(Short chapter. Sorry.)
The next day
Yoru strolled towards the dining room to get some snacks with his hands casually tucked into his pockets. As he turned the corner to enter the room, his eyes locked onto Skye, who was engrossed in pouring herself a cup of coffee. Sensing an opportunity to make an impression, Yoru swiftly backtracked and took cover behind the nearby wall. He pulled out his trusty butterfly comb from his pocket and styled his blue hair, ensuring he looked absolutely fabulous.
After a moment, Yoru took a deep breath and reentered the room, only to find Skye just a few steps away from colliding with him. Startled, they exchanged surprised glances. Yoru coughed lightly, attempting to regain his cool composure. "Skye. Fancy seeing you here," he greeted, a subtle nervousness in his voice.
Skye returned the greeting. "Yoru. Coffee craving too?" she asked, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. Yoru nodded, trying to appear casual. "Yeah, just coffee. You know, fuel for the missions and all," he replied, giving a nonchalant shrug. Coffee seemed like the mature and sophisticated choice, superior to mere snacks.
Observing the bruise on Yoru's cheek, Skye couldn't help but express her concern. "What happened to your face? Looks like you took quite a hit," she remarked, her caring nature shining through. "Oh, this. Well, we fought some kind of robot on our last mission. It landed a lucky punch," he admitted, feeling a twinge of weakness.
Skye retrieved her healing trinket and hovered her hand over his bruised cheek. "You should have come to me or Sage. We could have patched you up," she said with care.
Yoru's heart skipped a beat as Skye healed his bruise in a matter of seconds. He touched his face, confirming that the pain was gone. "Thanks, Skye. cough That was... nice of you," he gratefully expressed, his words slightly stumbling.
"Anytime. Looking out for each other is what we do," she replied. With a casual farewell, Skye excused herself and made her way out of the dining room, leaving Yoru standing there. He sighed, then walked to the fridge instead of the coffee machine, still craving some snacks.
Suddenly, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. "I thought you're getting coffee." It was Jett, sitting at the dining table, munching on a bowl of cereal. Yoru couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her choice of meal for the time of day.
"Since when were you there? And who the hell eats cereal at this hour?" Yoru questioned, glancing at the clock, which displayed 4 PM.
Jett shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Hey, don't judge the cereal obsession. It's an anytime food. And you didn't ask Skye why she got coffee at this hour," she defended with a playful grin. Yoru couldn't resist a snarky comment. "Whatever," he responded as he opened the fridge. "Looks like someone's got a crush," Jett teased, a playful glimmer in her eyes.
Yoru then turned his back on the fridge and glared at Jett, "You say one more shit and I'll tell everyone about your crush on Phoenix," he threatened helplessly.
Jett's face turned red, and she adamantly denied the accusation. "What? I don't like Phoenix! No way! That's... that's ridiculous! Where'd you get that from?" she protested, her embarrassment evident.
Yoru smirked, enjoying her reaction. "Bullshit. It's obvious. It's written all over your face. You've got a thing for him," he playfully teased, watching her squirm.
For a few moments, the two were silent. The air thick with unspoken words and embarrassment. Eventually, Jett broke the silence. "Hey," she called out, her tone shifting to a more serious note. "What?" Yoru responded as he crossed his arms, waiting for his microwave popcorn to be ready.
"If you help me get closer to Phoenix, I'll help you get closer to Skye. Deal?" Jett proposed, her cheek resting against her palm, a smile forming on her face.
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Glitch made his way to Killjoy's lab after a long rest from their discussion. He had left the two early last night because it was late. As he entered the dark lab, he looked around and called out to them. "Hey, Killjoy? KAY/O?" he called out, hoping for a response. Suddenly, KAY/O appeared and swiftly gestured for Glitch to stay quiet, placing a finger in front of his 'face'.
Glitch noticed that Killjoy had fallen asleep at her desk. KAY/O gently moved her to a nearby couch, and Glitch draped a blanket over her to ensure she was comfortable. Glancing at the scattered blueprints on her desk, Glitch could see the frustration in Killjoy's tired eyes, suggesting she had tried relentlessly to find a solution. KAY/O nodded in agreement, acknowledging Killjoy's efforts. "Even though she didn't find a breakthrough, I appreciate her dedication. I feel guilty for being so self-centered," KAY/O admitted.
Glitch sighed, his eyes fixed on the failed blueprints. "You should let her know that when she wakes up. Like I said yesterday, Omega Earth's Valorant is invading our world, and if we can find a way toget one of them to tell us about how they get here, it might lead us to some answers," Glitch suggested. KAY/O remained silent, his artificial intelligence showing traces of concern. He couldn't help but worry about Sergeant Novikov and Doctor Böhringer, who were likely still waiting for his return. "Worst case scenario, I'm stuck in this world," KAY/O acknowledged with a tinge of regret.
Glitch settled on Killjoy's desk chair and motioned for KAY/O to sit on the couch facing him. "You knew the risks when you decided to take the leap through the portal, right? There was a chance you might not return," Glitch reminded him. KAY/O nodded in agreement. "Affirmative. I believed going back in time was impossible, and the possibility of not returning crossed my thoughts. However, finding myself in another world gave me hope that there might be a way back," KAY/O shared. "But now, it seems like this may be a one-way trip. I might not be able to go back."
Glitch took a moment to tidy up the failed blueprints scattered across Killjoy's desk, arranging everything with care. "Does it bother you that much? No offense, I know you're not a simple robot. But even if you were to return, there wouldn't be any more Radiants for you to fight, as you mentioned," Glitch pointed out. KAY/O contemplated Glitch's words, processing the implications. "Regardless of the outcome, it would be disheartening. I was built to eliminate Radiants. It's true that if I were to return, I wouldn't have a purpose anymore. But my main concern is that Sergeant Novikov and Doctor Böhringer are still waiting," KAY/O confessed.
Glitch leaned back in the chair, observing the sleeping Killjoy. "Nothing should have changed in your world. You didn't travel through time, but rather to a different world. Changing the past should've changed their present. If nothing has changed, they should realize that the plan failed. You don't need to burden them with the details anymore," Glitch suggested, trying to provide some reassurance.
KAY/O looked at Killjoy, contemplating Glitch's words. "You're right. Maybe my world's Doctor Böhringer was simply desperate. Traveling between worlds is one thing, but going back in time is even more implausible," KAY/O admitted. Glitch nodded in agreement. "We might not be able to send you home immediately, but we will try," he promised, trying to instill confidence.
"Thank you. My presence might not hold significance here after all," KAY/O expressed. Glitch shook his head, refusing to accept such statement. "No. I believe that your arrival was destined. Even without the ability to express emotions, it was evident that KAY/O was perplexed. "How?" he inquired.
"You see, while humans and Radiants try to coexist peacefully in this world, there are still Radiant criminals lurking about. The Valorant Protocol was established to handle such threats involving radianite and Radiants," Glitch explained, hoping to shed light on KAY/O's potential role.
KAY/O was taken aback, a wave of realization washing over him. "Not all Radiants are nice in this world. While we wait for a way to send you back, your presence has meaning here. I guarantee it," Glitch affirmed. "With criminals on the loose, a Radiant war is a possible future in this world, don't you think? You can help us prevent that from happening," he continued, his voice filled with conviction.
KAY/O nodded, taking in Glitch's words. "I can fight to prevent the war, instead of fighting the war," KAY/O muttered. Glitch reciprocated the nod. "You're not just a robot. You're a gift from the future," Glitch confirmed.
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Omega Earth
As midnight fell, the man in the black battle suit and mask stood amidst the lifeless bodies of radiant terrorists. His breath labored beneath his mask, evidence of the fierce battle he had just endured. Despite his triumph over the threats, exhaustion weighed heavily upon him. After dropping his Phantom and taking a moment to collect himself, he sensed a presence lurking in the darkness of the warehouse.
Two figures materialized from the shadows, revealing Omega Brimstone and Omega Cypher. "You've got sharp senses," Omega Brimstone remarked. Suspicion lingered in the man's gaze. "I know you. The Valorant Legion. Here to apprehend me?" he questioned. "Relax. We're not your enemies," Brimstone assured him. Curiosity piqued, the man inquired, "What do you want?"
Brimstone's voice resonated with conviction. "We want you to become a hero, to fight alongside us." The man scoffed in response, his hostility palpable. "You heroes are so self-righteous. The public cheers for you while I'm out here doing the real work every damn night. All you do is spin tales about threats from another world, and now you want me to join your sorry ranks," he spat.
Brimstone staunchly defended their cause. "We are doing everything in our power to save our world. It may not be apparent, but we fight for the survival of every country and city," he countered. Omega Cypher stepped forward, projecting a holographic image displaying a live energy fluctuation graph of their planet's core. "Our world is on the brink of collapse," he stated gravely.
"Following the First Light incident, our planet's climate began to unravel. Rising sea levels threatened to submerge coastal cities beneath the ocean's depths. To protect them, Kingdom Industries and us, the Valorant Legion, constructed geo-domes, preserving habitable areas as the Atlantic surged relentlessly," Cypher explained.
Brimstone continued, emphasizing the urgency of their situation. "If we don't intervene, the same fate awaits the entire planet. We desperately need a stable energy source to save everyone. That's why we are seeking Radianite. And we need your help."
The man dismissed their plea, pointing out Kingdom's vast resources. "Radianite? Kingdom has everything at their disposal. You don't need me," Brimstone's expression grew somber. "Unfortunately, we don't have enough Radianite. That's why we're trying to get more from another world that does not require it as desperately," Cypher interjected.
Skepticism still clung to the masked man. "Another world? Spare me the fantasies," he retorted. Brimstone urged him to face the truth. "Deep down, you know we speak the truth."
A brief moment of silence enveloped the room. The man took a step closer, his resolve flickering. "What do I have to do?" he inquired.
Brimstone extended his hand, a gesture of trust and unity. "Will you join the Valorant Legion, Mr. l/n?" he asked.
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To be continued