Linkin Pony - Recharge: Revamped

Chapter 18

Work continued in the camp as the next day came. CharmingRhythm took a quick break from painting in the late morning. He slipped inside of the base to get out of the heat. As usual, SpinningNote was working on the desk.

"So what was in that safe?" Rhythm asked SpinningNote. He had forgotten to ask the day before.

"Eh, just the usual stuff. Money, paperwork, a watch, a necklace. But what I did find interesting is this camera," Spinning remarked. He levitated the camera a few centimeters off the desk, close to his face. "Look at this beauty. And in perfect condition as well."

Rhythm smiled, amused by how interested Spinning was in the camera. "And what are we supposed to do with it?"

"I've always wanted a good camera," Spinning stated. "I've had cheap ones in the past, but nothing like this. It's probably worth... who knows how many bits."

"If it's expensive, that makes sense why it was in the safe. Where did you put the money? We should keep that somewhere, in case we need it."

"In there." Spinning pointed to a drawer without turning his head.

Rhythm opened up the drawer. Inside, along with the money, was the watch and necklace Spinning had mentioned. He levitated the necklace up and examined it. It had a gold chain with a pendant that held a deep blue gemstone. A sapphire? Rhythm wondered, reminding him of his mother. Despite that, he thought, maybe I could give it to Heartfelt. The blue stone could represent himself. Yeah, she might like that.

"Could I take this?" Rhythm checked with Spinning first.

Spinning took a glimpse of the necklace and said, "Yeah, sure. I'm not gonna use it."

Rhythm placed the pendant on the nightstand in his room. He reentered the main room. "Maybe we could use that safe," The thought aloud.

"Maybe," Spinning echoed.

Rhythm left the base to get back to work. As he stepped in front of the wall he was painting, HyperBlitz fluttered up the street.

"I removed the broken glass from the windows on this street," Hyper announced, gesturing to the houses with a wing.

"And you didn't cut yourself?" Rhythm teased.

"No! I'm perfectly clean, look!" Hyper replied, showing one foreleg at a time. "What do you want me to do next?"

"Well, you could check the windows in the next street..."

Hyper groaned in annoyance.

"Okay, okay. I get it. You're getting bored doing the same thing. Let me think."

Rhythm's brain traveled back to the list of duties they needed to address. He wished he had that list with him at the moment, because all the words seemed to fly away. Finally one came to his mind.

"We still need to check old generators to see if they work. You could put some crystals in a few and test it out," Rhythm suggested.

"Sounds simple enough," Hyper agreed.

"And you don't have to keep the crystals in them. Just used them to test. And you don't have to do all the generators you find. We'll get around to it. Pick out a few and then separate them between operational and broken," Rhythm clarified.

Hyper continued to stare at Rhythm, the words still processing in his mind. At last he nodded and said, "Alright. You got it." Hyper bounded away.

Rhythm watched his teammate dart towards the base building. He couldn't help but feel concerned about him. While Hyper was obediently working, as efficient as ever, there was something off about him. It was like the sparkle in his eyes and the spirit in his actions was missing. Rhythm only hoped that it was because he was still healing emotionally from his wing.