Chapter 30
Strategist
With everyone gathered in the lab, DiZ wasted no time in getting to work. He went towards a long desk. It stretched from one end of the room to the other with a holographic keyboard in the center. He performed a keystroke and the slanted wall behind the desk rumbled before sliding upwards, revealing a thick glass window that overlooked a massive arena below.
Sam went forward first, leaning against the desk to get a better look. "That's the same place you had me and Riku train, isn't it?"
Chirithy climbed onto the desk beside her, its paws pressed against the glass. "And the first place Lupe and I saw outside of Twilight Town after we woke up."
"Indeed it is," DiZ replied as the others gathered at the desk. "It was the first room finished in this digital world. Everything else was built around it."
"Yeah," Lupe chuckled. "One moment Chiri and I are going up the steps at the train station, next we show up in there with DiZ questioning us."
"Sounds like quite the first impression." Hinata smirked towards her dad.
"It came as quite the surprise to discover them in the synthetic Twilight Town," DiZ explained with a chuckle. "Though unlikely, I wanted to be sure they were not a new ploy of the Organization to infiltrate my work. After initial questioning, however, I confirmed they were nothing of the sort."
"Apparently we were code from a medal?" Lupe recalled with a laugh. "Honestly, I don't have my mind fully wrapped around it yet."
Riku looked towards Hinata. "Medal?"
"From Game Central Station," she reminded him.
"Yeah, just…" Riku's voice trailed off and he looked towards Lupe and Chirithy. "Brings up a lot of questions of what happened to you guys to get you trapped as code in a place like that."
"I'm with you there," Lupe agreed with a shrug.
"I'm just thankful DiZ was able to find both of you," Velcia noted. "I wonder how long the two of you must have been trapped."
"We'll add it onto the long list of things we need to figure out eventually," Sam said. She turned and leaned back against the desk, her fingers wrapped along the edge. "I feel like I've gotten to the point where I just have to accept everything thrown at us. Last week I didn't think you could enter other people's dreams or create a working brain from a bunch of plants, but"—she put out her hands at all of them—"here we are, I guess. And now we know people can be trapped in code and Santa's apparently real."
"True," Velcia agreed with a small laugh. "The things I've experienced since leaving Thebes have been overwhelming. Even with all the stories of past Wielders I've heard, I couldn't have begun to imagine the extent of what I've seen."
"Seems like something we all have in common then," Chirithy said, turning to face everyone before sitting down on the desk. "We might not understand everything that happens, but we work to keep pushing forward."
"Well said, Chiri." Lupe gently ruffled Chirithy's head.
"I like to think the same thing," Velcia agreed with a sweet smile.
"As do I," DiZ said with a sage nod. "That is precisely why I believe Lupe and Chirithy will be a valuable addition to your team."
"Speaking of,"—Sam motioned her head towards them—"what are you expecting them to do?"
DiZ exhaled with a smile, performing another keystroke over the keyboard. A burst of square particles appeared in the center of the arena. The group looked through the window, watching as a white silhouette of a creature formed from the code. A gurgling growl bounced off the walls, muffled through the glass. The light over the monstrous form faded, revealing wiry tendrils that wriggled wildly, showering golden acid around the arena.
"Where the hell did you find that?" Sam asked. "I don't remember seeing anything like that in Halloween Town."
"There weren't many of them," Riku said. "I found it when DiZ sent me back to Oogie's tree after I woke up."
"How did you manage to capture it?" Hinata asked, feeling uneasy as she peered through the thick glass.
"Ben gave me a device to mark the creatures I found," Riku explained. "I only had to wait a few seconds before I could destroy them. DiZ said it was so he could gather data on them."
"So it's not the actual creatures themselves," Velcia realized. "But a copy of them."
"Copies that you can defeat as many times necessary to learn their secrets," DiZ said, motioning towards Lupe. "As Lupe has done. Though, to my surprise, it did not take him long to understand their weaknesses. It seems to be a strength in his abilities."
"It's really not that special," Lupe said as he waved his hands nonchalantly. "Strategy's important for every battle."
"It does come more naturally to you, though," Chirithy pointed out, crossing its plump arms when Lupe chuckled. "Whether you want to admit it or not."
"So you can fight?" Riku asked.
"Not as well as I used to," he admitted with a sheepish smile at their attention, rubbing the back of his fluffy hair.
Holding out his hand, he sucked in a breath. Another burst of code lit up around his hand and a long silver Keyblade flashed into existence. Riku, Hinata, and Velcia stepped forward with extreme interest.
"A Keyblade?" Riku asked under his breath. "You're a Wielder?"
"I know I wasn't the only one," Lupe told him, running his hand along the side of his blade. "We were a…group of Wielders, I think? Couldn't tell you much besides that though."
"May I?" Hinata asked, holding out her hand beside the blade.
"Of course!" Lupe held it out for her.
Hinata gently coasted her hand along the dark silver metal, mentally noting the details. Its sides were indented inwards, resembling more of a key than Velcia's blade. Thick bandages wrapped around the base near the bulky hilt. Gold details lined the handle, leading into the golden chain dangling off the end. Hinata slid the chain through her fingers until reaching the charm at the end that resembled a wolf.
"It's incredible," she whispered, before speaking clearer. "I've never seen anything like it."
"I can feel the magic radiating off of it from here," Velcia said, coming forward to examine it for herself once Hinata was done. She summoned her blade and compared them.
Lupe tilted his head. "That's a Keyblade too, isn't it?" he asked.
Velcia nodded with a hum. "It belonged to my ancestor. It's been passed down in my family, though it no longer holds the same power it did before."
"You can still fight with it?" Chirithy asked, coming up beside them.
Velcia knelt down to give Chirithy a better look. "Yes, I use it to channel my magic."
"Ah! So that's what you use," Lupe realized.
"I always wondered what it must have been like when my ancestor wielded it." Velcia stood back up, hovering her hand over Lupe's blade. "I wonder if it felt similar to this. So much magic in a single blade."
"And suddenly it all makes sense." Sam looked over at DiZ while the group continued to talk amongst each other. "You saw his Keyblade and worked fast to get him on our side."
"Amongst other reasons," DiZ replied with a small sigh. "Reasons I would prefer to get to before the creature damages the arena beyond repair."
As if to prove his point, the room rumbled from the creature ramming itself against the wall, cutting through the jittery excitement and reminding all of them why they were there.
"Oh, right." Lupe dispelled his Keyblade, sheepishly ruffling his hair as he went to DiZ's side.
"Are you going to show us how it's done?" Riku asked, crossing his arms with a smirk.
Lupe laughed. "Not this time."
DiZ shook his head and explained, "Since Lupe will not be able to leave the confines of the digital world, he will instead instruct you on the creature's weaknesses and strategize ways for you to defeat it utilizing your abilities."
"Something like that." Lupe grinned, his hands in his coat pockets.
"Well alright." Hinata placed her hand on her hips, a smirk across her lips. "Give us the rundown, Lupe."
Lupe looked out into the arena. "Alright, so this guy's tentacles are insanely quick at blocking projectiles." He pointed to Velcia. "And that includes spells. Buuut, its underside is vulnerable. So the trick is to flip it over."
"Like the dream monster," Hinata noted.
He motioned towards her with both hands. "Exactly. And your water magic is the perfect use for it."
Hinata mulled it over, then gave a lopsided smile. "Geyser underneath."
Lupe grinned, getting excited. "While Velcia casts a barrier against the acid." He spun towards Sam. "And Sam charges up that incredible arm of hers and shoots the finishing shot into its exposed belly!"
Sam snorted out a laugh. "Incredible arm, huh?"
"That does leave out Riku, though," Velcia realized before catching herself. "Oh, but it does sound like a viable strategy!"
"Oh," Lupe looked over to Riku and DiZ. "I thought he was going to be…" His voice trailed off a bit. "Do they not know yet?"
"Know what?" Sam asked.
"Riku's going to be changing his focus to help Sora against the Organization," Hinata explained. She smiled towards Riku. "I guess he must have talked it over with DiZ already."
"Yeah, I did," Riku replied with an apologetic smile and a shrug. "But I'll still be around if you need me."
"Oh," Sam realized, glancing over at Hinata then back at him.
"We'll get the chance to discuss it more after the fight," Hinata told them, going to the glass. The creature slammed its tentacles against the walls, scrambling to find a way out. "This thing's been waiting long enough for us." She looked at the others. "We'll go with Lupe's plan on this, but we'll improvise if things go south."
"And we'll be up here enjoying the show." Lupe gave a thumbs up.
Hinata snickered, giving a thumbs up in return before they were teleported to the arena. The roar of the creature filled their ears before they could even see. Velcia sprang into action, her Keyblade flashed into her hand and a shimmering barrier surrounded them. The creature growled, immediately noticing them and clamoring over with surprising speed. Its tentacles slammed against the barrier, its skin hissing upon impact. It scrambled back, its tendrils slithering over its entire body.
"Let's give this a shot," Hinata muttered, circling her hands and summoning the coolness of water into her body.
Her tattoo glowed bright against her cheek, matching the growing intensity of the crystal in Sam's arm powering up. Hinata pushed out her arms, then raised them up in a fluid motion. The ground gurgled and shook before a geyser of water burst beneath the creature, sending it flying into the air. Before it went too far, Hinata followed the motion of the water with her hands and wrapped around the creature like a lasso, forcing it down onto its back. Just as it landed with a thud, a blinding orb of energy shot into its belly and it burst with a sickening amount of acid. It burned away against the barrier, but left a stench that made them gag.
"Oh that's bad," Sam covered her nose and mouth with hand.
The entirety of the remains shredded away into cubed particles, until nothing but a pristine arena remained. But much to their dismay, the smell permeated.
"Thanks a lot for making it sooo realistic!" Sam called out.
Lupe laughed, his voice through an intercom. "You totally rocked it! You three would be able to handle an entire horde of those things, no problem."
"Not without a spell to ease our sinuses," Velcia commented, making the girls snicker beside her.
"What's next?" Hinata asked, summoning her blades.
"Right," Lupe replied, muttering something to the others with him in the lab.
Particles formed in front of them, more like pixelated static at first, creating a long, worm—like shape. The pixels joined together, revealing thin maroon skin stretched over a lumpy maggot body. Hollow orifices were blotched over it, dripping thick golden dew that burned through the ground. It breathed heavily, its entire body pulsing with every inhale and exhale while it nudged its nose in the ground, sniffing as it appeared to have no eyes.
"I hate it," Sam said, shaking her head. "That is… I don't even have a word for that thing."
"Did you see this in Halloween Town, Riku?" Hinata asked.
"Only found one of them… thankfully," Riku replied through the intercom.
At the sound of their voices, the toddler sized maggot screeched and contorted towards them. However, the goo from its orifices melted the ground into a well that kept it from advancing.
"Yeah, so, it's gross," Lupe said. "But it's also a really unique one. Unlike the others that have a liquid acid, this one has it more concentrated with the consistency of something like honey. That might seem like an easy thing to take care of since it just traps itself with it, but make it angry enough and…"
Spurts of the thick goo sprayed into the air, splattering with a thud and immediately melting the ground beneath it to create a path for the maggot.
"It's concentrated enough to melt metal," Lupe told them. "Found that out the hard way."
"So that's why the steak knife was missing," Riku joked and Lupe snickered.
"Another magic one then," Sam said.
"I believe I can take care of it." Velcia stepped forward.
"Go for it!" Lupe encouraged her.
Raising her blade, sparks ignited at its tip, then strikes of lightning shot down from the air, coursing over the maggot's body. It shrieked, convulsing and shriveling in on itself before breaking back into pixelated particles.
Things continued in a similar fashion. One creature after another was summoned in the arena. Lupe explained the intricacies of each one before giving some ideas on how to defeat it. Most went down without fanfare. The girls followed Lupe's strategy, while also experimenting with their own. A couple hours passed before they decided to take things to the next level.
The girls were given the chance to recuperate their energy with potions and water while DiZ and Lupe programmed a battle with a multitude of the creatures. Hinata stretched her arms, peeking down at the horde of creatures appearing in the arena.
"Do we have any idea how those things were created?" Hinata asked.
"I mean, I'm pretty sure we know who made them," Sam pointed out, readjusting some of the wiring on her arm.
"Yeah, but how?" Hinata turned and leaned against the desk. "They don't seem anything like Heartless or Nobodies. They're more… organic, but also decaying somehow."
"The ones we've encountered mostly seem to resemble insects," Velcia added.
"Except for Corro," Hinata said softly. She noticed the girls looking at her. "Oh, a dog-like one we saw that Jack Skellington decided would be a good pet. There were a lot like him when we first got to Oogie's tree."
"There weren't many of those ones left by the time I got back to the tree," Riku joined the discussion, settling beside Hinata. "I only managed to mark one of them because the rest were destroyed by the other creatures that were more like the insect ones you guys just went through."
Hinata's brow furrowed in thought.
"The dog ones look a lot like your dog, Jack," Chirithy said from its spot on the desk further down where Jack was curled up around its legs, fast asleep. "Don't you think?"
"I've been trying not to draw the connection," Hinata admitted.
"It's as if they reflect Keres' mental state," Velcia pondered aloud, her hand to her chin. "The more she's lost her will to the darkness, the more decayed and hostile the creatures have become."
"Why bugs though?" Sam asked.
"Well… insects are usually invasive and unwanted," Velcia theorized.
Hinata groaned and hung her head forward, burying her face in her hands.
Velcia fiddled her hands in front of her. "But perhaps I am drawing too many connections where there are none. It's also entirely possible Keres has no control on their appearance."
"No it's my fault," Hinata murmured into her hands. "I'm the one that asked."
"It doesn't matter how or why they're made," Riku said. "All it does is help us understand Keres more. But it doesn't change how much damage they do to the world they're created in." Hinata glanced up at him as he continued, "Whatever you decide to do about Keres, you'll still have to take those things out before they become as big of a threat as the Heartless and Nobodies. So maybe just focus on that for right now."
"You're right," Hinata agreed, sitting up straight again. "We'll figure out the rest when the time comes."
A door to the right of the lab slid open, cutting through their discussion. Lupe and DiZ walked in, finishing up their analysis. Noticing their attention, Lupe beamed with an excited grin.
"Alright, I think we're set to go," he told them. "You three feeling ready?"
"I think so." Hinata looked between Velcia and Sam as she stood up.
"How exactly is this supposed to go?" Sam asked.
"Well, DiZ and I had the idea that we'd treat this as a test run for a battle on the field," Lupe replied, scratching the side of his hair. "So I won't give a full rundown on what to do or what you'll face. And I don't want to be barking out orders while you're supposed to be fighting. You all know what you're doing out there, so I don't want to get in the way of that."
"But…?" Sam motioned her hand in a circle, prompting him to get a move on with explaining.
He chuckled. "I'll let you know when there's an opening or something dangerous to watch out for. And if you have questions about a specific creature or anything, you can ask and I'll do my best to answer."
"I understand how you will do that here." Velcia tilted her head, her hand to her chin. "But how will you manage that on the battlefield while we are on another world?"
"That is something we are currently working on," DiZ informed her. "If this goes well, I will likely enlist the aid of Sam in creating devices that will ease communication between all of you."
Sam shrugged. "Works for me."
"Let's go then." Hinata nodded to her friends, then looked at DIZ. "We're ready."
DiZ bowed his head in acknowledgement and with a press of a button a light enveloped them and they appeared on the far end of the arena. Several feet stood between them and the insectoid creatures. Despite the distance, there wasn't much time to gather their bearings as the light beaming them in caught the attention of the horde. Chitters and gurgling growls resonated through the arena. Each of the critters scuttered towards them, many on the ground, but a few slicked against the walls and slithering over.
Without a word, Hinata rushed forward and thrust out her arms. Walls of water shot up out of the ground on either side of them. The current roared, flinging over a dozen creatures into the air before they were disintegrated by well placed shots of energy from Sam's arm. The girls smirked, hearing Lupe cheering from the lab.
Velcia took point, her Keyblade shining brilliantly. Orbs of light burst from the tip, breaking apart into smaller particles and zoning in on specific creatures. The line of bugs in front of them disappeared into bursts of code.
"Big guy coming up from behind," Lupe warned them. "He's got a hard exoskeleton—"
"Already on it!" Sam yelled, spinning around and aiming her arm that was already humming with a charged shot.
The brilliant plasma cracked through the monster's already deformed shell, creating a melted hole right into its gooey innards. It yowled, falling off the wall, its legs twitching and acid pooling. A leafy vine burst from the ground, wrapping around its cracking body. Velcia swung her Keyblade, the vine following her movements before flinging the bug across the arena. Upon landing it burst, spraying acid over all the bugs surrounding it. Their howling screeches filled the arena.
Behind the horrific sound, they could barely make out Lupe's voice from the lab despite him being away from the intercom's microphone. He described the scene and their actions with remarkable enthusiasm.
"Are you narrating?!" Sam yelled, putting out her arms and looking up towards the lab window.
"Not the time, Sam!" Hinata called over her shoulder, keeping up the barriers of water to slow down the amount of creatures. "Get ready!"
With a swish of one of her hands, the right hand wall of water washed over the bugs, capturing them in its current. Velcia reacted in kind, lifting her Keyblade. Lightning crackled from above, striking the water and coursing through it with a beautiful and dangerous display. Crisped remains fell to the ground, before bursting into code. The water blipped away, and a few insects persisted. Sam sprinted into action, pulling out her staff and taking care of them.
"I won't be able to do that again with this side," Hinata told Velcia, her breaths heavy.
Velcia nodded, looking to the remaining barrier that kept the rest of the creatures at bay. "Bring it down. I think we've destroyed enough of them to easily handle the rest. I'll cover you and Sam from here."
Hinata nodded, releasing her hand and the water fell with a thundering splash. Her blades flashed into her hands and she bounced on the balls of her feet. Blowing out a breath, she spun and threw her blade. It embedded itself into the hard shell of a monster, the same kind Sam defeated minutes before. A wail filled the air, acid spurted out around the blade. Hinata warped to the hilt, pressing her feet against the shell and propelling herself off into a flip. Midair, she summoned her shield and threw it into the same spot on the shell, cracking it further. Upon landing, she resummoned her shield and watched with a smirk as a well placed blast from Sam's arm finished the job.
"Watch for the burst!" Lupe called down to them through the intercom.
A shimmering barrier formed around Hinata just as the beast exploded and acid rained over the insects. Hinata peeked over her shoulder, giving a nod of thanks to Velcia before getting back to the fray.
The rest of the fight went by quickly after that. Lupe called out bits of advice, but mostly stayed back and watched them work. Before they knew it, the final bug disappeared into code and the three girls were left in the marred arena with scattered puddles of acid and water. Sam plopped to her knees, her mechanical arm sparking and the crystal fluctuating in its glow.
"That was," she stopped to take in a breath as Hinata came to her side, "that was insane. I don't think we've ever fought like that before."
Hinata chuckled, also struggling to catch a breath. She looked around the messy arena. "Yeah, it reminded me a bit of how the guys fought back on Eos." She shook her head, a fond smile appearing as she recalled, "They were such a cohesive team. Just naturally fell into a rhythm when they fought." She sat down beside Sam, her knees bent up and arms resting against them. "I never thought I'd ever get to that point…"
"Maybe there's hope for us yet," Sam joked, starting to chuckle but instead her voice choked into a cough. "Ah shit…I'm ready to sleep for a month."
"Just let us know when you're ready to come back!" Lupe called down to them and Sam held up her hand in a thumbs up.
"Are you both alright?" Velcia asked, joining them once she was sure all the creatures were taken care of. "That was quite the battle."
"I'm…"—Hinata looked around, a subtle grin cracking—"great actually. I think we can do this."
Velcia met her smile. "I believe we can as well. Lupe's expertise during our training certainly made a difference. I'm thankful to have him on our team."
"Me too," Hinata agreed. She stood up and held out her hand for Sam to help her up. She noticed the sparks from her arm. "Is everything alright with your arm?"
"Oh, yeah." Sam held it up. "I haven't had the chance to really upgrade it yet, so it's still a bit messed up from training a while back. It'll be fine."
Accepting her answer with a nod, Hinata waved up towards the lab. A light covered them almost instantly and they disappeared from the arena.
~One Week Later~
Sam rubbed the back of her hand over her forehead, leaving a blackened mark across the sweat slicked skin. Bits of machinery and metal were strewn across her work station, seemingly in a chaotic mess, but she knew where each piece was and what it was meant for. The bulk of her mechanical arm was laid out in the center of the desk in front of her, halfway built with the new materials she received from Christmas Town.
The Atlantean crystal glowed from its glass encasing on a separate desk, casting a blue light over the otherwise dim room. A single lamp shined a spotlight on the wiring of the arm where Sam focused meticulously while muttering along to the lyrics of the music blaring through her earbuds. A knock on the door interrupted her zen and she sighed heavily, pulling out one of the buds.
She walked over and pressed a button below a speaker. "What's up?" she asked.
"I apologize for interrupting," Velcia's soft voice came through the speaker. "But we were considering heading into Twilight Town for some dinner and wanted to extend an invitation."
Sam smiled to herself. "Thanks for the thought, but I still have work to do on my arm. I'll catch up with you guys later?"
"Of course," Velcia replied, though Sam could hear the slight disappointment in her voice. "Take care of yourself."
"Could say the same to you," Sam countered with a chuckle as she pressed the button and the speaker switched off.
She listened to Velcia's fading footsteps before putting her bud back in her ear and getting back to work. Her chair squeaked as she plopped into it and she spun back to her station. An hour passed uninterrupted. Sparks flew wildly around her. Then a chime to the door rang out, but Sam didn't notice behind the loud notes of her music and its banging drum.
"What's that going to do?" Ben asked over her shoulder and Sam gasped loudly, shoving her seat back and grabbing a wrench, nearly throwing it at him.
"Oye!" she yelled louder than necessary due to the music. She ripped out a bud and tossed it to the table. "What are you— how did you even get in here?"
Ben had his hands up in surrender at her reaction and hesitantly pointed towards the door. "It was unlocked? And you've been alone and I got worried."
Sam sighed loudly, slouching in her seat and covering her stubbed arm with her hand. "Yes, I'm fine. Just…knock next time, alright? Sheesh."
With an awkward laugh, Ben waved his hands. "Duly noted for future reference! So"—he moved on instantly and turned around—"what will this do?"
She stared at his back for a moment, considering throwing him out, but his genuine intrigue got the better of her. With a heavy breath, she got out of her seat and walked back to the desk. "I'm hoping it will give Lupe a visual during missions. A way to scan things without having to share a mind with you all the time."
"Ooooh." Ben poked at it before Sam swatted his finger away. "So that's why you locked yourself in here the minute DiZ finished this room for you."
Sam snorted. "You and Velcia. Both of you seem to think I'm isolating myself or something. I'm just focusing on a project, I haven't had a chance to really do that since I first created this thing."
"Well, there was repairing the Highwind after Kamino," Ben recalled and Sam's grip tightened considerably.
"Yep, there was that," she replied curtly.
"Ah, sorry…" Ben rubbed his thin neck. "Still getting used to the whole, just cause it pops to my head doesn't need to be said, thing."
She glanced over at him, then back to her arm. "It's fine. I…get how hard it is to get the hang of something like that. I'm still figuring it out too."
Ben surprisingly didn't say anything in reply and Sam took the silence as permission to get back to work. He watched her tinker with the wiring, even grabbed her chair and brought it to her to sit in again so she could get more comfortable. After several minutes, Sam put down her tools.
"Did you finish?" Ben asked.
"Not completely," Sam replied, grabbing the arm and situating it back in its place as her limb. She rolled her chair back to grab the crystal, having to wake Avan in the process as he wrapped himself around its glass case. She carefully set the crystal in the center and the seams of the metal lit up with life instantaneously. "But enough for tonight."
She cleaned up a few things and shooed Avan out of the room.
"I'm thinking of heading out to Twilight Town to meet up with the others," Sam said over her shoulder as she turned off the lights to head out of the work room. "Wanna come with?"
Ben's eyes lit up. "Oh! Would I?" He caught himself and cleared his throat. "Yes, yes I would."
Sam chuckled. "Sounds good."
The door slid shut behind them and they walked through the empty lab. Ben walked a few steps behind Sam, his metal footsteps echoing through the room.
"Hey, Sam?" he said in a softer voice than usual.
"Hmm?" She glanced back at him.
"I'm glad we're friends again."
Sam blinked. She looked away, a soft smile tipping her mouth. "Me too."
Although Ben didn't reply, Sam could feel the tension in the air lift and he followed a bit closer than before. They walked through the library to the other side where a door led into a foyer with two swirling portals. It had been a few days since DiZ created them, but Sam still felt uneasy about utilizing them to get to the Highwind and the other digital world. She looked between them, getting dizzy watching the bright colors inside the portal mix and swirl together.
"I still don't get how these work," Ben told her. He went up to the right portal and stuck his head through. His arms waved around as if he were saying something but Sam couldn't hear a word he said.
With a roll of her eyes and a smirk, Sam walked up behind him and pushed him the rest of the way through before following after.
The portal let them out in the alleyway, a familiar sight for Sam under the starry night sky. It took her a moment to adjust to seeing everything clearly, she hadn't quite realized how accustomed she had become to the fuzzy particles around every surface in the other digital realm. She walked into the town, Ben at her side and excitedly taking in every detail. He asked an endless string of questions, asking when Sam saw things in the real Twilight Town so DiZ could add it there, and if she had any particular stories of interacting with any specific person. She tried to answer some of the questions, but he moved on so fast she didn't get much of a chance to comprehend them.
"Any idea where—" Sam began to ask when Ben stopped for a breath.
"Not to worry!" Ben interrupted. "Hinata said they were at Bull and Barrel. I messaged her back at the lab!"
Sam stopped abruptly. "Bull and what?"
Ben shrugged as he skipped ahead. "That's where Hina said they were!"
"I… don't remember finding a place called that in the real town." She continued walking, ruffling her hand through her hair as she looked around at the shops around them. "Thinking about it… there's a lot here I don't really recognize."
"Maybe Lupe asked for it," Ben guessed.
"And DiZ listened?" she asked. "He must really want him on our good side."
"Well, Lupe is the only one actually really living here now," Ben said, turning around and walking backwards as he talked. "So maybe DiZ wanted to make it nice for him. He is stuck here after all. I would have loved something like that on Bentopia." He sighed wistfully, spinning back around. "Think of how different it all would have looked with a hundred years to make it just the way I wanted."
"Oh yeah? What's something you would have made?" she asked.
"An endless fountain of oil!" Ben stopped, putting out his arms dramatically. "As tall as the trees! Three, no four layers tall! I could swim in it!"
Sam pursed her lips with a nod. "Something tells me that it's probably for the best you didn't get to do that."
"Maybe I can convince DiZ to make me one," Ben said hopefully.
Sam snickered, nudging Ben with her shoulder as she passed. They looked together for the supposed place Hinata told Ben about. It thankfully didn't take too much longer. Passing the trolley, they saw golden light pouring out of a pub. Country music played from a live guitarist and shining letters above a fabric awning read, 'Bull and Barrel'.
"Huh, it does exist," Sam muttered over to Ben as they crossed the street.
Before they even entered, Sam noticed the group sitting at a long table. All of them laughed and talked amongst each other with drinks and food spread out in front of them. Lupe noticed them first and lit up, waving them over.
"You made it!" he greeted, before putting his hand to his mouth and snickering. "Came right from work, I'm guessing?"
Sam approached the table with a wave then placed her hands on her hips. "Um, yeah, why?"
Hinata stifled a giggle and motioned towards her forehead. With a soft groan, Sam ran her finger across her head and looked to see a black residue over her skin.
"Ah, great." She looked around the busy pub. "Where's the bathroom?"
"I got it." Lupe waved down a waitress and got a square packaged wipe. He held it out between two of his fingers.
"Thanks." Sam nodded and grabbed the package while everyone moved to get her a seat.
Ben already pulled up his own chair and situated himself between Lupe and Velcia. He got busy excitedly talking to them while Hinata had Sam sit right across from her and RIku.
"Need a drink?" Hinata asked and Sam could only nod before she turned to head to the bar. "Be right back."
Sam watched her go, a tired half-smile perking the corner of her mouth.
"Your arm's coming along well," Riku said, getting Sam's attention.
She lifted her arm, the newly polished copper reflecting the warm light of the pub. "Thanks. Hopefully this one will hold up better than the last one."
"I mean, the fact you can make one at all that even works is pretty amazing," he commented.
Sam chuckled. "Eh, good mechanics were a dime a dozen back on Montressor. It's nothing special."
Catching a snort of laughter, Riku leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms. "That doesn't sound right coming from you. Hinata told me that when she asked if you could build her the Highwind you said you were the best mechanic on Montressor."
She shrugged, putting up her hands. "I was trying to land a customer! Of course I was going to say that!"
Riku's brow raised, unconvinced. Sam cracked a grin and both of them snickered.
"Aaand, here we go," Hinata said as she got back to her seat.
She placed a half filled glass in front of Sam, sitting down in her seat with another glass of her own. Sam grabbed the drink and sloshed it around, trying to figure out what it was. Then the scent hit her—tangy and sweet, with astringent undertones. She glanced up at Hinata, who raised her glass in a subtle toast. Sam smiled, albeit a bit sadly, and mimicked the motion before taking a sip of the blackberry brandy. The taste of nostalgia washed over her and she held the drink on her tongue for a few lingering seconds before swallowing it down.
"Thank you," she mouthed the words and Hinata smiled warmly from across the table.
An eruption of laughter from the other half of the table cut through their moment. Hinata quickly rejoined the conversation with the others while Sam took a moment longer. She looked around the pub. It was different from the ones back on Montressor. Bull skulls hung from the wall and cowboy hats bobbed across the crowd of patrons. Sam couldn't help but wonder what James would say if he were there beside her. He'd likely be put off by the decorations, even more by the choice of music, but he'd love to have a drinking buddy like Lupe.
The thought both comforted and saddened her. She inhaled deeply and drew her attention towards Lupe. His eyes were bright with excitement yet deep with something Sam had been trying to place since she met him. He noticed her stare and his grin softened, his head tilting slightly with a silent question. Straining a smile, Sam averted her attention to Velcia in an attempt to join the conversation.
"It was strange to see moving pictures, especially ones that told a story," Velcia recalled with her cup of tea cradled between her hands. She took a sip, pondering her memories. "I've been curious to see another DVD ever since."
"Just whatever you do, don't let Hinata pick it," Sam commented behind her glass.
Hinata coughed on her drink, laughing. She grabbed a napkin and cleaned her chin. Velcia looked between them, genuinely curious by their reactions.
"I don't know why you say that, Sam," Ben chided. "I for one really enjoyed watching 'Mankind's Expiration' with you guys!"
It was Lupe's turn to snort out a laugh. He put his hand to his mouth when Velcia whipped her attention to him, stifling his laughter.
"What's so funny, Lupe?" Ben asked.
Lupe cleared his throat, attempting to swallow the humor as he replied. "So-uh, I mentioned to DiZ I wanted something to watch and he said he'd take care of it, and—"
"Oh my God." Sam buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking from amusement. "He did not."
"It was 'Mankind's Expiration'!" Lupe finished and everyone but Ben and Velcia erupted into a fit of laughter.
"Was it really such an awful DVD?" Velcia asked, looking into her tea. "I've found myself thinking a lot about Claudia's journey. There are so many spells that would stop the spread of the virus and save her friends. It would have made her journey so much easier."
"Oh Velcia," Lupe placed his hand on her shoulder, unable to stop snickering. "You're too good for this world."
"You probably only think it was good because you don't have anything better to compare it to," Riku guessed.
"Hmm, I suppose that's possible." Velcia put down her cup, then smiled up at everyone. "Then I would very much like to see what all of you consider to be the best."
The discussion dissolved into all of them talking about their favorite movies and recalling their firsts. Sam eventually got some food brought out to her and ate while she listened to the others. Smiles were across everyone at the table, their laughs and voices heard clearly over the music. Sam rested back in her seat, finding a warmth of contentment around her.
"There is that movie shop in Sunset Terrace," Riku said. "We could find a movie there and ask DiZ to download it here."
"I've done that a few times." Lupe put up his hand. "Well, not the actual going out and buying part. But I've hung out with some of the locals and asked for recommendations. Then I went to DiZ and asked him to add them in."
"I'm glad he's been accommodating," Hinata said. "I'm surprised he is, but thankful."
"I think he might have felt bad about the whole interrogating thing," Lupe guessed with a shrug and a laugh. "But in all seriousness, I appreciate it, too. He even helped me get my own place and a life out here."
"As much of one as you can get in a synthetic town," Sam noted.
Lupe's eyes downcast momentarily, his brows knitting together before he looked back up and ruffled his hair with an awkward laugh. "Heh, yeah, true. I like it well enough though."
"That's good." Hinata smiled, gently kicking Sam's leg under the table.
Sam winced, but didn't bark back. "Sorry, that was a shitty thing to bring up," she apologized instead.
Ben patted Lupe's shoulder. "Sam and I are still working on the, not everything in our heads needs to be said, thing."
Sam pursed her lips. "Thanks Ben."
"It's fine," Lupe assured them with a chuckle. "It's not anything I haven't thought about."
"So what sort of place did you get?" Riku asked, changing the subject.
"It's right upstairs, actually," Lupe told them, pointing up. "I've got an apartment on the top floor. Even got roof access."
"Oh that must be a beautiful view!" Velcia said.
"It is." Lupe nodded with a soft fanciful look on his face, gazing up towards the ceiling. "Do you guys wanna see it? I can put in one of the movies." He put up his hand. "But be warned, they aren't that great."
"Are they better than Mankind's Extinction?" Sam asked.
"Expiration," Ben whispered, leaning over Velcia.
"Oh my God." Sam shook her head.
"Eh." Lupe wiggled his hands back and forth. "It's pretty hit and miss on quality."
"That sounds like a lot of fun," Hinata said with a laugh. "What do you guys think?"
"I'm up for it." Riku shrugged with a smirk.
"I am as well!" Velcia nodded emphatically. "I'd love to see the view as well."
"Absolutely." Lupe grinned, getting up from his seat. "Just let me pay the tab, then we—"
"Oh Lupe, don't worry, I've got it." Hinata waved at him to sit and started to stand, but was abruptly stopped by Lupe placing his hand against her head.
"Like I'd invite you to dinner and make you pay." Lupe plopped her back into her seat.
"Lupe!" Hinata sputtered with laughter, swatting him away as he ruffled her hair while he walked past.
Lupe walked backwards with a cheeky grin, one hand in his coat pocket, the other holding his card between two of his fingers and waving it victoriously. Spinning on his heel to walk forward, he added, "I wanna treat you guys."
Hinata blew out a breath, leaning back in her seat with a smile, despite her mussed hair.
"I think he fits right in," Riku muttered over to Hinata, joining her in watching Lupe get the attention of one of the wait staff so he could pay.
Her smile grew and she nodded. "He does."
**Author's Note: Hello! Let's all collectively thank Dreamedii for their comment today because I have been sitting on this chapter for over a week now and kept procrastinating. No particular reason, just busy with life and had to make a couple edits that in hindsight took me a minute to make. ANYWAY, I got the notification of Dreamedii's comment and I literally grabbed my laptop and got this posted. So, you know, thank you!
I'm super stoked for where the story is going! It's been a ton of fun having Lupe integrate into the group. He fits in so naturally, even better than Amy and I initially expected. We're on a roll here, let's keep the momentum going!
Have a wonderful week everyone! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this chapter.**