The Shrooms

Season 2: Old You Is Needed

Prince

Quake's pressed against a wall looking around the corner at guards escorting people in. They're wearing thick silver-like armor with a strange gadget on their arms. Quake doesn't want to engage but he doesn't see any other way inside. He prepares his rifle as does the Prince. They patiently wait for the front to clear then sneak to the front doors attempting to enter, unknowingly they can't. Outside exposed they try to leave immediately until a voice speaks behind them.

"You two tourists?" A man asks them. He looks similar to them in physical form. Two legs, two arms, paleish skin with sharp eyes of sincerity.

The Prince answers yes without turning around. He conceals his weapon inside his suit before he and Quake face him forming a smile.

"You need these bracelets to enter." the man says. "I'm Quasi by the way head of tourism. The rest of the group is inside."

The Prince does a formal greeting with a handshake, Quake doesn't feel up to it. Quasi turns to lead them in. Once in Quake wraps his arms around Quasi's neck. He struggles to get in better position but he contains him before snapping his neck and dragging his body to a corner. The Prince unsheaths his rifle to keep watch for anyone.

The inside is absurdly open with an enormous row of pillars to the left and right. Floors are polished into being reflective, walls smooth as still liquid. There's a single desk down the middle of the room. The lady sitting behind it wears a red suit jacket with a name tag attached that reads Jinnie. Her hair is in a ponytail with a single strand coming down her right eye. Quake points his rifle at her as they both approach the desk. She remains calm, smiling.

"Hello. Is there something I can do for you?" Jinnie says. Quake demands directions to the tech room. The Prince is speechless, doesn't understand how they speak their language. He was too caught up to ask Quasi, now not in the moment enough to question Jinnie.

Jinnie points in the direction of a staircase telling them the tech room is up one floor, first door on the left. Taking their first steps to the staircase, an alarm blurs throughout the building. Quake's adrenaline flares up. He's now the soldier who survived multiple wars, the Prince must keep up.

Woman

Four's cell is well organized. A bookshelf made from broken wood cases has stacked books. His bed done up like he hasn't touched it in days. She worries about Neil and where he is or who he's with. She wants to think he's not in danger. A prisoner wielding a stick bangs on their cell door scaring the woman under the bed, the same hiding place when she heard her parents' physical battles. Four crouches to her eye level.

"I protect you." He says, and he does. Opening the door then closing it, the screams of the prisoners' riot floods the space. He disarms the person banging on the door ducking a punch, parries another before leg sweeping the stranger to the floor. Placing his foot on its chest lodging the sharp-pointed stick in its mouth. It squirms for a couple seconds choking on its bodily fluids that spill onto the floor. Its last breath spent spewing black fluids on Four.

He returns to the room, the woman still under the bed. "I protect you." He then takes the sheets of the bed, taping them over the door covering the window to them. Chaos continues outside. Four takes a book from the shelf separating the pages. Inside, a rusty dagger with ragged edges. He holds it close to him leaning on the wall waiting for all this to end.