The trio made their way towards a sky train station. Spike trotted along happily on his leash as Max held it and conversed with Anna on their trek. After a few minutes of waiting they boarded the sky train. Max let Anna have the window seat then proceeded to sit down with Spike in her lap looking around the train and the world outside while occasionally nudging and licking the older woman and Anna.

“Everyone, the train towards Downtown Rikers district will be leaving shortly, please take your seats and fasten your seatbelts,” the conductor announced over the intercom. Some time shortly after various female Auto Droids of a similar model came out to confirm that everyone was seated and had their seatbelts fastened along with giving the usual safety instructions and directions in case of emergency as well as where the restroom was located. 

Soon the train started and they went around asking the passengers if there were any services required. Anna sat staring out of the passenger window at the passing world outside with wonder, she had never experienced much of what the city had to offer due to her upbringing. Growing up in the outer ring of Shikos Beggars District was something she was certain she’d never miss. 

Anna stared in awe at some of the colorful signs and holographic, shifting adverts along the buildings, the sight of worker drones and Auto Droids performing maintenance on some of the structures, the passing crowd of cars below the train. A maintenance drone hovered by the window briefly.

“Wooooow,” Anna exclaimed with starry eyes. 

The maintenance bot shifted slightly to face the girl with her face smashed against the window and beeped something before turning and hovering off.

“I take it you haven’t explored this wondrous city of ours much,” Max mused. 

Anna shook her head but kept her focus on the scenery outside. “It’s like the farther we get from the city edge the cooler things look,” Anna said in amazement. 

“Well that’s Shiko for you,” Max replied. “Everything's gotta be divided up by class so of course the closer we get towards the city center where all the wealthy camp out, the nicer things will be.”

Max stared down at Spike. ‘Though even the middle classes home of Rikers District isn’t safe from the bad stuff that goes on here,’ she thought to herself thinking back to the news reports she’s been seeing on the polices increased efforts to crack down on the city's running syndicates and the recent chain of Auto Droids going of the rails and killing their owners.

She ruffled Spike's furry top and looked back over to Anna with her usual cheery disposition. “Trust me, once we get to where we’re going you’re brain is going to melt from the experience.”

Anna turned back to her and gave her a curt nod with a wide smile on her face before returning to staring out of the window.

The train stopped at a station downtown where the trio proceeded to depart, herded along within the swath of other passengers getting off at the same stop. Anna, Max, and Spike descended the station's steps and onto the busy sidewalk below. 

Anna's eyes instantly went wide darting around as she took in the scenery. Although most people within this part of the city wouldn’t find it anything special, Anna marveled at the vast urban area in front of her. She felt someone nudge her right shoulder and turned her gaze towards her raven-haired friend. 

“If you’re dawn gawking, come on.”

Anna nodded and followed close behind Max. “Where are we going,” Anna questioned.

“Someplace awesome, now shush! No more questions, young one.”

The trio strolled around the area, moving through the crowd with Anna feeling like Alice in wonderland as she eyed the towering buildings and signs with wonder whilst Max pointed out a few areas to the girl as they went. Apart from Spike nearly getting loose from Max’s grasp a few times to chase something that caught his attention and barely avoiding the slightly awkward instances of bumping into other pedestrians on the crowded streets, the day so far was going well for the two.

A loud grumble emanated from Anna’s stomach signifying that her stomach was empty and required sustenance. The girl never realized how hungry she was, remembering that she had yet to eat anything during the day. Max glanced down and noticed Anna's hand on her stomach and the odd expression on her face and figured out what may be going on.

“Don’t worry,” she said reassuringly. “The place I want to show you is nearby. We can grab a bit there.”

After a few minutes of walking, Max pointed out locations, and Anna not so subtly tried to hide her interest in a few items within some of the stores they passed through. They finally reached the area Max wanted to show the young girl.

“Tada,” Max exclaimed, extending her hand out towards the view of an open garden-type area with various stores around and sidewalks crossing through where crowds of families and friends walked idly through browsing the various stores and restaurants. And directly across from them, in between a restaurant and a small novelty shop laid a building with flashy signs along with it. One of which read, “Requiem Arcade.”

Anna looked back at Max, watching the woman smile proudly to herself. “What is Requiem Arcade?”

At hearing that question the mental sounds of breaks being smashed reverberated in Max’s mind.

“WHAAAT,” she shouted as she leaped uncomfortably close to Anna. “ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU HAVEN'T ONCE HEARD OF THE PLACE TO BE FOR BOTH FINE DINING AND GAMING GALORE!!!”

Anna put her hands in between herself and Max as an awkward chuckle escaped her lips. “W-well I,” she stammered out. She swore that Max could and would go crazy behind games. 

Max backed off of Anna as she shook her head in mock disappointment. “Good grief. I have my work cut out for me,” she said seemingly to herself. She turned her eyes back to a confused Anna and gave her a cocky grin. 

“Well don’t worry, that’s why I’m in your corner Carrot Top. We’re going to have you experience all the things a could your age should in no time starting with this jewel. Now let's go!”

And with that, she grabbed Anna's hand and marched towards the building with Spike trotting along next to them.

As soon as they entered the building Anna's jaw hung open. Rows and rows of games, ranging from classic arcade games to V.R., to things like laser tag, bowling, table hockey, and so on filled the store. But outside of all the games, the store had to offer, something else grabbed her notice, the smell of food in the air.

Max went to speak to the Auto Droid at the front desk, requesting two-game chips and a table for them before returning to Anna. “This way,” she said while the Auto Droid led them to a free table outside the building due to them having a dog in their company.

“I would ask for food or fun first, but I think I already know the answer,” Max mused as they got set up. She pressed a button on the table and an image of the menu appeared on a black screen on her side. After browsing through the menu and selecting what she wanted she glanced over towards Anna to see she hadn’t even opened her menu yet.

“Don't tell me you don’t know how to utilize a menu either,” Max half-joked.

“No, no, it’s just…” A forlorn expression crept its way onto Anna's face. “You don’t have to buy me anything. You already have done more than enough today, so…”

“Anna,” Max interrupted. The girl turned her pitiful gaze towards Max. “Just choose what you want to eat already.”

“But,” Anna began in protest but Max cut in before she could finish her sentence.

“If you don’t then I’ll just find the grossest item on the menu for you,” Max said jokingly. “It’s really not that big of a deal,” she said in a more serious tone. 

“I understand from what little I managed to get from Beatrice that you weren’t able to experience your childhood to the fullest. But you’re not there anymore. You’re here with your knucklehead of a mentor and this furball at one of the most popular arcades in the city.”

Max’s gaze softened a bit. “So relax, stop worrying so much. You now have a chance to be a normal girl for a change. So take it and never let it go.”

Anna looked Max in the eyes. Whether the older woman realized it or not. Everything she did left a huge impact on her. She was more than just some friend or mentor figure to her. She had come to deeply appreciate her presence and value her words and their time spent watching movies or games and Max trying to “Nerdify her,” as she would often quip. 

 As if flipping a switch Max went back to her joking tone. “Or is it that you think I’m THAT broke.”

Anna was caught off guard by the sudden change in tone and the question despite it being asked in a lighthearted manner.

“N-n-n-no! Of course not!.”

“I’m just joking kiddo, no need to get so defensive,” Max replied with laughter laced in her words. Max stood up from her seat and walked past Anna giving her a pat on the back. “I'm heading to the restroom, be back in a jiffy.”

Five minutes passed when Max returned to their seating area. “Alright let's get that waiter over here and..” Max started but stopped when she happened to look down and notice something missing. No. SOMEONE missing.

Her face paled before she slowly brought her eyes back to Anna with worry written all over her face.

Anna cocked her head to the side and stared at Max in confusion when she noticed her expression.

“H-hey. Anna,” Max stammered out.

“Hmm?”

“You wouldn’t have happened to see Spike, would you?” Max giggled nervously after asking that question. Anna raised a brow and looked under the table.

“Wasn’t he right… there?” The dog was nowhere to be seen. Now it was Anna's turn to look worried.

“Uhh, MaxMax.”

“Hmm.” 

“I think you lost Spike.”

“I lost him!? What where were you?!,” the woman exclaimed before taking a deep breath for a moment.

“Max,” Anna asked worriedly as the young woman seemed to hold her breath for far too long.

‘Not again,’ Max mentally deadpanned recalling the last time Spike got loose on her watch followed by the mental image of an enraged Beatrice chasing after her.

“Cover your ears for one second,” Max asked Anna calmly with an unusual smile on her face. 

“Okay,” Anna replied, doing as she asked.

What followed was a series of expletives that would make even the sailors blush.