บท 60: Preparation and Adjustments

Micu hummed a tune to himself as the car zoomed through the streets. "Steve, did you find Anna's whereabouts?" The robot's head rotated on its axis and faced him. "Yes, master Micu. She is currently located near the team Pure base. We are heading there now." Micu shuddered at the power of his father's tracking system. His fear of the voice had caused him to slip the tracking device off of Jayce's watch and into her shoe when they met her at the beach. A guilty feeling made his stomach turn in circles. Sighing to try and release the pressure he leaned back in the chair.

As the car coasted to a stop outside an imposing looking temple Micu pushed his glasses up his face. As he did so the world became blurry. Pressing his eyebrows together he removed the glasses. The world came into razor-sharp focus. He put them back on and felt his head spinning. When he wore the glasses the world was blurry and when he removed them he could see clearly. A unique kind of fear gripped him. His constant source of reassurance was the act of playing with his glasses. Ever since he could remember he wore these glasses. Even when doctors offered to fix his vision he refused. Now all of a sudden they were useless. He sighed to himself. Popping the glasses in his pocket he got out of the car. "I'll be back shortly Steve." The robot nodded and kept the car's engine running.

Stepping into the temple Micu quickly realized it was, in fact, a library. He strode to the front desk and signed his name on the electronic tablet resting atop it. He glanced around but it appeared the library was empty. "Why even exist if everything is online?" He muttered as he began walking through the shelves stacked high with books. Wandering through the rows of books he was impressed just by the sheer number of volumes he saw before him. As he methodically worked his way from the front to the back of the temple he felt a growing unease that Anna was not there. Finally, he saw someone in the back of the aisle he was moving through. After getting within a few meters of this figure he whispered, "Hello I'm looking for someone." The figure moved its head and Micu was surprised to see it was a robot. "Hello sir, I am the librarian bot for this area. How may I assist you?"

"I'm looking for someone named Anna. Have they checked in here recently? Or checked out?" The robot made a whirring sound as it tried to answer his request. "There is one other person here. They have a team Pure member badge and did not have to sign in. They are located in the back room. Do you have permission to view exclusive volumes?" Micu crinkled his eyebrows together. "The back room?" The robot repeated its question. Micu hesitated as he debated what to do. "I do have permission," he said finally. The robot scanned him. "Please present your member card or answer the security question to proceed to the back room." Micu started sweating. "I'll answer the security question." The robot nodded.

"Which Overwatcher blessed the founder of team Pure?" Micu's eyes widened. He started frantically going through the speech that Anna and Arik had given them. The robot waited patiently. "Well, there's only 3 of them. So I have a pretty good chance of just guessing it." Micu thought to himself. He sighed before answering. "It was..." Just as he was about to answer he heard a door open. "Micu?" Anna's surprised voice sounded. Micu turned and smiled at her. "Hey, I was looking for you." Anna gave him a confused look. Then waved for him to join her in the room. "What are you doing here?"

Micu shrugged, "Someone told me that you might be here." Anna gave him a suspicious look. "Who?" Micu paused, "Uh some of the ex-Pure members at the Coliseum." Anna didn't seem to believe him but let the issue drop. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Micu glanced around the room. It was far more modern than the rest of the library with only a single shelf of books. An aquarium sat in the wall on the opposite side. A large statue of Zcerneboch took up most of the far wall. "So it was Zcerneboch who blessed the founder? I would've gotten that question wrong." Anna followed his gaze and laughed.

"Not really. It's a trick question. All three, er well the three living Overwatchers, blessed her. It's meant to fool people from sneaking in." Micu nodded with understanding. "I definitely would've gotten it wrong then." He walked towards the shelves when Anna stretched an arm in front of him. "Why exactly is it that you're here Micu?" Micu gazed at her intently. "What is this place?" Anna didn't say a word and stared right back at him. "We need a fifth for our team," Micu finally admitted, "I was hoping you would join us." Anna was shocked. "You want me to join you?" Micu nodded.

She considered it in her head. "I haven't fought competitively in over a year." Micu shrugged. "That doesn't bother you?" Micu shook his head. "I don't even know you're team. This feels like it might end badly." Her worried face looked up at Micu but his gaze was on the books behind her. "Anna you won't be the reason we win or lose. There's no pressure." She thought to herself, "I would've felt a lot more reassured if he had looked at me when he said that." She pondered the issue further. "Who are we competing against?" Micu glanced down at her. "Every team that wants to participate. And the other three Overwatcher's teams."

Anna went pale. "You want me to join you in fighting the gods?" She was shaking with fear. Micu put his hands on her shoulders. "If you don't want to do it no worries. I just thought you would like to see Jayce in action in person." He stepped past her and started reading the titles of the books. She didn't make a move to stop him. His words tumbled around her brain. "Jayce is going to compete?" "Of course, he's probably already at the gym training." Anna sat down in a stiff chair and cradled her head in her arms. "You really think it'll be okay?" She heard Micu laughing from the back of the small room. "I wouldn't ask if I didn't."

Anna shook with frustration. "If I say yes do I have to do anything besides fight with you four?" Micu turned to her. "Nope. Show up for some practices so we get familiar with each other, but it's happening in 2 days so it's not like we'll be training that much." Anna nodded, "Okay. I guess I'll try it then." Micu smiled. "Perfect. Now I have some questions about this room." Anna was still trembling but she stood and walked next to him. He pointed to a book. "This information isn't on the internet. Believe me, I spent all night looking for it." Anna read the title of the book from the side. "Before the Overwatchers, an oral history of the simulation before the simulation." Anna shrugged. "Everything here is for team Pure members only. I barely ever see anyone here though. I found it by accident."

Micu nodded and picked the book up. Skimming through the table of contents he sighed. "It doesn't seem to be what I'm looking for though." Anna glanced down at the book before back up to Micu. "Is there something different about you?" Micu raised an eyebrow at her. "Like what?" Anna couldn't place her finger on it. "Something you did with your hair?" Micu shook his head. She groaned with frustration. "Something is different Micu. I swear." Micu pointed at his eyes while he skipped through pages of the book. "You're glasses! You don't have to wear them anymore?" Micu shrugged as he put the book back and pulled another from the shelf.

"I guess not." Anna looked at him confused. "What do you mean you guess? Don't you usually remember getting surgery?" Micu sighed as he put the book back and pulled out yet another. "I just didn't have to wear them anymore. I didn't do anything different." Anna put a finger to her mouth and began chewing on the nail. "You mean it just happened?" Micu nodded. She picked up a book she had been reading on the desk. "That's strange. Here this one might be more interesting to you." Micu put the book he was glancing through back on the shelf and picked up the one she handed to him. "Of Monsters and Myths, hidden mysteries of the simulation. Think this has something in it?" Anna shrugged, "I was about to start reading it when I heard you bothering the librarian."

Micu snickered and sat down behind the desk. "Do you mind?" Anna shook her head and pulled the chair next to him. The two began skimming through the table of contents. "So you really want me to join you in this competition?" Micu sighed, "Yes Anna." She giggled. "This is so exciting!" Micu smiled but was far too focused on the book before him to say anything. "Why not just bring it with you? If we're sneaky they won't even notice." Micu raised an eyebrow. "We can take books?" Anna stood and peered out the door. "Not really, but I'm not supposed to be here anyway. What can they do, kick me out again?" Micu grinned, "I never thought I would be a book thief. What is your plan?"

Anna didn't see the librarian robot and waved Micu to follow her. The two tiptoed through the endless shelves of books barely breathing. Every squeak and creak they paused. As they moved slowly Anna kept a watch for the robot. As they neared the door the librarian's voice rang out. "Halt! You may not remove books from the back room!" Anna took off sprinting, "Go!" She shouted as she zoomed toward the door. Micu was a half step behind her sprinting as fast he could. They burst through the door just as the librarian came within touching distance. Micu jumped from the steps onto the street and fell down breathing heavily. "Some heads up that we'd have to run would've been nice." Anna was laughing manically. "It was more fun watching the terror on your face. But we better go before it calls security." The two dashed into the car as Steve lifted off and took off towards the apartment.

Breathing heavily Micu passed Anna the book. "Think it was worth it?" Anna nodded, "I think this is the only one that has anything we'd find useful." Micu took a deep breath to try and control his breathing. "I hope so. I liked wearing my glasses." Anna laughed as they neared the apartment. "Ready to meet the team, again?" Anna nodded and followed him through the door. "Hey everyone! Anna's here!" His announcement was met with a groan. He stepped towards the couch and saw Ralnas laying on his back covered in sweat. "Jayce?" Ralnas nodded before waving weakly to Anna.

"You missed his crazy workout. You're both very lucky." He said as he returned the ice pack to his head. Micu smirked and turned to see Anna's eyes wide. "I promise it's not that bad usually. He just gets excited after not doing anything for a few days. Tomorrow won't be bad I promise." Anna nodded. He pointed up the stairs you're welcome to sleep in the empty room. It's the first one on the right." Anna thanked him and headed upstairs. Ralnas removed the ice pack, "Oh so you let her have your parents room?" Micu shrugged, "Unless you want to sleep with me again it's our only option." Ralnas considered this and returned the ice pack to his face.

Micu laughed and climbed the stairs to begin reading the stolen book. His anticipation wiped away the exhaustion that had plagued him all day. "Finally," he muttered, "some answers."