GENSHIN IMPACT X ZENLESS ZONE ZERO
Chapter 02: Trouble in Lumina Square
Following behind the New Eridu Public Security group they met in the Hollow, Aether and his friends from Mondstadt was able to escape the black sphere, only visible to the others once they were outside of it. The sight of the massive sphere shocked the likes of Paimon and left Albedo intrigued alongside Kaeya. They were then taken back towards the city, mostly the civilian area of the large Lumina Square, via their police cars. Aether and Amber rode together in the same car as Zhu Yuan and Qingyi, watching the scenery from the windows as they approached the city. Paimon sat in Aether's lap with her face practically glued to the window.
"Wow. This would make traveling SO MUCH easier for the folks back home." Amber said examining the inside of the police car. Zhu Yuan eyed them in her rear view mirror.
"Paimon had no idea there was another world like this. It almost feels like we're back in Fontaine." she said. Aether looked out the window.
"I dunno if I'd compare this place to Fontaine, Paimon. The buildings are like nowhere else we've been before. But the atmosphere…does kind of remind me of it." Aether said, looking down at Paimon. Qingyi looked back from her seat.
"So…Paimon, is it? Tell me. Exactly…WHAT are you?" she asked. The small fairy glanced to her before crossing her arms.
"Like I said, Paimon is Paimon. I'm the Traveler's best friend and guide around Teyvat. We're practically glued to one another by this point. We've been through a lot together." she said. Aether lightly chuckled, rubbing her head.
"Yeah. She's always been watching out for me…and its not easy making sure I keep HER out of trouble. You wouldn't believe the food bills when I let her order whatever she wants." he said, making Paimon scoff. Amber laughed as did Zhu Yuan.
"Hmm. That's fair. Captain Zhu Yuan is rather picky herself. I have to make sure she doesn't buy anything suspicious…OR work too late. Then again, what can you expect from the "model" police officer?" she said. Zhu Yuan gasped and pouted, grumbling lightly before glimpsing to her partner.
"Funny…Qingyi. I could say the same thing about you. Remember how badly you wanted to buy boxes of "Star Donuts" for the office? All because of talk of superstitions?" she retorted "You're not perfect either." Qingyi quickly silenced before sitting back in her seat, pouting with arms crossed. The mere mention of doughnuts had Paimon's eyes sparkling.
"Star Donuts? Ooh! Those sound GOOD! Paimon wants to try one if we get a chance!" she proclaimed. Amber laughed.
"Good to see Paimon hasn't lost her appetite." the outrider laughed.
"Yeah, right? I guess being in another world doesn't bother her anymore." Aether joined in. Everyone started laughing somewhat together, save for the silent Qingyi watching with a smile.
~ Lumina Square - Public Security Police Station ~
As the police cars returned to the station, Zhu Yuan led the others to the back rooms for questioning. She briefly stopped to scan her key card at the kiosk, followed afterwards by Qingyi and Seth. The visitors of Teyvat watched other officers passing by, some busy with their paperwork or others working together to maintain watch of a criminal before putting them in their temporary cell. The sights and sounds began to remind Aether and Paimon of how busy the Palais Mermonia was.
"Y'know? Come to think of it, the police officers remind Paimon a lot of the Gardes too. They certainly dress the same." Paimon said.
"Guess you were right after all, Paimon. This place really does mirror Fontaine more than I gave you credit for." the traveler said. Kaeya noticed Bangboo dressed in Public Security garb walking by as well. Some were seen carrying things for the officers or just chatting with their partners.
"Pardon me, Captain Zhu Yuan." he asked, gaining her attention "Am I right in assuming the "Bangboo" are officers as well?" Zhu Yuan smiled before nodding.
"To some degree. We mostly use them to patrol the streets because they can capture and record footage of any misconduct while out. They also are great with assisting in evidence gathering and dealing with lost children." she said "They're as every bit important to Public Security as everyone else." Klee watched one of the Bangboo walking by as it looked at her. It lightly waved, the smiling Klee waving back.
"They really are quite fascinating. And you say they are robotic in origin, correct?" Albedo asked.
"Yep. You won't just find Bangboo here. They're pretty much everywhere in New Eridu. You'll see them helping out at restaurants, operating their own shops such as with the 141 store chain and others have them around simply for companionship." Qingyi explaied. Suddenly, a loud banging could be heard from the direction of the temporary cells. An equally aggressive voice could be heard too, albeit muffled.
"Uhhh….w-what was that?" Paimon asked, moving closer to Aether out of worry.
"Sorry. That direction lead towards the interrogation room as well as our jail cells. Too often do we have to watch over criminals we take in while they either await trial or are sent to the proper prisons." Zhu Yuan explained "We keep them back here so they don't attempt to scare anyone." Seth sighed, stating that some can be very uncooperative and noisy. Suddenly, one of the officers came rushing out the door and stopped in front of Zhu Yuan.
"C-Captain Zhu Yuan! We need some extra manpower! One of the hooligans we rounded up earlier is trying to break out and we could use the back up!" the officer exclaimed. Zhu Yuan nodded and saluted alongside Seth.
"Roger! I'll go on ahead, Captain!" Seth shouted. She nodded as he took off, asking Qingyi to watch Aether and the others. But not wanting to be left out from helping, even in another world like this, the traveler and Paimon rushed to join Seth explaining they could help. But when they got to the prison cells, the two were in for quite the shock. The hooligan they were attempting to restrain was actually their friend from Inazuma, the Oni delinquent Arataki Itto. In the cell with him was also Kuki Shinobu, the second-in-command of the Arataki Gang.
"Gah! I'm tellin' you guys that we did NOTHING! Yet you threw us in here without hearing OUR side! Where's your boss?! I wanna give 'em a piece of my mind!" Itto roared, knocking away several officers. Shinobu groaned.
"Boss! If you keep this up, they really WILL have a reason for making sure we stay locked up! Do you NOT want to go back to Inazuma?!" she exclaimed, attempting to reason with him. But Itto scoffed.
"All I tried to do was help that blue oni kid I saw! And they're treating US like we were the ones harrassing her!" he yelled back "I couldn't watch another oni getting treated like that!" Suddenly, Itto and Shinobu both caught sight of Aether and Paimon at the doorway with Seth and Zhu Yuan. They simultaneously gasped, Shinobu running up to the bars.
"Traveler? Paimon too?!" she asked. Itto laughed, practically knocking away the other officers with ease.
"HA HEY! Compadre! Flying Lavender Melon! You're here too?!" Itto proclaimed. Paimon was left with mouth hanging open.
"Bull Chucker?! Why?! How?! When?! WHAT are you doing here?!" she exclaimed. Before Itto could greet them, Seth quickly rushed in and tackled into him. The impact was enough to push the oni back leading into them being locking hands with each other as Seth attempted to hold him back.
"Hey! Outta the way, mutt! I'm TRYING to talk to my compadre and you're in my way!" Itto growled, butting heads with the cat Thiren.
"You ASSAULTED my fellow officers! Ngh! Not to mention you're attempting to escape custody!" Seth yelled back. Zhu Yuan just arrived as Aether and Paimon hurried to try and calm them both.
"Wait! Wait! S-Seth! These two are friends of ours! T-They're from the same world we came from!" Aether explained, holding onto Seth's shoulder. Zhu Yuan lightly gasped upon hearing his words, exchanging brief glimpses at him and Itto.
"Seth! It's okay! Stand down and let's hear him out." she said. Seth looked over his shoulder before slowly easing away from the oni, keeping his eyes on him while stepping back. At that moment, Itto quickly bear hugged the traveler and Paimon, squeezing them against his chest.
"Ha ha ha! I didn't think we'd see you guys again! But you made it here too! My best buds all in one place! This is GREAT!" Itto laughed with joy. Paimon started gagging, the weight of Itto's muscular arms becoming too much.
"G-Glad to…see you…too…Itto! But…y-you're kinda…c-crushing us!" Aether proclaimed. Itto gasped before releasing them both, Paimon floating away while coughing.
"H-H-How did you and Shinobu wind up here? And…for crying out loud, Bull Chucker, you HAVE to get into trouble with the authorities no matter WHAT?!" she proclaimed.
"Hey! It's not my fault, mini melon! Listen. Shinobu and I were minding our own business in Rito Harbor before I decided to take a nap. And when I wake up…I'm in this crazy place with everybody giving us these dirty looks! Like they were looking at an escape convict!" Itto explained. Shinobu lightly sighed.
"We tried to get some information from the locals, hoping to figure out where we were. Then Boss got hungry and dragged me along to a noodle shop nearby." she continued "When we arrived, Itto saw what looked liked a female blue oni getting suckered by these other guys. As you can imagine, Boss gets mad and starts a fight with them. Then, these guys calling themselves "Public Security" show up and arrest us both for starting a brawl on the streets of "Lumina Square". Boss only made things WORSE by lashing out at them too." Aether and Paimon simultaneously groaned before looking back at Itto.
"H-Hey! In my defense, I wasn't gonna leave another oni to be picked on by some jerks right in front of me! Would you?!" he yelled back. Zhu Yuan paused to think.
"A blue oni…that must mean you ran into one of the members of H.A.N.D. Her name is Soukaku and she's one of the elite members who oversees peace and order in New Eridu." she said, gaining Itto's attention. Itto looked somewhat baffled, as did Shinobu.
"NO. WAY. You're telling me that little girl is some kind of BIG SHOT around here? Who'd have thought?!" he asked.
"If that's the case, perhaps we jumped to conclusions." Zhu Yuan continued, bowing to him "On behalf of my fellow officers, I wish to offer an apology for the misunderstanding. Also, thank you for looking out for Miss Soukaku." She then turns to Seth, nodding back before telling the other officers to let them go. Now freed, Itto and Shinobu followed behind the traveler as they departed. Waiting in the other hallway was Qingyi and the Mondstadt knights.
"Ah! Mr. Honorary Knight's back! And Paimon too!" Klee proclaimed. Shinobu raised a brow at the sight of them.
"What the? Are they…also from Teyvat too? If I'm right, they…kind of look like they belong to the Knights of Favonius from Mondstadt. What's going on?" Shinobu asked.
"We don't know either, Shinobu. Before we got here, we were asked by the Knights to investigate the disappearance of their comrades who went to investigate a Domain opening. When we got there, Paimon and the traveler got pulled into it and wound up in something called a "Hollow"." Paimon explained "That's how we found our friends, these nice officers…and now you guys." Aether glanced between his friends and Itto, scratching his head.
"It's almost as if someone or something is targeting people from across Teyvat and dragging them into this world." he thought "Amber said their Visions were not working until we showed up. Could the same have been for Itto and Shinobu?" Qingyi approached Zhu Yuan, asking what had happened. But before her captain could respond, another police officer was seen approaching them with what appeared to be a enraged Hilichurl with its hands cuffed behind its back. It yelled angrily at him while trying to break the cuffs. The officer looked a touch worn out.
"C-Captain Zhu Yuan! We just apprehended this….gremlin assaulting the staff at Waterfall Soup and make off with their ingredients! He gave me quite the run around before I was able to cuff him." he explained "Any ideas on how to indentify this guy?" Aether and Paimon gasped.
"A-A Hilichurl?! What's a random Hilichurl doing here?!" Paimon yelled.
"Wait. You…know him too?" Seth asked.
"Knowing" is…not quite the right word. That's a Hilichurl…a common monster that often live in packs around Teyvat and are known to attack travelers and steal their stuff." Aether explained "We deal with them a lot no matter where we go. Sometimes, they're relatively harmless but there are others who are bigger and more aggressive." The Hilichurl snarled before quickly headbutting the officer in the face, making a break once he flinched. But it didn't get far before being struck by Qingyi's shock staff and flopped to the ground stunned. Its body twitched at her feet.
"First our friends from Mondstadt…then Itto and Shinobu…and NOW a Hilichurl?! WHAT NEXT?! Are we gonna start seeing adepti or Melusine turning up?!" Paimon asked, her mind baffled by everything.
TO BE CONTINUED…