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Sirens were surrounding Lynx, their wailing was threatening to break her eardrums as she traveled at what seemed like the speed of sound with her fellow heist mates. The space ship? Vehicle? Sky Car? She wasn’t really sure what this thing was that she was in. Lynx scratches her head and remembers, it was a sky car! Said Sky Car was currently weaving in between giant skyscrapers that shined like the sun. This world had a bunch of cyber tech things that she had never even seen before. LED screens rose and fell with each skyscraper on their path. Lynx jerked out of her seat as the driver made a sharp turn while trying to avoid the cops. Before she could catch herself, she was caught by two armored hands.
“My lady, are you alright?” Argenti asked as she steadied herself.
“Yes, I'm fine. An explorer is always ready for anything!” she excitedly said back.
Argenti smiled at her and she heard a cough from infront of her.
“Can the both of you not talk, Kafka is trying to not kill us right now,” Lingsha said in her normal smooth tone.
“Oh let them talk, it's not every day you get caught up in a car chase on Punklord. We have to get this gem to our employer, but there's no reason we can't have a little fun.” Kafka says as she jerks the car to the right again.
Lynx nods her head. She didn’t even know any of their names when she met them a few hours ago. It truly has been a wild ride. While Kafka weaved in between buildings, Lynx reminisced on the past few hours.
XXX
Lynx was browsing the rows of a convenience store when she received a mysterious text to her phone.
|Skills needed. Meet at 8 pm at the park|
The park? Lynx wasn’t compelled to follow the instructions of this text but a second text came through immediately after the first one. She barely could finish the thought in her head.
|This is not an option. Meet at 8 pm at the park.|
Lynx felt her blood run cold. How did the sender know she wasn’t going to follow up? Worrying that the sender might hurt someone close to her. The ever brave adventurer decided to meet at the designated location.
XXX
Night had fallen on the bright city. Though it didn’t seem like “night” could ever really happen here. The neon lights of the city shone like an artificial sun and there was very little dark night in the park. Lynx looked around the park but saw not a single soul. It was almost time for the meeting, where was this mysterious person? As if on cue, two other people came into view. One average height woman with flowing robes with bells adorned on her clothes stood talking to a tall man with blood red hair that contrasted against his silver armor.
Lynx approached slowly trying to not be noticed by the pair. What if they were hostile? A branch snapped under Lynx’s foot and both of the two strangers whipped their heads over to look at the small adventurer.
“Uh, hello,” Lynx said with a waver in her voice.
The shorter woman looked at her. “Did you also receive a strange message to meet in the park?”
Lynx nodded and the man in what Lynx thought was knight armor walked up to her. He crossed his arm over his heart and bowed slightly. “My fairest maiden, my name is Argenti. I am one of the fabled knights of beauty!”
The shorter woman held out her hand to Lynx. “Lingsha, Cauldron Master of the Xianzhou Luofu.”
Lynx shook her hand and then faced Argenti and bowed. “My name is Lynx! One of the explorers of the Belobog Snowplains!”
“It is nice to meet you, Miss Lynx. You are as beautiful as a new snowfall,” Argenti said
“Argenti please,” Lingsha said, sighing as she placed her hand on her forehead in annoyance.
“My apologies, Miss Lingsha, I do not wish to overstep boundaries. As the three of us have found ourselves in quite a predicament,” Argenti said with an apologetic tone.
A voice came from behind them, “It will be a fun predicament, don't worry.” Boots appeared from the darkness of a bush. “All you three need to do is to follow instructions.” Tights, shorts, and a blouse appeared next. “After all, this is what all of you dreamed of isn't it?” A woman with red hair appeared out of the darkness. Lynx had never seen her before, but the air around her, it was something that she had never felt before.
“Stellaron Hunter, Kafka. At your service.” Kafka said, taking a bow, “My employer was the one who called you all here.”
Argenti and Lingsha shared a glance. Lynx caught their eyes. It seemed as if the two knew who she was.
“What do you want with us Stellaron Hunter?” Lingsha said
“I want a team.” Kafka replied. “A team that can help me steal this,” she added while pulling out a hologram. A large crystal was projected by the device. “Each of you have been chosen because of your certain skill sets. Lingsha, the Cauldron Master of the Luofu for her expertise with potions. Argenti, one of the Knights of Beauty for his skills in battle, and well, charm of course. Then there's Lynx, the most renowned explorer of the Belobog snowplains. Your skills are essential for our escape. Finally, there's me, a known bounty hunter right for the position. Now you could refuse, but well, you all wanted the thrill of adventure didn't you?” Kafka said
Lynx wasn’t sure how Kafka knew that she came to this planet for adventure and from the looks of it Argenti and Lingsha were also concerned about her knowledge of this.
“Hmmm, worried about getting caught? We won’t. Not with this knowledgeable team,” Kafka said as she held her hand out.
The first to shake was Argenti, then Lingsha. The last was Lynx. “Don’t worry Lynxie, we’ll protect you,” Kafka said. Somehow Kafka’s words persuaded Lynx. It was as if her words were dripping in some agent to compel Lynx to join. So, she walked up Kafka and shook her hand.
“Perfect. Let’s go stock up,” Kafka said as the team headed out.
XXX
The next place Lynx finds herself in is a secret spy cave somehow tucked behind the convenience store she was in earlier that day. Gizmos and gadgets lined the walls of this spy paradise. It was as if equipment was especially made for them as well. Lingsha received many ingredients to make sleep perfumes. She was also given gem-like diffusers that could be rolled and would be activated after a few seconds. Lynx almost got caught in one of the trial runs. Argenti received an upgraded spear. It folded down to the size of a pen and would activate on command.
Roses were also given to Argenti, but they were laced with sleep perfume. One sniff and the receiver would fall asleep. Kafka was already decked out in her own equipment when the team met each other, so she simply restocked on her bullets. Lynx however, got the most interesting gadget upgrade of them all. It was a pickaxe that shot repel wires out of the end. When released, the wires would immediately grapple on to the team and drag them to safety.
“Now that we have our gear, let's talk about our plans,” Kafka said bringing the group in together. “Our target is this gem on the second floor of the museum. Argenti, you will pose as a guard during night shift and get close to the gem. Lingsha and I will repel from the roof while you make your way to the gem. Lingsha will clear out the area and I’ll disable the alarm.” She then turned to Lynx. “Then that leaves you Lynx, You’ll be the getaway person. Once we have the gem, I’ll make a signal and you’ll attach the cords to our belts and bring us out. We’ll have walkie talkies on us so we can communicate.”
Lynx gulped. Everything goes wrong if Lynx doesn’t pull off her job. Could she do it? Lynx steadied herself. She can do this. She's an explorer of the snow plains! She's ready for everything! Kafka’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Everyone understand the assignment?” Kafka asked.
“Indubitably,” Argenti said
Lingsha nodded.
“Yes!” Lynx replied.
“Good,” Kafka smiled. “Let’s go steal this gem.”
XXX
The group rolled up at sunset and dropped Argenti off close to the museum in his night uniform. The team then proceeded to wait in their locations. After a few hours, night had finally fallen and a message came in from Argenti.
“Knight one to Spider prime. We are in the building.”
“Good work Knight one, continue on target,” Kafka responded.
Lynx couldn’t currently see where Kafka and Lingsha were waiting but she could see the prize through the glass ceiling above it. The gem was massive and glowing with an almost rainbow like hue. A crackle over the radio stopped Lynx’s thoughts.
“OH MY, WHAT A MOST BEAUTIFUL FERN. PLEASE MY DEAR LEAF, LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE GODDESS IRDILLA.”
“ARGENTI, STAY FOCUSED,” Lingsha raged over coms.
A cough. “Yes, sorry.” A whisper. “Don’t worry, my love, I'll be back.”
Lynx heard Kafka and Lignsha sigh close to her. They must be close, then a red head of hair came into direct view of Lynx. A signal was made and Lynx watched as Kafka and Lingsha effortlessly repelled down. Masks were dawned and Lingsha’s sleep perfume was released into the air. Kafka then began her work disabling the alarm system. “This was almost going too well,” Lynx thought. As if she dreamed it into existence, a road block had occurred. While Kafka and Lingsha were working on freeing the gem, Argenti went off to collect his plant friend which he was now currently holding while yelling. “They’re coming! THEY’RE COMING!” Lynx couldn't hear this next part over coms, but she saw a visibly angry Lingsha slapping a very upset Argenti holding a plant. From above, Lynx started to see flashlights peaking into Lingsha’s sleep perfume. Lynx immediately picked up her ratio. “Climber to entry team, you have about thirty seconds before the guards are able to get through Bunny’s perfume. What’s your status?”
No response. It looked as if fighting had started to occur below. Lynx was starting to get nervous. Flashes of color and white light were coming from the smoke below her. Were her squad members alright? Lynx started to think that all might be lost when she heard over the radio. “CLIMBER! It’s time to say bye.” Then, a single bullet was fired at the glass ceiling above the gem. “Everyone! Grab on!” Lynx brandished her axe and pressed the button on the lower part of the handle. Three cords shot out of the end and vanished into the smoke. Lynx felt a great weight on the end of her axe and started to panic. She wasn’t strong enough to hold three people. Struggling to hold the weight, Lynx heard something behind her. It seemed like it was a vehicle of some kind. Said object then was displaying a sign that said “Lynx, put axe here.” Lynx followed the instructions immediately, yanking the axe as hard as she could to jam it into the slot. Once it was in, a fourth cord shot out and attached to Lynx. Then the car? started lifting into the air and reeling the team in. The bottom opened up and Lynx looked below her. Argenti, Kafka, and Lingsha were all rising out of the smoke and squarely under Lingsha’s arm was the gem.
“Great work team!” Lynx yelled beaming.
The four were reeled into the car and Kafka took the driver's seat with Lingsha at her side. Argenti was in the back with Lynx. The two high fived and made faces at each other.
“Great work team. Let’s get this to our employer,” Kafka said
Kafka was about to drive away when three flying cop cars appeared in front of her.
“YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!” The cop cars blared.
“Screw that!” Lingsha yelled
“A game of cat and mouse? Always up for a challenge,” Kafka said as she veered the car off to the left towards the city.
XXX
Lynx was shaken from her memories as two more cop cars crashed into each other. She whipped her head around to look out the back of the flying car. There was only one car following them now.
“This is the last one we have to shake them,” Kafka said. “Anyone have any ideas?”
The car remained silent for probably longer than Kafka wanted. In the end Lynx was the one that spoke up.
“What if we have some way to recreate a fake version of our car and they follow that one instead?” Lynx suggested
“A good plan, but I’m not sure how we could accomplish that,” Kafka said
“My sleep perfumes could make them hallucinate but we have to get the perfume in the car. It could also just make them fall asleep. They wouldn’t be able to drive then,” Lingsha said.
“What if we slow down and have them roll down their window?” Argenti suggested
“That could work.” Kafka said “but the windows only open in the back of the car. So Lynx, Argenti, one of you will have to throw it.”
Lynx looked at Argenti and nodded. Lingsha passed the perfume to Lynx as Kafka slowed down the car. The cops took the bait and rolled up next to the car. Argenti started miming to the cops to roll down the window. Argenti rolled down the window as the cops did.
“My wonderful officers, you are looking quite resplendent today. Have you heard of the Goddess Idrilla? Please accept these roses as a token of goodwill,” Argenti said as he passed two of the sleep perfumes to the cops. As one of them took them, Lynx popped up behind Argenti.
“And try this too!” Lynx said as she threw the perfume diffuser into the car.
“GO GO GO!” Argenti directed at Kafka as the cops started coughing. Speeding down the electric lit street, the team sped away.
The car finally came to a stop outside of an oddity shop. “We’re here,” Kafka said. The four stepped out of the car and approached the store. Kafka opened and held the door while Lynx, Argenti, and Lingsha stepped inside. The room was pitch black.
“Oh Dr. Edward, we're here,” Kafka said, pulling out the gem.
Suddenly flood lights turned on blinding Lynx from seeing. After blinking for a few seconds, a giant eyeball with a blue iris was staring at the group.
“Well done my four friends! I hope you enjoyed your stay in this story! I hope it was just as adventurous as you had hoped! This was our first time trying connected dream bubbles! I’m so glad you all enjoyed yourself!”
“Wait what?” Lynx thought. “This was a dream I don’t–”
“WELL, I’LL SEE YOU ALL IN REALITY!” Dr. Edward proclaimed
Water surrounded Lynx. Bubbles flowed past her vision and the next thing she knew she was standing in a bustling street with one giant eyeball staring at her once again. Lynx looked around as Kafka, Argenti, and Lingsha stood next to her. They were in Penacony. The Golden Hour to be exact. Lynx had come with other friends from Belobog for vacation. She was interested in how the dream bubbles worked so she requested to be in a new trial for a new type of dream bubble. Lynx waved to her team members and called them all over.
“I hope you had fun Miss Lynx! It was such a riveting adventure!” Argenti proclaimed
“It truly was fun,” Lingsha said.
“All in a day's work. I’ll take ideas from this heist on my next one.” Kafka said
The group stared at her for a minute and laughed.
“Wait. Kafka, were you recruited to lead the mission?” Lingsha asked.
“Dr. Edward did recruit me. Got a little bit extra cash in the process, but it was still fun,” Kafka said.
The group nodded and looked as if they were about to part ways. Lynx started to become nervous. “Before we all go, I….I was wondering…. wondering if we could take a photo before we go our separate ways?”
“OF COURSE MY DEAR LYNX!” Aregnti excitedly proclaimed
“I would be honored,” Lingsha smiled.
“All right. The cosmos already knows I’m on Penacony. They won’t be able to catch me even if they tried,” Kafka said
The four pulled in for a group photo on Lynx’s Phone. Arengti had his hand over his heart in a slight bow. Lingsha, as refined as she normally is, had a peace sign on one hand. Kafka just stood off to the side and smiled. Finally, Lynx had a big thumbs up on her right hand. Lynx quickly thanked everyone for the fun time and sent them all the photo. The team then parted ways. Lynx started to move back towards the center of the Golden Hour. She had so much to tell her vacation buddies.