11 August 2024
12:15 P.M Mountain Daylight Time (MDT)
Denver, Colorado, United States
Across from an area within Denver's eastern outer boundaries, several white canopies stood in the air. Visible to an expanse like all other airports of its category. Imposing, expensive, and loud to humans and animals outside the walls. Planes off into the sky at certain intervals, some longer, some shorter.
The group of six, including Roosevelt, Hamilton, Drahoslav, Zelislav, Dvinaslav, and for this situation, Jaraslav, leaving the airport with their purpose minutes away.
Their old clothes from before stuffed into separate bags. Except for Hamilton's, carried by themselves. Ignis, the spear stolen from Norfolk, in Roosevelt's hand in a concealed form. Simultaneously having Hamilton's dirty clothes and his own.
Drahoslav, Jaraslav, and Zelislav changed their clothing to matching white tank tops, track pants, and black boots. Dvinaslav also brought herself to get a similar outfit but better suited for someone of her body shape, making another sense of uniformity from the four. Roosevelt and Hamilton decided to just go with what they're feeling like.
"His recovery from his fall is going well," Dvinaslav said to the group, not expecting a response.
From a brief closing of his eyes against the sun, Jaraslav replies, "Stanislav's still in an arm cast, but can walk."
"He isn't coming?" Hamilton asked as he noticed the older people talking.
Jaraslav stares to Hamilton, halting for a moment to give him a reassuring ruffle of the head, his green eyes staring at him, "Remember, he might not be there. But he isn't mindless and truly emotionless. No human isn't either of both."
Before Hamilton could nod in agreement to his statement, Jaraslav looks away, returning to stare towards the roads and buildings ahead of them. Something, as enemies of Glowgen, would need to know before pulling off yet another Norfolk.
"We better make plans. They're not going to allow a repeat of the attack on Charlotte and Norfolk." Dvinaslav said while she examines the area.
"Agreed. But I want to do something with Hamilton first," Drahoslav replies, yet he gives a glance to Hamilton like he needed to see the boy.
"Huh?" Hamilton tilts his head, scratching some of his military crew-cut black hair.
"What do you want to do?" he asked.
"What it is there t-to…" he continues to stare at the seventeen-year-old.
"I think there could be an arcade around here somewhere…"
"O-Ooh! With virtual reality games?!"
"I guess so. First-generation FullDive should be possible by arcades by this point in the VR revolution."
"But if it doesn't…"
"We deal with it," Drahoslav turns to his comrades, awaiting their responses, which came swiftly and timely yes.
"We go to this one down the street. It would also be the last place edgy dedicated people of Glowgen would like to get cozy in."
Nodding in agreement with Drahoslav's suggestion. It made sense to an extent to them all. Following the beaten path to the arcade in question, named NuArcade Denver
12:35 P.M MDT
NuArcade Denver, Denver, United States
LED lighting orchestrated masterfully to procure an animate image staring across the walls of the building. Indicated by the lack of any machines, both arcade consoles and necessary utilities, held there. Otherwise, to what the eye could see, nothing unextraordinary about the arcade besides its name. Cards dispensed, values encrypted into said cards from the front desk. Then came the comrades as a group except for Stanislav.
"We're here!" Drahoslav declared loudly, a front slide and a half-spin, arms raised high.
Several people poked their heads out before a crowd began to form around the group. A lot in casual clothing like before, however clogging people's paths past the entrance while gossip erupts in the room.
"Oh my god! It's them!"
"Yeah! It's them! Along with the guy who was at Haizi's VR podcast that day!"
Suddenly, their own voices drowned in the outpour of their recognition of the situation. Hamilton rushing to the door in a panic. Prompting Roosevelt's direct involvement against the congregation. Spreading his arms in front of the more isolationist of the comrades, most notably Drahoslav and Dvinaslav. Imposing his strong Southern vocals to declare.
"They aren't God, never would. If you have questions, be civil with 'em!"
However, the force of nature collective human strength he was risking his body too was still present at the moment. Several people in the crowd continued to push to the entrance. Forced to fight the crowds with his strength. While at the same time, his attention was forced to one concentrated area.
Dvinaslav notices the contention and the overwhelming crowd. Shaking her head before moving some hair out of her way. Several popping noises emerging as her fingers come under pressure from her palms. Extending them outward.
"COVER YOUR EYES-"
" Activate Command, Lift Level 1 Command Block, Glare!"
With the windows as the source, Dvinaslav's hands glowed bright light. Before suddenly, all of the photonic energy condensing from her hands released in a massive flash of light. Surpassing the sun of the clear skies that day. Moans and people's immediate reaction to the blinding wave through most of the arcade. Despite the impact being mainly within the crowd of people, they're having to contend with.
"It's apparent they're bound in a collective consciousness easily broken by riot crowd control methods. How uncivilised they are when it comes to people they know."
Roosevelt too avoids the effects, returning to the group to give room for what they would perform next after what has happened.
"If you have any questions for us, return to what you're doing and we'll answer them when we can! While playing games!" Jaraslav said, clam in demeanor while cracking to his seen form of deranged circumstances in laughter.
A hit over the head from Drahoslav brought it back under control, vibrating like a bell while sparks arc across his long hair. Applause coinciding with the action's end.
Much like any good showman, a bow of respect, then, Drahoslav broke off to bring Roosevelt and Hamilton to the front counter.