She looked around the market, which was full of life. She saw people smiling, heard footsteps, smelled fresh bread and seafood from the nearby cafes. Fresh fruits, aromatic spices, and local delicacies were on the shelves. Delia stopped at one of the stands, admiring the huge, bright oranges. She couldn't help but smile.
"Oh, how I missed real life!" she muttered to herself.
Suddenly, Delia noticed one of the locals, a young guy with a cheerful face, approach her and curiously put his hand into the basket on the counter.
"Want to try some?" he asked, handing her a piece of delicious cheese.
She smiled in surprise and took the free treat, feeling her spirits rise.
"This is amazing!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her delight. "I've never tasted anything like this!"
The boy laughed, his eyes shining with kindness.
"Yes, there are many interesting things here! Have you just arrived?"
Delia nodded, deciding not to go into details about her visit. She didn't want to talk about the Convention or her abilities. At this moment, she just wanted to enjoy life.
"I'm looking for adventure," she admitted, feeling the sincerity in her voice.
The boy, carried away by her words, leaned closer and whispered:
"Then follow me, I know a place where you can try the best seafood in the city!"
With these words, he extended his hand to her, and Delia, filled with a spirit of adventure, happily accepted his offer. As they walked along the narrow streets, Delia felt incredibly free. Her thoughts were occupied only with delicious food and new impressions. Suddenly, among the crowd, she noticed a familiar face. Her heart began to beat faster as she realized it was Edwin DeForest, her old friend from the Moonbase.
"Delia?" he called out to her as he pushed through the crowd.
She turned around and cried out happily,
"Edwin!"
He walked up to her, his face lighting up with a smile.
"I couldn't believe I was here!" he said, hugging her. "I came to Earth to watch over you and make sure you were okay."
Delia felt a renewed sense of security well up inside her. Edwin had always been her rock, and now, when her life seemed so precarious, his presence was a reminder that she was not alone.
"How did you know I was here?" she asked, pulling back and looking at him.
"The Convention sends constant updates. I heard you were on Earth and I flew out to get you right away," he replied, frowning slightly. "I was concerned about how you were handling the situation."
"It's all a bit confusing," she admitted, rubbing her forehead. "I feel like I'm being used."
Edwin squeezed her shoulder, his eyes sparkling with determination.
"I'm here to help. You shouldn't feel alone."
Delia felt a surge of warmth and trust in him.
"I need some space, Edwin. I just ran away from an important philosophers' convention, and I have a feeling it's not doing me any good," she said with a hint of irony. "And this place..." she gestured toward the bustling marketplace, "is wonderful! I want to enjoy it."
"I think you're right," Edwin smiled. "That's a really great idea. Let's just walk around and enjoy the city!"
They began to move through the market, and Delia began to tell Edwin about how she used her powers to create a protective field and about her encounters with Makoto Shugarami. Edwin listened attentively, his expression becoming more and more serious.
"You have to be careful with Makoto. His ambitions are limitless, and he will use you if he gets the chance," he warned.
"I know," Delia nodded, "but right now I just want to forget about all the intrigue and just enjoy the moment."
They stopped at a stand selling fresh seafood. Delia picked out some shrimp, and Edwin ordered a tuna sandwich. As they waited for their order, she noticed his face and how he had become more serious and mature since the last time they saw each other at the Moon Base.
Once their food was ready, they found a small table outside where they could dine and watch the city go by. Deep down, Delia knew that danger still lurked around her, and now that Edwin was by her side, she could handle any challenge.
After a delicious meal and enjoying the atmosphere of Lisbon, Delia and Edwin decided that they had to take action. They couldn't let the Convention and Makoto Shugarami control their fate. Delia knew that her abilities could help uncover the truth about the mysterious disappearance of the "Sun Rainbow" and what was really going on with Japhet Byrnes.
"We need to start our own investigation," Delia said, her eyes shining with determination. "If the Convention isn't going to do it fairly, then we'll have to figure it out ourselves."
Edwin nodded, his expression turning serious.
"I agree. Let's gather information about Japhet first. I heard he has connections to several influential people, and his case raises many questions."
Delia pulled out her small notebook and pen, preparing to write down important details.
"The first thing we need to do is find people who might know something about Japhet," she suggested. "Perhaps his friends or acquaintances can give us a clue as to his true intentions."
"Okay, but we also need to be careful. I know the Convention controls information, and someone might be following us," Edwin warned. "We need to be one step ahead."
Delia nodded, realizing how dangerous the situation was.
"What if we try talking to the locals? I can use my abilities to contact those who might know about him," she suggested, her voice filled with confidence.
Edwin looked at her with interest.
"You mean you can sense their emotions or intentions?"
"Yes, but that would be risky." If someone senses that I am using my powers, it could attract unwanted attention," Delia replied, aware of the danger.
After their discussion, they went to a local club that was famous for its musicians and atmosphere. Delia knew that such places attracted artists, and perhaps some of them knew Japhet or his entourage. As they entered the club, Delia noticed that Edwin immediately became wary, his attention focused on those around him.
"Let's just sit and watch for a while," he suggested, pointing to an empty table in the corner.
They sat down and ordered drinks. Delia scanned the room with her eyes, listening to conversations and studying the people. She noticed a girl sitting at a table nearby. She looked nervous and kept glancing towards the stage where the musicians were performing. Delia felt that this girl might know something about Japhet.
"Edwin," she said quietly, pointing at the girl, "I think she might be useful."
Edwin nodded, his face serious.
"Let's go to her. Be careful not to give away all your intentions."
Delia took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts, and walked toward the table where the girl sat. Edwin followed her, his support giving her confidence.
"Hello," Delia said as she approached. "I noticed you were alone here. Do you come here often?"
The girl raised her head and looked at Delia curiously.
"Yes, I come here sometimes. The music is incredible," she replied, smiling slightly. "Have you come to listen too?"
"Yes, I just love live music," Delia said, trying to sound casual. "Do you happen to know Japhet Byrnes? I've heard he comes here a lot."
The girl hesitated, her eyes darkening for a moment.
"Why do you need him?" she asked, her voice growing wary.
Delia noticed the girl's tension and decided to use her abilities to establish a connection.
"I just want to understand what happened to him. I think he's in danger," she said, trying to put sincerity into her words.
The girl looked at her, and Delia tried to establish a mental connection. She saw a short fragment of Japhet laughing with his friends, then darkness.
"He's... He's gone," the girl said in a quiet voice. "The last time I saw him, he was talking about something related to the Convention."
Delia listened intently, her heart beating faster.
"What do you know about what he was discussing?" she asked, trying to deepen the conversation.
"I'm not sure... But I heard that he was going to meet with one of the high-profile people," the girl continued. "It was dangerous. I told him not to, but he didn't listen."
Edwin exchanged a look with Delia, knowing they were on the right track.
"Could you tell me more?" Delia asked, her voice urgent but still friendly.
The girl hesitated, and Delia sensed that they were on the verge of revealing something important, seeing her hesitation.
"I... I can try to find out information," she said finally. "But it could be dangerous."
"We're ready for it," Edwin assured her, his voice confident.
Delia felt the desire to know the truth ignite within her, and she knew that with every step they took, they were getting closer to uncovering the secrets that threatened her and Japhet's lives.
She and Edwin knew they had to act fast. The information about Japhet and the "Sun Rainbow" was too important to leave to the Convention. They were preparing for a bold move: infiltrating the Convention archives. That night, when silence fell over Lisbon, they gathered outside the Convention building. Before they went inside, they carefully surveyed their surroundings.
"We must find a way to distract attention," Delia said, her voice full of determination. "If I create an illusion, the guards will not notice when we slip inside."
Edwin nodded, his expression focused.
"Okay, let's try it. We must be careful. If we are caught, it could be the end for both of us."
Delia gathered all her concentration, focusing on her powers. She imagined a bright light flashing at the main entrance. Then, with a little effort, she created an illusion that made the guards look in that direction.
"Come on," she whispered, and they crept into the building while the guards were distracted.
As soon as Delia and Edwin were inside, they headed for the door that led to the archives, where they knew important documents were kept.
"We have to be very quiet," Edwin whispered, his eyes scanning the hallway warily.
Delia shook her head, showing that she understood. They approached the archives door, and fortunately it was unlocked. They walked inside carefully, trying not to make a sound. The archives were full of shelves with documents that were carefully arranged in folders. Delia felt a rush of adrenaline.
"We need to find something about the "Sun Rainbow" and Japhet," she said, looking through the documents.
Edwin began searching through one of the folders, and Delia set to work, quickly flipping through the pages until she came across a folder marked "Classified."
"Hey, look at this," she called to Edwin, and he came closer.
He opened the folder, and their eyes widened in surprise. Inside were reports on the "Sun Rainbow", details of its route, and how it had disappeared into a known corridor of space.
"They knew something would happen to it!" Edwin said, his voice shaking with anger. "This was all intentional!"
Delia quickly read the information, and her heart began to beat faster. There were mentions of suspicious deals with various space companies that could be connected to Makoto Shugarami.
"We should take this with us," she said, pulling out several documents and putting them in her bag.
Suddenly they heard a noise outside the door. The guards might have noticed the absence of several agents, and their attention was drawn to the opening of the archive.
"Hurry," Delia whispered, her eyes darting to the exit. "We have to go!"
They hurried to the door, but before they could open it, footsteps were heard behind it. Edwin quickly closed the folders, and they both pressed themselves against the wall, trying not to breathe. A figure of a guard appeared in the doorway, looked around and began to walk past. Delia, wasting no time, decided to use her powers. She created a subtle illusion, making the guard turn in the other direction, giving them an opportunity to slip out.
"Let's go," she whispered, and they quickly slipped out of the archive, trying not to attract attention.
Once in the corridor, they headed for the exit, but their joy was short-lived. As soon as they stepped outside, a dark starship suddenly flew over their heads, and at the same moment several fluorescent drones emerged from it, which began to scan the area.
"We have to get out of here," Edwin said, his face tense. "They've spotted us!"
They hadn't even taken a few steps when a group of men in black suits charged at them. Delia felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead. They were Makoto Shugarami's agents.
"Delia," one of the agents said, his voice full of contempt, "you have to come back with us."
"Never!" Delia replied, focusing her powers, preparing to fight.
But before she could activate her abilities, the agents pounced on her and grabbed her arms. Edwin rushed forward, trying to save her, but he, too, was quickly neutralized.
"Stop!" he screamed as he was grabbed. Delia felt her heart skip a beat in fear.
The agents quickly pushed them into a van that was already waiting outside. Delia, realizing that she had to act, began to think of a way to escape. But before she could do anything, the van started moving and she panicked.
They were soon taken to an underground complex, where they were led out of the van and down a dimly lit hallway. Delia looked around the place and her heart started beating faster again. There were many steel doors and high walls, as if they were in a prison. At the end of the hallway, they stopped in front of a huge door. Delia felt the tension build.
"Where are they taking us?" she whispered, unable to hide her fear.
"To the holding cell," the agent replied with an icy gaze. "You will be there until you give in."
The door opened and Delia saw an empty room, covered in white tiles. There were no windows or objects on the walls, only a small table and a hard chair. The agent pushed her inside and she fell to the floor. Edwin tried to break free from the guards, but he was pushed in as well, and the door slammed shut with a thud.
Delia hugged her knees to her chest and tried to calm herself. She knew she couldn't give up, and she decided to use this moment to think of an escape plan.
"Delia, are you okay?" Edwin asked her.
"I can handle this," she replied, getting to her feet.
Her thoughts were racing in different directions, and she closed her eyes, trying to focus. After a few minutes of waiting, she felt the air around her begin to change. She created a protective field around herself, filling the room with bright light. Then Delia focused on the sounds outside the door, picking up the guards' conversations.
"She shouldn't come out," one of the agents said. "Makoto wants her to stay here until he decides what to do next."
Delia felt anger boiling inside her. Makoto had set her up, and now she had to regain control of the situation.
"We need to act," she said to herself, deciding to seize the moment.
She took a step back, pressing herself against the wall, and focused on the door. Using telekinesis, she tried to pry the lock open, and the door swung open quietly. The guards who were on duty didn't notice her leaving the room.
As she made her way down the dimly lit hallway, Delia felt like every step brought her closer to freedom, but she knew Makoto Shugarami wouldn't sit idly by. Before she could even turn the corner, she suddenly heard a metallic sound coming from behind the door she had just left. Her heart pounded, and she realized that her pursuers were already on their way.
"Damn!" she muttered, quickening her pace.
But she had only taken a few steps when combat drones rolled out from around the corner - soulless machines equipped with weapons, capable of tracking and neutralizing targets with incredible accuracy. They quickly began moving, aiming for Delia.
"No, no, no!" she cried, and gathering all her strength, she raised her hands up.
A bright light erupted around her as she created energy, ready to defend herself. The drones activated their laser sights, and red lights flashed at Delia. She could feel their mechanical eyes scanning her, determining the distance to their target.
"We must act!" Delia decided.
She clenched her fists, and a stream of energy erupted from her hands, striking the nearest drone. The metal structure exploded, flying apart, and the noise echoed throughout the hallway. The other drones began firing randomly, and Delia quickly moved to the side, dodging the beams that pierced the air.
"I can't give up!" she said, knowing that the only way to escape was to use her power to its fullest.
Concentrating, she created a second wave of energy, but this time she aimed it at the ceiling. The slab supporting the structure collapsed, covering several more drones. Delia continued to move, using her abilities to make the drones tangle and shoot at each other.