Three days later, inside the grand mansion, the bathroom mirror reflected Adeline's face as she rubbed a glossy white cream across her skin with her left hand. She picked up an expensive body lotion, pampering herself to keep her complexion radiant.
"Clear skin, flawless beauty with Hello Sisters Cream" — the label boasted proudly. Sunlight streamed through the window, and Adeline began humming a tune, rising on her toes like a ballerina to pass the time. Eventually, she stepped out of the bathroom, her right arm absent, and sat down on the soft blanket spread across her bed.
She reached for her holographic tablet, scrolling through countless books. "Hmm, what should I read~?" she mused. None of them caught her interest — she had already bought and read more than half. Then her eyes landed on a sweet romance novel.
"(New) Reborn as the Lord of the Sea / Pen name: Chemical Romanz." Adeline nodded, intrigued. "Oh, only 4.99 coins? Tempting. Click!" Without hesitation, she purchased it and saved it for later. Rising from the bed, she walked to the window. Outside, Ms. Cill was watering the garden with headphones on, swaying slightly to the music. Suddenly, the alarm clock blared across the bedroom. Looking up, Adeline saw the giant round clock on the ceiling.
"9:47. Time to head to the repair shop. No slacking~" She jumped up, ready to leave — then froze.
"Forgot my arm!" She dashed back, yanked open the bedside drawer, and strapped on her mechanical prosthetic.
"Hmm, it's getting stiff. I'll oil it after work." With that, she hurried downstairs, sprinted across the lawn, and waved. "See you later, Aunty Cill!" But Ms. Cill, lost in her music, only noticed after Adeline had vanished.
"Hm? Did my niece sing that song too? Must've imagined it." She pushed her headphones back in and resumed watering. Meanwhile, Adeline had already reached the road. A familiar red car pulled up, the driver lowering his window and removing his dark sunglasses.
"Wow, dressed like you're off to Utah," he teased. Adeline slipped on her favorite white gloves. "We're heading to the shop today." Brian nodded and drove off. The old red car rolled toward the city under a brilliant blue sky. A massive satellite dish, JESUO / V3, loomed above, alongside transport vessels drifting across the heavens.
"You know, Ms. Cill seems really kind to you. When did you meet her?" Brian asked.
"She's a widow. After my uncle passed, she volunteered to take care of me. My uncle taught me mechanics. She's a music teacher, violin and piano mostly. I love piano. I even built one myself, kept in the basement. Too bad you ran into Craver first… looks like you learned your lesson." Adeline's voice softened. Brian pressed his lips together.
"Yeah… lesson learned. And those two oddballs?" he asked, meaning Rolina and Sam.
"Ha, don't call them that. I booked them a hotel. They're probably wandering around town by now." The car sped away from the mansion, heading toward its next destination:
Callaghan's Motor Industry.
In downtown Phoenix, a yellow taxi crawled through traffic. A blond young man in the back scowled, while an owl-eyed girl with a birthmark under her eye cradled a tiny dog.
"Too slow!!" Sam yelled out the window, making heads turn.
"Sam, stop it," Rolina snapped, yanking him back inside.
"Yap! Yap!" The little dog barked, and Rolina stroked its blue fur. Her gaze drifted to a woman in loose clothing outside, and she smirked. "Not bad… Earth girls have their charm."
Sam chuckled. "If I sell that cursed stone, I'll have money to burn for life. And yet here I am, stuck in this itchy yellow cab. Ugh!" The driver rubbed his bald head nervously. Sam patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, old man, I wasn't talking about you."
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the factory. A young woman waved from the steps.
"There she is," Rolina said. Sam folded his arms and strutted up the stairs.
"Hello, gorgeous. Any idea where my ship is?" he asked with mock politeness. Rolina knew he was being sarcastic and yanked his collar upright again.
"Please, come this way," Adeline said warmly, handing them protective glasses. Rolina glanced around the vast hall. "Your company looks… empty."
"Oh, most workers are on holiday. A New Year's break. A few volunteers stayed to help with repairs. I ordered parts from Germany — they'll fit your ship best. We'll modify the rest to match its original design as closely as possible."
Sam smirked and whispered to Rolina, "Now this is the kind of woman I want. Useful." Rolina shot him a glare. "I'd rather have her as my partner than you. Hmph."
The three stepped into the elevator, heading for the underground workshop. Fuzzy, the little dog, trotted after them — until something caught its eye. It stopped, distracted, and wandered off.
Inside the assembly hall, Brian maneuvered the control stick, lifting a spacecraft component for inspection alongside five other technicians.
"I think we should mix blue with light gray here, then spray over the old hull color," one of the workers suggested.
"Yeah, but…" Brian frowned. "How much is that going to cost?"
"Probably around eight hun—" The technician's words were cut off by a loud, panicked voice echoing closer and closer as the elevator descended.
"Ughhh~~!!! Is this an elevator or a roller coaster?! Hah! Gghhh, I'm gonna puke!" Sam's voice rang out, nauseated. "Hey, lady! Why didn't you warn me?!"
"I did tell you to hold on tight," Adeline replied, twirling out of the elevator with a cheerful hum.
"Careful, careful," Rolina muttered, hauling Sam's lanky frame out as if she were dragging a flimsy log.
"Hello, everyone~~" Adeline greeted the mechanics. "Any problems?"
Brian cleared his throat. "If we repaint the hull, it'll push costs lot more. Import taxes on foreign parts included. But… we can manage if you approve."
"Go ahead," Adeline decided without hesitation. The team immediately set to work on redesigning Sam's shark-shaped ship. Brian rubbed his neck, then glanced at the troublesome duo.
"Do they even have money to pay for this?" Brian asked his employer.
"Whether they do or not, we fix it first. Money can be discussed later. That's basic customer courtesy." Adeline crossed her arms, tapping her foot impatiently.
She shot Brian a sharp look. "Forgot your manners already, Mr. Dixon?"
"Uh… no, not at all. I just think they're… hmm." He pointed his wrench toward Sam and Rolina. "Not exactly trustworthy."
"Don't judge people by appearances." Adeline stomped her foot, clearly annoyed.
Suddenly, shouting erupted from the other side.
"The dog's gone! See?! Why didn't you look after it?!" Rolina smacked Sam's head hard.
"How the f should I know where it went?!" Sam clutched his skull.
Adeline rushed in to separate them. "What's going on now?"
"She's trying to kill me! Forget the damn dog! Mistakes don't teach me — I teach mistakes! We'll buy another one. Maybe a Chihuahua would be great." Sam sneered. Rolina's fist shot up, ready to strike.
"Oooh, scary~" Sam twisted his head, lifting his leg like a coward, though his sly grin betrayed mockery. Rolina swung — but Adeline's mechanical arm intercepted the punch with a solid thud.
"Calm down. I'll help you find it," Adeline said firmly, unfazed. Rolina's eyes widened — no one had ever blocked her full-force punch before.
The AI system, Yokumi, pulled up surveillance footage. Adeline raised her wristwatch, rewinding to the hall where Fuzzy had last been seen. The three watched the pup paw at the glass door, trying to escape, but the biometric lock kept it shut. Frustrated, Fuzzy wandered into the elevator, heading for the second floor — Adeline's private office.
"Oh, great," Rolina sighed. Adeline switched cameras. The little dog padded down a corridor and spotted an air vent.
"Oh no…" Rolina slapped her forehead, knowing exactly what was coming.
"Hahaha! Told you that mutt's a menace. He can squeeze through anything — from broomsticks to battleships." Sam chuckled
"Follow me, please," Adeline said, beckoning Rolina back into the elevator, leaving Sam behind.
"Chop-chop, kids! Customers won't wait forever!" Sam shouted at the mechanics, hands on hips. Brian shook his head.
"Chop-chop~~~waaa~hack! Ugh, freakin' dust." Sam coughed, sputtering.
Meanwhile, the underground elevator had already risen back to the upper floor. Rolina and Adeline followed Fuzzy's trail down the corridor toward the main office. The little dog had left obvious clues — the barrier panels were removed and scattered across the floor. The air vent was far too narrow for a human head to fit, leaving Rolina pondering how to coax Fuzzy out.
"Hap!" The bark echoed from inside the duct. Rolina crouched down, calling, "Fuzz!"
"Hap-hap!" came the reply, accompanied by frantic scratching.
"What on earth are you doing in there?"
"The vent ahead drops straight down," Adeline explained. "He might have slipped without realizing."
"What now? I've only got one treat left. Normally he can climb walls with those claws, but if he sees food, he'll do anything to get it. Problem is, I've got nothing to lure him out." Rolina sighed.
"Hmm… maybe this will help." Adeline's wristwatch shifted, transforming into a tiny eight-legged automaton.
The spider-bot crawled up Rolina's sleeve, raising its front legs as if begging. Rolina handed it the cookie from her bag, and it scuttled into the vent, following the barking. Fuzzy, half-dozing inside, perked up at the sound of metal scraping. He looked up — and drooled at the sight of the golden cookie dangling above. His claws extended, gouging the duct as he scrambled upward.
"Ha! It's working!" Rolina gasped.
"Hap! Hap! Yap!" Fuzzy cried, desperate for the treat. Adeline guided the spider-bot back, retreating step by step. Rolina spotted Fuzzy's head poking out of the vent, lunging for the mechanical decoy. She caught him in her arms before he could snap it apart. Adeline tossed the cookie into his mouth — and froze as his jaw stretched monstrously wide. Snap!
"Whoa… that…" Adeline's eyes widened.
"Yeah," Rolina exhaled. "He's an Axian breed. Strange-looking, but…"
"He's adorable~~!" Adeline squealed. "Can I hold him?"
"Just don't stick your hand in his mouth and you'll be fine." Rolina passed the pup into Adeline's arms. The spider-bot crawled back onto her wrist. Fuzzy nestled comfortably, showing no resistance.
"He seems to like you," Rolina remarked.
"Hmm, his smell is strong, but with a good bath he'll be good for a week. Anyway, let's get back to discussing your ship. Hopefully your partner won't throw another tantrum."
"Heh. He never trusts anyone — not even me." Rolina shook her head. The two returned to the elevator, descending once more to the workshop.
By half past four, evening approached. Brian, Adeline, Rolina, and Sam stepped out of the company building. Adeline suggested Brian drive them, and he agreed without protest. Sam, meanwhile, wandered aimlessly, gazing at the surroundings. He hadn't set foot on green earth in over a decade.
"Doesn't look much different," he muttered.
"You're from here?" Adeline asked as they walked toward the red sedan.
"Chicago. But America's America — not much difference." Spotting the car, Sam leaned toward Rolina. "Holy shit, That thing's antique."
"Is that really a car? Looks like it can't even fly," Rolina shot back.
Adeline smiled at Sam's mention of Chicago. "So you're from the Windy City? Must mean you're well-off."
"Well-off? You really think so? Well, check this out!" Sam grinned, flashing rainbow-colored teeth.
Adeline waved dismissively. "So what? Doesn't mean you're a junkie. Teeth don't define that." She spoke innocently, but the words struck Sam hard.
Rolina chuckled, patting his blond head. "There, there. Forgiven, Sammy."
"Quit it!" Sam snapped, tossing his hair irritably. The four climbed into the red car and set off. Wheels rolled past the suburbs, skirting a park. As they passed the ARCI building, Fuzzy's stomach growled loudly.
"Fuzz, what's wrong?" Rolina asked. The pup shook his head anxiously. She guessed the cause.
"He's hungry. I'll feed him at the hotel."
"There's a pet store nearby. Bri, pull over." Adeline pointed. The car stopped at the curb. "Do you want to wait here? I can buy it myself." She turned to Rolina.
"Nevermind, we'll go together. Come on, Sammy, move your butt." Rolina shoved him from the car.
"Whoa! Easy there," Sam's foot hit the curb as crowds bustled past. Rolina stepped down right after him, her sharp eyes locking onto a stranger in the crowd. Sam noticed and smirked.
"Want me to set you up, babe? He's—" Smack! Rolina's palm cracked against his skull.
"Ow! Okay, okay, enough!" Sam winced. Adeline quickly ushered them toward the pet store. Meanwhile, Fuzzy sat in the car with Brian, the two alone together.
"So, little guy… why's your daddy such a loudmouth?" Brian asked.
"Hap! Yap-yap!" Fuzzy barked back with a goofy look.
"Yeah, hard to explain, huh." Brian chuckled.
Inside the shop, an elderly woman stood at the counter. "What'll it be today, Miss Callaghan? Hamster feed again?" she greeted Adeline warmly, as if they were old friends.
"I stocked up plenty."
"Mrs. Dos, I've brought customers this time," Adeline said, gesturing toward Rolina.
"Do you have any Sarenne Tenaligrea cookies?" Rolina asked. The old woman blinked.
"The Saren.... what?"
"They're synthesize cookies. I doubt you carry them. Anything similar?" Rolina scanned the shelves until her eyes landed on a box labeled Zkoopy Nom Nom. She tore it open, popped one in her mouth, and chewed.
"Mmm! This one's good. Fuzz will love these. I'll take 'em."
"Uh…" Both Adeline and Mrs. Dos stared in shock.
Adeline swallowed hard. "Right… the pup should… like them. So that's the choice?"
"Yes," Rolina said firmly, placing the opened box on the counter.
"That'll be 2.50 dollars. Comes with a free toy ball," Mrs. Dos added, handing over the bonus. Adeline paid with a fingertip scan, collected the goods, and they stepped outside. Sam leaned against the shop window, arms crossed.
"Got the stuff? Okay. Let's go. I'm getting sleepy," he muttered.
The trio pushed through the crowd back toward the red car. Suddenly, Rolina bumped shoulders with a heavyset woman.
"Oops! Sorry, didn't mean to," Rolina said quickly.
But the woman's reply was sharp. "What's with the makeup, sweet-heart? Run yourself over with a tire?"
"Damn…" Sam rubbed his head, uninterested. He leaned close to Adeline and whispered, "If anyone asks, don't say I'm her partner in crime. I've got none to do with her, got it? Good." He slipped away into the crowd.
Adeline turned back to Rolina, who stood stiff, arms at her sides, fury rising. She had a bad feeling. Rolina spun around, face flushed.
"Hey, bitch! The fuck did you say 'bout my face?" she snapped.
Sam, hearing the outburst, rubbed his neck and walked faster, leaving the scene. Adeline rushed in to stop them, but her efforts barely made a dent in the tension.
"And what if I did, sugar?" the woman replied with a mocking tone.
"Yeah? Say that again, I'll smack your mouth so fuckin' hard it turns into a black hole. Bitch!" Rolina words cut deep, flushing the woman's cheeks crimson.
"Both of you, calm down!" Adeline stepped in, trying to separate them, but the woman shoved her aside. Rolina immediately stepped forward.
"Hey! You think pushing smaller makes you tough? I wonder… if I scrape this mark under my eyes, would them slice through your fat ass?" Rolina yanked the woman's hair and slapped her across the face, sending ripples through her flesh. But the woman grabbed Rolina's legs, dragging her down. Rolina twisted her body unnaturally, then swung her foot into the woman's face, knocking her flat.
Crowds turned, eyes fixed on the brawl.
"Enough!" Adeline struggled back to her feet, forcing the fight to a halt.
Meanwhile, Sam slipped casually out of the gawking crowd and returned to Brian's car.
"What's everyone up to out there?" Brian asked.
"Oh, just someone hitting the sidewalk. Them girls are pushing through the mob now. See? There they are." Sam pointed as Rolina and Adeline emerged, Rolina's shrill voice carrying clearly.
"If she hadn't held me back, you'd be in worse shape! Bitch ass!"
"Calm down. Be glad she's not pressing charges," Adeline soothed, guiding her back to the car. Everyone sighed in relief.
"People who mock others deserve a taste of their own medicine," Rolina fumed, her temper boiling.
"Ahem!" Sam cleared his throat, feigning concern. "What did you just do out there?"
"Don't act like you care. You just ran off, jerk."
"Stop fighting! I noticed your leg twisted out of shape. Brian, we should take her to a hospital," Adeline urged. Brian checked, but her leg looked perfectly fine.
"She doesn't seem hurt."
"You mean this?" Rolina bent her arm grotesquely, bones shifting unnaturally.
"Oh, hell!" Brian exclaimed. Adeline clamped her mechanical hand over his mouth. Sam, however, remained unfazed.
"Let me explain. Her genes produce excess lactic acid — scientists say she can choke a normal person with her legs in under a minute. Downside is, if she exerts herself for more than half an hour, her muscles lock up temporarily. As for the bone twisting? That's not a trick — it's regeneration." Sam spoke like a man of knowledge.
"So those bones… they'd been broken before?" Adeline asked.
Crack! Rolina snapped her arm back into place within seconds.
"Exactly. Another ability — her body releases pheromones stronger than normal. Triggered when she's intoxicated. Lucky for me, I built up resistance over the years. In short, she's an alien. Don't tell anyone, or I'll get subpoenaed cuz i already had sex with her several times." Sam grinned.
Adeline's eyes widened. "You mean she carries Axian genes?!"
"Whatever the case, we need to leave now," Brian said, pressing the accelerator.
"That's why you don't judge by appearances. Life's calmer that way." Adeline folded her arms with a smile. The words struck Brian, forcing him to reconsider his own prejudices. He shrugged, silently accepting the lesson.
The red sedan rolled from the suburbs into the city center.
"Honestly, with muscles like yours, you should be driving a tank, not a sedan," Sam teased, patting Brian's shoulder.
Brian chuckled. "Rent's already killing me. Maybe later." The sun cast its orange glow across the car roof. Adeline lowered the window, gazing at the light spilling across the sky.
"Beautiful…" she thought, eyes fixed on the horizon. "Makes me want to pick up a paintbrush."