Chap 140: Starlight of District One-thirty-four

The day had finally come. Zod, especially, couldn’t look more excited. Tee and her comrades stood in the mission base, though not in mission attire. Jackets, jeans, and shimmering boots made them stand out. As with their second outing, the Lieutenant and Commander addressed them on crucial matters before departure.

The Lieutenant handed each of them a telecom and repeated words they already knew. “These telecoms are set for individual teleportation. Like I’ve stated already, before you teleport, please go somewhere private.”

She then gave them their fake IDs, each one displaying their age as twenty. She held out the credit card, and Miko took it.

“All the best,” said the Lieutenant.

The Commander gave them a confirming nod.

The ground beneath their feet glowed red, and in an instant, their new surroundings appeared. Miko shrieked when she realized they were in a dark, tight alley.

“Calm down,” Zod told her as he shuffled sideways toward the light.

The others followed him out until they emerged onto one side of the street.

Zod opened his arms. “Welcome to Starlight, in District One-thirty-four.” His hazel eyes glimmered at the colorful lights all around them. “It’s one of the few places with a nighttime experience located underground.”

Miko rubbed her arms. “And that’s why the underground is more expensive than the surface.” Her eyes widened at the fog leaving her mouth.

The others looked up, taking in the high towers and ride constructions. Most of the blue sky was blocked out.

Saeda looked down and lifted her boots. “Is this what I think it is?”

Everyone glanced at the messy white substance beneath them. Tee would have focused on it longer, but the prickling sensation of several eyes on her head distracted her. She sighed, regretting not bringing a cap.

“Snow,” Miko said.

Zod crouched to examine it. “I knew it would be chilly here, but I didn’t expect snow. Only two districts on Geovalon ever get snow.”

Tee ignored the flakes she’d only seen twice in her life and instead looked at her teammates’ outfits. She already knew what Saeda and Miko were wearing, but they looked different, bright colors and passing crowds shifting the whole picture.

Miko’s dark rose jacket made the blush on her cheeks and her pink lips stand out. The gold rings in her waist-length hair shimmered under the neon lights.

Saeda wore a dress beneath her long jacket. The reflective black of her high boots matched her lips, making her face and lower legs pop against all the black around her.

Zod’s brown double-layered jacket gave the impression of a white hoodie underneath. His ocean-blue jeans blended with his blue sneakers.

Tee still refused to believe Kie had no other clothes. Yet there he was in his old Mid-Guard uniform minus the emblem on the shoulders. All he needed was a long sword on his back and black shades to look truly intimidating. Normally, walking beside anything resembling government tools would have made her growl inside her head. But those feelings didn’t come.

A painful flashback of Lilith’s dark, dangerous eyes flashed through her mind. She was simply grateful not to be on a Harbinger mission.

She looked forward to having a great time.

Tee snapped out of her staring and suggested, “Guys, we need to get cash.”

Saeda joked, “How about using my aura-sensing to find a money machine?”

Tee scanned the area with her eyes and spotted one before Saeda could. “Found one.”

Miko went into the machine and wiped the chip clean. She came back out with her arms overflowing with single-dollar notes. An evil gust of wind chose that moment to blow, sending some bills flying. The others scrambled to catch them.

Tee divided the money into five equal portions and pocketed the extra. “It’s payment for my service.”

Saeda commented, “We each have a lot of cash. Primus has money. I should ask the Commander for payment for my Sentinel services. I bet I’d be rich.”

Tee’s eyes widened, and she instantly agreed. “Saeda, you’re so right. We need to get paid!”

Zod cut in before they got too carried away. “It’s dangerous to walk around with this much cash. Give me the chip so I can put my money back.”

But Miko informed him, “Sorry, it’s a withdrawal-only card. You can’t put the money back.” She looked down at her pouch and frowned. “I’m worse than you right now. My mini pouch is filled to the brim with essentials, and my pants pockets don’t open.”

Zod chuckled at her frustration and glanced at her very convincing fake pockets. He had two large pockets inside his jacket and suggested, “Hey, I’ll keep your cash for you. But that means we’ll be stuck together.”

Miko replied, “That’s great. I don’t like being alone.”

Saeda insisted, “It’s time we split up since we can teleport without each other.”

Kie reminded them, “Communicate through telecoms and use GPS if anything.”

Saeda nodded and turned to leave. “See you turds later.”

“Yeah,” Zod said, already drifting off with Miko.

Tee tugged Kie by the arm and smiled. “Come on, old man, we don’t have all day.”

Kie chuckled. “Alright, alright, I’m coming.” His smile faded as the repetition hit him. “I hope ‘old man’ isn’t my new nickname.”

“Alright, Cooper.”

He pulled her arm gently to slow her down. “Slow down. We need to plan this out.” He took out his cash and handed it to her. “Math genius, figure out how many rides we can take.”

It was the perfect moment to tease his Mid-Guard education, but she let it pass.

“Keep your money,” she said. “I already know how much you have minus the five dollars too.”

She looked away and began calculating in her head, but the nearby screams of excitement forced her to flip through the paper notes instead.

Kie found yet another reason Tee would make the perfect life partner. She understood money and could handle their finances effortlessly.

Raising her voice over the noise, she announced, “With our food money aside, I’ve calculated forty checkouts max for each of us.”

Kie walked over to a map of the park and skimmed the major attractions. “First, we get drunk so every ride will be ten times more fun,” he said.

Tee blinked. Drunk? Was that really Mister Nice Guy? A mischievous smile curled on her lips. She knew exactly what usually followed getting drunk with a guy.

“Of course, Cooper.”

Kie stopped at a pub and winked at the MG official at the entrance. The lady smiled and stepped aside for him to pass. Tee managed a quick glimpse inside before the woman shifted back to block her way.

“She’s with me,” Kie blurted.

The blind weren’t allowed in places like that without an escort. But Tee wasn’t using a cane, was she?

The lady looked away and begrudgingly moved aside. Tee swore Kie still hadn’t learned his lesson about winking at older ladies. She slipped past the old prune who wore more makeup than should legally be allowed.

The dim room was crawling with government tools sporting golden badges. Loud gulps and rough chuckles filled the air, making Tee’s skin crawl as she passed the tables. Kie showed his ID to the man behind the counter and mumbled something to him.

A moment later, they both received their drinks—two short glasses filled with a deep, reddish-gold wine that smelled strong enough to peel paint off a wall.

Kie lifted his with a grin. “Strongest stuff they’ve got. One glass and your soul leaves your body.”

Tee brought the rim to her nose, expecting to wince. The scent was sharp, almost bitter. But compared to the lethal sludge she called morning coffee? Child’s play.

She took a hearty swallow.

Kie nearly choked on his own. “Tee—! Are you crazy?!”

She swallowed again, shrugging. “It tastes… fine.”

“Fine?” he repeated, staring at her like she’d just bitten into a live grenade. He tapped his glass, swirled it, and braced himself for another cautious sip. Meanwhile, Tee took another smooth drink, hardly blinking.

The bartender raised a brow, impressed. “Girl’s got an iron throat.”

“No,” Kie corrected, pointing accusingly at her. “She’s an addict. To coffee. She drinks the kind that probably violates several food safety regulations.”

Tee rolled her eyes. “It’s not that bad.”

Kie stared, speechless, as Tee set her empty glass down with a soft clink.

“Another?” the bartender asked, half amused.

Kie held up a hand. “No—absolutely not. She still needs to walk out of here without phasing through the floor.”

Tee smirked and leaned closer, her voice a low tease. “So… drunk first, right? Isn’t that what you said?”

Kie felt heat crawl up his neck. “I—okay, but you were supposed to get tipsy, not prove you’re a cyborg.”

Tee laughed—a soft, warm, unguarded sound. “Relax, Cooper. I’m fine.”

He sighed, grabbed her hand, and tugged her toward the door. “Fine or not, we’re getting out of here before they start recruiting you for drinking competitions.”

Honestly, she could imagine that. Those tools loved their games. She followed, a secret smile tugging at her lips.

She glanced at their linked hands.

She wasn’t drunk. Not even close.

But having him hold her hand?

That was more intoxicating than anything in the glass. Something about the warmth of it in the cold air.

“Where are we going first?” she asked.

She took off running, and Kie rushed after her. She had already joined the line for a ride. Tee glanced up at the sign—Xeno-victims were forbidden from accessing the attraction. A quick look around showed similar warnings on every ride and building. But she wasn’t a Xeno-victim.

She hopped into her rollercoaster seat, and Kie dropped into the one beside her.

They were given thin plastic raincoats to pull over themselves. As the coaster rolled forward, Kie obeyed his gut and removed his shades. He couldn’t understand why everyone was screaming when the ride hadn’t even changed altitude yet. But when Tee suddenly joined them—arms raised high, yelling loud enough to rattle him—he nearly jumped. He blinked at her disbelief. Was the wine hitting her already?

The coaster shot high into the air, then dove repeatedly beneath the surface. It was like a giant burrowing worm, swapping between daylight above and the dark, neon-lit nighttime experience underground. They raced through fountains of water and bright clouds of colored smoke on the surface. The brief underground stretches were peaceful enough for them to marvel at the glowing lights.

While searching for their next ride, they stepped directly in the path of a park worker sweeping snow with a broad shovel. But it was the white collar with the red around the worker’s neck that snatched their attention. A Xeno-victim.

Tee instantly spotted the MG officers watching the worker like a predator tracking prey.

She moved aside to pass the worker, and Kie followed. For a Xenogenist, doing that was practically a statement. Silence followed. Tee decided not to dwell on it.

She dashed into an ice-skating stadium, and Kie followed. Both were surprised at how well they skated for first-timers. It had to be the Commander’s training.

With a mischievous smile, Tee told him, “Step back. I’m going to do a dangerous spin.”

Kie shook his head as she spun like a blur. She was definitely drunk.

When she stopped, the world tilted. She struggled to find him through the spinning haze.

She held out a hand. “Cooper, duo skate with me.”

“I think not,” he said, pulling her close by the hand. Looking into her eyes, concerned, he added, “Let’s find something else fun to do.”

After ice-skating, Tee was soon floating around in zero-gravity thanks to special boots. She threw several large glowing rings to hit other players. She was so excited she hurled them with too much force, the last person she hit in the stomach hovered in place, groaning.

Even with the protective gear, she’d still hurt someone.

“Tee, cool down,” Kie warned.

She immediately threw a ring at him. He dodged easily. Tee laughed.

“Almost got yah, Cooper.”

She skated up to him and gave him a smooch.

While walking, Kie pointed to a holographic sign. It stated that anyone who didn’t pay to enter the park would be fined three times the entrance fee. The silver stamp they gave paying guests would only come off with a special serum at any exit.

Kie said the obvious. “We didn’t pay. We teleported in. But if we had paid, we’d have less money for rides.”

Tee added, “We get beat up by the Harbingers and we’re saving the world. So technically, we shouldn’t need to pay.”

Kie agreed, and they both mentally discarded the warning.

A ride that launched human-sized pods deep beneath the earth caught their attention. But they were denied access for not having insurance proof.

They continued wandering for more rides, passing only adults along the way.

Tee concluded that she and her teammates were the only teenagers there. Of course they would be as that wasn’t Free Week. Only adults could afford to be out. More proof that life really began after the Mid-Guard. But facing Harbingers was far more dangerous than being a trooper.

Zod and Miko finally found the relaxation they desperately needed. They fell asleep at a massage booth only to wake up staring at metal bars. A prison cell. That sight slapped any remaining drowsiness right out of them.

The man with the furious mustache outside the cell explained their situation. “Well, well, well. How did you two end up here? The massagers noticed neither of you had stamps, and the names on your IDs don’t exist in the system. So, you got reported.”

He stepped closer. “Tell me—how did you enter the park? Transparent hot-air balloon?”

Zod lied smoothly. “We have a link on the inside.”

Miko hated lying but nodded anyway when the man glanced at her for confirmation.

They ended up paying three times the entrance fee and receiving the silver stamps on their hands. Released—but with less money. They still wanted to explore the underground, so they would have to plan carefully.

Saeda staggered off her tenth ride with her head spinning. While eating an inflated squid, her eyes locked onto a tall man with curly black hair. He looked so much like her father.

She stepped closer, but the illusion dissolved. It wasn’t him. A heavy feeling settled in her chest, and she suddenly realized she was alone. Looking around, almost everyone walked in pairs. But honestly? She liked solitude. Snickers would’ve made perfect company, but things didn’t work out.

Kie headed to a snack machine. The women behind him openly stared him up and down, smiling and whispering. When he walked off, their heads turned to follow him. Tee, standing nearby, snapped her fingers to remind the desperate hags why they were in line.

Kie returned with two scones and handed her one. They each tasted a bite of the other’s.

Tee noticed his ID peeking from the front pocket of his jacket. Casually, she slid it out and checked it.

Her eyes widened. “No way. I’m older than you.”

“What?” Kie asked, as casual as ever.

Tee pulled out her own ID and compared the dates. “See? They bumped the years up by one, but that birth month is correct. I’m five days older than you.”

Kie laughed. “Five days?”

He stepped closer and removed his shades. “Should I remind you how much taller I am?”

Tee tipped onto her toes to meet his gaze. “By an inch?”

One second of staring turned into two—and suddenly they both realized they were smiling. When was the last time Jack made her smile like that? What a shame he was gone.

After eating, they stopped at the code board for a virtual head-gear game. Thousands of codes for special settings—some paylocked. Kie knew a hidden one from reading Death-Guard Saga. He used it to switch his targets from Xenosapians to Xeno-victims.

Tee entered the same code and noticed the simulated Xeno-victims were made diabolically ugly. She didn’t let it bother her. Like Kie, she blasted them into oblivion without hesitation.

“That was fun,” she told him after the game.

She threw the headgear down and headed for the exit.

She hated damn Xenogenists. Why would a game even have a feature like that? It wasn’t Xeno-victims’ fault they were like that. Shoving her fists into her jacket pockets, she stormed ahead.

Kie noticed the tension radiating off her as they walked in silence in search of their next activity. Was she upset about the game? For a Xenogenist, that seemed unlikely.

They sat on a bench inside a large white pod, its curved walls projecting beautiful locations in a seamless three-sixty view. Fake wind, ambient sounds, and drifting aromas made each scene feel almost real.

The illusion tugged her thoughts back to her life after leaving Primus. Tetra and Jack were gone. What exactly was she going back to? And sooner or later, Kie might learn her deepest, darkest secret. How would he react? The image of him spitting in her face, eyes burning with rage, twisted her heart. She sucked in a sharp breath, shaken by the flash of the vision.

Kie leaned forward, sensing the shift in her mood. “You alright?”

Tee forced air into her lungs, her vision still a bit blurry. “Yeah. Let’s go somewhere else.”

A streak of darkness crossed her vision again, Jack’s face flickering with it.

Kie took her hand, grounding her, and they walked on.

They wandered in silence, scanning for more entertainment options, only to be rejected from several exciting ones for lacking insurance proof. Tee wondered what logic there was in giving them fake IDs without fake insurance. Zod was to blame obviously.

As they walked, she counted the number of times Kie brushed his bangs aside. Three so far. The gentle wind kept lifting his hair, threatening to expose the “watermelon” above his eyes, but she thought it was cute on him.

But the more Xeno-victim-barring signs they passed, the deeper her thoughts sank.

Would Kie mourn her if she mutated?

Would he be able to kill her demon if she turned into a MegaSapian right then?

How many people would die before he finally succeeded?

If that happened, any progress she’d made toward becoming the best Sentinel would be buried underground—right along with the dead.