THE AFTERMATH OF Neo Opus's chaos was barely beginning to mend when an astonishing phenomenon awoke in Los Te'pan: Luminix. This luminous energy stone was first unearthed by a mercenary crew employed by Apexion on a mining expedition five years after the event that changed everything.
The energy within Luminix hinted at transformative uses that could potentially change the tech world entirely. Recognising the significance of their discovery, Apexion wasted no time in seizing the opportunity to infuse the stones into the city's infrastructure. Before long, Luminix powered everything from electrical grids to telecommunications in Balun and the better parts of the Underdistrict.
Dutch Loxley was the undisputed mogul of this new energy source.
But here's the sitch: no one really knows where Luminix originated from. Its presence in Los Te'pan is a geological anomaly that baffles even its sharpest minds, leaving Apexion as the only entity with the information to understand this mysterious stone. Extracting Luminix wasn't simple by many means either, and you needed the Primarch's official permission to go ahead.
When a Luminix stone is fractured, it turns into Luminite, which is even more desirable than the source. For instance, a bullet made with Luminite could blast someone's head clean off in one shot, and just a smidge of it could power around fifty buildings. Naturally, such power would breed obsession, a willingness to kill for a peek at this amazing stuff.
Even crazier was that Broco, of all people, somehow managed to score not just one but five of these bad boys! The sheer audacity of it sent shockwaves through Ratelsi. She stayed cool on the outside, but inside, her mind was trying to make sense of it all. The only thing that gave away her frantic mental state was her wide-eyed stare at the sparkling pieces before her.
"Oh fuck…. these are Luminites," she murmured.
Altown wasn't exactly the kind of place where you'd expect to find something like this. Sure, you could get lucky and snag a piece or two in The Basin if you knew the right people, but five from the same Monger was just plain sketchy. So how the hell did these even get through the Watchdogs at the city's checkpoints?
They couldn't afford to break the Accord laws, especially the ones on Luminix. It was no joke; you could land in prison or, even worse, get yourself killed. Still, Broco expected them to just waltz into The Basin like they owned the place? That sleazy bastard! What was he thinking trying to set them up like this?
Ratelsi's cheeks heat up with tension thick enough to suffocate. Part alarmed, part irritated, she curled her lips in distaste, narrowing her amber eyes as she muttered, "These fucking things are gonna get us killed."
She turned to Timoth, who looked equally captivated and uncertain about the dubious treasure. His eyes sparkled with childlike wonder, reflecting the mineral's glow, almost like they were soaking it all in. But underneath that awe was a nervous tic twitching at the corners of his lips. Timoth gulped hard, his Adam's apple bobbing noticeably. There was this undeniable impulse within him, overriding his resistance to touch the sharp pieces.
Just as he was about to pick one up, a sudden grip wrapped around his forearm. Timoth was almost taken aback by how strong Ratelsi's hold was with her nails digging into his skin. "Don't," she hissed, her voice serious now.
Nervous blue eyes darted between cautious amber ones and the glowing stones. Ratelsi went on, "Look, we've got zero clue what could happen if you touch that thing. It could be unstable. What if it messes with your brain or some screwed-up shit happens? Then what, huh? Just take a fucking sec to actually think, you moron."
She eased her grip, brushing his sleeve as she let him go. Fortunately, her words seemed to snap Timoth out of his impulsive daze. A slow exhale helped him breathe. The eyes facing him were so full of concern that he dropped his hands to his sides and shut the capsule with an irritated flick of his wrist.
"Birdie, I suddenly don't wanna be part of whatever mess this is turning into," he said to Ratelsi. She tutted, "Yeah, no kidding. There's only so much shady bullshit I can stand before I can't take it anymore. Let's just bail on this shit and pretend we never saw it. I'm telling you, the danger here is clear as day."
Timoth nodded, but the tension inside him didn't budge. He fiddled with a loose thread on his sleeve. Perspiration beaded on his forehead. Avoiding eye contact, he stared instead at the grimy floor, hoping to divert his thoughts.
When Ratelsi called out his name, Timoth flinched, barely able to mask his anxiety.
The crease between her brows deepened. It was clear to her he was having doubts, that he was weighing the risks against the potential benefits of their situation.
With crossed arms and a determined look, Ratelsi decided to wait patiently for him to speak up. It was important for him to express his worries. After all, their safety, and perhaps their lives, depended on every decision they made from here on out.
"Broco said he'd pay us double, man," Timoth said, tightening his fists with every word he spat out. "We seriously need those fuckin' Creds if we wanna eat somethin' that isn't straight out of a can. Once we get the payout, we can finally wipe our asses with Broco and stay off his radar for good. Just….trust me on this, okay?"
His pleading look silently asked her to back him up in their battle against their fucked up reality. Honestly, how could she resist such a sweet deal, especially after living off cold, bland oats for weeks? The thought of yet another mushy can of glob annoyed her to no end.
Ratelsi's face soured at the realisation that, as much as she hated to admit it, he was right. They really needed a break from the dreariness.
Timoth then dropped his voice to a near whisper. "You know I'd do anything to keep us safe, Ratel. Especially you."
He said this, still staring at the ground like it had the answers to why he'd said that out loud.
Ratelsi raised her eyebrows in silent question. He seemed to be expecting some sort of answer, but the moment passed quickly. Her eyes softened, but on anyone else, they would still look severe. Defiant. Untamed. With who knows what brewing behind those eyes. She quivered from her flushed lips, then abruptly kicked a trash bin with the tip of her boot. It wobbled, creaking pathetically.
Of course, Timoth meant what he said; they had built a delicate bond of trust and support, managing to survive in Los Te'pan while looking out for each other. But at that moment, the feeling of being captured and alone threatened to overwhelm her. It jolted her back to reality, forcing her to rethink everything.
They weren't really criminals; just kids trying to make sense of their lives. Okay, maybe "kids" was a stretch since they were both twenty-two. They were technically adults living in a cramped apartment that felt less like home and more like a cardboard box. There wasn't even enough room to stretch out comfortably on their thin, lumpy mattresses. The walls were so thin they could hear every fight, moan and scream echoing through the hall.
How stupid would she be to ignore the small chance for something better? No matter how slim, it was still better than what they usually faced day in and day out. Even if Broco was full of shit.
What's life without a little risk anyway? For the allure of curiosity and adventure, Ratelsi decided to bite back her scepticism. Let them chase this fleeting illusion of luck that was better than sulking in fear of getting caught.
Suddenly, a soft laugh escaped her lips. "Alright, alright, chill," she replied, trying to keep the mood light. "Fine. If we act like it never happened, then we're like all good, right? What you don't know won't hurt you, or something like that." She shrugged, hoping that would ease the tension. It did.
At her words, Timoth visibly relaxed. A wave of relief washed over him, breaking into a big, bright smile. "Sounds good to me," he said.
In that moment, they were kindred spirits navigating the murky waters of a not-so-fun ordeal, and that felt oddly more comforting than it should've.
Timoth took his time carefully wrapping the box, making sure it was secure for the ride ahead. He wasn't about to risk any surprises during their mission. After tucking the capsule along with the other contraband into the hoverbike's compartment, he pulled out some tape and sealed it shut.
The spell "Granum Abluere" left his lips in a hushed command that stirred up the dusty air around them. The loose sand at their feet swirled into a little dirt tornado. Timoth's fingers thrummed with magic as the sand obeyed, eager to devour the grime stuck to the cold steel. Bursts of sand shot out at a stubborn patch of grease on the hoverbike's thrusters, then wound their way around the frame and handlebars. Enchanted grains scoured away years of neglect without a scratch on the vehicle. The strong smell of ozone in the air was the only sign that the spell was complete.
The sandy grains floated away to reveal a bike with not a single speck of grime left to mar its shiny surface. Timoth lowered his hand, feeling pretty good about himself. "Not bad for a quick clean-up," he said as he swung his leg over the hoverbike and grabbed the handlebars. He nodded for Ratelsi to hop on, but the bulky package took up almost all the seat space.
So, they decided it would be easier for her to meet him at the entry point in about an hour. The plan was solid: finish the delivery, treat themselves to a nice dinner and stroll home afterwards. All in all, it was shaping up to be an adventurous evening. Before parting ways, the Peculiars did their special handshake.
Tap, slide, snap, twist, tap again, and slide - it was a quick little finger dance. Timoth revved the engine once, then again. The ground beneath the hoverbike trembled in response to the superheated air.
Then, with a burst of energy, he sped off the curb. Ratelsi took the cue, wings spread wide, ready to leap into the sky. Whoosh! She shot up into the air, kicking up a cloud of dust and leaving a small crater on the ground. With an uncertain delivery ahead, all they could do was hope they were ready for whatever came their way.
********
NOT QUITE READY TO PART with the comfy afternoon, hues of pink and tangerine splashed across the sky, gradually deepening into darker shades as the sun sank lower. The usual breeze was soft and calming.
In the long, narrow alley, chrome gleamed on slitted pupils, intensifying the charm in their molten gaze. Ratelsi leaned back against a wall lit by backlights and LED strips. A rebellious strand of her dark hair slipped from behind her ear to mischievously brush against her shoulder. She raked her fingers through her messy locks.
Surrounding her, the brick walls came alive with graffiti in an explosion of colours and designs. There were huge, grinning smiley faces and chaotic tags with bold letters and cartoonish eyes. Orange swirls playfully danced with vibrancy. It was clear that the artists had let their inner kids go wild, expressing their creativity on the brick canvas.
A feather spun lazily above Ratelsi's hand. It flickered, split. Two now drifted between her fingers. Lost in thought, she examined the barbs with an impassive gaze. The air reeked of piss and dampness, gossiping with the city's constant buzz.
Muffled footsteps scraped against the concrete, backlit by glaring billboards advertising Apexion's latest LuBot upgrade. The streetlights flickered desperately to stay awake.
But all of that faded into a blur as Ratelsi couldn't shake the nagging thoughts about the engraving on the capsule.
E.X.O.N. echoed relentlessly in her mind.
What could it mean? And, most intriguingly, what connected it to the Luminites? Oddly enough, those four letters seemed to lure her interest even more than the energy stones themselves.
Ratelsi found herself wrestling with a strange urge to uncover the source of this newfound fascination.
She bit her lower lip briefly then shook her head. There wasn't much to be done right now.
Just then, a low thrum of something zooming in interrupted Ratelsi's musings. She looked up to see Timoth roll up on his hoverbike and bring it to a smooth stop. Ratelsi tucked her feathers away. Disturbed by the breeze he kicked up, candy wrappers and cans tumbled all over the ground.
Timoth hopped off the bike with his casual swagger and walked over to her, holding three bags stuffed with contraband. A grin spread across Ratelsi's face as she pushed herself off the wall.
"Just how thoughtful are you…" she said, her smoky drawl echoing in the narrow alley. "Spitting those bags was clever. My arms are already thanking you, yunno?"
"Hey, I'm just a guy tryna make sure the lady is not exhausted by the end of the day," Timoth chuckled, winking. "Or else, I might have to carry her home again." He stopped beside her, fully aware of her appreciative gaze on him while her fingers tapped away on her HoloSmart.
The device lit up, casting a web of holographic beams around them. Ratelsi aimed it at a huge smiley face painted on the wall. The scanner pinged as it swept up and down then zeroed in on a single brick that was slightly recessed compared to the rest.
Ratelsi tapped the identified brick. A distinct hollow sound followed, and a satisfied smile formed on her face. She easily pried out the brick to reveal a metal sheet behind it. Timoth's eyes lit up with excitement; everything was happening as it should.
Fingers splayed, Ratelsi's nails elongated into sharp talons. She tore the metal sheet open in one quick slash, sending it clattering to the ground. There was an electric keypad lock with dimly glowing buttons.
"Passcode?" she asked Timoth, who quickly checked his HoloSmart. He concentrated as a series of encrypted characters flickered on the screen, eventually coming together into a clear sequence.
"Six-nine-zero-three-seven," he replied.
One by one, Ratelsi punched in the code. Beep. The walls shuddered, sliding sideways with a mechanical sigh to reveal a hidden doorway bathed in ultraviolet light. A gust of cool air whooshed out, bringing with it the scent of damp soil.
What lay beyond the door was a narrow staircase flanked by vividly decorated walls. The backlight enhanced the psychedelic vibe of the fluorescent graffiti. Each step of the stairs was adorned with neon Latin phrases.
Ratelsi and Timoth exchanged a knowing look. "You all set?" he asked.
"Yep. Let's get this shit over with," she replied, grabbing the smallest of the bags with the capsule inside, while he slung the other two bags over his shoulder, geared up and ready. The woman strutted into the hidden passage with her best friend right on her heels. The door hissed shut, locking them in.
Moisture clung stubbornly to the cracked concrete walls. Drip….drip…drip. Water leaked from broken pipes, plopping against the grimy floor, gathering murky puddles in the corners.
Old spray cans were scattered around, some rusting away from the moisture that had seeped in over time.
Ratelsi tore her gaze away from the damp surroundings, glancing over at Timoth, who seemed lost in his own thoughts. She gave him a gentle nudge with her shoulder.
"So, about those coordinates Broco sent us. This alley is one of the entry points to The Basin, right? Hopefully, it doesn't lead us to a death trap."
"Uh-huh, that's the idea. It's supposed to be one of the safer routes. Broco usually knows his stuff, so this is our best bet for sneakin' in and gettin' out quick."
Ratelsi took a whiff, filling her lungs with the acrid sting of old paint fumes. It thickened with the smell of rats scuttling around a worn-out shoe, eagerly licking up a sticky substance smeared on its tattered leather.
"Safer, huh?" she murmured quietly to herself. "I take it the Watchdogs don't know about this place?"
"Eh, not really," Timoth replied. "They hang around the main streets where it's easier to keep tabs on things. This route avoids their perimeter, which is why we could slip past without going through a checkpoint."
That logic made sense to Ratelsi. She nodded, feeling reassured about Broco's choice. "Cool. Definitely lowers our chances of getting pinched."
"Exactly. And lemme tell ya, I have zero interest in spending the night in Turris. It's not exactly my idea of a good time."
Ratelsi snorted. "With what we've got on us, we're sure as fuck getting way worse than imprisonment in the tower if they caught us."
"Ha! Now you're getting it," Timoth laughed, ruffling her hair. She puffed her cheeks in annoyance and was about to say more when a gurgling growl erupted from her stomach. Embarrassed, Ratelsi pressed a hand to her belly, hoping Timoth hadn't heard. But of course, the sound was louder in this echoey space. Timoth raised an eyebrow, but he stayed quiet.
Sighing, Ratelsi muttered under her breath, "Should've eaten that nutrient bar earlier…." "Oh? Is that what your stomach's growling about?" Timoth asked. "Well, we might actually have a shot at a decent meal soon, so dream big about what you want."
"Yesssssss! Can't believe I almost forgot about the Creds." Ratelsi said with glee, rubbing her hands together and licking her lips. "Anything that isn't oats sounds like heaven right now. Honestly, I might drool if I think about it too long. Just as long as it's hot and I don't have to barter for it, I'm totally in!"
Timoth smiled fondly at Ratelsi's endearing presence. Even in this tense situation, she moved with natural ease like a spring coiled and ready for action. The one unpredictable spark in his life that he admired deeply.
Boots squelched in mud as they trudged toward another stairwell lit up by fluorescent lights. Eventually, they reached the top step, where a big steel door stood covered in a plethora of warnings. Ominous messages yelled at them in bleeding red:
"Rule #1: Never let them catch you."
"If you think you're safe, you haven't been here long enough."
"Go ahead, paint over this. If you dare,"
Ratelsi rolled her eyes, looking around with an apprehensive frown. She wasn't unsettled by the ridiculous signs; she simply disliked being underground. It felt too tight and made her skin crawl; unlike the open sky, where she was free to take off whenever she wanted.
Down here, the claustrophobia was hard to shake. Timoth faced the electronic lock on the steel door and entered a code. The device's screen lit up with "Access granted," and the door swung open. The Peculiars were assaulted with a wave of noise and bright light as they stepped into the lively marketplace of The Basin.