The dim light from the neon sign outside flickered through the cracked window, casting a faint glow over the cluttered room. Dusty shelves lined the walls, filled with old tools and relics from Gareth's past work, while the battered couch Kaius had just risen from stood against the far wall. The faint hum of the city buzzed outside, muted by the thick, weathered walls of their small apartment.
Kaius had barely found his footing when he heard a groan from the girl on the couch. Her name—Sura—felt foreign to him, like it didn't quite fit with the mysterious air surrounding her. But Gareth's words still echoed in his mind,
"We saved your life, but we don't want to get tangled with anything illegal."
Kaius stood by the neon lamp, his legs still trembling, but his mind was sharper now. He watched as Sura slowly opened her eyes, scanning the room, her features tightening as if she were already calculating her next move. She looked like him—young, maybe even the same age. But there was something older, more experienced, in her eyes, something he couldn't quite place.
She rubbed her temples, then sat up slightly, her voice strained but determined. "I need your help," she said, her gaze fixed on Gareth.
"I need to connect with my companions. But I'll need a device to do that."
Gareth crossed his arms, leaning against the edge of the kitchen counter. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp. "And what makes you think we're going to help you with that?"
Sura didn't flinch. "Look, I've seen what you can do." She gestured to the arm Gareth had fixed for her.
"You're not just some old guy living in the slums. You could be a real asset to my team."
Kaius noticed the shift in her tone—calculated, almost cold. She was sizing them up, trying to pull them in. He glanced at his father, who remained unfazed.
Gareth shook his head. "While you're in this house, you're not going to do anything illegal. We saved your life, but we're not about to get mixed up in whatever mess you've brought with you."
For a moment, silence hung heavy in the air. Sura's gaze drifted over to Kaius, but then she quickly turned her head away, almost dismissing him.
Sura sighed. "Fine. If you're not going to help me connect with my team, at least get me a leg so I can walk."
Gareth's eyes softened, but he stayed firm. "We don't have money for that. The only reason I had that arm was because it was my wife's." His voice cracked slightly at the mention of Elara, but he recovered quickly.
"After she died, the arm lost its purpose, so it's been sitting in storage. But that's all we've got."
Sura's expression faltered for a second before her composure returned. "I can pay you. Or, if you let me contact my friend, he'll bring everything I need. But I need a comm device. My head implant's been ripped out."
At that moment, Gareth sank into deep thought, his brow furrowing. He knew what helping her might mean—putting Kaius in danger, exposing them to the underworld of Neon Edge. But Kaius… Kaius's face lit up in a way that Gareth hadn't seen in a long time. His son was practically vibrating with energy, despite his injuries.
"I can contact your friend," Kaius blurted out, his voice tinged with excitement.
"Give me his cryptic number."
Gareth's head snapped up, alarm flashing across his face. "Kaius! No! Absolutely not."
But Kaius couldn't stop himself. His mind was racing with possibilities. This could be the connection we've needed…. He could almost feel his mother's voice whispering to him about opportunity and making a difference. Maybe, just maybe, this girl could be the key to everything he'd been dreaming of.
"I know it's risky, Dad, but think about it." Kaius's voice softened, his usual unmotivated tone now alive with purpose. "She's not just some random girl from the slums. She's not even from the Sky District, either. She's involved in something big."
Gareth scowled, trying to rein in his son's enthusiasm. "And that's exactly why we shouldn't get involved. You know what happens to people who mess with the system up there. We can't get mixed up in any of that."
But Kaius wasn't backing down. "Dad, think about the connections we could build. I've been stuck here, trying to figure out a way to make something out of my life. Maybe this is it." His eyes flicked toward Sura, still sitting on the couch, listening. "Maybe she can help us, too."
Gareth hesitated, his mind torn between his instinct to protect his son and the undeniable truth of Kaius's words. The tension in the room grew, thick with unspoken fears.
Kaius could feel the energy in his veins. This was the first time in ages that he felt truly alive, truly ready to act. He needed this.
"It's either a life-changing opportunity or we go back to the way things were. You know I'm right, Dad."
Gareth sighed, glancing over at Sura. He didn't trust her, not yet, but Kaius had a point. There was something about this girl that reeked of bigger things, things they could never have imagined.
"Fine," Gareth finally muttered. "But I'm not happy about it."
Sura leaned back, crossing her arms. "I appreciate your willingness to help, but you're not getting involved in my business for free. I'll give you the money to buy a prosthetic leg and more if you help me reconnect with my team. But don't think for a second this will be easy. Once we make contact, we'll have to move fast. The longer I'm cut off, the more dangerous things get."
As the tension simmered, Kaius leaned forward, thinking about his own dream. This might be my chance.
"Let me tell you something, Sura," Kaius said, his voice more controlled now.
"I'm not just helping you because of some deal. I'm working on something myself—a project, something that could change people's lives."
Sura raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what's that?" Sura said in sarcastic tone.
Kaius glanced at his father before speaking. "A pill. A way for people to control their dreams."
Sura blinked. "Dream control? Sounds like something out of a cheap sci-fi vid."
"No," Kaius said quickly.
"It's more than that. It's not about escaping reality like the drifters. It's about giving people a way to face their pain, to heal from it. Imagine someone who's lost everything—someone who's crippled by grief or trauma. With this pill, they can experience closure, meet their loved ones in their dreams, and process that loss in ways they can't in the waking world."
Gareth shook his head, clearly conflicted. "And what happens when people become addicted? What if they never want to wake up? We've seen what happens to the drifters."
Kaius stepped forward, speaking with more passion than he ever had.
"That's not what this pill is. It's not a drug that turns you into a slave. It's a tool, one that allows people to live through their trauma, to face their deepest fears or regrets. It could help people who are clinically depressed, people with chronic pain, or even veterans with PTSD. This isn't just about dreams—it's about healing."
Sura's gaze sharpened. "So, it's not like drifting?"
Kaius shook his head. "No. Drifting is a temporary escape. You're a passive observer. This pill gives people control—full control. It's a breakthrough, and it could change everything."
Gareth was silent for a long moment, his brow furrowed.
"And you think the higher-ups will just let you make something like that? You're dreaming if you think they'll allow it. They'll silence you before you get anywhere near production."
"That's why we need connections," Kaius said, his voice hardening.
"We need people like Sura. People who know how to move in the underworld, who can help us navigate these waters."