Descendence
The Catalyst Stories
Edge & Red’s Story
The Friendly Reunion
‘Day 7’
The Military District was in the most difficult spot of the Catalyst Challenge. When the world became that much small, when all hope had been dissolved from people’s minds, the Military, the Human Legion were expected to step up to the plate and do their job in protecting the people.
But the opposite had happened.
The entire chain of command was in disservice and disarray. Soldiers arguing on whether to fight or protect their families. Battles already brewing between those in the higher up positions on who would take command.
The Human Legion was not prepared for the Catalyst Challenge. Of course, no one had been prepared for the betrayal, but the Legion had made matters worse.
Citizens were clambering for protection at the border control point, the entrance into the Legion. But those gates had been locked tight, barricaded and blocked until such time the Legion was ready to reveal its intentions. They didn’t need the battles from the outside coming into the one that was slowly brewing in the pot on the inside.
The whole District was in lockdown, and while by now some others had opened up their gates in welcoming arms to those in need, this place had not.
On this day, Edge Marvik had made his way to Military District. He was armed with the Unavenged Sheath, and he had managed to slip through Northern District un-noticed.
The journey hadn’t been tough, but it hadn’t been pretty to experience nonetheless. All across the route from Rich, to Northern, to here, Edge had seen too many people affected by the Challenge. Rich District was as peaceful as it could be, people were still trying to go about their day, but it was very clear the mindset of taking what you wanted whenever was starting to seep in. He’d already heard people hoarding supplies, stocking on large amounts of food. It wasn’t going to be easy for him to get what he needed, but today he felt his reasoning was just.
As for Northern District, while it didn’t feel like a ghost District yet, it still felt bleaker than that last morning Edge had spent there. Houses had clearly been broken into, and a lot of families no longer seemed to live in what they once thought were secure, and safe hostilities.
Part of Edge had wanted to go back to his home, to see if maybe, by just some sliver of a chance, that Lunar was still in the city. He had already come to the conclusion that this wasn’t the case. It had been a week now, and Edge knew that if Lunar was still here, she would have found him by now. The route between Northern District and Rich District was open now, so there was no excuse for her not to be able to find him. Yet there was no sign, and that filled Edge with ease, and dread. Ease that she may be safe, a dread that she might not be coping well considering how well her life was going before all this.
Every day he’d spend a little moment thinking about her, before moving on with his own business. He was number one right now, in his mind, so he had to make sure it stayed that way, especially after Karlos.
Edge also felt no regret over that ordeal on the second day either. He had almost been killed, and he had done what he had to do in order to survive. At least he didn’t regret it right now...
Upon arriving at Military District, Edge was met with a familiar sight. Gate locked security on patrol, but not on the outside. Each District’s gate posed a different design. Some were more simplistic, some were more advanced. Military District was built with a message, no one gets in, and no one can get out if we say so.
The gate rose high in the air, with barbed fences and stone wall-work stretching across the border. Above Edge could see two Human Legion soldiers, neither of them armed, but safe atop their watchtowers.
The numbers had dwindled since the start of the Challenge, but there were still few here who demanded to be let in, who demanded protection by spared across the city. There were many insults being thrown up at the guards too. Edge simply stood there, knowing full well he wasn’t going to get in through the gate.
There had to be a way inside somehow, Edge needed to get in here...
Looking around at the gate, Edge noticed two key exploits.
The first was that the first protection of the District was a chain-link fence. Not comfortable to climb, but climbable nonetheless. The issue, of course, was the barbed wire crossing. It was scattered along the top and it was clear the slightest miscalculation would result in a nasty injury or two. But there was a way around that too.
Edge’s coat could easily prevent any cuts from being inflicted on his body.
The biggest issue in this plan however was...where was it quiet enough along the walls to attempt this? While the gate seemed to station a few guards, Edge knew the whole perimeter was bound to be crawling with soldiers. If only there was a way to change that...
* * *
As the citizens continued to spew insults at the guards, they tried their best to take no notice.
“How many more hours of this?” asked the first.
“Shift doesn’t end for another few. Just put up with it, not like they’ll do too much else other than complain.” grunted the second.
They both looked down at the people, all shapes and sizes, but all here for the same cause. The truth was, both of these two soldiers knew more could be done, but they couldn’t exactly abandon their posts. Times were tough enough as it was, adding more fuel into a petrol fire wasn’t going to help the city.
Just a few more hours until they could finally-
“Why do you all stand here waiting for them to reply!? If you want action to be taken, you’ll all need to put your best foot forward first!” cried a voice.
Now they hadn’t heard that phrase before...
“What the heck is going on down there now?” groaned the second. As he peeked over his post, his eye caught that of a blonde man shouting out to the crowd, which remarkably, how quietened down. He studied the blonde man intensely.
“They lock these gates to you because they think more for themselves than they do for you! Your voices don’t reach that deep inside, but that can change!” the voice cried out again. The blonde man was pacing, back and forth, trying to rally the citizens however he could.
“Anything we should worry about?” asked the first guard.
The second scoffed as he continued to watch. “Nah, it’ll fall on deaf ears.”
“They think some barbed wire and a wall will stop us? We’ve already become prisoners once, and now the Legion think they can lock us out like the Catalysts did from the rest of the world!?”
As the voice grew louder, the chants of the people grew equally. The amusement on the guard’s face slowly faltered as he noticed one by one, civilians trying to climb up the chain-link fence.
“Okay...now it’s something to worry about...” the second gulped. He turned to his partner. “Call out for backup, we’re going to need a few more stations here now!”
* * *
As he continued on, Edge noticed soldiers running across the top of the wall, no doubt on their way to try and stop people from getting in. Edge hoped he hadn’t caused too much trouble, but he didn’t think the Legion would start committed acts of crime against people. But hopefully, it would make those inside take a second think about what to do now that things were starting to get out of control.
Edge kept moving along the wall, waiting for the perfect opportunity to make his move. When he saw another group of soldiers run across the wall, this was the spot. He removed his jacket, wrapping the sleeves around his waist like a schoolchild would their own on a hot summer’s day. He swung around and jogged towards the chain fence, and as he reached it, he lept up to grab as much as he could. Already he had raised quite a height, but there was still some to go.
As metal dug into his fingertips, Edge growled his way to the top towards the barbed wire. As he reached the top, he had to hold on tight with one hand while he pried his jacket loose from around his waist. He alternated quickly between holding onto the fence and trying to pull as the jacket so he could swing it over the barbed wire.
Finally, it was loose, and Edge aimed to get as much of it over the wire as he could. He seemed to have caught a good majority of barbs, and now he climbed up higher, his fingers closing over his jacket, where barbs would be. He could still feel a hard sharp material, but his jacket covered any chance of those sharp lines of metal penetrating his fingers.
Using the strength he had been trying to build for the past week, Edge lifted himself up onto the wall. As he swung over, he gasped. One of the barbs, just that one small escapist piece, had caught his jeans. He took his jacket off the wire and heard a sudden tear. Lifting it up, he could see the inside portion of the jacket had multiple cuts. He groaned a bit. For a jacket Sparda had given him, one that had once belonged to him, he wasn’t taking very good care of it. Swinging it back over onto his shoulders, Edge looked down at his jeans. The wire hadn’t cut him, but it had left a small tear in the left kneecap area.
Now atop the wall, Edge needed to get down on the other side. Over the stone, he noticed laying at the bottom was bushes. Bushes that spread around the area much like the wall itself. He didn’t have time to go to a watchtower and risk getting caught. The only way he was getting down from here, was an equally painful risk in his mind...
* * *
Edge was still picking out pieces of the bush from his hair by the time he arrived at his destination.
The Military District was filled with camps and militarily organised equipment. Vehicles, weapons development, healthcare, campsites for battalions, and training centres. But Edge wasn’t going to any of these places. Instead, he was going to an area that reminded him a lot of Northern District, the Enrolment Housing Sector.
Lines of houses that were no doubt built by the same teams that had built the housing in Northern District. The street was very quiet, no one really around. Most were probably locked away in their homes, under strict orders. It made Edge feel slightly uneasy that he might get caught out. He was lucky he had chosen the best place to climb the outer wall too because the Housing Sector hadn’t been too far from where he dropped in.
But any minute now he knew he’d be safe from the Legion.
Walking up the road, Edge spotted the house. There were no fences separating gardens, just simple paths that led up the houses. Checking his left and right as he did, Edge walked up the stone path right up the brown front door. Clearing his throat, he knocked on the door hard.
It took a few moments before he heard footsteps. He contemplated knocking again but held back.
The front door sprang open quickly, and Edge’s green eyes met a pair of brown.
Red Harrison, a man Edge had known since they were kids. They were childhood friends in fact.
Red stood before Edge in a grey hooded jacket, with grey tracksuit bottoms to match. His hair was starting to grow a bit longer than usual and he had a light stubble. He held his hands to his black hair as he looked on in shock.
“E-Edge?”
Edge rolled his eyes and gave a weak smile. “Hey, buddy.”
Before he knew it, Red had launched himself towards him. Edge felt himself being pulled into a tight hug, and while he was grateful that Red was happy to see him, he immediately tried to pry him off.
“Alright, alright, don’t make a scene! I’m not exactly supposed to be here!” Edge said quickly.
Red let go and put his hands back to his head while sighing in disbelief. “I can’t believe it! I-I checked Northern District, you and Lunar weren’t home. Where did you guys go? Did you go to Rich District!? Of course, you did, Sparda’s house I bet right? Good idea, it’s times like these where we need to stick toge-”
“They’re not here, Red.” Edge cut in.
Red blinked at him. “What? You don’t mean-”
“No, no, not dead. I think they both got out before...well, this.” Edge sighed looking up at the barrier. He hadn’t taken much notice of it on the way here, but the memory always returned. Red looked up too and sighed again. He then gave Edge a smile.
“Well, all that matters is you’re all safe. Even if you’re not together, I’m sure Lunar and Sparda are fine.” he assured.
Edge, however, was already trying to get into the house. “Trying not to think about it. Can I come in?”
Red laughed as he put his arm around Edge’s shoulder. “Like you even need to ask, get in here you!”
Red’s home was cosy if a little tight. The hallway led to the front room on the left, and behind that, the dining room, and next to the dining room was the kitchen.
“Helena!” Red called as he closed the door.
“Helena!” He called again as he moved past Edge. “She’s probably out in the garden. I tell you man, ever since this started, she’s been going on about planting her own garden. Every day it’s prep this and prep that...”
Edge couldn’t help but give off a smile as Red guided him through the house towards the back room.
“To think we were thinking of getting a conservatory installed here too.”
“Good luck with that.” Edge chipped in.
“I know right?”
It was so easy to talk to someone like Red, but then again, when you’d known someone for around fifteen years, it was hard not to.
“Helena! Look who paid us a visit!” Red bellowed as he exited the dining room into the garden.
At the very back of the wood fence, Edge could see another old friend. Helena Kazuki was Red’s partner and another childhood friend that Edge had spent many a day during their education. She was wearing a brown apron with a floral shirt underneath, wearing cyan gloves as she sorted out her own personal garden. When she caught Edge in her eyesight however, she sprang to her feet and squealed with happiness. Her jet black hair flocked around as she bounced up with glee.
Before Edge knew it, he was enveloped in another hug, except this time gloves covered in soil were all over him.
“I’m so glad you’re okay! We were worried sick!” she cried. Edge would have hugged back, had it not been for the gloves in his air.
“Red was worried sick? Seems I missed the meltdown.” Edge replied.
“She’s exaggerating, I knew you were fine.” scoffed Red.
Helena let go of Edge and held her hips as she looked over to Red.
“You said a couple of days ago that if there wasn’t a lockdown in place you’d be out there right now in Rich District seeing if he was at Sparda’s place.” she huffed.
“That’s not being worried sick. That’s just being concerned.” replied Red with a raised brow.
Watching the two of them bicker, in a friendly way, of course, it filled Edge’s heart with happiness again. It had been too much doom and gloom this past week, and although Edge was taking the steps to try and get stronger, to have friends around now, it felt liberating.
“Edge, have you been working out?” Helena burst out suddenly. Once again dirty gloves were on Edge, but this time on his arms.
“Red, feel his arms!” she said.
“I’m not feeling his arms!” snapped Red.
“When did you start? A few weeks ago?” asked Helena eagerly. Red also seemed quite interested, and Edge shook his head.
“Honestly not even a week. Does it really show that much already?” he asked as he looked down at himself. Edge certainly felt a little stronger but he didn’t feel like he actually was looking stronger.
“Ohhhhhhhh, the world must have something special planned for you then!” squeaked Helena. Edge caught Red rolling his eyes.
“Here we go. Time for a Sixth Sense Session.”
“Ignore him, you get it right, Edge? If you’ve been reading the books in Sparda’s place, you’ll know what I mean.” said Helena.
Edge had indeed read up on Sixth Sense and maybe Helena was right. Maybe his call to the world was being answered already. He knew a week ago he wouldn’t have been able to handle that fence all the way. So now, Edge looked over at Red.
“You hear that? I’m special.”
“Screw you.” Red laughed.
Edge found himself laughing for the first time in quite a while, along with Red and Helena, the Catalyst Challenge didn’t feel as dark as the days prior anymore.
* * *
For the majority of his time there, Edge spent it in the living room with Red. There wasn’t much to do, the signs of the Challenge were becoming clearer every day. For one, electricity was out, citywide. Televisions, lights, everything had shut down. The only way to achieve light now was through the art of candlelight. So that was what was now placed between Edge and Red as they sat on the beige carpet floor. Apart from conversations on how good it was to see each other again, the big discussion between Edge and Red was the current situation and the future of the city itself.
“I’ll be blunt, Legion doesn’t know what to do. Ask anyone and they’ll stutter before they speak. We have no idea what to do.” confessed Red.
“I mean, a bit simple isn’t it? The High Lord told us what to do.” Twenty-five machines needed to be located and destroyed, that was the only path to freedom.
“Okay, yeah, sure, but how do we find them? Where do we look? I don’t see twenty-five machines roaming around the city at this time, do you?” asked Red.
Edge shrugged.
”Well you wouldn’t see them, considering you’re locked in here.” he replied.
“Very funny.” Red mocked. “Seriously though, we know what to do...”
“But not how to do it.” sighed Edge.
Red sighed. “It’s a bad situation, man. We’ve had been deserting, people refusing duties, it’s a miracle we have security on that gate...not enough of it if you managed to get in.” Red added with a grin.
“Put your little stealth tips to good use though, didn’t I?”
“I’d hardly say starting a mini-riot is a good idea of stealth. I’ll give you an A for a distraction though. You got any idea how you’re going to get out?” asked Red.
Edge’s smiled faltered. “Ah...”
“Red will escort you home after dinner.” said Helena’s voice. She had appeared in the doorway, a more clean apron around her waist now.
“Dinner’s ready by the way. I did what I could with the mood lighting.” she smiled. Red hopped up first walking over and planting a kiss on Helena’s cheek. “Well, I’m sure it’s a lovely romantic dinner for two...and the third wheel.” Red looked back with a cheeky grin. Helena whacked his arm as he laughed his way into the kitchen. “Leave him alone will you?” She rolled her eyes towards Edge as he got up. As Edge went to walk past, she stopped him.
“Are you handling it all okay?” she asked lightly. There was a silent exchange for a moment but then Edge nodded. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“No, but seriously, Edge-”
“Helena, really, I’m good. You two are still here, that’s all I need.”
As Edge moved past, Helena gave off a concerned look...
* * *
The three of them ate dinner together, which despite the circumstances, Helena still managed to cook up a well-groomed steak and kidney pie.
“I’d say there’s plenty more where it came from but...”
“You’re eating what would have been our leftovers.” joked Red.
“I’ll try not to waste it then.” said Edge.
As they cleared their plates, Red patted his stomach.
“Helena that was perfect! What’s for dinner?”
Helena gave a groan as she took their plates. “Every night he says the same joke. I’m this close, Edge, I’m telling you.”
“If anything, Edge would hold you back. He’s known me longer.” piped up Red.
“Bros before...well, you know.” sighed Helena as she began to leave the room.
As they watched, Edge noticed the smile on Red’s face. Despite everything that had happened, he seemed just as cheerful as ever.
“Lucky guy, huh?” asked Edge.
Red took notice and rubbed his neck. “I mean, I guess? Dunno what I’d do without her.”
Edge nodded crossing his arms. “It’s quite touching to see.”
While Red appreciated his friend’s words, he could see there was a look of longing on his face.
“It’s not all great though, you know? There are arguments every now and then, there’s work, or rather there was. Don’t get me wrong, relationships are great but, they’re not all perfect.” Edge could tell Red was just saying this, but he’d clearly caught on to how alone Edge felt.
“Red, you don’t need to say all that. Now is not the time for me to be looking for anything like that.” he replied.
Red rested his arms on the table. “You make it sound like you want to take this Challenge up on its offer.” he said with a furrowed brow.
“You saw the sword. I was sitting around doing nothing, could change that.” he replied.
Red leaned back now and put his hands around his head. “Well I’d ask if they could let you into the Legion, but I don’t think they’d take to you.” he smirked.
“Really? Why? Cause they’re not hiring due to this whole thing?”
“Nah, 'cause you’re a jerk.” laughed Red.
Edge scoffed back as Helena’s voice called out.
“Red! Could you come give me a hand with this for a minute?”
“Duty calls.” Red shrugged as he got up.
“Go get’em, soldier.” Edge replied.
* * *
“Oh what is it, woman?” he joked as she pulled him close.
“Do you think we should let him stay here, with us?”
Red backed up slightly and raised his hands. “Whoa, what?”
Helena rubbed her arm as she looked towards the dining room, concerned. “He’s all alone out there. No Lunar, no Sparda, no one to keep him grounded.”
Red hushed her down as he pulled her further into the kitchen.
“Helena, he’s living in the wealthiest part of the city rent-free with no-”
“You know that’s not what I mean.” she snapped quietly.
“So you’d rather him kip on our sofa? Need I remind you, he just illegally infiltrated the District on lockdown?” Red laughed.
Helena huffed at him as she put her hands on her hips.
“He’s lonely.”
“He’s fine. Trust me, I know my best friend.” sighed Red.
“I really am, you know.” Edge’s voice had joined the conversation. Both of them turned around to see him leaning in the doorway.
“Edge, I-”
“Don’t apologise, it’s fine. I appreciate the concern.” he said quickly.
Red gave Helena a raised brow as she brushed it off. “Either way!” She nudged Red in the side causing him to buckle with a laugh. “We don’t mind having you stay with us if you need it.” she persisted.
Edge raised his hands in denial. “Like Red said, I’m living in the safest place in the city. It’s only a matter of time before things start getting back to some normality too. Soon the Districts will be open and the Legion will be doing their jobs, I’m sure of it. You two are here, and that’s good enough for me right now.” Edge assured her.
Red gave him a tap on the shoulder. “What do you mean good enough right now? You planning on making new friends?”
The three of them continued to joke and laugh.
* * *
Time was getting on and eventually, Edge had to leave. He didn’t want to impose, he didn’t want to stay and end up living under their roof, all he had wanted to do was check-up and see if they were okay. They were, so it was time to head back home to Rich District.
“How do you plan on doing that then?” asked Helena sternly as they stood by the front door.
“I figured out a way in right? I’m sure I can figure a way out. What are they going to do? Arrest me?” joked Edge.
“It’s not a laughing matter, Edge. They could end up holding you here. The law is still the law.” warned Helena.
“Not really much of a law at the moment.” muttered Red.
Helena shot him a strong glare. “You can take him home.”
“But I-”
”You’re not exactly training for military work at the moment, are you? The only thing you’re training is your butt on that sofa, so, you can take Edge home.” she snapped.
“Fine. Probably for the best anyway. We won’t need to be stealthy about it that way. Don’t you worry bud, I have the perfect plan.” Red smirked with a wink.
* * *
“Okay, Harrison, but this is the only time...” sighed the Legion Guard.
Red had escorted Edge back to the Western Gate of Military District. It was a simple explanation. Edge was a humble friend who had been staying with Red for a few days. Suddenly when the Catalyst Challenge began, Edge had nowhere to go, so he remained with Red for the next week. Now that things seemed to slowly be dying down and settling, Red was taking Edge back home. It was lucky the guard fell for it. As he opened the gate to let them both through, Edge made a sarcastic whisper to Red.
“Friends in high places, huh?”
“Just keep moving.” Red said, trying hard not to smile.
The gate began to close behind them, but Edge turned quickly. “Sorry, could you hold the gate a moment?” he called out.
The guard looked at him in slight confusion. “Come on, make your minds up, before the damn rioters come back and try and get in.” he called back.
Edge quickly turned to Red, eager to make this quick.
“You don’t need to take me home. Really, I know the way and I’ll be fine.” he assured Red.
There was just a look of disbelief on Red’s face. “Dude, I can’t just leave you, Helena won’t live it down-”
“Then just hang around for a bit. I’d rather go home alone than you take me back and then have to come back here all alone.” replied Edge.
“You don’t think I can handle myself?” smirked Red.
Edge shook his head. “I don’t doubt it, but seriously, you’re safe here. Keep it that way for now.”
The smirk vanished from Red’s face. “You really think this is going to get worse, don’t you?” he said solemnly.
Edge looked up at the barrier. “Look at that thing, Red. Even if we do fight back, how many people are going to die to those machines? When we find them, how strong are they going to be? There’s twenty-five of them man...”
“Wrap it up, you two!” called the guard.
Red put his hand on Edge’s shoulder. “We’ll all find a way in time. It was good to see you safe.”
Edge put his free hand on Red’s shoulder, an old symbolic message they always gave one another when they were kids, teenagers, and now young adults.
“It was good to see you and Helena too. She was right you know, I was feeling lonely, and I took a stupid risk in coming to see you both. But I can keep on moving now. Knowing you’re both here and okay, we’ll see each other again.” Edge smiled.
Their grips tightened before they let go. With that said, Edge and Red parted ways, Edge back to Rich District, and Red back home in Military District.
They may be apart now, but today had taught Edge something deep in his mind.
If the will of a human was powerful enough, they could push through anything that prevented them from some kind of freedom.
In defying the Human Legion’s defences, and through the determination to find and see his friends, Edge had defied a restriction that had been bestowed upon him.
He would do the same to the Catalysts. He would defy this barrier they had placed over him. Defy the machines that lay in wait wherever they may be. It would be hard, but as Red said, they’d find a way in time.
Humanity would find a way in time.
Next Time:
Crystal's Story
The Personality Reform Part II
No comments:
Post a Comment