SURVIVAL 101

'…Right.' Rephan thought to himself.

Moving along they reached, a hovering platform which they stepped unto.

Echo typed the location on his watch and waited.

Levitating in the air, the platform soon zoomed up pausing for a moment and then travelling horizontally.

There were lights made by projectors that showed which lanes the platform was supposed to be travelling in.

They soon arrived at a rooftop where Echo got off.

He said nothing and just continued walking causing Rephan to follow him.

At this point he was starting to second guess himself a bit.

'Damn all of this has a certain air to it, then again I have to see this through.'

They eventually came upon a hatch on the roof, opening it Echo gestured for him to climb the ladder that led downwards.

"Well get goin'"

Hesitating at first he resolved himself and started climbing the ladder downwards.

He heard the hatch closing above him as he climbed downwards.

Just before the light from above disappeared he caught sight of Echo climbing the ladder after him.

He just hopped Echo wouldn't tumble on top of him.

He eventually got off at the end of the ladder, moving away to give Echo space for him to land.

He found himself in a square chamber with a door right in front of him, wanting himself to take initiative this time around, he walked ahead and opened the door.

Only to find a room filled with boxes.

He heard the sound of Echo landing behind him.

"Actually the entrance is this way."

He grimaced and turned around to see another door on the opposite side of the room.

Turning around he hid the grimace on his face before opening the door that would take him to the next stage of this life.

Once he opened the door he was surprised to find exactly what he was he was expecting, a bar. He reckoned that since life loved to throw him curve balls, it would be the same now…

'Huh for once life actually stuck to the script', he thought to himself.

Finding a little confidence in that certainty, he took in his surroundings.

Dazzling lights met his eyes as he struggled to adjust for a moment.

He noticed people dressed in chaotic individualized styles, a mix of tech and good old fabric unlike him, he pretty much stuck to cotton and nylon partly because he couldn't afford it and also because it didn't suit his taste.

He turned to look for Echo, worried that he might lose him in all the chaos because of his stature.

"I see my soon-to-be boss likes loud places." having to shout because of all the clamor.

Echo smirked.

"Have you never been to a pub before."

Continuing to walk he replied.

"Not one as loud as this."

Echo fought his way through the crowd and was now walking beside him.

"Oh my friend, if that's the case then I don't think they were really good ones."

Rephan scoffed before following Echo who was now in front of him.

"All your customers come down the ladder?" Rephan asked.

Echo shrugged.

"Nah, only the special ones with special needs."

They soon approached a bar stand when Echo shouted over the noise while they took a seat.

"Hey Boss!"

A man cleaning one of the cups with a napkin raised his head up.

The first thing Rephan noticed was the replacement he had for an eye besides that fact, he looked pretty young.

Rephan was actually shocked at how young he looked.

'Maybe a few years older than me and here I was expecting a grizzly old man surround by cigar smoke.'

Thinking it might have been the product of watching too many movies he shook his head internally.

A wide grin split the boss' face before speaking.

"If it isn't my favorite Transporter."

Rephan who was startled by the fact that the boss was working as barman found his mind wandering.

'I'm pretty sure I've watched a movie like this before?' he thought to himself.

"Favorite? I am pretty sure I have only done a couple of jobs for you so far."

The boss paused for a moment before continuing.

"I have been watching you Rephan and I think you've got talent, you are cool under pressure and you don't get easily spooked."

And if there was one thing Boss was confident about it was spotting talent that is how he had built his empire after all.

"You remind of myself when I was your age."

'Why is he speaking like an old man' Rephan thought to himself.

'Well the fact that he has been watching me is concerning but I suppose it is only normal to keep an eye on me as for not being easily spooked, if only he knew.' he thought to himself.

The boss turned to pour a drink and said over his shoulder.

"Oh and by the way, the name is Boss."

Boss said placing the drink on the table.

'Wait his real name is Boss.'

"Sorry, but I don't drink."

Boss just shrugged.

"Shame"

"You might be wondering why I am acting as a barman, this bar was actually my first venture so it holds a bit of sentimental value to me you see."

"Anyway enough with the small talk, let's get you initiated."

Boss rubbed his hands on his napkin before opening a back door.

Looking to his side, he was surprised to find out that Echo had drifted of somewhere.

Getting up to follow Boss, he passed through the backdoor.

He was surprised to find that behind the backdoor there was a boxing gym.

'Ah, heck I have seen weirder things.' He thought to himself.

There were people going about their business; some lifting weights, some hitting the bags.

The moment the saw Boss though, they gave them some space.

'Well, it seems like he commands some respect at least.' Rephan thought to himself.

 None of the noise from the bar seemed to enter the gym.

'Sound proofed'

Boss led him to a man sitting at the edge of a ring that was in the middle of the gym, wrapping his hand as if readying himself for a fight.

"This is Nile… he will handle your initiation, I think you are due for a promotion being a mere Transporter doesn't fit someone with your talent." Boss said while patting Nile on the shoulder.

Nile on the other hand just kept wrapping his hand with gauze.

'I wonder what kind of talent he is ranting on and on about.'

"Oh and try not to scream too much." Boss said with a twinkle in his human eye.

Rephan smirked.

"Yeah, I will try."

With that Boss left the room.

'For a moment there, I think I heard him singing a tune'

'Just how hard is this 'initiation' going to be.'

Nile stood up without looking at Rephan and said at the top of his voice.

"It seems we have a new initiate!"

Everyone around him suddenly turned their heads all attention focused on him.

"Well sh*t!"

Just then, Rephan woke up in the cave with a start, glad he didn't have to relieve that experience even if it was only in his dreams.

"Damn initiation! still giving me nightmares."