Chapter 3 

This is fine. Bass thought, as he paced around his room. This has happened before, nothing to worry about. I’ll just go and work for another day then the next morning I’ll be back, and it’ll all be fine. I’ll be back to my life... My ordinary life... Bass sighed, sitting back down on his bed. Well, I can at least make the best of the situation. Another day with Rafiel and the crew doesn’t sound that bad...With a renewed attitude, Bass changed into his uniform and headed to the dining carriages. He passed tables of serene passengers eating breakfast and opened the door to the kitchens. He was greeted with Esper yelling at him. “WHERE WERE YOU?” Esper yelled, scrambling eggs and chopping fruit at the same time. They didn’t seem phased that Bass was still here. “YOU HAD BREAKFAST DUTY. AND WE’RE ALREADY SHORT STAFFED AS IS.”  
Bass sighed, picked up an apron, and started cutting an apple. “And a good morning to you too.” he said sarcastically. Esper made an annoyed face and handed him a tray with a few bowls on it.  
“Take this to table 3F, and DON’T snack on it like last time.” 
“No promises!” Bass said, and dipped out of the kitchen.  

Wow. He thought as he passed into another carriage. I’ve been here for a day but it feels so natural, like I’ve been here my entire life. I’ve slipped back into a life that I wasn’t meant to live... I know, logically, that every time I come here, it becomes harder to leave, and that’s bad for when I do leave. But it always feels so... right. Like I was meant to be here. Is that so wrong? He arrived at table 3F, and saw a group of old passengers sitting there and idly chatting. People’s appearance on the Altera Vita expresses, better know a just ‘the train’ were the same as theirs's at their time of death, or transfer. So there were many old people, but a concerning rise of younger people lately as well. 

“Your breakfast!” Bass said in a cheery voice, setting the tray down. The passengers thanked him and started distributing the bowls around them. As they ate, one of them looked up at Bass. “Which stop is the express stopping at today?” she asked, in a croaky voice. Bass didn’t remember. He should have checked; it was expected for crew members. 

A stop on the express meant a stop in a location of a possible next life for the people on board. Once the train stopped, the passengers would look around, and see if this life was what they wanted for the future. The ones who wanted the life would stay, and the rest of the people would depart. The people who stayed would then be re-incarnated into the life. Of course, better, more happy lives were more sought after, so the Legion sorted people into different expresses depending on their morality. People with better morals got the possibility of better lives, and the immoral people got worse ones. A simple system in practice, but so many people lived and died, that they needed to turn to their enemies under the Arrangement for help.  

“Well, what is it?” the woman asked, not unkindly, but with some hints of impatience. 
“A nice calm life as a cattle farmer in the countryside.” a smooth voice said from behind Bass. “With enough money to retire and live nicely until death. Overall a 7.5/10 life by Legion standards.” Rafiel stepped out in front from behind Bass, tray in hand.  
“Ah.” the woman said, and went back to eating. Rafiel turned around from the table, and sighed at Bass. “Forgetting procedure again, are we?” 
“Hey,” Bass protested, walking away, back to the kitchens. “I’ve been here for a day; cut me some slack.” 
“Tell that to Aster.” Rafiel retorted, following him. 
“Don’t you have an order to deliver?” Bass asked. 
“Oh yes, I suppose I do...” Rafiel said absent mindedly. He started wandering out of the carriage. 

How hasn’t he gotten demoted yet, I don’t know. Bass thought, as the continued back to the kitchens. But he did know; Rafiel had been here longer than he had, and much more consistently. It would feel wrong to move him to another express, no matter how much some wanted to. Well, I’m glad he’s on this one. What were the chances that I found someone who also happened to be the same age as me. We haven’t met in real life; he ‘lives’ far away in a distant place, and even if I went there, I don’t think talking to an unconscious person would be that nice. But maybe one day...  

Bass made it back to the kitchen, and took a few more orders to their respective tables. I’m already falling into the lull of mundanity... When it breaks... Then... Bass sighed. This wasn’t the time for this.