Changing Tides | Lorenzo X Trace

Part One

 Stargazing in the jungle was impossible. The tall trees combined with the substantial mist made for a blurry atmosphere. The surface was an even worse option. The neon lights of Mega City polluted the sky. The only place that Trace could think of is the labs on the north-eastern part of the island, but they couldn't be bothered to travel that far.

Plus, if Mystica found out they were away from his post for too long, they wouldn't hear the end of it. Keeping guard at the apparatus and recovering the prisms was part of the deal.

Of course, he was allowed his two hour break daily. They usually took that time to go practice their aim on loopers, sleep in the haystacks at Frenzy Fields, or take a swim at the lagoon. That was their every-day schedule for the past five weeks.

Today, however, was a little different.

***

The jungle has always been a humid place. But today, the sun was blazing. The fact that Trace was wearing a massive cloak added about 30 degrees to their internal temperature. They wanted nothing more than to rip his cloak and shirt off and dive into the refreshing lagoon. But as of right now, they weren't sure they were going to be alive by the time they reached the lagoon.

As they took their dying breath, their phone rang in the cloak's pocket. They took out their phone and answered the call.

"Hello?" Trace exhaustingly said.

"Trace, I'll take over the station now. Go take a br-" Trace hung up the phone faster than a shotgun shell flying through the air. Immediately, they took off in a sprint down the stairs of the Apparatus. Their feet pounding the ground, Trace felt as if they were gliding through the jungle.

Eventually, they reached the lagoon.

Trace let out a sigh of relief as they saw the lagoon empty. "I have the whole lagoon to myself! Sweet." They swiftly took off their cloak and shirt, and dove head first into the water. Immediately, Trace was overcome by a wintry gliss that made all the heat disappear from their body. Trace quickly resurfaced.

"Heaven." They whispered. "This is heaven." Trace closed their eyes and let themselves float in the water.

Suddenly, a voice behind them made Trace recoil.

"If this is your idea of heaven, glad I'm in it." the voice spoke. They turned their head around to meet Lorenzo's eyes with a smirk on his face.

Trace sighed.
"Stars almighty, Lorenzo, you nearly sent me back to my reality with that scare." Lorenzo giggled. "You get scared so easily. That's not the right way to talk to the man of your dreams. " Lorenzo replied, playfully.

Lorenzo was the most unique person on the island. At least to Trace. He was a reckless adventurer, one of a kind, really. Folks around the island badmouth him, thinking he's a bad influence. He intimidates the island natives with his... flamboyant wardrobe choices. One day he could be starring his usual adventurer uniform, the next day he's wearing the wealthiest, shiniest clothes he has. When the center of the island collapsed, loopers and humans alike saw the jungle rise from the depths. Trace, Rian, and Lorenzo, a group that happened to come together at the collapse site, decided to dive in head first into the jungle. During their adventure, they rode raptors, raided a temple, summoned a hologram of a robot, and were nearly killed.

Ever since that encounter, Trace and Lorenzo remained in contact. As days passed, he learned more about him. To others, he was some adventurer that isn't afraid to cause havoc where he crosses. But to Trace? He is nothing more than a snarky rogue who just happens to love teasing them. They have no problem with it though. It doesn't hurt having a friend that's there for you.