“Now that you are part of the team, it’s time to put a tracker on you,” Marcella said as the elevator threatened to bring up Keeya’s stomach.

The bright LED blue numbers whooshed past, but she seemed to be the only one effected. The large elevator had several magical kids and adults waiting to go about their business, all in a variety of uniforms.

“Cuz, if you say something like that Keeya is going to misunderstand,” Marco said looking like he wanted to slap Marcella on the back of the head.

Keeya was surprised to learn that Marcella and Marco weren’t actually twins, but their mothers (who were sisters) had given birth on the same day at the same hospital, so they did share a birthday. They were the first kids born in a remote Italian village and thus were spoiled by all who lived there like one big family.

Keeya thought about her own neighborhood. She had lived in the same house all her life and after the Eclipse many fled in the chaos, but those who stayed behind had formed a family of their own. Even some of the local gangs changed a new leaf and did neighborhood patrols in exchange for some home cooking, Keeya’s moms especially.  

 “I mean they are,” Marcella said shrugging. Keeya wondered if Marco had ever won an argument with her and chuckled.

“What’s this about a tracker now? They don’t really track us do they?” Keey asked feeling like she was back under her mom’s ever watchful presence. She brushed over the spot where her emergency call button still hung around her neck. She promised her mom that she would keep wearing it and it seemed to really ease her mom’s anxiety. Besides, she felt guilty she wasn’t going to be there to help with her baby brother.

Marco sighed and looked up at the number as the elevator came to what felt like a very sudden halt. Several adults in jumpsuits and gloves got off and the ride to hell continued.

“It’s actually your magical kid uniform that we are getting, but yes the technology to make it also comes in with a built-in tracker, FOR EMERGENIES,” he added poking a finger at Marcella.

“Wait! Really! My own uniform? So soon?” Keeya said her eyes alight like stars.

Marco smiled and nodded.

Keeya had been waiting for this almost as much as being chosen! It was also one of the reasons why she wanted to join Dawns Light Inc. While the company was on the smaller side, it had been the one that was credited with the invention of the magical kid uniform and transformation sequence.

Bouncing on her toes Keeya began going over the designs in her head for her outfit. She had, of course, dozens of notebooks full of designs, from ones that copied outfits from her favorite animes, to American style hero outfits, and even modern ones from international teams she had dreamed of joining.

Finally, the elevator beeped and the twins guided Keeya down a bleach white hallway. At the end of the hallway was a door straight out of a sci-fi movie set with two enormous bodyguards in black suits on either side.

When the three teens approached, they took each of their badges and inserted them into a slot next to the door followed by a code that Keeya couldn’t see.

The door swooshed open and a gust of wind that had a smell of new plastic, machinery and Doritos wafted out. Together they made their way into the large room. Directly inside were a few rows of work benches leading to several large round glowing platforms that reminded Keeya of the teleporter from the show Space Expedition.

The work benches were covered in parts, energy drink cans, and snack wrappers.

A tall man in a green button-down shirt with a pink tie tucked between the buttons was going around with a trash can in hand, cleaning up the work benches.

“Oh, hey Mr. Bagel!” Marcella said cheerfully and waved.

The man straightened and adjusted his hexagonal shaped glasses. He was pale with salt and pepper hair that was buzzed short and he looked very tired. But he smiled when he saw the three of them.

“Ah, hello kids.” He placed the trash can down and adjusted his tie.

Keeya tried not to laugh at his name

“Ah, you guys have someone new with you I see,” he turned to Keeya and offered his hand. Keeya shook it, feeling a bit awkward and stiff at the grown-up gesture.

“My name is Kevin Bagel, I’m the head research lab manager,” he added letting go of her hand.

Head Manger? Sounds important enough, but what is he doing picking up trash? Keeya thought to herself.

“Looks like the other techs left a mess again,” Marco said looking around.

Keeya did too and then noticed that some of the work benches were actually occupied. One person was sleeping with their head on the desk wrapped in a hooded blanket that had racoon ears poking out, another was a heavy-set woman with neon orange fuzzy hair, leaning precariously back, her mouth open with a shining trail of drool.

The door swooshed opened behind them and someone bumped into Keeya. Keeya felt a hot liquid burn her right shoulder and she yelped which caused a chain reaction of chaotic events.

The orange haired woman awoke with a start and began falling backward, corrected herself and then slammed forward, her head making a terrible thud as it hit the desk.

Racoon hoodie moaned in their sleep and adjusted which just made their office chair wheel backwards till they were dragged from the workbench and fall to the floor and out of sight.

Keeya turned and saw a person in a lab coat with a tray full of now partially empty coffee cups.

They had pale skin and short wavey chocolate brown hair and large round glasses. They looked down at Keeya worried.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” They asked quickly putting down the tray and scanning Keeya for injury.

“Yeah, you just startled me that’s all,” Keeya said putting her hands up, then she noticed the brown stains on their lab coat and felt bad.

“I shouldn’t have been standing so close to the entrance, are you okay? That had to have been hot,” she added.

“Pfft, please I was a barista in college,” they said and then added more seriously “Nothing can burn these hands anymore. Oh, I’m Gabriel by the way.”

“Spence, Sachiko, get up we have work to do,” they said grabbing the tray and handing out the remnants of the coffee.

“So what brings you guys down here,” Mr. Bagel asked.

“We need a COMPAC for our new teammate Keeya,” Marco said.

In a gust of coffee-tinged air Keeya suddenly found herself surrounded by Gabriel and Spencer who looked at her excitedly.

“A new outfit!? Finally, oh how long has it been since we have had new work to do?” Gabriel said to Spencer who nodded vigorously.

“Months! Months! I was so bored with paperwork and those stupid updates!” Spencer exclaimed, the line of drool and large bump forming on her head making her look almost deranged.

“Hey!” Mr. Bagel said from afar, sounding offended.

The two lab techs ignored him and ushered Keeya over to the glowing platform.

As soon as Keeya was in the center it glowed with a lime green light and beeped cheerfully.

“Close your eyes, the scan can be pretty bright. I need you to stand up tall so we can get your measurements in the computer.” Spencer said standing at a desk covered in buttons and screens.

Keeya stood to her full height, resisting the urge to stand on her toes to be taller.

“Good, take a deep breath in and hold for five seconds,” Gabriel added, their voice was calming and they demonstrated the breathing.

Keeya did as ordered, her heart pounding. She winced as a bright light almost blinded her even with her eyes closed, but it quickly passed her and traveled down.

“Great, you can step down now. Sachiko, seriously you’re up,” Gabriel said gently kicking the racoon creature who was curled up under the desk.

“Want me to help,” Marcella said summoning her staff, the thorns looking extra prickly.

“Down girl,” Keeya said elbowing her.

Sachiko, a small Japanese person stretched and rubbed their eyes.

“What’s up?”

“We need a new COMPAC, can you get the bots ready?” Gabriel said, stil using the gentle voice.

“Noooooo problem,” Sachiko said sleepy and got up.

“Bots?” Keeya asked.

“Oh yes! Nanobots! They are stored in a gem we call the COMPAC. The patent just got approved so we can tell you all about it without having you sign a bunch of gag orders.

Keeya was definitely glad for less paperwork.

While Sachiko disappeared into another room the other two lab techs went on and on about the technology that kind of made sense to Keeya. The nano bots were programmed with the wearer’s measurements and wove together into a preprogrammed set of clothes.

“Not just clothes! Armor! They fuse at the cellar level and absorb impacts and disperse the damage. Think of it as extra shielding to your innate Dawns Light,” Spencer said excitedly.

“Now, tell us about your uniform, what do you want to wear out in the field? I’m assuming you are going to be a Zookeeper like these two,” Gabriel said opening a design program. Keeya’s image was already uploaded and the anime looking design of Keeya’s avatar made her laugh.

“So here is what I was thinking,” Keeya said pointing a the screen and together the lab techs and her new teammates created her dream outfit.

After what felt like hours the final result was loaded in the simulation. It was a short layered magenta jacket with a high collar; a purple bow and golden gem nestled in the middle at the base of her neck. Long pinkish gloves went up past her elbow and ended in two bright pink poofs. Under the jacket was a soft pink tunic dress and then black short leggings. Then came the boots, short and loose, like her favorite anime magical girl Strawberry Milk.  

“It’s perfect,” Keeya said.

“Great! We can get the bots programmed and have it to you by tomorrow,” Spencer said looking off in the direction where Sachiko went.  

“Till then we keep training!” Marcella said with a wicked grin.

“Or, better yet, we let Keeya find her dorm room and get settled in,” Marco added.

“Eh, fine,” Marcella said and unsummoned her staff.

Little did they know that Keeya had some other plans.