At Death Driven Valley, Delvin's muscles screamed as he finished his final set. Sweat should have been pouring down his face, but his skin remained dry. The eastern sky was bleeding pink and gold—almost five-thirty in the morning.
'Delvin' Skylark's voice hummed through his consciousness, 'don't worry. Your body can now withstand direct sunlight without dehydration. You won't even produce sweat.'
'Thank you for the reminder, Skylark.' Delvin's thoughts came measured, cautious. 'But I can't let people know about this power. I can't afford to paint targets on my back. I just want to live a normal life. I've already had enough darkness in my past.'
'Understood. You're the boss.'
Delvin took off running, his enhanced muscles carrying him across the scorched earth with inhuman speed. By the time he reached his small apartment, his watch read five-fifty-five—the exact same time differential as his outbound journey.
Inside, he grabbed his towel and wiped down his body—dry-cleaning himself without water, a luxury he couldn't afford to waste. He rolled deodorant under his arms, the sharp medicinal scent filling his nostrils. Fresh clothes. A spray of cheap cologne that did little to mask the smell of the recycled air pumping through the building's ventilation system.
'Better.'
He sat down in his creaking chair and pressed the Granetor button. The hologram display flickered to life, casting blue light across his small room. He navigated to the contract option, and text began scrolling before his eyes:
*ZOOM MULTI CORPORATION BASE ONE - EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT**
**1. Probationary Period:** Guaranteed payment of 30,000 coins per month.
**2. Performance Bonus:** Employees demonstrating exceptional performance during the first month receive an additional 20,000 coins.
**3. Full Employment:** Upon proving skills and dedication, salary increases to 100,000 coins per month.
**4. Innovation Incentive:** New workable ideas earn a lifetime incentive of 50% of all related earnings. You become a life partner with International Corporation Base One.
**5. Signing Bonus:** 15,000 coins provided immediately for daily upkeep.
**6. Water Ration:** All employees entitled to 20 liters of water monthly.
Delvin's heart hammered against his ribs. Twenty liters of water. Most people survived on five.
'Skylark?'
The interface pulsed in his mind. 'Yes, Delvin?'
'Can you synchronize this contract information to my internal system?'
'Yes.'
'Please do it.'
'Extracting and syncing contract information from Zoom Multi Corporation Base One.'
A soft ding echoed through his thoughts, confirming completion.
'Skylark, sleep mode.'
The presence in his mind dimmed to a quiet background hum.
A knock rattled his door—three sharp raps that could only belong to one person.
"Come in, George."
The door groaned open on rusty hinges, the sound scraping through the quiet morning. George stepped inside, and Delvin studied his friend's face, reading the energy radiating from him like heat from pavement.
"Hello, Delvin!"
Delvin leaned back in his chair, keeping his voice casual. "How was work?"
"How about your work?" George asked, his fingers absently tracing the worn leather bracelet on his wrist—back and forth, back and forth. The gesture was almost meditative, and warmth radiated from his relaxed shoulders.
Delvin tried to match George's energy, though his smile came out crooked. "All good and interesting." His pulse quickened as he forced the words out.
George's hand stilled on the bracelet. "Mr. Parker told me you did a very good job—that you were the hero of the day. Five armed robbers." He leaned forward, eyes bright. "You must have made one hell of a first impression."
Delvin's brow furrowed, confusion creasing the corners of his eyes. "Really?"
"Yep. He rarely gives compliments like that." George resumed fidgeting with the bracelet, twisting it around his wrist. "Sounds like you two will go far. He's difficult sometimes, but get into his good books and you're golden."
Delvin's head tilted slightly, skepticism written across his features. "Oh. Is that so?"
"Yep." George's voice dropped to something more casual, though his gaze sharpened with sudden focus. "Did you get a chance to meet Miss Jasmine?"
The name hit Delvin like a physical thing. His breath caught. Images flooded his mind—her laugh, the way she'd looked at him, the electricity in the air between them. Heat crept up his neck, and before he could stop it, a broad smile broke across his face. "Yes, brother. She is..." He exhaled slowly, searching for words. "She's out of this world."
George nodded, his fingers still working the bracelet in slow circles. "I like her. Whoever marries her will be lucky. She's got a good heart, just like her father."
The air in the room shifted. Delvin's chest tightened, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. Something fierce and hungry flickered behind his eyes. "Is that so?" The words came out playful, but underneath ran a current of intensity that made the temperature seem to rise.
George felt it—the change was impossible to miss. The energy radiating from Delvin was almost tangible, like heat waves off summer asphalt. His attachment to Jasmine hung in the air between them, raw and undeniable.
George's hand clenched around the bracelet. "Delvin, don't even think about it."
"What?" Delvin's eyebrows shot up, his expression the picture of innocence.
"I know what you're thinking." George's voice carried a warning edge. "Quit those thoughts before they go too far."
"Why not?" Delvin's jaw set, defiance hardening his features.
"Because Mr. Parker is protective of her. You'll have a fallout with him if you start pursuing her." George spoke carefully, each word deliberate.
Delvin glanced down at his watch—a reflexive gesture, though he wasn't checking the time. His thumb brushed over the glass face. "How old is she?" The question came out dismissive, his mind already made up.
George tilted his head back, staring at the ceiling. His chest rose and fell with a long breath.
Delvin followed his gaze upward, searching the blank white surface for whatever had captured George's attention. Nothing. Several seconds ticked by in silence, the only sound the faint hum of the air conditioning.
Finally, George lowered his chin. "She must be eighteen this year. If my memory's right."
Delvin's heart slammed against his ribcage. A thousand images exploded in his mind—him and Jasmine, together, laughing, touching. His skin tingled with the fantasy, reality slipping away for a breathless moment.
"A perfect match for me, then." The words tumbled out, followed by laughter that bordered on manic.
George's shoulders sagged. The message clearly hadn't landed.
"This isn't funny, dude." George's fingers tightened around the bracelet until his knuckles whitened. "I'm warning you. I want you to have a good working relationship with Mr. Parker. That man can make your life easy or destroy it."
Delvin's laughter only intensified, his whole body shaking with it.
"Wow, don't worry. I know what I'm doing." Delvin gasped between fits of laughter, wiping at his eyes. "Besides, life's too short not to have happy moments."
George stared at him, bewilderment etched into every line of his face.