CTS TIME RE250.09.05 – 9:30 AM
Sector 9, Mechatopia
The air shimmered faintly as Luna stepped out of the Warp Gate. A soft chime in her wrist-watch HUD blinked
–1000 SDX deducted. Balance: 47,498,000 SDX.
She looked down at the glowing display, then shook her head with a small laugh. Valerian would scold me for being careless with credits. But helping them… it felt right.
Sector 9 was buzzing. Tall academies with holo-banners advertising classes on robotics, neural programming, and biomechanical anatomy rose above her. Students in casual uniforms moved in groups, laughing and tossing neon-plasma balls between them. Drones hovered overhead, scanning for order. Beneath all this hidden in the shadows of the alleyways was another world. The fighting clubs.
Luna adjusted her coat and walked into the dimly lit narrow pathways. The last time she came here, the streets were broken, half-dead lights flickering. Now she stopped in surprise. Panels that were cracked before now glowed bright. Neon tubes hummed steadily. Holo-billboards displayed digital graffiti of fighting moves, and one giant screen already showed "Vault Void Club – Official Match Today, Prize: 70,000 Star Credits".
Luna blinked. Oliver… you really did it.
Descending the iron stairs into the underground chamber, Luna froze. Her pink reactor pulsed faintly when she saw it.
The Vault Void Club was completely transformed. The fighting ring was new glossy silver with glowing octagonal borders. Extra seating had been arranged in tiers, holo-screens hovering above each row to broadcast the fight in real time. Cabinets lined the walls, filled with neatly arranged spare parts and polished microchips. Smart displays flickered with scores, club rankings, and betting odds. And above everything, a massive glowing banner
⚡ VAULT VOID CLUB ⚡
But the thing that shook Luna most… was herself.
At the far end of the club, next to the stage, stood a mechanical statue an android replica of her. It wasn't moving, just a metallic mannequin, but its features were exact. The lilac eyes, the long light-purple hair with black gradients, even the faint curve of her lips. A diamond-shaped chest reactor glowed faintly pink.
Luna gasped softly. "They… made a statue of me?"
"Miss Luna is here!" Oliver's voice cut across the room, sharp but trembling with excitement. He clapped his hands. "Everyone! First greet Miss Luna!"
The androids both old and new turned toward her. Six who were broken just days ago now stood tall, polished, and… new. Their reactors had two glowing green slots family and one white slot in the center. Purity. Untouched. Luna noticed it and her heart softened.
Oliver stepped forward, bowing deeply, his reactor pulsing green with pride. Clara was beside him, smiling warmly. Raider, Falcon, and Alex moved closer, grinning. Behind them stood six new figures freshly repaired, freshly alive.
One by one, they introduced themselves.
"Stefan, Mk 2, Level 22 Attack." His voice was strong, confident.
"Nathan, Mk 2, Level 21 Attack." Calm and precise, his reactor flickered faint green.
"Lucas, Mk 1, Level 20 Brawler." He practically bounced on his heels, reactor pulsing bright, shouting with energy "Miss Luna, I'll show you my punches!"
"Julian, Mk 1, Level 18 Saboteur." He smirked mischievously. "I'm fast, I'm small, and I break things. Pleasure."
"Leo, Mk 1, Level 19 Attack." He gave a shy wave, mumbling, reactor dim.
"Adam, Mk 2, Level 22 Defence." He spoke slowly, his deep voice like stone. "Strong wall. Always protecting."
Luna giggled softly, shaking hands one by one. Her lilac eyes sparkled as she said cheerfully in her accented tone:
"It's pleasure to meet you! Nice to meet you, awesome… cool!"
They blinked, not entirely catching her words, but her warmth was enough. Smiles spread across synthetic faces, reactors glowing faintly brighter.
Oliver clasped his hands together. "Miss Luna, where is Sir Valerian? I thought…"
Luna hesitated, her smile faltering just slightly. Why does it hurt to say he isn't here?
"He had… other work. He can't come today."
Oliver's reactor dimmed green, his face pale. "What…?" he muttered in Hindi.
Clara's reactor flickered pink as she turned sharply. "Oliver? What happened? Why the face?"
Luna frowned. "What happened? You can tell me."
Oliver took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Today… in this club, I organized a match. The prize is seventy thousand star credits. But the challenge is strong. The Iron Fist Syndicate. I thought Valerian would come… then we would win for sure." His voice cracked slightly.
For a moment, the room went quiet. Luna blinked, then burst into a soft laugh.
"Are you forgetting me?" She put her hands on her hips, reactor pulsing pink with playful light. "I am stronger than him."
The room froze. Raiders' eyes widened. Falcon nearly dropped a tool. Even Clara's mouth fell open.
Oliver stammered. "Re-really…?"
Luna's face softened into a warm smile. "Trust me."
Oliver's reactor burst into glowing green light. He punched his fist into the air. "Vault Void Club will win!"
Everyone cheered Lucas jumping up and down, Raider shouting "Yes! Yes!", Clara hugging Oliver tightly, her pink reactor glowing brighter than ever. Alex muttered, "She's serious. I can feel it."
Julian smirked. "I'd pay just to see her fight."
Luna stood in the center of the ring of glowing faces, her smile soft but her heart heavy. Valerian… you should have been here to see this. But maybe it's better. I'll carry this fight for both of us.
The moment Luna said "Trust me", the whole club came alive like a festival. Voices overlapped, laughter echoed, reactors flickered with neon colors greens, pinks, faint whites.
Oliver was pacing, hands on his head, muttering fast. "Arre yaar, agar woh sach mein itni strong hai na toh Iron Fist waale kalti maar denge."
("Man, if she really is that strong, the Iron Fist guys will back out on their own.")
Clara leaned against him, pink glow steady. "Bas tension mat le. Dekh na, kitni confident lag rahi hai."
("Don't stress. Look how confident she looks.")
Raider, practically bouncing, slapped Falcon's back. "Bhai, kalpana kar! Agar humne Iron Fist ko hara diya toh poore Sector 9 mein naam ho jayega!"
("Bro, just imagine! If we defeat Iron Fist, our name will echo across all of Sector 9!")
Falcon groaned. "Naam se zyada, mujhe toh credits ki fikar hai. 70k prize, samajh rahe ho? Spare parts ke liye kitna help hoga."
("Name is fine, but I'm more worried about the credits. Seventy thousand—do you realize how much that helps with spare parts?")
Alex, sitting cross-legged on the ring, was scribbling notes on a holo-slate. "Strategy banana padega. Sirf power se kaam nahi chalega. Iron Fist ke paas brute force hai, par unka timing weak hai."
("We'll need a strategy. Raw power alone won't cut it. Iron Fist has brute force, but their timing is weak.")
Lucas, the energetic brawler, hopped into the ring and threw a few wild punches. "Miss Luna! Miss Luna! Dekho, mera combo dekho!" He spun, almost tripped, then laughed like a child. "Bas aise maarna hai, na?"
("Miss Luna! Miss Luna! Look—check out my combo!" He spun, nearly tripped, then laughed like a kid. "Like this, right? That's how you hit!")
Julian rolled his eyes, leaning lazily against the wall. "Lucas, tu toh khud knock-out ho jaayega. Miss Luna ko dekho she's calm. Woh asli fighter ka style hai."
("Lucas, you'll knock yourself out before anyone else does. Watch Miss Luna! she's calm. That's the style of a real fighter.")
Leo, the shy one, finally spoke, barely audible. "Umm… agar… agar hum jeet gaye toh… maybe… pizza party?"
("Um… if—if we win… maybe… a pizza party?")
For a moment the whole club went silent, then Clara laughed so hard her voice echoed. "Pizza party! Ye bhi theek hai!"
("A pizza party! Yeah, that works!")
The chatter overlapped again, fast, layered, like a current of energy.
Luna didn't catch most of the words they came too quickly, blending in tones she couldn't fully grasp. But she didn't need to. She just stood there, her lilac eyes glowing softly, her smile bright and warm. Whenever someone looked at her, she nodded politely, or giggled at their energy, or gave a gentle "cool… nice… awesome."
Inside, though, her heart softened. They're machines… and yet they sound like classmates in a human school. Joking, fighting, teasing… it feels alive here. So alive.
Oliver suddenly turned, pointing at her. "Miss Luna, bas ek sawaal if Iron Fist comes full strength, can you handle it?"
("Miss Luna, just one question if Iron Fist comes at full strength… can you handle it?")
All eyes turned toward her.
Luna straightened, reactor pulsing faintly pink. She didn't hesitate. "Yes. I will handle them."
Her words weren't loud, but the certainty in her voice silenced everyone for a heartbeat. Then Oliver's green reactor pulsed bright, and he shouted:
"Vault Void Club will not lose today!"
The chamber erupted again cheers, laughter, teasing arguments about snacks, credits, and victory. Luna just smiled, her heart beating fast beneath her suit.
Valerian… if you were here, you'd probably call me reckless. But maybe… maybe this is where I'm meant to be, for now.
The hum of neon strips across the ceiling flickered as the heavy metallic footsteps shook the floor. The Iron Fist Syndicate had arrived.