The street was already alive.
People moving.
Cars passing.
Noise everywhere.
Nick stretched his arms.
Nick: Alright, alright… let's get off our asses and find some money.
Bat let out a quiet breath.
Bat: Alright. Fine.
He stood still for a second—
Then gave a short whistle.
A blur moved through the air.
A bat swooped down and landed on his shoulder.
Nick froze.
Then slowly turned.
Nick: …what the hell?
Nick leaned closer.
Nick: What the hell, man?!
Nick: The bat is still here?!
Bat: Yeah.
Bat: How did you think I knew you were awake?
Nick blinked.
Nick: …huh?
Nick: Is that so?
Bat started walking.
Bat: Come on.
Bat: Let's go.
Nick stared at him for a second—
Then shook his head and followed.
High above the city—
A tall hotel stood among the skyline.
Glass walls.
Endless floors.
At the very top—
A figure stood by a massive window.
Void.
He looked down at the city below.
Silent.
Watching.
The entire city stretched beneath him.
Small.
Distant.
Controlled.
Behind him—
A girl stood near a table, setting things down.
Girl: Dinner's ready.
Void didn't respond immediately.
Then—
He turned.
Walked over calmly.
Sat down.
Picked up his food.
A quiet moment passed.
Girl: So…
She looked at him.
Girl: How was the mission you went on last time?
Void shrugged slightly.
Void: It was nothing.
He took a bite.
Void: The director just wanted me to look for a couple of guys.
Void: Said they might be Veyrix. But they looked human.
He scoffed lightly.
Void: Why would I go looking for regular humans? Not my style.
The girl tilted her head.
Girl: Yeah… that doesn't make sense.
A pause.
Girl: Why would they send you to find two humans?
Girl: Don't you think that's a little suspicious?
Void paused for a moment.
Then shrugged again.
Void: Maybe.
Void: But who cares?
The girl watched him carefully.
Girl: What if they weren't human?
Void looked at her.
Girl: What if they were like you?
A short silence.
Void leaned back in his chair.
Thinking.
Void: …I thought about that.
He exhaled lightly.
Void: But no.
Void: If they were like me…
His eyes sharpened slightly.
Void: I'd know.
The girl frowned slightly.
Girl: How?
Void rested his arm on the chair.
Void: Because we were all made by the same people.
Void: Trained in different ways, but we all knew each other.
He shook his head.
Void: Those two?
Void: I've never seen their faces before.
The girl looked down slightly.
Thinking.
Then—
Girl: What if other countries have their own programs?
Void blinked.
Then laughed.
A quiet, dismissive laugh.
Void: What?
He shook his head.
Void: No.
Void: The director said we were special.
Void: The only ones.
He leaned forward slightly.
Void: So there's no way.
The girl hesitated.
Girl: …oh.
Girl: I was just guessing.
She looked back at him.
Girl: I just thought… if one government could do it—
Girl: maybe others could too.
Void paused.
For a second—
He actually thought about it.
Then—
A small shrug.
Void: Maybe.
Void: But I doubt it.
Silence settled between them.
The sound of an engine cut through the streets.
A motorcycle moved fast through traffic.
Sharp turns.
Precise movement.
Sky.
His eyes scanned everything around him.
As he rode—
His thoughts ran quietly.
Sky (thinking): If I were a couple of runaways…
No money.
No identity.
Where would I go?
He slowed slightly.
Looking around.
Clean streets.
Tall buildings.
Expensive areas.
His eyes narrowed.
Sky (thinking): Not here.
Suddenly—
He turned the bike sharply.
Changed direction.
The surroundings shifted.
Buildings became smaller.
Worn.
Crowded.
Rough.
People moved differently here.
Less structure.
More survival.
Sky rode through slowly.
Scanning faces.
Watching movements.
He pulled out his phone briefly—
Glancing at the images.
Then back at the streets.
Nothing.
No match.
He kept moving.
Still nothing.
His expression hardened slightly.
Sky (thinking): …no.
He slowed again.
Thinking.
Then—
A small exhale.
Sky (thinking): They're not that desperate.
He turned the bike again—
Heading back.
The city changed once more.
Cleaner.
Sharper.
Richer.
Sky's eyes sharpened.
He rode forward.
Deeper into the city.
Watching.
Waiting.
Hunting.
He slowed slightly.
Just for a moment.
His eyes narrowed.
Sky (thinking): …wait.
Something felt off.
He didn't stop.
Didn't turn.
But his gaze sharpened—
Locked forward.