Story Fragments: Zeed and Jordan

[Zeed]

"We're finally at Bodjonglopang. Well, the forest part of it, at least", Tasyah announced to the group.

I got out of the RV and saw the scenery. It was beautiful.

"I have never been outside for so long. Is this how the sun has always been?"

Harold and Seiza joined me. Seiza answered, "You missed out a lot, you know. This is literally what I always see whenever I'm jogging."
Harold continued with a roast, "Has the caveman finally realized how nature works?"

I couldn't stop facing the sunrise. I didn't answer Harold. I simply enjoyed the scene. I heard Wiwin shout something.

"Guys! I will make us some mixed canned food. If you ever wanted something different, I saw BetaApril just up ahead."
Harold and Seiza answered in unison, "Thanks, Wiwin."
I also answered, "Yeah, sure, Win", even though I didn't know what she said.

Harold and Seiza walked out, and Tasyah walked in. She was now beside me. I still enjoyed the warm and pretty scenery from the sunrise.

Tasyah said, "You really are a caveman, huh?"
I wasn't paying attention. "Maybe."

She might have looked at me weird, but I didn't know if she was.

She said another sentence, "Hey! Stop staring at the sun, idiot! You'll get sick!"
I finally snapped out of it and looked at Tasyah. "Huh? Sick?"
"YES! Are you trying to get blind?"
"Oh, yeah, right. I wasn't watching the sun, though."
"The thing around it, right?"
"Yeah...?"
"It's still bad. Just don't stare at it!"

I stopped and looked down at the forest. It was an eerily quiet forest. It felt as though no animals lived there anymore.

I asked Tasyah, "You know about this?"
She understood and answered, "No. I only heard that animals tried to find shelter from us humans. I think you know why."
"World Dawn, huh?"
"Yeah."

World Dawn. I remembered that day.

The Hero, the first-ever hero of this world. He announced that he would be "helping" rule the planet— exterminating criminals, aiding the needy, and doing anything that he could for the world to find peace. For a year, he did what he promised. People were happy; no complaints, no critics— It was a massive success.

But then, more heroes came. Unlike The Hero, they were... different. The Hero was helping; they, the "heroes", were chasing fame. We weren't sure where they came from, but every day they kept coming and coming. All people in the world cheered; I, on the other hand, was getting suspicious. How did these "heroes" just appear and become heroes overnight?

Not only that, they used their power recklessly— they flew near the plane, ran near a speeding train, surfed close to a ship. They were showing off that they were superior to us humans with no power.

Until one day, a hero announced something so outrageous, I was baffled that people actually wanted to see it.

His name was Justice Saint— what a name, huh? He announced, "The world only needs one hero. The hero who survives... WILL RULE THE WORLD!"

The world became a war zone. Fights happened everywhere. A hero died; another one was born. It continued and felt like it never stopped. Bear in mind, humans, YES! The human, the one who didn't have power, liked this, like some kind of entertainment. They watched with a big smile.

WWE. You knew that show? Yeah, imagine that, but with power, and the arena is the Earth's open field. Rocks flew everywhere, buildings were used as their weapon, and animals died every second. It was horrifying— yet, somehow, people liked it!

The Hero, the first hero, had to step in. He wanted it to end, but instead of stopping, it became worse. It became a tradition, annually. The Hero couldn't stop it. The governors around the world approved it, and The Hero was left speechless. His ambition turned into... Fame-chasing award.

To this day, the World Dawn is still going. I survived the reckless behaviour of those heroes and kept going. I investigated; I researched. There was no way these "heroes'" business was just a coincidence. I needed to find the answer and stop it, no matter what.

Obviously, I couldn't just go and sue these higher-ups who let the hero roam freely like this. We already found the most fucked up evidence, but now, we need evidence about the massive operation behind it all if we want to win this battle.

"Zeed..." I was eating breakfast, and Jordan called.
"Huh? What?"
"I need... your advice."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Jordan]

I had a conversation with Zeed and others. I have decided to investigate that witch. Sure, I'm not a detective like Zeed, but I'm sure I can find an answer about these... Lab Rats things.

This could make not only the biggest evidence for our investigation, but also a massive lead to even more fuck up stuff. The witch has spoken, and I left the facility.

With her clues, I went into the wilderness. Without help beside me, I headed toward the east, the place where the witch told me.

I wasn't sure where this "clue" would lead me, but I had to... I have to find the answer.

"Uncle? Where are we going?"
"... Away from the facility."
"But that means my dad also? Have you talked about it with him?"
"Yeah. He and Tasyah agreed that you can go with me."
"The reason?"
"Tasyah said you need to practice your power, and your dad said you're already fifteen. He believes in you and me."

It was a surprise, even to me. Harold wanted Narmi, his only family, to go with me. That felt like a thoughtless decision, but it sounded like he had faith in his daughter. I respected him even more now.

"You said away from the facility, but where exactly are we going? Didn't you say in the past that you never traveled across Java?"

I am now. I'm stressed out, you know, Narmi? Don't make me even more stressed.

"I use the Map app, so don't worry."
"... It felt like a vacation."
"Huh?"
"Dad has never brought me anywhere, so this is the first time I feel... so excited."

... This might be why Harold trusted her to me. Shit! Did he unintentionally ask me to babysit her? Ugh! That bastard!

"How about you, Uncle?"
"Huh?"
"What are your feelings? Are you excited?"

...

"Maybe."