Deep below the Encampment was a sprawling series of tunnels and bunkers buried underneath reinforced concrete and steel, reinforced further with magick, resulting in a great fortification where its directors said that the complex “would survive a nuclear blast”. It was rumored to sustain a population of close to ten thousand for six months "comfortably". Like the Five Pillars, Primordial Zero was yet another architectural wonder in Ordo, where its size rivaled Darkrealm's Hold.
It was, by far, one of the most secure places on Earth, intended to withstand extended emergencies such as a prolonged outbreak on the surface. And wouldn’t you know, the city was being invaded by cosmic entities resulting in the worst outbreak to date.
The largest criticisms about Primordial Zero, that did not pertain to the architectural and security features of the colossal complex, was about its purpose: to protect and house important political officials, such as the President, celebrities, close relatives and loved ones of high-ranking Slayers, like Kosmos’s and Seraph’s daughter, and other elites around the city—not to mention anyone from outside the city-state’s borders, there was enough room to accommodate for them.
According to estimates, about three thousand Zeroes were living in Primordial Zero currently.
Understandingly, critics were concerned about elitism where you were guaranteed comfort and safety only through a high status in modern-day society; meanwhile, the common people would be at constant risk of death, plus starvation and disease. These differences would only increase as the days went on. In this hypothetical situation, it was the most blatant display of classism for the ultra-wealthy and all-powerful, protected with an army above as the peasants suffered.
Vernon thought people were being hyperbolic as always, but they were right.
They were completely right.
Stepping into Primordial Zero was like walking into his old life from a week prior: where the only stressors were only assignments and projects and essays. He’d procrastinate by texting his friends or go shooting at his family’s personal range. Everyday he had something delicious for dinner: high-quality beef imported across the sea, fish caught the morning of, anything Mom and Dad and Rose wanted.
Those sort of luxuries. Guaranteed by being family of a Royals Head Officer.
Vernon was paralyzed hearing soft jazz play through the speakers. He was blinded by the bright lights. His nose couldn’t comprehend the smell in the air. What was that? Smelled floral. Like actual flowers. Real flowers. Like the kind you’d see outside growing on the grass. Somehow, he found himself standing outside of a room. A pretty big one, about the size of his living room.
It was a lounge. On one corner he saw guys around his age playing a racing game on a flat-screen TV, playfully bumping shoulders into each other to cause a digital accident. Behind them relaxing on a round couch were their parents, probably. They were laughing. Drinking salt-rimmed cocktails with scores of delectable entrées that Vernon had been dreaming of since the beginning of the outbreak. Fresh sushi with grated wasabi—real wasabi and not just horseradish—tomahawk steaks with compound butter, whole roasted chickens, and he even saw a round man gouging himself on a thick double cheeseburger as juice dripped onto the melted cheese sticking to the white plate below.
At the bar (of course there was a bar!) he saw the same adults enjoying idle conversation. Expensive wines behind them. And from the opposite end was a small entourage of musicians to a small crowd. Vernon recognized each of their faces: celebrities. People you’d see on TV and online. Here, together, not even ten meters away from him. A few voices alerted him: influencers online, holding those selfie sticks and vlogging into a phone. Probably they brought their tickets here.
Vernon could not understand the emotions he was feeling.
“It’s just like last time,” Firebrand told him and Althea bitterly, but he was barely listening. “I’ve visited PZ a few times throughout the week. There’s paradise on almost every level. Besides the bottom. That’s for the politicians and their kind. So y’know, the people who’re actually updated on what’s goin’ on topside ‘cuz they kinda have to be.”
“Yeah,” Vernon absent-mindedly replied.
Althea asked, “So it’s like this almost everywhere?”
Vernon couldn’t see it but he was sure Firebrand nodded. “Yup. You should see the bathrooms. They got running hot water. It’s real fuckin’ crazy, isn’t it? Like I ran my hands through the sink once and I actually got excited. The same happened when I re-discovered hand soap. Things got real weird after I died.”
“Definitely…” A hand touched Vernon’s shoulder. Althea's. “Ari’s down below, right? We’ll find the Hugos ourselves. You shouldn’t make her wait.”
“I mean, it’s your first time n’all. I feel like as a good senior, I oughta take you there—”
“We can do it, thanks Firebrand.”
Firebrand sighed and he probably shrugged his shoulders. “Alright. Y’know to message me if ya need anything. Just uh… I know this is rich comin’ from me but don’t cause any trouble ‘cause I dunno how to fix it. You’ll be alright, right?”
“Yup.”
“Sure,” Vernon blankly responded, catatonic.
“Okay—oh, if I'm not available. Initiate's also here so text her. I’ll see ya when we leave.” Firebrand’s heavy footsteps could barely be heard amongst the jazz and pleasure of Primordial Zero. He left for the elevators which would take him to the residencies.
Althea took her hand off Vernon’s shoulder and had an aching sigh that contained just as many emotions as he felt in that moment. “I guess we should find your parents.”
“And Rose.”
Althea's face contorted in disgust. “Yeah, her too. C’mon, let’s go.”
It took an agonizing moment for Vernon to pump blood back into his legs but he managed to feel them again, stumbling behind Althea as she took the lead. He wiped away saliva caking his lips. His family were on this level somewhere. Sage had arranged him a visit and he brought along Althea.
He remembered what Alexander had told him before: "I'm sorry for not accompanying you myself but I'm too damn busy, but Mini-Me is enough. Keep your head high and stand tall, okay?" Was that even possible?
Vernon expected arguments. Expected a screaming match. But he didn't expect this: thrown back into the deep end of luxury as some rich kid, perfectly isolated from the outside world in its own little bubble as if this was some reality-altering demesne.
Some Zeroes in the halls gave him and Althea weird looks as they passed. Warranted, because they were the only two who hadn’t taken a shower in days. He ignored them. Instinctively he noted the environment, mentally marking the doors and exits, crafting a map inside his head. He imagined a battle here, contemplating where the good cover would be and where his [Five Ring Atlas] could fit.
He was broken out of his train of thoughts when someone called him by name. Thier voice wasn’t familiar at first but after the second and third time, slowly his brain began to match timbre to faces.
A young man about the same age as him, fancying a square head and dirty blonde hair and a slight stubble going on. He was wearing a clean graphic shirt of an old Slayer and spotless gray sweatpants. There was lemon-lime soda in his hands, dripping dew onto his fingers.
“Ezra?” Vernon hadn’t seen him personally since last week. Two weeks ago maybe.
Ezra had a warm grin but remained respectfully distant, having his open hand partly extended as though on guard. “Yeah, I didn’t think I’d catch you here but what the hell happened to you, dude? I’mma be honest, you look like absolute shit. And uh…” He waved over his nose. “Smell like it too.”
“I’ve been outside. Like…” Vernon pointed at the ceiling, “...out-outside.”
“No kidding. I’ve heard you stayed up there but I thought it was volunteer work. Y’know the mission trips we take to, like, Africa and Southeast Asia? Nigeria, Vietnam, places like that?” Vernon nodded. “Yeah, that. Like serving food, washing clothes, or whatever. You know what I mean. It can’t be that bad up there, right?”
Do these guys even know about the Dawn Baptists? Vernon’s lip twitched and he found himself looking at Althea.
Althea took over for him, “It’s peachy. If you go outta the Encampment and walk straight onto Kingsmarch, you’ll find a guy with half his body missing, kinda just laying on the sidewalk.”
“Wicked.” Ezra shot a gesture with his fingers. Sarcasm wasn't a thing he knew. He was that oblivious. Was I like that, back then? Suddenly the boy’s eyes grew as he noticed Althea. “Oh shit, I didn’t even notice you, Althea.”
She blinked a few times trying to recognize him.
“You met me before, remember? At Vernon’s place…? I’m the son of one of his dad’s associates.”
“Can’t say I do. I've met enough rich kids that their faces blend together.”
Ezra gave Vernon a strange expression before looking back at Althea. “I haven’t forgotten about you, though. Your birthday just passed, right? You’re eighteen? Must be pretty wild to celebrate it in an outbreak. Makes it exciting.”
“My brother celebrated his the same way. It’s family tradition now.” Her eyes were cutting. “Why you ask?”
He shrugged. “I dunno if you’re staying or visiting but maybe I can show you ‘round. There’s lots of good places to eat, to relax, watch a couple movies or play video games, it’s like living in a five star hotel. It’s a vacation. Oh, I even know a few influencers online, they'd be stoked to talk to—!"
A vein popped in her forehead. “Not interested.”
“C’mon—”
“Not. Interested.”
“Sheesh, alright. Just wanna to be nice s’all.” Ezra sighed and drank the rest of his soda like it was a bottle. He turned to say something to Vernon but stopped, eyes falling, staring at his waist or legs or something.
Vernon was about to ask until Ezra said “What’s this?” and reached for Vernon’s holstered [Energy Pistol] at his hip.
A heart attack nearly killed Vernon. Reflexively—having all those muscles automatically moving as though second nature—he physically pushed Ezra back with one hand while keeping one guarding his firearm. “The fuck’s wrong with you?!” he barked, feeling sweat drip down his head.
Ezra went stone silent like Vernon had never raised his voice before. Hell, that was probably right. Vernon couldn’t remember the last time he spoke above normal. His friend had his hands raised and was confused and trembling slightly.
He asked, “What’s the deal—?”
“You don’t do that, dude!”
“Look, I don’t know why you’re yelling at me. I thought we were cool! You used to let me hold your guns before!”
“That’s ‘cause we weren’t in a freakin' outbreak!”
“So what? I thought you were cosplaying or something, hell if I know. You’re taking this too seriously—”
“I—!” Vernon bit the inside of his tongue to the point where it hurt. He allowed himself to breath. His muscles relaxed. His eyes stopped darting around the hallways as if a monster would pop out. “I’m just here to visit family. You’ve seen ‘em anywhere?”
“Y-Yeah, like…” Ezra pointed down the hall. “Third room on your right—”
“Thanks. See you later,” Vernon rushed, wasting not a second longer on Ezra, keeping his hand over his [Energy Pistol] just in case. He kept it that way from now on.
Althea quickly followed behind, glowering. “Man, why do you keep making friends with clueless assholes?”
“I dunno, I guess I attract that sort of people. Whatever, I just…” Vernon shook his head. He was so unbelievably frustrated that he couldn't scream. Frustrated at himself, at the shit going on inside Primordial Zero, at the shit going on outside. “I just don’t care anymore.”
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He wanted to get this visit done and over with so he could go back to work.
The third room on their right was exactly like the lounge Vernon had observed earlier. In fact it had the same layout. It took little time for him to spot familiar faces: a middle-aged brunette and a middle-aged man with the same silver hair as his. And finally another woman in her late twenties, pink hair and a short ponytail, wearing round-rimmed glasses.
Drinking together at the bar.
“Try not to get pissed off,” Althea told him.
“Why are you telling me that?” Vernon cocked her a look. “Isn’t this supposed to be the other way ‘round? 'Hey Althea, don't rip Rose's head off. Hey Althea, stop kicking my friends in the balls'.”
“That was one time and that's 'cause he called slapped my ass," she huffed.
"I know, I know." She kicked him, I kicked him out. I don't talk to that asshat anymore. "But y'get what I mean: I'm not mad. I'm not that angry, really! I'll be fine. I can take whatever they throw at me, I swear."
“Yeah yeah, whatever. Either way it’s not like we can leave without Firebrand or Initiate. After you, hotshot.” She motioned him to enter the lounge first.
“Here we go…” an uncertain mutter scrambled from him. Once again he took a breath to calm himself down, then he stepped inside the roaring recreational room, entering a familiar state of extravagance and opulence. Smelling the freshly-cooked meals around him caused his stomach to growl ferociously and made it nauseous at the same time, bringing him back to the present. He bit his tongue to forget the taste of comfort.
He pulled his dirty [Ranger’s Coat] around him for a better fit. He’d gotten nose-blind to his own sweat and grime. He was the closest representation of the outside world to the Zeroes. Their illusion of an indestructible peace would be shattered once they emerge from their holes and see what became of their homes.
So what do Mom and Dad think about what’s going on? How their sons are fighting the good fight upstairs? I don’t wanna know.
It had taken a few seconds for the Hugos to realize that Vernon was standing behind them. Rose was the first one to notice and she almost tipped her glass over on her lap, then Mom and Dad clamored afterwards in a second of sudden chaos. Words were so quickly exchanged that Vernon couldn’t catch a full sentence but he did his best to respond. “I’m fine!” and “Yeah, it’s me!” and there was a lot of hugging and smiles and laughing, with Dad saying something about someone else.
Even Althea wasn’t immune to the joyous reunion, getting roped into the hugs.
When the initial excitement subsided, Vernon finally had a moment to re-observe his surroundings and checked that nothing changed. His eyes wandered to the bar counter and saw half-drunken glasses. “You’ve been drinking, Dad?” he asked, biting his lip.
Dad profusely shook his head multiple times and grabbed his glass, shook it around so he could show Vernon the bubbles. “No no no, it’s just club soda.” Then drank the rest of it, slid it towards the bartender who was listening silently. “I—well, let’s find a place to sit and talk. Let’s not stand around.”
“Let’s go over there,” Rose said, grabbing her drink between her thin, manicured fingers and leading everyone to the western wall with a couple of empty tables. Everyone took a seat, with Vernon and Althea sitting together on one side.
“Have you eaten?” Mom asked, concerned. Coincidentally a waiter happened to walk by. “Sir, sir—!”
“Mom, it’s fine. I’m not that hungry.” I don’t think I can honestly eat anything here. Not after having so many MREs and energy gels the past few days.
“I don’t care, you should eat anyway. You too, Althea. You need—”
Althea was adamant too: “I’m fine too, ma’am—”
“Nonsense, I—!” Mom saw the stubborn expressions on both of their faces and sighed before turning to the waiter. “Please get us an appetizer sampler and two waters.”
The waiter nodded, quickly fetched two dripping foot-long water bottles from a nearby fridge and went to take additional orders elsewhere. Vernon didn’t spot the fridge. Clear glass door. Filled top-to-bottom with cold drinks. Expensive waters, exotic sodas and juices, and whatever else they got. There was as much variety as a convenience store or an Asian vending machine. It's completely full. They restock these regularly. How much do they have in stock?
“Do you want something from there?” Mom asked having noticed his staring.
Vernon shook his head and tore his eyes away. “No.” Are there any shortages here that I don't know about? Or is it straight paradise from administration to service work?
“God…” Dad muttered to himself, rubbing and scratching at his lips, licking them. “You have no idea how worried we were. No freaking idea. Not one clue. It doesn’t help that you and your brother barely called us We don’t know what you’ve been doing all this time.” I guess Mark didn’t say anything about what I’ve been doing despite his differences. “It’s a nightmare knowing that both of my idiot sons are outside—!”
“Your father has been very cranky since this little thing started,” Mom interrupted him, placing a hand over his. “We can survive being nervous so you and Mark can help Ordo. We’re doing our part.” I guess your fight involved eating meals from five-star chefs and taking hot showers and trips to the spa?
Rose huffed and drank the rest of her vibrant glass, setting it on the table before her. “I can’t believe it’s lasting this long. I thought it’d be over a couple days ago.”
“We all thought it’d be over within a few days,” Dad added after her. “Right up until Archknell got himself killed. How does that even happen anyway?” He was fighting a Comet. Two of ‘em. I was there with OU’s Systemic Works. “But regardless, it’s awful but we can still come out perfectly fine. Do you know what really scared me though? That bomb.”
The women hummed and nodded and shivered.
Althea cocked her head up. “An OBD? All the way out here?”
Mom commented on that matter, “Whatever that is, mhm! One went off on the surface. I have friends who were directly underneath when it happened and even they felt it. But thank God. The people-in-charge told us it wasn’t a common occurrence and we’ll still be safe.”
“Must be the stray OBD that Firebrand told us about,” Vernon whispered to her and she hummed. He framed his hands on the table, wrapping his knuckles against the wires. “Anyway uhm, there’s uh, there’s a lot of food here, don’t you think?”
“You don’t need to act coy about it,” Dad lightly reprimanded him. “If you want something, just ask—”
“No no, I was just wondering. I haven’t seen so much food in one place before. I mean, not since before, y’know, the outbreak.” The smell is driving me crazy to the point where I feel sick.
“I don’t think that’s weird. Do you?” Mom looked between Rose and Dad who seemed to have the same opinion. “No, see? It can’t be that strange. We might be eating good down here but it shouldn’t be so different from what’s going on upstairs. We aren’t treated that differently at all, really. We have smart people guiding us. Really smart people who know how to handle this.”
Rose jumped in, “I’ve actually spoken to some of the people who’d been in charge of logistics and things like that. They’ve been really enlightening about what’s going on behind the scenes.”
“You have,” Althea said in a somewhat mocking tone.
Rose chose to ignore it. “Mhm, they say that we have more food in this city than some countries. So even if this outbreak lasts for a month, we’ll probably be okay. It’s just annoying to deal with, especially with these ‘Sungrazers’.”
“Wait, hold on—”
Althea interrupted Vernon, “It’s not that simple—”
“Of course it’s not, nothing in life is ‘that simple’ but we have some of the most developed infrastructure and defense systems in the world—“ (“Rose—“ Vernon said but she kept talking,) “—I’ve read so many books and articles about its complexities. Especially about Prim-Zero; we have everything we need to last during an outbreak and frankly, if you want to know my real opinion…” Rose glanced at her in-laws. “We’re giving these high-rankers too much credit. I love Mark but if they can’t figure out how to put these animals back in their cages, then clearly they aren’t cut out for this. What happened to Archknell is a shame but I expected better from an SS-Rank, a Guild Master. Can you imagine Kosmos dying anytime soon? Of course not, because he fled the city. First thing he did, tch. Things never seems to add up with him.”
”You…” Vernon’s hands slid off the table and he roughly gripped his pants, knuckles white, hearing Archknell’s voice in his head. “You really don’t understand what’s happening—”
“I’ve spoken to a lot of people, Vernon. Important people who have experience, and they’re all saying the same thing—”
“You think this is a normal outbreak—”
“I know what an outbreak looks like. I’ve spent hundreds of hours researching about Hangzhou and written multiple papers on it.”
Althea chimed in, “You got me beat. You clearly know better than I do.”
“I don’t need your immature sarcasm right now, Althea. You and your brother have a very limited view of—!”
“‘Very limited’? Yeah, just only spent weeks in that shithole—“
“Hey, hey!” Dad raised his voice, silencing everyone at the table, hiding his irritation through volume. “Let’s not argue, okay? We—Oh look!”
The same waiter from before placed the appetizer sampler on the table, and Dad thanked him. The sampler had mozzarella cheese sticks, chicken strips, onion rings, baked potato halves, sliders, and a healthy dosage of oven-crisp fries with grated cheese on top.
Vernon wanted to puke from the smell. Sick of it. Sick at the thought of being here.
“Let’s eat. Let’s just sit around and eat, okay? Okay! C’mon, we have a pantry to ourselves.” Dad was the first one to dig in, plucking a mozzarella stick and dipping it into the marinara sauce.
Mom and Rose enjoyed themselves, dining like queens.
Except for the two outsiders, who sat back and didn’t enjoy freshly-cooked food nor the cold water bottles a few inches from them.
Althea whispered to him with vile, “This was a fuckin’ mistake. They don’t fucking know anything.”
He couldn’t disagree. The anger he was feeling was indescribable.
“Aren’t you two eating?” Mom asked.
Vernon’s teeth rattled and he bit, “I’m not hungry.”
“I’m not joking with you, Vernon. We’re not doing this right now.” Dad leaned against the table scowling, having no love for the tone in his son’s voice. “I don’t know why you’re growling at this but you need to be more considerate of your mother’s feelings and Rose’s—”
“Then Rose should apologize for everything she said—”
“I’m not apologizing for being right—”
“You have no fucking idea what’s comin’ outta your mouth right now—!” (“Vernon!”) “—it’s always all about books and papers and research with you! You’re half as smart as you think you are—!”
“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Dad suddenly lurched over the table and grabbed his hand, knocking the unopened water bottles off the table and they bounced off the clean, clean floor. “You don’t talk to your sister-in-law like that!”
Mom stammered out names and had to push her husband back, shaking her head anything. “Please, don’t fight! Vernon, I don’t know what got you so worked up but you need to apologize. You’re causing a scene—”
Vernon sputtered a strange noise, standing up, and said, “I’ve been actually up there, y’know! I’ve been fighting—!”
“Stop being so damn dramatic!” Suddenly Dad was in his face, tightly gripping his wrists but Vernon was a Pseudo now. He could easily break free. “Did you want more attention?! Is that why you decided to stay out there and dress-up and play hero, is that it?! Are you that jealous and ungrateful of your brother?!
Why should I thank Mark for wanting to stuff me in Prim-Zero since the beginning? “Let go of me.” Vernon snapped his hands away, freeing them from his father’s hold. “You don’t—!”
“You have no idea how much we worry about you! How much I worry about you! I’ve built a company from the ground-up and kept our family together. But my boy doesn’t know how to use an oven or how to change channels and he gets taken advantage of because he has no clue about how the outside world works! Both of my sons are idiots but at least one of them isn’t hopeless! You can’t do anything yourself but I’ve never raised you to come in here and disrespect our Slayers by lying about fighting—!”
“I’m not lying.” Vernon was so furious that he couldn’t even yell anymore. “I’ve been with Althea and Alex—”
“Are all of you pretending to be Slayers now?” the words hissed from Dad’s mouth. “Dressing up as fakes—?”
“Don’t insult them,” growled Vernon. “You can call me ‘stupid’ as many times as you want but don’t insult them.”
“Don’t be fucking silly,” and Dad growled right back. “Take off that costume and get a brain—”
“Shut up, just shut up.” No one here knows anything. Vernon knew it was no use arguing with his family. It’d always been like this: anything he said would be ignored. Interrupted. Misconstrued. And he’ll have to sit there and listen to their nonsense just like all the other times.
“I’m done,” he said. “I’m done. Let’s go, Althea.”
“Right behind you,” she answered gleefully.
Vernon passed Dad, bumped into his shoulder doing so, and continued to the exit without looking back. Along the way he found Ezra at the doorway, eavesdropping on the conversation and for a brief moment their eyes met. Whatever look he had, Ezra’s skin immediately turned pale and looked away, allowing the Baptists to come through peacefully.
They were the eyes of the party now but they didn’t care.
Vernon looked in both directions before heading to the elevators.
“Where are we going?” Althea asked him.
“I dunno, I thought we could meet Ari ‘til we hafta leave.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll text Firebrand.”
“Y’know,” he said after some thought, “you could’ve said something. Stepped in. I dunno.”
“I didn’t wanna. It was your time.” He felt a frown coming from her. “You feel any better?”
There was still that pulsing anger beating inside him. “No. I hope Catalyst comes back with answers. We need ‘em.”