Ignorance is bliss, Anby realized that day. She could play dumb like Nicole, or be dumb like Billy. Just help Belle with whatever she needs and get paid in sweet dennies. Not to mention she get to have fun with Belle and not think of any tragedy that's happening in the background.
But of course, she just had to be perceptive, now she has to pay the price...
For the truth she's sought...
"So, what do you think?" there's playful smile on Belle's face, though her voice was cold and almost unsettling. She led the group into a room upstairs, the one located just beside Belle's room. It took everyone a moment to realize that this place used to be Wise's room, now turned into... a laboratory.
Strange Crystals were strewn around a large examination table. A clawed pedestal carries an orb that looks like a miniature hollow. Piles of TVs were stacked across the room, each one pulsating randomly with different channels and static. And a large pedestal at the other end of the room, stood proudly, with lights shining at it and numerous radios and old tv stacked all around it.
Finally, Anby found strange Polychromes stacked very neatly at the other end of the room, inside a glass cabinet. There's not many of it, only a handful, and something tells her that those polychromes are not used to make video tapes.
"Uhh... What is this?" Nicole stepped forward, looking around the room. "Are you, shooting a solo movie? What's with the stage?" she asked, walking closer towards the stage.
Belle giggled a little, some form of warmth and cheerfulness returning. "Ehehe~ It's not for singing or recording, it's for showcasing," she glanced between the cabinet full of polychrome and to the group, as if considering something. "I... really want to show you guys what this thing does, but I'm running low on those..."
"These?" Billy took a closer look at the cabinet. "Seems like the stuff inside a tape, you can buy these in 141, no?"
"How I wish I can..." Belle chuckled a little. "Gosh, that'll be amazing, wouldn't it?" she shook her head. "But no, I have to make these from materials that are only found in the Hollow," she sighed a little. "Honestly, part of our partnership will be all about you guys helping me find these."
"What are these for?" Nicole asked.
"I want to show you but..." she walked over, quietly counting the amount. "I don't have enough... I need 200 more," she grinned. "Help me collect these and I'll show you what this does!"
"This is Hollow Signal Generator," Anby spoke suddenly, gazing at the miniature hollow pulsating on a large table. "So this is what you've been working on?" she tilted her head and turned to Belle. "I was right, you are preparing for a full-scale war..."
Belle folded her arms. "It's just a little scuffle, like between the Cunning Hares and Red Fang Gang the other day,"
"That's true if the Cunning Hares is Phaethon and the Red Fang is New Eridu itself," Anby stepped towards one of the old TV on the pile and crouched down in front of it. "I've only seen this technology in movie..." she reached into the tv screen and her hand passes through into the static.
It was... strange, there's this soft electric sensation on her hand. The texture is soft, almost gooey, but not wet. She pushed deeper and deeper into the static everlasting, until... she can feel another hand grasping.
"ANBY!"
She can feel everyone trying to pull her back, but it was too late, the static swallowed her. A clear glass? Old tv? Nay, a gap in the precipice of what's real and what isn't. Everything is just a blur around her, a mixture of colors fighting for dominance.
Then, she saw herself, gazing at her, looking as confused as herself. Then she saw herself again and again, each one holding her hand, each one as confused as she was. Or perhaps she was looking at a mirror? Each one reflecting a different Anby from different screen.
Then, they all embraced her, or did she embraced them? Everything felt different. The Cunning Hares, Belle, everything shifted ever so slightly. Her memories, all she knew, shifted subtly, not changing drastically, but just enough for her to feel like someone else.
There was a spark and suddenly, she found herself standing inside the room. Not on the floor, but on the pedestal at the corner of the room. She looked at herself, no real difference than usual, but she does feel... like someone else. Or simply, using brand-new clothes.
"Anby?" Nicole said, face pale and trembling slightly. "Are you okay?"
"Mm, I feel fine," Anby hopped off the pedestal. "I found myself in there," She began. "We found each other, resonate with each other," she shook her head. "Now we're together," she looked at her hand, unharmed, unblemished, but permanently altered along with the rest of her being.
"Anby!" there was a blur of red and black, a certain metallic knight hugged her tightly. "I thought I lost you!!! Don't go putting your hand into interdimensional rift!" he let go of her. "It'll take ages for us to get you back!!!"
Anby smiled ever so slightly. "Sorry for worrying you," they stepped down from the pedestal and turned to Belle. "You looked surprised Belle, was that not what you're expecting?"
"I'm not stupid enough to put my hand in there!" Belle said, though smiling brightly in excitement. "But wow... was that a 100% rate???" she turned to Nicole. "Nicole! You're up!"
"Huh?"
"Get in there!"
Nicole shook her head. "I'm not jumping into the void!!!" she exclaimed.
"Pretty please? With a cherry on top???"
"Belle, sweetie, that was the most terrifying thing I've seen in real life, no!"
The store owner sighed and rolled her eyes. "Fine..." she turned to Anby. "Still, can't believe you actually did that!" she pat her back. "That's why I like you Anby, you're just not afraid of anything are you?"
Anby shook her head. "I feel afraid many times, there's a lot of terrifying things out there," she replied simply. "It just so happens that static portal isn't one of the things I'm afraid of,"
Belle tilted her head. "Then, what are you afraid of?"
Anby gazed back at Belle for a few seconds, as if answering her question. Then she turned to a chair nearby and sat down. "I'm afraid of stock market crash," she said finally.
"Eh?"
"It's very scary, don't you think?" Anby elaborates. "The economy relies on it, if anything happens to the stock market, businesses and families will be in trouble. Cities can fall into chaos, dennies becomes rubbles, law and order will be replaced by survival of the fittest..."
"Anby," Nicole said suddenly. "We're Hollow Raiders, if that happens, we're the group that is most benefited from that,"
Anby blinked slowly. "I wouldn't be able to eat burgers if that's the case," she said finally.
Meanwhile, Belle nudged at Billy, pointing at the TV. "You wanna try tough guy? Come on, The Starlight Knight will never back down from a challenge now do they?"
Billy narrowed his optics and paced around in deep thought. "Hmmm... You're right Manager..." he looked between her and the tv. "But the Starlight Knights have always taught me to be Brave, not Reckless. Wouldn't this count as reckless?"
"Anby was reckless because she did that without knowing what will happen, but if you were to be the one to do it, then it won't be reckless! You're brave because you already know the risk!"
"Fair point!" Billy folded his arms. "Alright then, let's try it!!!" he twirled around. "Starlight Knights, away!!!!" with a heroic pose, he backflipped into the static.
"Wait, Billy! No!" Nicole shouted suddenly.
[LINE BREAK]
Stock market crash is scary, that much is true. When she looked up where the ingredients of a burger is made, the intricate supply chain that exists and all the people who made it possible. Anby realized just how important the economy is and how terrifying a stock market crash could be.
However her fear for Stock Market crash is nothing to the fear she felt whenever Belle looked at her. It's still the same Belle she knew and love, but instead of warmth, all she felt is either burning inferno or an icy tundra. She looked ready to kill beneath that smile.
"I see a million suns, singing at me!" Billy exclaimed, recounting his experience in the static as he sat on the sofa. His casing seemingly gleam with red light. "They all called me the Starlight Knight, the Paragon of Justice and Peace!"
Anby nodded. "You are meant for something greater Billy,"
"I know right!?" Billy exclaimed, vibrating on the couch in excitement. "Perhaps, through the veils of fiction, it really was the Starlight Knights!! And I have been chosen to become their herald!"
Anby clapped her hand calmly. "You go Billy…" she said softly before turning to Nicole and Belle, the two are talking business near the HDD. After Belle's reveal and the void stuff, it seems Nicole finally took a hint that something is amiss.
"-really don't mind if you were to ask us to storm Janus HQ," Nicole said, twiddling around with her Amillion keychain. "But sweetie, if you want us to be partners, you gotta be transparent about your goals."
Belle looked away, her eyes meeting Anby's for a split second, before looking back at Nicole. "Have you ever taken a life, Nicole?"
"Honey, the Cunning Hares is a Hollow Raider," Nicole replied calmly. "Have we taken life? That's the job requirement," she gestured at Anby and Billy. "Don't let our demeanor fool you, when business come knocking, it's kill or be killed."
That was a lie, Anby noted silently. The Cunning Hares, though have taken lives accidentally, do not take assassination job. Nicole's too much a softie to do the deed, Billy thinks it's not heroic… only Anby herself has experience in such a matter, even then, she'd rather not.
"Alright, I'll tell you," Belle said finally. "Honestly, there's still a lot I don't know," she began to pace around the room. "We… know too much, or rather, Wise knows too much. Some, people, really don't like what he knows. Pubsec, raiders, TOPS, nobody likes the Phaethon for knowing about it."
Anby had to give it to Nicole. For a fraud, she's really second to none when it comes to prying her clients for secrets. The way she seamlessly blend truth and lies, it's almost mesmerizing in some way. She can almost imagine that, Nicole might be just the one to keep Belle on track.
"I don't believe for a second that Wise's death was an accident," Belle continues. "I've spent… a week trying to get to the bottom of it. All evidence points to Janus HQ, the upcoming election, the pubsec, the TOPS…" she paused. "My enemy are the untouchables."
A sly grin formed on Nicole's face. "Aww honey, is that why you're so secretive? You thought the Cunning Hares gonna back down just cuz the TOPS are on their tails," the girl sauntered closer to Belle. "Listen to me sweetie…" her voice lowered to a sweet whisper. "I would love to bring hell upon these people who took the life of my precious friend."
Oh, finally, she said something that is the truth, Anby noticed. It took a lot of practice, but Anby is getting better shifting where Nicole lies and when she isn't. Just now she isn't lying, perhaps she and Belle isn't so different after all? Or perhaps that's just her emotion at the heat of the moment.
Belle smiled brightly in response. "Bestie!" she embraced Nicole into a hug.
"Bestie~" Nicole returned the hug.
Anby sighed softly, willing herself to relax. Something tells her that from this point on, the Cunning Hares will stop being a mere annoyance, but became a feared group of mercenaries instead. Is she ready to have blood in her hands? Perhaps, perhaps not, but she has no choice in this matter.
All she can do is just wait and see...