The restaurant glowed like a beacon in the heart of Nexus City, its warm lights spilling through the glass doors and casting a golden haze on the street outside. Inside, Jake leaned back in his chair, his laughter mingling with the clink of glasses and the hum of conversation. Across from him sat Becky, her brown hair pulled into a tight bun, her smile catching the light like a spark. Their table was a feast—plates of sizzling teriyaki skewers, creamy truffle risotto, and honey-glazed ribs stacked high, the air heavy with savory aromas. A pitcher of sparkling mango spritzer sat between them, condensation dripping down its glass. Jake's grin widened as Becky teased him, her voice light, playful. "You're telling me you aced that holo-tech exam without studying? Come on, Jake, admit it."
He chuckled, shaking his head, when his phone buzzed on the table, cutting through their banter. He glanced at the screen, his smile faltering for a split second. "Hold on," he said, picking it up. "Hey, Dad." His voice softened, but there was a trace of exasperation. "Yeah, I'm at Richie's Spot with a friend. Won't be home for dinner, so don't wait up." A pause. "I know, I know. I won't be late. Promise." He ended the call, tossing the phone back onto the table with a sigh.
Becky raised an eyebrow, her smile teasing. "Your dad still checking up on you? Thought you were a big boy now."
Jake rolled his eyes, but there was a warmth in his expression. "He's been like this since I was a kid. Used to be fine, but now it's like he's got a tracker on me. Anyway—" He gestured to the spread before them. "Let's eat. I'm starving." He dug into a rib, the sauce smearing his fingers as he bit in, savoring the sweet, smoky flavor. Becky laughed, grabbing a skewer, and for a moment, the world was just them, the food, and the easy rhythm of their chatter.
Across the city, Rex's black sedan rolled to a stop in a dimly lit parking lot, its matte finish dulled by a layer of dust. He slumped back in the driver's seat, a bone-deep weariness settling into his limbs. The shard in his chest pulsed faintly, a quiet reminder of the chaos he'd barely survived. "Phew," he muttered, yawning. "What a day." His voice was heavy, tinged with disbelief. "If someone told me this morning I'd be dodging killer robots and running from a secret lab, I'd have laughed in their face." He stepped out, slamming the door shut, the sound echoing in the quiet lot. His stomach growled, sharp and insistent, and he pressed a hand to it, wincing. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you."
His eyes scanned the lot, landing on a neon sign across the street—Richie's Spot, its letters glowing electric blue against the night. The restaurant was a Nexus City staple, known for its plush booths, top-tier chefs, and prices that made his college cafeteria look like a charity kitchen. He patted his pocket, feeling the slim outline of his credit card. A quick check on his phone confirmed his balance: 10 credits. Enough for a burger, maybe a drink. Not exactly a feast, but it'd do. His gaze flicked back to the sedan, guilt creeping in. Two hours late, he thought. Jake's gonna kill me for not returning the car on time. Probably gonna stick me with the late fees, too.
He crossed the street, his sneakers scuffing against the asphalt, and pushed through the glass doors of Richie's Spot. The warmth hit him first, followed by the scent of grilled meat and fresh bread. He picked a small table in the corner, away from the bustling center, and ordered a hamburger with an energy drink. When the plate arrived, he took a bite, the juicy patty bursting with flavor—sweet, savory, perfect. For the first time all day, the tension in his shoulders eased, the adrenaline that had kept him alive fading into the background.
"Hey, Zoe," he said in his mind, his voice soft but curious. "You said I can convert those NeoCredits into real credits, right? Like, actual money?"
Zoe's response was immediate, her tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Yup. NeoCredits are as good as the real thing once you convert them. Spendable anywhere credits are accepted. Why, planning a shopping spree already?"
Rex snorted, taking another bite. "Hardly. Just figuring out what I'm working with." He paused, the shard's faint pulse tugging at his attention. "Hey, speaking of the system—"
Before he could finish, a voice cut through the restaurant's hum. "Hey Rex!, over here!" Rex's head snapped up, his eyes locking onto Jake, who was waving from a table near the glass doors. His friend's grin was wide, genuine, but there was a glint in his eyes that promised a lecture about the car. Rex stood, his half-eaten burger forgotten, and made his way over, steeling himself for the inevitable nagging. Just play it cool, he thought. Don't mention the lab, the shard, or—
His steps faltered as he reached the table. Jake wasn't alone. Sitting across from him was Becky, her brown hair catching the light, her smile as radiant as ever. Rex's heart did a strange flip, a mix of surprise and something sharper, something he'd buried deep. Becky. The girl he'd spent months stealing glances at in class, her laugh always lingering in his mind longer than it should. He'd never told Jake about his crush, but seeing her here, with him, felt like a punch he hadn't braced for.
"Hey, man," Jake said, oblivious to the storm in Rex's head. "Where've you been? And what about the car? You know there's a late fee, right?" His tone was light, but there was an edge to it, a flicker of annoyance.
Rex forced a smile, his throat tight. "Yeah, sorry. Got… held up." His eyes flicked to Becky, who looked at him with a curious tilt of her head. "Hey, Becky. Didn't expect to see you here."
She smiled, warm but unaware of the way it twisted something in his chest. "Just hanging out with this guy," she said, nudging Jake playfully. "You should join us. Plenty of food to go around."
Rex hesitated, his gaze darting between them. Jake's easy grin, Becky's inviting smile—it was too much, too normal after the day he'd had. The shard pulsed again, a reminder of the secrets he carried, secrets he couldn't share. Not with Jake, not with Becky, not with anyone. "Maybe for a bit," he said, pulling out a chair. His voice sounded hollow, even to himself.
As he sat, Zoe's voice whispered in his mind, soft but urgent. "Careful, Rex. You're not out of the woods yet. Keep your guard up." He nodded faintly, though no one at the table could hear her. The restaurant's warmth, the laughter, the clatter of plates—it all felt like a fragile illusion, a moment stolen from a life that no longer belonged to him. Across the table, Becky laughed at something Jake said, and Rex's chest tightened.