"No thanks, I don't prefer SpagBol." Aya replied, sending a wave of laughter across the group and a cold glare from Tally. Ziz turned up the volume on his skintenna feed and the others moaned and covered their ears sarcastically. "TOO RUSTY! TOO RUSTY!" they yelled in the feed, laughing hysterically. Tally smiled.
This was how life as a Newborn was supposed to be. Icy, carefree, and perfect. Nothing was a better sight that the beautiful flash tattoos on the pale skin of her comrades. Aya smiled, and the stars on her face and the vines that draped down from her eyes to her fingers twisted and snaked around each other. Now this was fashion! Aya wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world.
Tally and the scientists had recovered the data used to make Specials, but it wasn't 100% complete. Some of Aya's memories were shadowy and she remembered that she had a brother, but had no idea who he was or where he lived. But she did remember the one man who had tortured her more than anyone else. Frizz Mizuno.
The words were acid on her tongue. The scientists had also failed to remove past pain and sorrow like they had before, so she was stuck with the unpleasant memories. She cancelled the skintenna feed to all of the Newborns except one. "Tally." she spoke through gritted teeth. "May I talk to you in private?"
Tally cancelled her feed to the others. "Sure, Aya." Tally stood up and followed Aya into the shadows. The others were so busy with their partying that the two went unnoticed. They stood silently, talking through the skintenna.
"Aya…?"
"Tally, its Frizz. He hurt me so badly, and I know it's not honorary Newborn etiquette to worry, but it's like there's a hole inside of me. I've been thinking, and I have a plan."
Aya could feel that Tally was amused. Tally grinned.
"So, what are you thinking of?"
"Well, call the Newborns in. We're going to need matter hackers, sneak suits, hoverboards, and a lot of champagne."