Outis of Siarnaq looked up from his personal terminal, closing its neon green surface, letting it wink out in the artificial twilight of Luna's fantastic underground city.
He and some of the Hyperlight Corporation's assembly had remained with the Acidalium Class at the Lunar docks, partly to gaggle at the sheer awesomeness of the scenery, and partly to fulfill a work order that had been placed with them prior - when their first communications had been opened with the Union. A special request, as it were, from a Mister Schwarzer Ritter, apparently a Union Ace.
Outis blinked, pale blue eyes and fair skin clear under his wavy, almost white blonde hair, his expression... carefully neutral, as per usual. His black suit and tie were company standard, but he found himself more uncomfortable in it than usual in these ghostly surroundings.
"We should contact the garrison." Said one of his white-suited bodyguards, producing his communicator as he did - only to stop as Outis placed a firm hand over it's surface.
"That's not necessary." He said. "I'll go out and take a look for him."
In truth, he had been searching for an excuse to get out from under Fleur's thumb, and to see more of the Lunar landscape for himself. Much as he cared for her... He cared little for being what amounted to a kept man, sedated into near complacency as he was. The drugs currently coursing through his system kept him submerged in a deep, dark quiet... something he both welcomed, and reviled, embracing the peace they brought him, but aware that a part of him was fighting it every step of the way.
Still. It was a necessary sacrifice to ensure his own happiness...
Or so he kept telling himself.
***
The phantom streets of Luna stretched out before Hyperlight's de-facto number two as his appropriated car - a squat, rectangular, unknown Sect model the Union had appropriated - accelerated, its electric motor purring at his featherlight touch. An entire city, maintained for over two decades, for a populace that all were in their graves below. A pair of cleaning droids, skimmed past his vehicle, sweeping up the small amounts of dust that had accrued across the sidewalks. Above, the buildings that were damaged in the battle between the Alchemist and the 00 Raiser had been covered up with tarp, and work-automatons labored within, day and night, repairing the structures at VEDA's direction, little more than flickering sparks of light in the darkness.It had been a long time since he had been back, he thought.
All manner of unpleasant memories attempted to make themselves known as he drove, but all died in the pit of his stomach, terminating in little more than sense of vague, anxious unease. He knew that it was on purpose, that Fleur had made quite certain that he was unable to recall specifically what had occurred during his time here... But the curiosity to know, to understand, still burned defiant somewhere within him.
At length, he came upon another vehicle, and slowed, blinking in the artificial dusk.
The sign hanging over the door said, in faded neon print, "Hangover Blues"... and the sound of music could be faintly heard coming from its interior. Having found little else during his search - and at the very least, in the mood for a drink - he stepped out of the car, and pushed open the classical looking door to step inside a piece of history...