Lupin looked at the two ANDROIDS as they sat before him. Asselyum had already introduced them to him. He stared at them and then bowed.
"Hi, Lupin!" Norman greeted him.
"So, you don't speak?" MiK asked and Lupin shook his head, "I like him,"
"Everyone likes Lupin," Axel shrugged.

"The ultimate power of silence," Jimmy laughed.

Mr James had made the arrangements for them. They were given a room on the ground floor.

He was just waiting for Valorie and Lucifer now. Then, the Xtreme 5 would be complete. But they must hurry-- Because they needed them before the 5th Oblivion's attack.

"There have been constant reports of missing children in Manhattan and Brooklyn. With about 74 missing reports in a month! The police have been under constant pressure to trace the kidnappers. Many believe this to be a conspiracy since the parents haven't received any ransom calls from the kidnappers. This might be a severe case of human trafficking" Mr James watched the news on the TV while all of them sat in the bar.

"Seventy-four children? This is a lot!" Jimmy exclaimed.
"Do you think it's the X-DROIDS?" Slaine asked Asselyum.

"It's a C2" She replied "C2 type prefers children's meat."
"Why aren't we doing anything?" Slaine asked, "We should help them,"
"You aren't ready. We are very weak. We don't stand a chance against a C2."

"But that doesn't mean you can give up!" Slaine got up.
"Think logically. If you know you're not strong enough, aren't you just stupid to put yourself at risk? Or are you suicidal now?" Asselyum looked at him.
"No, I'm not"
"Then, you better not do anything reckless."

In the evening, Slaine went off to the streets on his skateboard while Axel was busy feeding Elron. Asselyum was in the bar with Mr James. Jimmy was inside the basement, working out by himself. He was busy doing his pull ups on the bars near the computers when he felt someone standing before him.

He halted and gazed at him. It was MiK "You're exercising?"
"Yeah, a bit" He continued with the workout.
"You're Asselyum's coordinator, aren't you?" MiKasked.
"I am."

"Then, you won't mind if I test you a bit, right?"

"What-" Jimmy felt a strong push. He left the bars and fell on the computer.

"Ouch. Hey!"
MiK's eyes glowed bright blue like Asselyum's. Jimmy got up. "This better be interesting."

. . .

Slaine skateboarded to the skatepark. Then, he got on one of the vert ramps. He went down and did a 360 on the other side of it. Then, he rolled back to the start and did a tail grab. But, his mind was elsewhere. Usually, the park was filled with scooter kids. Now, it was nearly empty. There were hardly any kids around. He realised that things were beginning to change; That the threat was real and if he wanted, he could have saved those who were probably dead by then.

Suddenly, that same kid came in front of him. "Oh no!" They crashed. Slaine got up and brushed his pants "You again?" He asked. The kid got up and picked up his board.

"What was your name again?"

"Evelyn" He answered.

"Listen, Evelyn, I'm trying to do some adult stuff. So, if you'd please be kind enough to let me do it, I'd highly appreciate it."

"I want you to teach me skateboarding too."

"Go ask your mom to get you into an academy." Slaine picked up his board and turned back. Evelyn grabbed his hoodie's tip "They won't let me."
"Your mom doesn't want you to skateboard?"
"No, they say it's bad,"

"Excuse me, but who are they?"
"Bad people,"
"Bad people?"
"The orphanage!"

Slaine sighed, "Seriously, piss off with your skanky ass and that stolen skateboard,"
"It's not stolen," Evelyn came forward, "Somebody gave it to me."

"Ask that somebody to teach it to you then." Slaine got on his board and went off. Evelyn sat in a corner and stared at Slaine skate. Then, he just looked at his board.

After a while, Slaine came up to him "Why don't you play something else with your friends? Go play tag."
"No, I want to skateboard,"
"Why are you hell-bent on skateboarding?"

Evelyn stared at him, "Because I want to be cool like you! Duh!"

Slaine sighed, "You won't leave me alone, will you?"
Evelyn shook his head. Slaine chuckled and brushed his hair, "Alright. Do you know how to get on the board?"

"I do! I practised, see-" Evelyn got on the board. Slaine noticed he was a regular.
"Alright, we'll start with something simple."

"Ollie?"

"You wanna learn an ollie?"

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, Jimmy and MiK were finally done fighting. MiK won. Jimmy had bruises all over him. "Oh damn, I lost" He laughed "Aw man, it hurts."

"You better not fight any C2. You were lucky you've survived yet. Another counter and bang." MiK smirked.
"What?" Jimmy furrowed his eyebrows, "Is someone gonna bang me? I'm down" 
"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!"

"Bro, I'm trying to get better. See," He pointed at his biceps, "You those babes?"
MiK just looked at his stupid face, "See? Are you impressed yet?"
He moved to Jimmy's face and looked into his eyes, "You suck," He turned back to leave and saw Asselyum standing at the door. He simply passed by her. 

"Why are you doing this?" She asked him.
"To show you how wrong you were." He walked away. 

Jimmy got up, "Yo, is there some bad blood between you two? Cuz I just finna saw something there, and it wasn't very pleasant if you ask me,"
"He's just an asshole. Anyways, Lupin is going to be mad,"

"Why?" He looked at the broken computer "Uh-oh...Don't worry, at least he won't yell."

Asselyum walked towards him "Don't hit me! I'm sorry!" She touched his chest. He looked at her "Do you know that there's a part of me in you?"

"I do. It's a chip, right?"
"Yes. It's like an android's heart. We give that to the coordinator because it makes communication easier. Next time he tries to get you, call me"
"Mik?"
"Anyone," She looked into his eyes.

Meanwhile, Slaine had returned from the skatepark, "Hi, Mr James! Where's everyone?" 
Mr James looked over the counter, "Oh, I don't know about others but Asselyum went to the basement. Do tell your friends that the dinner is ready,"
"Got it. Thanks!" Slaine went down the stairs and reached the door. He slammed the door open, "You won't believe what I found!"

Asselyum and Jimmy looked at him. He looked at them, "Oh...Did I interrupt something?"
"What? No, man, come in,"
Slaine felt sour, "What did you find?" Asselyum asked him.
Slaine looked at her, "That I really hate this place,"

Jimmy shook his head and pressed his hand over Slaine's shoulder, "Sounds rough, bro,"
Slaine slapped his hand, "Dinner time, motherfuckers,"
Slaine left the basement and Jimmy looked at Asselyum, "What did I do now? Man, he's more difficult to understand than all my exes combined,"

It was dinner time. Asselyum and the other ANDROIDS went for a charge in their rooms while all the boys had their dinner in the bar. 

"Hey Slaine, could you pass me some salt?" Jimmy requested.

"Go get it yourself." Slaine was colder than usual.

"Eh? Are you still sulking that I hit you? I'm sorry bro--"

"No, I'm not. And I'm done eating." Slaine left his meal and went to his room.
"He's rebellious, isn't he?" Mr James smiled, "Reminds me of my girls,"
"Oh? Are they hot,"
"Oh, very beautiful. Their kids are just as adorable as them. They wish to see me soon after this mission,"

"Looks like you were slammed back before you could pounce," Axel grinned at Jimmy.
"Nah, man. I got one word...Milfs,"
"Seriously?"

Lupin ate quietly. 
"By the way," Mr James remembered, "Can somebody get me some spam? I need it for breakfast tomorrow." Nobody seemed ready to do it so Lupin raised his hand.
"Thanks, Lupin."

Later, Lupin was returning back from Walmart when he saw Denis, walking down a dark alley. He decided to follow him and peeped over the walls of the cemetery. He handed a packet to a boy who looked about eighteen.

Lupin knew what was inside that packet. Afterall, that was how it all started for him.

-To be continued

Slaine Benjamin
5500 Rebellion War