Ah, the Outer Ring at midday—like a sizzling frying pan with just a hint of danger. Lucky for our intrepid protagonist, Zhu Yuan, she and her chapter guest, Caesar, have found refuge in Mad Grease's Diner, where the A/C may sound like it's auditioning for a spot in a junkyard symphony, but hey, it's working. And when the outside feels like an oven set to broil, you take what you can get.
So, let's zoom back to the table, where the real drama's cooking. Caesar casually drops a bombshell: she had a crush on Jaxon. Yep, the same Elias or Jaxon Zhu's been trying to piece together like a particularly stubborn puzzle.
But...why? Why Jaxon? Is he just that magnetic, or is there something in Caesar's past with him that Zhu might see as a threat? And let's not overlook the possibility that this little revelation might throw a wrench in her investigation into Mirage Motors—especially with that mystery tire skid mark looming large in her mind.
Now, dear reader, place your bets. Is Caesar about to stir up trouble in Zhu's mini-investigation? Or is this just one of those bizarre Outer Ring coincidences that no one can explain? Stay tuned, because if Zhu thought she was just solving a case, she might have another thing coming!
Zhu's expression did a full system freeze at Caesar's unexpected confession, her mind practically hitting the "pause" button. Across the table, Lucy's eyes sparkled with glee as she leaned in, clearly relishing the shock factor. Jane, ever the observer, propped her chin on her hand, watching Zhu and Caesar like they were the entertainment for the evening.
"Burnice would have a field day with you for bringing up a crush here, of all places," Lucy cackled, her grin wide. "The overlord of the Outer Ring, secretly swooning over old childhood memories? Talk about ironic."
"Hey! It was just a harmless little crush, alright?" Caesar defended, waving her hands as if she could bat away the teasing. "I mean, I knew the guy way back, we are just kids back then, he was technically my brother from Big Daddy! so it's nothing serious—ancient history!" Her tone pitched higher, like her own voice was calling her out on the girly confession.
"Oh, really..." Zhu muttered, barely audible, a bit of green slipping into her tone despite herself. "So they've spent more time together than he and I have in our... er... strictly professional dinner briefings." She cleared her throat, feeling ridiculous even as the words escaped her lips.
What was this? Jealousy? Over Jaxon? I knew him as Elias not Jaxon so it's a different person. And here she'd thought she was just here for salad and case notes!
"Anyway..." Jane interrupted, casually sliding her tablet across the table. "You guys recognize this tire? Model or maybe even the bike who uses it?"
Zhu blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift back to the case. Caesar and Lucy leaned in, examining the screen, their interest piqued.
"Oh, it's just that..." Zhu stammered, feeling her pulse quicken as she plastered on a forced smile. "...we're, uh, motorbike enthusiasts."
"No kidding," Caesar chuckled, glancing at Zhu with a raised eyebrow. "You looked right at home on the streets during that visit to Blazewood." Then her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "That skid mark... looks familiar. Pretty old, though—Marquells are rare these days."
"Mar-chell?" Zhu's eyes widened. "Is that a tire brand? Or a bike model?"
"It's a motorbike," Caesar clarified, scratching her chin. "Most of the models came from Old Eridu. Piper would probably know more, but she's not here... she might know if anyone in the gang's using Marquells."
Zhu's mind whirred, piecing it all together. If Marquells were that rare, then this tire track might just be the break they needed, it really narrows their investigation.
Afternoon:
The Outer Ring, with its dry, Arizona-like sprawl, stretches out in dusty, rust-red waves under the cooling glow of sunset. Zhu and Jane sat on a worn bench at the back of Mirage Motors, the relentless heat finally easing, and the world bathed in hues of orange and purple.
Far off on the horizon, like a dark, ominous second sun, a Hollow Sphere hovered in eerie silence. But right now? Right now, it was just them, the sunset, and the kind of quiet you only find in the desert.
Jane, always one to find the silver lining—or maybe just the ice cream truck—was savoring an ice popsicle, her lips curling in a slight grin. "Say what you want, but the Outer Ring does know how to pull off a good sunset," she mused, her voice almost dreamy.
Zhu barely looked up from her notepad, still scribbling away everything they'd picked up today. "Mm-hmm," she mumbled with a half-smile. "But I've got to admit, I'm starting to warm up to these guys," she added.
"Especially after that undercover gig at Blazewood. The Nightro Fest was wild—people out there really know how to live. Order? Not exactly city standards, but somehow it all works." She paused, looking over at Jane with a glimmer of fondness for the wild freedom of the fest.
"Nightro Fest undercover?" Jane's eyes lit up with curiosity, as she leaned forward. "You didn't tell me about that! Details, please—I mean, for the investigation's sake, of course." She grinned, eyes twinkling with playful mischief.
Zhu smirked. "Sure, 'for the investigation.' Picture this: hundreds of custom bikes lined up, roaring engines, bonfires going, and people dancing like there's no tomorrow. The whole thing's half-race, half-party, and full of chaos. It's kind of a free-for-all, and no one bothers with permits or rules." She laughed softly, recalling the wild energy. "The whole thing feels like it's pulled from another world...or maybe just the old one."
Jane nodded, the glimmer in her eyes saying more than words could, a kindred appreciation for the reckless spirit of the Outer Ring. "Sounds like my kind of people." She took another bite of her popsicle, casting a side-eye at Zhu. "Maybe I should bring my own bike next time. Or, better yet, hijack yours."
Zhu let out a chuckle, trying to shake off Jane's sudden shift. "Do I really look like one of the Calydonian Chic to you? I mean, I don't even have a bike!" She grinned, though her expression held a hint of seriousness.
Jane raised a playful brow. "...Or maybe your sweetheart agent does?" She laughed, but then her face softened, her usual mischievousness giving way to something uncharacteristically sincere. "Okay, seriously, Zhu... let your man do his work."
Zhu's cheeks flushed at the mention of her 'man', suddenly feeling like she'd been caught sneaking a peek. "What do you mean, my man and 'his work'?"
Jane held her popsicle down, her eyes shadowed by something she rarely let slip. "Look, he's probably on a mission. And... I can't help but be a little concerned about you, too." Her voice dropped to a lower, almost whispered tone. "I've got this gut feeling that if you keep digging, you might uncover things... things that could be dangerous. Not just for you, but for him. Maybe for everyone."
Zhu blinked, caught off guard by Jane's cryptic warning, feeling a chill in the warm desert air. Jane was hardly ever this serious—or this elusive. She wanted to ask more, press her for answers, but found herself hesitating, not even sure where to start. The words hung between them, cryptic and heavy, leaving Zhu wondering just how deep this rabbit hole really went.
Jane let out a sigh, brushing off her earlier words as she pulled a recording device from her jacket—one just like Qingyi's. "Here, take this. You should really bring your own device during critical missions! Think about it; you could miss key details if you're only jotting things down." With that, she turned to leave, tossing back, "I'll be over with Caesar," as she walked off, leaving Zhu alone on the bench.
Zhu's mind began to spiral. "If I keep digging, could I stumble onto something dangerous?" She rested her chin in her hands, feeling the weight of uncertainty. "But how can I stop if I can't reach Elias? I have to know what he's after. And... why do I get the feeling Jane knows more about him than she's letting on?" she pondered, uncertain.
Zhu stood frozen, lost in her thoughts as Jane's cryptic warning echoed in her mind. The hum of the scorching wind around her seemed to fade until a distant roar pierced the silence. The heavy rumble of a truck engine grew louder, and Zhu instinctively turned towards the highway. The dust kicked up in the air, blinding her for a moment, and she squinted, trying to make out the source.
As the truck barreled closer, Zhu's eyes widened. The headlights blazed through the haze like twin suns, nearly blinding her.
Then, out of the cloud of dust, a small figure emerged. A silhouette with a confident stride, stepping from the driver's seat. Caesar, ever the loudmouth, didn't wait for the dust to settle. "Piper's here!" she hollered with a grin that could rival the sun itself.
The dust finally parted, and the massive shape of the Steeltusk revealed itself, a monstrous truck belonging to the Sons of Calydon. A behemoth on wheels, as intimidating as it sounded. The truck's massive frame cast a long shadow as it rolled to a halt, tires screeching slightly against the gravel.
Zhu took in the sight, her thoughts still swirling like the dust around her. But the arrival of Piper and the Steeltusk was an abrupt shift from the tension that had been building between her and Jane. At least for the moment, her mind had a new distraction.
Zhu walked up to Jane, who was leaning casually against the grocery store's entrance. The sun was still low, casting a golden glow over the scene.
"Jean our friend from the Nightro Fest has some questions regarding an old model of motorbike," Caesar said, her voice a mix of casual and business-like, as she approached with Piper.
Zhu glanced up at Piper, who was surprisingly petite—no taller than 155cm. It almost seemed impossible that someone so small could command the Steeltusk, the beast of a truck she'd just arrived in. Zhu raised an eyebrow at the thought.
"I think you've already met her," Caesar continued, nodding toward Zhu. "Though, she was asleep during that pre-Nightro Fest party."
Piper's eyes flickered toward them, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her lips, but she didn't say much, letting Caesar take the lead. As the dust settled, the passenger door of the Steeltusk creaked open, and out stepped Burnice. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Zhu Yuan, now with a new companion in tow.
"How can you drive that truck if you're... you know?" Zhu asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Small?" Piper replied, her tone laced with a mix of amusement and exhaustion. She stretched and yawned, leaning against the grocery store's wall. "Hey, don't let the looks fool you. Lil' ol' me has seen things more than you."
Zhu raised an eyebrow, "What? Old me?". She repeated, but cleared her throat, trying to get back to business. "So, we're looking for... Mar—chell? Motorbikes."
"Mar—quell," Jane corrected, with a hint of sharpness in her voice. "Marquell motorbikes."
"Oh, that's quite old," Piper said, her interest piqued. "So, you're a motorbike collector or enthusiast?"
"Yes, you're right, quite both" Zhu replied, nodding. "But let's just say, enthusiast..." she smiled shooting a glance to Jane.
Piper raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharpening as she leaned against the wall. "Well... a bit of history for you. Those motorbikes were manufactured with two types of energy sources: the experimental Cold Fusion, Marquell Type F, and the regular gasoline engine, Type G."
Author's note: Marquell bikes are not actually in-game. Basically it's an old world first motorbike that uses an experimental energy source. Sort of a mini reactor, rather than having a lithium battery like electric cars.
"Lil' ol' me handled a few Type F models," she added, glancing at Caesar with a knowing look. Caesar's gaze shifted away quickly, but Piper didn't miss it. "One of them belonged to the infamous 'Wayward Son.' He taught me a few things about how the Type F runs on Cold Fusion catalysts."
"Those ol' bikes were probably made 20 years ago, right before Hollow Zero appeared and devoured the old city. After that, production stopped, and the company went bankrupt. I think."
Zhu's eyebrows furrowed, trying to digest the information. "So, they're really rare now?"
"Yeah, pretty much. Those bikes are expensive, and only a few people have access to them. Not sure if anyone still makes them under a different name." Piper paused, her gaze flickering back to Caesar, whose eyes were fixed on the ground, clearly uncomfortable.
Piper smirked knowingly and then turned to Burnice who is unloading some supplies to the grocery store. "Hey, Burnice, can you tie 'King Wreck-it' down for a bit? She might blow her top if she hears that 'Wayward Son' name again."
Zhu's eyes widened at the mention of the name. "Hey, these are guests. Don't be rude, Piper."
Piper simply shrugged, unfazed and yawning. "I'm just saying, she's got bitter history with that guy. Well technically all o' us." She stretches her arms, "Well... I don't have any bitterness with him. He's a great technician by the way."
"No, Piper, I'm fine we talked about it earlier." Caesar crossed her arms, her gaze flicking between Zhu Yuan and Jane, as if trying to measure their reactions. Well, both women forced a weakend smile at her.
"Does the Type F motorbike from Mar-chell have any special kind of tire?" Zhu asked, leaning forward slightly, as if the answer could tip the scales in her investigation.
Piper tilted her head, considering the question. "Well, sorta. The bike's got a big frame but is surprisingly lighter than the Type G. It's built for smooth riding, almost silent, since it doesn't use internal combustion. So it glides like a ghost."
Zhu raised an eyebrow. "Silent, yeah they're perfect for city rides." And a perfect getaway vehicle.
Piper shot her a sly look, catching the weight of the words. "Exactly. Not the kind of bike the Sons of Calydon would usually ride. Because we still use petroleum to power our vehicles ya' kno'."
Before Zhu could continue, a motorbike's roar shattered the moment, coming to a sharp, dramatic halt in front of them. The engine cut off with one last growl, and there he was—Lighter.
He hopped off with a theatrical flair, his scarf waving like a flag, nudging his aviators up in that classic, smug way that made Zhu want to roll her eyes. Seriously, this guy was Elias cranked up to 12. But something's really odd that catches Zhu's attention, he had a patch on his left jaw. Perhaps that usual for bikers to get into a fight.
"Am I late for dinner?" Lighter drawled, all casual confidence, strolling over with zero awareness of the still-lingering tension.
"Oh, perfect timing," Piper chimed in, glancing over at Lighter. "Speaking of Marquell bikes, he used to ride one of the Wayward Sons' ol' Type F models, back when he was with us." She stretched, letting out a long yawn, then nodded toward the grocery store. "Lil' me just'll grab some drink," she said, throwing Zhu and Jane a wink.
Zhu shot a quick glance at Lighter, who seemed blissfully unaware of the interrogation about to come his way. She cleared her throat, trying to sound casual. "Hey, Lighter, good to see you again. We're, uh... motorbike enthusiasts as you know. So yeah, Piper's right. We're looking for info on those Mar-chell... uh, Type F bikes."
Jane smirked rubbing her temples, cutting in effortlessly. "Mar-quell, Jean."
Zhu shot her a look. "Well, pardon me, Madame Julliene," she retorted with exaggerated politeness, "I'm not used to a 'Q' that sounds like a 'K'... it's like the word's got a personal vendetta against me."
Lighter's demeanor shifted abruptly. The cocky swagger dropped away as his face tightened, eyes darting sideways, as if he'd just heard a name he hadn't expected to hear. He adjusted his aviators, his usual confidence cracking slightly.
Jane leaned in, feigning innocence with a playful tilt of her head. "Have I met you before?" she asked, her tone light, but the glint in her eyes told a different story.
Lighter hesitated, his voice dipping lower, almost as if he was trying to suppress something. "Have we?"