Elementals: Techno Wars

Catching Up Over Lunch

Steve remained seated on the patient bed, a little caught off guard by Grimmus' question, while also being confused as to what Grimmus meant.

Steve: I'm sorry, Grimmus, but I'm not a hundred percent sure what you mean?

Grimmus: I just mean in terms of coping with everything that happened. I don't wanna pry, but the whole situation with Herobrine two years ago impacted all of us in a big way, and you were at the center of it all. I don't know, I guess I'm just a bit worried about how it might be affecting you, if it is.

Steve froze at all Grimmus stated, for he knew right then that he hadn't been doing a good job at hiding his problems from the people around him, which made him more than a little frustrated with himself. All the same, though, he proceeded to act as though everything was perfectly fine.

Steve: I can honestly say that I couldn't be much better right now, especially when it comes to that stuff. I'll be alright, trust me.

Steve spoke the false truth he had conjured up, all while attempting to block out the flashes of all that had happened two years prior. Before he could become broken by the images sprouting in his mind, he took this as the opportunity to leave.

Steve: Well, I should get going. I'll see you next month Grimmus, if not before then.

Grimmus: See ya later, Steve. Take care.

Steve quickly hopped up off the patient bed and proceeded to make his way over to the glass surrounded elevator, pressing the down button, entering the elevator, pressing the first floor button, and beginning his descent. All the while, Grimmus waited until he could know for certain that Steve was gone before speaking again.

Grimmus: There. How was that for a performance?

???: Good... Now, time to begin...

While sitting in the elevator, Steve decided to pull out his phone and look at the time, and after realizing that it was almost 3:00 P.M., he figured he'd send out a message to both Sub and Neos.

2:57 P.M.
Steve: Hey, you guys up for some food??

Steve waited for a moment in hopes of getting answers, which he got just seconds after sending the message.

Neos: YES! I'm starving!

Sub: I'm finishing my last lecture for today, now, so I'm up for it

Steve: Sweet! See you guys then

As the elevator reached the ground floor and Steve got off, he immediately began to make his way to the nearest food court. After taking about ten minutes to walk there, he finally made it, and was immediately greeted by the sight of Sub and Neos just now making their way there as well. The three would immediately grab their food and would take up one of the many tables that rested in the middle of all the outside restaurants. Without wasting a second, the group began eating, while also simply making conversation.

Sub: So, how have you guys been lately? It's been awhile since we've gotten to just hang out and chat.

Steve: Oh, crap, I didn't even realize! What's it been, now, two weeks?

Sub: Try three.

Neos: Yeah, ever since TerraPrime City's construction got finished, everyone's been so busy just trying to keep the living portion of it on track. Honestly, I've almost forgotten what the old Terra was even like...

Steve: Yeah, that makes two of us. As much as I hate to say it, I almost miss having to play the heroes that we did. Even if a lot of shit came with it, we still got to spend way more time together then than we have recently.

Neos: Come to think of it, when's the last time any of us have talked to anyone outside of our universe? We've been so caught up in fixing our own that we haven't even spoken to anyone outside of it aside from Grimmus, and he pretty much lives here now.

Steve: Well, Ava still routinely goes to Val to stay with her family every now and then, but whenever she's not there, she's normally staying with me at my place.

Sub: Speaking of, how are you and Ava, Steve?

Steve: Oh, we're doing fine; just haven't gotten to hang out much lately...

Neos: What do you mean by that?

Steve: Well, it's like I said, she goes and stays with her family every other week, and what time she's staying with me at my house, I'm usually busy, so we rarely get to spend a lot of time together...

Neos: Oh... I'm sorry to hear that, Steve.

Steve: Eh, it's fine. If it can't be helped, it can't be helped, right?

The group maintained a moment of silence before eventually deciding to ignore the previous topic and move on to another.

Sub: Well, anyways, has Grimmus figured anything out about how the Dark Matter inside of you works?

Steve: Sadly, no. The fact that it's even called Dark Matter seems to be all he can really learn about it. As it stands, while the whole "Dark Matter makes up eighty-five percent of all matter" idea is all but confirmed, it seems as though the way the Dark Matter inside of me acts is far different from the way natural Dark Matter acts.

Neos: Do you think it has something to do with how it's infused with your powers? After all, your powers do come from the Creators, and that's a whole level of forces we'll likely never understand even a little bit.

Steve: I don't know... I mean, I couldn't tell you if it does or doesn't; that type of stuff is way out of my skill set.

Sub: Well, Steve, with all due respect, it's completely in my skill set, and I'm just as clueless as you are, so trust me, I don't think this comes down to whose skill set it suits more.

Neos: Sub's got a point. In reality, no one really knows anything about your powers or Dark Matter. Hell, no one even knows that you even have those powers; in this, or any other universe.

Steve: Yeah... I guess-

Just as Steve spoke the last word, the electronic watches on all three of their wrists went off, with the same message appearing on them.

3:31 P.M.
Grimmus: Steve, Neos, Sub, meet me on the forty-second floor of Infinity Tower in no more than fifteen minutes.

Looking up from their watches simultaneously after reading the message in their heads, they each seemed equally confused, for they were clueless as to what Grimmus could possibly need.

Neos: What does he need us for so suddenly?

Steve: It's hard to tell with Grimmus, but knowing him, I doubt it's anything that can be brushed off, so we should probably go and see what's up.

Sub: Well, this isn't what I would consider an Elementals reunion, but oh well. Maybe someday, we'll get one.

Steve: Hehehe, maybe someday, Sub. Well, anyways, let's go see what he needs.