FLYING CITY OF FORNIA

AUGUST 22ND, 2180

Around a century ago they were ships on water, then they were floating cities on oceans, and now they were levitating platforms in the sky. From steam engines to the influx plexus that operated at the level of reality's operating system, the flying city of Fornia was above what used to be California. After actively causing the worst possible earthquake possible, Ameen made the state a part of No Man's Land.

Fornia rose when rare metals were being funneled to fewer hands during the cyberpunk age, so artefacts of boats and humble studios could be seen in the architecture of the four massive platforms and the scattered skyscrapers. Dense and lively neighborhoods were the veins that connected Fornia's resplendent superstructures.

The academic achievements accomplished in Fornia after climate catastrophe, along with the discovery of influx, helped the city take in refugees and ascend to the heavens to avoid Ameen Alkrez's global onslaught.

As Iker and Fatima left the gondola-like Hollywoob Hotel while checking on Camilo once more, Iker felt utterly stumped trying to figure out the puzzling cosmic game he was involved in. He and the boys barely slept in Camilo's car that was now probably being scavenged by talking racoons in Colorado Springs, but at least the teenagers had the serene weather, Fatima's inability to take anything seriously, and the smell of savory meals to comfort them as they passed levitating food trucks. Other than the sun getting closer to the middle of the sky, the aroma of Sujuk sandwiches signaled that lunch time was fast approaching.

The overwhelmingly eventful morning felt like it lasted less than an hour to Iker. He also began to despise himself as Camilo's face was hollow and Bastian was understandably quite distant on the tawny concrete they were walking on. Iker wanted to walk away from himself too.

Whatever Monica did during Camilo's bizarre transformation saved him and made him resemble his old self. Fatima was the medical supersoldier for 9 platoon and she verified that he did not need emergency services. Camilo's doctor appointment was scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Kars the pegasus did call for a medic before the sky battle began. Did the other beings on the ship that were not the visiting araks also become code in that reality puncture?

"I hope lunch gets y'all to stop being awkward," Fatima said.

Camilo being unconscious in the hotel did make it inappropriate to exchange questions and answers, but as another calming breeze passed the teenagers and their hunger became more apparent, even Fatima had to know that there was a rift between them all. Iker glanced over to her to find her iconic smile fading.

[https://img.wattpad.com/04ca9d3728076f2e8e1a1596412225bb87a3e3fe/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f34357a584e707464316e7a394a413d3d2d313338393632333032382e313738643834376432323234343439623839343431343530353730362e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"Ameen found out about the existence of Fornia this morning," Fatima warned. "He will attack the city within the next decade."

"Starting off strong aren't we?" Bastian said under his breath, taking a sip from his cola.

"How?" Iker asked. He glanced over to Camilo to find his luscious sepia eyes had a twinkle in them again. The mulita Iker bought him was already making him feel better. The lines of people waiting outside the food trucks were staring at Camilo earlier, but it seemed his visible distress stopped his fans from approaching him.

"He arrived in Pueblo this morning... and he told Ameen," Fatima replied. She glanced at Iker and Bastian, then all three of them checked on Camilo at the same time as he was taking a bite from his mulita.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

To get away from the nosy fans, the teenagers found a cozy aqueduct downhill in Angels Park. It was the biggest park on the entertainment platform of Fornia. The grass could not be any greener and the cute fizzling from the water streaming by their impromptu picnic was a welcome backdrop to their conversation.

Camilo gave Iker an upnod and a smile. It seemed he had a self-conscious moment as Camilo snappily wiped his lips, but Iker knew there was nothing to wipe off. Iker found it cute so he left that tidbit unspoken.

"Sorry, I just noticed y'all were staring at me," Camilo said. "Did you ask me something Fatima? Sorry I was so hungry."

"We're just checking on you bud," Bastian said. "You look so much better."

"Well, we all became really good friends over food. We would all choose food over each other," Fatima said, causing chuckles among the guys.

"I am not sure about Iker though," Bastian said. "He might choose Camilo over food."

Bastian leaped up and began running towards a crowd of sycamore trees as he laughed like a hyena. Camilo almost choked on the last bite of his mulita while Fatima fell on her back laughing.

"Pendejo! Get back here!" Iker yelled, already chasing after him. He remembered he still had his gray shorts on, so he pulled down the yellow shirt Fatima printed for him as far as he could. Thankfully she printed clothes for the guys to replace the bloody ones they had on earlier in the hotel.

"Pulling your shirt down like that isn't doing what you think it's doing!" Camilo yelled, joining Fatima in laughter.

Bastian and Iker were fast approaching a ravine, but they were not too far off from the aqueduct Camilo and Fatima were sitting close to [https://img.wattpad.com/b17be2b89a60f5a8d9f55f05a993aa6abf24a95b/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f346c6a7a4f305a5f776e7a484e413d3d2d313338393632333032382e313738643965616239303663623931663834323534353434343131352e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Bastian and Iker were fast approaching a ravine, but they were not too far off from the aqueduct Camilo and Fatima were sitting close to.

"Wait," Bastian said. He spun to face Iker and dug in one of his sneakers to stop himself from running. "What could you even do to me?"

From his sudden change from a playful grin to a frown as he glanced at Iker's prosthetic arm made of Prunus Tantalum bark and metal components, Iker guessed that Bastian just remembered that he also achieved Kaya form recently.

So far it seemed to be a consequence from using the MWAOS terminal. The only influx abilities Iker knew were possible through the MWAOS was jaunting, influx jumps, and less effective forms of influx healing. To achieve Kaya form, only jaunting through the MWAOS seemed necessary according to Bastian, but why? Iker also realized he had no memory of being taught the commands. Were those memories toyed with as well?

Iker thought he would tackle down Bastian with the speed he picked up, but with both of them not letting their influx influence their bodies, Iker barely made him move with a friendly tackle. Bastian caught him and gave him a pat on the shoulder.

Thinking about why Fatima was already expecting them in the hotel, Iker deduced that maybe he was jumping to an inaccurate conclusion.

"Bastian, you and Fatima know a lot more than you're letting on huh?" Iker said. "And it has to do with preventing that information from getting to an esper, especially Ember right? Monica was trapped in a simulation in Bolsa Magicá, yet knew to go to Fatima when she joined our side. Also both the general and Ember showed up, and shit is usually going down when they are seen together."

Iker glanced up to find Bastian raising his eyebrows and his mouth hanging in what seemed to be in terror.

"I don't like that face you're giving me."

"My abilities in Anigami form.." Bastian murmured. "Allow me to relive my life, and I always had to tell you... and... and... we would fight over it. This is the first time you figured it out. Did it feel... like it was subconscious and shit?"

Iker took a moment to think, glancing down at the artificial river that came from the aqueduct while Bastian's fear was also rubbing off on him. "Yea I would say so."

"That isn't good," Bastian said. "This is really fucking bad actually."

"Why?" Iker asked. "Could you answer that question or is it still dangerous for me to know too much?"

"Yea, you were captured by Ember in many of my reruns," Bastian said. "But we wouldn't tell you because you would also be an indicator of when a terrible event was drawing closer."

"Reruns?" Iker asked. "Bastian... is this reality?"

"Bro," Bastian said while putting both hands on Iker's shoulders. "Everything is a simulation. In another simulation that other people would consider real, they are also in a simulation."

"That has to be bullshit," Iker vented. The idea of what Bastian said made Iker's breaths more shallow and he took several steps away from Bastian. "This is real to me. You. Me. You and me here and now. Bolsa Mágica is not fucking real, we just go there."

"Listen," Bastian whispered. He walked closer and met eyes with Iker. They stared at each other until Iker's breathing normalized.

"If you were to... ascend I guess, like go above the simulation, then kept going up from that simulation.... then kept going up, and up, and up..." Bastian explained. When he locked eyes with Iker, it became apparent he was preparing him for the next sentence.

"You would eventually... come back here. Right in front of me."