MM - Chapter 137 - REWARDS

The car zipped down Intercity Highway 5. Tall, duracrete towers that put old-world skyscrapers to shame-filled the view, the sight of them distracting Mel. Raine swapped the autopilot on and disabled his watch's jamming. He glanced at Pamalaiha's reflection in the rearview mirror. She hadn't taken her eyes off him since he returned from the warehouse. They were nearly back to his place, and even though she was sitting still with her hands clasped in her lap, Raine could tell she was on edge.

“If you're worried about it working, don't forget that I'm living proof.”

She languidly blinked twice, taking her time before responding, “That is not what concerns me.” Her gaze dropped to the case containing the two full vials of ReGen.

She didn't need to elucidate further for Raine to figure it out. “I brought it inside because I’m paranoid and didn't want it out of sight. Check the seals if you're concerned,” Raine’s tone held no recrimination as he popped the seal on the case and passed it back to her.

Pamalaiha glanced down and then sealed the case, not bothering to hand it back. Satisfied he wasn't up to anything nefarious, she followed Mel’s example and turned her attention to the cityscape. Raine wasn't done with her yet, “I have another minor condition.”

Her head snapped back to him, eyes wide with anger and fear. Her tone was still respectful but held an undertone of restrained violence if she didn't like what she heard, “Do tell, Mr. KongRu.”

“I'm sure you've heard of ZionLine.” She nodded, not understanding where he was going with his rhetorical statement. “I want you to create an account. It takes about two hours for the headset to map your biometrics,” Raine patted the box in the front passenger seat, “After that, sign an NDA that will bar you from ZL indefinitely if you break it. That truly is my last request for you before we proceed.”

“An NDA? That's all you want?”

“ZL scans your memories every time you log in, so it's quite foolproof. Don't forget about the triple time dilation. Never being allowed access again is the same as deciding you want to live a mere third of your potential lifespan. If you're willing to ruin your life by leaking my secrets, then there's nothing short of killing you that I could do to stop you. I hope that's not the route you force me to take. I very much want you alive and motivated, continuing to advance the formula.”

Pamalaiha spoke slowly, her pronunciation as clear as her crystal-blue eyes, “That is my preference as well. Though, my motivation will highly depend on the benefits you plan to provide.”

“Like I said, we’ll discuss that after you're cured.”

Mel had done her best to remain unobtrusive while they spoke. With each word, Pamalaiha, and especially Raine, exuded a pressure akin to facing a mental ability. Having one on either side of her, their raw intensity bouncing back and forth, was an excruciating delicacy. She shivered from their last exchange. [How can they sound so friendly while releasing that kind of mental violence?!]

The gates surrounding Raine's house came into view. Mel wriggled in her seat, impatient to get her reward. She still didn't know for sure what it was. He said it would happen here, and that likely meant it would be delightful indeed. After ‘that’ car ride, Mel was raring to go. Frustratingly, Raine had yet to let the surprise slip into his surface thoughts. No shock, considering how focused and mentally quiet he usually was. 

[I should really find a way to ask how he does that. My thoughts almost never shut up.]

The car stopped, and she waited for him to open her door as he always did. She loved the small gesture; it never failed to make her feel special and appreciated. She met his eyes as she climbed out, having to crane her neck to do it. She loved that, too. Feeling like she was dancing on clouds, Mel followed him to the front door, where they all waited for the house to scan his biometrics.

Inside, Mel was already worrying her lower lip, beside herself with anticipation, “Uhm. Can I use the restroom?”

“Yes. It’s in my room. I’ll take you there in a second,” Raine answered nonchalantly as he set up a corner of the room for Pamalaiha to integrate with her headset.

“Oh… Okay,” Mel was glad he wasn’t looking to see her goofy grin.

A mechanical voice spoke from seemingly nowhere, causing Mel to flinch. “Welcome back, Ms. Feladay, Dr. Shroufand.”

“Back?” Mel mouthed, eyeing the two with confusion. [Did they already… No. That doesn't make any sense. They just met, and she doesn’t have freckles. I must have misunderstood.]

“T-thanks, Morty. How are you?”

“Impatient,” the voice responded instantly, and Raine snorted in amusement. 

He handed the charging headset to Pamalaiha, “Soon as it's done, send me your ZL Ncode and I’ll flick you the contract.”

“Can you send it to me now so I can read it in advance? I find myself restless now that the moment is near.”

“So much more elegantly put than a certain someone,” Raine snarked, “Sure, here. The process takes longer if you can’t calm down. After you read it, I suggest meditation.”

Pamalaiha nodded, already browsing the short digital document, “Understood.”

Raine led Mel down a hallway. With every step, her heart beat faster and harder. He scanned his biometrics again, and a door at the end hissed open. He extended an arm inside, “Let me know when you’re ready.”

Mel’s heart stopped entirely. She squeaked breathlessly, “R-ready?”

“Your first reward,” Raine flashed his brows, smile making it clear he was eating up her reaction.

“Oh, that,” Mel’s hollow laughter completely failed to hide that it was all she had been thinking about. Raine’s hand pressed against her shoulder, gently directing her inside. The door sealed shut behind her.

[Ahhh! Get it together Melbelle!] While nervously flexing her fists in front of her belly, Mel raced to the attached bathroom.

Outside, Raine chortled, beyond amused by her misunderstanding. He wasn’t about to clarify when she was being so adorable. Halfway down the hallway, he stopped at Morty’s closet. The arms were laid out on the floor behind the AI.

“I assumed you would save the best for last, Master.”

“Not a chance. Let’s get you armed and dangerless,” Raine unhooked Morty from the house, hefting the lightweight torso and head under one arm. Morty’s significantly more sturdy new limbs were under the other.

Morty’s face twisted in displeasure at his proximity to Raine’s armpit, “Maybe not a threat to a monster like you. To the rest of your goo-filled kind, I will become like a god!” Morty’s mechanical laughter filled the hallway, and Raine couldn’t help but join in.

Back inside his bedroom, Mel’s expectant smile faded upon seeing what he was holding. She backed up, shaking her head uncomprehendingly, and extremely glad she chose not to follow the inner voice that told her to wait in front of the door naked. “What?” She heard herself ask, not sure how her brain managed to form words while short-circuiting.

“I’m just going to put his new arms on while we talk. Should only take a few minutes.”

Mel made a sound somewhere between assent and a pained grunt. They arranged themselves on the floor, Morty in Raine’s lap and the arms between them. A drone flew through the open door, delivering a few tools and Raine got to work.

“So, Mel. You never told me exactly why you wanted to sign that contract with me.”

As he spoke, the dangerous feeling she had in the car was nowhere to be found. His voice was soft, holding more than a little affection. Still, Mel panicked. [Oh, pussbuckets! I completely forgot about that! What was it again? He wanted me to ask myself why again and again until I got to the bottom of it.]

Raine continued to take one of Morty’s shoulders apart while waiting for her to collect her thoughts.

[Obviously, I can’t tell him it's because I can read his mind and don’t want him to hate me when he finally figures it out. I suppose that's not the only reason. I… don’t want to be left alone again. Why? Because I’ve always been left behind. Mother, then brother and father; the friends that weren’t really friends from school. I can’t stand being alone. Sure, there’s been plenty of people who say they want to be with me, but they just want sex. They’re no different from those bastards.

Raine is different. He always thinks about my future, about what I can become, and he’s always thinking so long term. He doesn’t just want me around for a little while. I don’t think that answer is going to be enough though. Why can’t I stand being alone? Because it hurts? Because it's scary? Scary, that feels right. But why?]

Mel took a deep breath, closing her eyes and falling deeper into her psyche, questing for the answers that had to be there somewhere.

[The world is confusing. Most of the time, nothing makes sense. I have no idea how to deal with all the problems that come up. Who wants to face that alone? It's so comforting, blissful even, when someone who knows what to do just tells me. I want Raine to be that person. I trust him, and he trusts me. Beyond that, who better to tell you what to do than someone who can see the future?]

Mel’s eyes snapped open, finding Raine watching her intently. He was already done with the AI who was nowhere to be seen. She was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t even notice. Raine smiled warmly, “Figure it out?”

“Mhm,” Mel nodded, then proceeded to reiterate her entire train of thought minus the dangerous bits.

Raine absorbed every word, mulling them over with utmost seriousness before responding, “Okay. If that’s how you feel, then I’m happy to agree. Now, let’s go over sections B-02A to R-13F until you know exactly what you’re getting into.”

Mel’s eyes bulged, and she swallowed nervously. Getting the reaction he wanted, Raine threw his head back and roared with laughter, “Kidding, kidding. It’s not even close to that long. There’s only five parts I want you to fully understand.” Raine sent her a new copy of the contract, this one with highlighted sections. He read from the first one, “Neither of us can break the contract alone. We both have to agree, and there has to be at least two points of exigent circumstances that…”

Raine’s deep voice vibrated inside Mel’s chest, filling her with a limb-tingling warmth that she couldn’t get enough of. It took all her focus to follow his explanations. If he didn’t make her repeat everything in her own words, there definitely would have been parts she missed. Time flew by, and before she knew it, Pamalaiha messaged with her new Ncode.

“Pamalaiha will be here in a second; unless you have any more questions, we should sign.”

“She’s coming in here? Why?” Mel was breathless for the hundredth time that day, “Don’t tell me that’s my reward!”

Raine facepalmed, unable to believe how far she had taken the misunderstanding. Laughter tinged his every word, “Who said anything like that? No, your first reward is much more exciting than that. You’re about to become a martial.”

“Huh? Can you please explain? I’m so confused!”

Instead of answering, Raine signed his half of the contract, and Mel received a notification letting her know that all she had to do was accept. Suddenly, the world seemed to contort around her, twisting in on itself and pulling her down a long tunnel into an unknown, terrifying future. Raine’s hand landed on her shoulder, holding her upright. Mel realized that everything was exactly as it should be. She lost herself in his shimmering cobalt blue eyes for a second before accepting the prompt, sealing their fates together.

With a squeeze of her arm, Raine hopped up and let Pamalaiha in. At his gesture, she sat across from Mel. Both girls were nervous for their own reasons as Raine retrieved the case of ReGen and two clear glasses he’d prepared while waiting for Mel. He took out one of the vials and poured half in each glass.

Kneeling before Mel, Raine held out his hand. Thanks to his thoughts, she knew to place hers in it. His skin was so warm, his expression impossible not to trust. He pricked her finger, and a few drops of crimson fell into the murky liquid. It sizzled dangerously, then turned crystal clear.

Pamalaiha gasped, jaw falling wide open, “Of course! I am such a fool! The acidic reaction is deadly, but it is not the flaw that I thought. It needs not be weakened or avoided; it simply requires time to stabilize, aligning to the individual's genetics beforehand. I was too fixated on creating a flawless version that could be ingested instantly and missed a most obvious solution.”

Raine smiled back at her, then held the ReGen up to Mel’s lips, “Drink, then lie down. When you wake up, you’ll be a whole new woman.”

Mel nodded, entrusting her future to the man she’d chosen to lead her. Gaze locked with Raine’s, she drank it all in one gulp. Tingles exploded through her body. They swept to the far reaches of her limbs and back again, transforming her every cell in ways beyond Raine’s or even Pamalaiha’s understanding.