Strange Arrangements
Fox presented himself to the HQ several hours later. He wore the thin uniform under his clothes, but still came out wearing glasses. His hair had grown quite a bit, and compared to his known photos across Lýmoca, it was rather large, but nothing past his jaw. He just walked to the Plastics Recycler Factory, passing by people and vehicles alike with no one recognizing him, or at least it seemed that way.
Walking into the HQ, he met Mena, who directly let him pass. Fox was guided by a fellow 1st Grade, a first, or firster, and was brought to the topmost floor after a little tour around the HQ. His glasses were already off, and the way the others looked at him, now more than ever, was singular. He carried his backpack around.
Standing before a wide entrance after a few corridors, the guide left Fox behind and went to their own business. Meanwhile, Fox held his backpack a little tighter before pushing the gray and yellow, more the former than the latter, doors open.
“Welcome, at last. Serve yourself some coffee, or tea, whatever you’d like. We’re leaving in 10 minutes.” Butler read something on his desk, not from documents, but a screen hovering above the desk’s surface. He gestured to the side, where electric coffee pots and heated kettles let steam out.
Fox frowned slightly at first, but seeing the tea, he lifted his chin a bit and walked to the kettles. The smell was good, better than the new addition he knew of in the pizzeria. Serving himself a small cup, he turned to Butler.
“Why aren’t we leaving yet?”
“Worried to let the president wait?” Butler looked at him with eyes upturned. Then, he smiled and chuckled a bit. “Worry not, he should have barely started finishing his first activity of the day.”
Fox frowned a bit. It was nearly 10:30. Was this the president’s schedule? Or did he do other things earlier? Who knows… Fox drank his cup before leaving it at the side, picking a bigger one and filling it before walking to Butler’s desk.
“How was last night? I presume you watched it.” Butler asked after turning his screen off. Fox only saw a glitching, blank white frame anyway. Butler looked up at him when asking, placing his intertwined fingers above the desk.
“I saw it, and I understood,” said Fox. Of course he would know what could be happening. Shortly after watching the mini-documentary, he received a phone call. He felt they knew everything about him, his surroundings even, knowing when to call his attention. Fox added, “And have questions.”
“They can be answered in the way there. We’ll… well, a little someone warned me of not forcing you to go through things you clearly dislike. But we’ll do the walk when arriving there. Are you fine with it?” Butler asked, looking concerned, although a bit forced, yet sincere.
“And I, my image, of course, would be protected?” Fox drank from his cup after speaking, jumping his eyebrows without much reliance. Butler smacked his lips open with a light sound but fell silent for a bit. He pressed his lips and replied, “You already are. It’s not a simple meeting.”
“Of course it isn’t.” Fox said before sipping once more. After a few seconds of silence, Fox held the good tea in his hands before stating, “I can do that without problems. But… well, I don’t like being called a hero.”
“That- pft!” Butler couldn’t hold a few chuckles. He lowered his head before lifting it with narrowed, smiling eyes to meet Fox’s impassive visage. “Don’t pay attention to that. It’s of no use. That’s what media do. Just know you have no obligation to go to them.”
“So, about Mena,” Fox lost interest, diverting to Butler’s words from before. That chick was looking out for him? She really wanted that discount. Butler lifted his eyebrows in a gesture to wait for him. Fox went, “Are her watchdog duties wrong if she acts like that?”
“Oh, no. I’m not displeased at all. In fact, the little lass is just like a granddaughter. I wouldn’t be bothered if she was mine, some real granddaughters don’t even talk to their grandparents, hmph.” Butler spoke, shaking his head and gesturing here and there with it.
“Oh… You had a wife?” Fox nodded and lifted his cup but stopped, frowning as he thought. Butler, who looked elsewhere, seemingly thinking of something, turned to Fox and showed mild discontent. “I am a man. It isn’t a surprise to see someone successful sprout spawns.”
“That’s what I find troubling… How young are the children if you have a granddaughter or grandson in ‘those’ ages?” Fox commented, sounding a little rude. Butler tilted his head a bit to the right, saying, “Fox, you yourself are in those ages. Don’t you know?”
“Ah…” Fox was speechless. It was true. How did he not think of that? That was strange. Regardless, they kept drinking and chatted for a few more minutes before Butler brought Fox back downstairs and into the open parking lot.
They took a car to the presidential precinct, driving for over 10 minutes before stopping. They were still a few hundred meters away from the entrance, on the public streets, but Fox could already see strict vigilance nearby.
Some were obvious, with ‘toll stops’ like structures built between streets, but most were hidden.
They waited in the car. Fox just followed Butler’s silent orders as the latter turned the car off and just relaxed, looking out the window as if to relax. After a while, Fox opened his lips, thinking about something. “Why did we stop here? Are we contacting the president… or someone under him first?”
“No. They will all know as long as we come out. We shouldn’t tell ‘the boss’ every little step we make, or he’ll end up going mad. We’re just waiting here until the cabinet and news anchors leave. There’ll be fewer flashes and loudness then.” Butler explained.
“Oh…” Fox felt a little thankful. Then, he thought of something before straight out asking, “I would like to ask for a favor. To-”
“You can ask the president instead.” Butler interrupted, looking ahead. Then, he swayed his head to face Fox, “Not today, maybe not too soon. But you will come to accept the president as your own, Fox. You have to. It’s no allegiance, nor fealty, that matters. Just… eh, yourself.”
“Come on, it’s good late morning light, and the news anchors just left.” Butler added. Fox looked ahead, and with his sight enhanced, he saw the reporters who stayed to see if something else happened today, of all days. They packed their last bits of equipment and drove off.
Butler opened his door and stepped out. Feeling this wasn’t his domain, Fox awkwardly stepped out of the lone car and toured around the car to the sidewalk, where Butler nodded and walked on the buildings’ side of the sidewalk. This made space for Fox on the street side.
They walked in silence, with Fox wearing only his not cute, not little face in the open. How long since he did this? It felt absurd even now, but he had been hiding like a shy fella for months. Only now did he remember the feeling of showing his face.
He didn’t like it. It wasn’t bad, but Fox preferred to wear a mask. Not because of Riverlye’s methods to hide their Artistas’ identities, but… maybe he just hated people?
Walking through the streets, crossing a few crossroads, waiting for a few lights, and looking at the ‘toll stops’ who looked at them when they saw the grandpa and young man, Fox felt his senses tingle. These guards grabbed a device and spoke to it before ignoring them like they never existed. Little by little, Fox was ignored by the civilians, but seen by these exposed guards.
As they shorted the distance by half, and Fox saw the many hidden guards, not doing a good job befitting to at least a lagj forming droplets of shadows, the lowest of lagjs. But it was enough for anyone else whose senses and breathless bodies to be ‘fooled’ and taken by surprise.
Moreover, the people, every civilian that was moving back and forth, crossing between blocks, and stopping to enter a building, meeting a comrade, family member, and the like; began noticing him.
On the first few minutes Fox was seen for who he is and after what he has done, having experienced another chance at life, a woman walked up to him across the street. She stopped, though, and just looked at him like she just had many things to say, but her eyes watered, and in the end, she just turned around and walked away.
Fox briefly glanced at her, ignoring her with ease soon after. Of course he didn’t know her, he knew no one from here. As for those he met in Preut and didn’t see after, but at least didn’t watch die, it was virtually impossible to meet again. They might not want to after his crimes.
Continuing walking, Fox and Butler were seen more and more. At last, after a few more minutes, they were pointed at and ‘criticized’ as they heeded to the presidential precinct. More in particular, Fox was their center of attention, with everyone realizing who he was.
Even those who walked past them a minute ago stopped and looked back, staring at their backs after someone told them.
Fox looked at Butler, intending to ask something, but he saw in Butler’s face not what he thought. ‘So, it’s not a walk of shame… You’re just… honing me?’
Fox lowered his head a bit, but remembering his situation, he raised it. If the internet, the netizens, the people; were to see him for the first time today, it won’t be with guilt.
When they went into the presidential precinct and weren’t stopped, those who had or were calling the police, and even the new calling line of the government, felt regretful or stopped. The guards in the entrance let that ‘Phesx Caolia’ and that gentlemanly old man in, shutting whatever thoughts or words could have been.
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Fox amazed at the precinct once inside. From the outside, it could be seen like a large tower surrounded by small garrison buildings, but many of them. Yet, when he entered through its gate entrance, from the south to the north, Fox felt he was entering a strange kind of palace.
He looked around and felt the vastness of the so-called presidential precinct. He also felt eyes from more than the guards and the military, of which some of the latter were in nice-looking light armored vehicles. Those eyes belonged to… special agents.
“We've begun a protection program for the president, his cabinet, and everyone else important to him since the Sargonde incident. Although some things were still undecided, PSD is now tasked with the utter protection of the government’s important assets.” Butler explained, easily recognizing from where and when did Fox grow curious.
“Am I a guard commander now, or something?” Fox asked without a nice tone. But all Butler did was chuckle a bit and respond like a gentleman. Or at least with the bearings of one, “Oh- hoho, no! You can’t be any nearer the president, besides ‘spiritually’ for now. Like… like a…”
Butler smiled a bit while staring ahead, trying to think of a good representation of Fox’s future endeavors, already ‘predestined’ by the machinations of men and women. Fox finished Butler’s words, somewhat convinced he wouldn’t be wrong, voicing, “Symbol.”
Butler said nothing, but his smile enlarged. Fox looked at him after receiving only silence in return. Feeling the silent stare, Butler chuckled a few times in a light manner before voicing, sounding quite sincere, “That’s right. That’s right~.”
“Ahem. As I was saying, no such thing as a bodyguard. At least not yet. Don’t you think you have to prove yourself?” Butler went on. Before Fox could defend his utter lack of ambition, Butler added, knowing what he’d say, “It doesn’t matter whether you have thoughts on something or not. What matters, in this position, is if others believe you do.”
“…” Fox understood. He felt a little offended, but still understood. Butler continued as they closed into the tower’s main entrance. “There’s a period of time before you are requested to do something… drastic. You have proven yourself for certain matters, that is enough to get you here.”
“Wh-” Fox turned to Butler, but Butler ruthlessly went on, not letting the young man speak for himself still. “Who told you to have so much image everywhere you went? If you just had not created such messes wherever you appear, would it have been like this for you?”
“AAAggghh…” Fox rolled his eyes, hard. Before long, they entered the presidential building, just into the base of the tower, which was somewhat recently built. A long reception desk welcomed them, with a few cuties, males and females, looking at them.
“Oh my heavens, look who it is!” A female secretary, young and with her hair well picked behind, but with a couple of strands to her sides, looked at the 2 ‘newcomers’. Everyone looked at them, curious, save for the stationed and passing guards.
“Isn’t that…” - “Oh my…” - “So it was all true!” - “Isn’t this a little crazy? Wow!”
Fox heard their comments, but it didn’t matter. He ignored them, although he also realized Butler wasn’t recognized. Indeed, PSD seems to have just started their deep relationship with the government. More specifically, with the president. It might even be the first time in history, from what little he learned all night long.
Butler offered no words and even behaved as his special rank implies, a butler. He brought Fox about, guiding him and nodding in greeting to some people, of which most frowned and looked at them with some disgust. Who were these two randoms? Did they sneak in?
Not too long after, Fox was suddenly stopped and turned to the right, where large beige doors with a spreading floral pattern stood tall and immobile. Butler sighed a bit before slowly walking up to it. He knocked on the door twice, giving Fox a reason to grow a little nervous.
Then, the voice of the so acclaimed president of Lýmoca, or at least that’s what Fox thought, sounded from the other side. “Ah, come in.”
Butler opened the door at once. Fox looked at his actions and silently questioned why be so direct, but his back was pushed and all he could do was enter the room. Butler followed behind.
There, Fox saw him. It was none other than, indeed, the Ly president. He was sitting at his desk, writing what seemed to be some letters. He didn’t give them a glance yet, as Butler closed the doors, and continued writing for a few more seconds while Fox was brought before his desk.
With the light mornings falling down the city, the office didn’t need extra lighting, appearing quite natural. And the president, working on those letters, seemed serious and apprehensive. Fox only gave them a little peek before waiting in front of the desk.
The president, Luis Heartez, had light, brown skin, with sharp, gray-black eyes, and seemed quite tall. His hair was a short flat of black hair. Maybe not in the media Fox has seen the president in, but he seemed serious right now.
Plank. The president lowered his pens and looked up at them after folding a letter and passing it over his screen before pushing it away. He stared at Fox for a while, giving him the sensation that he was… being critically judged?
Then, the president looked at Butler, “Ah, Egoaiz Prein. It’s been a little while since we saw each other. I’m glad to see you. I see you’ve brought ‘the monster’ here.”
Butler titled his head a little when he heard the ‘alias’, didn’t say a thing, and nodded before speaking. “This is your man, Phesx Caolia, alias Fox, rank 1st Grade. He has fulfilled a high-profile achievement, successfully completing a VIP task with bonuses.”
“Yes, I see,” Luis reclined on his chair in a lazy position, tough not too much, and swayed on his chair before turning to Fox. “It’s like you’re trying to sell me some well-used goods. Is it damaged? It is, but I can work with this if it is as functional as a much better option I could do better with, and would rather have.”
‘What’s this attitude for?’ Fox blinked with innocence. He knew the president wouldn’t feel good about him killing so many hundreds of civilians, even if they were guards. But he had ‘cleared the misunderstanding’ himself, did he not?
“I assure you it’s no goods to become damaged. Fox is resilient, and his mind, as you’ve witnessed with the Lye Martyr, is a clear demonstration.” Butler hung his head low, chin against the collarbone, almost, and scarcely gestured at Fox.
“Mm, yes, about that…” The president looked at Fox’s chest, noticing the thin uniform, before going, “The merit you both proved was tremendous. Worthy of an Honorary Merit.”
The president sat up, straightening his back. He looked at Fox more intently, “Pheli Forzt’s family did a great achievement for the country. Even when they seemed to exit the line of politics and their merchant ways were culminating, they had a daughter working to provide the nation safety. Agree? Mr. Fox?”
“…” He knew he had to say something, anything that would make sense or please the president, but Fox didn’t feel like it. He stared in silence at the president, not bothering to find an answer.
But then, Fox lifted his eyebrows. He spoke as he took half a step forwards, and the president scarcely lowered his chin in return. “Pheli was no PSD member, nor a woman like others have said. She was Pheli. Our contributions were not for merit, but I appreciate the rewarding Honorary Merit.”
“Oh, yes, you do.” The president looked up at Fox, slightly narrowing his eyes. Fox looked down, startled. What did he mean? And then, the president broke it down for him, making Fox feel a bit of cold sweat and… provocation.
“Because of your notorious feats, the father, a man who lost his daughter, applied for his daughter’s Honorary Merit to rescue your social standing, Mr. Fox.” The president’s words here already made Fox’s face gradually drop, beginning with his eyebrows. The president continued, “He personally asked to grant you safety and the truth, that you never intended to harm the vice president, and that the deaths of countless innocents were a misunderstanding.”
“So, yes, Fox. You do appreciate it. Because this is not a pardon, it’s the honor of merit. Neither the country nor I would forgive you, but… well, you’ve seen what you’re capable of. Congratulations in being capable, Fox.”
“…” Fox remained silent, and as if growing used to that, and taking advantage of it, the president continued still. “You still have another, but never think for an instant it matters. Do something wrong, and I will order your execution publicly myself!”
“It was never my intention to kill anybody, never.” Fox replied with harshness in his tone. The president didn’t back away, even as Fox added, “It happened once, and I knew they wouldn’t stop. I knew it wouldn’t matter what did happen. So I just went on with it, I killed everything on my path, more than for my survival, but still to live.”
Taking a step forward, Fox continued talking, and so did his feet walk forth slowly, “And I assure you, Mr. President, that for my life again, I would repeat those massacres. Even more, I’d do it to ensure my objective. That, I can do, again and again. As long as I want to.”
“…” The president looked at Fox. The emotions in his eyes wasn’t a test, nor was this situation controlled, or supposed to happen. Fox was just interrogated here and there, regardless of what this meeting was supposed to be. That much he could read.
“Luis Heartez, Lýmoca’s president. Pleased to work with you, Phesx Caolia, Fox.” Luis extended his left hand to shake it with the young man before him, just 2 steps from bumping against his desk. Fox looked down at the hand before staring at the president’s face.
Fox’s eyes were a little fierce and narrowed, but even then, as Butler watched with eyes at ease, he extended his right hand and shook hands with Luis. Their movement was slow but ‘official’. They looked at each other’s eyes before Fox unwillingly uttered, “Fox, a pleasure to serve the country, president.”
“That is how it should be,” Luis nodded, letting go of the shake and sitting with his back against his chair. He looked at Butler before staring at Fox again. “I suspect that Egoaiz has told you of some things already? You’re not here to make money, but an image of the nation, one of. You will never turn into an icon for it, just its symbol for a time. Understood?”
“Better than nothing.” Fox shook his head with a cocking movement to the side. Luis looked up at this before continuing, sighing in frustration, “Egoaiz tells me you haven’t picked a Blood, however they are called. Do it quickly. You will be start earning experience once you do, and for the love of all that is reason, get a stable business! This won’t be a paid vacation!”
“…” Fox looked down without words. Luis added, “You’ll have someone from my cabinet help you understand your situation. In not too far into the future, you’ll be in charge of a covert mission to search for some ‘things’ at the sea. Get to know what to do before the time comes, or you’ll just be useless either way.”
“Lesly!” Luis shouted after giving Fox so much of his time, even gesturing dismissively, half insulting Fox in the process. From a hidden wall-gate to the side behind Luis’s desk, 2 doors opened, revealing 2 beauties.
…