THE FADE SYSTEM

CHAPTER 5: THE REBELS.

“Big brother Buck!” The Children in the camp site spotted Bucky as they ran towards him.

Bucky laughed and hugged them. He picked up the smallest one.

He turned to Klaus. “Everyone, meet my new friend, Klaus. He’ll be staying here for a while. Be nice to him.”

A little girl tugged Klaus’ cloak. “Do you want to play a game with us?”

Klaus looked confused. “I don’t know how to play games.”

The children gasped. “You don’t know how to play?”

They grabbed his hands and pulled him toward a spot on the ground. "We'll teach you!"

Bucky watched and smiled. “Well, at least you don’t look like a sad ghost anymore.”

Whack! Something hit Bucky’s head knocking him down.

“Oww! What was that?” he rubbed his head as he looks up at hisattacker - A young woman with sharp eyes and long brown hair tied ina loose bun. “Alice…”

'An Enemy?' Klaus thought as he rushes to Bucky's side.

Alice folded her arms and glared at him. “Are you insane, Bucky? Why would you bring a complete stranger here? What if he’s a spy sent by the Royal Knights?”

Klaus met her glare calmly. “I am not a spy.”

Alice blinked. “Oh, great. He said he’s not a spy. Everything’s fine then.”

Klaus nodded once. “Good. I am glad you believe me.”

Alice’s eyes narrowed. “That was sarcasm, you dunce!"

"Sarcasm?"

"Yes, sarcasm. Don't tell me you don't know what that is?" Alice facepalmed.

Klaus tilted his head. “I know what it means. I just don’t understand the point of using a form of humour to refute my statement... Wouldn’t it be easier to give a straight answer?"

Alice blinked twice. She didn't even bother answering Klaus as she turns to Bucky, “Where the f**k did you find this weirdo?”

Bucky chuckled. “He’s not a spy, Alice. Trust me. The Royal Knights were already hunting him before I even stepped in.”

Alice’s eyes widened. “Wait. Is he the dangerous intruder who caused the uproar at the gate this morning?”

Bucky puffed out his chest. “Yup. That’s him.”

Without warning, Alice punched Bucky hard in the stomach. He flew back and hit the tunnel wall with a thud.

“You i***t!” she shouted. “We’re almost at the last stage of our plan which is also the most crucial part! Instead of playing it safe for the next few days, you decide to bring a person like that into our camp like it’s no big deal?!”

Bucky groaned as he got back on his feet. “Alice… isn’t the whole point of the Cove to protect people like us? Outcasts. Orphans. Misfits. If we don’t help our own, then how can we ever change things?”

Alice didn’t reply.

Bucky walked over and dusted himself off. “We want to destroy the system that keeps the nobles at the top and pushes the rest of us down. That means giving people like Klaus a chance too. And besides—he’s interesting. I watched him toy with the Knights all over the City. That takes some skill.”

Alice let out a long sigh. “There’s no changing your mind, is there?”

Bucky grinned. “Nope. You know me.”

She shook her head. “Fine. But don’t blame me if things go south.”

Bucky turned to Klaus. “Come on. I’ll show you your tent.”

They walked a short distance to a small, worn-out tent near the back of the camp. Bucky handed Klaus a folded set of clothes.

“Here. They’re not new, but they’re better than what you’re wearing.”

Klaus looked at the clothes before raising his head to face Bucky. "You know, the grumpy lady has a point... Why go out your way for someone you don't even know?"

Bucky rubs his chin thinking of an answer. He snaps his finger and grins at Klaus. "That's simple - Helping those in need is a part of my dream."

Klaus blinked. "Dream? What messed up cheesy rubbish are you spouting now?"

"It's not rubbish! My dream is to build a place where people aren’tjudged by their birth... A place where there are no such things as highborns and lowborns... A place where it's people are equals."

“That sounds farfetched,” Klaus refuted bluntly. “No two people aretruly equal.

Bucky shrugged. “Maybe. But it doesn't mean I shouldn't try, plus, having a dream gives my life meaning. Don't you have something you want to do with your life?"

Klaus pondered the question before choosing his words, “I... I do... I want to find out the truth about myself and recover my lost memories."

Bucky laughed. “That’s not a dream. That’s more like a prerequisite. Let's say... After you get your memories back, what else?"

Klaus did not have an answer for Bucky. He has spent an eternity in the Fade thinking of how he can get his memories back. But not once did he ever developed the thought of what he would do after getting those memories back.

Klaus looked away. “I see…”

"Seems like I just succeeded in making you speachless. I'll wear this achievement like a medal of honor, hehe."

Klaus gave a faint smile, "Don't get used to it, Bucket head."

***

Varyon stood tall near the wide glass window of his office. His black and gold Royal Knight uniform shone faintly under the room’s dim lights. From where he was standing, he could see the entire city.

On one side, the streets were bright, clean, and organized. Streetlights lined the paths, and carriages moved in order. That was the Noble District.

On the other side, there was only darkness. No lights. The roads were broken, and garbage piled up at every corner. That was the slum district, home of the lowborn.

There was a knock at the door.

“Enter,” Varyon said without turning around.

A woman in a red Royal Knight uniform stepped in. She knelt on one knee and placed her fist on the floor.

“Baron Varyon,” she greeted.

“So…?” He didn't spare her a single glance.

“The intruder is still at large,” she reported. “His last known location was near the alley in Sector Twelve. The Royal Knights that I questioned reported that he had received help from...Bucky Bane.”

“Outlaw King Bucky Bane... " Varoyn sneered.

The woman gave a short nod. “Yes, sir.”

He finally turned to face her as his sharp eyes met hers.

“Captain Nissa, what will you say is the role of The Royal Knights?"

Nissa gulped, "We are the shield of the great nation of Varlor. We protect the order that holds this world together."

"Good, good. Then Isn’t it our sworn duty to guard the sacred hierarchy of Nobility which is the heart of the Kingdom itself?”

“Yes, sir."

Varyon’s tone darkened. “Then why are we letting a band of gutter-born scum stain our name?”

Nissa was quiet.

“First, it was that rebel Bucky Bane... Him and his little pests have been biting at our heels for years. And somehow, we still do not know where they’re hide-out is. ” His eyes narrowed. “Now there’s an intruder in the city. Someone strong enough to control elite-grade monsters… walking around freely under our noses.”

He stepped closer to her. A dark reddish aura begins to leaked from his body, it was hot like wild burning fire. Nissa felt like she was being choked. The very air around her thickened as she gasps for air. Whenever Varyon took a step, her heart would skip a beat.

Varyon stopped just inches away.

“If your report is correct, then there’s a real chance this stranger and Bucky are working together.”

Nissa held her tongue.

“I’m expecting a guest soon,” he said. “Someone very important. And when they arrive, everything must be flawless.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched at his mere touch.

“You have full authority now,” he said. “Use any method. Any force. Find their base. Find that rebel. Or else…”

Nissa brought her head as low as she could bowing to the Baron. “Your wish is my command sir!"

"Good, you may leave."

Without so much as another word and not wanting to spend another second in the Baron's office, Nissa stood up and rushed out of the room.

Alone once again, Varyon walked over to his desk and picked up his phone raising it to his ear.

“We have a problem, the Supreme King has returned."