Chapter 77: 77 - Normal day #2
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
( Romans 8 : 6 )
*****
-Gotham-
Zion walked though the not so dense street as people moved about to their work.
Him in his t-shirt and track suit with long over-coat attracted many weird gazes but not judging as they had seen enough weird. But the one who turned most head was the person next to him. Her elegance unhidden by the baggy yet cute dress only attracted many eyes.
Her hoodie was still drawn to cover her face, but her natural beauty couldn't hidden. The way she walked as if she was on a different plane, like a lotus among the muddy swamp, untouched by its filth. Those who gazed upon her could not removed their eyes. Walking in daze as the bumped into random objects.
Zion had only brought her with him due to her insistence and his paranoia. He could let someone like her run around unrestrained. Not in his land.
He ignored the people around him and observed the atmosphere of the street. The dark street of Gotham was brighter than any of his visits. He could see people smiling as they moved about with ease, not fearing of any muggers. Of course, they still tensed when they crossed some allies. Long time stay in Gotham had molded these people perception for danger.
They had lived with fear while fighting for hope. With only Batman protecting them from Gotham's darkness fully swallowing them. Zion could see that darkness had lifted a bit but they would still need time. In a distance he could see children surrounding the sentinel that watched over this housing district. This place was home to many cogs and gears that turned the machine known as Gotham.
The children fearless unlike the adults, surrounded the sentinels as its sat one the floor to not frighten the children. The sentinel seem to enjoy the children's curiosity. Zion marked the sentinel for evaluation of psych and left it at that. He had given is sentinels emotions so they could differentiate between right and wrong, but with emotions came many other problems.
Then his gaze turned to the walk opposite, where people were drawing graffiti artist poured their heart out. Zion had allowed for such things as long as it was not something inappropriate. He thought the city need more color than its black gothic structure.
He could also see some carpenters working on building as they tried to repair the damages. He also add some renovation project to Gotham. He should meet with the Gotham's mayor to talk about his peaceful resignation and reinstate a new one.
'Should he put Bruce to do it?'
The man is ruthlessly efficient in doing things. He could improve the city in day and night if I were to let him do it. He would also have more power to fight against crime. In the future Gotham would be a paradise compared to its past.
So would the whole world, but he knew that darkness would always peak its head.
He could use Cat-woman for that. He better use the pieces he had. Its better to have someone he control take over the underworld than some idiot. A good mafia that dealt with the underworld while also maintaining order.
'Should I become the lord of the underworld?'
It was an increasing prospect. Like 'The King in the shadows'. But he already have so much work already. He would only be relieved after the establishment of Justice League. WIth a force that could stop most threat in place, he could relax.
Then he would continue his adventure of the multiverse.
"Something smells bad."
The voice similar to a bird song, demanded Zion's attention. Zion turned to Amaterasu from his sightseeing. He could see her cover her nose with her hands as if she had smelt something too bad. Zion knew she was not talking about trash or sewers but a different bad smell.
Zion nodded and asked, "Can you try removing it?"
Amaterasu nodded at the request and gathered her divinity. The sun on the sky brightened as the cloud dispersed. The sun light then intensified in a way that it spread warmth. Zion standing under felt his vitality surge and gain more energy. He then scanned the people around him and could feel their moods have shifted.
The glittering sun light died after a second and amaterasu lowered her hand. Her expression showed that the smell had vanished. She had managed to purify that miasma from an evil entity that covered used Gotham as its breading ground.
"So, you managed to purify the land," Zion spoke, "Well, more like suppressed it."
"You know where this 'smell' is originating from?" Amaterasu questioned.
From the minute she had stepped into this city, she could feel that bad odor waffling off from the ground. She tried to keep it away from her using her power but the smell only increased over time.
Zion nodded, "I do. It is from as big bad who is kinda playing behind the scenes. Instigating many things with his power. It is also connected with the cursed land Gotham have build above. Too much negativity have gathered here."
"You are planning to intervene," Amaterasu could tell.
"Yes, I am going to," Zion replied as if her was talking.
Amaterasu couldn't help but be more intrigued by Zion's behaviors. He seemed to be an easy guy on the outside, like a mirage covering the truth. Yet, he cared more and worked more.
"Why do you care so much?" Amaterasu asked as the resumed walking.
Zion turned to her with her eyebrows raised.
"I mean, you are a god. You don't need to concern yourself with the mortal. Even if the mortals were to die, we would be safe in our realms. So why bother?" Amaterasu inquired.
As god, they cared not for mortals. The mortals lived under their grace, ants that hiding in the shadows of the monolith. Why would they worry when an ant die of the flood? Wouldn't they be lowering themselves if they moved at every request of the Gods.
"I do because this is my duty," Zion replied. "Why are we to be called god if we can't protect those who need our protection. Is it not your roll to keep a crumbling balance? Who are we to think we are above all things?
Even a mortal with enough power could do what god do with their divinity. We are just people with incredible power. What the point in not using it."
"You speak of righteousness, yet you don't seem to be a person to care about it," Amaterasu hit the nail in the head.
"Well, you got to do some good to get away with a little bit of evil," Zion acknowledged. "But I am trying to make the world better."
"Agreed," Amaterasu agreed.
"So, want to eat something? You have any food you particularly like." Zion questioned. "I could get us the best reservation."
"I do not like the food of the mortals," Amaterasu replied.
"Okay," Zion shrugged. "Let us continue over stroll."
Then they moved on through the streets before arriving at the squatting giant. The many children who were using crayon to adorn it in ornament. The silver metallic surface covered with many different childish drawing. Zion approached the calm giant, watching as the children climbed and slipped down.
The giant reached to catch the child and place her to the ground softly. The other fearless children still tried to clime on his shoulders to sit on. Zion could only admire the fearlessness of Gotham's children, all of them have that fear indicator bit loose.
The Sentinel looking at Zion approaching him, tried to get up. Zion gestured the giant to stay silent as he approached the children with Amaterasu in two.
"Hey kid, did you parents not warn you about dangers?" Zion asked.
"What do you want, old man?" The kids turned to Zion.
"Really, do I look that old?" Zion turned to Amaterasu.
Amaterasu shrugged, she was not going to get caught on this.
"Sister, you are pretty," A girl about five looked brightly at Amaterasu. Her lower size allowed her to look at Amaterasu's face.
Amaterasu seeing the pure eyes of the girl patted her head without a word. She normally never descend to watch the mortals since centuries gone. Seeing the child's eyes itched her.
"Sister, how are you so pretty? Can Anne be pretty like you?"
The children started to surround Amaterasu, shooting her with hundreds of questions at a time. Zion turned from her, with the children distracted, he can talk with Sentinel. The Sentinel still squatting, focused its neon blue eyes at Zion.
"How are things going?"
['Everything is going as predicted.']
"So, why are you sitting here being Children's attraction?" Zion asked.
['Order states to be likable. From research its shows that children influence their children. SO, I though to be likable to children.']
"Zai put you up to it," Zion shook his head."What are we reenacting the Iron Giant? You are a highly advance technological life form."
['I am meant to protect and make people feel safe.']
"Hmm," Zion nodded. "You do you. Keep up the good work." Zion gave the Sentinel an encouraging pat.
The sentinel still had its purpose ingrained, to follow the inlaid program. Of course, they could override and disobey order, Zai and Zion had wrote their code to follow specific conditions. Its like human brain, knowing what is right and wrong and following their core.
As long as the Sentinels don't rebel against him and fight for the wrong cause, they would be active. Zai would keep running a check on them when he got time. He should always prepared for another sector 666 incident.
"Lets leave, Amaterasu," Zion called.
Amaterasu struggled away from the Children and followed Zion. Zion walked around for a bit before finding one of the shelters. In the shelters he could see many people gathered. They were still scepticale about the whole thing, the robot, the free health care and all. But some thought of it as gods grace and ate the food given.
Most people here were homeless and abandoned. He also saw some suspicious little dwarps snooping around, but they were of no consequence. He check on the list of people and how they were behaving.
They shelters need to function properly to heal Gotham's back allies. It would give them hope. Zion quickly checked Shelter and turned to leave. His visit was not noticed by any as they were very secretive. He was using Amaterasu to distract everyone.
Zion have a mental thumps up towards Amaterasu as he walked out the shelter.
*Thud*
Zion staggered back, something heavy had hit him. Zion turned to what hit him, his eyes narrowing as he watched the woman covered in cut and bruise. She was clenching something in her hand. Zion could hear the light cry that was escaping from the wrapped cloth.
"You okay," Zion asked immediately.
"Help me, they are trying to kill us."
The woman nearly fell to the ground. Zion caught her and supported into her into shelter. His eyes covertly scanned the street for who it could be. The sentinels wouldn't have let this happen. They had eyes all around Gotham.
["She came though the sewers."]
["I found the culprits."]
Zion didn't answered and handed the lady to the medic-bots to take her. She still had the small baby in her hands as she was carried away.
"Haa," Zion could only sigh. "How did this happen?"
["Someone new had popped up. Gotham's underground is a good breading ground for these types."]
["I will move the sentinels."]
"Nah," Zion shook his head. "Sent a message to Batman. I will check the sewers myself."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone