“Frag~gille~♪!! When are you going to come out of the restroom! I said I was sorry-!”

For over the last half-hour, Lux had been pounding away on the bathroom stall I had confided for what was thought to be a secure refuge. After I had finished rebooting, there was a dreadfully apparent sensation of something amiss.- namely, a sour stomach and one I would not wish on my enemies.

“H-How was I supposed to know where you refill your radiator fluid?! Mayor Tes said Lilims call it P-Coolant! I just thought-!”

“YES, EXACTLY, YOU JUST THOUGHT!!!”

“O-Oh C’mon, it’s mostly water and glycol! Radiator Fluid is not nearly as harsh as the filth Faust scraped out of you!”

“That’s carbon chaff, and it’s NOT filth! You could purify water with it!!”

“Stop being so difficult and let me in!” Lux pleaded as another round of fists beat on the flimsy privacy barrier. “Let me help you Fra~gille~!!”

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʜᴏᴡ ᴇxᴀᴄᴛʟʏ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ᴅᴇsᴄʀɪʙᴇ ᴛʜɪs ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ… ᴜʜ… ꜰᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ?]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴡᴇʟs ᴀɴᴅ ʙʟᴀᴅᴅᴇʀ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴠɪᴏʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴀ ᴍᴇʟᴏɴ ʙᴀʟʟᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’s ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴀᴄɪᴅ...]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴀᴄɪᴅ? ᴍᴜsᴛ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʟʏᴄᴏʟ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ɪs ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀsᴋɪɴɢ!? ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴇʟᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴀs ɪ ᴅᴏ - ᴏʀ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴘᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴄᴏɴᴠᴇɴɪᴇɴᴄᴇ?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴀʟʟᴏᴡ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴ. sɪɴᴄᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴀᴄʜᴇ ꜰɪʟᴇs ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴇʟᴇᴛᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴀ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʀᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴍᴀɪɴᴛᴇɴᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴇ, ɪ ᴀᴍ ʀᴇʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴀʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴘᴏsɪᴛᴏʀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀɪᴇs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ sʏɴᴀᴘᴛɪᴄ ʟɪɴᴋ’s ʀᴇꜰʀᴇsʜ ʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴏɴ-ᴅᴇᴍᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴏʟʟɪɴɢ ꜰʀᴇǫᴜᴇɴᴄʏ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴏᴍᴇ ʙʀᴀɪɴ ʟᴜʙʀɪᴄᴀɴᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ꜰʟɪᴘ ᴛʜᴇ sᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴘᴀɪɴ ʀᴇɢᴜʟᴀᴛᴏʀ? ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴄʀᴀᴍᴘs ᴀʀᴇ ᴜɴʙᴇᴀʀᴀʙʟᴇ!]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʀᴇᴏ̨ᴜᴇsᴛ ᴅᴇɴɪᴇᴅ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴡʜᴀᴛ!? ᴡʜʏ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇʟʟ ɴᴏᴛ!?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴛʜɪs ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ sᴛᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏʙᴠɪᴏᴜs; ᴘᴀɪɴ ɪɴʜɪʙɪᴛs ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ꜰᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴀɪɴᴛᴇɴᴀɴᴄᴇ, ʏᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ-ᴇxᴇʀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ ᴀs ɴᴇᴡ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴏɴᴇɴᴛs ᴀʀᴇ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ-ɪɴ. ᴛʜɪs ɪs ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴄᴀᴜᴛɪᴏɴᴀʀʏ ᴍᴇᴀsᴜʀᴇ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇᴘᴀɪʀs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴘᴇʀꜰᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ᴄᴏʀʀᴇᴄᴛʟʏ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ’ᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴀɴʏ ʀᴇᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs! ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪꜰ ɪ ᴅɪᴅ, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴀʀᴛs! sᴛᴏᴘ ᴘɪᴅᴅʟɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ ɴᴜᴍʙ ɪᴛ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ!]

As the lulling waves of pain reverberated throughout my insides, my inner pleading fell on deaf ears, and as if in sync, Lux's frustration got the better of her as she fell against the door with a loud sigh.

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ʜ-ʜᴇʟʟᴏ? ʟᴏɢɪᴄ…? . . . . . ᴅ-ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ɪɢɴᴏʀᴇ ᴍᴇ! ᴇxᴇᴄᴜᴛᴇ//: ᴇʟᴇᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ/ᴀᴅᴍɪɴ ᴘᴇʀᴍɪssɪᴏɴs!]

[sʏsᴛᴇᴍ: ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢʀᴀɴᴛ ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ ᴀᴅᴍɪɴɪsᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛs!]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ꜰᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ!?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴇʟᴇᴄᴛʀᴏᴍᴀɢɴᴇᴛɪᴄ sᴇɴsᴏʀs ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛ ᴀɴ ᴀɴᴏᴍᴀʟʏ ʙᴇɴᴇᴀᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴏsɪᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴄᴏᴍʙᴀᴛ ᴍᴏᴅᴇ - sᴛᴀɴᴅʙʏ]

Leaping from the porcelain throne and in one swift movement, my heart skipped a beat as my mind honed in on the known shape-shifter Faust.

“F-Faust?! Lux, I swear if Faust is in here I will hang you upside down by the ears until your head explodes!”

“Huh? What makes you think Faust’s in here? This is Tesla’s private stall, she kinda'marked her territory with all the rabbits she doodled everywhere... They're even on the outside of the stall...”

In a struggle to swallow and disregard a casual interest as to why Tesla of all people would deface her own property, I then squinted through the haze of my thermal optics until I was certain the glowing butt-imprint on the commode was not the sinus-rhythm of a living being.

“M-My internal alarm bells suddenly started ringing, false alarm (I hope). Say, where is your sister then anyway?”

“You don’t have to emphasize that Faust ain't really my Sis since you already know our little secret. It’s mid-afternoon last I checked! I’m pretty sure she’s stuffing her face down in the Sortie Lounge.”

After I repeated the tail-end of her sentence inquisitively, I unlatched the hinged door and stepped past the intruder, seeking truth and judgment of the highest form; the bathroom mirror.

“Well yeah, she’s gotta pull her weight around here like the rest of us, ya know? The cost of living ain't free! The next expedition to the surface is in the Staging Phase, and I heard this one is going to be a real doozy!”

"(So that’s how you all earn your keep…)" I mumbled to myself, too preoccupied in fidgeting with a strand of my bangs that had been damaged by the forceful separation of Lotte’s hand from the other night. “I thought I overheard Slate calling himself an Architect, or something or another. Is that what you call yourselves?”

“Yepper! Rebuilding the world one small brick at a time- that’s our motto!”

“Seekers of Lost-Tech; my mortal enemies...”

Hypersensitivity; oh how I used to loathe the heightened state of awareness that accompanied the aches and pains of maintenance, but this time it proved itself to be a little useful.

I could feel the warm air indicating the prescience of what I am sure to be Lux’s hand hovering a few inches from the back of my head and by the way that she suddenly began to stammer, it almost confirmed what my reflection could not perceive.

“Y-You know S-Slate was like that too when we first found him... Now, look at him!”

“Look at what exactly?” I turned about, catching a glimpse of one of my dusty blonde hairs slipping into her coat pocket. “Slate’s a dog who walks his own leash, or what? Is this some part of my ‘house-training’?”

“W-Well, yewsee…”

Lux’s eyes began to dart around the room just in time for her nervous lisp to hasten the downfall of her composure.

“Are you kidding me!? Tesla just loves to push my buttons! My maintenance has even more strings attached!?!”

I would like to think I my disposition was rather justifiable, but everything, not just ‘something’ seemed off. Instead of blathering away as Lux had done previous, she slapped her palms gently against her face as if to physically gather herself; then proceeded to give a rather venerable attempt to explain.

“Yeah… you figured it out for the most part. Tesla wanted me to brief you as I am the Sortie Liaison. I once went myself, but the air on the surface nearly killed me since my immune system is practically non-existent! That, and being a Beastkin and all, Humans still don't take too kindly to the likes of me!”

“If you all expected my involvement why wasn’t I informed of this beforehand? I have been grateful up until this point, and really, I do appreciate the hospitality… if you can call it that… but this sort of underhanded bait n’ switch is a good way to end up dead. Betrayal is…”

“N-No it is a totally optional request, I-!”

“Then I refuse.” I interjected with the force of a sledgehammer.

“W-Wait a second! At least hear me out- pretty please!! People are depending on this mission! Seriously, lives are at stake!”

I could see it in her eyes by the way they sparkled; it was the same sense of impartiality and impatience, perhaps even justice I once sought in my plight to right every wrong and the same guilt I placed upon myself when I made a mistake. Granted, I was merely poking the whimpering bear with a stick. I had no intentions of turning Lux down, but a few tears were a small price to pay for the coming and going of the aches and pains deep in my stomach.

“And you thought to leave that out? This is the sort of bait n’ switch I was just-.” I half teased, ready to reveal my smirk at any moment only to have my eardrums shattered.

Howling, Lux encapsulated me with a great hug and a sticky face of snot and tears. “It’s not a trick!!” And then silence fell for the longest minute in existence. “Look, I’m not the most qualified to deal with people, *sɴɪғғʟᴇ* but I owe the Mayor my entire existence… more than I can ever repay. When will you get it through your head that we’re just good people struggling to survive? This raid *sɴɪғғʟᴇ* is explicitly for medical supplies, so I err…”

Just as it would seem the deluge of tears would morph into a category-5 hurricane, the pieces fell into place and so too, my palm against her scruffy locks.

“Tesla didn’t ask anything of me… You’re the one asking who’s asking… aren’t you?”

Giving a nod in affirmation, Lux blubbered woefully as the strength in her arms began to waver.

“And I take it the medical supplies involve something you need? What else have you lied to me about? Did Faust really cure your genetic deterioration?”

“Yes, she did, I didn’t lie! It’s got nothing to do with me… I-I mean, s-sort of!”

And just like that, her fire not only rekindled but set itself ablaze.

“I just… I’m just awkward with people. I’ve been an outcast all my life, and I may be the last of my kind left on this planet so… that sort of weight warps the mind, ya know? I mean- I know I’m supposed to try not to think about it, but… the supplies are not just for me. The common cold can kill people just as easily as an infection from a paper cut! Everyone’s immune systems are totally trashed if not completely compromised from living in a damp… but still fairly sterile environment. That’s why you see all the air-conditioning units- they’re doubling as purifiers. P-Please, we really need you!”

“What kind of risks are we talking about here? If it’s a trip to an abandoned hospital, the worst you have to worry about is a centuries-old security A.I guarding the pill vault or pharmaceutical dispensary- and I’m sure Slate’s taken care of that on more than one occasion.”

“The location was undisclosed in its heyday… I think in military lingo it's called a ‘Black-Site.’ All we know is that is purpose was for biological warfare, and that the StarCom Technocracy kept a secret in case the other super-powers at the time decided they wanted to start slinging nukes... But it's been derelict for well over a few hundred years!”

Separating us at arm’s length, my perturbed glare was met with a driveling half-smile of sorts that spoke lengths of how unstable Lux’s mood could swing and what she meant by being ‘not good with people.’

“Why does it seem that every answer that comes out of your mouth begs another question?”

“Why must you be soo friggen cynical!?!”

And there it was, the accidental poke of the stick straight to the beast's eye. If it were not for the lingering coolant unquestionably eating away at my insides, I might have thought to cease my attempts to rile the not-so intimidating beast on my conquest for petty revenge… but I couldn’t help it. Lux’s vivid expressions were beginning to grow on me.

“Err- I’m so sorry… I just… I didn’t mean… Ah~ forget it...! Look; the bottom line is, people depend on us. Our casualty rate for sorties is in the red, and I think you'd be the game changer that we need. Whatever you think you know about Architects doesn’t apply here. We’re not looking for weapons this time!”

“This time? Then any other time you would be exactly the Architects I know. Hell, you’ve already captured me and done god knows what to my internals…”

“I told you I’m sorry! What more do you want!? I’ll pledge my undying loyalty to you if you can just do me this solid!”

“What happened to that undying loyalty to Tesla?”

“S-She’s the Mayor, b-but I-I can be f-faithful to two Masters! I belong to the Canis Genus, I-I think! There’s enough loyalty in my blood to go around! P-Please, Fragile, I don’t know who else to ask other than Slate, and he hates me!”

“I’m not going to ask why since I might be able to imagine the reason, but I don’t need another person to look after… I guess~ I’ll have to think about it now that you've told me the details, alright? I’ve hardly had my feet on the ground figuratively speaking. Until this unsettling feeling about all of this-.” I cast my arms out wide. “-Is resolved, I wish to remain a passive observer.”

“I totally respect that… but w-who else...?”

“Come again?”

“W-Who else are you already taking care of?”

“It’s in an unofficial capacity. Don’t worry about it.” I huffed as a strange growl of envy emanated between her teeth. “Before you get the wrong idea, it’s not Slate. He seems fully capable of handling himself and I doubt he hates you, that’s… just like when you have two dogs fighting for dominance.”

“H-Huh? Doesn’t that only apply to male dogs? I’ve been nothing but kind and genuine to him! Besides, I'm a hyena, females dominate the pecking order!”

“I wouldn’t know, I’ve never seen a real dog let alone a hyena before. Look, we should stick to the point… I don’t know you all that well, let alone this community. Hell, I’m still trying to figure out what is expected of me- because I sure haven’t pulled any weight and all I’ve been asked for is my patience. I’m not so sure this is where I want my grave to be.”

“Grave? What makes you say that?”

“I’ve been fighting ragged, tooth and nail watching people slip through my fingers for little reason. I've been living in constant fear that if my feet so much as touch the ground, everything I know, and love will crumble and decay before my eyes; so forgive me for being cynical when everything has been so... ephemeral… I don’t deserve your friendship, Lux, I am sorry.”

Finally, I have come to admit it, not to just myself, but with the intention for all the world to hear, yet it was the audience of one who had been listening with great intent.

“I can’t be your friend, because I don’t want to lose anyone or anything… not ever again... It's never different..."

"But this time maybe-!"

"Don't even go there... I know my limits... I'm not nearly strong enough to be running against the sun... and your not the first or the last to say those dreadful words.”

"But-..."

As I abruptly pardoned myself from her presence I could hear Lux faintly through the door as she started to call after me. My conclusion to the ‘But’ left lingering in the air would be a refusal to believe I am at the end of my rope.

Nothing could be closer to the truth, though I would never allow her to come close enough to find out just how frayed my chord has become.

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴀ.ɪ ᴅᴇɢʀᴀᴅᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅɪsᴇᴀsᴇ, ɢᴇɴᴇᴛɪᴄ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀɪᴏʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅɪsᴇᴀsᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴɴᴜᴍᴇʀᴀʙʟᴇ, ɪɴᴇxᴘʟɪᴄᴀʙʟᴇ ꜰᴏʀᴍs ᴏꜰ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ. ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍs ᴀʟʟ ʟɪꜰᴇ’s ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘʟᴀɢᴜᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜰᴀᴜʟᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ꜰʟᴀᴡs. ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ sᴜʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴛᴀ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ?]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ɪᴛ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ᴀɴ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ sᴇɴᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ… ᴋɴᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜᴇ ᴏʀ... ɪᴛ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴄɪsɪᴏɴ.]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴍᴀʏ ɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ sᴛʀɪᴋᴇs ᴢᴇʀᴏ-ʜᴏᴜʀ. ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴜɴsᴛᴀʙʟᴇ, ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛɪᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ꜰɪᴇɴᴅ… ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴛᴇ; ᴀ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ᴊᴜsᴛ sʜᴜᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʟᴇꜰᴛ- ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ᴘᴀᴛɪᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀʀɢᴜᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇs ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ!]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇs ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴅᴇɴʏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇǫᴜᴇsᴛ. ɪᴛ’s ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ. ʙᴇsɪᴅᴇs, ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅɪsᴛʀᴇss ʜᴀsᴛᴇɴs ᴛʜᴇ sᴘʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀʀᴜᴘᴛɪᴏɴ. ᴡᴇ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ɪᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴡᴇʟʟ sᴇᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴅɢᴇ… ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ, ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ sᴛᴏᴏᴘ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ? ᴘᴜᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ɢᴏ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʟɪᴠᴇs ᴅᴇʀɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴠᴀʟᴜᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɢɴᴏʀᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴅᴇᴍɪsᴇ? ɪᴛ’s ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴇsᴛʏ.]

Muttering obscenities under my breath, I marched through the T-Junction, nearly bowling over a group of passersby in the process. After making a quick apology, the faint smell of food threatened to snuff the curse of the rain cloud lingering over my head.

“I smell noodles!” I cooed with utter delight.

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ sᴍᴇʟʟ ɪs ᴍsɢ, ᴀ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪᴄᴀʟ ᴅᴇsɪɢɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄʜ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴍᴀᴍɪ ʀᴇᴄᴇᴘᴛᴏʀs ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛᴏɴɢᴜᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪɴ ᴛᴜʀɴ; ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ‘ᴛʜɪs ꜰᴏᴏᴅ ɪs ɢᴏᴏᴅ.’ ᴡʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀʏ ᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴀ ʜɪɢʜ-ᴄᴀʟᴏʀɪᴄ ᴅɪᴇᴛ? ʟᴏᴛs ᴏꜰ ꜰᴀᴛs, ᴏɪʟs, ᴄᴀʀʙs, ᴀɴᴅ sᴜɢᴀʀs.]

“You sure change your tune mighty fast…"

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴛʜᴇ ɪʀᴏɴʏ...]

"Then again, maybe that's exactly what I need, a bit of food in my stomach to calm the nerves... Unless you're purposely trying to make me swell up like a blimp and drown my sorrows in food.”

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʟɪʟɪᴍs ʀᴀʀᴇʟʏ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ ᴜɴʟᴇss ᴛʜᴇ ᴄɪʀᴄᴜᴍsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴘᴇʀᴍɪᴛ ɪᴛ. ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ sᴛᴀɴᴅᴀʀᴅs, ꜰᴏᴏᴅ ɪɴ ᴇxᴄᴇss ɪs ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇssᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴄᴀʟᴏʀɪᴄ ꜰᴜᴇʟ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴᴊᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏʀᴇ.]

“But… that would be exceedingly inefficient and wasteful. I would have to consume half a ton of food to even notice a difference, wouldn’t I?”

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɴᴏᴛ ɪꜰ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴏɴsᴜᴍᴇᴅ ᴄᴏɴsɪsᴛᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ꜰᴀᴛᴛʏ ʀᴇᴅ ᴍᴇᴀᴛs, ᴏɪʟʏ ꜰɪsʜᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɢɢ ɴᴏᴏᴅʟᴇs. 100+ᴋɢs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴀɪsᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴅᴇꜰɪᴄɪᴛ ʀᴏᴜɢʜʟʏ ~10%… ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴏʀ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ.]

“Eh, what do I have to lose? Sign me the hell up~♥!” I cheered with enthusiasm, only to realize I had been openly holding a conversation with myself in the middle of the intersection flooded with clamorous foot traffic.

With my best attempts to shrug off the awkwardness ending in vain, the next best course of action was to resort to what I do best; run away. Just as I did when I could not face Lux, my Master, Slate, and Tesla, the only difference is that I had a predetermined place to run towards; the refectory courtyard in the hopes that I could drown myself in something edible.

Food... I found it impossible to get it off my mind, and I had an inkling feeling that Lux had some sort of role to play in this uncontrollable urge of mine now that my organs feel as if they were bleached.

“H-Hey, Fragile, w-wait up! Don’t just ditch me like that!!”

Speak of the devil.

I’ll have to credit Lux for both her determination, and her agility even if I never understand how she managed to catch up to me, but one slight pivot of the heel and her hand would miss my shoulder she had been noticeably aiming for. But then again; she is both a Beastkin and nimble by nature... and an idiot who self-proclaimed that she can’t take a hint.

By the time it was too late to recall her victory, I was reminded that she no longer possessed claws, but two powerful prosthetic arms with equally powerful fingers that threatened to drop me to my knees by way of a tactile pinch to the collarbone.

With my legs buckled, Lux capitalized on my vulnerable position by sticking her chin over my shoulder, effectively pinning her cheek to my own, immobilizing the both of us in the process.

“Y͕͎͉o̟̼u̡̡͎ d̠͔͉o̼͍n͕͉̪’̪̠͜t͙͕̠ g͓͕̪e̞͜t̺͉̦ t͕͙o͚̼͙ s̫̙̼a̻̫̫y̢̙̝ d͚͔e͚̼͚e͙̟͍p͖͓̝-͚͖͓d̞̘͇a̪͔͜r̢͔͕k͔̦͕-̦͜e̦͙d̺͇g̡̼͉y̺̞̠ s̡̝͚h̢͓͓i͎̦̘t͔͜ a̪̟̻n͚͍d̟͚ r͓̠͜u͙͙n̡̫̪ a͚̘͇w̞̝a̡̟̙y͍͎̦ f̡̫̼r̠͎o͖̺̝m͍͖͓ m͚͉͚e̡̡͔ t͚͔̟h̫̠̠a̺͜t̙̠̙ e̘͉a̢̡̙s͇̞y̙̺̦~͇̙͜♪͕̝͔!̞͇͖!”

Like playing a xylophone with an icicle against my spine, I was hit a force so powerful I couldn’t help but to eek out a moan.

“O-Oh! Sorry, did I grab something I shouldn’t have?!” Lux squeaked, releasing me in an instant.

“N-No, that was just… entirely unexpected of you… How the hell did you distort your voice soo… soo…?”

“Freakishly? It’s like talking in reverse… or growling while breathing in. Sounds like a demon, right?!”

“Please don’t-.”

“Alright, alright, I won’t do it ever again- at least not directly into your ear. I didn’t know your ears were sensitive to touch like mine. Or uh~! I mean a breath, Nevermind! Let’s go get lunch together! It will be my treat!”

“Well actually, I err… Didn’t think of how I was going to pay anyway let alone the sort of currency floating around here… Are you sure that’s okay?

“Of course! Wait- no!”

“No…?”

“Only if we can call it a date! I’ll totally forgive you for ditching me if we call it a date~♥!!”

And so, that was the start of my very first ‘date,’ even though I was completely unaware at the time what the word entailed beyond its textbook definition- and not one of the romantic sorts.

Although I paid Lux and her eccentricity little mind, we were both just as eager to race into the courtyard of neon dripped lights. Once we stumbled upon Cole's stall, our hopes were crushed, and our fears realized.

“Closed?” I winced.

“SHIT!!! I don’t get out of the medical wing very often, so I didn’t notice that the whole time we were going against the flow of foot traffic! Ugh, someone could have at least said something! C’mon, we’re going to find something before they shut everything down until Dinner Call!!”

At the notion that I would have to wait upwards of six hours to fill the ravenous void growing in my stomach, Lux’s agility was put to the test as her guidance exchanged hands in the most literal sense.

“There’s one glowing body I can see on the far end of the courtyard- someone’s panning away leftovers!” I jeered, nearly dragging Lux in the process as I switched off my thermals.

Huffing, Lux answered between each gulp of air. “YOU…! CAN…! SEE…! THAT!?!”

“Yes! Thermal Optics! C’mon! I thought a Beastkin like you could outpace a clunky machine like me!”

Grinning widely revealing her sharp incisors, the struggle to keep up the pace subsided as we stampeded in unison to the unsuspecting soul utilizing a hot ladle to carton away an even hotter glowing liquid.

Repeating to myself ‘Please be egg-noodles,’ I gripped on to Lux’s wrist, nearly flinging her airborne as we rounded the last corner, our goal now in sight.

“Ramune – Noodle Emporium - Lux we’re in luck!”

.

..

...

“Lux?”

Looking at the silent, disembodied arm in my possession, the owner was nowhere to be found.

“L-L-LUX?!”

“Whoa~! Be careful with that!” Her voice slid beneath my feet, catching the disembodied prosthetic arm in the nick of time. “I’m part clunky machine too, ya know? Mweheehee~♪!!”

“What-are-you-still-doing-on-the-floor!?” I babbled like an idiot as Lux continued to gawk upwards, hiding the lower half of her face behind the hem of my skirt.

“Enjoying the view of course! That medical gown looks good on you! Mwahaha~Ou-ou-ouch!”

“You’re about to enjoy a dirt nap in a second! Now hurry up n’ get up before they close- it’s noodles we can’t miss this!”

“~ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ’ᴅ sᴛᴏᴘ ᴄʀᴜsʜɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴇʟ~!”

Having just wrenching Lux from the floor, the corrugated steel shutter slammed shut with an echo, sealing off my hopes and dreams to engorge myself with more than just that euphoric scent of comforting chicken broth lingering in the air.

“Open~up~open~up~open~up!” Lux and I pleaded, drumming our heavy fists on the iron curtain protecting the Stall’s only opening.

Nearly shrieking; “I can see you in there!” at first appeared to have been misinterpreted as a one-liner out of a horror film by which the glowing aura of heat began to move frantically behind the walls.

“You don’t need to throw the leftovers in the Organic Matter Recycler!" Lux pleaded, tears streaming from her eyes. "You got two paying customerrrrs~I’ll throw in a week’s worth of laundry debt if you’ll just give us the scraps!”

And that’s how we not only managed a table decorated for two, but a three-course meal and an exclusive waitress tending our every whim.

“Huh, Faust works here of all places? This is too good to be true!” I stated, looking to the mirror image of Lux hovering over the table’s edge dressed in a vintage puff-shoulder vanilla waitress uniform.

Sniggering to herself, Lux tugged on the brim of Faust’s dress as if to point out the many stains and threadbare seams. “We all contribute in one way or another! That’s just how things are, isn’t that right Faust!?”

“Maou…” She grumped in response, bashfully patting down her apron stained in a a day's worth of toil.

“Faust’s butthurt because I wagered I could take you on a Dinner Date within a week!”

For one reason or another, Lux’s flirtatious tendencies no longer elicited a bashful reply. ‘All bark and no bite’ seemed appropriate if it were not for being halfway up the tree, far away from any foreseeable consequences.

“Oh, you meant a date-date?” I huffed, shoving another lukewarm spoonful of broth into my mouth. “Did Faust share your intention to court me...?”

“N-No, I uh!?” She stammered, face beet red.

“No, Faust just underestimated me so much that she not only bet a month’s worth of laundry, she bet that she has to do ALL my chores for a full thirty days. See what happens when you belittle your Big-Sis!?”

“Sh-Shut-up!! I’ll bring you your dessert, and then I’m closing! I’m not going to stick around and catch flak for your curfew delinquency! It’s twenty minutes after closing, and I’m not going to be scraping oil off crusty old machinery because of you two!”

I couldn’t help but allow Lux’s bubbly energy infect me. Such a punishment seemed trivial by the way Faust briefly described it, so I finally allowed myself to relax and let my guard down... partially...

“Sorry about the noodle nibs and room-temp soup! I totally expected more from her, but~ it is leftovers. I'll have to take you on a proper date after this Mission business wraps itself up.”

“Oh ho? Already planning another? I don’t mind. Anything at this point beats VitaGel.”

“VitaGel? Is that what Lilims normally eat? Sounds disgusting- I wanna try some!”

“It’s similar to a protein bar, but they're reserved for Synthetics that are capable of manual ingestion. I’m not sure what effects it will have on a Human, let alone a Beastkin so if we ever find any- promise me you won’t let curiosity get the better of you before you run a few tests on it. Trust me when I say; you’re not missing out on anything – especially the dreaded pina-colada flavor.”

Rolling her eyes with that same fanged smile, I suddenly noticed that a thick crystal goblet of partially frozen cream had miraculously appeared between us at the same time the sound of scampering feet took their leave.

“I can’t promise anything! Curiosity kills cats, not dogs! How do you think I got these fancy-smancy arms of mine!?”

“You wanted to find out what’s inside a wood-chipper, first hand?”

“Ha-ha I forgot to slow clap because it's not very puny!”

“If you roll up your sleeves, I’ll take a gander. I’m pretty good at dissemination, after all, I have to be if I’m to break down mechanical components and reassemble them- don’t worry, I won’t need to forge your arms to paint myself a picture. All I need is a touch!”

As if to take my request a step further, Lux not only rolled up her long baggy sleeves but leaned her elbows on the table, palms upward as if to ask of me my hands in return like that of a fortune teller.

I would have hesitated if it were not for the subtle wariness hiding behind her smug mien seemingly glued in place, but maybe it would not have been for her sake as much as it would have been my own as my mind drifted to the realization that for the first time I thought of my hands as weapons.

With just a touch, I could read the schematics of the right prosthetic and with the left, reduce it to carbon ash. Of course, this thought was the furthest from what I wanted, but the notion remained.

“You’re giving me goosebumps…” She whispered almost imperceptibly.

Clearing my throat in an attempt to shrug off these trivial thoughts from clouding my performance, I re-opened my eyes to a world of numbers and diagrams.

“You have minimal scaring where the prosthesis connects, although the left side appears to have had reconstructive surgery to the tendons to make up for the Aster Mk. IV’s added weight as it was designed for a Male user.”

“Whoa, you can tell all that from just a touch!?” Lux gasped with eyes sparkling. “Please tell me there’s more! Just knowing the make and model means that I can look for an instruction manual in an old archive! What-else-what-else~!? Lay it on me~!”

“You were born with a defect… without arms. You did not lose them to an injury, so I apologize for that terrible joke…”

“No-no, don’t worry about it! This talent of yours is freakin’ amazing! Say, if you broke down my right arm, could you make me a matching left or is it purely a copy of the same side?”

I froze, unable to find a suitable response. In short, my answer could be ‘yes,’ but at the expense of my memories. The file size an arm as complex as it is would easily be hundreds of times the size of the crude 1940’s era weapons I have stashed in my mental armory- not to mention the attention of other Architects that seems to be intrinsically linked to my every attempt at Nano-Forging.

“What’s wrong? Why are you making that face?”

“It’s nothing… Here, why don’t you try this before it melts completely!” I giggled uncharacteristically in an attempt to deflect the sweltering contradiction of emotions wrecking havoc within my pitifully broken heart.

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʜᴇʀ… ʀᴇᴘᴀʏ ʜᴇʀ ᴋɪɴᴅɴᴇss, ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ?]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ʏᴇs… ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ ɪ ᴅᴏ… ᴛʜɪs ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴜsᴇᴅ... ʙᴜᴛ... ᴅɪᴅ ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇ ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ɪᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴄᴏsᴛ ᴍᴇ?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴏʀᴇsɪɢʜᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏ ᴜsᴇ ᴅᴡᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ɪᴛ ɴᴏᴡ. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴏɴ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪs, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɢɪʀʟ sɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴇᴀʀs.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ… ɪ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ… ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ... ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ… ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴜᴄʜ... ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴅᴏ ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴀᴄʀɪꜰɪᴄᴇ ɪɴ ᴏʀᴅᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ɢʀᴀɴᴛ ʜᴇʀ ʀᴇǫᴜᴇsᴛ..?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀɴ ʙᴏᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏʀ ɪ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡɪʟʟɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴜᴘ. ʟᴇᴛ ɪᴛ ʙᴇ. ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ᴛʜɪs sᴍᴀʟʟ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴀs ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴇᴡ ꜰɪɴᴇʀ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ɪɴ ʟɪꜰᴇ. ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪꜰ ɪᴛ ɪs ɴᴏᴛ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ꜰᴏᴏᴅ ᴀs ᴡᴇ ʜᴏᴘᴇᴅ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ɪɴ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ.]

[ᴏᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴏʀ: ʏᴇᴀʜ, ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ… ʏᴏᴜʀ sʏɴᴇsᴛʜᴇsɪᴀ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴ ᴀᴜʀᴀ ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʀᴀʀᴇʟʏ sᴇᴇɴ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ. ɪᴛ’s ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ ᴀs ᴍʏ ᴍᴀsᴛᴇʀ... ᴀ ʀɪᴄʜ sɪʟᴠᴇʀ ᴀᴜʀᴀ… ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ? ᴀɴ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟ sɪʟᴠᴇʀ ʟɪɴɪɴɢ…?]

[ʟᴏɢɪᴄ: ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀʟᴄᴜʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴀ ʀᴇsᴘᴏɴsᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴛɪᴍᴇ. ᴛʀʏ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ.]

“Ha… you cop-out piece of shit magic 8-ball…” I mumbled, rolling my eyes up from the table only to catch the tail end of movement before a wet sensation came over my lips.

My head was spinning out of control, and even when I braced myself over the table, I found little relief.

“Did you just… Kiss me, Lux?”

And that’s when I realized that we were both silently shedding tears and that my conversation I thought to be confined to my head had been played out verbally for her to hear.

With intent, I let go of the reigns, allowing the spiraling madness to consume me. If I could not grant her deepest desire, I could at least provide something close to comfort along the surface and in doing so; it was my turn to pull her over the small table and return that enigma of emotions in the hopes that somewhere inside that intelligible mass was something she was looking for.