Inside, the place resembled a cross between a dorm and a mad scientist's garage.
One wall was stacked with old monitors; half of them were still glowing with static.
Empty energy drink cans, maps showing where curse sightings had been reported, and Ema's sketchbook with logo ideas covered a makeshift table.
On one corner was a battered couch; Nix's gauntlet-charging station purred softly in another.
Ema collapsed onto the couch right away. "Alright, but seriously who is cooking? Last time I'm not touching the stove."
Nix smiled. "Sano, I volunteer. He alone can lift the pot without shattering it."
Sano crossed his arms. "I'm not your personal chef. But, okay. Heating the ramen will be my next task. Someone get the water boiling."
Orced rested against the wall, observing everyone else descend into their typical anarchy. "You know, this is how I always imagined. Only and just us. Loud, organized, debating food tastes. This is our method of victory. We are real, then."
Sitting on the couch, Kruna stared at Orced. "You already started to sentimental, aren't you? We just eliminated one C-class curse. Like calm down."
Orced laughed, still smiling. "I am permitted. Considering it is the first day. Let me be sentimental for five minutes."
Macker returned from the kitchen with several instant noodle cups in hand. "Sentimental Orced is not cool."
Behind him, Aftor leaned over his shoulder.
Nix chuckled so loudly he nearly lost his gauntlet. "Indeed!"
Sano called from the kitchen. "Apparantly water is boiling, who wishes more chili oil?"
Everyone screamed "Me!" together.
Orced walked over to assist after pushing off the wall. "Sano. I will take care of the eggs. Soft-boiled, right?"
Macker gave a strong nod. "Make it soft-boiled or I'll riot."
While Sano stirred the pots and Orced carefully lowered eggs into the boiling water, the rest of the group sprawled around the common area.
Kruna turned around one of the ancient research tablets. "What's next on the agenda, then? I mean, we are unable to simply sit here slurping ramen indefinitely. The mainland is sending curse reports. In the previous 48 hours, three B-class sightings occurred."
Sitting on the table, legs swinging, Aftor "Let's get one tomorrow. Officially declare it. Second task of Sky Boys"
Ema looked up. "We ought to give our mix-up moves a name, aren't we. We can't simply go 'punch, explode, stab' every time. It has no market value."
Nix straightened up. "For mine, I choose 'Nix's Big Boom'."
Kruna deadpanned "You can't be serious"
Macker chuckled. "And what about 'Macker's Thunder Knuckle? Sounds cool as hell."
Aftor chuckled. "Mine's 'Aftor's Precision Stab. Simple and efficient."
Ema shrugged. "You guys have no fucking chance. I call Orced's move the 'White Comet Strike.' He leaps in like a comet and then punches the core."
Orced called from the kitchen. "Thank you. White Comet Strike sounds cool."
Stao carried the steaming pots. "Foods ready. Sit down before it get cool."
Around the table were bowls in their hands, and mismatched chairs, some lying on the floor. The room was filled with the aroma of spicy ramen.
Macker first ate and let out a loud groan. "Among all the ramen I've ever tried, this is the greatest. Chili oil tastes like victory"
Kruna slurped noodles. "You insist on saying that every time, it's so fucking weird I can't help but roll my eye."
Ema photographed the gang dining. "Dinner of Day 1. Hashtag Sky Boys Family."
Nix aimed his chopsticks at him. "Never think to share that one! There is ramen on my face."
"Too late" Ema whispered sweetly. "Already did it."
Aftor leaned back. "What will we do tomorrow? Perhaps a B-class hunt? We must first look around. On day two, I don't want to stumble onto anything we can't handle."
Orced nodded and gulped a mouthful. "I know right? In the morning we scout; in the afternoon we hit it. No hurry. We are making something here. We get it right."
Kruna gazed at him. "Do you truly believe everything you stated before? On eliminating wickedness from the globe?"
Orced saw his eyes. "Indeed. I believe so. Not since I am some selected one or anything. Not only because... Somebody has to. Furthermore we are the ones strong and insane enough to experiment."
Macker lifted his bowl in a toast. "Insane enough, right?"
Aftor lifted his bowl "To become strong enough!"
They chuckled and clattered plastic cups.
They cleaned up after supper, mostly Sano doing the heavy lifting while Nix tried to assist and practically shattered a dish.
After that they went to the main room, where Ema had set up a projector with a map showing where curses had been seen.
Aftor examined the map. "Terrain is terrible; it includes rocky cliffs and not enough access. We must react swiftly."
Kruna traced a path with his finger. "Move from above. Exploit the elevation of the island. Descend and strike the core before it reacts."
Nix smiled. "It can be toned down by me. Anger it and then let it expose the center."
Macker agrees. "I'll get the first blows. Orced finished it with White Comet Strike."
Orced grinned. "Perfect. We leave at dawn. Go to sleep. Tomorrow we break history again."
All of them began toward their improvised rooms—former offices converted into bedrooms with sleeping bags and string lights.
Macker hung about Orced. "Hey, master. You sincerely believe we can pull this off? The entire 'clear the world' thing?"
From the window, Orced gazed up at the stars above the clouds. "I think we could give it a go. For the time being, enough."
Macker chuckled. "Sounds legit for me."
Orced remained by the window a little longer while the others drifted off. Underneath his feet, the island murmured softly. From this vantage point, the earth below appeared serene. He muttered to himself almost too quietly to hear.
This is the way it starts.
And somewhere far away the Hedonas drone kept watching, its red light flashing once in the dark.