Chap 103: The Tomorrow Grove
With no Harbinger quests or low-level missions for days, time flew by as Tee and Kie shared details about themselves. Kie recounted countless events from his time in the Mid-Guard, enough to make Tee believe he had practically grown up there. Still, she knew nothing about his family or why he had spent so much time in the MG. He remained a tough skull to crack.
Tee, on the other hand, was quick to embellish certain stories, fabricating details about Tetra’s illegal dealings with Xeno-victims and speaking at length about Jack’s burns. She knew Kie enjoyed hearing about her former love interest’s failings, especially since she always reminded him that Jack was dead.
Soon, Tee and her comrades headed to the mission base for another trip to the outside world. Some workers glanced at the teenagers, who stood out in their shiny jackets, boots, and flowing hair.
The Commander scrutinized them from head to toe. Their flashy attire made the painful memories of his own non-existent childhood flash through his mind, yet he gave a nod of approval.
The Lieutenant handed the five teenagers their telecoms. “These are set for individual teleportation. You can teleport separately, but please—go somewhere private. I don’t suspect any danger, but freezing in a crowded area is still a concern.”
The Commander added, “And their fake Primus Mid-Guard I.D.s.”
“What?” Zod blurted in disbelief, pinching himself.
The Commander distributed the I.D.s. as he spoke. “Please do not be alarmed by the fake completion dates on your cards. Since home visits from the Mid-Guard are over by this time of year, I’ve adjusted your ages. You are now all officially 20 and have left the Mid-Guard. So please, act your age.”
The Lieutenant clasped her hands below her chin, smiling. “We’ve already reserved a full day for you at The Tomorrow Grove, in District Forty. Everything is already paid for.”
Tee examined her I.D., noticing the shiny seal of the non-existent Primus Mid-Guard. It looked completely legitimate.
The Lieutenant wished them farewell once more before they teleported away.
The new surroundings unfolded before them. Vast green hills stretched into the distance, dropping sharply at dizzying heights. Droplets of water dripped from the crowded trees, drawing their eyes upward to the birds chirping among the foliage. The air was cool and refreshingly crisp.
“Seems like we got teleported in the middle of nowhere,” Saeda said in her usual monotone.
“Or maybe just behind this tree so nobody sees us teleporting,” Tee replied, having just deactivated her foreseeing vision.
They all moved from the base of a massive tree, its wide trunk easily hiding all five of them. A short distance away, a road led to a large gate flanked by signs reading, ‘Tomorrow Grove — Unplug in Nature’s Backyard.’ The welcoming entrance hinted at the adventures ahead.
“Well, what are you guys waiting for?” Kie called, striding ahead. He was grateful for retreats like that at Primus. Coming from poverty, the experience felt exhilarating. When he left Primus for good, he might say goodbye to that good life—unless, of course, he gained god-like powers and became the greatest MG official the continent had ever seen.
They slipped through the receptionist area with ease and received waterproof smartwatches. The devices provided information on all the grove’s activities and tracked their locations for emergencies, ensuring they had everything they needed for their stay.
“Cool, there’s a hover board race,” Zod said, glancing at the hologram agenda on his watch. No one commented.
The first activity was hover cart racing. They each got a cart and dashed across the water to a farther section of the park, laughter and splashes echoing behind them.
Next came archery practice. Miko hit her targets with ease, but seeing Zod struggle tugged at her heart. She moved closer to help him, even if it meant being uncomfortably near. In the end, he finally managed to hit his target.
Zod smiled. “Wow, Miko. You’d make a great teacher… right next to a chef.”
Miko brushed her hair behind her ears, trying to hide her blush.
They then zipped across the water on lines suspended above a crowded sea of fish, some leaping into the air as if trying to slap them as they passed.
Bungy jumping came next. Zod made sure his smartwatch recorded everything, planning to show the footage to his little brother.
“What excuse would you give for being allowed here in the Mid-Guard?” Saeda asked.
Zod replied casually, “I won a prize.”
“A prize in the Mid-Guard? Was it for stamina? Because that would be a joke,” Tee said.
Zod bristled at the jab, not liking being mocked for his poor Mid-Entry grades. Miko, meanwhile, noticed how easily Zod lied for his brother’s sake and frowned, though she kept her thoughts to herself.
They walked along a jungle-like path, thick with tall vines and towering trees, stopping to feed the animals dangling from the branches. Saeda was in her element, staying still, making noises with her teeth, and charming the creatures until all her food was gone.
They then climbed the thickest tree they had ever seen, which led them to a breathtaking view and a treehouse café perched at the top. The café featured levitating trays, robot servers on wheels.
They gathered around round tables to eat as a group. The spread included burgers, steak, fancy bread, maize dogs, roasted maize, pies, milkshakes, fruit punch, fish sticks, and fried leaves.
They tried gun shooting targets. Zod excelled immediately, his video game experience giving him an edge.
Finally, the hover boarding contest. Zod used his telekinesis to secretly win the contest. The way he moved was almost unreal—smooth, effortless, as if the board itself was an extension of his body. He weaved through the obstacle course with impossible precision, launching off ramps and twisting in midair like gravity didn’t exist.
Other competitors struggled to keep their balance, wobbling and stumbling, while Zod glided over rails, flipped with flawless rotations, and landed perfectly every time. Sparks flew from the edges of his board as he skimmed over the ground, and the crowd’s cheers grew louder, though no one could figure out how he made it look so easy.
At one point, he hovered inches above a tricky spiral ramp, spinning in slow motion, before dropping down with such control that it seemed almost choreographed. Miko’s jaw dropped. She had never seen anyone ride a hover board with that kind of mastery. Even without showing off, Zod made it look effortless. A mix of raw skill and something... almost magical.
By the time the contest ended, it was clear he had won not just by points, but by leaving everyone else utterly in awe.
They walked across a terrifying glass bridge—one wrong step, one crack, and they would plummet thousands of feet into waters teeming with carnivorous fish.
Miko studied some of the walkways and commented that they harvested kinetic energy from footsteps to power nearby lights and bubble fountains. She recognized the markings from certain areas in her district, where similar walkways powered streetlights in underground sections.
Tee wanted to prove Kie just wanted to sleep with her and was no different from the rest of the MG offs—corrupt and ruled by impulse. When she spotted the onsen sign, she seized her chance and tugged him away from the group.
“Tee?” Zod called after her.
“We’re separating, but don’t hold up,” she said quickly, already pulling Kie along.
She pressed close to him at the counter, acting like they were inseparable. “We’re a couple. We go together,” she told the attendant.
The onsen escort nodded and guided them toward a private room.
“Are you sure about this?” Kie asked, his tone wary.
“What’s not to be sure about?” she said, sliding her jacket off her shoulders.
He turned away, refusing to watch her undress. By the time she looked again, he was already in the water, eyes averted. Dammit!
Tee joined him, the heat of the spring rising around them. “This is nice,” he murmured, the steam curling between them.
She drifted closer until their shoulders brushed. Turning toward him, she placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed him softly.
“Let’s do it,” she said, their foreheads still touching, her gaze locked with his.
Kie pulled away. “This is too soon.”
She frowned. “Oh, stop pretending already. There’s nobody watching.”
With his back to her, Kie sighed. “Look, I know you just want to have sex with me,” he said quietly. “But I actually believe we could be something real.”
Something inside Tee snapped. Was it guilt or the sting of having her own ugly assumption thrown back at her? No, that couldn’t be it. It couldn’t.
He turned back to her and took her hands, but Tee wasn’t buying it. She stepped closer until their lips nearly brushed. She traced her fingers down his firm chest, then lower across his abs beneath the water’s surface.
The closeness between them was electric. The steam broke down her walls of ice and she felt vulnerable. Her nipples hardened and the thought alone sent her heart racing. She had never felt anything like that before—and part of her wanted to, even if it was with an MG off wannabe.
When she got too close, she felt something pressing against her waist.
Her voice dropped to a whisper, her breath warm against his skin. “Really? You’re not exactly hiding how you feel, Kie.”
A faint color rose to his cheeks as he turned away, clearly fighting himself. Curse his body!
Kie exhaled sharply, then leaned back into the water, eyes closing. “Nope,” he muttered, as if forcing restraint. “Not happening.”
Tee bit back a quiet curse. That, she knew, was a battle she wasn’t going to win.
When their time was up, Kie was the first to get out. The steam hid most of his body, but Tee was too disappointed to even care about sneaking a peek. When they left, Tee hugged herself, warding off any attempt from Kie to hold her hands.
They walked along a glowing path through misty gardens and mirrored sculptures. The air was scented, carrying a soft, floral perfume. Couples strolled hand in hand—except them. They stood out, awkward and distant, like strangers.
After a while, they stopped at hidden benches tucked into private nooks meant for whispered conversations or stolen kisses. Tee sat first, and Kie followed her cue.
“Are you mad at me?” Kie asked.
Tee didn’t answer. Kie went on, speaking quietly about how he never would have imagined going to a place like that. Before the Mid-Guard, he had spent his time in an orphanage.
Tee’s ears perked up, waiting for anything juicy he might spill.
He explained that his brother had left him at the orphanage, and not long after, he had fled to the streets. He met other homeless people and recounted the terrifying nights beyond global curfew when he had been found wandering and rescued by an MG official who escorted him to the nearest shelter. From that day on, he swore he would become an MG official himself.
After too long spent hungry on the streets, he became fascinated by the MG program, which accepted volunteers who would eventually become officials. It wasn't popular—the program was grueling and unforgiving—but to him, the promise of steady shelter and food meant everything. He took it up without hesitation.
Soon, he became the youngest trooper at his Mid-Guard, quickly becoming the subject of much talk. Some said he was there as punishment, while others claimed he was brilliant, having skipped the Second-level Academy. One day, the teasing and mockery went too far, and he beat a fellow trooper nearly to death. Interestingly, it never affected his record.
Tee wasn’t surprised by the lack of punishment. In the Mid-Guard, right and wrong existed only when the top dogs decided they did.
Their telecoms crackled, and Miko’s voice came through, asking them to regroup. They did so, spending a short time together before warning beeps and signals all over the park indicated the start of pre-global curfew operations. People either sheltered in Xeno-sapien–proof rooms or left. Tee and her comrades exited the park through the big gate and teleported once they were out of sight.
Back at the base, drowsy and exhausted, they decided to head straight to bed. Tee and Kie separated down the hallway, each lost in thought, wondering what the next day would bring.