My point sir is back in my day when I was going through long spiraling days after the breakup of a girlfriend or the betrayal of a friend and my days weren’t clear they were a reflection of the coffee I drank which was bitter and unclear. But when I was rarely happy I drank, sweet, and clear as day tea. I guess what I’m saying is I hate being betrayed sir.”

Mason’s words had spoken to Miller who now sympathized with him.

“You know Mason I called you here to tell you that you could ask me for anything if you needed it, that you are welcome here at Requiem even if you don’t want to do the research. And now I know that we are a lot alike you and I. As a commander I fear that though there is an outwardly appearance of love for me that someone wants me dead.”

Mason jolts out of his chair.

“That isn’t true Sir! You are incredibly kind! There couldn’t possibly be any human alive that would wish that upon you!” Mason really admired, and respected Miller. He felt odd though, and was unsure as to why. Miller then laughs out loud.

“God bless you young-old man, God bless.” Mason then goes quiet

“Sir I don’t believe in God so please refrain from mentioning him sir.”

Mason says somewhat angrily. Miller then continues “Oh come now! Freedom of speech and all that all timey American hoopla, on another note here!” Miller slides Mason a cell phone. Mason picks it up.

“But I heard working cell phones were for the richest of rich sir!”

“Well Mason it is my gift to you, and it is an officers cell so while in the interior you won’t run out of service or anything like that, and here is the charger!”

Mason thanks him then shakes his hand.

“My number is already in there if you need to call, and I would offer you a ride but it looks like you have a little buddy down an out waiting for you.”

Mason then looks over the edge of Miller’s balcony to see Clive sitting down there, waiting next to the road. Down outside Mason meets up with Commander Clive. He then shakes Clive’s hand as Clive says.

“It is nice to meet you off the clock Mason.”

“Yeah Clive you’re right, it is nice. Maybe now we can discuss something other than my friend Miles possibly being the destroyer of humanity.”

“But Mason, it was a good talk because now it is only a possibility that Miles did it! Huh!?”

Mason nodded before walking off with Clive to his car. While driving Mason and Clive discuss Mason’s new living arrangement. They discussed that Mason will be living in district 2, which is surrounded by the quote on quote cage district which is devoid of sunlight and can be blocked off from the rest of the city in case an iron gets across the draw bridge, then there is district 3 which is most business owners who own businesses in district 2. And where most high ranking officers live is the center of Requiem, the capitol. A government run by the military.

“Mason there is a cheap and fun bar in the cage district that isn’t far from your new place. You want to get a drink first, become more acquainted?”

Mason thought back, and apart from when he drank with Rust, and Romeo in the Armored DB, he hadn’t really been out drinking. Even before he was froze it had been awhile since he went out drinking.

“Yeah Clive, I would like to get drinks as long as they are on you.”

“Of course Mason!”

At the bar it was dark with some 90’s rock’n’roll playing. Older music was sort of Mason’s thing anyway. Luckily it was also that bars thing, and the bar doubled as a restaurant.

“How is the atmosphere Mason?” asked Clive.

“Amazing!”

Dancing and then drinking beers Mason, and Clive were singing the lyrics to old rock songs. Then sitting at the Bar table they were simply chewing and spitting words talking. Shooting the shit basically.

“So why do you think Wayne hates your guts? I mean you aren’t that bad!” Mason exclaims as Clive pops back a shot.

“Well I may just have a little too much ambition for him to handle, too much drive!” Mason now taking a shot slurs back at him.

“Well that isn’t so bad! The drive to do something is the same thing me, and Miles had!”

“You know Mason I think we are going to be good friends!” Clive said.

Back at home Mason entered his new apartment in district 2. He looked at the inside décor and it was simply average compared to Miller’s house, but that was probably par for the course. He plops down on his couch then Miller pulls out of his back pocket the scientific notes of Miles, as well as Daikov’s journal.

He then begins reading the notes from Miles’ research and it was all poetry with almost nothing said directly, and clearly. He then reads Daikov’s journal without being able to focus on anything but the part where he shot Miles. He then scientifically concluded that he was too drunk to decipher anything right now. He then looked in his cell phone given to him by Miller. He was given by Clive, Rust’s number.

It was twelve at night and he figured she may still be up, so he called her. After the ringing stopped somebody finally answered. “Hello?” Mason quickly sat up to the noise of a woman’s voice.

“Rust?!”

“Um no this is her sister-in-law, I will get her.”

After waiting another second Rust now answers. Mason originally going to tell her that his friend could be innocent decided that it was a little too classified at this point to tell her. Plus she wouldn’t want to hear about him anyway.

“Hi Rust, it is me Mason.”

“Mason! You got your place?”

Mason looked around once again at the interior of his new place.

“Um yeah, I did.”

“Mason that is great, and Mason I thought about what you said some more and I am changing my name to Sylvia tomorrow.”

Mason now smiling congratulates her. But then Rust tries to rush out of the conversation.

“Well I have a big day tomorrow so I will talk to you later. And Mason, thank you.” She said.

“Yeah” Mason says.

Rust then hangs up. That was short lived Mason felt, and Mason didn’t know why she felt any gratitude toward him but still felt happy. His ass was really uncomfortable as he pulled from his back pocket, a 357.Magnum. The “Lady Killer”, he then tucks it off into a drawer somewhere. He smells his clothing then quivers. He realized he was still wearing the same plaid shirt, and jeans from the house in Columbus. He jumps into his first hot shower in a long, long while and boy does he feel it. It was soothing to the skin. He sits and appreciates the streams of steamy water sliding down his face. After dressing he walks outside, thinking some fresh air, then some sleep will help him analyze Miles’ notes more effectively.

“Man Miles, what happened to you? I mean, you can’t be responsible for this. Can you?” Mason pulls Daikov’s journal out of his pocket.

“This just doesn’t add up!” Mason says as he stands up, and walks out the door.

In a nearby restaurant a waitress serves Mason some tomato soup. Mason then tugs the waitress’s shirt “yes sir?”

“Do you have some mints?” The lady looks at him puzzled.

“You want mints with your tomato soup?” Mason glances away, then back.

“It helps with the thought process mam.” The waitress nods then walks away.

“Okay Daikov. You shoot Miles, but then if that is the case, why did the irons appear? You should have stopped them from being created.” Mason skims Miles’ notes again.

“I just can’t understand these right now.” Mason puts them away.

“Why isn’t the journal in Russian?” Mason then looks in his phone for Clive’s number he got while drinking with him earlier that night and looks at it a second before finally calling.

“Hello?”

Mason sits there a second before asking.

“Who is this?!” asked the man Mason called.

“Is this Commander Clive Crews?” on the other end Clive scratches his head.

“Yes it is. Now I’m sure you are a very cool person but I was drinking earlier and…”

“It’s Mason!” Clive face palms.

“Mason I wasn’t expecting a call from you yet.”

“Was Daikov’s original notes in Russian? Because it doesn’t make sense that a Russian agent would carry English notes.” Clive looks over at a small book on his dresser.

“Yeah I had an English copy forged by a good friend before you got here.”

“Can I have a look at the old copy too?” Clive sits up.

“You are already on to something aren’t you?!”

The Waitress from earlier hands Mason a mint, and Mason puts the mint in his mouth.

“Maybe. Just come by tomorrow and drop the book off okay?”

“Yeah, sure Mason.”

Mason hangs up then spits the mint out and eats his soup. The soup has a weird minty flavor due to the hard candy he just had but Mason eats anyway. Back home in bed Mason stares up at the ceiling.

“I hope I don’t make a habit of ceiling staring.”

Cage district’s real name is really district 1. The districts whole purpose is if irons are able to weasel their way into Requiem via the draw bridge then the first district will be sealed away. It has no sunlight and is one big cage for soldiers who remain to try and stop the threat but if they don’t then the irons will be stuck till the military takes action.

Mason was getting tired. With his eyes slowly waning shut. The next morning Mason woke up with the feeling of numbness. He didn’t want to get out of bed. He talked a lot with Clive the night before. Like how his money situation would work. Basically try to discover all he could about both Daikov’s, and Miles’ motives by looking for things to connect in Daikov’s journal with Miles’ nearly impossible to understand notes. Birds chirped outside amongst the morning air. To Mason it almost seemed as though there was no apocalypse, no irons. Though his only friend isn’t here.

He missed his friend. Mason’s stomach then turned, and Mason grabbed his stomach. Mason came down with a headache. Finally the room started spinning, and his eyes grew terribly blurry.

“Maybe you should forget about me Mason.” Miles said.

Mason looked over to see his friend Miles crouched next to him as he lay in bed. Mason knew it wasn’t real but it felt as though it was. The past few days Mason often whipped back to a vision of his long dead friend. In turn now was no different, except now it was Mason receiving good advice.

Three consistent knocks on the door popped Mason right out of bed. He opened the door to find Clive holding out the original Russian copy of Daikov’s journal.

“So how is this going to help?” Mason grabs the book from Clive’s hand.

“It isn’t yet but I feel I should keep all resources with me at all times.” Clive walks in.

“Doesn’t look like you’ve done much with the place.” Mason chuckles.

“I have only had the place for a night man.”

“I know. But if it were me I would already have a sick bachelor pad.”

Mason went to the sink to get Clive and him a glass of water.

“Pretty amazing place huh?” Mason said.

“I presume you could only be talking Requiem, because the statement I made about your house just now would have already debunked that.”

Mason hands Clive his glass of water “Thank you.” Said Clive as Mason then stretches his arms out.

“Yeah Requiem. I mean look at this place, running water, electricity, government, and defense from the outside world. It’s like the United States only stuffed in a one lucrative city!”

“Yeah Mason, maybe. I for one am not impressed. Instead of humanity fighting for their precious earth they decide to wall themselves off allowing all the people who were out there to be a buffer as they quickly constructed this city. Though it wasn’t so quick. It took ten years to construct the entirety of this city. Though the moat that surrounds and protects us took seven months to create I am told, doesn’t matter though. I was only a child. So no fond memories or anything like that.”

Mason takes a sip of his water. Clive gulping, finishing up his water he then looks at the empty glass.

“Miles probably looked at us and said we need to get up or go down Mason.” Mason broke his glass of water in his hands then grabbed Clive by the shirt with blood on his right hand.

“Don’t talk about him like you know anything!” Mason stares harshly into Clive’s eyes that were harshly staring back.

“He was my friend! And I alone will be the one to judge what his beliefs were and how he thought!” Clive then put his hands gently on Mason’s then pried them off his shirt. Clive along with Mason calmed.

“I’m sorry Mason.” Mason sat back in his chair.

“I am sorry too Clive.”

“Don’t be sorry. That fiercely driven motivation you have for your friend can be channeled into working to figure out all you can about him. That is why you are doing this job Mason, because I believe you are the best for it.” Clive looked out the window.

“I was just mad that the military, and the rich back then used everyone else as a buffer while constructing their little cities to hide in. but whether it is sooner or later one of us is going to have to get out. Be it irons, or humans!”

At that moment Mason knew it. Though they may not have been related but both Miles Crews, and Clive Crews had vision. It was refreshing for Mason to see someone he may understand a little better than the situation at hand.

“I think you are someone I can understand, and respect Clive.”

Mason puts his hand out to shake Clive’s. “If I work on deciphering those notes for anyone Clive it has to be you.” Clive smiles before shaking Mason’s hand.

“Well Mason, that’s great! I will leave you to it then.”

After Clive leaves Mason cleans up his mess then packs his own notes, and notebooks he has. He walks over to the same restaurant he was eating at last time. He then busts out Miles’s research notes. He opens it to the first page then reads it out loud.

“Sun sets to end or to start, new draft for the start, of new life.”

“That is beautiful poetry.” a waitress says.

“What does it mean?” she then asks.

“I wish I knew miss, I wish I knew.”

“You didn’t write it?” Mason then glanced at the menu.

“No I didn’t, and I will just have water please.”

“Sure, and I hope you figure out that poetry so you can tell me about it sometime.” The waitress said calmly, and flirtatiously.

Mason lifts his eyebrow “Yeah sure.”

Mason keeps turning the pages. He then puts the book down. “Miles, my friend what… why would you make something like this in the first place? This isn’t your usual shtick friend.”

“You often talk to yourself?”

Mason glances to his left only to find Rust standing in front of him. With two kids, one at each side.

“Rust, how are things?” Mason says somewhat excitedly.

“Well I am not Rust anymore, I’m Sylvia. And I brought my niece, and nephew out on a celebration dinner for my promotion. Nothing fancier than district 2 eaten.”

Mason scratches his head then closes up Daikov’s journal, and Miles’ research.

“Clive already have you working?”

“Yeah, I think I might start getting places soon. Starting out I may already be figuring something out.”

The waitress comes back with Mason’s water. “A family huh? Guess we won’t be going over poetry then, may I take your guy’s orders?”

“Emily what do you want?” Rust asks.

Emily hides her face mumbling out her order. “Mac&Cheese.” the flared little energetic boy then practically yells at his sister.

“We have that at home!” Sylvia grabs his elbow.

“Let her order what she wants.”

The boy upset flings his arms over his chest while jumping back in his chair with a frown. “And you Jack?” Jack then sat up excited.

“Sorry Auntie Rust…Sylvia I mean. But I am breaking the bank!”

“Okay kiddo, go ahead.”

“I want a steak, medium rare. Baked potato, with fries, and hash browns.”

Mason stared at this boy with amazement.

“I will have lasagna, fried chicken, and mashed potatoes.”

The waitress wrote that down. “Is that all?”

The energetic boy gives the fastest nod of approval this side of Requiem.

“And you mam?”

After the color in Sylvia’s face returned after witnessing Jack’s order she settled with just juice, she orders juice for the kid’s beverages as well.

“Well, Jack was it? That was a big order but the thing I witnessed were the potatoes, a lot of potatoes. Muy many potats”

Jack looks at Mason while rubbing his stomach to give off the thought that he in fact loves potatoes.

“Too bad it wasn’t your sister or else I would get to nickname her potato girl!” the group then stare at Mason with confusion. Mason chokes through the awkward. Then grunting Mason speaks again.

“To be fair, it was a reference way before your time.”

The food comes as the gang talks for a while. Which for Mason was a nice change of pace. He had been a workaholic in the past but for some reason or another didn’t feel like being that way now. Though he was coping well the fact is he has lost and no longer understands a friend. He has awaken in a world he doesn’t understand, on top of that hasn’t known anyone here for more than a week. He should be broken, but he perseveres.

As the kids eat and talk both Sylvia and Mason have much to discuss.

“So, how do you feel about Clive Mason?”

“How do I feel? Hmm, I feel he owes me a new glass though that probably isn’t true as well as him being a very idealistic, driven man. Which I like.”

Sylvia has a relieved look on her face.

“That’s good because I was thinking like some others you would look past his drive and find all the features you dislike like some have done.” Sylvia says then takes a drink of her juice with a relief being a pressing matter for her.

“But know this Mason, no matter if somebody likes, loves, or hates Clive. Everyone respects him.”

“Oh I know. He reminds me of Miles in all the good ways. That is why I am willing to not only respect, but also work for this man. All I have done in my years was be Miles’ wingman. Now I feel as though I can work again because I am still a wingman, just stitched to another… well man.” Sylvia stared at him strangely but with a certain anger to it.

Just looking at her Mason could tell that Sylvia was angry over the comparison between Miles, and Clive. That was her friend who in her eyes was being compared to the psycho that nearly eliminated the human race. Mason did not elaborate further but he knew the connection. They even had the same last name but weren’t related he thought, what odds.

Wayne sitting at home, examines his brother’s cold finger. He picks up a knife chucking it at a dart board, with the result being a bull’s-eye.

“The human race is worthy Clive, you are a living, breathing example of that.”

Wayne’s problem with Clive is deep, and dynamic. There are many personal gripes Wayne has with him. But the big, serious problem he has, is with the fact that Clive believes maybe humanity shouldn’t win. That they shouldn’t survive.

“There are a lot of examples actually.”

Wayne puts a cigar in his mouth, then lights it. Now looking at his brother’s finger.

“You always did light the way for me bro, it may be creepy but a lighter was certainly fitting. You’d probably laugh if you saw some of the reactions.”

Wayne looks over outside his district 2 home. He then began thinking of humans who fit the bill of being worthy. He thinks of Romeo, his brother, newly named Sylvia, General Miller, and even Mason to a degree. But what intrigued, and scared Wayne. Was he couldn’t include Clive, even though he was the example human as far as a soldier goes he just couldn’t. 

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