Chef in the Apocalypse

Chapter 154: Error Message

In the heart of a room which looked like a high-tech security control center, a figure leisurely reclined in a comfy chair. The room included an intricate web of monitors, and cutting-edge technology that would rival anything that had ever been shown in sci-fi movies.

Rows upon rows of screens depicted the world’s events in real-time – a parade of live feeds that showed both chaos and serenity.

Amid this large network of displays, this being reclined in a chair tailor-made for someone who would spend most of their hours sitting. With his legs perched nonchalantly upon the central console, he surveyed the world through the eyes of countless surveillance cameras and sensors. He exuded an aura of cool detachment, his face covered by a plain mask.

In this cutting edge chamber, the security chief indulged in his illusion of control, taking sips of an exotic drink through a straw which perched in the opening of his mask. Yet, this gave off a feeling of voyeurism rather than power.

These projections were like live feeds depicting various scenes from across the world. Some monitors showed life and death battles between humans and monsters, while others merely watched on as the person slept soundly in bed.

The masked being watched lazily, not even batting an eye at the blood-pumping battles which were taking place on some of the monitors. He seemed to be more interested in a battle which was occurring atop some bed sheets, letting out a hoarse chuckle.

His mood was interrupted as a sudden change caught his eye. A flicker of error flashed across one of the monitors, and then it vanished, leaving behind only a cryptic message of malfunction. The figure, who had just been absorbed in the earlier battle, lurched upright in an instant, his world suddenly thrust into an unexpected turbulence.

“Ah… It’s gone.” He murmured, panic striking his small frame.

He quickly sat up, beginning to punch commands into the terminal that his feet had just been propped upon. The sounds of buttons being mashed and responding beeps rang out within the room, not out of place with the technological aesthetic.

However, the actions of the being became more frenzied, portraying fear even through his masked visage. After frantically pounding away at the terminal for more than 5 minutes, he sat back against his comfy chair in defeat.

“H-How could this happen? And why did it have to be him?” he murmured, feeling at a loss.

Just as he was lost in his depression, the door was kicked open, where another masked being of similar attire walked in hurriedly. “What happened? Why can we not see what’s happening with #1?” The voice was laden with panic, not yet mirroring the despair of the first being.

The being on the chair swiveled around, meeting the gaze of his guest. “I’ve tried everything, it just keeps giving me a location error.” he responded listlessly.

“Bullshit! This surveillance is directly tied to the system.” He yelled, thrusting the being on the chair out of the way and mashing away at the terminal controls.

After a few minutes he fell to the floor, just as listless as his colleague. “Has he died? I don’t understand?”

“No. If he’s dead then we wouldn’t be getting an error, there would be a notification.” The first being responded.

“W-We have to tell Master Rubick.” the colleague spoke after a short silence. At the mention of this name, both beings shuddered involuntarily feeling a monumental wave of dread assault them.

With that, one of the beings slowly got up from the ground and trudged towards the terminal as if he were walking to the gallows. After punching a few commands into the terminal, a large screen appeared in front of the two, showing a calling screen.

“What is it?”

An impatient voice answered the call a few moments later, causing the two to flinch in response.

“M-Master Rubick. We’ve lost surveillance on #1” the being stammered.

Despite wearing a terrifying mask, the two could imagine the look of displeasure that flashed across Rubick’s face. “Is he dead?” he responded emotionlessly.

“No! It was an error, we received no notification about his death.”

A short silence ensued, which felt like an eternity to the two beings in the control room. It was as if they were awaiting the verdict of their death row case. They held their poses, trying not to show that they were trembling in fear.

Yet the response was not as they expected. Rubick replied once again in an emotionless tone, “Keep me updated if there are any changes. Tell no one else.”

With that, the screen went blank, leaving the two in utter disbelief. They suddenly felt as if they had avoided calamity by a hair’s breadth as a cold sweat drenched their back. Turning their heads, their gazes met, each one thinking along the same lines.

“We’re alive?”

***

A thin man wearing a tophat and a cloak which seemed made from shadows sat down in his chair in front of a mirror. He let out a long sigh, taking off his hat and placing it on the vanity, revealing a bald head that had a healthy glow to it.

With his right hand he reached up to his mask and gently removed it, placing it next to his top hat. The once bald head seemingly disappeared, now replaced with long gray hair which was tied up in a bun, reflecting in the cold light which illuminated the dark room.

His face, which was hidden by the shadows, revealed a resplendent smile, showing off perfect white teeth with sharp canines.

“I see you got my gift, Mr. #1.” he said in a laughing tone, feeling a wicked sense of satisfaction deep within his bones.

“That’ll teach those 3 hypocrites a lesson. All they talk about is balance and not to interfere, yet in the next breath they break the rules.” His earlier grin was replaced with a sneer.

“Two can play at that game.”

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