Everywhere 072 looked, people crowded between dilapidated buildings. The source of the splashing sounds lay miles away, where a vast, man-made waterfall cascaded into a dark pool in a wide chasm, spanned by a distant bridge carrying a stream of vehicles. 072 may not have known it, but several waterfalls, just like this one, was also located underground-- every one of them supplying the entire place with power.
"..."
One thing's for sure, this was definitely, definitely not a Lab.
"Agagaa.."
072 gave up his mission of biting Fossil and sat peacefully on Fossil's lap.
Plop.
"Oh."
"He's calmed down," Fossil said in a monotonous voice.
"Good. That makes thing easier." Rem laughed, adjusting the rearview mirror. "We haven't introduced ourselves to you yet, huh, kid? My name is Rem-- the man who's holding you is known as 'Fossil'--" Fossil waved at 072 in what was meant to be a friendly gesture, but the motion looked far more like he was winding up for a slap, making 072 flinch--- "and the other one's Elisha, or Eli for short."
"The 'other one..' " Eli grumbled.
"Ahem-- it's very nice to meet you." Rem looked at 072 brightly, and The Citadel nearly crashed into another vehicle. 072 sat in a daze, unsure of what to do.
"Since the kid can't speak.. what should we call him?" Fossil asked.
"I doubt he has a name," Eli yawned. "His situation is probably like yours.."
"Oh. Shall we name him, then?" Fossil's voice rose to a slightly higher pitch. "I've been thinking of the name 'Bones..'"
"Why the hell would you want to name a kid 'bones?!' "
"Well, my name is Fossil--"
"And it suits you, you emotionless husk! Let's name him something normal, like 'Caleb' or 'James---' "
"But Bones does suit him. He's a bit thin."
"Really? He's small, so I was thinking of Peony." Rem said, looking over the driver's seat again.
FWUMP!
"Rararara!!"
Horrified, 072 fell off his place on Fossil's lap and shook his head vigorously. Even he, who had no experience with names, could tell that whatever Rem was suggesting sounded horrible.
'Ugh.. I don't want to be called 'Peony'..! "
"There, there, Bones." Fossil patted his head.
'I don't wanna be called that, either!' He scrambled back onto Fossil's lap and gave him a good smack to the chin with his head.
072 had by now completely abandoned the notion of escaping. After all, what was the point? The underground Metropolis was swarming with Deviants, and he doubted he could walk all uphill back to the surface.
He may as well stay with these odd-looking people. After all, they seemed to be nice.
The Citadel rumbled down the road, it's horn blaring at pedestrians who strayed into it's path (walking on roads instead of sidewalks seemed quite common around here). The Citadel moved fast despite it's weight, weaving past slower vehicles and executing a sharp turn to the side.
They were now crossing the bridge spanning the artificial waterfall. 072 watched in amazement as the water seemed to come from nowhere.
They reached an intersection, and after following a few signs, The Citadel slowed to a stop at a sizable parking complex. A diverse collection of vehicles occupied the bays, while Deviants bustled in and out.
"We're here. Fossil, carry Peony." Rem got out of the driver's seat.
"Yes sir." Fossil replied.
"...."
072 wisely chose to stay silent.
The building they had stopped at had atleast (if only 072 knew) three floors, taking up a huge area. Unlike most of the buildings he's seen, this one was painted white, and if 072 had known how to read, with the word 'Informations Bareau' in large 3d letters at the front.
The doors were made of glass. Rem lead the group and pushed them open.
"Hee-- hic!"
072 sneezed. A wave of cold air washed over him. It was absolutely freezing inside. Shocked, his tiny body started to shiver all over.
"I'm sorry, Bones.. it's a bit cold in here, isn't it?" Fossil wrapped an arm around him and hugged him closer.
"..Can you both stop with the names?" Eli said, irritated.
"Hic.. hic.."
The interior was equally impressive. At the room's center stood a massive globe, it's diameter easily measuring the height of two stacked men. Unlike the traditional globes, this one displayed the surface regions surrounding Metropolis.
072 gasped loudly as he observed a woman manipulating the globe, zooming in and out of various locations.
'What is that? I.. want to touch it!'
As he resumed his squirming and kicking, Rem and the rest of the team approached a booth at the far end of the room. Several similar booths were lined up in a row, with assigned workers attending to Deviants queuing in long lines and directing them to the elevators on either end. The walls to their left and right were filled with bulletin boards, televisions, and more of these booths.
They joined the queue and soon reached the front of the line. Rem gave the pretty, blue-haired information clerk a wave and a wink. The woman sipped on her coffee, her eyes a shocking vibrant shade of magenta.
"Hey, Aurelia. Things going good lately?"
The woman set her cup of coffee down and greeted him, leaning on the table.
"Yes, quite. It would have been even better if you had extended the duration of your missions."
"You're always so cold to me.."
Rem pretended to look hurt. Aurelia simply smiled. Eli coughed, and Fossil looked away.
"What is it that you need?"
"I've completed Norville's request. Can you tell him in advance before we get back to base?"
"Naturally. Anything else?"
"We've found quite an interesting specimen on our way back from our mission. We would like to have him accepted into our unit. He's a bit.. underage, but I believe he'd fit right in."
"Yes, of cou--- what, sorry?" Aurelia raised an eyebrow.
"I said we've found an interesting specimen to add to our numbers."
Rem stepped out of the way for Fossil, who brought 072 forward. 072 blinked at the intense light, his blue eyes fixating on the woman in front of him, whose mouth was wide open.
"Say hello, Peony."
"Say hello, Bones."
"Awra." 072 waved his hands at the woman, who effectively dropped her pen in shock. She stood up and took him from Fossil's arms.
"Why.. why in the hell do I sense the Earth's Energy in him?"
"Exactly why we brought him here for." Rem grinned. "There's a high possibility that we've just discovered something monumental."
As 072 wondered what was happening, Rem continued.
"This kid.. might be a new type of Deviant."