“The land of dreams, nightmares and the void in between…..”
**********
The deceleration was smooth and comfortable. Floating in the clouds would perhaps be less comforting. As the Velican hovered over the giant behemoth of an island, the two inhabitants peered onto the engineering marvel.
Kazel City. A name that turned heads throughout the world. Two decades ago, a submerged island near the Japanese mainland resurfaced. The unbound potential that it contained was not unseen by the world. The Japanese Government mobilized all its resources and started working on making it habitable once again.
The major nations throughout the world pitched in with investments and resources to forward their self interests and a grand project to create one of the most advanced technological marvels known to mankind started in earnest.
In the current age, it is known as the most advanced semi-autonomous city-state known to humankind. The rest of the world might just still be in the proverbial stone age compared to Kazel city. Technological revolutions, ground-breaking research and limitless growth; all of these terms were synonymous with Kazel City.
Artificial Nuclear Fusion powered thrusters made sure that Kazel City could float and move around if required. The same idea had been used to develop the experimental Velicans. The latest buzz around Kazel had been about its space exploration programme.
----
“It is more than I had imagined! Would you look at that beauty? Marvelous!!” Melvin whistled.
“ I agree.” Kai replied.
Melvin blinked and looked at Kai. “What? Are you growing soft? No remarks or jabs?” he smirked.
“I would prefer that Mr.Havencort. I really would. But, out of respect for your ….. literary talents… I shall refrain. For now” Kai yapped.
“Pfftt…!” Melvin chuckled.
A sharp stare and a furrowed brow from Kai may have been somewhat effective in minimizing the grin but Melvin could not help but smile inwardly.
“He’s not a bad chap. I mean he saved me so I knew that already….” Melvin wondered.
“What did I do to get stuck with this person?” Kai sighed inwardly.
The descent of the vehicle was nearing completion.
“Initiating docking protocol : Krienz Bay 141, Hangar 4” Zymandis the AI said in a mechanical tone.
******************
--In London
The sign read “ARZELION BOOK HOUSE”. The damage to the area was significant. Gang skirmishes are fairly common but this was unexpectedly bad.
“I am not surprised. Given who they were up against, it is a miracle that these fools lived to see another day” the man in the cloak wondered.
He knew the habits of his prey well. Too well.
The signs were absolute. “So it is you, huh…..”
He walked up to one of the mafia goons who was being treated inside the book house.
“That looks rough….. Tough battle?”
“Who are you, stranger? This does not concern you. You are not part of the medical team” the mobster replied.
The hooded man smiled.
-----“You will tell me what you saw”------- he whispered in the air.
The gangster entered into a trance. “Melvin Havencort. The mysterious stranger with him. Smoke. Confusion. They escaped. Must capture the bounty…..”
------“You will forget what happened just now” -------
“Excuse me! Medic! This man seems to have fainted. Get help!” the hooded man shouted.
A team of medical professionals came rushing.
“Move it! Go!”
“Thank you for the call but who are you?” one of the nurses asked.
But, there was no one. The hooded figure was gone.
“Huh” Where did he go?”
The nurse was confused. The robed stranger was gone with the wind and only a chilly uneasiness remained.
*****************
Kai and Melvin exited the Velican and walked down the aisle. The area looked busy with busy workers running around and working on several vehicles. T
They exited the docking bay and started towards a large sign that read “Welcome to Kazel City”.
“Thanks a bunch for bringing me here with my head attached to my shoulders, chief” Melvin said.
“You are welcome…” Kai replied.
“So, you are a big shot huh! The flight, the attitude and the hat… It smells like authority chief!” Melvin cooed.
“ I am looking for a certain…. location out here. Mind helping me out again?”
Kai glanced at the person from whom the voice emanated. He was sure that Melvin was not harmful but he did not want to get involved in his personal business any further.
“ I am afraid I have to pass on your tempting offer, Mr. Havencort. I wish you all the best in your journey. I can give you a rundown on the general structure of the city.” Kai replied in a somber voice.
“Spoilsport…..” Melvin sighed with a mischievous grin.
“ I should spoil your face with my fist right now…” Kai thought to himself.
After giving him a general rundown, Kai shook hands with Melvin and parted ways with the author with the words “ Your writing. It is good.” while walking away.
Melvin smiled.
The two parted ways on an even term. Each of them had their destinations and goals in Kazel.
===== Kai’s POV =====
He was exhausted. His body felt alive but his mind had already sunken into the depths of the ever present nothingness. He wanted to get back to his establishment as soon as he could.
His mind wandered back to Melvin. The air around the man was different. Bright even. Kai felt at ease around him and he did not like that.
“I have not forgotten the past. Getting close to someone like that is a recipe for disaster.” he thought.
The sounds and smells of this particular section of the city have an allure that tame the raging storms that embrace Creation itself.
Light was seeping in through the gaps between leaves and the moist smell of the well maintained plants was adding depths to the character of that very moment of existence.
The market district. The jovial heart of the city. It was perhaps not as chic and electronic as the rest of the city but nobody complained. This is what kept Kazellans alive!
Boasting uncountable wares, stores and assortments of flora and fauna, this place was always meant to capture the wayward hearts of weary souls.
Tourists flocked the area and took in the various sights and smells in this aesthetic sub-domain of Kazel.
Business owners found it profitable to open hospitality businesses here.
Kai gave a wry smile and walked towards a building that he had been waiting to return to.
He stood in front of a large diner-cum-office. The welcoming aristocratic feeling that the building gave off had grown on him.
The building was several floors tall and reminiscent of a large European Mansion that had been given a somewhat modern makeover.
It was red in colour and was built to attract customers, be it hungry diners or people with hunger for consultations!
A large sign over the glorious entrance read “Sensei Consultancy Services”.
Kai lingered his gaze upon the sign for a few more moments and went round the side.
He took out his private keys and entered through the section that led directly to the area that connected his office with the lounge.
Putting the key in, he pushed open the door.
A flurry of activity greeted him. People were in a rush and electronic devices were being worked upon by (somewhat) diligent looking youths. The lounge was accessed only by important members and certain clients who needed special services. But, everyone seemed happy. They were smiling.
“I’m finally home….” Kai thought!
“Hey Sensei! You’re back eh! Took you long enough! The old man take too much of your time eh!” a jovial fellow around Kai’s age said.
He was wearing a cream-coloured shirt with brown chinos and black boots with socks. A camel overcoat was loosely placed over his body and a cream-coloured scarf. He had deep and brown eyes and a voice that carried an explorative exuberance. The auburn hair and the stubble added to the atmosphere that seemed to stem from his own being. Yes, Sans Senosuke had his own presence.
“Hey Senpai. How have things been on this end? All well? Was there any new ruckus while I was gone?” Kai replied with a short smile.
“Everything is fit and fine man! I have been in charge you know. We are all happy!” Senpai replied.
“That is exactly what I am worried about but, okay…..”
“Let’s take the talks to your office, alright? We have a lot to catch up on and discuss and I am sure the privacy would help a lot, eh!” Senpai said.
The two of them walked further through the lounge and into a room that read
“Sensei’s Office”
Kai unlocked the door and went on.
----* Two employees outside *----
“Did you see that boss? Sensei and Senpai are so cool! This is my first time seeing Sensei?!” a new intern quipped happily.
“Hahaha! Calm down pup! I get it. I’ve been working for this organization since its inception. It is true. They are exceptional.” Replied the old head secretary, Mr. Saburo.
Saburo Tejima was one of the oldest members of the SCS. He managed the consultancy side of the business as well as the restaurant business.
He was perhaps in his sixties. He was wearing a white shirt with a black vest and formal black pants. He had an antique pocket watch and a monocle that gave him the unofficial title of the “Butler”. He liked it though.
The Café/Diner side of the business was thriving in its own right. It was an old Victorian-style restaurant that sold everything from snacks to lunch and it was one of the most popular attractions in Kazel. With an excellent staff, amazing food and unforgettable memories, Cat-A-Blue Café was etched into the hearts of Kazellans and others.
“Wait! Really?! Tell me more!”
“Sometime soon Wilbur! Sometime soon….”
----- Inside the office -----
“So, any new business that requires urgent notice or are they the usual ones?” Kai asked.
“I was about to get to that. We have a platinum request again. The client had one of those coins…. Here, let me give you the request memo. It is a handwritten letter. No digital signature this time.” Senosuke said and passed over the letter.
Kai started reading the letter and his eyes were agape. He hurriedly got up.
“Senpai, come with me.” he said.
“Wait just a moment man…. What do you mean?” Senosuke said.
“There’s no time to explain! Let’s go. Now!!”
The two hurriedly rushed out to a site of utmost importance.
===Melvin’s POV===
Kazel city was more than what he had expected. He had seen the different sectors of the island and every area seemed like a different country. He understood what the hype was about. But, he had no time to think about that. He had a very important job to do.
He knew where he had to go.
Kazel did not follow a system of ordinary cabs. Flying vehicles were the norms here. And unlike the market district, every other location was a technological hub.
Most buildings were techno-skyscrapers that flourished with a neon-light setup. Flying cabs flew around everywhere and electronic whirring was a common background noise. Everyone was so used to it that nobody particularly noticed it anymore. Robotic guards and electronic devices were moving around.
Nature and technology had a perfect synergy here and the people were used to the cyber-mechano environment.
“Would you look at that!” Melvin whistled.
This was the Commons district. The region where the ordinary and somewhat wealthy residents lived.
But, this is not where he needed to be.
Every utopia has a dark spot. Kazel was no exception.
He was headed to the downtown district. Also known as the junkyard of Kazel. At its best, it was a little more than the collection ground of the electrical wires and electronic retrofittings that kept the entirety of Kazel afloat. But, that was not all. It was the unofficial slum district of Kazel. Stowaways, vagrants, criminals and gangs. This place had all the beauty it needed.
Melvin decided to hit the slums in the evening. He went ahead and finished up an important thing that he needed to take care of in the market district and then bought some clothes that would help him blend in with the underworld crowd.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
A blue t-shirt, a yellow jacket with a hoodie, a flashy belt and running shoes.
“I think I am falling for myself, hmmmm!!” Melvin thought out loud.
Evening came quicker than he had thought as he made his way to the slum district.
It was not a pretty sight.
A wrong turn meant death and Melvin knew that.
The Neon lights had coated the area in a purple hue and the red tint in the skies crackled with an ominous anticipation.
Melvin put up his hood and walked into the area.
Ruffians and wannabe thugs were moving amok; drinking, betting and planning. Like they always do.
He walked into an alleyway and moved past a few electronic boxes.
He saw a bunch of thugs walking playing cards near an electronic junkyard. He approached them. They all had a tattoo with the design of a bleeding magnolia flower.
“Hey amigos! Mind putting me up for a round? Night’s crazy and some cash would up my game” he said convincingly.
The spiky haired punk that seemed to be the leader of the bunch looked up.
“Ain’t seen you round ‘er punk….. New to town eh…” he said with a menacing grin.
“Right mate! Came ‘ere for the fun!” Melvin replied, matching the atmosphere.
“Come to the right place you ‘ave…. Smart fellow…. You play yer round with me. ” the punk replied.
The cards were dealt and the rules were verified.
One of the thugs yelled “Begin”.
The game was simple. It was a kind of electronic poker that was played using a neural interface that every person on Kazel was supposed to wear. The neural interface based implants were newly made and they were placed on everyone upon arrival. They were completely private and connected to the Kazel interntet network only when access was granted. All cyber transactions could be made mentally using this interface.
Melvin won three round consecutively and started conversing with the punk leader.
“So mate, can ye give me a little of the talks around town? Help a lad in need eh…”
“What yer wanna know smart guy?” the punk quipped.
“How about telling me where I can find the leaders of the Rinzen gang mate….” Melvin said in a collected manner.
The demeanor in the area changed as if the air was snuffed out of the surroundings. Every single thug started looking at Melvin with very serious expressions.
“What yer want? Talk to us. The bosses are not to be bothered unless the matter is important. I am Ratchet. The captain of the squads.” the pack leader said.
Melvin took out a small digital box from his pocket and gave it to the leader. “ Does this interest you boss?”
Ratchet’s eyes grew wide as he looked at the box.
“So, yer the client the bosses were talking about eh smart guy! Shudda said earlier” Ratchet quipped. “Follow me then. The bosses are waiting for you”.
Melvin followed the gang members. The passed through several interconnected metallic and electrical rubbles and went further below in downtown.
He could hear the machineries all the way up to uptown and he glanced up to see how far up the technological rubble he could make out.
They reached a secluded spot with the Rinzen gang marking.
“Ayyy boss…. The Golden Goose is ‘ere”
Upon hearing those words, there was a flurry of activity.
Two giant men in highly advanced exoskeletons came out in view.
One of them spoke.
“So, you are here to deliver us our key to financial stardom eh…. I am Targuss and my associate here is LevZuss. We are the founder of Rinzen.” he said in a booming voice.
“Bingo…..” Melvin wondered.
Kazel had the tightest prison district in the world. Said to be notoriously difficult to even scratch, KazDown is known to send fear down the spines of even the most seasoned criminals in existence.
There exists a loosely held group of seven individuals who had escaped from KazDown and added their names to the list of some of the most terrifying legends. They are known as “The Seven Horsemen of Doom”. They had escaped with high-tech equipments and supplies.
Targuss and LevZuss were two of the seven criminals. Melvin knew that of course.
Kazel had developed exoskeletons that enhanced the physical capabilities to the level of the mutants that existed in the world. The world came to know it as the Busoku Exoskeleton project. The Seven Horsemen had escaped with seven highly dangerous variants of Busoku gears.
“I have brought you what you want…. Now, tell me where she is and we can part ways.” Melvin said.
“Oh…. She is alright. You will meet her soon. But, we must have the box first. Hand it over and the location is yours.”
Melvin thought hard about it. But, he had no choice. He had to give the box up if he wished to find her.
“Alright”. Melvin took out another cyber-box and handed it over to Targuss.
“My end of the deal is done. I stole the box from The Lodonis English mafia and brought it to you. Now, tell me where she is.” Melvin said with palpitations in his heart.
LevZuss spoke up this time. “ I am afraid we cannot do that…. Mutant Melvin Havencort”
The entire gang surrounded the writer.
“What is the meaning of this?” Melvin screamed.
“You add more worth to our pockets if we sell you to some lab. Be a good beast and come here…” Targuss laughed.
“This is how it is huh…. If you want a scrap, you will get a scrap. You all will pay!!!” Melvin raged.
“Tough words runt…. Get em boys….”
Each and every thug in the vicinity made a beehive for Melvin’s head.
Being a mutant had its perks. Melvin was physically superior to almost all ordinary humans combined and he had unique abilities. He could use smokescreen, super-speed and mutant detection. He was strong.
He bobbed and weaved through the almost endless crowds of thugs as he fought on. He punched and kicked.
They used batons and guns and Melvin had to jump around throughout the area and take them out one by one.
“Yer pitty good smart guy…. Too bad though… I am a mutant too”. Ratchet came out of the crowd.
“Oh yeah…. Let’s see what you have got Mohawk” Melvin replied cheekily.
Ratchet hardened up his skin. He could make his skin impenetrable to even missiles. It was his mutant ability.
Melvin was unimpressed. He sped up to him and punched him with an uppercut right on the jaw. Ratchet flew a distance up and fell a few steps backwards. He had reverted back to human form and he was bleeding profusely.
“So, the rumors are true. You truly are an Omega level mutant. The highest class. No wonder even Ratchet, an alpha class mutant got knocked out. It does not matter. THIS ENDS NOW!!” Targuss growled. “LevZuss. WE.ARE.ON”.
They activated their Busoku gears.
Targuss suited up into an imposing rocky armor with a hammer. Black chunks were attached to the armor and a stone-like helm with an internal heads up display flared up. He had a big hammer in his gear-set.
LevZuss suited up into a giant metallic armor with a muscular build. The helm had electro-metallic appendages and an electrical field covered him.
Each and every stat showed up on the Busoku gears. Attack power, range, potency, weapon equipped, item state and area scan. Everything was there. Every single artificial intelligence based functionality was carved into each and every Busoku piece.
Melvin was surrounded by the two warlords as they rushed him. He attacked them and he knew they worked to an extent but none of his blows were making any critical damage.
He added a smokescreen in the vicinity and moved at lightning fast speed while attacking the two monsters.
“This is annoying Targuss. He is damaging us even in Busoku state.” LevZuss barked.
He sent out a jolt of electrical wave throughout the area and made the smoke dissipate.
“God damn it…” Melvin hissed as everything became visible again.
“Found you bug” Targuss screamed and rushed at Melvin.
Melvin whisked a few steps back and jumped on a parked cab. Targuss started swinging his hammer like a madman and destroyed a lot of clutter.
“That’s right… Come to papa” Melvin taunted Targuss.
“Rwaaarrr!!!!” Targuss yelled as he rushed further.
Melvin skillfully lured Targuss near LevZuss and just before the hammer swing, he jumped out of the way.
Targuss hit LevZuss and they both got stunned.
“Targuss you fool, the insect is making us collide. I will charge up my Electro-Busoku to the max and fry him. They can have his body. I will move back. Take him out with your full gear.” LevZuss said.
“Hell yeah Lev!!”
Targuss commanded his implant to bring his Busoku to MAX_OUTPUT state.
The HUD on his internal screen read
** MAX_OUTPUT initialized. All stats at hundred. Gravity Hammer Form initiated**
His armor grew sturdier and the hammer became a huge sledgehammer.
“Out of pity, I will tell you this. Now, I can manipulate gravity to an extent. Goodbye you little shit….”
Targuss swung his giant sledge hammer and portions of the area was instantly obliterated. Melvin felt a tug as he was instantly pulled towards him.
Targuss hit Melvin who was being drawn towards him with the hammer and sent him flying into a wall.
The wall broke and he flew into the warehouse of sorts.
“I am coming for your head boy. And you can just sqirm. Regret cannot save you anymore” Targuss screamed.
Melvin coughed inside the warehouse.
“Holy shit. I almost died with that one…”
He was tattered beyond measure. His shirt was torn and he was badly bruised and injured. He could hardly feel anything and the world was flowing into interesting shapes.
He had to think fast. The only way out was to take Targuss out. Melvin thought of a way.
“I will end this now,” Targuss thought.
He intended to use gravitational attraction to pull Melvin out of the rubble and smash his head into the ground with a dense gravity charged hammer strike to his head.
“I will definitely survive here. She is waiting. I will survive. I will survive …..” These were the only thoughts in Melvin’s head.
Targuss raised his sledgehammer with both hands and went maximum gravity mode. The moment before he could release the power build-up, Melvin shot debris at high speed into his eyes.
“Arghhh” Targuss growled as the power dissipated from the hammer. The blade of the hammer got stuck on the ground with the handle raised up.
Melvin had his chance. He gathered up all the power in his body and ran at a terrifying speed. Sparks of lightning started forming around his body and his yellow eyes started glowing faintly.
He rushed and used the hammer handle as an inclined treadmill to reach the Targuss’s face.
He speed-jumped off the ending of the hammer handle and gave a back-flip kick to Targuss’s jaw mid-air and moved higher up.
A pool of blood escaped Targuss’s mouth and he lost all sensation in an instant. A large section of the Busoku gear was highly damaged.
The internal display read “----Critical damage to systems. User in critical condition. Administering aid and shutting down -----”.
Melvin was still in mid-air. It felt like he had done a back-flip on a trampoline. He was in a state of high concentration and was about to land.
At just this instant, a terrifying blast of electricity hit him with an apocalyptic fury and took away his remaining senses. Smoke was coming out of his body and despite having an extremely high healing factor, he hit the ground in a crumpled manner.
LevZuss had activated his MAXIMUM_OUTPUT mode. The horns on his helms had grown and he had accumulated an insane amount of charge before releasing it on Melvin. He took advantage of the distraction and timed his shot.
“Fool. Learn to count. There are two of us. Still, you were strong enough to best my equal Targuss. You could have been one of us. It is a pity we will have to sell you. No hard feelings.” LevZuss said.
Some of his men were still standing. He asked the remaining two henchmen to pick him up for delivery.
The two guys picked him up and were about to take him away.
Two gunshots echoed and the two henchmen fell into the embrace of life-long pain. A pool of blood adorned the ground.
“What the hell is this?” LevZuss growled.
A man in a black suit, a fedora hat with a mini bow-tie, a chain-like appendage and a thirst for violence was standing on one of the higher electronic railings.
“This is your hell. I am just here to negotiate the terms of your stay.” the man replied.
Melvin looked up. He was coming to his senses but every movement was extremely difficult. Thinking hurt too.
“Y…You….?” he let out feebly.
“Hello Mr. Havencort. Once again, Welcome to Kazel City!” the man said with a small grin.