Somebody Stop Us. 6: Atomic Cafe

The day flew by, a whirlwind of classes, shenanigans, and adaptation to our new reality. 

During lunch, Vespera, in what she called "an absolutely necessary tactical maneuver," transferred herself into all of my and Cinder's classes.

"It's simply more efficient," she explained to the Undermaster's secretary, as she filled out the transfer forms with dramatic flourishes. "I mean, think about it—three brains are better than one! We can share notes, support each other's learning, and engage in comprehensive… peer review."

The Kitsune secretary arched an eyebrow. "And this has nothing to do with your...personal attachments?"

"I am deeply shocked and personally offended by that insinuation," Vespera gasped, clutching at her chest as Cinder and I chilled in the waiting area. "I am purely motivated by academic pursuits. The fact that I happen to be soul-bonded to these two is entirely coincidental."

Somehow, miraculously, the transfers were approved—though I suspected Vespera's Prima status had more to do with it than her dubious reasoning.

...

After our last class of the day, we emerged into the crisp autumn air. The campus buzzed with an unusual energy—students clustering at windows and balconies, all facing the same direction.

"What's going on?" I asked, noticing the commotion.

Io materialized beside us, his antennae fluttering in the wind. "They’re setting up the big gate to Leviathan's Cradle. Wanna come closer to watch it?"

We nodded and followed the crowd streaming toward the back of the school grounds, where the manicured lawns gave way to the wild forests that separated Skyfall from the rest of Saxtland. As we crested the hill overlooking the boundary, we stopped dead in our tracks.

"That’s a big gate," Cinder breathed beside me.

At least thirty Stabalist Mages in full hexamesh armor stood in perfect formation, their obsidian helmets gleaming in the afternoon sun. Between them, they were assembling what could only be described as a colossal dimensional archway—a massive horseshoe of white metal, at least seventy feet tall, inscribed with dim gold runes.

"Not a standard gate," Vespera bobbled. "A military-grade, permanent dimensional threshold!”

The final piece of the arch was levitated into place by two Stabalists armed with anti-grav wands, locking with a resonant boom that I felt in my chest. The runes flared brilliantly, and for a moment, the air seemed to hold its breath.

Then, with a sound like reality itself being torn open, the space within the arch rippled and shifted, vanishing the Saxtland highland forest and presenting the view of sunny Omnithornia. A wave of warm air washed over us, carrying the scent of eucalyptus, pine, sea and ozone.

Massive crystalline war beasts, each the size of a small building, balanced on segmented legs began to march out of the gate. They looked similar to Miss Possible but were even longer and taller featuring dark, sharp edges of massive magitek railguns.

“Ohh, them’s Carrier Tanks—Myriaped-class enforcers,” Vespera commented as the tanks marched in. 

The carriers—seven in total—emerged fully from the gateway and immediately began to position themselves in a precisely spaced perimeter around Skyfall's grounds. Their crystal bodies caught the evening light, refracting it into prismatic patterns across the lawns.

The crystal carapaces of the carriers began to open along geometric seams, releasing swarms of smaller crystalline drones—each about the size of a large raven, with four rapidly beating wings and a central core that pulsed with blue-white light.

"Monitoring drones," Vespera added, "Autonomous extensions of the carriers' sensory array. They function as both surveillance systems and rapid response units."

The drones scattered in all directions, their crystalline bodies shimmering as they positioned themselves at regular intervals along Skyfall's boundary. Some flew by students, scanning their faces.

"Jeez," Ember muttered nearly as a drone flashed her face. "Overkill much?"

"Standard protocol for dimensional breach containment," Vespera shrugged. "After taking down Valor, they ain't takin' any chances."

A small crowd had gathered to watch the military display, students whispering excitedly among themselves. I noticed Justice Nova supervising the operation from a distance, his face impassive as he spoke into a communication device.

"This is getting boring," Cinder sighed after a few minutes. "Military porn is only interesting for so long."

"Ye, we should acquire noms," Vespera nodded.

"Hey," Cinder's eyes suddenly lit up. "Let's hit up downtown for dinner! We haven't been yet since the shift."

"Ooooh, yass!" Vespera clapped her talons. "Off-campus adventure! I'm so in!"

"I'll need a disguise," I said.

"Disguise time!" Vee sang, grabbing my arm and shoving me into Cinder.

I emerged out of the Quetzi-embrace a full orange Kitsune, my senses amplified as before on Arx.

"Perfect!" The Thunder-girl chirped, admiring her handiwork. "One adorable fox, ready for public consumption!"

We went upstairs to change into casual clothes. 

Vespera's casual was a blue skirt with white stripes and diving magisteel armor. I wore a bunch of hexamesh suits with my leather jacket atop them. Cinder put on a hexamesh suit and a long blue dress spotted with silver stars with silver-thread long sleeves that glittered as she moved and drew the eye to her curves. Her goth three-eyed skull choker sat on her neck.

We made our way toward the Omnithornia gate, joining the stream of students heading off-campus. The heavily armored Stabalists guarding the gate barely glanced at us as the flying drones scanned each of us before letting us through to Cradlefall.

The city stretched away from us, a breathtaking blend of gothic architecture and futuristic magitek. Spires of black crystal and silver metal reached toward the sky, connected by sweeping arches. Sky gliders flashed across and above the streets, while the ground level teemed with Omnids of every conceivable cryptid species.

"So where we goin'?" Vespera asked.

"I know a place," Cinder said without any specifications.

"A nice place?" the Thunderbird asked.

"The nicest," the Quetzi nodded.

Cinder led us through winding streets with draconic confidence. We passed towering cathedral-like structures housing corporate offices, street vendors hawking everything from beast cores to glowing potions to interdimensional snacks, and buskers performing fun feats of elemental magic for tips.

"Almost there," Cinder announced, turning down a narrower side street lined with vintage magitek shops and boutiques. The crowds thinned out, replaced by a more eclectic mix of Omnids—artists, musicians, and what appeared to be college students from the nearby Omnithornia Magic Institute.

Finally, we stopped in front of a small establishment wedged between a used grimoire store and a crystal therapy clinic. The sign above the door pulsed with soft blue light: "Atomic Café" with an atom symbol where the 'o' should be.

"This is it!" Cinder announced proudly.

"You've been holding out on us," Vespera said, eyeing the quaint café with interest. "Doesn't seem like your usual goth hangout."

"It's not," the Quetzi-girl replied with a smile. "It's just something that I remembered about!"

The door chimed softly as we entered, and I was immediately enveloped in a wave of nostalgia so powerful it nearly knocked me off my feet. Everything—from the checkered floor tiles to the atomic-age decor, the curved chrome counter, and the vintage jukebox in the corner—felt achingly familiar.

"I've been here before," I whispered, running my hand along the smooth surface of a red-leather booth. "In another life."

Vespera tilted her head, her feathers ruffling slightly. "Me too. Neat."

“Yes.” Cinder's eyes were distant, scanning the 50s interior. "It was different then. No magic."

"The world of heroes and villains," I murmured. "Before everything. Before the Wormwood Star. Wasn't this place in Saint Mary? How'd you know it would be here?"

Cinder shrugged, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Just a hunch. I've been having these... memories. Glimpses... of being Alexa. I thought I was going crazy until I checked online and found this place actually existed here as a franchise. The shift must have brought it back."

The café was relatively empty—just a couple of Omnid students hunched over their laptops in one corner, and an elderly Tanystropheus reading a newspaper at the counter. A soft, vintage jazz tune played from the jukebox.

"Welcome to Atomic Café!" A cheerful voice called. A floating pill-shaped drone drifted toward us, its chrome surface gleaming. It projected a holographic menu that hovered in front of us.

"Ooooh, look!" Vespera pointed excitedly at an item on the menu. "They have banana splits with Arx-berry sprinkles! And... oh my Nazareth, is that a triple-decker pancake tower with dreamberry mana-amping syrup? I'm def’ getting that!"

"For dinner?" Cinder raised an eyebrow.

"Life is short, dessert is forever!" Vespera declared with absolute conviction. "Besides, dreamberry syrup gives you an XP boost of like... 0.25% for each pancake!"

I scanned the menu. "I'll have the classic burger with sweet potato fries and a hot chocolate."

"Good choice," the pill-drone chirped. "Our burgers are made with genuine Arx Tairgass Beast sirloin—gives you a temporary +2 to Strength for four hours!"

"Gimme the house special," Cinder said, eyeing something called 'Atomic Steak' further down the menu. "Extra rare."

The drone bobbed in acknowledgment and floated away toward the kitchen.

We settled into a trio of chairs surrounding a table by the window, the sun painting the streets outside in warm hues of Omnithornian morning. Through the glass, we could see Omnids of all kinds hurrying home or out for evening entertainment.

"It's weird," I said, watching a group of young Thunderbirds zip past on hovering skateboards. "Everything's different, but it feels... right, somehow. Like this is how things were always supposed to be."

"Update," Yulia commented into my earpiece. "You still legally own San Clemente Island. The Stratos might notice this dimensional discrepancy. Consider installing more of your Omnid Clan personnel on it in case your... father makes a move to try to take it from you."

"Thanks," I whispered back at her in Kaska. "Email our lawyer and my Sixies about it. Who is the current Ward Administrator?"

"Mariana Darkwater, the Scylla girl you freed from Cradlefoot," Yulia replied. "She was maintaining the Ward when reality rolled over so she became the Ward Admin. According to her report, the dimensional shift actually improved the island's mana density by 37%. She's requesting additional staff to help monitor the new crystalline formations appearing along the shoreline."

I smiled, remembering the fierce, tentacled Scylla. "Perfect. Tell her to expect reinforcements soon."

"What are you scheming now?" Cinder commented on my whispers in Kaska.

"Just checking on our island," I replied.

"Our island!" Vespera repeated, bobbing her head bird-style. "I love how that sounds. So supervillain-y!"

The pill-drone returned, hovering our way with a tray balanced atop its chrome body. It settled our food onto the table with surprising grace.

"Ah!" Vespera gasped at her towering stack of pancakes. "Behold the pancake Tower of Pisa. It's... it's beautiful!"

"That can't possibly be healthy," Cinder commented, cutting into her steak.

"I'm a growin' birb," Vespera fired back attacking her pancake tower.

I bit into my burger, and the flavor hit me like a memory—familiar yet enhanced, the taste triggering flashes of another life, another me sitting in this same café, laughing with friends whose faces were just out of reach.

We obliterated our meals, exchanging comments and jokes. Soon, only my chocolate cup was left on the table as we relaxed with full bellies.

The 1950's style jukebox shifted to a piano and saxophone melody that drifted through the café. Cinder's head perked up, her colorful wings giving a small, involuntary flutter.

"Hrm. I know this one," she murmured. "I think it could use some... lyrics."

Her foot began tapping unconsciously to the rhythm, and then, softly at first, she began to sing along, her voice blending perfectly with the music.

"Between the worlds we drift like ghosts,
Memories scattered, timelines crossed,
Heroes and villains, blurred like rain,
Wounds of the past still remain.

Wormwood star fell from the sky,
Changed the rules, made angels cry,
We stood at world's end brink,
While Alexa forced us all to think..."

She inhaled as the saxophone swelled, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. Vespera exhaled and began swaying to the rhythm, her wings shimmering with tiny electrical pulses that matched the beat.

"Two worlds colliding, tearing at the seams,
Reality bending to impossible dreams,
We played with fire, we broke all the rules,
Gods and monsters, champions and fools."

Her song suddenly accelerated, causing the few other patrons to turn their heads. The elderly Tanystropheus lowered his newspaper, a smile spreading across his long-snouted face.

"Scattered pieces, scattered souls,
Broken mirror, tarnished goals...
When systems break and stars fall down,
We forge new selves from ashes found.

Three fractured souls, a trinity,
From false time carved our destiny,
What was broken now made whole,
A fox, a storm, a rainbow soul.

So here we sit where worlds collide,
No longer lost, no need to hide,
For we've found home in each other's eyes,
Beyond the fall, beyond the fracture's guise."

Another saxophone solo began. Vespera, unable to contain herself any longer, slid towards me, wrapping her left hand around my body, magisteel talons tapping at my shoulder with the tune. I slipped another gulp of hot chocolate. Cinder's right hand wrapped itself around my left, while my right hand found Vespera's. Her Quetzi face relaxed, becoming less draconic and more human, undulating between violets and blues.

"Infinity calls through starlit gates,
A million worlds, a billion fates,
Dungeons deep where shadows play,
We carved our path, we found our way.

From Undertown’s dark, dusty streets,
To Shandria’s heart where chaos beats,
A lighter’s spark and mana was unbound,
We shook the stars, we shook the ground.

The Wheel of Death, the Deep’s embrace,
The spiral tearing at my face,
We tore the veil, we cracked the skies,
Built our fate on foxy schemes and lies.

Through Undertown, the mites took hold,
A bank brought low, a tale retold,
The Deep sang back with echoes dire,
We faced our guilt in astral fire.

Gates we opened, stars we claimed,
A lighter’s glow, a world inflamed,
From shattered souls, a bond was spun,
Three as one, beneath the sun.

The Wormwood’s curse, a fractured core,
A star that bleeds, forevermore,
Its children rise, its will be done,
We fight the dark ‘til dawn is won."

The Thunder-girl nuzzled the side of my face and then leaned in to playfully lick a spot of chocolate from the corner of my mouth with a cheeky grin, her Tesla coil feathers sending electric currents across tips of my hair and fox ears. The jukebox seemed to respond to Cinder's voice, the instrumental backing swelling with drums as if the machine itself was listening, matching her intensity note for note.

"Through time’s collapse, through storm’s embrace,
We chased the void, we found our place,
A dance of souls, through gates unknown,
Infinity’s seed, in us has grown.

The Stars align where dungeons sleep,
A hunter’s vow, a promise deep,
To break the chains, to set us free,
A trinity forged in our eternity!"

As Cinder's voice held the final note, the café erupted in spontaneous applause. The pill-drone spun in excited circles, its lights flashing merrily with a :D face on its display.

"Hey!" I protested, laughing as Vespera licked me again.

"What?" Vespera commented. "Just cleanin’ this messy fox!"

Cinder laughed at our interaction, sending rainbows across our table, eyes reflecting the violet and blue stripe lights.

"Yass. Dinner and entertainment," Vee enthused at Ci. "This is why we keep you around!"

Cinder rolled her eyes at the Thunderbird.

The jukebox cycled to another jazz number, the café returning to its relaxed atmosphere as I finished my drink.

"I'll be right back," I said, sliding out of my chair. "Gotta hit the restroom."

"Don't fall in," Vespera quipped.

I navigated to the back of the café, past a vintage poster of an atom with a smiling face that gave me another jolt of déjà vu. The restroom was small but pristine, with black and white tiles and soft blue lighting. As I stepped out of range of Cinder's wings, my foxy disguise melted away, so my human, dark-haired face stared back at me from the mirror.

A cubicle door suddenly swung open behind me. In the mirror, I saw a man emerge—tall, impossibly handsome, with perfectly chiseled features like a marble statue come to life. He wore an immaculate white suit, not a single wrinkle or speck of dust marring its surface.

Our eyes met in the mirror, and his lips curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Hrm," he said, his voice like velvet over steel. "What an unexpected treat."

I froze, my heart hammering against my ribs.

The man stepped closer, his movements unnaturally fluid. "You know, in all my centuries of existence, I've found humans to be the most... delectable snacks to start the day. Something about your souls—so fragile, yet so resilient."

My Scrutiosmia kicked in, sending warning signals screaming through my brain as I inhaled deep. This man didn't belong here. He didn't belong anywhere in this reality.

"You're not Omnid," I said, spinning around. "Or human."

"Very perceptive," he purred. "I'm something... older. One who walks between worlds, long before your kind crawled out of the primordial soup, and will remain long after your stars burn out."

A wave of pure charisma rolled off him—similar to Cinder's Charmchain but infinitely more potent. My mind began to dissolve at its edges, thoughts slipping away like sand between fingers.

"Freeze," the man said, the word like an order digging into my brain with a million hooks, my hands that were reaching into my pockets halting their motion.

With the last coherent fragment of my consciousness, I triggered Umbramancy and plunged into the Deep.

The shadowy dimension enveloped me, the Charmchain hooks slipping from my mind. I blinked wearily at the gray-black landscape, hand slipping deep into my pocket to find a weapon.

Sadly, my respite was brief. 

A blinding light cut through the darkness in front of me—the man had followed, his form glowing like a nuclear reactor in the colorless landscape of the Deep. Here, stripped of his human guise, he appeared as a naked glowing figure, pulsing with impossible colors that hurt to look upon.

His glowing hand reached toward me through the shadows, plowing the very fabric of the Deep and pulling me out.

In one fluid motion, I drew out a magesteel katana from its extradimensional scabbard. As his hand closed around my throat, I thrust the blade forward with all my strength amplified by my hexasuits, driving it through his glowing chest.

The man shrieked, grabbing at my hand and stopping me from piercing his heart.

He punched me into the chest sending me into a tiled wall and right through it, the hexamesh suits and dampening hexagrams igniting across me to lessen the impact. 

I flew out of the bathroom into the restaurant, pulverizing tables like a comet. My ribs cracked as I smashed into the reinforced pub. 

A one-eyed robot bartender arm looked down at me as my vision swam. The man pulled the magisteel kanata out of the side of his chest and threw it aside, advancing towards me through the hole.

"That was rather naughty," he said, flickering a piece of black tile off his white suit.