34 Nah We Can't Join Them

Jayce and Jenira sat upright in their chairs. Micu was becoming increasingly suspicious of them both. Their alternating facial expressions, the whispering, and their negative attitudes the whole time had him feeling he was definitely missing something. Ralnas was lost in a daydream about having wings and didn't seem to really be listening anymore.

Anna proudly spoke. "We follow the three main Overwatchers. There used to be five, did you know that?" Micu was truly surprised, "No I didn't, what happened to the other two?" A sad look came onto Anna's previously beaming face and she spoke softly. "They were corrupted by some of the mortal races here. They were tricked into going to war with the three pure Overwatchers. That's where we get our team name from. Luckily they were defeated before they destroyed everything." She looked at Micu resolutely, "it's just a reminder that we must always venerate their will and not seek to bend them to ours. They are pure beings and can be swayed by our mortal desires."

A confused Ralnas interrupted her. "That doesn't make any sense. If they are gods then how can they be controlled by us regular dudes?" Micu was thinking the same thing, though he admitted he would have probably asked it slightly differently.

Anna sighed, "Imagine you created everything and millions of your creations cried out for an easier existence and for you to take all the struggle out of their lives. Would you be able to resist? For how long? A million years? A billion? Those two Overwatchers were corrupted by beings with the noblest of intentions but we must not forget that there is a divine reason we are in this simulation. It is so the Overwatchers can protect us!" Her passion was breaking down the composed presence she had projected earlier. "If we don't value the only struggle they have placed before us then we don't value that they removed all other obstacles placed before us!" Arik gently placed a hand on her shoulder and she calmed down. "Sorry, I just get upset thinking of our previous mistakes. Imagine if we had five Overwatchers to worship..." a longing filled her words.

Micu could almost feel her pain. "If you weren't a fighter Anna you would make a great preacher." He said as genuinely as he could. She blushed and smiled in acceptance of his compliment. "I know that's a really long answer to your question Jayce, but in essence, there are three Overwatchers we worship and venerate." Arik said and then looked out over the room, "any other questions we can answer?"

Jayce shook his head as did Jenira. Ralnas had raised his hand again. "Okay let's talk the basic things. How much do you two get paid here?" The two team Pure members looked at each other. "Nothing," Arik said calmly, "we are provided food, housing, training, equipment, everything we could need. There's no reason for us to take vital resources that could be used to improve the team and the church." Ralnas stared at them dumbfounded.

"You don't get any money?" He said incredulously. Anna nodded, "I know it sounds crazy but I haven't even noticed it. It's kind of peaceful since you don't have to worry about anything other than earning glory for the Overwatchers." Ralnas eyed her suspiciously. Micu rested his head on his hand. He still wasn't sure why Jayce and Jenira seemed so angry but he knew they'd lost Ralnas interest completely with their latest statement.

Arik smiled, "anything else we can address for you guys while you're here?" Micu looked to his friends. It looked like the decision had already been made. He turned his head to face Arik. "No I think we're good, thank you both for all the time you spent with us today. How do we get in contact with you if we decide to join?"

Arik and Anna hadn't been expecting this at all. They had judged that the room had turned against them pretty strongly. "If you want to join all you have to do is knock on the gate! We'll let you right in and help you get adjusted to the team as fast as possible!" Anna was beaming with excitement. She and Arik had been briefed on how strong an addition this group of humans would make to their team in extreme detail. Micu smiled politely and gave a look to the others to do the same. Four smiles peered back at Arik and Anna.

"Then if we decide to return we will see you at the front gate." Micu nodded to her and then they stood in unison. "So how do we exit?" The four followed the two team Pure members back through the intricately decorated hallway and waved them off. As they boarded the taxi Anna turned to Arik. "You think they might actually join?" She asked with excitement making her voice rise. Arik nodded, "you never know the plans of the Overwatchers. Maybe!" He smiled down at her. The two hurried to report to the higher-ups with hope making their legs feel light as a feather.

In the taxi, Micu made sure to sit next to Jenira. "So how about that team?" He asked as nonjudgmentally as he could. Ralnas stuck out his tongue and made a thumbs down. Jayce laughed at his friend's actions. "Yeah, that emotion right there is how I'm feeling about it too." Jenira nodded, "me too." Micu made an understanding nod of his head. "So why don't you two like it?" He looked pointedly at Jayce and Jenira. Jayce shrugged. "They killed the Earth, how could I like them?" Micu nodded. "I should've remembered his feelings about Earth," he chided himself internally. He looked at Jenira. "I'm just not a fan of fanatical cults, give me the chills." Micu laughed, "Oh come on Jen! I know there's more to it than that."

Jenira shrugged, "Could you imagine willingly worshipping the beings that enjoy watching us try and fail to reach their level? It just isn't my style." Micu nodded, "I guess that makes sense. But if you think of another reason I'm all ears." He then faced the whole group. "I think we can confidently rule out joining team Pure though." All three members nodded emphatically. Micu laughed, "Doesn't help that we don't make any money fighting for them. Kinda makes all my moms warnings about how I shouldn't be focusing on just learning how to fight in school ring true." "I know! That's crazy!" Ralnas was obviously still thinking about it.

The taxi driver interrupted his ramble before it had a chance to begin. "I am sorry to disturb but you've received a request to join a couple at a restaurant in major hub one. Should I alter the route?" Jayce raised an eyebrow and turned around to look at Micu. He had a confused smile on his face. "Did they leave a name driver?" He asked carefully. "They did not, they listed their request under the name "we are who you think we are"." Micu sighed. "That's them." Jayce burst out laughing. "That is the strangest way to invite your son and his friends to dinner I have ever heard."

...

Zakzakiel watched the four humans leave his castle. His white mask hiding whatever emotion he may be feeling. He turned as he heard his chamber door open. A large scorpion with a human body protruding from the abdomen approached him. Zakzakiel knelt on the ground with a fist across his heart. "What does the lord of the Cosmos ask of me?"

The scorpion man bowed its head before opening its mandibles. "Good servant our Lord has need of your talents." Zakzakiel stood, "Of course what is the will of the Gods?" The scorpion swayed its stinger with hesitation. "Actually it is only my lord who calls on you this day." It's hollow eyes looked at Zakzakiel up and down. "Will you perform this task?" Zakzakiel bowed his head, "If it is the will of your master then yes, anything."

...

Micu's parents greeted the four at the entrance to an expensive looking restaurant in major hub one. It's glimmering red walls reflected the neon advertisements that flashed around it and gave the building a look as though it shimmered. Micu led his friends up three flights of stairs until they entered a private area with black pillars arching to cover a glass room. Micu's parents had already taken their seats at the large circular table and smiled to the four teens. "Please sit wherever you wish and order whatever you like. It's our treat!" Ionas had a weariness to his voice. Micu hugged his parents and sat down next to his mom.

Jenira sat next to Micu and then patted the seat next to her looking at Jayce. Ralnas rolled his eyes and pulled the last chair out to sit next to Ionas. Jayce was awestruck. "I've never been near anything as fancy as this before, and most definitely never inside one either..." A hearty laughed escaped Ionas' lips and he waved a young human over. "Please take care of anything these four want." The waiter nodded his head, "Of course Chief Doctor!" The waiter turned to face them. "What would you like to drink tonight?" He pulled open his watch and flung the digital copy of the menu onto their watch's screens. A pen popped into his hand and he smiled at them.

"Wait, you're a real human waiter?" Ralnas gasped. The waiter smiled, "Obviously, there are no robots here. The names Eli. Been working here since Earth was destroyed." Ralnas nodded dumbly. "I'll have just water," Micu said quickly. The other three teens all ordered the same. Ionas ordered some sort of wine that was made with a fruit they had never heard of. "I'm sorry Mrs. Micu's mom but I have to confess I don't know your name," Jayce said bashfully.

Micu's mom laughed. Her features were still mostly human. One of her eyes had been replaced with a mechanical one and her left four fingers were robotic but she was far more natural than her husband. "I prefer Mrs. Micu's mom honestly." Jayce blushed even further. "My name is Dalia. But don't worry about remembering it. Micu's mom is always fine." Her human eye was kind and she smiled lovingly at Jayce. "Plus you three are the ones who have pulled my little Micu out of his shell so I consider you all family. Even though we've all just barely met."

The three had wide smiles and had mentally already completely agreed to be part of the family. Micu groaned. "Mom can you not embarrass me in front of my few friends?" Dalia smiled and ruffled his hair. "What else is a mom supposed to do besides embarrass their son?" Micu smiled ruefully and shrugged. Dalia laughed and then started pointing out the best dishes.

"Now your father is a big seafood fan but it's impossible to get any fish like there were on Earth. So I recommend this one." She pointed to a dish named, "rising hate fish and lightning rice". Ralnas scratched his head, "rising hate fish?" Ionas nodded, "most aliens hate spicy food and this fish is pure fire. I would compare it to a habanero back from Earth." He eyed the menu greedily. Ralnas nodded, "I don't think I like spicy either..."

Micu then pointed to a vegetarian dish. "This is my favorite thing here, the green Sneezewood nuts make it so delicious. You have to try it." Ralnas let a small shudder escape his lips as he scrolled from page to page of delicious sounding food. Jayce looked up from his menu, "Micu you've been here before?" Ionas laughed again, "Mi you didn't tell your friends where your parent's house is?"

Micu blushed. "So I may not have mentioned this but the house in the human safe zone is actually our fourth house. Our first house is down the street from here. I've eaten here a million times." Jayce Jenira and Ralnas' mouths dropped open. Micu rubbed his neck, "Yeah we're kind of...rich."

Ralnas started laughing. "Not only do you have unreal potential but you have parents that make enough money to eat here casually?" He pretended to cry and dabbed his eyes with his napkin. "It's just... too beautiful." Micu rolled his eyes, "and this is why I don't share this kind of stuff with you." Jayce leaned over and to shake his friend's hand. "Honestly, I'm just impressed you managed to hide this from us for ten years." Micu waved his hand away. "It's not hard when I can change the subject just by bringing up any form of tournament, competition, gossip, or challenge." He grinned wickedly.

"Our son also has to be careful about how much information he lets get out about him. Our positions mean we are often saving the lives of some of the worst elements of this hub and many people sent us threatening letters or packages. That's another reason we have four houses." Dalia said calmly. "Oh! And a lot of aliens dislike humans, so that is another reason we keep ourselves secret."

Jayce raised an eyebrow, "Aliens don't like humans?" Dalia nodded but it was Ionas who answered, "Imagine you've watched the same team win the championship three times in a row and they seem about to do it again. Would you have many good feelings about them?" He paused and took a sip of his wine, "you may come to respect them but envy is the far more likely result." Jayce nodded slowly. It made sense to him but he had never truly considered how humanity was viewed by the other races.

"Waiter?" Jenira's excited voice cut through his thoughts. 'Do you make this just like it used to be served on Earth?"