Zeth woke up to find himself lying in a makeshift bed, built with a fragile frame that creaked with every move. The mattress is a collection of ruined clothing items gathered in a burlap sack. The firm pillow behind his skull is a regular sack of potatoes that made him quite uncomfortable, causing a numbing sensation.
The blanket that covers him is a dusty window curtain that smells foul, the prime suspect for his waking. He sits up only to be blinded by the sun, shining so brightly that he wishes he could've stayed asleep. But after a few rubs of his eyes, his vision settled, and he finally understood his surroundings.
Around him are rubble and debris. The room he was in was an exposed and surviving wing of a ruined house scarred with burns. It has half a roof to protect it from the elements, cracked brick walls, and its foundations are about to give way. The flooring still holds up, but it is riddled with dried blood.
Zeth's ears perked up when he heard a bawling noise coming from a devastated woman. He glances in that direction, and not far from where he is, there is a lineup of deceased victims lying and draped with anything that could cover them.
Then, his memory finally reminds him. He was in a fight with Frank, who was about to disintegrate him. He knew that the fight was a lost cause; he never had the proper skills. He could only control a percentage of his powers. His act of being Zeth was a failure. He is still the same Seth as before. He is still weak.
Suddenly, Zeth's eyes jolted. He can't feel Zela nor hear her. She was gone.
He tried to recall their last encounter. But all he could remember was the moment she faded from existence before being engulfed by a creeping shadow.
Somehow, even with Zela's absence. He can feel that there is something or someone inside him. It is watching from within, lurking around, and brooding. It was heavy and dark. It was something different from Zela's explosive attitude. This one, he could sense, is telling him to unleash, whispering words that Zeth couldn't hear.
He tried to reach out. Calling the darkness inside him to come out. But nothing came. Nothing spoke—only silence.
But he won't just give up that easily. Zeth is determined to seek answers and find out the truth.
So he tried again. Harder. Without knowing that all this time, he was contorting and squeezing. His face shows a concerning expression as if he is having a hard time with his bowel movements.
He groans and winces, clenching his fist, trying to get that dark feeling to come out. He talked internally. Did every plea, whisper, and incoherent muttering.
But nothing came. All Zeth ever wanted was someone to explain what happened.
"Why are you doing that with your face?"
Zach said, who was sitting on a stool beside him all along.
"Huh?!"
Zeth bolted from his bed, and it rustled loudly as he fell onto the wooden floor.
"What were you saying just now? Don't tell me that Frank guy got you good in the nogging."
Zach looked over Zeth, smiling, almost teasing him.
"What do you mean by that? Why the hell are you here?"
Zeth said as he climbed back on his bed while massaging the back of his thigh.
"You don't remember what happened?"
Zach asked as he took out a piece of paper from his jumpsuit's pocket.
"No. I mean. I can remember some stuff. I know I fought Frank. I know you died. But, you didn't? Everything seems unclear to me."
Of course, Zeth knows. He was just unsure if he could tell Zach the truth.
"I thought we were done with the lies? I know you know that your Zystem got you out of control. I know you were aware of what I did to you."
"Okay. So, what? Why did you do that, by the way?"
"You're welcome, by the way. If I didn't interfere, you could have killed Frank for good."
"He's still alive? Did you, you know, squish him?"
"Squish? You mean Imprison?"
Zach aims his hand while gesturing the Imprison technique.
"Y-Yeah."
Zeth flinched.
"Don't worry, I didn't. He's in a real prison—the one he made. He's awaiting trial in that pit hole. Don't worry, I made sure he feels at home. Hannibal decided to put him there for now while we try to rebuild."
Zach unfurls his fingers and puts his hand in his pocket while the other unfolds the paper.
"What's that?"
"This? These are your official release papers and your enlistment in the Force. You still have to attend bootcamp along with the other recruits, and then you will be officially part of my team. Apparently, I can put you on an accelerated program. Now, you just need to complete bootcamp. Ha!"
"Bootcamp? I thought we're done with that?!"
"Like I said, acceleration program. Listen, all you have to do is endure weeks of training. You'll be with your fellow underlings! Isn't that great? You'll be with Zion and Zoey!"
"Zoey? She's not an underling."
"No. However, a squad consists of six members: one leader, two regular Zoldiers, and three underlings. Don't you know that?"
"I would know if you taught us about it the first time!"
"Well, the Force is kinda strict with this kind of information. Don't want the enemy to know how we work, right?"
Zach offers Zeth his release paper.
"And who's our enemy exactly?"
Zeth asked as he thoroughly read his terms.
"The Great Cities have a lot of enemies! Many men rise and fall just because they want to see the cities burn. That's why Zoldiers exist to defend the cities and go to war. Don't you go to regular school?"
"I never got the chance. So is Frank and his gang one of them?"
"Frank is from the Great Cities' oldest adversaries. He's one of the twelve leaders of its inner circle, the Eidolon. He's that strong."
"Not so strong when I fought him."
"Well, that's because Hannibal already beat him up. If two underlings and a thousand Zenos didn't body him, then I bet he can take down Frank just by himself. Plus, he had to protect Zephyr and the other two. So, don't get cocky!"
"Right. And you somehow made him surrender because he got tired?"
"Nah, he surrendered because he was about to face me. Don't you get it? I'm worth ten Franks!"
"Are there any more Franks out there? Is that group you just mentioned coming back? Can you handle eleven more Franks?"
"Dunno. Don't care. All I know is that Burn Abbey will be in total lockdown. That means no foraging missions, no trade merchants, no transport caravans, nothing! Unless, of course, they have Zoldier escorts and permissions. That's where we get involved, protecting the people and ensuring the cities function."
"Right. Sure."
Zeth frowns, knowing he has to postpone his search for the doctor. He would seek an answer on another day.
"Something wrong? Why the long face?"
Zach tilts his head, concerned about Zeth's sudden sullenness.
"I guess you already know what happened to me. About my Zystem, all my secrets. All of them. Are you going to tell Hannibal about it or use it to blackmail me?"
"Whoa, whoa. Now, look, I am not some kind of freak who takes advantage of the youths like you. In fact, I am here to help you with your Zystem dilemma. We may have convinced Hannibal and the others about your Zystem, but it won't be long until they figure it out! So, don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
"Really? Why would you want to help me? Risk your job and position in the Force like that?"
"Let's just say I have my own interest regarding the matter. Besides, I have some theories on why you gained a Zystem. And no, puberty is no reason to get a Zystem!"
"And what theory is that?"
"I suspect you and Frank have more in common than you think!"
Zach points his finger at Zeth.
"Which is?"
Crossing his eyes as he stares at the finger, Zeth moves away.
"You're not getting it? Frank said he was created! For your information, his Zystem wasn't his, and I suspect he was also not an underling by birth!"
"And how did you know this?"
"I just have a hunch."
Zach confidently said as he put his hands at the back of his head and leaned his skull on his interlocking palms.
Zeth shakes his head. He finds Zach's overconfidence unbelievable. He rolls his eyes and plants his chin on his knuckles.
"Be serious. I need to know who is responsible for my Zystem. Not that I'm not thankful.:
Zeth said as he thought about Zela, who is still absent.
"I am serious! I know things. Things you wouldn't believe. Things they will never teach in bootcamp! You and Frank share the same situation!"
"What situation?"
"Zeth, you're an artificial underling!"
Zach obnoxiously smiles as he puts his index finger up.