Kiro and Raiji float in tanks filled with green liquid. The liquid glows faintly thick like syrup, bubbling slowly around their bodies.
Kiro has a mask over his face. A metal grip wraps around his whole arm like armor locking it in place.
His eyes open slowly.
Veyra sits nearby, reading a digital book. The title on the screen: First Cube User.
Kiro tries to move his arm. It's locked tight.
Kiro (muffled): "Where am I?"
Veyra looks up. Her eyes are tired.
VEYRA: "Hold still. You might injure yourself or break the healing tank."
She sets the book down.
"You lost a fight. Ended badly. You need like four days to heal. I'll give it about three. It's been a day since you got injured. Raiji is also badly injured but not like you."
She pauses.
"So what happened out there? The whole church is destroyed."
Kiro's voice is muffled by the water and mask.
Kiro: "Long story. But what happened to you? Seems like you look rough too. Emotional state, I mean. So tell me."
VEYRA: "You first."
Kiro: "Fine. A pastor scammed us. We don't like getting scammed. We picked a fight. Turns out the pastor was too strong."
VEYRA: "I thought I said one job. The plumber. Good thing I found one."
Kiro: "So how did you find us?"
VEYRA: "Well... a day ago."
The green liquid bubbled around Kiro's arm. Veyra watched it for a moment, then her eyes drifted away.
One day ago. Before the fight.
A stranger stands outside, wearing a faded uniform and a bored expression.
Veyra checked the address again. "This is the place."
Aurora: "The plumber?"
Veyra: "The plumber."
Veyra and Aurora walk through the streets of Aquanova. The buildings here are older less polished, more rust. Steam hisses from pipes buried under the cobblestones.
They find the address. A small storefront. A sign hanging crooked above the door.
A stranger stands outside, wearing a faded uniform and a bored expression.
Stranger: "Welcome in. The line is not too long."
VEYRA: "I see that."
Aurora: "There's no line at all."
Stranger: "This way. See your local plumber."
They follow him inside. Dusty floors. Flickering lights. A ticket machine on the wall, ancient and beige.
Veyra pulls a ticket.
Aurora: "There's nobody here. Why should we take a ticket?"
Stranger: "There are a lot of people. Big line."
VEYRA: "Sure there is." She looks around. "There's more dust than people."
A mechanical voice crackles from a speaker.
Machine Voice: "Ticket number two."
Aurora: "That's us."
They follow the neon signs arrows pointing down a narrow hallway. At the end: a door marked TICKET 2 HERE.
They go in.
Inside.
One guy sleeps on a desk. His head is buried in his arms. Soft snoring.
Veyra knocks on the door.
The sleeping guy jerks awake. Wipes spit off his mouth.
Lazy Plumber: "Who's there? We're closed. Not opening anytime soon."
VEYRA: "We have a ticket. Do your job."
Lazy Plumber: "I'm a plumber. And we're run down. So go away."
VEYRA: "We're here for a big job. You still do that?"
The plumber sighs. Rubs his eyes.
Lazy Plumber: "Ahhh... fine. What's the job?"
VEYRA: "A village. Small one. Just install pipes and water. Extra. How much?"
The plumber thinks for a moment. Scratches his chin.
Lazy Plumber: "I don't know the price. I'd have to take a look. But... might be 100k credits." He waves a hand. "I know it's a lot. Before you say it get out."
VEYRA: "Deal. By when can you do it?"
The plumber blinks. Sits up straight.
Lazy Plumber: "Wait... what?"
VEYRA: "Deal. By when?"
He stares at her. Then at Aurora. Then back at Veyra.
Lazy Plumber: "You're serious?"
VEYRA: "Dead serious."
Suddenly, he looks much happier. Much more awake. He shuffles papers across the desk.
Lazy Plumber: "Okay. Okay! We take it. Here. Papers."
He slaps the documents onto the desk. A pen rattles next to them.
Veyra picks up the pen.
She starts filling in the paperwork. The pen scratches across the pages. Name. Village location. Job details. Aurora watches over her shoulder.
They finish. They leave.
Outside.
Veyra stops.
Her body goes rigid. Her eyes lock onto something across the street.
A man in black. Walking calmly. Purposefully. He passes through a crowd then disappears around a corner.
Veyra is shocked. Shaken to the point where she can only watch. The agent walks away. Vanishes.
Aurora: "Earth to Veyra."
Veyra snaps out of it. Looks at Aurora.
VEYRA: "Sorry. I wasn't listening."
Aurora: "Are you going to make Kiro pay for this again? Poor guy. Why aren't you making fun of him?" Her voice softens. "Is something wrong? You look like you saw a ghost."
VEYRA: "No. It's nothing. Just tired."
Aurora: "Speak. There's something on your mind."
A long pause. Veyra exhales.
VEYRA: "Okay. Fine. I saw someone from my past. A rookie agent. He's part of the ones who captured my brother. The Black Mamba." Her jaw tightens. "We escaped. But the memory still haunts me."
Aurora: "I'm so sorry." She grabs Veyra's arm. "We can tail him. Beat him. Let's go. I won't take no for an answer. I have an invisible device on me. And your suit is upgraded for invisibility."
Veyra hesitates. Her eyes drift to where the agent vanished.
Then she nods.
They follow him.
Through streets. Across bridges. Down alleys.
They arrive at a dead end. A narrow alley between two crumbling buildings.
The Black Mamba agent passes a chip to a guy in black. The guy nods. Then disappears like he was never there.
Black Mamba Agent: "Who goes there?"
He doesn't turn around. Just speaks into the empty air.
"Reveal yourselves. I can sense you two. Come out."
Veyra and Aurora uncloak. The invisibility falls away like water.
Aurora: "We're here to beat you up." She glances at Veyra. "I mean... my friend is here for your past wrongdoings."
Black Mamba Agent: "Who might you be?"
He stares. Long and cold. Then his eyes widen. A slow smile spreads across his face.
He laughs.
Black Mamba Agent: "Wait... you're that girl. Part of the Moon People. Helpers. A strong race of people." He tilts his head. "Your brother helped us make a breakthrough in White V5."
"We thank you. We might need you too "
He dashes forward.
Veyra moves faster.
A powerful kick crack sends him flying across the alley. He slams into a wall and crumples.
He gets up. Unharmed. Unfazed. He laughs a cold, dry sound.
Black Mamba Agent: "You're strong. For a girl. Must be the suit. But your race? Strong... but only the guys."
He dashes forward.
Veyra fires shock bullets, a quick burst. They hit him square in the chest. Nothing. No flinch. No reaction.
He keeps coming.
She dodges with ease her suit carrying her left, then right. He's fast, but she's faster.
Then she throws a grenade. Right at his face.
Aurora: "Move!"
Aurora dashes out of the way.
Bang.
Smoke and flame erupt in the narrow alley. Rubble scatters. Dust chokes the air.
The Black Mamba agent walks out of the smoke. Unharmed. His clothes are torn. Burn marks across his jacket. But his skin? Not a scratch.
Black Mamba Agent: "Phew. Not much. My clothes are damaged. Nice."
A huge bang echoes from the direction of the church.
The ground trembles. Windows rattle in their frames.
The Black Mamba agent turns his head.
Black Mamba Agent: "What's that?"
Aurora doesn't answer. She swings her staff low, fast, aimed at his lower body.
Thwack.
A shock wave explodes from the impact. The agent flies backward, arms flailing, and crashes into a pile of crates.