“Do you think Living Machines dream?” the stoic Alzo asked Emily with a soft gurgle voice they could produce from their slimy neck as she shrugged, looking down onto the streets of The Timeless City with a pair of monocles as the glass expanded forwards on both. “I don’t know Alzo. Unlike us, they can’t travel the lakes because it burns them, and they can’t use other access points because they simply can’t, try as they might. I doubt they dream, even the Angels” she said, getting her eyes on a group of machines patrolling the old Korpse Avenue streets as she sighed.
“Nothing to really watch for anymore nowadays. We’ll have to take a couple out and hijack their network, but they are always quick to shut down missing machines. Only barely get anything out of them. What about our messenger, did she or her Good Machine send anything? Voice or gifts?” she asks as Alzo shrugs as well, their slimy body barely keeping itself together, a new shift to avoid being detected, as is Emily, who simply spoke of her miracle.
“She sent a message. But all she said is that we just…help the detective, and stay alive. Hey, wanna try to see the town?” Alzo proposed as Emily giggled, turning her gaze away from the group of Machines and looking outside the city. The nearby plains and nature were rotten, only barely getting green further out as she looked all around her. They were even on the second highest building in Goring Street, and yet…
“Do you really think it exists out there? The Red Gear?”
“The survivors gotta have gone somewhere, sis. Everyone’s seen a glimpse of it, but why not us?” they said excitedly, a voice unfitting of the expressionless slime face as she giggled.
“Yeah, yeah…I heard it walked like a spider! Hiiigh in the air from the ground! And…and it even has a cannon beneath it to fire big webs to any nearby Machines to catch and salvage them!” she said with such wonder as Alzo chuckled.
“Yeah…as if…hey, look there, at the very top of the Clock Tower” they suggested as Emily looked to where they pointed, looking at the very tippy top of the haunting tower as it chimes, it was dark but she just faintly sees some sort of arm popping out of a hatch on the roof, reaching up to the sky, stretching as far as it can…before it falls right back into the hole as the hatch closes.
“Well…that’ll be useful…hand me the journal and continue watching for me, Alzo” she asked, taking the monocles off as the glass returns to a normal shape as Alzo hands them a journal and pen while they grab the monocles, putting them on as Emily began to write down everything’s she seen of interest as the glass expands outward from the frame once more…
-
And so the duo sat down at Frostbite Park, most of their purchases left in the car trunk, although Silvia kept one thing on her person. A new outfit to wear. She looked much different from her hospital-like aesthetic. Her long white hair was finally tied up into a long ponytail, wearing a wide brim pink hat with some sort of cat character design peppering around on the brim in different outfits and poses. Instead of any dresses she’s had on before, she had a plain and pink long sleeved hoodie, along with a cute pink skirt to match that reached her knees, along with plain black shorts under it. And instead of walking around the place without shoes, she’s got herself a big pair of pink boots and long socks. Notice a pattern? She seemed to be very pleased with herself as Kade chuckled, looking out into the deep nature of the park. “I feel like the machines won’t be able to recognize you now, not until they get your face and smell again, but it’s quite an outfit you’ve come up with, who’s your inspiration, Fashionista Silvia?”
Silvia would giggle at her newly obtained title as she shakes her head. “No inspiration! I made this all by myself, mister! Oh, sorry, I mean Kade!” she said so excitedly like she was a small pup who’s met a new friend as he nodded. “Original too, hm?”
They got a lot of stuff, really. A fancy outfit for the little miss, quite a bit more clothes than is seen here, and a lot of strange souvenirs. While Kade himself got himself a new fancy dress and hoodie to try later on, along with a few little souvenirs as well, not as much as the miss, he wanted to spend mostly on her as he sighed, raising a hand up as he thought hard. It is back to investigating now as he thinks about the vampire he was supposed to find as the blue string appears on his hand again, but yet still it was cut off and dangled without a destiny as he sighed. He's tried this a couple times now but no luck yet. And then…a little intuition. A vampire needs some sort of food source, and as Taylor told him, she went up here for 'shopping'. Multiple times as well, apparently, which gave him a few ideas.
"For a vampire to go shopping, it either involves real people getting hurt, with or without consent, which is not a wanted result…or where we can find supplies of blood. If those from below also live up here…who's to say she doesn't know someone working there…T-That's my theory anyways, you think it sounds sound, you two?" he'd ask Silvia as she nods, waiting for another to answer before she nods again. "Pippy says you are…um…smart, I think"
"Thank you, Pippy. Then how about it for our first investigation together? Silvia & Kade: The All Knowing Vampire. Quite a title, hm? It'll be in my diary in my head!"
Silvia giggled as she nodded. "T-Then we go to…Pouring Lead Avenue! To the big hospital there!...Whatever a hospital was again"
"Oh sweetie…" Kade could only chuckled lightly as he got up, holding a hand out to the young lady as she grabbed onto it, lifting herself up from the bench to stand up as Kade checked her out again. "For someone who has only ever worn patient gowns and seen fancy clothing from that timeless schmuck, you know how to dress like the city, or maybe the city has already dressed you? A mystery for another time, now then! Let's go, let's go, we've got 3 days ahead of us to find Ria Allthoughts and get that pipeline's blueprints!" he said as Silvia nodded before they started walking, leaving the park and getting into Kade’s car as he started it up again, driving once again on the roads to Pouring Lead Avenue, Silvia kept her eyes out the passenger window in the back as Kade kept his eyes on the road.
Silvia, meanwhile, would sense someone next to her as, almost copying her in the opposite direction. It was Pippy, looking like Silvia herself but all covered in space and stars, same as she ever was, keeping her own eyes out as Kade glances at the rear-view mirror, seeing the two watching out as he smiles, keeping on.
And they do eventually get there, nothing much the other two in the back spotted while watching the streets zoom by besides designated silly city people. Pippy dissipates into star dust as Kade parks the car, getting out with Silvia and locking the car up as he raises a hand up slightly…yet nothing again as he sighs.
“Such is the way of the detective, gotta do all the hard work before it earns me right to find it so easily~” He said as he held a hand out to Silvia, who gladly grabbed onto it as they began to walk towards the hospital. “Think it's called like…Leadway Hospital or something, it’s a big place, all the latest medicine and tech is there to help people, so if you were to be brought here, it’d be because you have something serious that needs you to be there. Never really been there at all myself, so it’ll be new to the both of us, Silvia!” she nods at him as they arrive at the entrance. It was so much bigger than Kade had interpreted. Ambulances lined up in their own little spot, people went in and out, workers and patients sat in little gardens on the front, and likely the back too.
“So this is what it looks like…cool!” He’d continue on, Silvia following very closely as they enter inside. It was as was said. People were all around, and so was some few advanced looking medical tech being moved around, as if they had a lot of them for movement to be happening a lot as Kade approaches the front desk, his gaze meeting a young woman as she looks up to him. “Can I help you, sir?” she asks as Kade nods.
“Yes, I am looking for potentially someone named…Ria? Ria Allthoughts” and so suddenly, he can feel a few eyes on his back, and so did Silvia feel it, but neither dare to look as the woman tilts her head. “The boss? She isn’t here at the moment, sir, would you like to schedule a meeting in…5 days with her?”
“5 days? Sorry, but…hmmm how can I say it…I really need to see her now for…something, ma’am” he sighs, thinking to himself ‘How the hell do I ask about Lake Town stuff without looking a little crazy’, and as he thinks, Silvia would look over to her as the woman looks down to her, her eyes squint a little as they open up wide. The eyes they felt staring into their backs finally stop as the woman picks up the phone.
“Let me check where she is right now, sir” she said as he sighed in relief, looking over to Silvia with a smile. “Heh, see? I am quite a convincing guy, hehe!” he whispered as Silvia tilted her head in confusion, but before she could ask, the woman interrupted again to get Kade’s attention, doing a little gesture to bring him closer to whisper.
“9:50 Pm, Tomorrow, Green Ring Avenue, a red bus will arrive at the bus stop. When the driver asks if you want water, tell them ‘I prefer blood’. Our lady will wait for you in the center, please look good and bring the little one” she whispered as Kade nodded.
“Thank you, fairer lady~” he said, the tiniest bow done to not look strange as she gave a little smile, trying not to giggle as he began the walk out of the hospital, smiling, Silvia still followed very closely.
“Just that easy, sometimes. Explains the string though, never been in New Alex Ring before, or even relatively close to it. It’s Invite Only these days” he said as Silvia would just listen along as they returned to the car. “Lucky for us, we got the fancy stuff to look nice today so don’t have to worry about that at least…so Ria actually OWNS the hospital, never knew that, or at the very least, a lot of those employees in there are likely to be working under her. Only theorizing anyways, I’ll ask when I get the chance but for now!” he thinks out loud as he starts the car up again, both of them putting their seatbelts on as he begins to drive his way back to the office. This was enough excitement for the two today. But it was only the beginning of something greater, as a doctor puts away a strange radio device after seeing their car go off, walking back inside with a cloth covered cart, waving over at the lady at the desk as she nods, waving back at him, the other hand pressing an orange button as the quietest click happens next to him, a door opening slightly, allowing him to go inside as he gets inside with the cart, the door closing automatically behind him as a small light above the door goes from green to red.
-
The lake gave no movement as the young Tree Walker sat on it. He knew they watched him, those among nature, concerned over his being, but he saw no reason for it, he simply waited for the next impure machines to come in, just to lose again. But the numbers have been increasing. From 1 impurity to 3 to 5, and recently 7. Sprei Uok sighed as he meditated, feeling nature around him as he felt her behind him, watching carefully the surface of the lake, and the grand forest, noting every creature that passed under each leaf.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“9 are to come, I can feel their heavy steps contaminating my waters…” she whispers in his mind as he nods. “Yes Mother” he responds back quietly.
Lisa and the 3 Mimy Clan Commanders continued to watch from a distance as Devil sighs. “It feels so long already, can’t we just go around the forest, find the pipe ourselves?” he asks Lisa as she shakes her head. “Far as I know, we’ve done that a total of 28 rounds the edges of the forest, 11 rounds were inside and all around, and yet not a peep…so how did they catch one of our soldiers to put those disgusting wires and metal into it without anything to give it away, and honestly enough, I’ll be needing you three to do hourly check ups on all available soldiers, and if even one is missing, we are gathering all of them and eliminating any strange or unresponsive soldiers. Can’t risk losing more, 20 out of the 100 have been taken out already…” Lisa said, stress was building up a bit in her. Jafk and Alexander, meanwhile, mostly sat in the background on the ground, waiting for any signals from the big 4 or any news from the dead, but nothing.
“I should’ve brought some coffee with us…or something to eat” he said.
“Could always ask those Lion ones for their beards” Denny peeped up as Alexander jumped a bit from the sudden new voice. “Oh! I’m sorry, I forgot you were still on my arm, should I get you back to the library?” he asks as Denny shakes her head, resting her head back on his hand as she yawns. “Nah, I like the warmth on this arm, besides, I’m sure Penny is enjoying the silence now so I’ll let her enjoy it for an extra hour or so” she said, continuing to rest as Alexander sighs of boredom. “I think by now, the cafe should start to get emptier as Molly hopefully starts to slow it down for our employees, and Sugar should be doing…whatever the hell she would be doing by now, probably doing any small works in the city or something, safely. Wouldn’t want to go back to…that town again” the very thought of That Town made him shiver, Jafk as well as Penny looks up to the two.
“That Town?”
“Yeah. The reason we blocked off all the pipes here and there…Tulip Town” Alexander could see a couple heads look up to their direction from the mention of the name before going back to their duties, including Angel and Devil
“Oh, I remember hearing about that one…is Taylor alright? Hadn’t heard from him saying anything to Lisa for a while, me and Penny usually get letters from the big people to give to Lisa.”
“I assure you, he is fine” Lisa answers, approaching the trio as she slowly sits onto the ground on her knees. “He’s just been busy these days. Guilt continues to plague him as we speak, but he still attends our ever rare meetings with one another…such sadness in his eyes, it pains me to even think of it all.”
“I remember having to go there to get Sugar at the old manor…it’s so…saddening what they’ve done to that old town. Nothing but a wasteland, acid filling the lungs through appearance alone, and now it's a hive for them as well. Always hated having to go there every single time, and it won’t be easy the next time” Alexander adds as Lisa nods, her eyes looking down at the ground, as if she’s had guilt of her own.
“I see…her home was there originally, The Fire Witch’s Manor, I remember that…don’t know what happened to The Majesty there, no one’s heard from her for years now…and likely never will. Quite…painful memories” she breathes in and out to keep her emotions in check, and her seething anger of those disgusting machinery, who’ve done nothing but take and eat and reuse, but never give to anyone but themselves and their masters. It made her angry, really angry, she just wants to stab that Timeless Man over and over again for what he’s done to their city, to their people and their freedom.
But she keeps herself in check. No such anger will be helpful right now. She can only hope that the mysterious pipe leak can be found and blocked off completely, and her only source of prayers is complete luck…and the return of Kade.
-
As Kade drops her off back at the office, he decided to go to the police station to see if Imamu or anyone else got anything for him, and so, Silvia was left to her own devices again, getting inside and walking up to the front desk, looking up towards Lizzy as she typed away, a moment’s glance before turning to look at Silvia with a smile. “Hm? What is it, little one?” she asks as Silvia thinks for a few moments before looking back up to her. “Is there chocolate milk?” she asks softly as Lizzy tilts her head, grabbing ahold of a telephone on the desk and dialing some numbers. “I’ll have someone check, sweetie” she said as Silvia nodded. Someone finally answers as she speaks into the phone. “Hello, Liz at the front desk…yes, hello dear, you mind quickly checking the refrigerator in the kitchen? A little someone wants to know if there are any?...You will? Thank you! And while I have you here…” and Lizzy goes on about some unrelated tasks and questions. Silvia, of course, already knew the answer to the question, she stole a whole carton of it from the fridge and drank it all in Kade’s room, and she is still thirsty for that irresistible brown nectar she found herself addicted to as Lizzy finishes her conversation. “Thank you! Just send a quick text to me about our little miss’ favorite drink, I was mostly using this as an excuse to catch your attention on a matter that’d be too much of a bore to type out…Yes, that’s all, thank you, and goodbye!” she puts the phone back into its place as she leans forward, patting Silvia on the head.
“Why didn’t you check yourself?” Silvia asks as the lady shrugs, continuing her work. “I do a lot more work than you’d think, young lady, and I don’t want to bother with checking it myself, and you’ll probably want me to get some, hm? Don’t think I didn’t notice your glass cups in the sink with that familiar liquid” she said teasingly as Silvia blushes a little.
“Not a worry, I’ll make sure Castle gets some for you, go ahead back to Kade’s room or whoever else’s, alright?” Silvia nods in agreement, leaving the front desk and up the stairs, not trusting herself to not accidentally use the elevator for travel to The World Below, getting up the floor with the rooms, and as she walks into the hallway proper, she almost bumps into Castle as they give a little wave. “Hello, Silvia” before they continued into the elevator. She watches the number begin its small but necessary descent before continuing on to Kade’s room, opening the door once she got there, seeing the office bedroom in its entirety again, but something, or rather someone, looked to be a new addition to the room, which caught her eyes, freaking her out a little bit as she steps away from the door.
It was someone. From what little she saw in terms of people during the road trip, it looked like those people that had guns and batons and those blue uniforms. It looked to be staring out the window, looking over after hearing the little scuffle back and the door opening as she turned her whole body around, it was robotic in nature, doing a little bow towards the little miss, same sort of vibe.
“Ms. Silvia. Greetings. Reading Quick Summary of my Context Manual & Handling Children Guide. Hello, I am Olivia, special android force sent by Vincent Lonceheart of 18 Seconds, a group concerned over like-minded children like you, and warning to be of assistance, I have been sent as a protector force to assist with Kade Wonder and the Detective Office. This is not considered arguable, and Lead Detective Celeste Wonder has already accepted the terms. End Summary.”
Silvia didn’t trust her completely, but slowly she calmed down, and thought to herself how Kade would react to this before speaking up. “I…uh…um…” she doesn’t know how he would react, actually.
Silvia could see Olivia’s eyes sort of dim down for a moment before reacting. “Is this unit making you: Uncomfortable, Nervous, Anxious, or Other? I would like to say sorry if I may have caused this potential spike, and would like to inform again that I am here to protect you. For further confirmation, this unit will stay completely still, and you are free to request confirmation from Lead Detective Celeste Wonder.
“N-No, no, it’s just…um…okay m-maybe I am a little nervous..” Silvia admitted as she nodded, looking down the hallway to one Celeste’s room.
“Consider this Fair Warning: Olivia suspects Lead Detective to be temporarily undergoing a Level 1 Trauma based incident. Level 1 is considered small but to be always considered anyways. Do as you want.” Olivia added as Silvia nodded, closing the office door and going down the hallway. What would be a relatively short walk suddenly started to feel longer. Already a short minute of walking and she hasn’t even passed halfway to reach Castle’s office. She continued on, the longer she walked towards Celeste’s room, the more she had to walk.
“What…” she started to notice this abnormality in the hallway, and when she took a step backwards, she was immediately at the halfway mark again after having just reached Castle’s office. This sense of strangeness gave away to something. Of course, only those with sufficient Knowledge can travel the lakes and points of interest, so this must be…something from Celeste. That Level 1 rating from Olivia felt a lot more intense now as she decided to track onward, not letting this Knowledge stop her, determined to want to help Celeste more now than getting a simple confirmation, and the feeling intensified as she got closer and closer. Must have been 10 minutes by now, she could feel gravity weigh on her, the hallway slowly morphing, turning into this dark blue, dotted by white specks and a strong force to push her backwards. This wasn’t a new feeling either. She’s felt this sort of pushing before, the mental resistance to want to approach the exit of the Clock Tower, she escaped it through sheer will, of wanting out, of wanting to trust Pippy’s visions, of freedom. And she did. It wasn’t the same effect, it was a way time warped around her, and she won’t let this one, whatever this was, get the best of her either.
And finally, she was at the door before she finally called out for her. The only word she could think of at that moment, of what she sees her as already, a deep feeling that festered in her the moment she met this strange, starry woman after Kade rescued her from the lake, this familiar yet unfamiliar feeling. Like fate.
“Mom!”
And it all stopped. The hallway was as it was as she could hear someone scrambling to get up from their bed as she sighed in relief. It stopped so suddenly like it was never there. As Pippy would confirm for her, having returned from ‘seemingly a small nap’, it was like that mental effect…
The door opens suddenly, a worried Celeste looks down the hallway. “Yes?!” she expected Kade, she thought it was him who called for her, but instead, when looking down, she found Silvia, her mood changes immediately as she picks her up. “A-Ah, yes, sweetie, Silvia, hello! Who called for me, was it you?” she said, Silvia nods as she hugs her.
“Are you okay?” she asks as Celeste nods, twinkles in her eyes. “Fine as a newborn star, little one, no need to worry for this girl, ‘kay?” ‘but she wasn’t, was she?’ was all Silvia had in mind, but she nods. She was gently put back down onto the ground as Celeste sighs in relief, putting her hands on her hips. “Did you need something? Oh, was it about that android in Kade’s Office? She is quite safe, I assure you” Celeste confirms for her, but Silvia went right up to her, looking up.
“Are you okay?” Silvia asks again, and this time…it seems as if Celeste was unsure as she looks away. “I haven't a clue what you are on about, little mini detective! I’m not close to going supernova over here, alright? I am completely fine, dear, please, you have a guest, it would help put your mind at ease to get to know her, you know?” she said, not a crack to open for Silvia as she nodded. She’ll just have to accept this for now.
“Okay, Mom!” she said, purposefully for an extra reaction as she sees Celeste surprised. “O-Oh! Deary, we haven’t even gotten to know each others’ history and already you call me that? Well…whatever makes you feel happier and safer, you are not the first one who called me that besides my own little Kade. And not just little ones either, hehe” a mischievous giggle that Silvia didn’t understand, what did she exactly mean by that? Silvia just throws that thought away as she smiles back.
“Had plenty of lonely kids call me ‘Mom’ to feel safer after those terrible accidents and missing people’s cases. It’s always saddening, but I’ve never corrected them. If it meant they felt safer and happier, for even a moment…” another crack, but she won’t pry this time. Silvia would give her a big hug before heading off, waving back. “Thank you!” she exclaims as Celeste nods.
“But of course~”
-
Celeste closes that office door as she sighed in relief, and giggled so much to herself. Such a small family already, not even accounting for her employees, and…and…her smile goes away. Thinking about him again. It always replayed in her head. That terrible train accident, taking him from her and Kade. It always felt unfair. Unjust. There was no reason, despite all the reasons. But then Silvia calling her ‘Mom’ repeated in her head as well, drowning out that misery, a small smile forms.
She wonders if John is happy, wherever in death he is now.