Clear Skies

Chapter 4: I in Team

            One Saturday morning, Klaus yelled through my hangover. I rolled off the couch and cradled my forehead. "Ugh. What is it?"

"You don't remember, do you?" He shook his head at my confused look. "We have to go to the Satellite today for some shopping!"

"The Satellite? Why do I have to go?"

"You said Toru asked you to."

To be honest, I hadn't agreed knowing it would cost sleep. Klaus talked about how he'd already brought the car around. I grabbed my cowboy hat, set it on the crown of my head, and followed Klaus outside.

Sunshine burned my eyes. Nausea washed over me. I slapped my hands over my cheeks. Someone called my name. Toru ran to me from his house. "Here's a list of the parts I need, and this dough should cover it."

He handed over the list and the money. "Parts? You mean, like, for a runner?"

"Yeah! I'm working on putting one together. With those parts, I should be a lot closer to finishing it."

Hey, I remembered building my runner-

In the distance, Klaus shouted, "Hurry up, Rain! We don't have all day!"

"Uh, right, I'm coming! I'll find your parts, Toru!" I hopped in the front seat, and Klaus hauled off. As we drew closer to the island's north side, gray clouds stretched over us. The Satellite showed up in the distance, but something was off.

Daedalus Bridge... had disappeared. The buildings were all the way they used to be in the Team Satisfaction days. What happened in those few weeks? Klaus acted perfectly normal. "Something wrong, Rain? You look a little ashen."

"Nothing seems out of place to you?"

"No, not at all. The Satellite's the same it's been since the Zero Reverse. Why? Are you getting sick again?"

The vehicle slowed to a stop. Was this some big prank? The Crimson Dragon and G had stayed quiet, but no. The Dragon and Klaus wouldn't lie. "Nothing's wrong. I'll grab the parts for Toru."

"Alright then." He disembarked. I left my cowboy hat on my seat. "We'll walk from here."

"I know my way around. I've been here before."

The layout was just like when I lived in the Satellite. Klaus said, "Are you sure? There's no need to hold on to foolish pride if you need some help."

"I'm being honest. I know this place."

"Don't go and get yourself hurt or anything. This place can be dangerous."

Grumbles followed his exit. I needed to head north to reach the bartering street. Surely duel runner parts would be there. The smog in the air was suffocating. I attracted plenty of odd looks, but I did my best to ignore them. Like the Crimson Dragon said: "you get used to stunned looks eventually." Dragon... where have you gone?

A bustling boulevard stretched from east to west. Arguments peppered the atmosphere. Baubles exchanged and hecklers hollered. A hunchbacked gentleman in a ripped suit approached me. "I have an offer for you!"

Yup. Definitely barter street. I said, "No, thank you."

"Ah, but this is a special for out-of-towners!" He leaned forward. I didn't realize what he was trying to do until he was already running away. He'd snatched Toru's cash out of my hands. I sprinted after him and cursed myself for not carrying my sword.