The cool evening air brushed past her face as she stood at the edge of the rooftop. The light of the shattered moon played off the texture of her black armor making it almost shimmer. Looking down at the scene playing out below her Zeffre gave a sardonic smirk.
Three well-dressed men were walking in and out of a store, loading cases into a waiting car. What drew her attention was the two other men holding pistols, watching the road with eyes covered in red sunglasses. 'Nothing suspicious about that at all.'
With a casual step off the edge, Zeffre fell down the side of the building, the wind rushing past her blue hair. Grinning, she closed her eyes, savoring the familiar sensation of freefall. Suddenly, the thrusters on her boost pack roared to life. The fire cast an orange glow over the tan brick of the building momentarily, slowing her down enough to land gently on the sidewalk below.
Opening her eyes again she looked across the street at the men, all of whom were now looking at her. 'Two with pistols, three with... red swords? Interesting choice.' Readjusting her helmet under her arm she gave the men a smile.
"Good evening, gentlemen," Zeffre called out, her voice echoing across the empty street. "How's your night going?"
The apparent leader, a tall bulky man sporting red sunglasses at night, faced her with an amused expression. "Oh, we're just out shopping for some quality Dust," he replied with a playful edge, gesturing to the store behind him, its interior a mess of toppled shelves and shattered cases.
Zeffre chuckled. "Looks like a bit more than shopping happened in there," observing the older man inside, his head buried in his hands.
The leader's smile grew, but his eyes remained hidden. "Enthusiastic shoppers. You know how it is", he said stroking his chin. His posture was relaxed. "We've already sorted it out with the old man," he said, his tone now carrying a sharper edge.
The leader's words were still hanging in the air when Zeffre noticed the two gunmen subtly positioning themselves to flank their boss, creating a tactical triangle with her at one apex.
"Hey kid", the man said, voice serious. "Just walk away. Go play superhero somewhere else." Zeffre noticed the gunmen's fingers hovering over the triggers.
"Sorry, I can't do that. I've a terrible habit of getting involved in other people's business", she said with a laugh. "Honestly it is going to get me killed one of these days."
At his imperceptible nod, the first shot rang out, slicing through the night. Zeffre reacted instantly. Harnessing her gravity powers, she executed a rapid dash, crossing the street to the left gunman in a blur. Her right hook connected with his jaw with a crack. The man dropped.
Before the second gunman could adjust his aim, Zeffre turned to face him, extending her hand. A concentrated wave of gravity, trailing a cascade of starlight, erupted from her palm. It struck him with unrelenting force, sending him crashing into a lamppost with a clang that echoed down the street.
Meanwhile, the leader, seizing the moment of her engagement, lunged at her with his sword. Zeffre brought up her helmet and caught the blade with it. With her other hand she grabbed the man's wrist and twisted. The blade fell from his hand. With a swift kick she sent the man stumbling back and caught the falling blade. In one fluid motion, she flipped the sword, catching the hilt. Dashing forward she used the blunt end to strike the leader in the back of the head. He stumbled forward, thrown off balance, and collapsed onto the pavement.
The remaining two men, now visibly shaken, exchanged a glance of uncertainty. Zeffre faced them, an air of calm control about her. For one, she feigned a strike to his left shoulder. As he instinctively moved to block she spun gracefully, the movement a dance of combat. The blunt end of the sword slammed into the back of his skull, sending him into a crumpled heap beside his leader.
The last man, sweat beading on his forehead, made a desperate attempt, slashing at her with his sword. Zeffre moved with surprising agility, stepping inside his guard. His eyes widened in shock as she grabbed his wrist, pulling him off balance. With a swift strike of the sword's hilt to his temple, he joined his comrades in unconsciousness.
The street fell silent, save for the distant hum of the city's nightlife. Zeffre stood amidst the fallen robbers, the echo of the fight lingering in the air. She took a moment, surveying her handiwork, a faint smirk playing on her lips.
Approaching the cases, Zeffre kicked one open with an armored boot, her brow furrowing "So, this is what the fuss was about? Colored sand?"
She then turned her attention to the unconscious men.
Methodically, she searched their pockets to see if they had anything she could 'liberate' from their possession.
"You brought your wallet to a robbery? Bold", she said to the unconscious leader. Checking the wallet, she retrieved a handful of colored cards. "Uh... If I squint it looks like currency," she remarked, her voice tinged with amusement.
Checking the other men, she found some more currency as well as one of the men's pistols. "Is this sword even magnetic", she muttered to herself as she reached over her shoulder, the red blade snapping into place against her boost pack.
The store owner, a man with a bushy mustache, emerged, his expression a mixture of relief and confusion. "Thank you, uh, stranger," he stammered as Zeffre gave a dismissive wave. "Don't worry about it", she said.
With a casual salute to the owner, Zeffre activated her boost pack and leaped back onto the rooftops. She had some money, two weapons, and probably made some enemies. All in all, not a bad first day.
Zeffre had no idea where she was going.
Walking aimlessly over the rooftops of the city, occasionally using her boost pack to cross gaps, she contemplated what to do next. Zeffre needed more information. However, the prospect of grilling one of the locals didn't exactly fill her with excitement. Considering her options as she wandered the rooftops Zeffre had an idea.
She flicked her left hand, aglow with specks of starlight. The air next to her shimmered, motes of light swirling and coalescing into a figure. Standing beside her, mirroring her stance, was another Zeffre – but this one was wearing a different outfit.
This alternate Zeffre was a tapestry of bold colors and contrasts. Cobalt blue hair framed her face, expressive royal blue eyes bright as they stared back into Zeffre's own. A black choker adorned her neck, a silver buckle glinting in the pale light. Her form-fitting azure corset top was trimmed with black, complemented by a wine-red bolero jacket adorned with golden buttons. A pleated skirt, paired with practical shorts and garter belts, completed the look. Her boots, a mix of black and brown leather, were distinctly brand new.
The original Zeffre whistled appreciatively. "Hello, me. Nice outfit," she greeted, her eyes scanning the alternate's ensemble.
The alternate Zeffre smirked, shifting her weight with ease. "Hey, me. Just dropped in?" she asked, her voice a mirror of Zeffre's own.
"Yeah, woke up a few hours ago. Had an interesting welcome party with some robbers. Scored a sword, too," Zeffre replied, twirling the newly acquired weapon. "But that's beside the point. Been here long? Also, did you wake up in your ship?"
"A few weeks," the alternate Zeffre responded, leaning against the rooftop ledge. "The planet's Remnant, and this is Vale. It's both a city and a kingdom, kinda confusing. Also, nope. No ship."
Zeffre nodded, taking in the view. "Neat. And I've got to say, your style's killer."
"Thanks! The fashion scene here is something else. You've got to check out the commercial district," the alternate Zeffre advised, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Maybe I'll just copy your look. Save myself the hassle," Zeffre mused, her gaze drifting across the cityscape.
The alternate Zeffre raised an eyebrow. "You're lazy."
"I'm you, genius," Zeffre retorted with a grin. "So, for a place to crash, I'm guessing that there's a residential district like New Atlantis?"
"Yup, not as many water features though. Found a decent place. Autumn Apartments, the landlady is Ms. Nancy. Sweetest woman I've ever met, you'll love her."
"Cool, I can probably figure out the rest myself. Thanks, me!" Zeffre said, her tone laced with genuine gratitude.
"You're welcome me! By the way, you're in for an interesting time in the next few weeks", she said with a mischievous smirk before scattering into motes of light that quickly faded away.
Alone Zeffre reflected on her conversation. 'What did I mean by that?' Shrugging she continued on her way before stopping abruptly. She had never asked where the residential district was.
"Damnit."