Chapter 5: Substance

People blindly follow the rules. My family, friends, teachers, classmates - every single person I know in my life does. Why am I different? Why do I feel like I am suffocating? This desire for freedom, where does it come from?

The two boys spent the night going around the city admiring it. For the first time, Liam was doing such a thing, but somehow he felt no fear, quite the opposite - calmness, equanimity. He was waiting for something like this, something that would finally break his monotonous life. After a long walk across the neighborhood, Arthur took Liam to the rooftop of a modest building, which had a nice view of one of the main roads of the sector. They sat down on the edge, their legs hanging, and Arthur took out two sodas from his backpack.

- This is my favorite spot. I come here every now and then to clean my mind - said Arthur while looking at a passing car. - To be honest, I thought you wouldn't want to go out. I was surprised you actually accepted my offer and even come so far when you know what happens if we break the rules.

- I don't know why I did it too. I just felt comfortable going with you. - He is different from the others, he doesn't care about my family's background, and the fact that I am Devon didn't even make the slightest change of heart in him thought Liam. - This sure was a hell of a first day! I had lots of fun.

- I am happy you feel that way. We can do it again sometime if you want to.

- For sure! By the way, I just remembered. Didn't you want to show me something?

- I don't want to ruin your day. We should call it quits for today. - said, Arthur.

- But I want to see, I am curious.

- It's late. Maybe another day. Now, the fun part begins! We have to climb on these rooftops to our school.

- Are you for real? - Liam said a bit nervous, but it was too late. Arthur started running and jumped onto the building next to the one they were on. The gap between them wasn't big - around 2 and a half meters wide. Well, screw it thought Liam and stepped up to the edge.

It wasn't long before the boys were again in their dorm full of sweat and exhausted from the just-finished sprint. Liam was so tired, he just went to his bed and threw himself on it, and fell asleep. Arthur was just about to take off his jacket when his phone started buzzing in his pocket. He took it out and saw the following message: "SPIDER PLUG#3179 ACTIVATED. TARGET: SUBSTANCE.". Again this error? The robot must be malfunctioning, but why now? The spider plug that Karl Hillman gave him was still in his backpack. He took it out and left it on the floor. The spider started moving on its own toward the target. It reached the wall and started bumping into it over and over again. I should deactivate it, and take it apart. Because of it, I was almost caught. Just as he was reaching to stop it, it started moving towards the window. It climbed the wall and just before jumping from the window Arthur caught it. This behavior was very unusual. It looks like it's really going somewhere. No, it's a malfunction, quit dreaming. But if it isn't? What if it's following really something? His phone started buzzing again: "TARGET MOVING. RECOORDINATING. MOVE TO TARGET". Arthur finally decided to check it out, just in case. He took his backpack, disabled all legs of the spider plug except one so that he could use it as a compass, and started following its movement. Liam was fast asleep.

The small leg of the robot was going crazy - left, right, left, right. Arthur was trying his best to follow its movements but to no avail. This stupid thing, I knew it was just broken, thought Arthur. Then suddenly, the spider plug's leg stopped jiggling, and started pointing towards an alley across the street Arthur was on. He quickly crossed it and went into the dark alley. It was very late and very dangerous to go around in a place like this, so the boy used the metal staircases on the buildings to climb on their roofs, and observe from the sky. When he reached the end of the roof the robot's leg pointed directly down. So, right below me, you say. All I see is a van. Well, wouldn't hurt to check what this ''substance'' is. And so Arthur started going down the staircase.

- Check if they are all in.

- I told you I already checked three times.

Two men were talking next to the van's driver's door. When Arthur pulled out from his backpack a mask, the boy which was shaking and hesitating was no more - ShiruEto was in control. He moved differently from earlier, faster, soundless, in no time he was behind the truck listening to the two men:

- Boss said he wants them in about an hour. Wonder what he does with so many?

- It's non of our business and honestly, from what I've heard, these things go against our physical laws.

- Bullshit. Just rumors, don't believe everything.

- Well you've seen what is capable of... is someone there?

- What? Did the paranoia hit you?

- I think I heard something. Let's check it. You know the orders - leave no witnesses.

The two workers put out their guns and slowly started walking to the back of the van. When they reached the trunk no sign of life was visible, everything was normal. Arthur was nowhere to be seen either.

- I told you.

- Shhh... what's this down the alley? Do you see it? - in front of them, in the dark, two red dots started glowing. - No... shoot him! - As soon as he spoke those words, blood splattered everywhere. The worker fell on the ground on his back.

- Crap! Kyle! - The other worker shot three times blindly and hid behind the van. - Fuck you! I need backup! I repeat I need backup! - He screamed in his walkie-talkie on his chest, then took out from his pocket a purple-blueish bullet, and put it in his pistol. The worker peeked, but his opponent was still hiding, his co-worker was lying on the floor, still breathing but unconscious. His right shoulder was shot. While he was observing the scene, the worker felt a presence behind him. He instantly threw himself forward and did a 180-angle turn. Behind him, he saw a figure in a jacket with a hood on, a mask with two red lights covering his eyes, and a black mask covering his mouth. The worker shot, but the bullet went right through the figure.

- A hologram. - said a synthetic voice behind him. But before the worker could react he felt his body becoming colder and colder. He fell to the ground unable to move. With his last powers, he took out the strange bullet and squeezed it.

- ShiruEto. These two red dots, and gadgets, can't be anyone else.

- Hello Patrick Daimen.

- How did...

- You know what I'm famous for. Now - ShiruEto grabbed his head and smashed it into the ground leaving the man unconscious - let's see what's inside the van.

Be careful next time. You put too much force, said a woman's voice from the speakers in the mask of ShiruEto. I know what I'm doing, now be quiet I have work to do. My scan shows unidentified material in this van, many of my backup programs are crashing when you get closer, said the woman's voice. Assistant shutdowns. Good, silence, at last, thought Arthur.

He got to the trunk of the van. All of his electronics were malfunctioning. He took an id card that he took from one of the workers and put it in front of the scanner. The locks on the trunk from red turned green, and the doors opened. It was full of capsules not very big - around forty centimeters tall, pretty thin with a handle at the top so they could be carried.

Now, what do we have here? Some type of fluid? On all of them was written "K.A.O.S CLASSIFIED". So these pigs keep their shady business behind people's backs, then talk about justice and perfection, thought ShiruEto. I will be taking two or three, they won't miss them.

The paralyzed worker with a smashed head woke up. Still unable to move, but he had enough strength to turn the situation upside down. Just the right time needed to come. Sirens started to be heard in the distance - the backup. ShiruEto was just about to leave when his voice assistant came back online - WATCH OUT! INCOMING! - Incoming what? Just when he thought this, below his legs the strange bullet that the worker was holding fell. It burst and a big explosion happened.

- Careful! He may still be alive! - said the incoming backup team.

- No sign of him! I repeat no sign of ShiruEto!

- I got him guys don't worry. He is sure to be dead - yelled the worker.

- What do you mean?

- I threw one of the fluid bullets. It exploded. Nothing was left of him.

- Where is the van?

- It got destroyed by the explosion, but I and my deputy driver are alive.

- Is the stock destroyed too?

- Yes I told you. The van exploded...

- Mr.Daimen thank you for your services.

- Wait wait wait! Please! Don't! I have a child and...

The soldier put a bullet into his forehead. They shot the other worker too.

- Take the bodies and leave no traces behind.

- Excuse me, sir, we found this in the chaos of the explosion.

The soldier handed a mask with one eyeglass broken, the other shining in red.