Same day, 4:29 p.m.
Donovan arrived at the Portal Chamber wearing a black suit.
Tiero was nowhere to be found.
Hm? Well, I guess he isn't always here. He must be taking a break somewhere.
He then saw a handler in the distance that was dealing with other Visitors.
After the Visitors disappeared with a bright flash of light, Donovan called out, "Excuse me, ma'am?"
The handler turned around. She had beautiful brown hair and purple eyes. She was so beautiful, in fact that it almost made Donovan stop in his tracks. She was quite tall, too.
She was wearing a black shirt with a purple suit on top, as well as a pair of black gloves. Her skirt reached down to just above her knees, and she was wearing brown high-heels.
Donovan forgot what he was supposed to say.
"What is it, young man?" she asked.
She's… so beautiful. Ah! What am I thinking?! Focus…
"Um, d-do you know where Mr. Tiero went?" Donovan asked. Why'd you stutter?!
"Ah. Is he your handler?"
"Yes." Donovan nodded.
"He invited me to have coffee with him, but I refused. He went that way, probably to the cat café he always goes to."
With another nod, Donovan said, "Thank you, ma'am."
"Ah. Don't call me that. Am I really getting that old?"
Huh?
Upon closer inspection, Donovan saw faint lines on her face. She's old?! She doesn't look that old…
"Now, shoo, off you go."
Donovan nodded with an awkward chuckle, and walked away.
That was probably my most nerve-wracking conversation yet! Actually, no, my conversations with Miss Sylvia are far worse…
He walked for a while.
Hm? Wait… Isn't this… the same café that I always go to?! Mr. Tiero goes here too, huh…?
Donovan stopped in front of the café. Eclipse Espresso. Yep.
He entered, the warm atmosphere immediately embracing him. Tiero… well, he was having a hearty conversation with the barista.
Tiero seemed to notice Donovan. "Oh! Donovan! Come, come!" He gestured for him to come close.
Donovan sighed inwardly. He took a seat next to Tiero.
"Donovan, my boy, I was just talking about you!" said Tiero.
You were?
"H-Hi again, Mr. Donovan…" Eva said with a smile, waving at him. Her blonde hair, and her beautiful brown eyes further complimented her beauty.
What's happening? She's the second beautiful woman I've met today…
Donovan nodded with a slight smile.
"I was talking to Miss Eva here about you, Donovan. You're my, uh…" Tiero counted on his fingers. "Ninth promising Visitor that I've had the pleasure to be in charge with. Come on, let me treat you to a cup."
Mr. Tiero's quite high-energy today… Wait… Is that… Do I smell booze?!
Tiero smelled of booze.
Mr. Tiero, please don't drink while on duty…
"Uh, sure, thank you. I'll have one cappuccino."
Eva smiled. "Coming right up."
Tiero bit on his sandwich as he muttered some incoherent words.
What is this about…? This was the first time that Donovan had seen his handler getting drunk. Also, why is Miss Eva allowing this drunk man to enter the café?!
"Ahhh, sh*t… Stop thinking about her, you old fool…" said Tiero as he sipped on his cup of coffee.
Oh. A woman?
Wait… Is it the beautiful woman that I asked for Mr. Tiero's whereabouts?! Donovan sighed. He doesn't know whether to laugh or cry at this situation.
Tiero stared at Donovan. "Hey, you fancy her?" he suddenly asked.
…?
"Uh… what?"
"Eva. You fancy her?"
"N-No!" Donovan shook his head.
"Ah… Hahahaha… Don't lie to me, lad… I can read you like a book. I know that look, those eyes… You're—"
Eva arrived.
Donovan quickly closed Tiero's mouth before he could say another word. "Ahhhh! Mr. Tiero, don't barf here!"
Tiero removed Donovan's hands from his mouth.
"Gah! I almost choked!" Tiero coughed.
"Um… Here's your cappuccino, Mr. Donovan." Eva handed him his cup.
Donovan wiped his hands with a tissue, and put it in his pocket. With a nod, he said a brief "thank you" to her.
Tiero finished his cup of coffee. "Ahh! Whew, that hit the spot… So, Miss Eva, how's your father doing?"
"Ah. Well, he's busy learning another language again…" she said.
Hm? Another language? What does she mean? Donovan sipped on his cup of coffee.
"Hmmm… That's good. He's really dedicated when it comes to his job," said Tiero.
Eva smiled, nodding. "Yes…"
Tiero noticed the look of confusion on Donovan's expression. "Donovan, remember Johnny White, the messenger that you and the others accompanied on Tosla?"
Oh…
"Yes. I'm guessing that he's the father of Miss Eva?"
"Mhm."
I see… Donovan looked at Eva. She had a faint blush on her cheeks. "So, Mr. Donovan, what was my father like?"
"He's a good man. And a great messenger. He does his job well." Donovan said as he sipped on his coffee.
Sigh… This is my second cup of coffee today…
"I see. That's good." Eva nodded.
Suddenly, a brown cat hopped on the counter, walking in front of Donovan.
"Ugh, why does a cat come to you, but none wants to approach me…?" Tiero frowned.
That's because you reek of alcohol, Mr. Tiero…
Donovan stroked the cat's fur.
"Anyway, tell your father I said hi. And tell him to have a drink with me once in a while."
"Will do, Mr. Tiero."
After Donovan finished his cup, Tiero paid for everything, including Donovan's coffee, and walked towards the exit as he swayed and stumbled along the way.
"Come again, you two!" Eva waved them goodbye.
Donovan nodded, and supported Tiero on his way out.
Upon exiting the café, Tiero then asked, "You goin' on a mission today, Donovan?"
"Yes."
"Alright. Just… give me a moment…" Tiero stopped, and took out something from his pocket. Suddenly, a red metal glove appeared on his right hand!
In Tiero's vision, a blue screen popped up. Donovan couldn't see it.
Tiero scrolled down the blue screen. Then, he tapped on something with his finger.
Immediately after that, a card materialized in Tiero's palm with the red metal glove. This was a Planet Card.
Donovan received the Planet Card from Tiero. On the card were the words: 893-Kolun-100.
"Four Drones…" said Tiero. "Be quick… and precise. Good luck…"
I'll ask him about Benedict and the Visitor Records later…
With a nod, Donovan inserted the card into the shaft of his umbrella.
He disappeared with a bright flash of light.
893-Kolun-100.
Donovan appeared on top of a cliff overlooking a thick forest.
Another forest… Also, I should finish this quickly. It's just four Drone-types anyway.
He opened his holographic map, showing one blue dot and four red dots. Donovan followed the map.
After walking for four minutes, he arrived at his destination. He quickly hid himself behind a large rock.
Taking a peek, he saw that the four Drones were… digging.
Digging? Heh, are they digging for treasure?
Donovan stepped out of the rock. Then, while the four Annihiliths were busy digging, Donovan fired a Light Beam from behind.
They were instantly vaporized.
Well. That was quick.
With a sigh, Donovan was just about to start the teleportation sequence when suddenly, the earth rumbled.
…?
Another shake of the earth. "Woah!"
Donovan flew up.
The trees, dirt, and rocks from above started to slide down. He was on a large mountain, after all.
He flew away, higher into the air, taking a better look at what was happening.
The mountain… was moving.
The earth cried out in pain. Animals were fleeing, and trees were crushed.
Donovan stared.
A pair of green eyes appeared. As well as four limbs… and a mouth dripping with green liquid.
A colossal monster had awoken from its slumber deep underground!
A… A Devourer-type Annihilith…
This is my first time seeing one…
Suddenly, the pair of green eyes stared at the floating Donovan. He heard the sound of a distant black hole.
Oh hell no!
Donovan immediately started the teleportation sequence.
The colossal Annihilith roared deeply. It was a roar that filled Donovan with dread.
Donovan disappeared with a flash of light.
***
"Sir! We detected a Devourer on the planet Kolun!"
"Well, get to it, then! Blast it to Hell already!"
***
The Devourer moved.
It walked with its four limbs, heading for the ocean.
A nearby village was preparing to flee. It was a village full of humans.
The earthquake had destroyed homes, and killed hundreds already.
The villagers were praying.
But in the next moment, the Devourer stepped on the village, reducing it to dust. It finally reached the ocean.
At that moment, the sky seemed to turn dark red.
The Devourer looked up.
Immediately after that, a colossal red beam descended from the sky, devouring everything in pure destruction, including the Devourer Annihilith.
Portal Chamber, Umbrellas.
Donovan appeared, trying to calm his nerves. The sight of a colossal monster staring at him shook his entire being to the core.
Suddenly, he felt hands being placed on his shoulders.
"Donovan."
"Huh…?"
"I'm so lonely. Drink with me."
!?
Mr. Tiero, stop drinking on the job! And goddamn it, I wasn't given time to process what the hell just happened!
Donovan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was so confused, so utterly lost, that he didn't know how to deal with his hopeless, drunk handler.
But Donovan couldn't find it in himself to refuse.
"…Okay…"
"Attaboy! I knew you wouldn't reject me… Unlike that woman…! Anyway, let's go!" Tiero walked ahead of Donovan, expecting him to follow.
Donovan sighed exasperatedly. He followed behind Tiero.
Ugh, it's already past 5:30… I hope things don't go to sh*t with this…
The sun was starting to set on the horizon. Tiero kept walking ahead of Donovan.
Sigh, I guess it's fine. Mr. Tiero's done a lot for me now. I should keep him company. And he seems really hung up on a woman… It's definitely that beautiful woman I met earlier in the Portal Chamber…
Suddenly, he was freed from his thoughts by Tiero's voice.
"Dean! Come, come! Come join us! We're gonna be drinking all night!" said Tiero loudly.
All night?! Donovan wanted to cry. Wait, did he just say Dean?
Dean really didn't want to see Tiero right now. Or even be near him. "Yeah, count me out," he said.
"Oh, come on… Just one night!"
Mr. Tiero… Wording…
At that moment, Dean noticed Donovan behind Tiero. Hm. Heh, don't tell me he's gonna be accompanying this old fart to drink? Hm…
Dean scratched his head. "Fine. Fine, I'll come…" I guess it's fine. Been a while since I've been drunk. And I really need to get that young girl out of my head…
"That's the spirit!" Tiero wrapped his right arm around Dean's neck. "Ugh… Don't make me regret this."
Sigh… Now we have Dean onboard… I really hope things don't go to sh*t—
Once again, Donovan's thoughts were interrupted by Tiero.
"Vincent! What a coincidence this is! Come join us too!"
Donovan, Tiero, and Dean had stopped in front of a bus stop. And waiting at the bus stop was… Vincent.
Vincent! Been a while since I saw him! Donovan took up Vincent's current appearance. His brown hair was messy, he had dark circles under his eyes, and his suit was not ironed.
Uh… What the hell happened?
"Dean… Mr. Tiero… And Donovan…? Been a while, guys…" said Vincent in a low voice.
"Dude, you look like sh*t," said Dean.
Tiero laughed. "Vincent… All you need is a drink or two to fix this… uh, mess."
Vincent stared at the three of them. Getting drunk was a bad idea. But he was too tired to think rationally.
"Okay."
"There we go!"
Vincent stood up, and Tiero wrapped his left arm around his neck.
The three walked ahead while Donovan walked from behind. Dean was trying to free himself from Tiero's tight grip, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Vincent felt like he was getting choked by a bear.
Donovan felt embarrassed to be seen with these three idiots in front of him. Sigh. I guess I'll ask Tiero about Benedict and the Visitor Records some other time…
The sun had finally set on the horizon.