Nero's Laboratory

Episode 3 ~ Eyes of Titus

During the first week since arriving on Serus-9, it felt like time moved just a bit faster on the strange planet, as so much had happened in only a few days. Early in the morning an alarm rang. No buzzing clock, but a song. He woke to the sound of an electric guitar and drums playing from the wall speaker. A song he heard many times.
"Good morning." Mira spoke from the monitor.
"Morning. What's with the music?"                         
"I linked the file music you downloaded onto your Geodek to the sound system. It's nice to wake up to."
"I like it. "Cay sat up and looked around. "That mean the professors got a morning playlist too?."
"1950's funk. I noticed some of the music you listen to has no lyrics."
"Yeah, sometimes I just like to fill in the sound with my own. The melody is nice by itself too."
"I agree."
Even after a few days, he woke up expecting to find himself in his old room, but realized adjusting to his new life would take a bit longer than he imagined.
The smell of something freshly cooked reached his room and he was out of bed quickly. Nero sat at the table in the kitchen reading lab notes with his breakfast.
"Ah, he's awake at last. Got eggs cooked fresh. And the machine on the counter there is for drinks."
Cay grabbed a plate and slid a few eggs onto it, then selected a random button on the machine, watching it pour a blue liquid into the glass. On the first sip, the flavor was like a mix of every  fruit that existed.
"So you do this every morning?"
"Breakfast? Of course."
"Sometimes on the way to class I only had time to stop for whatever they had at the corner shop. This is much better."
"Good to hear." Nero thumbed through papers he read in between sips of his coffee.
"Homework?" Cay asked.
"I'm running numbers on what's left to finish up here. What we can improve to get this lab running as efficiently as it once was. To go beyond that and perhaps exceed even my own expectations from here on out."
"You've really been doin' this a long time."
"All my life. Science has nurtured my curiosity since I started learning. My creations, the ideas I get to bring to life. It's a gift to be able to do what I do, and that curiosity never stops."
"I get it. There's always more to learn, and everyday is something new."
"Exactly."
Cay ate his breakfast and Nero continued reading. Minutes had passed and a recollection of the conversation with the mechanic pressed him to ask more questions of the professor's past. Having only known the man a better part of a week. Questions are all he had. What was before this? And was he the same man that sits in front of him now?
"So I was talkin' with Felix, when I got em' to look at the Drifter. Said you guys go way back."
"Oh yeah?" Nero's eyes lifted from his notes.  "Felix talks. Especially of the good old days. But I'm assuming you want to know about it too?"
"I mean, yeah. Were you a mercenary? Or one of those bounty hunters that collected the heads of savage mutants and defected droids?"
"Hah. I wish."
"So it can't be that bad then.."
Nero placed his notes on the table and looked at him expecting a reaction that was anything but good. He took a deep breath and sighed.
"I assume you're familiar with 'Nova'?"
"As in the mega 'shadow' corp? They've manufactured a lot of the tech I see folks walkin' around with. Weapons too."
"Precisely."
"So what else?"
"To summarize it entirely would take up too much of our time, so i'll say this. I know how it is, because I was one of many minds working for them. I had ideas then, too. And while I thought I was helping shape the future of science, working for a good cause, I was only adding fuel to the fire that was their cruel intentions."
"Cruel how?"
"You see, I believe there's two kinds of people. Those who create. And others that destroy. There are some who create to destroy, but intent is everything. How you and I use our minds, it's for good. Nova, they stole the work of my peers and my own and twisted it. Used for greed, for more power. I only wish it hadn't taken me so long to realize it. But that's Nova."
"Is that all they want then? Power and chaos?"
"It's not all bad, believe me. It's why I stayed as long as I did, the world is not black and white, I'm afraid."
"My brother Owen used to tell me stories about all kinds of stuff, about Nova too. Maybe this ain't true, but he told me that once somebody 'goes Nova' you never hear from em' again. He said its cuz' they know too much, that they're indisposable or something. Now my question--is how did you manage to get out of it?"
Nero didn't have to say a word as Cay read the dubious look on his face.
"That is another story for another time."
"You're just leavin' me with a cliffhanger like that?"
Yes. In the meanwhile, I have a mission for you that I think you'll enjoy very much."
"Sounds cool, let's hear it."
"You've seen Titus, I take it? That city over the hills there."
"How could I miss it? City goes up to the clouds. Never seen a thing like it."
"It really is quite something. What I'd like is for you to deliver this package here to an old friend of mine downtown. Walker Shaw. Runs a shop over on Welles."
"Sounds fun. Will the Geodek help me get around pretty easily?"
"Of course. Mira's also an excellent navigator, so no worries for directions."
"You really will enjoy Titus." Mira said. "So much to explore and experience, a world of its own i always say."
"No rush, though. I understand your still adjusting so take your time-"
"All good. Just about finished eating and I'll pack my bag. I could hardly wait since I got a glimpse the other day."
Cay stood from his chair and placed his dishes in the sink, then returned to his room to prepare his pack. He grabbed the Geodek from his bedside table and slipped it into his back pocket. His backpack already filled with the items Nero had left for him, he went over to the closet and pulled out the worn suede bomber jacket and threw it on.
"Like a glove." The jacket went with his black cargo pants and boots.
As eager as he was, the feeling was also overwhelming. Uncertain of what to expect. Are the people in the city the same as those on Celeron? What kind of trouble should one anticipate in such a busy place, if any at all? Rather than think about it too much he pushed those concerns to the back of his mind and continued. He swung the backpack over his shoulder and walked out to the lab.
"Got your Geodek?" Nero asked him with slight concern.
"Yes."
"Good. Take this too." He handed Cay a clear chip pre-charged with a hundred MetraDollars. "Figured you may want some extra gear or want to do some shopping. Surely you don't want to keep sitting around here when you have a world out there to discover."
"Thanks, professor. From what I've seen so far I'm sure the extra gear'll prove quite useful."
"It'll be great. Different from what you're used to so be vigilant. Stay curious."
"I'll be fine. Besides, Mira can steer me clear of disaster, shall I run into anything."
Cay glanced at the workbench where the dead machine he pulled from the scrap pile days earlier still remained unresponsive.
How's that coming along?"
"Should know more after I do some digging around inside. If you're back soon enough we can assess the damages and begin repairs."
"Would be nice to meet a functioning cyber unit. Only seen em' on TV really."
On his way to the door Nero picked up a small back foot wide box and handed it to him.
"Remember; take your time, enjoy the sights of the city. And when you're back you can tell me how it all went."
"I'm sure i'll have a good story by then." Cay walked outside and started up the Drifter. With a push of a button the engine rumbled. He pulled back the throttle to kick on the thrusters and in a few seconds was on his way across the sands.
The city grew quickly as he raced closer to Titus. Upon reaching the outskirts, the road continued through a marketplace that stretched for a mile around the perimeter. Shops booming with tourists from all around, the street lined with stalls every few feet. Crowded in every direction, the drifter matched the pace of those walking through the street and around the hovering vehicle.
Once the strip cleared, a bridge with tall white pillars came into view, stretching over a canal of crystal clear water below. Going over Cay reached into his pocket for his Geodek and placed it on the front console. The screen lit up and a shimmering blue hologram of Miras face appeared. The road ahead split into two directions; one veering off to the right leading into a suburban residential district, and the other continuing straight to downtown.
"Mira. What can you tell me about this place?"
"Titus' population sits above 4.2 million currently. The city is divided by seven districts. The busiest of them being Kowtown, where we are headed. More than two hundred nations are represented from civilizations across the galaxy."
"Heart of the cosmos."
"That is what they say."
Up close the surrounding high-rises were glass giants that didn't seem to end. Pedestrians on the sidewalks moved with motivation like they had places to be and friends to meet with. The city itself was alive.
Had it been dark the lights from the buildings and flashing advert signs would illuminate everything. One sign in particular caught his eye. At the midsection of one of the tallest buildings was a ring all around the structure with a large letter "V" in purple light..
"That one over there." He pointed. "What is it?"
"Vikkas Technologies. Similar to the works of the Nova Corporation, but their main focus lies in robotics and mechanical engineering. Many of the vehicles you see on these streets have been manufactured by Vikkas. And it's just a few miles now."
The noises of the city were like music compared to the silence of a space station. Jet cars soaring overhead, the click of a skytrain running on its tracks far above. All happening at a much faster pace than he was accustomed to.
"Your destination is just around the corner on Welles street."
"Name of the place?"
"'Walkers Lane' I believe."
Cay kept his eyes peeled for the sign until he arrived at an old brick building that stood out from surrounding businesses. Its architecture was unmatching with the newly developed area. The green neon sign above the door confirmed the location.
"This is it." He parked the Drifter to the side between two other vehicles and jumped out holding the Geodek in one hand and the package under his other arm.
He approached the stone steps with his head down, distracted by the Geodek that was dinging. Before he could reach the door he was quickly met with a slamming force that knocked him down and sent his device flying. To his total surprise upon bouncing back up, it was a girl. With soft pink hair and ocean blue eyes he couldn't stand to look away as she scrambled for her belongings.
"Sorry bout' that. I'm-"
"Late. Very late." She complained. "You're circuits fried or what?"
Cays faint smile faded.
"I ain't the one running through the streets like some animal."
"Some of us got places to be."
"Yeah, I see that."
She picked up the rest of her things and stood to meet his gaze.
"Fine. My bad. Now I'm very late, and leaving."
"Till next time." Cay waved as she ran off.