Decha had spent a few days at the Agency, recovering from the injection of the drug that immobilized him for a brief time. The Science and Research team at the Agency took a blood sample from him to find out what the drug was.

Decha's arm still felt itchy, but it was more bearable than before. He went home to meet Jessica to go over plans for Rory's surgery. But he barely had the chance to make it down the hall toward his mother's office before a pair of black combat boots was shoved in front of his face.

He stopped right before walking into them and looked down. Rory was standing there with a confident smile plastered on her face.

"It looks like you have something to tell me." Decha didn't feel like asking her why she was holding his shoes while suspiciously grinning.

"Yeah, I made these, and I wanted you to test them." Rory was holding her latest invention. The boots were very similar in design to the ones Decha wore to complete his uniform. On the bottom was a vertical strip of white, made with the same material used for roller blades.

"You made me... boots?"

"Yes, but these aren't just regular boots. I've constructed them with polyurethane, and they're lighter in weight than your standard ones. It'll allow you to move faster."

Decha didn't like that she worked on another project when she was supposed to be resting, but he decided not to delve into that. "Why?"

Rory bit her lip and brought the boots down to her side. "The other day when you were attacked by POYO, it terrified me. I know you say you're trained for a serious battle, but it makes me uneasy when something I created was reprogrammed to hurt people. Or worse. I don't think I'd be able to go on if POYO killed you."

"Rory, that machine isn't—"

"Just Listen," Rory pressed her finger against his lips, cutting him off abruptly. "I looked at the footage. You were at a disadvantage because POYO is much faster. And I've thought about it. I want you to take that droid down. Don't hold back because it's something I worked hard to make. I realized that you've made a lot of sacrifices for me, so I want to repay you." Rory finished.

There was a long silence after her statement. Decha was sorting his thoughts, he didn't know how to respond. He snatched the boots out of her hands and gazed at them blankly. "You think too much. I'm starting to think your mind goes wild whenever I'm not around."

Rory blushed and looked away from him. In a way, he was right. She thought a lot about Decha in the last few days. So much that it was embarrassing.

"So are you just gonna stand there or teach me how to use these things?"

Rory's eyes lit up with joy. Her change of reaction briefly startled Decha. "I'll teach you."

"Outside." Decha turned and walked in the opposite direction of where he was originally headed. Rory followed Decha out the front door of the large home. He led her to the open driveway and took off his regular boots. "Does it work on all roads?"

"It should."

"It should? You should know as the inventor."

"I do. Sort of. They work very similarly to rollerblades. But I made them light so your speed is increased. I also constructed the strip while thinking of the Cheetah. They're very fast—"

"You don't have to give me animal facts."

"Right. But they work very similarly to the way it runs. Stretch your legs far with each step, and your speed will increase. To activate the strips, tap the small button on the front of the boots with your toes facing the ground."

"Got it." Decha nodded and did as told. He took one leap forward, and the boots acted on their own. One of them skidded forward faster than he could register. He fell onto his bottom and cursed.

"Decha! Are you okay?" Rory reached out to help him, but he held a hand up to prevent her.

"Don't touch me." He commanded her harshly. He hated vulnerability. Rory worrying about him as if he were fragile annoyed him. He pushed himself off the concrete and repositioned himself.

"Maybe we should get safety gear so you don't hurt yourself—"

"I can do it. It's not the first time I've fallen before." Decha wiped his face and kept his eyes ahead of him. Then he took off, this time much more in control of the boots.

Having the mind of a genius had perks. He was able to learn from physical miscalculations after the first time.

Rory watched as Decha glided around the driveway flawlessly. His hairband came off because of how fast he was running, so his hair moved with the wind. At that moment, she thought he looked extremely cool.

She felt ecstatic that her invention worked. To see if put into action made her feel amazed at her skill. It seemed that her gadgets suited Decha well.

Decha drifted around her, causing a cold breeze to whip her hair around. It was done on purpose to make her react, and it worked. Rory smiled and laughed.

When Decha was finished, he stopped in front of her and brushed his hair back. His body slid forward a little as he deactivated the strips. "Not bad."

"I know, right?" Rory cheered. "Wasn't it fun? You looked so cool! So professional. And you were going at least 70!"

"You're going to be a great Engineer in the future, that's for sure." Decha poked Rory's head. Then he leaned closer with a smile. "Probably the next best in Astell."

Rory felt her heart pound in her chest. Her neck and face were hot. "Decha... you..." She wasn't sure how to respond because her body was too busy crushing on him. Her mind went blank and she just smiled at him in response.

"Your face..." Decha blinked at her. "What's with the weird look?"

"It means a lot to me," Rory admitted. "I'm touched by your words. Deeply."

"I'm just being honest." Decha shrugged. His statement earned him a hug. Rory embraced him tightly, and Decha didn't refuse it. She pulled away after some time and smiled at him. But then the memory of her dream flashed in her mind. The kiss that felt so real invaded her thoughts, and she pulled away from him.

"Wow! It's getting late! I should go and eat dinner before Mrs. Chen scolds me. Enjoy the boots." Rory rushed back inside the house before Decha could say anything else.

~~~

The doorbell rang and Rory sprang off the couch. The noise alarmed her. She was home alone. Jessica took Avon out, and Theodore was most likely at the Agency. Decha was out working.

Only a few maids and butlers were in the house with her. Rory wasn't sure what to do. Should she answer the door? There were Generals guarding the front gate, so she doubted it was a dangerous person. Maybe it was a delivery?

But if that were the case, then one of the butlers would bring any packages to Jessica's office.

Rory reasoned that she was already up and alert. She might as well just answer the door. Rory walked toward the entrance of the home. When she gathered enough courage to finally open the door, she was very surprised to see a woman that looked around her age standing there.

She had short red hair, and she was wearing a uniform similar to what Decha wore. Rory concluded that she must've been one of Decha's colleagues.

"Hello?"

"Hi." The woman responded with little emotion in her tone.

"Are you looking for Decha– I mean, N96? I think he's at the Agency. And I'm not sure what time he'll get home." Although Rory was being cordial and respectful, she was wondering why the woman showed up.

Of course, she knew it wasn't her business. But that didn't stop a bit of jealousy to course through her veins. Decha never invited another woman home unless it was for treating Rory's condition.

But the woman's uniform told her that she wasn't there for her.

"Actually, I came to speak with you."

"With me?" Rory's feet shifted uncomfortably.

"Obviously. No one else is home. Why wouldn't it be you?"

Rory felt uneasy. Was this about POYO? Was she going to be taken in under investigation? But Decha was in charge of that case, right? Unless he called one of his coworkers to take her in because he didn't want to.

"Are you going to stand there with your head in the clouds or are you gonna let me in?" The woman seethed.

"Well. I don't think I can let you in, but I can come out."

"Then come." The woman moved back as Rory stepped onto the front patio. She closed the door after making sure the door wasn't locked. Rory's heart pounded against her lungs. The woman was armed. It would be so easy for her to make an arrest.

"I'm not sure if it's appropriate to ask, but what's your name?"

"Abigail Alan. N926. Daughter of Chauncey Alan, and chief of the Agency's resource center."

This woman was a council member's daughter. Rory felt even more nervous. "Why did you want to speak with me?"

"It's because I'd like to gather some opinions from the Bracket refugees."

"You know I'm a Bracketer?" Rory huffed.

"Of course. Everyone knows that N96 has taken a Bracket woman in his care."

"Everyone?" Wouldn't that be bad for Decha's reputation? Because of all the crazy events Bracketers were viewed as the enemy. Rory thought if people in Astell knew that he was caring for her, they'd turn against him and his entire family.

"Yes. And I know a lot about you, Rory Clarke. Quite a bit. I must say, it's very interesting that you're going to the same Alma mater as most of us Generals. But I'm curious, why would a Bracketer like you choose to go to Grandell?"

"If you know so much about me, shouldn't you know the answer to that?"

"Just because I know the basics doesn't mean I have access to your personal files like N96 does."

Rory sighed. "I'm into technology. Grandell University has an outstanding Engineering and Technology department. Being offered a scholarship to Grandell as a Bracketer is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"So, you like tech, huh?" Abigail crossed her arms. "What kind of tech?"

"Um..."

"Weapons?" A dark smirk spread across Abigail's face. She wanted to test Rory. It's not that she wanted to win Decha's heart, but she wanted to test whether his judgment was off.

"There are some weapons I do enjoy studying about, but I'm more interested in the way Astellians handle their medicinal studies. The shuttles, the holographics, and the way psychological experiences are dealt with here. You guys seem to find ways to make things more convenient without causing harm."

The answer surprised Abigail. She wasn't able to tell if Rory was acting or not. She'd have to test Rory's limits. "Come with me." Abigail sighed and turned on her heel.

"Come with you? Is that allowed?" Rory remembered what Decha told her about Bracketers being limited to travel. But this woman was a general. So that technically meant she could travel freely, right?

"Of course. Follow me." Abigail shrugged. Rory followed her to the front gate. Abigail stopped abruptly and watched the Generals who were standing guard. They were talking to each other.

It looked like they were having a deep conversation. Abigail grabbed onto Rory's wrist and walked by them without being spotted. Parked on the wide road was a pod. She pressed a button on the side of it, and the doors slid open.

"Wow! I thought Astellians only traveled by using shuttles and buses! What's this?" Rory's jaw nearly dropped to the ground when she saw it. The pod was shaped like a sphere but had a door on one side and a large window on the other. Two cushioned seats welcomed them to sit on.

The seats were positioned like a limousine, where Rory and Abigail would be facing each other. Abigail sat first and gestured for Rory to come inside. "This is a travel pod. I personally hate being surrounded by sweaty bulky men all the time, so I bought this to help with transport. It's easier and more efficient."

"So cool!" Rory hopped in excitedly. The door shut and locked behind her, and the tint of the window changed. A light flickered on above them, making Rory jump a bit. "Everything is automated."

"Everything is manually set to automatically give passengers the best riding experience possible."

"So the doors, and the lights...?"

"I prefer my windows tinted, and the door is heavy and it becomes redundant to open and close all the time." A holographic screen appeared in front of Abigail and she began typing away. "Would you like a drink?"

"This thing offers drinks?" Rory gasped.

"Wine, Soft drinks, water, the works." Abigail voiced monotonously.

"I'll have water," Rory announced, and a small cube platform shifted beside her. It opened as if it were a box, and revealed a small glass of cold water. "Fascinating..." Rory grabbed the glass and gulped the water down.

Abigail set coordinates in the holographic map, and the pod began to move. Rory stopped drinking briefly to observe the action in full.

"Wear this." Abigail tossed a thick black long-sleeve hoodie at Rory. It smacked Rory in the face before plopping onto her lap. She raised the clothing and frowned at Abigail.

"Why? I thought you said I could go out?"

"You can, but the mark on your neck will draw attention. You don't want to let everyone know you're a Bracketer, do you?"

Rory bit her lip. Abigail was right. She was an easy target if she went out exposed. Rory threw on the hoodie and made sure the mark on her neck was covered. "Where are we going?"

"To Kilos Mall."

"Kilos Mall?" Rory blinked.

"Most of our advanced tech comes from Kilos. A technology company. The Mall is full of tech that Astell wants its people to test before it's released to the public."

"That sounds amazing... but... why are you taking me there? I doubt you came all the way from the Agency just to take me to Kilos. Why did you want to speak with me?"

"I have my reasons."

"You said you wanted to get my opinions on something. I'm a Bracketer, but you want to take me somewhere that's looking for opinions of Astellians. It doesn't make any sense."

"Do I need to remind you that all Bracket Refugees are currently temporary residents of Astell? It may not make sense to you, but believe me, I have my reasons."

"It just doesn't feel right."

"Are you operating under the notion that all Astellians are out to get Bracketers?" Abigail scoffed. She wanted to see if Rory had ill feelings towards Astellians.

"No! Of course not!" Rory denied.

"Then you have nothing to worry about."

After half an hour, the two reached the Kilos Mall. The pod drove itself and parked next to other pods in front of a large skyscraper.

Abigail took Rory inside and the two explored. Rory was focused on just about everything inside. Not only did the devices pique her interest but they gave her inspiration.

But Abigail noticed that every time Rory would observe a device, she'd take note of whether it would be good for the Agency to use. Abigail felt it was weird for Rory to be so focused on the Agency, but she realized that Rory was focused on Decha, and using the Agency as a cover.

Abigail thought Rory would've given more attention to the machines being tested for infirmaries in Patrol Centers, but she kept an eye on weapons, gear, and equipment.

"Rory, most Generals wouldn't consider looking past our history to befriend a Bracketer. But it seems like you're going out of your way to put his needs above your people."

"Huh?" Rory blinked at Abigail. That statement was random. It was out of pocket.

"N96... Do you feel indebted to him?"

"Of course I do. He saved me when the Walls collapsed. I owe him my life."

"Even so, your feelings are very obvious," Abigail mumbled, and Rory froze. She thought there was no way that Abigail could tell. "You like N96, don't you?"

"No!" Rory coughed and lied. "Never. He's an established warrior. Even I know that his role is very prominent. I know not to look at him in such a way. That would just ruin his life. As I said, I'm indebted to him. I wouldn't wanna cause any harm—"

"Oh stop it." Abigail snorted. "Bracket and Astellian women may be different, but we are still women. I can tell you like him. Don't even bother trying to get yourself outta this one, Rory."

"But I don't!"

Abigail remembered seeing the two kiss weeks before. The chemistry was certainly there. Rory was purposely hiding her feelings out of fear. Abigail just stared blankly into Rory's soul, and she eventually gave in.

"Don't tell anyone." Rory clenched her fist and grimaced. "No one can know."

"I wasn't planning on it." Abigail sighed. "I'm just curious as to how it happened. Why him? Astellian Generals are infamous in the Brackets."

"I grew up respecting Generals. I've never resented them like other Bracketers. But I wanted to prove to them that we aren't as bad as they take us for. But I think... after meeting N96. It felt like I didn't have to prove anything to him."

"I don't understand that. He's very closed off."

"He is... but... I don't know how to describe it. There's just this mutual understanding between us that deep down, we just want to be treated normally." Rory looked down. She was a bit ashamed, but it felt nice to just get it off her chest.

"What do you mean by 'treated normally?' Are you blaming Astell for treating you like a Bracketer?"

"It's... a bit complicated. It doesn't have anything to do with the way Astellians treat me. When you're in my position, Bracketers don't treat you any better. One thing both Sectors have in common is their fear of the unknown. Both Sectors refuse to acknowledge the differences between the two."

"Huh?"

"Instead of coming together to find ways to solve a problem, everyone is so focused on blaming each other for what they did or didn't do. As a result of that, I'm still..." Rory bit her tongue.

"Still what?"

"I'm still coping." Rory finished. She didn't want to let Abigail know about her illness. "I hope that one day the technology used to help Astell can be brought to the Brackets and just diminish the issues everyone has."

Abigail stared at Rory for a long moment. Just what kind of Bracketer was she? Wishing the best for both Sectors.

There was nothing Abigail could say. Nothing Abigail could use against her. "I don't get you. You're too hopeful. I don't care what you think, but the Sectors will never change. You should be wise and stay in your place. An attitude like that can get you into serious trouble."

"I... I'll take your advice." Rory nodded in agreement, which only frustrated Abigail even more.

"What's wrong with you?! Why are you just going along with what I say? You're a wimp. You know that?" Abigail groaned and massaged her head. She needed to regain control of her emotions. "You're acting like a pet. It's sickening." Abigail turned to the exit of the building and stomped off.

She was expecting Rory to follow her, but when she looked over her shoulder, she was surprised to see Rory crouching and holding her torso. "What are you doing? Get up!"

Rory tried to follow Abigail's orders, but the moment she stood, her knees buckled. That jolting pain she felt weeks before came over her. It was unfamiliar but excruciating. But Rory refused to display just how much trouble she was having.

Abigail jogged back over to her, genuinely concerned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Rory took a deep breath and lied through her teeth.

"Then why can't you stand?" Abigail tested her. "You're not okay, are you?"