Star City
The Star River cleaved Star City in two---"East Bank" and "West Bank."
The East Bank breathed history: boutique-lined streets, ivy-league universities, stadiums gleaming under Friday night lights. The West Bank surged with new energy---theme parks and luxury condos, its skyline rising to rival the old money across the water.
Nine districts carved up the city. William and Lynn lived in Green Hills (District 5), East Bank.
The Greenwing Bridge, Star City's first modern span, linked Green Hills to the West Bank's Soaring District. Decades of neglect had left it a rattling skeleton. After midnight, eighteen-wheelers thundered across its broken asphalt---a shortcut past toll booths.
Riverbank | 2:17 AM
Trucks roared overhead. This bridge could collapse at any second, William thought as concrete dust rained down.
Lynn sat cross-legged on the embankment, eyes shut in concentration.
Slip One's command:
Greenwing Bridge, East Bank. Use your [Metal] gift. Retrieve the package.
Her eyes snapped open. "Found it."
William bit back questions. Never look clueless.
Lynn strode to the water's edge, hands outstretched. Her brow furrowed.
"Problem?"
"Out of range. Hold me."
"How?"
"Think Titanic poster."
"Got it." He locked his arms around her waist. The river wind carried her scent---wildflowers and rain.
She leaned forward, dragging them closer to the churning water. William tightened his grip.
Ripples became whirlpools.
CRASH---
A rusted metal crate burst from the river, hovering midair.
Lynn gritted her teeth. "Pull hard!"
The crate lurched toward them. William wrenched backward---
---and they tumbled onto the mud, Lynn gasping on his chest.
He didn't complain. Not the worst view.
"Thought metal powers would feel… grander."
"Level 1 gift." She rolled off him. "Sense range: 20 meters. Control range: 10 meters. Weight limit: 10kg." She kicked the dripping crate. "This weighed fourteen."
Power means nothing without levels, William noted silently.
Lynn sliced through waterproof tape. Inside:
---A disassembled Barrett M82 sniper rifle, oiled steel glinting like a shark's grin.
[Spend 1 Luck Point on scan?]
---Do it.
[Barrett M82. 12.7×99mm. Effective range: 1,800m. Weight: 14kg]
William's blood chilled. We're assassins now.
Lynn shoved components into a tactical duffel. "Carry this."
The Velvet Hotel | 3:44 AM
Neon pink lights pulsed over alleyway puddles. "Exotic Companions" cards littered the asphalt.
Slip Two:
The Velvet Hotel. Room 501. Open Slip Three at 6 AM.
William eyed the seedy lobby. "Here?"
Lynn thrust the note at him.
The clerk---greasy-haired, blasting Call of Duty on his phone---leered. "Two? Damn, son! Going to need energy drinks!"
"Room 501. South view."
"'Midnight Mirage' Suite!" He winked. "Vibrating bed, special swing, ceiling mirrors---"
"Fine." William pulled out his wallet.
"ID."
Shit.
Lynn shook her head.
The clerk smirked. "Try Moonlight Point? Very private---"
Lynn spun toward the door---and collided with Kevin stumbling from a 24-hour cybercafe.
"William? Lynn?" Kevin gaped at the hotel's neon sign. "You two… here?"
Lynn seized his collar. "ID. Now."
Kevin's eyes bulged. "You're… together?!"
William nodded.
Kevin staggered back. "Vivian's funeral was Saturday! And you---" He jabbed a finger at Lynn, ---"thought you liked girls! Why him? I'm richer! Hotter! More---"
"Less stupid." Lynn ripped his wallet from his jeans.
They vanished into the elevator.
Kevin stormed back inside, slamming the clerk's head onto the keyboard. "Their room. Now."
"Privacy polic---"
CRACK!
"501! They're in 501!"
"Give me 601." Kevin's eyes burned. "Move."