The Voidstrider Enigma crash-landed in a spray of priceless Martian orchids, skidding through Charlotte Li's private botanical garden like a drunkard through a wedding buffet. Elion tumbled out of the cockpit, spat out a petal, and immediately had to duck as a plasma bolt vaporized the rose bush behind him.
Mercenary #1: "Grab the girl! Fifty million credits alive!"
Charlotte Li: "Fifty? My father would've paid a hundred, you amateur!"
Elion sighed, hefting his wrench. "Rich people have problems."
THE RESCUE (AND THE ROAST)
Elion's Qi-mending made short work of the mercenary weapons—their rifles disassembled themselves mid-fire, screws and capacitors rolling across the manicured lawn.
Charlotte: "Did you just… un-gun them?"
Elion: "Temporary fix. They'll be murdering people again in ten minutes." He picked up a fallen plasma pistol. "Speaking of—"
He tossed it to her. She caught it, blinked at the pearl-inlaid grip, and promptly shot a mercenary in the foot.
Charlotte: "These are limited edition Louboutin heels, you animal!"
Mercenary: "I didn't even touch your—"
[Second shot to the other foot]
The Enigma, still half-buried in a koi pond, projected a holographic message above its cockpit:
» YOU ARE EMBARRASSING ME.
Elion flipped it off.
THE LI FAMILY'S VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS
Charlotte's penthouse looked like a Bond villain's lair if the villain had a shopping addiction. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased Neo-Shanghai's skyline, while actual Renaissance paintings hung next to framed memes.
Elion: "Is that… a Monet beside a cat with bread for a face?"
Charlotte: "Art is subjective. Also, my therapist said I need 'whimsy.'"
She kicked a pile of legal notices. "Long story short: The Kuroda Group sabotaged our mechas, froze our assets, and now they're trying to kidnap me for leverage."
Elion poked a Fabergé egg on the coffee table. "And this helps how?"
Charlotte: "It doesn't. But it's pretty."
The Enigma, now dripping pond water on the Persian rug, displayed:
» THIS IS WHY I HATE MORTALS.
THE JOB OFFER (AND THE CUSTODIAN'S MELTDOWN)
After Elion repaired the Li family's mechas (and accidentally gave one a dad personality module), Charlotte slid a contract across her gold-plated desk.
Charlotte: "Salary: Blank check. Title: 'Supreme Genius of Fixing Shit.' Perks: Unlimited access to our mecha graveyard and my ex's vintage wine collection."
Elion: "I accept."*
The Enigma's cockpit slammed open, projecting a hologram of the Custodian—a towering, divine mecha currently facepalming so hard its helmet screeched.
Custodian: "YOU WERE CHOSEN TO MEND THE COSMOS. NOT TO BECOME A RICH GIRL'S HANDYMAN."
Elion: "Hey, you crashed us here. Also, she's got a holo-theater."
Custodian: "…DOES IT HAVE THE REVENANT CYCLONE TRILOGY?"
Charlotte smirked. "Director's cuts."
The hologram flickered. » …I ALLOW THIS.
THE AFTERMATH (AND THE DAD MECHA)
As Charlotte's newly repaired Jade Lion mechas patrolled the grounds, one paused to adjust Elion's collar with a giant metal finger.
Jade Lion #3: "You're eating real meals, right? Not just energy drinks?"
Elion: "Oh my god."
Charlotte sipped champagne, grinning. "So. When can you meet my mother?"
The Enigma, now sulking in the garden, displayed one final message:
» I REGRET EVERYTHING.