"Mghn! Mghn!"
"Quiet, kid. I'm your father now."
"Agagaga..!!"
"Look at him, he's so happy."
072 found himself being pitifully carried, forcibly escorted by the three Deviants. He squirmed and kicked, punching and pulling at the red-haired man's clothes. He sunk his little teeth onto the man's shoulder, determined to draw blood.
"Anana.."
'Father? What's 'father'? No... Am I.. Am I his now?'
No, no, no! He can't go back. He won't, he won't! Bile rose in his throat at the thought. He can't go back to that same, monotonous lifestyle anymore! He can't go back to being controlled... he must find a way out--!
BITE, BITE, BITE..
The clothes the man was wearing felt like hard rock against his teeth. No matter how much force he put into his bites, he couldn't force through it. The man chuckled. "Someone's got spirit."
"Fiesty, aren't you?"
"Anugh.."
072 let out a whimper.
"Uu... Awawa.."
The red-haired man patted his back as 072 continued to sniffle and cry. The other two men paid them no mind, their gaze drawn to a greenish, heavily armored vehicle. It bore the Deviants' logo--- a large 'D' encircled by three rings--- and below it, the name 'The Citadel'.
"Alright, off we go, boys."
Fwing. The other two flung open the passenger door and climbed inside. The drunken Deviant fell asleep almost immediately. The red-haired man sighed, glancing at his other companion. He handed the sniffling 072 to him.
"Fossil, hold the kid and try to calm him down. Be gentle, or I'll snap your fingers off once we get back."
"Understood, sir."
"Stop calling me that. You're no longer a newbie. Just call me Rem."
"Yes, sir." The man called Fossil held 072 awkwardly on his lap.
072 bit Fossil's hand.
CHOMP!
"Ow."
"And make sure to put your gloves on."
"Ngarnagrnanrg!!"
Vrooom.
Rem climbed onto the driver's seat and started The Citadel. The vehicle backed out from the driveway and onto the main road. As Rem continued to drive, The Citadel started to emit loud, consistent alarms, and several vehicles in front of them cleared the way.
072 continued to hack at Fossil's shins, angry.
"Ashwitz shuwvehy!!"
He yelled and screamed at Fossil with what sounded like the baby version of curse words. Fossil simply patted him on the head, not bothering to avoid the blows.
"Easy, easy.."
The vehicle sped through the city. After a while of traveling, they reached the end of one of Metropolis' huge walls.
"We're reaching the entrance. Roll down the windows, Eli."
Eli, the drunk Deviant, simply snored. Rem clicked his tongue.
"Give the kid to him, Fossil."
"Ararrarawra!!"
SMACK!
"Ah, f/ck!!" Eli immediately woke up, 072's teeth now sinking onto his arm. He shook him off, furious. "What the hell was that for?!"
"Morning."
Eli cursed loudly at the other two, rubbing his temples. Now completely sober, his mood took a drastic turn. He grumbled as he pressed a button on the vehicle's wall. 072 scrambled back to Fossil, looking sour.
The Citadel's windows opened up. The part of the wall they were approaching suddenly started to creak.
072, whose teeth hurt from biting things for too long, turned his attention towards the windows.
"Restrain him."
"Mphh!!"
Now unable to launch himself out, 072 settled to watching what was happening outside. His body started to shake with shock.
The wall split apart, revealing a massive, reinforced gate. Armed guards in sleek, black armor stood at attention on either side, their faces obscured by tinted visors. They held long guns, the barrels glinting under the harsh lights that illuminated the entrance.
The Citadel slowed as it approached the gate. A scanner extended from the wall. Rem leaned a bit out on the driver's seat and pressed his fingerprint on the scanner. After a moment, he typed a few numbers and letters on it's control board.
A mechanical voice echoed from the hidden speakers.
"Authorization confirmed. Vehicle name; The Citadel. Individuals present ; Rem Flinch, 'The Rouge,' rank 7; Elisha Norville, rank 5; Fossil, 'The Warden,' rank 7; unknown individual, rank null. Please proceed to the Informations Bareau."
"Unah?!"
"We're here," Rem grinned.
RUMBLE.
With a grinding rumble, the gates slid open, revealing a long, descending ramp that disappeared into the depths of the earth. The air grew noticeably cooler. Rem revved the engine, and The Citadel plunged into the darkness, the heavy gates closing shut behind them.
072's breath hitched in his throat.
'What.. what is this place?'
Click. Rem turned on The Citadel's headlights.
072 craned his neck, trying to catch a glimpse of what lay ahead. His heart pounded with a mixture of fear and curiosity. The walls of the ramp were lined with pipes and cables, humming with power. Below him, he could hear the splash of water. This.. didn't look familiar with the Laboratory at all. He was sure it didn't plunge into darkness like this.. rather, everything was always very well-lit.
Deeper and deeper they drove, until the faint glow of the beautiful city above them was completely swallowed by the darkness. Everything around them was silent.
After sitting in complete silence for a while, the ramp finally leveled out, and The Citadel emerged into a vast, cavernous space.
'There's.. there are people underground?'
The scale of it was breathtaking. Towering structures of metal and concrete stretched as far as the eye could see, crisscrossed by walkways and platforms. The metal ceiling bristled with lights and wires. Vehicles zipped along roads leading to tunnels and ramps, and figures in the same black uniforms hurried about, carrying weapons.
The air was thick with the sounds of machinery and the hiss of steam.
"Hey-- can you fix this for me?"
"I haven't drafted the request yet.."
"Youch!!"
While the city above was bright and clean and bustling with life, this place was all high-tech functionality-- with no regard for appearances. Everyone here either looked fresh or incredibly battered; there was no in-between.
The 'Metropolis' above was a stage for humanity's triumphs. This was the backstage, the true nature of Metropolis; a gritty, unglamorous place focused on survival.
"Home sweet home."