"Your eyes are fine, so far," said Dr.Lo, glancing at his computer. “No optic fractures and digital disturbance.”

Rei pushed the eye scanner headset up and rubbed her cybernetic eyelids. “Thank you…..”

After her incident at the bar, Rei rushed to Dr. Lo’s office to make sure her eyes weren’t broken. The EMP grenade could have damaged her vision of seeing a fake monster attacking her in the restroom. But who knew? She wasn’t sure if an electromagnetic pulse could do that. All she knew, EMP explosives were built to shut down tech for hours or forever. Sometimes a tech could malfunction after the EMP blast damages it. After all, Rei studied computer science before she became a K-pop idol in her human days.

Dr.Lo pulled up a stool and sat down in front of Rei with a clipboard and pen in his hands. “Can you describe what you have seen?”

Rei took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I don't know what I saw. It looked like a giant monster. Made out of slime!"

Dr.Lo tipped his pen on his clipboard. "And are you sure it wasn't an illusion?"

"I don't know." Rei rubbed her lower arms. "But I felt it moving its ooze all over-" she shuddered. "So creepy….."

The naked mole-rat tipped the pen on his lower lip. "And your partner couldn't truce it?"

Rei shook her head. "No, Rally isn't my partner, but he found nothing."

"Well, it is common for cybernetic eyes to malfunction after an EMP explosion. But what you said sounded like you actually experienced an encounter."

"But nobody else believed me!"

Dr.Lo fixed his black goggles. "If your encounter was real, I can only suggest you should keep your guard up. Anything can happen in this city. Not just malfunctioning tech."

Rei sighed. "Okay….."

Rei! Fiona's voice echoed inside Rei's head. Are you available?

Rei stared at the ceiling. Ye ye. What do you need?

Can you return to my office, please?

Ye.

Good. Luna is on her way too. I got a contract that should make up for your failed assignment. The reward is bigger this time.

Gwaenchanh-a….. I will see you soon. Rei turned to Dr.Lo as she slid off the seat. “I have to go now. Thank you for checking out my eyes."

Dr.Lo nodded to her and wrote on his clipboard. "I can insert two camcorders in your eyes. That can help you determine what you saw is real."

"No, thank you. I can't afford the upgrades right now. Annyeong!"

*****

Rei hoped she would get a break from her partner, but whenever a contract is announced, there was no waiting for it. Perhaps it might make Luna happy and give Rei another chance. But they have to learn about it immediately. If they don't, someone else will.

Near Fiona's office door, Rei spotted Luna, wearing a leather jacket and black pants that blended in with her dark fur. It looked like she was waiting for Rei.

"Annyeonghaseyo Luna!" Rei waved her hand. "How are-"

"Zip it, kitty." Luna slid her across her lips. "I got nothing to say to you now."

Rei’s ears lowered. "O ileon….. If it is about-"

"Forget it, let's get this job out of the way." Luna pushed the door open and entered the office.

Rei smiled and followed her. Maybe Luna was mad at her, but she still needed her partner.