LOCATION: AGARA — MOUNTAINS

A few days later…

Morning. The yellow markings on the road slowly dim as they meet the rising light. The wind is perfectly quiet, completely undisturbed by any intruders. Down in the valley, the early sun gleams against the brush where butterflies flutter, and wild birds rest on a weathered signboard reading: GAL1049 Down 3 km.

Suddenly, a vehicle tears down the asphalt at maximum speed. A violent wave of compressed air slams into the signboard, sending the startled birds scattering into the sky with frantic chirps.

It’s a hoverbike, held aloft by two circular, vertically aligned lift engines roaring at the front and back. The polished mechanical steel shines brightly in the morning sun as Echa commands the throttle. Her grey coat flutters wildly against the force of the oppressive wind, her lips pressed into a thin, focused line. Resting on the bridge of her nose are mechanical glasses strikingly similar to Sid’s.

A digital canvas hums on the console right in front of her, displaying her velocity and abstract information tracking the vehicle's health.

The road is exceptionally narrow, barely a meter wide. The valley speeds past her, revealing a massive mountain directly ahead in the distance.

The mountain is sheared completely in half, exposing an intricate network of mechanical parts embedded deep within the stone. The asphalt slopes steeply downward, marked by faint white lines. Below the structure, beautiful artificial fountains intersect around a sprawling facility nestled at the base of the mountain. A few other hoverbikes can be seen parked near the entrance.

“Echa, report!!” Index’s voice chirps through the hidden earphones tucked beneath her dark blue hair.

She lets out a deep sigh. Lifting a gloved hand, Echa tucks her hair back and presses a digital button on the earpiece. Her green eyes are calm and relaxed.

“I’ve reached the destination,” she says smoothly, dropping her hand back down to grip the handlebars as the hoverbike begins to decelerate.

A Few Days Earlier…

LOCATION: AGARA — MOUNTAINS

Morning rays hit the wooden garage of Sid’s cabin. The heavy doors are propped open, revealing a dusty, high-tech hoverbike resting on the floor.

Echa leans heavily against the doorframe, her tired morning eyes gazing at the vehicle, which clearly hasn't been touched in ages.

“I’m not a morning person, you know,” Echa murmurs, her voice trailing off into a wide yawn.

Sid’s distinct laugh echoes from behind the chassis of the bike. “I know, I know. Duty doesn’t wait, Kid.”

Echa groans at his words, pushing herself off the frame and stepping into the dusty garage. “Fine. Just don’t call me 'kid' every single chance you get, alright? And where are we even going anyway?” she asks, crossing her arms as she tries to rub the sleep out of her messy hair.

“Hmmm. It’s a sector called GAL1049,” his voice carries that familiar, casual tone.

“Hey... did you forget about what I said? About going home?” Echa asks quietly. Her green eyes grow gentle, holding a faint, glistening tear as the heel of her boot rubs against the dirt floor.

Sid slowly peeks out from behind the hoverbike, catching sight of Echa looking surprisingly sentimental. Placing a hand on the leather seat for balance, he stands up to face her fully, his expression shifting into a serious but warm smile.

“Of course not, Kid,” he says, his tone steady and reassuring. “We're going there because it’s one of the few coordinate points where we can encounter other variables like us. We need more intel.”

Echa nods, looking down with a small smile, her hands clasped in front of her. Then, lifting her gaze with a playful grin, she punches him lightly in the stomach.

“You really pissed me off with that,” she says, her voice playful before softening into a gentle laugh.

Sid gasps at the impact but remains unbothered, waiting for her to continue.

“Thank you,” she adds, her voice much softer now as she pulls her hand back and looks up at him.

He smiles back, reaching out with his tattooed arm to mess up her hair even more. He laughs, “Oh, you've grown up.”

Echa flashes an annoyed frown, batting his hand away. “Stop that, idiot.”