The City of Ionia

Avery leaned against a pole at an underground metro station. He tilted his hat down, not wanting to be seen. He held his phone and fidgeted around the home screen, waiting for a friend to arrive. Bored, we checked the weather. Snow tomorrow. He groaned and slipped his phone back into his pocket. Thankfully, it wasn't too long until his friend arrived.

"What's up, dude?"

"Peter. You're here."

"Damn straight. Ready?"

Avery nodded and walked out of the station with Peter. They saw each other not too long ago at Aurora's Palace when Avery retrieved Tim's files.

Peter wore similar baggy clothes and a leather jacket. His many piercings reflected the light, and his dark mascara was applied with care. Avery never understood Peter's appearance. Regardless, he was a kind soul who wanted nothing else but the best for others.

Avery and Peter met at the designated halfway point, the metro station near one of SCAR's many office buildings. From there, they met up with Carmelo, Peter's friend, and hopped in the car.

"The laboratory is sick as fuck. Like a 3-hour drive, so get comfy. Shits worth, though." Peter said with his usual profane language from the passenger seat.

Carmelo was well into his thirties, and his balding head showed. He was an inch taller than Avery and didn't say much. Surprisingly, Carmelo worked alongside SCAR as a researcher and worked in the lab that produced the 19 series serums. Though Peter said he was more of a supporter than an actual researcher. Either way, working at that lab meant he was elite at his job.

Avery lay flat in the backseat with his knees up. He fiddled around on his phone to pass the time. The laboratory was situated in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by ample security in the woods. It wasn't surprising since everything in that laboratory was precious. Only certain SCAR employees could tour the laboratory. Avery wasn't sure how Peter made that list. He worked as a building IT person, so he was relatively low on the ladder. It could be because Peter could make any connection at will. He's careless when he speaks—swearing and speaking in broken language, almost. But when it was time to take it seriously, he flipped the switch in a heartbeat.

A couple of hours went by. Avery checked his watch. About an hour was left. He set his phone on his stomach, still lying down. His eyes felt intense strain. He couldn't stare at a screen any longer.

"Anything interesting going on?" Avery asked, though he didn't get a response. "Peter?"

"Earbuds," Carmelo said, still looking straight at the road.

Avery forced himself upright and tapped on Peter's bopping and grooving shoulder. Peter removed an earbud, turning his head around.

"What's up?"

"Got anything interesting to talk about?"

He threw a confused eye. "That's what you interrupted my music for? Boredom?"

"C'mon, I can't look at the screen any longer."

Peter nodded his head and removed the other earbud. "Whatcha wanna talk about?"

"I don't know. Throw something random."

He adjusted his body sideways, facing Carmelo. "I don't know, dude. Shit, you like juice?"

"Ok, c'mon…"

"My bad, my bad. Something interesting. Shit, I don't really know."

"You can discuss the Outsider Support Organization and their recent meeting," Carmelo said with his eyes never moving.

Peter placed his hand on his head, his face a picture of surprise. "Oh shit, yeah, we attended the other day. Crazy shit, dude."

The Outsider Support Organization. Or in other words, the OSO. A large majority of Ionian citizens recognize and support outsiders. An estimated 6 out of 10 people are affiliated with or have some connection with the OSO.

The OSO isn't a secret organization. It's well known, and SCAR knew about it. However, SCAR never acted against it since the OSO doesn't promote anything negative relating to SCAR. Yet, they promote positive messages about outsiders. It's weird, but SCAR didn't seem to care since the OSO didn't have any real power.

OSO meetings were held in enclosed rooms, away from the public. They didn't want to draw bad attention from SCAR just in case, which is the safe move.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Surprising how they never acted against the OSO."

"Shit, Melo said something about that the other day. What'da say? Something about false ideologies?"

Carmelo never looked away from the road. "Three speculations. One: SCAR has its priorities elsewhere. They are investing heavily in research into stronger and more durable SCAR units, along with other topics. Two: SCAR sees the OSO as skinless idealists. All emotion, no threat. The OSO may meet, speak, and support outsiders in enclosed doors, as long as they do not organize public protests and sabotage SCAR. From SCAR's perspective, they allow people to vent because it prevents them from doing anything worse. Three: Allowing the OSO to exist makes SCAR look more tolerant than it is. It gives the illusion that free speech is allowed in the City of Ionia. People feel their actions are leading to a positive outcome, when in reality, nothing changes."

"Wow, you broke that down into pieces that make sense. Still, SCAR employees participating in the OSO? Won't you get in trouble?"

"Naaaahhhhh. Fuck that. The most SCAR will do is give you a warning. I'll only get one if someone snitches."

So that's how it worked? Avery tried wrapping his head around SCAR's logic. Archon worked in ways no sane man would. He was very stingy on random things, yet for a SCAR employee to participate in the OSO, there were no consequences. It was a headscratcher.

"What do they even do?" Avery asked.

"Try to support outsiders. Send them thoughts and prayers. Cheesy shit like that. I only went 'cause Melo." Peter pointed his thumb at Carmelo, who hadn't moved his head at all. "They go over the possibility and shit of outsiders living in Ionia, and how we as a 'family' can help. I don't know, shit like that."

"Outsiders living in Ionia?" Avery's brain popped an image of his half–brother from another land. "Do you think that's possible?"

"Shit, not for me to decide. Either way, I'm not sure if I want outsiders living here. We don't know how many there are. If they're actually violent or not. Shit, we don't even know if they're people."

Avery cracked a sneer. "What do you mean? Of course, their people."

"I don't know, dude. All I'm saying is who knows what to believe. Which group to stand by."

"Peter, I've been to the outside world twice. Outsiders are the kindest people I know. Sure, they can get a little violent, but they do whatever it takes to survive. You would if you were in their shoes. Any of us would."

Peter nodded his head in agreement. "Shit, maybe so. Still, I'm not sure how we can help an outsider live in the city. We can do all the mental supporting we want, but as soon as a real outsider is in the mix, then things turn to shit. SCAR won't be a happy customer."

That raised a question in Avery's mind. "Say an outsider comes to the city. They escaped the outside world and found their way into the city. How would the OSO know that's an outsider? And if they do know, how would an OSO member go about helping that outsider?"

"Beats me," Peter said, checking his phone.

Avery pondered a bit. How did Tim get his life together in Ionia? Was his life even together?

Tim had to have entered Ionia the same way Avery did—through the underground tunnel. Leaving finger slots on the seal worked. But that meant if Tim was here, so were his other friends. That's right, he saw Tim eating with that woman from the outside world. That had to be the other two who entered Ionia as well.

"There has to be a way," Avery mumbled.

"Melo, help a brother out."

"An OSO member can tell if a human is truly an outsider by body language and street behavior. Outsiders may struggle with modern technology. They might stare too long at street signs, be unfamiliar with SCAR vehicles, or perhaps walk in a different manner. Clothing can also be a factor. Worn-out, patched clothing that no Ionian would wear, even if they weren't financially stable. Those are two of the several ways. Now, to help an outsider is tricky. Members of the OSO volunteered to have their property used as a small sanctuary. Outsiders would need proper IDs and profiles to portray a clean identity. Outsiders will be able to pass as a normal Ionian under fabricated backstories. Many tallies must be ticked for SCAR not to notice."

"Oh, forging IDs. Some mother fucker can do that. He grants favors. What's his name…" Peter repeatedly snapped his fingers, trying to jog his memory.

Carmelo answered his question. "Ruben."

"Ruben, yeah, Ruben. Crazy how that man hasn't gotten in trouble with SCAR."

Ruben? Avery had heard of that name before, but couldn't put his finger on where.

"Who is this guy?"

"Some crazy dude who grants favors. If you ever have trouble or need something, you go to him, and he'll help you, no questions asked. But if he needs something from you and you can't deliver, you're toast. I heard a rumor that he had some guy killed 'cause he couldn't pull through on his end. That guy means business."

"Have you asked a favor from him?"

"Yeah, back when I struggled to pay for rent. He helped me out with 6 months' worth. It's been about two years, and he's never asked me for a favor. But I shit you not, that man is gonna flip through his books and point at my name. When that time comes, I gotta be ready."

A guy that offers favors? It seemed like he was a powerful man. Peter's remark about how Ruben doesn't get in trouble with SCAR led Avery to believe that Ruben was part of SCAR. SCAR wouldn't let anyone grant favors and forge IDs without stepping in. How did he get away with that?

The car ride shifted to serious conversations about the OSO and the mysterious guy who grants favors, to upcoming events and sports competitions. Time passed, and before they knew it, they were in front of the gates to one of SCAR's most precious laboratories.

The laboratory that created the 19–series serums.