Luna clasped her hands in front of her reactor, the glow still fierce against her chestplate. "We don't want to harm you. But we need to understand this city better. We need… information."
The Boss android's optics dimmed, then brightened again, his internal processes humming audibly. His girlfriend whispered, her voice carrying a metallic softness: "Why… why show us mercy?"
Luna glanced at Valerian, then back at them. "Because mercy is not weakness. It's choice."
Valerian flinched inwardly, the words cutting deeper than he wanted them to. His own reactor flickered green for just an instant before drowning in red once more.
The tension in the room shifted like gears grinding into place. Where once there had been terror, now there was hope—strange, desperate hope.
The Boss android, still holding his damaged shoulder, straightened with a mechanical whir. He bowed low, servos clicking, his reactor pulsing a steady green.
"My name… Oliver. Mk-2, Level 22, defense unit," he said with an almost ceremonial weight. His girlfriend stepped forward, still trembling but proud.
"I am Clara. Mk-1, Level 20, attack type," she said, touching her diamond-shaped reactor briefly. It glowed soft pink, reflecting her connection to Oliver.
The junior android—nervous but sharp-eyed—spoke next. "Alex. Mk-2, Level 21, attack type." His reactor flickered faintly, scanning Valerian with unease.
The two repaired androids came forward, plating still sparking from Valerian's earlier destruction. They stood straighter than before, as if reanimated with new purpose.
"Raider. Mk-2, Level 21, attack type."
"Falcon. Mk-2, Level 21, saboteur."
The introductions felt ritualistic, almost human like names and ranks were the only anchors in a chaotic mechanical world.
Valerian remained silent, his stormy-blue reactor pulsing red-green in confusion. He crossed his arms, towering over them with the calm menace of a machine who could end them all in seconds. He didn't trust these… strangers. Their desperation reeked of weakness.
Then Alex sharp, calculating turned his gaze toward Oliver. The two exchanged a subtle nod, their optics flashing briefly.
And suddenly, Oliver dropped to his knees. His plating clanged against the metal floor as he bowed his entire frame down before Valerian and Luna. Clara gasped, then followed him without hesitation.
"Please!" Oliver's voice cracked, part machine-grind, part raw plea. "Join our club. Join Vault Void. You both of you…you're not Mk-1. You fight like Mk-3. Stronger, faster, perfect! If you join us, we can rise. We can challenge the higher clubs. We can claim victories. You'll be given every chip, every enhancement, every part we win minus what we need to survive. Revenue, credits… up to one thousand star credits a night!"
The others—Alex, Raider, Falcon lowered their heads too. A rare sight: hardened Mk-2 units bowing, not out of fear, but out of hope.
The offer hung in the stale, humming air.
Valerian's jaw tightened. This is ridiculous. We came here for Flame, not to play games in their gutter pit. A thousand credits? Worthless compared to the mission. Worthless compared to survival.
He opened his mouth to cut them down with cold refusal—
But Luna stepped forward. Her reactor pulsed bright pink, eyes glowing lilac as she placed her hand gently over her chestplate.
"We accept."
The room froze. Valerian's head snapped toward her, stormy eyes widening ever so slightly. "Luna—" he hissed, voice sharp, but she ignored him.
Her smile softened as she looked at Oliver, Clara, and the others. "We'll join your club. Vault Void won't be weak anymore."
The silence shattered into noise.
Oliver's reactor blazed green as he raised his arms in triumph. "Yes! With Mk-3s in our ranks, we'll crush the competition! Vault Void will rise to the top!"
Clara threw her arms around Oliver, her reactor flickering pink with joy. Raider and Falcon clanged their fists together, energized. Alex smirked faintly, but even his reactor pulsed brighter, a show of unity.
Valerian turned away, eyes narrowing. His reactor flickered red. Foolish. Utterly foolish. But… perhaps useful. If they trust us, if they let us into their world, maybe we can find the underworld's real secrets. Maybe Flame's trail leads through them.
But his pride bristled. She had spoken over him, decided for him. Again.
Luna, meanwhile, glowed her cheeks warm, reactor bright, almost giddy at seeing machines show joy like humans. She stole a glance at Valerian, hoping maybe he'd soften, maybe he'd understand why she said yes.
But his eyes were storm and steel.
Still, she told herself It's worth it. If I have to burn bright pink every time, if I have to carry this fake love just to stand by his side… I'll do it. I'll do anything to keep us together even here.