The Voice in Your Heart
Page 25: No Longer One

Focus. Keep a calm head. Wear a smile on your face, at least, until you're alone.

Those were the words I kept repeating in my head after I ran away from that alley. Epsilon's gone. And I don't know if he'll walk out of those experiments alive. That shit's potentially harmful, and we're talking Supra-Force Metal—which basically translates to potentially supra-harmful. Fuck, why do I even care anymore?

Throwing my backpack on the hotel bed before flinging off my clothes, I plopped on the bed and wrapped my whole body with a blanket before burying my face into the pillow to sob.

The voice in my head is gone—whenever I feel this shitty, I'd hear Epsilon always telling me, "It's alright, Delta, I'm here." or anything similar. Now I'm all alone, all I can hear is the echoing of those memories. No, Epsilon. You're not here. You're right that you're just like everyone else. You ended up leaving me alone. You ripped my heart apart, just like everybody else.

It started with Bris, who betrayed me and the friendship between us. And then the whole of Red Alert had to die because of Sigma. After that, X and Zero were too close to each other—at least, until I left. Even then, it doesn't feel the same.

…

It appears that I had fallen asleep.

I feel a bit better now—just…my chest still feels tight. I feel a bit dizzy, and it's a bit unnerving, knowing that there's so much free space now that Epsilon's gone. But still, it means I'm all alone. Getting off the bed with a huff, I picked up the pants I had tossed away. I need to know what time it is, and I had left my mobile phone in my pocket…

Wait. This…

I took out my mobile phone, and Jasmine's business card, which I had put into the same pocket.

"If you want to look for me to buy some Force Metal, here's my business card. My name's Jasmine, nice to meet you."
"These more informative brochures are only available in Force Metal shops."

Jasmine's words echoed in my head as I stared at the business card.

Ah, yeah. I can ask her more about this Force Metal, and why it's been all the rage for the last six years. Sure, I tracked its progression—it was a metal found in a huge meteor which had fallen into the ocean. Reploids had tried mining it, only to experience maverick virus-like symptoms, which even mechaniloids weren't spared. In the end, humans mined the thing and developed it. It was apparently so valuable as a power source to the point a fucking artificial island was built just to develop it. And apparently, valuable enough for Epsilon to leave me over it. Asshole.

Maybe he'll chicken out. Maybe he'll walk out alive. Either way, I'm staying in Giga City until I hear the last of the Supra-Force Metal experiments. If he goes maverick, I'll teach him a lesson only a maverick hunter—err, a former maverick hunter can teach.

It's 6 PM. Hopefully she doesn't mind if I ring her up.

…

…

…

"Hello, how may I help you?" she answered my call.
"Hi, Jasmine, is it?" I replied. "If you remember me, I was the one who dropped by when you were closing the shop. The one with a big scar on his face."
"Oh, oh! Yeah, what is it?" she said.
"Well…considering how early your shop can close, can we meet tomorrow somewhere? I figure that we can talk over dinner—there are a few things I need to ask you about. My treat." I offered. "My name's Axl, by the way."

Saying that felt tough. I sure hope I didn't step on any toes. Socializing is hard…I hope I didn't sound like…like…argh. I don't want to think about it.

"Oh, sure!" came Jasmine's cheery reply. I flinched slightly. I wasn't expecting that. "What time?" she asked.
"Hmmm…I don't know. 4 PM sounds nice, but I don't know when your next batch is selling out." I answered.
"4 PM is OK, actually. I know a good restaurant around this area. You're new to Giga City, right? Might as well show you around."
I laughed. "Hahah, thanks. That's very nice of you. Alright, I'll take you up on that offer."
"Okay, is there anything else?" Jasmine asked again.
"No, that's it. Thanks for your time. Have a nice day, see you tomorrow." I ended the conversation.
"Okay, bye." she replied, before hanging up.

I put the phone down on a desk with a huff before stepping into the shower. This is going to be awkward…but I'm probably the only one feeling awkward. She's probably talked to clients over meals before.

Socializing is hard. Epsilon, why was it always so easy for you?

…

I was glad that I decided to meet Jasmine at 4 PM. I couldn't sleep very well. My eyes hurt from crying in the shower last night, and it made sleeping feel like a bitch. Good thing I could sleep until 1 PM or something, and I still had time to retrace my way back to Jasmine's shop, and I arrived at 3:45 PM. I peeked into the shop from the glass window on the door to see Jasmine typing on her desk—probably accounts.

As if sensing my presence, Jasmine glanced at the door to see my face. She smiled and waved at me.
"Axl, is it? Come in." she said to me, smiling.
I nodded and gently opened the door before stepping in. "I hope I didn't arrive too early for comfort." I said to her.
"No, not at all. I don't mind." she replied.
"Then what are you doing? Did I interrupt anything important?" I asked, glancing at the tablet she was typing with.
"Oh, just work I usually do in the morning." she answered as she saved her work and closed the program, before placing the tablet into its case and then, the case into her bag. "I'm ready to go."
"Okay." I replied, tilting my head a bit. I guess she's used to this…being ready whenever. For a lone merchant, it's really important in order to score business deals and manage your own shop.

Jasmine just giggled before she fished the keys out of her pocket. We stepped out and she locked the shop door behind her.

"So what is it you'd like to talk about?" she asked me, starting a conversation as we walked.
"About Force Metal. I feel like that there are a lot of things the brochures and newspapers aren't telling me." I replied, going straight to the point to avoid any implications.
"Ooooh, I see." she responded, a glint in her eyes. I just smiled. It's a chance to market her products, so I can understand that. "But well, I need to know what you already know. Otherwise I might just repeat the stuff you already do know." she requested.
"Okay, so I know that Force Metal is mined from some meteor that had fallen into the sea about 6 years ago. R&D eventually led it to become the commodity it is now, because it can be used as a power source, in addition to boosting reploids' physical and mental prowess." I summarized what I had learned all these years.
"So you know the bare bones already." Jasmine remarked.
"Yeah, and from the brochure I took yesterday, there's this new variety called Supra-Force Metal, and apparently the scientists have started experimenting on it." I muttered, suppressing my sadness as the memories of yesterday returned to me. It's almost been 24 hours since Epsilon left me…

"So you're against Supra-Force Metal experimenting like me, too?" Jasmine commented, a sad look on her face.
"E-ehh…how do you know?" I blurted out, not expecting that response.
She giggled softly. "Well, your change in tone of voice gave it away, that's what. Anyways, what are your reasons?" she asked.
"Well…it's just that…I've approached a huge stash of pure Force Metal ore before, and it really hurt. I had…I had to get a friend to drag me away from there because I couldn't even stand. And now they're thinking of shoving something like that into a reploid, it's just…unthinkable." I explained, suppressing more of those memories of Epsilon helping me that time, and the mental image of what might happen to Epsilon later on.

God damn it, why does he have to be so reckless? He's going to die alone in a mass grave in that cold laboratory, and I know it. Dear god, please let me be wrong, please.

"I know, right?" Jasmine replied. "Honestly, I don't know what they were thinking. Tiny amounts of Force Metal is good, but Supra-Force Metal is something you use to power up a factory, not for individual use."
"Unless they were making weapons?" I guessed.
"That's possible—they might want stronger Maverick Hunters to scare criminal mavericks more, but there's got to be a way outside of Force Metal." Jasmine commented.
"By the way…um." I was about to ask about the dangers she face as a Force Metal vendor, considering what happened with the dearly departed mugging victim from yesterday, but I don't think that's what you discuss with someone you just met.

"Yes, what is it?" Jasmine responded.
"No…nothing." I replied, laughing at the end.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Zooming in on a minor MMXCM character now. If you don't remember Jasmine, she's the pink-haired, green-armoured reploid who sells you rare Force Metal in Lagrano Ruins. And yes, this chapter is in Axl/Delta's perspective. also, next time, if i ever post a mood song, i'll remember BlueStar Palette's words to put it in the beginning of the chapter. eue

Anyways, PMGR may be in a short hiatus because right now, the scenes of TViYH are flowing around my brain like water and I need to pour them out first. Also, I have three exams coming up starting next Saturday, so that, too, is a factor.