Chapter 2: The Meeting

"So, Belle, what's the plan?" Norm asked, trying to mask the anxiety in his voice.

"Well, judging by the color and shape of the Cleaner bot, it's from the south of the city," Belle began, her tone shifting from casual to serious. "They're under the control of one of the king's generals—the Blazing Knight Alphade."

"Wow, that's a killer name. I wish I had a title like that," Norm said, clearly impressed.

Belle smirked, shaking her head. "You? With a name like that? Not a chance."

Norm rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. But seriously, what's the plan here?"

Belle's expression turned serious. "General Alphade is a different level. His hand-to-hand combat skills are legendary. We're not dealing with some run-of-the-mill foe here."

"I can take him. Have you forgotten who I am? I am—" Norm began, but Belle cut him off.

"This is no time for jokes, numb nuts. Fighting him is suicide," Belle said, her frustration evident.

Norm sighed, his bravado deflating. "Sorry. I'm just anxious. I just want Adam back safely."

"We will get him back safely," Belle said, her voice firm with determination. "No matter what."

There was a brief silence before Belle broke it, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Anyway, what's your relationship with that Adam kid? You seem pretty protective of him."

Norm hesitated for a moment, his eyes distant as he recalled the past. "Adam and I go way back. We're both orphans. When he was seven, his parents tried to flee the city. I saw it happen—his mom was trying to grab him when a bot sliced her arm off. She went down screaming, and his dad rushed to save her. It was brutal."

Norm paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I saw them from a distance and knew I had to act. So, I ran towards them. That's when I saw something I'll never forget. His dad… he fought those bots with just a pipe. But it wasn't just a normal pipe—it was vibrating, glowing red-hot. And somehow, his hands weren't burned by the heat. Then… in a flash, he moved faster than I could see, and suddenly, all six bots were cut cleanly in half. It was… amazing."

Belle listened, her playful demeanor replaced by genuine awe. "That's incredible. And terrifying."

"Yeah," Norm nodded, his voice quieter now. "That's why I look out for Adam. No one should have to go through what he did."

Meanwhile, in the southern part of the city, a formidable fortress loomed, its silhouette cutting sharply against the smoky, orange-tinged sky. The stronghold, a bastion of steel and stone, stood impregnable, encircled by towering walls bristling with artillery. Each turret was manned by automated guns, their barrels silently tracking the horizon for any sign of movement. At regular intervals, the walls were punctuated by guard towers, where Cleaners—the ruthless bots programmed for one purpose—patrolled ceaselessly, their sensors sweeping the perimeter in search of intruders.

The air around the stronghold was thick with the metallic scent of machinery and the low hum of energy fields that protected the base from aerial assaults. Beneath the darkened sky, a sense of unease pervaded the area, as if the very ground was saturated with the dread of what lay within those walls. This was the domain of the Blazing Knight Alphade, one of the seven generals under the king's command—a place where fear and power coalesced into an almost tangible force.

Inside the stronghold, the atmosphere was starkly different. Here, the oppressive gloom of the outside world gave way to the cold, sterile environment of high technology. The interior of the fortress was a maze of sleek corridors, illuminated by the harsh, white light of overhead strips. The walls, made of reinforced alloy, were adorned with intricate circuitry that pulsed with a faint, blue glow, hinting at the sophisticated systems running through them.

In the heart of the stronghold, a central chamber housed the elite few known as the "high humans." These individuals, though similar in appearance to the humans that populated the underground city, carried themselves with an air of superiority. Their skin was pale, almost luminescent under the artificial lights, and their eyes—sharp and calculating—glowed faintly, a side effect of the nanites coursing through their bodies. These were not ordinary soldiers; they were the vanguard of a new age, their veins filled with microscopic machines that granted them near-godlike abilities.

The twelve high humans stationed in Alphade's stronghold were not warriors but researchers—military scientists tasked with exploring and exploiting the city's underbelly. Their mission was one of both discovery and control. As they moved about their work, the air around them would occasionally shimmer, the nanites within their bodies responding to their thoughts. In a matter of seconds, a high human could conjure a tool or weapon from thin air, the nanobots swarming together to create something tangible from the intangible.

One such high human, a tall, slender figure with a sharp, angular face, paused in the middle of a corridor. Their hand twitched almost imperceptibly, and in response, the air around them seemed to ripple. A sleek, black tablet materialized in their grasp, its surface smooth and cold. With a flick of their wrist, the tablet came to life, displaying a series of complex data streams and blueprints. The high human's eyes flickered with interest as they scanned the information, their mind working at a pace no unenhanced human could match.

The data on the screen was a compilation of their recent findings—anomalies detected in the lower levels of the city. The researchers had been probing these areas for months, searching for something of great value. The high human's fingers danced across the screen, pulling up a detailed map of the underground city, overlaid with sensor readings that highlighted areas of interest.

They frowned, their brow furrowing in concentration. Something was not adding up. The readings were inconsistent, fluctuating in ways that defied the known laws of physics. It was as if the very fabric of reality was thinner in these places, like a veil that could be torn aside to reveal something else—something older and far more dangerous.

"Interesting…" the high human muttered to themselves, their voice a cold whisper. They tapped a command into the tablet, sending the data to the central server. This information would need to be analyzed further, but the preliminary findings suggested that their mission was far from over. There was more to this city—much more than anyone had anticipated.

As they turned to continue their work, the high human couldn't shake the feeling that they were on the verge of a monumental discovery. But with that excitement came a creeping sense of dread. For all their technological prowess, they knew that there were some things in this world—things from the old times—that were better left undisturbed.

"I must return to his lordship—the bots have arrived," one of the high humans said, barely able to contain their excitement. The words were spoken with a sharp edge of anticipation, as if the arrival of the bots signaled the culmination of some long-awaited event. Their eyes gleamed with a fervor that belied the typically cold, calculated demeanor of their kind. The nanites within their body responded to this surge of emotion, causing a faint shimmer in the air around them as they turned briskly on their heel, eager to relay the news to the Blazing Knight Alphade. This was more than just a report—it was the herald of something significant, something that could potentially shift the balance of power within the city.

Shwooosh! Dunnnn!

The aircraft touched down in the heart of the stronghold with a low hum, its landing gear compressing under the weight. As the engines powered down, the doors hissed open, releasing a small platoon of bots that marched out in perfect synchronization. Adam was the last to disembark, his steps hesitant as he scanned his surroundings, a mixture of curiosity and anxiety tightening in his chest. "Where am I?" he asked, his voice barely steady.

"Classified," a bot responded curtly, its mechanical voice devoid of emotion. The procession moved forward, guiding Adam through the stronghold's imposing corridors toward an ominous-looking door.

As the door slid open, Adam found himself in a sterile, dimly lit chamber. Awaiting him was one of the high humans, a figure clad in a pristine white lab coat. The man's expression was one of intense focus, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing mixture of fascination and ambition. Without a word, the high human raised his arm, and Adam noticed something strange—his skin rippled as if alive, then parted to reveal a thin, translucent screen that emerged from beneath the surface.

The screen flickered to life, displaying data that made the high human's eyes widen with glee. "Ohohoho! This is the one we've been looking for!" the high human exclaimed, his voice shrill with excitement, as if he had just discovered a priceless treasure.

Adam's heart raced. "What? Me?" he stammered, his mind reeling as confusion and fear took hold. He had no idea what they wanted from him, but the man's reaction made it clear that whatever it was, it was far from ordinary.

"Adam Westly. Age 14. Height 5'4". Lean build. Light complexion. Dark hair. Green eyes." The high human scrutinized Adam with a clinical gaze as they proceeded down the long, dimly lit corridor. "Impressive details, don't you think?" Adam's eyes darted nervously, trying to make sense of the situation. "H-how do you know my name? And what is that...thing?" he stammered, his voice wavering with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"Oh, this?" The high human lifted his arm, revealing the small, sleek device embedded in his skin. "This is a sophisticated piece of technology known as nanites, composed of microscopic nanobots. Did it startle you when it emerged from my skin? Hehehe." The high human's laughter was both unsettling and condescending. "I suppose someone from the underground wouldn't be familiar with such advanced gadgets."

As they continued, the corridor's walls, adorned with intricate engravings of the kingdom's symbols, gave way to a grand door at the end. The door was imposing, bearing a detailed emblem of the kingdom: a formidable figure holding a spear that pointed towards a distant planet.

The high human stopped before the door and addressed it with a tone of reverence. "Your lordship, we have arrived."

The door creaked open, revealing a spacious chamber beyond. Inside stood a commanding figure, dressed in a richly decorated military uniform. The man was massive, his imposing stature accentuated by the array of medals and insignia adorning his uniform. His presence exuded authority and intimidation.

"So, Adam, was it?" The man's voice was deep and resonant, carrying an air of authority. He was unmistakably Alphade, one of the king's feared generals. Adam's heart pounded as he took in the sight of the formidable general. "You are a hindrance to His Majesty's plans."