Morning light spills into my Seventh Street flat, a rare change from my usual late sleep-ins.
Today, I'm up early, the neon glow outside my window mixing with dawn's gold.
Packing's quick—I'm no fashionist.
A few shirts, slacks, my tie, and some essentials fit into a suitcase.
Scott Outpost is a haul, out in the outer ring past Blazewood, far from New Eridu's buzz.
It's a long drive, so we're leaving early.
I have to be ready, I think, zipping the bag shut.
I grab my suitcase and glance at the broken bangboo in the corner.
I'll fix you someday, I think, slinging it over my shoulder.
I lock the door, the click final, and head downstairs.
Outside, a compact car waits, its sleek frame catching the light. Kaori leans against it, her cat ears twitching, twin tails swaying.
She's in a button-up shirt, a coat slung over her shoulder, looking more put-together than usual.
"Ready?" I ask, eyeing her.
"Got everything right this time?"
Kaori nods, her green eyes bright.
"Yup! Checked three times, even!" Her tail flicks proudly.
I believe her. She's learning, I think, popping the trunk.
There's just enough room for my suitcase and the Bangboo.
I pack them in, close the lid, and move to the driver's seat. Kaori slides into the passenger side, her coat rustling.
I start the car, the engine humming softly, and punch in Scott Outpost's coordinates on the nav system.
Time to relocate for the job, I think, pulling onto the street.
The city's waking up—vendors flip open stalls, drones zip by, and New Eridu's neon fades behind us.
Blazewood's dusty trails and Papago Hollow's risks lie ahead, but for now, it's just me, Kaori, and the open road.
Let's get this done!
***
The journey to Papago Hollow stretches on, the car's hum a steady pulse under the vast outer ring sky.
Blazewood's dusty trails unfold ahead, dotted with skeletal ruins and faint Hollow shimmers.
Astra Yao's vocals spill from the radio, her smooth voice a familiar echo from Zenless Zone Zero's soundtrack.
Just like the game hyped her, I think, letting the music keep me steady.
The only hitch I foresee is dodging biker gangs—Blazewood's notorious for them.
Kaori, in the passenger seat, hums along, her cat ears twitching to the beat.
Her coat's draped over her lap, her button-up shirt slightly wrinkled.
She glances at me, her green eyes curious.
"So, what do you think we'll do at Scott Outpost? I'm kind of excited to meet our coworkers!"
I sigh, glancing out the window at the barren landscape before turning to her.
Time for the truth.
"Kaori, it's just us. They sent only the two of us. Think about it."
Her tail freezes, her eyes widening.
"No way! Dr. Lin said we did well! Why would they send just us? There have to be others, right?" Her voice cracks, panic creeping in.
I sigh again, keeping my tone even.
"Give it some thought. You're a clumsy researcher with a track record of bad submissions. I'm the guy from a company that tanked over embezzlement."
"Now we're headed to Papago Hollow, way out in the outer ring, where barely any researchers go because it's so far from New Eridu."
"And Dr. Lin?—offering to cover all expenses? That's never happened to anyone at the Institute. Doesn't it feel off?"
As she heard that, Kaori turned to the window, her ears drooping.
Tears trickle down her cheeks, her sad expression reflecting in the glass.
Damn, I killed the vibe, I think, regretting my bluntness.
"Listen," I say, softening my voice.
"What if Dr. Lin sent us where no one else is? We show up, and we've got a nearly limitless budget to work with. We can make it count."
I lean forward, my hands steady on the wheel.
"Who cares about the others? We can prove we're better by tackling that, Hollow. Hell, whixh 'Joyous,' the Investigation Guild's ace, cleared it. If he can, so can we analyze it."
Let's turn this into a win, I think, hoping to spark her fire.
Kaori sniffles, wiping her eyes. Her tail flicks, a small smile breaking through.
"Thanks, Michael. I… I needed that."
She straightens, her voice steadier.
I give her a quick pat on the head, her ears twitching under my hand.
She's back on track, I think, turning my focus to the road.
Blazewood's reddish dust swirls around us, the horizon jagged with ruins.
We're here, I think, gripping the wheel tighter.
Scott Outpost and Papago Hollow wait, and whatever Dr. Lin's game is, I'm ready.
———
Blazewood hits differently from New Eridu. The crowds are thinner, rougher—leather-clad bikers and weathered traders replacing the city's neon-charged hustle.
Ramshackle buildings line the dusty streets, their exteriors chipped and sun-bleached, a far cry from Sixth Street's gloss.
Kaori and I are cruising through, the car's hum steady, when a loud gurgle breaks the silence.
I glance over—she's clutching her stomach, her cat ears drooping.
She's starving.
"Let's take a break," I say. "We'll find a place to eat."
A pub restaurant catches my eye, its neon sign buzzing "Blaze's Pit." I park nearby, and we hop out.
The air's thick with motor oil and smoke, and as we step inside, the atmosphere shifts.
It's a dive—grimy tables, flickering lights, and a crowd of biker gangs, their jackets patched with gang logos.
Kaori grabs my shirt, her twin tails trembling. "Is this okay?" she whispers, her green eyes darting.
"It'll be fine," I assure her, keeping my pace leisurely. If things get hairy, I'll know, I think.
I've sworn off using my mystic ability unless it's life-or-death, but out here, I won't hesitate if danger calls.
Behind the counter stands a girl with twin gold hairlocks, her presence electric.
I recognized Bernice instantly.
Her trailer in Zenless Zone Zero was incredible, and when combined with the iconic song that defined the game's vibe, I could still remember some of the lyrics.
"Mocktails, mixers, ice
The snacks are real nice."
She's all smiles, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"What's your order?" she asks, leaning forward.
"Milkshakes and spicy hamburgers with fries for both of us," I say, keeping it simple.
No way I'm touching her cocktails.
Burnice's nitro-infused drinks are notorious.
I'm not getting Kaori plastered.
She relays the order to the cook, her movements fluid, almost too perfect.
That's when I notice it.
Her luck's off the charts, like a walking four-leaf clover.
I've never seen anything like it, I think, my mystic ability tingling faintly.
She's a pillar of probability, the kind who could win a lottery in her sleep.
Wish I had that kind of fortune, I think, sighing.
We grab a table away from the bikers, the pub's noise a low rumble.
Time passes, and Burnice drops off our food—steaming hamburgers with hot fresh fries and frosty milkshakes. Kaori takes a bite, her ears perking up.
"These are delicious!" she exclaims, her tail swishing.
I nod, chewing.
Not bad at all, I think, savoring the spice.
The food's a welcome break, Blazewood's grit fading for a moment.
Then, a glass shatters across the pub.
Shouts erupt, chairs scrape, and fists fly as two bikers slam into each other, their gang mates joining the fray.
The chaos spreads, bottles crashing, tables flipping.
I sigh, setting down my burger. "Here we go," I mutter, my calm holding but my senses sharpening.
***
Bullets tore through Blaze's Pit, the Blazewood pub erupting into a gunfight. Glass shattered, bikers roared, and the air hummed with chaos.
Michael and Kaori flipped their table for cover, the wood splintering as shots whizzed by.
Kaori clutched her cat ears, her twin tails trembling, her green eyes wide with terror. Michael, unfazed, savored his spicy hamburger, chewing slowly.
This is getting old, he thought, noting the sound of more boots stomping in—reinforcements, maybe.
"How can you eat now?" Kaori squeaked, bullets pinging the table.
"We could die any second!"
Before Michael could answer, smoke curled through the pub, cries echoing amid the gunfire.
A figure vaulted over their flipped table, landing with a grin.
Burnice, her twin gold hair locks bouncing, gripped flamethrowers, their nozzles glinting.
"Oh, hey, you two!" She chirped, surprised. "Fancy meeting you here!"
Kaori wailed, her ears flattening.
"My life's over!" She cried, despair overtaking her.
Michael swallowed his bite, glancing at Burnice.
"Got a Denny?" he asked, calm as ever.
Burnice blinked, fishing a coin from her pocket.
"Uh, sure. Why?" She asked, handing it over, her brow furrowed.
Michael set his burger down, holding the Denny.
"Kaori," he said, "what happens when a butterfly flaps its wings?"
Time to tilt the odds, he thought.
He began his Mystic ability's blessing ceremony, ether swirling faintly around the coin, a subtle glow pulsing.
"May the fortune be with us," he intoned, concluding the ritual.
With a flick, he hurled the Denny against the wall.
What followed was an almost impossible series of events.
The coin ricocheted, flipping through the air, and struck a biker's gun mid-fire. The weapon exploded, sparks flying, and the coin bounced onward, clipping a mug on a table.
Alcohol spilled, and another gang member slipped, crashing into his allies. The cascade continued—bikers toppled, striking unlikely spots, knocking each other unconscious.
Exposed wires, dislodged in the chaos, fell into the alcohol pool, electrifying the remaining gang members with a crackling jolt.
The coin rolled back across the floor, stopping near Michael's table. Kaori's jaw dropped, her tail frozen.
Burnice's flamethrowers lowered, her eyes wide.
Never seen anything like that, they both thought, stunned by the improbable chain reaction.
" That's what happens."