It was still 5 p.m. when the meeting ended and each one left for separate ways, so instead of heading back to his apartment, Luca take another path.

  Pendulum Tower was closer to the hospital than his own place at the 24th Distrit, so the trip would take less than usually. He had to take advantage of this and visit his little brother before he couldn't. They had a one-way ticket, after all.

  As he left Pendulum’s building and stepped onto the street, the buzzing city enveloped him. Skyscrapers loomed overhead, their glass facades reflecting the golden light of the setting sun. The holographic image of a woman in a lab coat moved throught the air, several floors above the ground. Delivery drones were buzzing -and the railroad tracks bustled with activity, above them.

  It was no calmer at ground level. Some people still chose to drive for themselves and there was no a single day that something didn't happen on the streets. Luca navigated the chaos with practiced ease, making his way toward the public elevator. He would take the maglev this time.

  As he entered with the last group of people and the elevator started to go up, his medallion vibrated. He took it out, and made a face at the name on the surface. The space was quite cramped to answer at that moment, so he rejected the call and send a quick message for Robert to wait for him a tiny bit.

  Coming out of the elevator seconds later, Luca moved at the corner of the stop and called at the man. He had good news to share.

  “Oi, bastard,’ the voice crackled through the phone, ‘have you seen what day it is?’

  “Hello, Robert, how are you? I’m well, quite happy, thanks for asking–”

  “Don’t start,” the other man hissed. Luca could easily picture the shaggy, lanky man pinching the bridge of his nose, his expression a mix of frustration and exhaustion. If there was a boss lacky who deserve a raise was probably him. “Do. You. Have. The. Money?”

  “Yes."

  “Hear me out, I don’t care if your brother–”

  “I told you,” Luca cut him off, his voice cold. The old woman closer to him gave him a wary glance, and he softened his expression, stepping aside to give her more space. “I have the money.”

  “…You have the money,” Robert repeated slowly, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

  “Yes,” Luca sighed. “I’ll send it to you when they pay me. In a couple of hours, tomorrow morning latest.”

  “…What the fuck do you do?” Robert asked, his tone not curious but tired. “Don’t tell me it’s about that cartel–”

  Luca snorted. “I’m not insane.” Well, not insane enough to get involved in something illegal, at least. He had no one who could bail him and the police was still pricky with people from the twentieth district and up. “Tell Victor I’ll call him later. The money will be in your account the moment I get it from my new job,” he repeated.

  "I'll give you until tomorrow. If not, boss is dragging your ass to the Arena."

  The call ended. Holding the pendant in his hand for a moment, perhaps tighter than necessary, Luca looked up at the sky, his thoughts drifting. Luckily, the train arrived before he could dwell too long.

  The fare was more expensive than the bus at ground level—but it was worth it. He’d be at the hospital in a matter of minutes.

  Luca found a seat near the back, and closed his eyes for a moment.

  Only minutes later, he left his seat to an elderly woman and stood up near the back door, gripping the overhead rail as the bus lurched forward. Through the window, the city stretched far and wide, the blue of the sky and the blue of the sea meeting on the horizon. But it was hard to focus on such beauty when the holographic ads jumped out of the towering buildings.

  Genetic engineering seemed to be newest pink.

  Luca shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside as his stop approached. He stepped off the train and into the bustling street, the giant hospital looming ahead. It was a hexagonal structure of dark glass walls with the top health tech and lavanders pots around all the building, including the entrance.

  The delicate, sweet smell of the flowers followed him as he he walked through the automatic doors, the flowerly scent turning into the sterile smell of antiseptic already so familiar to him.

  The nurse at the front desk looked up as he approached, her face breaking into a warm smile. She could recognize him at first glance, having grown accustomed to seeing him almost all the days. Althought, perhaps it was the first time she had seen him dressed so proper —and without dirt under his fingertips.

  “Good evening, Luca,” she said, her tone kind. “Go on ahead. He’s waiting for you.”

  Luca nodded, offering a small smile in return, and made his way down the familiar hallways without another word.

  Two years already, he thought, his footsteps echoing softly as he reached the last and emptiest area of the hospital. Only a few nurses walked around, busy with their work, and an old woman who entered before him. He knew her. Melissa Thompson. She had one of her sisters interned here –a stroke, sadly. Last treatment hadn't be so kind with her.

  Meters from Melissa’s sister room was his own destination.

  Pausing outside the familiar door, Luca took a deep breath, and stepped inside.

  A black haired youth lay still in the hospital bed, his face pale but peaceful. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor filled the room. Yes. His little brown Shawn was still here, still fighting. As expected from that brat.

  “Hey, Shawn,” Luca said softly, pulling up a chair and sitting beside the bed. He reached for his brother’s hand, his fingers brushing against the cool skin. The nurse had told him too many times that even if they didn’t look like it, the patients could hear and feel everything around them. And Shawn had been a small limpet that grew up into a tactile guy. He didn’t think that the little brother in front of him could be so different.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  He swallowed. “I’ve got some great news. I landed a new job –full-time, at the number one company in the world. Gonna make a load of money with my skin on the line.” His mouth twitched. “Not bad for a guy without great education, huh?”

  Shawn didn’t respond, but Luca hadn’t expected him to.

  “It’s going to be tough for me to visit as often as I used to,” he continued. “But you’re in good hands here. You just focus on waking up, buddy. We’ll have so much to catch up on when you wake up...”

  He squeezed Shawn’s hand gently, his eyes drifting to the heart monitor and then to the small bouquet of flowers on the windowsill. They were quite messy, with only one of ten still intact, as if they had passed through a hurricane. Luca’s expression softened. “Your friends came by again,” he said. “They’re still counting on you to win the championship. Don’t let them grow old and grumpy.”

  He stayed a while longer, filling the silence with stories and updates. When it was time to leave, he stood slowly, letting his hand go little by little. Shaking his head, he let out a small sigh.

  “I’ll see you later,” he said, though the words felt heavy on his tongue. He didn’t know when he’d be back.

  (He didn’t know if he’d ever be back.)

  On his way out, he stopped by the nurse’s station. Miss Linda, a kind middle–aged woman who had been with Shawn since the beginning, looked up from her paperwork and smiled.

  “Please keep taking good care of him.”

  “Of course, Luca,” she replied, her tone warm and reassuring. “You take care of yourself too, alright?”

  “Yeah,” he said. “I’ll be careful.”

  The words didn’t taste like a lie as they left his mouth –he would take good care of himself, after all.

  It was already evening when he left, straight to his small apartment at the other side of the city.

  There was packing to do, after all. And another call to make.

  “Did you figure out what happened…?” Teresa asked, flipping through the folders scattered across the desk. She liked working with papers, especially since last time with the security breach. It hadn't been funny. And the smell of the ink was delicious.

  Barbara sighed, leaning back in her chair. “A stroke of luck, that’s what. The guy spawned in the alley, woke up just as the killer was in one of the houses next to him–before the ten–minute mark. I think Miss Mariposa’s going to push for changing the time limits to avoid these kinds of flukes.”

  “Even so, a 0.1 Mystery rating is painfully low,” Teresa murmured, her brow furrowing. Then her expression brightened as she pulled out another file. “Oh, look –a really good one. 94%. Applicant 023452, Samantha Jill. Ohh– 0.84 M-level. Delta-L is going to be thrilled.”

  “Did they already sorted out…?” Barbara asked, raising an eyebrow. “I thought they–”

  “Shh. You didn't hear this from me, but Lady Boss got a call from HQ–zilla. Yesterday at night.” Teresa whispered, giving her a look. “So, yes, it has been already sorted out. Delta-L gets her.”

  “… Let’s hope she lasts.”

  Teresa hummed in agreement, though her mind filled in the unspoken words. With a bit of luck, she’ll make it through the week.

  “Oh? 78%? And 0.81 M-Level? Not bad,” Teresa continued, scanning another file. “Timothy Reeds. Only 21 years old. Pretty young.”

  “The oldest one was from the last batch,” Barbara remarked, tapping her pen against the desk. “What was he, 49? If I remember correctly.”

  Teresa nodded absently. “We need more talent,” she muttered, frustration creeping into her voice. “And still, so few people pass… Genetics are tough.” She paused, her eyes widening as she picked up another folder. Her mouth curled up into a smile. “Ha. Look at this,” she passed the paper towards her, and saw the moment Barbara caught the number. “Yes, I know, this is like a fucking pink unicorn. It's the guy who woke up first.”

  “Sorted out?”

  “Yes. Delta-M.” She set the folder down with a smile. “What do you have from the other branches?”

  Barbara scanned her notes. “A 0.59, a 0.54, and… I think there’s a 0.62 in there somewhere. Could be worse.”

  “Last time was worse. We got only a good one –and well, you know what happened,” she made a face.

  “Initial scores don’t mean much in the long run,” Barbara pointed out, frowning. “How many of them fail their first mission?”

  “Oh, don’t start,” Teresa groaned, waving a hand dismissively. “Let me have a little hope this time.”

  Barbara snorted, muttering something about “the last thing she lost.” Teresa didn’t take it personally. She was right, anyway. How much of those shining unicorns had turned into dead horses the first time their life was in the line? Too many to count.

  Perhaps this time will be different, Teresa thought, though she kept the sentiment to herself.

  The door swung open, and Williams strode in, closing it behind him with a sharp click. “Alright, spill it–what’s got Lady Boss in such a foul mood?”

  The two women exchanged a glance. “One of the participants with a 0.1 rating got lucky and ‘passed,’” Teresa explained. “Didn’t believe a word of it. Thought it was all a joke–you know, like back in the old days.”

  “Oh, man,” Williams muttered, his face twisting in sympathy. “What a mess. But that can’t be enough to have her brooding in her office. She even took off her glasses. She hasn’t done that since… what, a month ago? After the whole…” He mimed a beast devouring someone with his hands.

  Teresa shrugged. “Well, I don’t know anything more than that. Barbs?”

  Barbara shook her head, then frowned, as if remembering something. “Wait–I think I overheard something while grabbing coffee. Something about the latest product in the red branch. They’re missing something…?”

  Teresa’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me they need more data…?”

  “They’re using the Mystery about–” Williams started, then abruptly cut himself off, sighing heavily. “Damn it. The new recruits are going to be thrown into the dino pit as soon as they arrive, aren’t they?”

  Teresa slumped back in her chair,

  “Maybe… they’ll be okay,” Barbara offered, though her voice wavered with doubt.

  Teresa stared blankly into the distance, her expression hollow. “My poor shinnys…” she murmured. “What a shame.”

  “Don’t get your socks twisted,” Williams said, trying to sound encouraging. “I’m sure they’ll take care of them. The specialists can step in if the situation gets bad enough.”

  Yeah, they can, Teresa thought, closing her eyes. But when was the last time they actually did that? They were so few that they were put on satin pillows until it was time to throw them into the pits. Which were not 1–star worlds –even in Delta.

  She sighed, leaning forward and resting her elbows on the desk. “We need to prioritize finding more ‘promises,’” she said, her tone firm despite her weariness. “We haven’t put enough effort into looking beyond our borders. Maybe we’ll get lucky and reel in a good catch.”

  Barbara raised an eyebrow. “A 0.8 catch?”

  “I don’t expect more miracles,” Teresa admitted, rubbing her temples. “But a dozen 0.6 recruits might be enough to balance things out.”

  Williams, who had lingered by the door, suddenly piped up. “Before I forget –have you heard about that 1-star Mystery about cooking? It’s driving the guys from the yellow branch up the wall-”