Morning in the hallway: soft sunlight sifts through the window, casting warm patterns on the tiles. Zhu Yuan leans against the wall, coffee cup in hand, looking like she's trying to blend in with the décor. Across the hall, Qingyi sits in her usual easy-going manner, taking slow, methodical sips of her hot water. Seth, on the other hand, is stretching and limbering up to start his day.
"Hey, Officer Cruz," Zhu called out casually, trying to look nonchalant but eyeing him from the corner of her cup. "Know any good spots on the Outer Ring? My team's got this 'team-building' activity lined up—nothing too serious," she added with an innocent smile. "Any, uh, friendly bikers out there?"
Officer Cruz—built like a biker himself, though slightly softened by age and a day job in highway patrol—lifted an eyebrow. "An excursion, Captain?" he replied with the tone of someone who's heard it all.
She nodded, taking a long sip from her cup to hide her smirk. "Y-yeah… you know, we could use a little 'out of city' duty. City life's making us soft."
He sized her up for a moment, clearly unconvinced but amused. "Got a few contacts. Try dropping by at Blazewood—Uncle Henry's Stop," he said, reaching into his pocket. After a minute of rummaging, he pulled out a well-worn wallet and sifted through an assortment of business cards that looked like they'd survived the apocalypse.
"This one's Burnice's," he said, handing over an old card. "She's a bartender, known to be friendly—well, Outer Ring friendly, I think she will be around there since tomorrow, there will be a fest." he added with a knowing smirk. "Might even introduce you to Caesar King."
"Oh, thanks!" Zhu Yuan took the card, then paused, trying to mask her excitement with feigned indifference. "Uh… should we, like, blend in or something?"
Cruz chuckled, as though picturing the scene. "Be casual," he replied, and for the first time, Zhu could feel him fighting back a grin.
Later that morning, Zhu Yuan emerged from the locker room, dressed in a casual yet edgy ensemble: a rugged trench leather coat that screamed "biker chic" (or at least, that's what she hoped), and, of course, a pair of sunglasses that added a dash of mystery. "I don't really ride motorbikes, so I think we may need to borrow a van from the motorpool," she announced, trying to sound cool but feeling anything but.
Seth, grinning from ear to ear, strutted out behind her, totally transformed in his biker getup. It was as if someone had taken a city boy and plopped him down in a leather-clad rock band. Meanwhile, Qingyi stood at the edge, looking distinctly out of place in a black jacket that barely concealed her PUBSEC uniform. She seemed to shout, Hey, I'm with the PUBSEC in bright neon letters.
"Qingyi, what are you doing? Dress up properly! This is an undercover operation!" Zhu demanded, exasperated.
"Captain, I'm an automaton. I need higher clearance to change my attire. Clearly, this is not an official mission," Qingyi replied, her deadpan face revealing a hint of mischief. She was definitely joking, but the way she said it felt like she had a punchline in mind.
Zhu raised her hands to her temples, palming her head. "Qingyi, this is insubordination! Your humor configuration is driving me nuts. I might need to reconfigure you at the White Star Institute!" she muttered in disbelief, half-serious.
"Ha! Just kidding, I'm fine with this attire, Captain." Qingyi chuckled, her tone lightening the mood. "I'll handle the surveillance inside the vehicle, so I contacted the motorpool. They'll lend us a discreet van."
"Discreet? Are we going for stealth or for 'let's play hide-and-seek with the law'?" Seth chimed in, laughter bubbling up as he adjusted his faux leather cuffs.
"Let's just hope it's not too conspicuous," Zhu replied, rolling her eyes as they headed out, her inner monologue screaming, If we get caught, I'm blaming it on the leather pants.
They cruised down the sun-scorched highway toward the Outer Ring, the motorpool van sticking out like a sore thumb among the battered vehicles that called these roads home. Zhu Yuan gripped the wheel, her knuckles tight as she mulled over the stakes of their little excursion.
In the distance, the Hollow Sphere loomed, an ominous blot on the horizon that seemed even more imposing up close. Zhu's gaze lingered, a chill creeping along her spine despite the heat. No wonder Elias gets twitchy about it, she thought. Its massive, alien presence had a way of making you feel small, even from miles away.
In the backseat, Qingyi was in her element, now fully kitted out for their undercover mission. She was hunched over the surveillance equipment, adjusting knobs and calibrating lenses like a mechanic coaxing life out of a vintage engine. Yesterday's tip about Elias's last meetup at Mirage Motors had paid off; now it was time to dig deeper.
Zhu pulled into the Mirage Motors grocery lot, easing the van to a stop. A cluster of leather-clad bikers leaned casually against the store's wall, their eyes immediately locking onto the van. Relax, Zhu. That's just their usual 'don't mess with us' look. Nothing personal.
"Alright, team," Zhu said, turning to Qingyi. "Let's grab some snacks and keep an eye out for our targets." She glanced at the bikers again, trying to appear indifferent while noting their positions and body language.
The rumble of motorcycles, punctuated by bursts of laughter, filled the air -a jarring contrast to the sun-baked emptiness around the lot. Bright neon signs flashed overhead the pumps, casting sharp reflections across the gleaming chrome of the parked bikes. Vibrant activity pulsed through the place, like some hidden miniature microcosm of rebellion, lost inside the chaos of the Outer Ring.
Zhu couldn't help but smile. "This place has some character."
Seth wiped beads of sweat from his forehead, a pained expression crossing his face. "Why do these bikers insist on wearing leather in this sweltering heat?"
Zhu smirked, glancing at his thrift-shop jacket, which looked like it belonged to a long-forgotten rock band. "Seth, if you wear real leather, it's definitely ideal for this kind of weather. Keeps you cool—like, figuratively cool," she teased, raising an eyebrow.
"I got this from a thrift shop in a rush, so it's probably not that authentic." Seth chuckled, shaking his head as he took a swig from his bottled water. "In retrospect, maybe I should've just worn shorts and a tank top."
"Shorts and a tank top? Next time, let's not walk into a biker bar looking like you just strolled off the beach," Zhu quipped, rolling her eyes. "But hey, if it works for you, maybe we'll start a new trend: 'Surf Biker Chic.'"
Qingyi's deadpan voice chimed in from the back, "I can assure you, Captain, that trend will not catch on. But I will prepare the surveillance equipment while you two navigate your questionable fashion choices."
"Thanks, Qingyi. Just promise me you won't turn that scanner on us; I can't handle another round of 'fashion police'," Zhu replied, throwing a playful wink over her shoulder as they all piled out of the van, ready to observe the world of leather and grease ahead.
As they climbed out of the van, Zhu Yuan was greeted by the unmistakable presence of the Sons of Calydon. The irony of "Sons" was not lost on her; if anything, it seemed like the women were running the show here. Maybe they should call themselves the Chics of Calydon, she mused, irritation creeping in as her mind wandered to Elias. Of course, he'd have a bunch of women surrounding him while he's hanging with this gang.
With a sigh that was half exasperation, half envy, she followed Seth into a nearby grocery store. As they walked in, a group of ladies from the gang caught sight of her. One, clearly unafraid of the gang's tough reputation, leaned against a shelf and called out, "Hey, you from the city?"
Zhu hesitated, caught off guard. "Uh, yeah! Just making an excursion," she replied, trying to sound casual but feeling like she was auditioning for a role in a bad action flick.
The group stifled a laugh, and the same woman continued, "At the outskirts? For city dwellers?" She shot Zhu a knowing look, like she could see through her carefully constructed façade. "You should try Burnice's mix down at Uncle Henry's." The lady winked, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Zhu smiled back, tension creeping in. Great, now I feel like I need to prove I can handle myself in this world of leather and bravado. What's next, a gang initiation?
"T-thanks?" she stammered, feeling like she'd just been invited to a secret society of leather-clad women, which, if she were honest, didn't sound all that bad. But as she caught a glimpse of Seth snickering beside her, she added, "And I'll definitely make sure to bring my authentic thrift-shop leather next time."
In the back of the van, Qingyi tinkered with her scanning device, her fingers dancing over the screen like a pianist at a recital. The device was sleek and futuristic, a creation of the White Star Institute that could override any security camera footage and display it on her monitor. Of course, she mused, I could scan without this fancy gadget, but this is the Outer Ring. None of it belongs to PUBSEC, and I prefer my operations with a dash of efficiency—like a well-oiled machine.
Her screen flickered with images from the fuel station's security footage. Nothing conspicuous—just the mundane rhythm of everyday life, people pumping gas, a kid chasing a dog, and a guy in a Hawaiian shirt who looked suspiciously out of place. No black market equipment in sight, she thought, scratching her chin, which was an awkward habit for an automaton. Maybe I should have stuck with the standard human version of chin-scratching instead of this... whatever this is.
With a determined glint in her eye, she hovered her hands over a knob, swiping her screen to search for any audio mentioning "Wayward Son" from yesterday's footage. A brief loading icon spun around, tantalizing her with the possibility of valuable intel.
Scanning...
Her heart—if she had one—would have skipped a beat. None found? She furrowed her brow, her circuits buzzing with disbelief. "How could this be? Did... Mr. Elias block all these devices yesterday during his meetup with the Lighter guy?"
Qingyi shook her head slightly. Well, it's not really surprising. Elias is an undercover agent for PUBSEC, after all. He probably has special equipment stashed under his bed—or wherever he keeps his 'secret agent' gear. Probably smells like leather and regret.
Determined not to give up, she redirected her search for any audio files mentioning "Lighter."
Scanning…
Audio files found!
Playing audio…
A prominent crackle erupted from the device, and she leaned in, ears perked, trying to extract meaning from the garbled noise. Voices of female bikers filled the air, crackling with static.
"…Lighter met a guy earlier today seeking—help."
"Ah, that's… —?on, he's a NEPS…"
Wait, what? Qingyi's processors whirred in confusion. Did she mention a name? And NEPS? Her internal systems struggled to clarify the garbled conversation. "This is like listening to a poorly tuned radio station," she muttered to herself, rolling her eyes. Next time, I'm definitely bringing a digital translator. Or maybe a thesaurus?
With newfound determination, she refocused her efforts, her mind racing through possibilities. Time to unravel this puzzle—one static-filled conversation at a time.
As Qingyi was deep into the scanning process, tracking any potential trace of Elias's last encounter, a sharp, heavy knock rattled the van door.
"Move it! This is our parking spot!" a voice barked from outside, dripping with irritation. Qingyi held her breath, hoping they'd just assume the van was empty and move on.
Another knock. Louder. Relentless. With a sigh, Qingyi finally switched the feed to the exterior camera. Three leather-clad bikers circled the van, fists clenched, their narrowed glares practically searing through the tinted windows. Oh, this had "bad decision" written all over it.
Meanwhile, through the grocery store's window, Zhu caught sight of the commotion. She nudged Seth. "Looks like our cover's about to go on its first test drive," she muttered.
"Plan?" he asked, keeping his voice low but glancing warily between her and the brewing situation outside.
"Plan B. Improvise, adapt…" Zhu muttered, striding out of the store with practiced calm. Her eyes scanned the lot, her hand brushing lightly against the concealed grip of her firearm. The no-nonsense traveler act wasn't hard to pull off—she just had to keep everyone else from blowing their cover.
"…and?" Seth piped up from behind, his voice annoyingly casual as his fingers grazed the handle of his electric baton.
Zhu glanced over her shoulder, irritation flashing in her eyes. "And what?"
"The last part, Captain." Seth leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if delivering top-secret intel. "Overcome."
For a moment, Zhu just stared at him, caught between exasperation and disbelief. Then she rolled her eyes so hard it felt like they might pop out of her head. "I didn't realize I was quoting a meme, Seth. But thank you for the educational moment."
"Hey!" she called out, her voice carrying a hard edge. "Step back from the van. Got a problem?"
One of the bikers turned, scowling as he spat on the ground. "Yeah, your van's hoggin' our spot, lady. So move it before we do."
The crowd was starting to form, eyes flicking between Zhu and the trio of bikers, with a couple of Sons of Calydon members watching intently from the other side of the lot. Zhu's fingers inched closer to her firearm, mentally bracing herself. Just great. Great, I didn't know that I have to recreate a fast draw trick from one of the stereotypical cowboy classics.
And then, the rumble of approaching engines caught everyone's attention. A line of bikes rolled into view, glinting as they eased into the lot, the sun reflecting off their chrome and leather. Leading the charge was a tall, lean figure with an easy confidence, his aviator shades perched just so on his nose and his worn leather jacket billowing slightly as he slowed to a halt.
The bikers beside Zhu immediately straightened, eyes widening as they caught sight of him. It was Lighter. He swung off his bike with a graceful, fluid motion, his boots hitting the ground with a resounding click as he strolled toward the scene. He looked cool, collected, like he belonged on a high-end fashion spread rather than in a hot, dusty parking lot.
Hmm, Zhu thought, too much flair by half. Very… Elias-y.
Lighter nodded at her briefly, his gaze dipping to the van before he gave the bikers a sharp look. "Everyone's welcome on the Outer Ring," he said, his tone smooth and measured, holding an edge of authority that left no room for argument.
"Are these bikers bothering you, miss?" Lighter asked, adjusting his sunglasses as he cast a sidelong glance at the trio. They stepped back, visibly unnerved.
Zhu blinked, still processing the sudden rescue. "That's Lighter, Captain," Seth whispered, snapping her back to the present.
"Oh, uh… I can handle it. Tougher than I look," she replied, keeping her tone light but tense. Good save, she thought. I was about two seconds from blowing our cover.
Lighter gave her a small, amused nod. "You've got a look—kind of tough like Caesar."
Caesar? Zhu thought, recalling Officer Cruz mentioning that name. Why is everyone tossing around this Caesar guy like we're all supposed to know him?
Turning back to the bikers, Lighter scuffed the ground with his boot, shooing them away. "Clear out," he commanded, his voice smooth but leaving no room for argument. "Pesky Vanquishers…"
The trio muttered a few curses under their breath but backed off, disappearing around the corner. Lighter turned back to Zhu, flashing a brief smile that somehow managed to be both polite and a touch amused. "Enjoy your stopover," he said, before strolling into the grocery store, his entourage close behind. He held the door open with an easy swing of his arm, his shades catching the light as he disappeared inside.
Zhu let out a slow, quiet breath, covering her relief with a polite smile. She glanced at Seth, who was clutching his drink like it was his last lifeline. "Smooth," he murmured, glancing between her and the door Lighter had just vanished through.
"That's Lighter? The guy acts like Elias with flair dialed up to eleven," she whispered, still eyeing the store.
"They were brothers-in-arms, remember?" Seth muttered back. "The way he just handled that? Almost like an undercover PUBSEC agent himself."
Back inside the van, Zhu cast one last glance toward the store, debating for a second whether to ask Lighter about 'Wayward Son.' But if he tipped off Elias, it would put her investigation in jeopardy. She decided against it, hoping to keep their inquiry under wraps a little longer.
Qingyi, meanwhile, was hunched over her equipment in the back, completely unfazed by the entire ordeal, fingers still dancing over the monitor like nothing unusual had happened.
"Any leads, Qingyi?" Zhu asked, glancing over her shoulder, eyes narrowed with a mix of curiosity and impatience.
Qingyi's fingers tapped on her console, scrolling through audio files. "There was… something. A mention of NEPS and maybe a name, but the audio's too garbled to be sure. I tried isolating it from the RAW data, but it's like a scrambled puzzle."
Zhu leaned back, brows knitting together. "Okay, but do you remember any part of the name? Anything at all?"
Qingyi squinted, replaying the fragmented audio in her head. "It ends with… '-on,' I think? It could be part of a name, but it's a shot in the dark unless we ask the Sons of Calydon."
"Alright," Zhu nodded, gears turning as she considered the next step. "Then let's drive down to Uncle Henry's. Officer Cruz said it's a good place to start."