With school coming to an end, Vee felt a ton better after messing around with Rehn a bit more. The poor cat girl had already been blushing hotly when she fled the classroom only to run right into Thale. Rehn had barely been able to meet his eyes under awkward stutters, her ears practically steaming as she finally bolted for the TelePad out of embarrassment. The squirrel-frog watched her go, looking a bit lost and embarrassed as well.
Vee sweatdropped and rubbed her neck sheepishly.
“Maybe I overdid it a bit…?” But then she shrugged. “Eh, she forced a date on me. A bit of teasing is more than deserved.”
Vee hummed a cheery tune even as her eyes narrowed at the thought of Jak. Oh, he better be waiting for her tomorrow. Or he would learn what retribution meant!
A part of her hoped that she would still get to see him later this day. It was only early into the afternoon. The school having come to an end somewhat earlier in preparation for the Lebensfest. With all that extra time she had been planning to visit her favourite spot and friends in the slums again, anyways. Maybe they knew Jak?
Ah, but she doubted it. The slums were big enough that there were countless small communities that probably never even heard of each other, never mind met. And she seemed to remember that Jak didn’t really know much about Tinkerer Crabs anyways, so her usual company was definitely out. An evil twinkled played through her eyes and she rubbed hands together under a dark chuckle.
“Hehe, maybe I can get Monty in on my revenge~”
The other students around the elevator threw her some weird looks as it slowly descended but she didn’t pay them any mind.
The plaza before the elevator was buzzing with life as parents and other assorted relations or acquaintances were waiting for the students to join them. With a full week of holidays many would be visiting extended family outside of Dampfstadt or were visited by them. Vee was glad that nobody would be waiting for her, the thought of being invited back to her parents for the holidays made her shudder in repulsion. So, she was understandably alarmed when her name was suddenly called out. Whirling around with narrowed eyes, Vee let out a sigh of relief and smiled as a familiar face waved towards her.
“Hey, Officer Ungehn.”
“Good afternoon, Miss Venus.”
Officer Ungehn greeted her professionally as always, his neutral expression entirely unbothered by Vee’s distasteful grimace at her full name.
“Leading General Zepehn send me to inform you that she will be absent for the remainder of the week and most likely the weekend as well.”
“Big job, huh?”
Vee let out a small sigh. It was nice to have the house all for herself, but she knew that it also always meant that her aunt had far too much on her plate again. And that during the Lebensfest.
Of course the doberman couldn’t actually answer her.
“I am at no liability to inform you as much. Would you like me to drive you home?” Was his simple reply, arms behind his back as slight amusement shone beneath his serious attitude, and he motioned towards the Guard Car parked prominently behind him. The conspicuous vehicle was garnering quite a few concerned but also just curious looks from students, passersby and parents alike.
“Nope. I will just walk.”
Vee was quick to shoot his offer down with a bright grin, her eyes already flitting towards the streets leading away from the Gymnasium. She knew the way from here to the slums by heart already. Officer Ungehn nodded in acceptance though hesitated strangely enough for a moment, as if searching for the right words before calling out after her.
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“Please don’t buy another rocket launcher for Monty, okay?!” He practically begged her, exasperation flowing through him.
“No promises~!” Vee laughed halfway on her way out and waved back. “But his old one’s still good and I’m looking for something else anyways!”
“Good luck with that then.” Officer Ungehn nodded, his job done.
And with Vee vanishing within alleyways, the officer turned around and stepped back into his vehicle. With a quiet hum he drove to HQ where his Leading General Zepehn would be waiting for him. He had been chosen to join the emergency team she had put together in posthaste. A feeling of pride glowed within his chest and a rare, small smile flitted over his lips.
———
In contrast to Jak, Vee moved to the slums through the more official and intended pathways. The transition here from the betters parts of the city to the slums wasn’t as clear cut as the bright facade surrounding the Central Market made it seem. It was a slow transformation where buildings turned more rundown and dilapidated. The dark metal of the Steam Ways dominated the scenery and the bare stone of the walls was visible.
Where Vee traveled to was right at the edge of the actual Vent Slums. It was known as the Bridge. Here the walls separating the Vent Slums from the rest of the city stood lower and a flood of buildings rose up to it from the slums. They began to grow taller, the ground steeper and the streets thinner. This change giving the appearance of the city cascading down into the Vent. It was bridge connecting the slums with the main city of Dampfstadt.
Vee flitted through the streets with a wide grin, the afternoon sun shining warm and bright above. A small break within the usual cover of steam. Leaping over a few fences and dumpsters she landed in the backstreets of the upper, southern slums and arrived before a taller building with an entrance that oozed personality. Vibrant colours painted the sides, at first appearing haphazardly but together appeared exciting and inviting. Metal junk had been fitted together to form a Tinkerer Crab spreading its claws across the frame.
The sound of metal ringing echoed through the air as she entered through the large metal door. Looking up from behind the counter, the sleek and muscular shark blinked and then grinned wide. A deep belly laugh greeting her a moment later.
“Well, if it isn’t Vee! Heh, haven’t seen in you in a while!”
“Hey, Hanak.”
Vee waved back as she entered the main TC Gear Club of the Southern Slums.
The front was lined with shelfs holding numerous metal parts, from gears over nails and springs to entire pre-made shells and wheels. Locked behind thick glass were numerous weapon types, mostly blades, claw attachments or blunt weaponry but there were also a variety of projectile weaponry. Put on a pedestal at the very top was a small rocket launcher, its silver metal gleaming beautifully under the display lamps. It was the same one she had gotten Morty a good while back. Vee’s eyes twinkled brightly whenever she saw it.
“You came just in time, some of our newbies are having a TC Wrestle.”
Hanak chuckled as he stepped out from behind the counter and waved her towards the back of the store. Vee easily overtook him and gave him an amused look.
“We finally got some fresh blood?”
“Yeah, she’s been coming with her friends for the last two weeks. Can’t keep her TC at her home so I help take care of him.”
Hanak shrugged as he moved a bit faster.
“Heh, you big softy.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
Hanak rolled his eyes at Vee’s smirk as she punched his shoulder, unable to keep an amused smile off his lips.
The entrance to the back was a dark blue painted steel door that was perpetually open, a jagged strip of metal was glued at its top. It had just been a provisional decoration but now nobody actually wanted to change it.
It lead onto a metal grate catwalk that span the whole perimeter of the large room. One stair lead down right beside the entrance with two more going down the sides. The room was brightly lit by vibrant Amber Lights, primarily centred on the various arenas scattered throughout the room to put them on display. They varied in sizes, from small one meter arenas to the central arena that looked more like a miniature landscape project.
Right now only a small number of Gaians could be seen around, most sitting at tables while chatting, tending to their Tinkerer Crab or both. One axolotl was delicately holding up a thin wire as his crab intently finagled with it around inside her shell, most likely readjusting some connections.
Vee didn’t need to look around for who Hanak had been talk about as the newcomers were impossible to miss. A trio of ten year olds definitely stood out around here. And across them posed a dramatically dressed raven. A simple, black cloak hung from his shoulders while a scarf of deep purple wrapped stylish around his neck.
And their TC Wrestling Match was just about to begin.