The 89th Hero

After having finished his preparations for the day, Simon returns to his apartment where he cooks a meal for himself then tries to get into contact with his family over the Silk Belt. Once it was known as the Silk Road but it was transformed into a heavily fortified set of walls and fortresses which were very integral during the Kuiper attacks from the subcontinent. He was not from the eastern end of the Belt but rather the westernmost point which ended up in old Antioch. As to how Simon ended up there it is a whole other story, his parents as every single other individuals with powers, travelled from the furthest corner of Humanity's bastions towards the centre, aiming for a chance to live inside the Century tower but he was too young at the time to truly remember where he originates from. If that's even something humans can say now. After the impact, much if not all of humanity has been mixed all over the earth with very few places remaining truly the same as before the war. It would have been inevitable for humans to kill one another in the chaos and such the Saviour intervened and killed the weak before the strong could be dragged into a civil war. With what remained the Saviour swirled all the people around and forced them into speaking a single language. He didn't however managed to influence a few places which remained culturally and linguistically the same, thriving during the time of the war. One such places was the land of the rising sun which kept its name as Japan and its powerful cultural influence dominates the higher end world of the Century City.

Although of great fame inside the city, the 101st resident of the Century Tower did have a reason to belong there. The highly awarded chef was as much a cook as he was a doctor. But that's beyond the reason as to why Simon had to be there that morning. If and only if he was lucky he would catch a glimpse at one of Humanity's protectors, but most likely all he will see that day will be the side of boxes. Early in the morning, just as the first shift of work ended and the second started, lorries full with fresh produces from all around the Sea of Grass were being transported to the Century tower. Following underground roads, the trucks reach the base of the tower where labourers wearing the official uniform of the tower, would unpack all the produce and carry them into the kitchen where chef Enzo was already hard at work.

Simon puts on the uniform which he finds inside his new locker. Some people looked at him funny but nobody asked him a thing, because of that red belt around his waist. While everyone wore blue uniforms with a while left sleeve, his had a bright red stripe around his waist which represented the fact he had powers. The uniform also came with work boots, gloves, a hard hat, a breathing mask and other protective gear but those weren't required at the moment. Once ready he follows everyone into the underground parking lot where the trucks were just parking.

"Get in line. Two people will get on the truck and they'll unload the crates. You take one and put them with the rest." A man in his forties tells Simon before starting work. There was everything from vegetables to fish, meats, spices and more. There were even some potted plants inside immense pots which required up to three people to carry. As Leo warned him, it was hard work but Simon wasn't afraid, happy to earn his lot in life.

"Damn it!" A man shouts as he slips carrying on the icy water created from unloading the fish crates. Only the trailer was frozen which served to keep the fresh fish cool during the transport. Simon gets to help him but the man refuses his help, immediately being castigated by the others.

"Are you stupid?" They shout at the floored man. "What if he tells number 4? Do you want to die?"

"I would never!" Simon defends himself immediately not even knowing who number 4 is.

"Of course, as if we're not aware you're another mole sent by number 4 just to mess with us."

"I do not know who number 4 is!" Simon defends himself to no avail but the men kept piling on him. Three times the ground is struck by the sound of a wooden cane and then everyone turns around distraught.

"Do not bring shame to me my boys. I've seen this man ask for work with my own eyes yesterday and it was not number 4 who hired him but the Lion." It was the same old man from yesterday who happened to pass by at that moment. It was a lie, he asked Leo to tell him where Simon would be stationed so he could check on him.

"Bow your heads imbeciles!" The biggest man in the group says, hitting those who accused Simon over the head.

"We're all sorry for our behaviour." They say at once before resuming their work. As Simon was about to return to his work as well, the old man stops him and hits a small metal box with his crane.

"Could you help me take this box to Enzo? It is quite heavy and filled with my favourite tea. I could not start my day properly without having a cup, can you understand me?"

"If it isn't a problem with..."

"Boy, this job was just to housebreak you in order to start properly serving the 100. Carrying boxes around won't help you achieve nothing, but helping me, the 89th hero in the tower will get you somewhere. Come, pick that box and do as I say." Simon knew that old man must have been a hero but that was an impressive number for someone which appeared so old. He was well mannered and mild and his eyes were filled with compassion but also tiredness. His hands and face were covered in scars and his white hair was flowing from underneath his brown hat which cornered his face alongside his scarf. His face was distorted by wrinkles and his mouth was nearly invisible while speaking thanks to his large white moustache.

Without saying a word, Simon picks up the box and starts following the 89th inside.

"How could this old man be the 89th hero you must be asking yourself. Am I right?"

"I... I have no familiarity with the 100 heroes but even I'm familiar with the number 2 strongest. I know shape, size or age has nothing to do with how powerful one is."

"Oh, but that is true only for the Star Gazer. I'm old and weak and although my powers haven't decreased in strength, my body did. They keep me around here for pity as a reward for my long time in service. I'm Lazar, the weakest of the official heroes of the tower."

"My name is Simon. It is a pleasure to meet you." He shakes his head before curiosity gets the better of him. "If there are 100 heroes, wouldn't you be stronger than those numbered from 100 to 90?"

Lazar shakes his free hand smiling.

"The bottom 10 always changes as they are the ones most often replaced. I'm the true breaking point where the heroes' ranking starts. If someone wants to truly be recognised as a hero of the tower they don't even have to fight me but go directly to number 88. Isn't that unfair to number 88, I get to keep my place no matter what while he can lose to someone far stronger than both of us?"

"I... I wouldn't know. I'm not here for a spot in the tower."

"Oh, but you are, just in a different aspect. For every hero there is a whole floor but their apartments make up only around 60% of the whole floor. The other 40% is filled with services for them to employ at any hour from food to cleaning to entertainers and so forth. Your goal is to make it up the tower while standing in that 40% which doesn't go to war or fight. Between you and me, you're quite smart for aiming at that. Only one other man made the same choice as you."

"Mr. Leo."

"He doesn't like being called 'Mr'. It makes him feel old although... never mind. Look at me, talking about being old." They reach an elevator separated from the ones used to transport goods up and down the tower.

"I'm not old! I'm still young, younger than I'll ever be. I'm not even 89 years old although everyone says that!" Then Lazar stops and smiles for a seconds. He doesn't say a word, simply resting against the glass window of the elevator.

"I'm sorry but it's only natural for old people to open up when in company of a young man who cannot escape their decrepit wisdom." He looks sad and Simons asks about it.

"Are you alright?"

"That's a good question but not a question you should make often, not until you get to know who you're working for inside the tower. We 100 have absolute power over life and death. The higher you go the ranks the more maniacs with a god complex you'll meet. You will work under good and bad people but there's one you should never work under. Never work under number 4!" Lazar says as the door to the elevator open leading to a small corridor then a richly decorated room filled with tables.

"That's a mighty unfortunate name you're speaking there 89."

"Those are some mighty sharp ears you have there Enzo." Lazar says as he heads towards the kitchen. The smell was overwhelming even as they were going up the elevator but as they get closer, Simon cannot help but salivate intensely at incredible smell. On the other side of the door there was master Enzo, alone cooking a feast.

Immediately as they enter the kitchen there was this immense table, twenty metres in length, divided in the middle. On the table there were a million ingredients and on each opposite side of it there were burners with enormous pans on them. Enzo was stirring with a spoon his length in size, an enormous pot, so large he had to climb a flight of stairs to get to the top of. As he brings out a spoon and tastes the broth he pulls out the wooden spoon out of the pot and hits the nearby table, touching a bowl full of unpeeled onions. As he gives the bowl a light tap the onions peel and dice themselves with the scraps flying directly into the trash. There were no juices on the counter. He makes a small twirl with the giant spoon and the onions fly into the soup and then he does the same with some meat and some carrots.

"The water is already boiling to the perfect temperature. Have you brought the tea?" Enzo says as he moves towards a whole tuna. He just touches the fish with his hand and it is gutted and cut into fillets by itself. With his finger he touches the hot pan and then the fish flies onto the fire with some aromatic oil following.

"Soon the heroes will wake up and those who were out fighting will return with an empty stomach."

"I am planning to go out myself soon." Lazar says as he approaches the boiling kettle. Enzo slaps his hand away with the far end of his spoon.

"There can be only one sun." He says insisting on preparing the tea himself.

"That's high and mighty of you to call yourself 'sun', especially when not one of the three of us has any power compared to the others of the tower."

"I'd be more afraid if number 52 hears of me calling myself that. That leads me to the question. Who is your new tea carrier?"

"The second human with powers that decided to work as a servant rather than a lord in the Century tower."

"Oh, at least don't torment me!" Enzo says making a really displeased face. "I, one of those who wish so much to be a warrior, born under the cruel fate of serving supper to those who can actually fight." Enzo was not a combatant by any means of the word. In battle the worst he can do is throw pepper at people or chop onions in their presence. His ability is to cook great food and for that great food to heal people. In that giant pot of his he was preparing around 200 litres of stock which the 100 take around with them every day during their missions. Simple beef stock, when drunk will give back stamina and alleviate light fatigue, even cure some light bruises. The more one eats and the higher the caloric power of each meal, the more he heals and the faster the effects work. Although Enzo's food never makes the consumer gain weight, having quite the opposite effect as it leads to the individual's optimal body. While eating a whole course meal might heal broken bones or save someone from organ failure, eating Enzo's food daily will lead to a muscular and fit body. Over time it even heals birth defects, straighten crooked bones and can heal chronic diseases. It cannot however replaced that which is lost. If someone loses a whole bone then the healing effect will stop and the nearest intact one, the only exception being ribs. He can heal missing ribs by feeding people apple pies. Other than that he is a desperate loser who wanted to fight and enter the tower as a warrior, only to lose to the 100th hero who managed to outlast Enzo's launch pack which he brought with him into the ring. Seeing his ability to heal, he was offered the chance to work at the tower and while respected and treated as one of the 100, he is still not one of them.

"So tell me boy. How weak is your power that you cower as a servant rather than aspire to be a warrior?" He says offering him a cup of tea while resuming cooking.

"I cannot say how strong my power is. I call it "armoury" and it allows me to store weapons inside my body, to make them appear out of the whole surface of my body and I cannot be wounded by them."

"That seems outrageously strong! The Oortians would never be able to hurt you!"

"It works only on melee weapons and the object has to be a weapon by design. If it is a dagger aimed at me then it will never hurt me, however if you pick up that kitchen knife and stab me with it I'll bleed. It is not the intent of the wielder but of the creator which matters."

"And still you wouldn't fight? I bet you can take this fossil down in a fight."

"If I fight and die, will my friends at the Orphanage be clothed and feed and kept warm when I'm gone?"

"If you ask the Lion, I'm sure it could be arranged, but you'd have to make it into the 100 first."

"Still, I have these with me." Simon says lifting his right sleeve. From inside his arm came out wooden spears, crudely crafted by unskilled hands. On each there was a message, every single one written in a different handwriting but all having the same meaning.

'The world would be a worse place without you big brother Simon.' All the messages were meant to dissuade him from fighting.

"Call them shackles if you want, call me a coward for hiding behind them but my parents and most of my siblings' parents died attempting to make themselves visible as to be invited to fight for a position in the tower. Those who live far away from the Sea of Grass can hardly make it here on their own. I had to track my way here, mostly on foot. Luckily because of the nomad laws, everyone is free to partake from the fruits of the Sea while travelling. I would rather live as a failure than die as an accomplished person."

"We're mostly the same." Enzo says knowing he lost people dear to him in the wars too.

"Fifty damned years and nothing changed." Lazar says hitting the ground with his cane. He finishes his tea in a single gulp then is ready to leave.

"Let's go Simon. I have decided to make you my personal servant. Enzo, I trust you to inform the Lion."

"Do it yourself old man"

"I can't see the letters on my phone any more."

"It has voice... commands." Lazar was already inside the elevator, taking Simon along with him.