Noah and Piper stood before the Fellowship squad. There were eight of them, in leather and canvas, hovering like a bikers’ gang.

Eve was nowhere to be seen.

The leader of the Fellowship, who had been leaning on his shiny red Coyote 250 motorbike, approached the duo. He was a few inches taller than Noah and towered half a foot over Piper.

The Ace smoothened his hair with both hands and came to a halt in front of the boys.

“I applaud your caution,” he said in a deep and intimidating voice. “It’s wise to turn on battle mode when a party approaches you.”

Noah nodded without expression. He realized the leader was appraising their levels.

[ Appraise User ]

[ User: Lovelord ]

[ Level 42: Human ]

……………………

[ Appraise User ]

[ User: PiedPiper ]

[ Level 42: Human ]

Drake whistled. “Impressive. I guess independent contractors do level up fast.”

Noah looked at Piper and raised an eyebrow. The level dampener equation that he had devised was working. He was level 69 and ranked 4 in the Trinity User Rankings. That was not something one should advertise to strangers. His original equation virtually reduced his level on him being appraised by another user.

Drake let out a guffaw and patted Noah and Piper’s shoulders.

“I am Drake Ace, “ he said, leading them towards the small crowd. “Come, meet my squad.”

Drake led them to the motorbikes parked in a square enclosure on the sand. A light breeze blew from the west, forming small dust devils in the arid area. A hundred feet away, the mouth of the Wyrm mines stood uninvitingly.

“Meet Chad, Rin, Nadja, Omar, and Shay. They are fresh recruits.” The rookies waved hellos and greetings to the duo.

“And here are two of my Trinity,” the Ace said, walking between the two attractive girls and placing his hands on their hinds. “Alice and Skylar.” The girls shot derisive smirks at Noah and Piper.

“Aren’t there supposed to be three in a Trinity?” Noah posed.

“About that-” Drake began.

The grinding of a motorbike echoed from behind the nearest hill. Piper recognized it as a Reynard 225. The vehicle shot out of the meandering road and rushed towards them without slowing down. The driver swiveled the back wheel a dozen yards away, turning the bike to a stop in an arc.

As the dust settled, the driver got off and walked towards them. The push of a button on the neck gear retracted the helmet. Lustrous blonde hair cascaded down, which the driver immediately tied back in a bun.

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“Welcome back, Eve,” the Ace called out. His eyes had lit up and were fixated on the girl with desire.

“It’s nice to be back, Drake,” she replied, meeting his eyes momentarily. Eve was in black protective gear with padding, yet her lean, hourglass shape was evident to anybody watching.

The other Trinity girls shot fake smiles at their more experienced sister.

“Since you asked,” Drake continued, addressing Noah. “This is my first mate, Eve Trinity.” He eyed the girl. “Eve? These two gentlemen are the independent contractors Dr. Chrysalis arranged for us. Lovelord and Piedpiper.”

Noah and Eve’s eyes met, and they instantly recognized each other. They stood with faces as expressive as masks, not speaking a word, while scouring each other from head to foot.

Drake raised an eyebrow.

“Great!” Piper exclaimed, breaking the silence. “Let’s talk about the mission.”

“Right,” Eve said, wrenching her eyes away from Noah. “I found a shortcut to the lake. If everyone can come online, I’ll send over the coordinates and route.”

Drake booted up to the WTN and opened up his control panel.

[ Add Party Members ]

[ Lovelord ]

[ PiedPiper ]

The others got busy reading the coordinates and the destination route.

“We circle behind the northern mound and take a tunnel here, under the pass,” Eve explained, highlighting a location on the common virtual panel.

She surveyed the team and saw Noah staring a hole into her.

‘What does he want?’ she wondered, feeling uncomfortable.

“We have all the battle gear. I assume you are going to bring yours?” Drake asked the duo.

“Of course,” Piper replied. “We are always ready to go.”

“Okay, then. You two gentlemen are familiar with the local monsters. We will enlist you to provide information, in case we have an unfortunate encounter with a swarm or, worse, a big boss.”

Noah and Piper nodded.

“Why do we need them, Drake?” Skylar chimed in. “You’re strong enough to protect us all.”

“Don’t interrupt me!” the Ace fired at her. The girl looked away, chided. “It is Dr. Chrysalis’ decision, and we must obey. We have to follow instructions and complete the mission! Is that clear to everyone?”

The team voiced their affirmations. Piper felt like joining them; such was the charisma of Drake.

“Very well, then!” the Ace said with finality. “We’ll have some refreshments and head out at noon!” The group dispersed.

Eve stood by her bike, rummaging through her traveling rucksack.

“You can store your luggage on the WTN, right?” Noah asked, approaching her.

“I am a bit old school,” Eve replied, not meeting his eyes.

The boy looked around to check if anybody was within earshot.

“Why did you not contact me? After WTN was launched?”

Eve paused her chore. “I was… busy,” she replied, her mind somewhere else.

“Really? What about your decision not to join my team during the outlands venture?”

“I don’t control my choices, Noah!” she fired back, this time meeting his eyes. But her anger subsided as she looked into his dark, meaningful eyes.

His face had changed. Noah was handsome, with chiseled features. The hint of a beard touched his jaw. His medium hair ruffled arrogantly in the breeze. A thin layer of tan and dust-covered him.

Noah was every inch macho as Drake, perhaps better.

“I thought we had something.”

“It was all in your imagination, Noah.” Eve turned her face away.

“Fine!” he said, without emotion. “I had forgotten you, you know. And I am glad I did. There are more important things now. Thanks for the closure.” He walked away, with Eve staring at his back, her composure shattered.

She ground her teeth and bit her lip. Her unjustified anger had turned into something real and tangible.

Eve rushed to her Ace, who was polishing his vehicle with a cloth. She turned him around and kissed him on the lips, much to his surprise. “Eve? What-”

“Drake, if the mission succeeds, you can have me tonight,” she declared to him. Alice and Skylar exchanged troubled glances.

Eve walked back to her Reynard 225, her composure back on track. Noah kept looking on, with his mouth hanging.