Jack doesn't speak for a while, the cool night air chilling his exposed skin as he walks along the bank of the Missouri. After Alex had finished his speech, he decided that the two shouldn't wait around for too long, and instead start walking towards the Harrow Bridge. Despite that, Jack can't take his mind off Alex's words.
In his eyes, it's a flawed philosophy, although he doesn't say it out loud.
What's the point of living if you have no goals except survival? Humans are defined by what purpose they find in life, be it extraordinary or mundane. Every human on Earth has some kind of purpose.
Some people have prodigious goals, dedicating their entire lives to doing extraordinary things. An athlete who trains for years to enter the Olympics, a scientist who works tirelessly to cure a deadly disease, an architect dreaming of designing the new tallest skyscraper.
And some people have simple goals, dreams that many would scoff at and ignore. A salaryman working towards retirement, a student wanting to graduate, or even a fan waiting for his favorite show to air.
Goals and dreams can be big or small, important or insignificant, long-lasting or only taking a day. But a person should always have a goal, should always have something to look forward to in their life.
To live only for survival is to live like a wild beast, mindlessly roaming in search of the next meal.
Of course, Jack doesn't say any of this to Alex; he'd rather not stir the pot. Instead, he takes a long look at the sidewalk in front of them and absently asks, "Just surviving? There's nothing else you want? No other goals?"
A nostalgic chuckle rings through the air before he gets a reply, "I suppose I used to. Do you see that tower over there, Jack?"
Following this cue, Jack looks left and up towards the city skyline, and it's instantly obvious which tower Alex is referring to.
Standing nearly twice as tall as the surrounding buildings, a pristine white tower dominates the skyline. Like an elegant pen carved from marble, its flowing architecture and rounded body set it apart from the rigid, rectangular buildings surrounding it. Even in the darkness of night, moonlight reflects off its silver tip, shining upon Rifield and turning the building into a beacon of elegance.
The Tower of Rust stood for years upon years, and when it collapsed, it destroyed a good portion of Tetanus Town. But the difference between the two is like that of a tree and a sapling. If this tower had fallen instead, it would've been a disaster that killed thousands, garnering attention on a national level.
Needless to say, it's a very impressive building.
And the name for this building instantly comes to the forefront of Jack's mind. How could it not? After all, it is both the most famous and most infamous landmark in all of Rifield.
"Do you mean the LT Tower?"
Alex nods. "Yeah."
The Layered Technologies Corporate Headquarters, or the LT Tower as locals call it, was the first major change the new CEO of the LT Corporation made seven years ago.
Back then, the story of its construction was shrouded in conspiracy and scandal, but nowadays, most permanent residents of Rifield know it.
Roughly seven years ago, the CEO of Layered Mechanics, the biggest company in Rifield, passed away. After his death, his daughter became the new CEO and rebranded the company to Layered Technologies, focusing on innovation rather than mass production.
Coincidentally, a few days later, the mayor of Rifield found himself in a predicament. For several years, he had been having an affair, and on that day, his wife confronted him about it. The confrontation developed into a heated argument, and eventually, in a fit of rage, the mayor killed his wife.
He tried to cover it up, but somehow, the new CEO found out about this. Not only that, but she also got her hands on damning evidence.
Now this is where the story gets divided. Most residents of Southern Rifield will tell you that the mayor attempted to bribe the new CEO, adjusting laws, firing and hiring certain officials, and doing other things to buy evidence. However, the new CEO wouldn't budge and handed the evidence over to the police to let justice take its course.
On the other hand, Northern Rifielders will say that the CEO blackmailed the mayor into doing all those things, only to turn on him when she got what she wanted, giving the evidence to the police and having him arrested.
As for which version is right? Who knows!
Southern Rifielders are constantly subjected to subtle propaganda, while Northern Rifielders hold no small amount of resentment towards Layered Technologies and its CEO. Both sides have warped perceptions of the two, so it's impossible to tell which one, if either, has the correct story.
But that's straying off topic.
In the end, one thing the two sides can agree on is that the new CEO found herself in a city with weak leadership and policies specifically made for her benefit. So, she did the only logical thing and expanded her company rapidly, practically consuming Rifield.
One of her first orders was the demolition of the original Layered Technologies Headquarters and the surrounding buildings, and then the construction of a new one. A tower standing at three hundred feet tall and boasting eighty stories, a monument to Rifield's new era.
Walking along the bank of the Missouri, his gray-green raincoat fluttering in the wind, Alex grins mischievously. "It's been a lifelong dream of mine to blow it up!"
Jack jumps slightly beside Alex. This is supposed to be a mature conversation! Don't make jokes!
Alex easily notices Jack's change in attitude and lets out a loud, booming laugh. "Ha! Still want to know my goals? Don't worry, I gave up on that one a long time ago. I couldn't find the bombs!" Another round of laughter, and he quiets down a bit. He smiles on the outside but grimaces in his heart.
Although Jack thinks he's just making a stupid joke, Alex is telling half the truth. There was a time when he wanted to destroy the LT Tower. He resented and despised it and its owner and longed to destroy them. The LT Corporation and its CEO were the root of all his problems; if it weren't for them, he wouldn't be starving in the streets, so of course he'd want to destroy them. He is vengeful after all. But he's also not an idiot; it didn't take long for him to realize his goal was impossible. So he gave up.
The hatred is still there, always bubbling below the surface, but Alex doesn't act on it. Instead, he focuses on survival, desperately trying to reach the next day. That is, until that psychotic panther showed up. Now, he's got a new goal: killing it. Then he'll go back to surviving.
Now that I think of it… they're really alike, aren't they.
"Huh?" Jack interrupts Alex's thoughts, "Who are?"
Alex is surprised, but doesn't show it. Did I say that out loud? I must be really lost in thought. He quickly puts on a mocking smile and responds, "You wouldn't learn anything if I told you the answer, think for yourself!"
Jack takes a deep sigh. "Why do I even try?"
After talking for a few more minutes, Jack and Alex eventually run out of things to say as they walk to Harrow Bridge.
The hard sidewalk is wide and laid parallel to the Missouri River. Cars rush down the roads to the left, creating a cacophony of roars and honks, and the waters of the Missouri flow lazily to the right, occasionally disturbed by the ripples of surfacing fish or swimming waterfowl. And high in the sky, partially obstructed by the LT Tower, the full moon shines down on the world, like a giant all-seeing eye.
Alex takes the entire sight in, basking in the rare peacefulness of the setting. It's not actually peaceful in the slightest. This is a city after all, cars honk loudly, people talk hurriedly in the streets, but compared to the rest of his night, it's a well-needed moment of respite. There's no threat of deadly monsters, no search for food, no mysterious figures; for these brief moments, he can take the time to let his mind rest.
But all things come to an end, and he and Jack finally stand before a metal placard. "HARROW BRIDGE"