Passing Through The Lines

Chapter 9: Stipulation

Al starts to cook, Fuego sits in the chair beside the refrigerator. A few minutes later, Sebastian arrived. Alger has cut all the ingredients and is about to start cooking. Sebastian opened his mouth.

"Be sure that those food are appetizing"

"Of course"

You're going to love this food I made.

In half an hour the food was done. The smell of three types of food is instinctively in their nose. Fuego gets a plate for three and brings it to Sebastian and Al. They get in and dig in. As the saying goes, the food was delicious and amazing.

"This food is delicious, Al" Fuego said while his mouth was full.

Sebastian just nodded with a smile to Al. After some time they finished the dishes and Sebastian invited them to see something.

"Where are we going?" Al said.

"Into the prototypes" he smiled.

They stop at a wall with the painting of gladiolus surrounded by white roses, besides the painting is a gargoyle with two heads looking at the different parts of the hall. Sebastian pulled up the head looking to the left hall and twisted the other head to the left.

A click sound was heard and accompanied the tune of the creak. The wall moved where the painting was. A Staircase going down appeared in their vision. Fuego opened his mouth.

"Is this a secret door?"

Sebastian looks at Fuego and says.

"Hmm… Stay a secret kid"

He covered his mouth and proceeded to their destination. They entered and the wall closed. As they walked down the staircase the light opened in every step they made. Both of them were amazed by the staircase functions. After some time, they have reached the end of the staircase and only a metal door with small rectangular glass on the top and a recognition system.

Sebastian reached the recognition system, fattened him to the system and an AI voice was heard.

"You're verified as Sebastian. You may proceed now"

The door opened and an extravagant place was seen. Al and Fuego were amazed by the view. They couldn't believe the things they're seeing.

Multiple people are wearing white robes and others are black, making things like A compact shield that size like a watch that covers your whole body to protect from bullets, A gun that shoots lasers, A jetpack that can fly in the air but also has an offense mechanism like bombs and automatic gun aiming and many inventions.

They proceed to a place where people of the place are limited to enter. The door is black with a sign 'enter if you have access and only those who do have access can enter that door.

Sebastian called the staff to get Fuego because he doesn't need to know the inside. Al agreed and advised him to stay there until they finished what was inside.

Fuego agreed and went to the waiting area for them. After they had gone, Sebastian raised his hand, made a fist, and pointed his ring in his finger to the scanner. It's a ruby-like jade ring with a gold holder. As he tapped the ring the door opened and stained glass was ahead of them.

They went inside and released a disinfectant gas. The stained glass opened, the area was extremely beautiful, lab beakers, condenser, graduated cylinder, etc.

The laboratory is in completed furniture in their experiments. Three people were watching them enter. The man with a red robe walks towards Al. He simply observes his body up and down. Sebastian opened his mouth.

"Marcus stepped aside. I'd Like to introduce you all. Hiraki's son, Zachary Alger Miñienza"

The three look at each other. Al was a bit nervous about them. He stood steadily and put a cold face to them. Sebastian speaks again.

"Okay, that's nice. I'll introduce them to you Al. On the left side is Marcus Gates Escalante, the middle is Halberd brew Cueto and lastly James Bustillo"

What should I do? Do I have to say something? Whatever.

Al moved forward and put his hand in front to shake hands with them. The three look at each other and start laughing.

Al was surprised so he laughed a bit too. The three stopped and Marcus shook hands with Al. Marcus opened his mouth.

"You're Hiraki's son? Nice to meet you"

The next who shook hands is Halberd and followed by James. Marcus speaks again.

"So, Sebastian? Is this kid going to join us?"

Sebastian looked at All and said.

"I don't know. He said last time that he needs time to recuperate. So I just leave him be"

"Why did you do that?" James abruptly said.

Who is this man to ru6pe me, you just want me because of my father?

"It's Al's condition so respect him"

"Sigh…"

James went to the back and continued to do what he's doing. Marcus and Halberd went to the side with Al and Sebastian to present something they discovered. Marcus opened his mouth.

"Here. This is the 'XV67' it's a big bomb as you can see"

He raised the beaker and a grass-like substance was inside.

"If this substance combines in the air it will explode up to 20-meter radius. It's a high and rare bomb that we make"

The next they show is an armor suit that has a square-shaped container and instead of hard metal, it's made from liquid metal.

Halberd gets the armor and places it on Al's chest. The square-shaped container instantly liquidized and now protects Al's body. Halberd speaks up.

"This invention I made is an armor that can protect its user. It can block bullets from a sniper, a knife from sneak attack but bombs can penetrate you because it's only for blades and bullets"

Halberd gets the knife on the table and throws it to Al's body but sucks instantly and becomes part of the liquid armor.

"You just made your new armor, Halberd," Sebastian said.

"Well, that's my profession" he flicks his finger and wink to Al.

Marcus and Halberd went back to their place and continued their doing.

"We're leaving now, focus on your inventions"

They went out and saw Fuego laughing with the staff he was with.

"That's super funny, bro," the staff said.

"Hahaha, yeah. Ohh! Wait. I think they're done inside"

Fuego ran towards Al with shining eyes. He asked in a joyous tone.

"What's the inside Al?"

Oh no… This kid is still here.

"Well… it's good inside. But it's a confidential matter, so…"

"Let's go to the surface. You need to see all the bases here"

Al nodded while Fuego's joy, dim. They went to the base camp where the forces are training. All people who are there are instance and looking straight with their hand saluting to Sebastian.

"Do they usually the salute thing?"

"Yes, they do. They're showing respect for their superior, that's me of course"

Suddenly, a person approaches them and salutes. They stop and Sebastian salute, they both down their hands and the person speaks.

"Superior Sebastian, welcome to the basecamp also, to your guest welcome to the basecamp"

"Thank you, Captain Lewis. You may proceed with your doing"

"Yes, Sir!"

All people who salute down their hands and continue what were they doing. As Al saw Captain Lewis, he thanks him properly because he was the one who allows entering the palace and communication with Nicolas and Sebastian.

Captain Lewis nodded to him and went to practice. Sebastian opened his mouth.

"Al, this is the basecamp where the forces trained themselves to the weapon we create. But in your case, you need a bit of workout to get strong cuz you look a bit timid for me"

Al tucks his hand in his pocket. He opened his mouth.

"Yeah. I need to work out, I get bullied all the time at school because of this timid body"

"If you join us. You can build your strength here. Also, you can use our weapons here. But I don't know your mind right now, so I'll be patiently waiting for the answer"

Sebastian's words are not bad. If I joined them and trained here, I don't have to think about the bullies at the school. But the bad news is I will be in here for the rest of my life.

"Al? Is my sister okay?" Fuego asked in a low voice.

"Yeah, she's now okay" Sebastian answer smilingly.

Al patted his head to comfort him.

The sun has dim and the moon shines. Alger was inside the palace and eating with Nicolas, Sebastian, and Fuego with the chef's dish.

The table that lengths like a bus that has Fried chicken, beef steaks, mashed potatoes, baby back ribs, and ice tea and wine for the adults.

Al and Fuego were surprised about the food.

It smells delicious in the dining room. Fuego this is your opportunity to taste this kind of food of course me too.

"Dig in," Nicolas said.

Al takes the beefsteak and cuts a small piece.

"This taste so rich. How can the chef make this? It's just delicious"

"Yeah, it's super delicious. I've never tasted this kind of food.

Nicolas take his glass and raised it.

"Let's cheers our glass. To the people who visited the palace, cheers"

They cheer and drink liquids in their glass.