While brushing his teeth, Jarvis glanced at the wall opposite to the trunk doors for a moment. His eyes scanned the torn posters of various Earth musical artists and singers he'd heard of from the older residents of Vexra. Jarvis, like many humans born on Vexra, could only imagine Earth as a paradise of some kind, filled with majestic silver superscrapers, more greenery than could be imagined, and luxuries for even the lowest of the low. In other words, the exact opposite of Vexra.

Jarvis only dreamt of a place so wonderful; any hope of actually seeing again, or at all for the younger generation, was gone from the populace of Vexra.

Among the posters and scraps stapled to the wall, one stood out among the rest; an image of a soldier in sleek, all black armor, a sharp glint across the red visor. A name and title in all bold marked the top of the poster: "Darius White, Savior of Humanity", a name that no Vox or Human on all of Vexra didn't know well. 

From the days of the Vox Invasion of Earth, Darius had hundreds of confirmed takedowns against the Vox, though that was nothing compared to what brought him to becoming the icon of Vexra. Originating from a supposed search by the Steel Banner into data logs within HyprenaVox's fortress, stories were told of Darius somehow arriving on Vexra during the Vox war, raiding the fortress and single-handedly taking down HyprenaVox. The Steel Banner quickly turned Darius from decorated war vet to the legend of Vexra, serving as an idol and source of hope for humanity.

18 years later, though many are doubtful of the truth behind Darius, with some even questioning his existence entirely, his visage remains as an unshakeable representation of humanity on Vexra, plastered on posters and statues throughout the city. It may have been largely propaganda on the part of the Steel Banner, yet even now his legends inspired smaller populations with the thought that, just maybe, they may be able to return home: a place that many had not even been born on, like Jarvis. 

Yet, that wasn't what Jarvis idolized about him. Of all the things that marked Darius in history, nothing got to Jarvis like his supposed mastery of marksmanship. Those who knew of Darius during his time in Earth's military could tell countless stories of his abilities, able to wield a rifle like it was a mobile tank, taking down entire chapters of enemies with one magazine. Jarvis trained every day to be just as formidable with his rifle, designed to mimic Darius', with a touch of Vexra's dusty charm. 

With one swift motion, Jarvis took his rifle off the wall, filling up the mag before slinging it over his shoulder, his tattered cloak flowing behind him as he leapt from the trailer, the intense winds of Vexra coating everything in sight in a thin layer of dust. 

Yes, he'd been asked to join what was perhaps the most daring strike on the Vox in over a decade... but for now, he had errands to run, and friends to catch up with. 

As he sprinted to the local marketplace, his eyes scanned Bento's junkyard, with no sign of the four-armed fella around. Though unusual, he didn't waste any thought on it, assuming nothing out of the ordinary. 

Jarvis stopped before a dusty stand under the shadow of a nearby superscraper, selling steaming hot ramen, a delicacy in the outer ring of the city. Before he could join the line, a familiar voice emerged from behind him as he felt a hand grip his shoulder. He glanced back, seeing the recognizable grin that often pissed him off more than anything.

"Hey, if it ain't my favorite little scrapkisser! I heard you've been busy."

Jarvis' eyes narrowed beneath his visor, shoving the hand away from his shoulder. Before him stood Ike, a fellow scrapper and one of his greatest rivals, though not in any endearing manner. "Scrapkisser", a label given to those who'd get friendly with allied Vox living in the city. Though the inner city was more tolerant of their allies... nothing similar could be said of the outer ring. 

"You missed quota yesterday. Got too busy with the suits, in your cushy chairs?" Ike scoffed, his ripped biker jacket and spiked red hair causing him to stand out strongly among the tan landscape. Jarvis did all he could to ignore his antagonizing demeanor. "No, I had plenty of time. But, well... I think sometimes the losers should be given a chance. How'd it feel to beat my output for once?" he replied, a thin smirk hidden beneath his helm as he slid some dusty earth bills across the counter in exchange for a steaming bowl of shrimp noodles.

Ike's expression immediately shifted to irritation as he stepped closer, blocking Jarvis' path. "What, did big shot forget where he is? You think you're hot stuff, but you're clearly favorited by that useless bolt bucket. That thing's lucky its got the only good scrapyard in the region, or we'd all go somewhere else. Then what'll happen to your precious output?"

It took all of his strength to not grab Ike by the throat and strangle him, but he relented as he saw another familiar, much more pleasing face making its way to them. A woman approached the two, her black hair draped over her shoulders as she grinned widely, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she rushed to Jarvis, shoving Ike out of the way. She poked Jarvis in the chest, though her touch was far from rough. "Alright, boy. Spill it, what happened yesterday?"

With a roll of his eyes, he sat down on one of the stone benches, setting his helm aside as he dug into the noodles. "Good to see you too, Suzanne. Had a meeting in the Mark of Peace, actually. Talked to all of the faction leaders in this shiny boardroom about a super secret plan." Suzanne gasped, hooking her arm around Jarvis' arm as she leaned into him, absorbing every word. "Oh, bullcrap! You, in the Mark of Peace? Yeah, and I'm taking a shuttle to Earth tomorrow," she teased, gently squeezing his forearm. "...Told you you'd make it one day, yet I'm the one who's always delusional."

Ike stammered, thoroughly annoyed and embarrassed by the shift in conversation. "W-well, Suzanne, did you see I'm number one on the scrap charts? I took down, like... three Vox yesterday!" Suzanne raised one brow in mild amusement, snickering. "Uh huh... nice one, buddy. Glad you're doing well, but Jarvis here has a super secret mission he MUST share with us." She turned her attention right back to Jarvis, giving him a look that left no room for discussion.

"Fine... but not to you, Ike. You've got the biggest blabbermouth in the city." Ike fumed, approaching Jarvis once more, leaning in angrily. "Ugh! You spend one day with that so-called "rebel leader", and now you think you're all high and mighty? How about you spend less time getting cozy with tin cans and back down to reality!?" Ike attempted to grab at Jarvis' collar, only to be blocked swiftly before Jarvis flicked his siracha-coated chopstick right into Ike's eyes. 

With a scalding hiss, Ike quickly stepped back, wiping his now tear-filled eyes. "Y-you'll get what's coming to you, you piece of... ow!" With that, he ran off, likely to find an alcove to mope in.

Suzanne could only laugh as he scurried away, thoroughly amused by the two of them. "Sometimes I wish you'd at least try to get along... but you two are more entertaining than anything on those old cassettes we watch. So... are we hunting?"

Jarvis nodded as he turned to the horizon. Out west, a massive dust storm approached the city, at least a few hours out. "Yeah. Perfect time to go. No one else will be hunting in that monstrosity."

He tossed his bowl into the dirt as he stood, Suzanne remaining right by his side as the two made their way out.