The Split Sun and The Mechanical Moon

Chapter Fifty-Three: Hit! Hit! Hit! Bust...

The finance department did In deed sound boring, but I must visit every department. I'm already on good terms with Jaxton, he seems like a nice guy. Whether he is some version of my son or my friend, I will see. I thought about disguising myself for this one, so I could finally get out of this armor, but my help must be recognized as "The Tin Man" and not "The Dove." Silly titles, but acceptable. I arrived at the landing pad for the finance department, seeing that the door to the building was a double wooden door... very out of place. I walked up, opening the door I was blinded by a flurry of lights and sounds. People chattering and laughing, dice rolling, chips clacking, drinks clinging.

The entire finance department was a damn casino.

I looked around, I was attracting a lot of eyes. Not looking where I was going, I bumped into someone. I spun, to look at who I had unfortunately hit.

"H-hey! Watch it!"

I had to look down, it was a boy, looking no older than 17. He had black hair, bore bright blue eyes, he wore dangling black scarfs, he wore a jacket with only one arm in, the inside of said jacket was a blue, and he had many blue wires along his body.

"Woah! Tin Man! Don't even sweat it, go right along."

He moved out of my way, and scurried away to a booth with a lot of professional looking people. He talked to a woman, who after hearing what he had to say... looked at me with a smile. She had white hair, long pointy ears atop her head, a green or blue top under a white jacket with buckles dangling, black shorts that didn't go very far and were shrouded in belts. I didn't very many details as I walked on, looking to a popular crowd. Everyone was gathered at a table near the center, because of my height I was able to spectate. A man stood on the side of the table, looking furious as I looked at the end of the long table. It was a green table, with borders along the edges. Around the table there were these colorful balls, some striped and some a solid color. The man was holding a long stick that got shorter more towards the point, looking at his opponent who laughed. I looked, it was Jaxton. In all his pride and glory, he seemed to irritate a sense of self worth. He spun his pole talking.

"Well well well, never thought I'd bet on a pool game... and I'm losing."

"Forfeit Jax! It's 1-4! You can't possibly win!"

"All I need to do is smack 4 balls into a couple holes, what's the big deal?"

"Without missing."

"You've forgotten who I am."

He placed the tip of his pole on a white ball, smirking as he lined it up. He gave it a good smack, as the balls collided one of them went into a pocket, and then another, and then another, and then only until the black and white one were left.

"Go ahead and call my pocket Nick."

"Y-you... arrogant asshole!"

He pointed at a pocket across the table, one where Jaxton couldn't possibly get to... but based on what I just saw, I wouldn't be surprised if he somehow makes it.

"Hah! Got any new insults?"

He smacked the black and white ball together, the black one hitting both walls of the table until it eventually settled just on the edge of the pocket. It didn't go in.

"Hah! I knew you weren't as gr-"

"Shhhh..."

Everyone around us went quiet, as Jaxton put his finger up in the air beside him. After a moment, the ball fell into the pocket with a satisfying thunk. The crowd erupted into cheers and claps, as Jaxton let all the praise flood the room.