The duo went through a holographic archway displaying a glowing pattern along with the popular title known around the world-- Starlight Sanctuary.

Remy had heard about it. Out of curiosity, on one lonely night as a kid, he had happened to stumble on it while researching the most popular tourist attractions in Star Tech. According to many, the strip club was praised for its unforgettable experiences and electric atmosphere. It was the type of place Remy would never go to alone. Partying wasn't his thing. But with Jay by his side, he couldn't help but satisfy his growing curiosity.

A faceless robotic bouncer waved and did a little jiggle. "Welcome. Scanning. Tickets verified. Enjoy my friends.”

They proceeded to the heart of the club, and Jay stole the words right out of his mouth.

"Goddamn!"

The strip club pulsed with purple neon lights and holographic displays, casting vibrant shifting patterns across sleek metallic surfaces. On the circular centre stage were stunning

dancers adorned in body paint. They spun, glided and leapt gracefully in time with the techno music filling the air.

Next to the stage was a lively, hectic dancefloor mingled with humans and robots. They danced together, all of them showing off a variety of unique moves. Remy was aware of how commonplace sentient robots were in Star Tech, but it still felt eerie to witness them jump, spin about, and enjoy life. Robots were banned in most states due to safety regulations but not in Nevada. In Star Tech, they were treated as citizens and given the same rights as humans.

"Hey!" Jay bellowed. "The bass is kicking my ass. I feel like I'm in a blender!

Remy nodded, wondering how it affected his Super Hearing. "We can leave if you want--"

"Nah, nah! It's a heavenly blender!"

Jay took off, making a beeline for the centre stage. He took a seat and shook his head as he watched the dancers shake their bodies. Remy chuckled. Taking full advantage of his Super Vision, he inspected the dancers himself but then quickly grew bored. He roamed around the club, noting the exotic perfumes mingled with the faint, sterile aroma of high-tech equipment.

"Remy," a soothing female voice said. "Would you like a good time?"

Remy turned around to meet one of the Starlight Sanctuary workers. He might have identified it as human if it wasn't for the robot's grey, shiny exterior. Every other bodily feature was crafted to perfection.

"Nah. I'm good."

"Are you sure? We have many special offers for Everforge residents like yourself."

Remy didn't bat an eyelid, not even remotely surprised. Privacy was hard to cling onto in the Super Era. As soon as they had entered the area, the establishment had already heavily researched everything they could about them. The robot had probably already created a detailed plan to encourage him to waste all his money.

"I'm fine," Remy said sternly, turning away. "Leave me alo--"

Three human strippers had spawned around him, each one equally alluring as the next. They surrounded him and smiled as if they had fallen in love. Remy's heart raced.

"Are you sure, young man?" one stripper said, her skin a glistening chocolate. "We're sure you would adore your time in one of our VIP areas.”

"Did you know anything is possible in Starlight Sanctuary?" another stripper said, her hazel eyes locking onto him. "We can provide you more than just bliss and your wildest fantasies..."

Another blond-haired stripper closed the gap, giggling. "We know what you crave more than anything..." She leaned forward and whispered in Remy's ear. "Sleep. Pure, peaceful, innocent, sleep. You deserve rest."

"No!" Remy yelled, barging them aside.

He ran out onto the dancefloor, weaving between the metal and flesh bodies, and stumbled on a seat at the bar area. A robotic bartender waved at him. "What would you like, human?"

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"Water," Remy said.

"Whisky," another familiar voice said right after him.

Remy's eyes widened as he turned to see Lyra sitting next to him, a confused look on her face.

"Oh. Hey, Sleepy Man," she said, her voice slurring. "Why are you here?"

"I should be saying the same thing. Didn't you say you were tired?"

Lyra hiccuped. "I was. I really was. Until someone reminded me my dad is being tortured! You're a jerk, you know that?"

"I'm sorry."

"Not forgiven." Lyra hopped off her seat and prodded him hard in the chest with a finger. "Who do you think you are? You think you're some sort of big-shot hero but what you need to do is deflate your ego. Why are you making bold statements like you're somebody? You ain't shit. Your cousin ain't shit. I ain't shit. We can't save anything."

"You don't believe a word you're saying."

"Oh, oh, oh, so now he's a mind reader too. How impressive, Sleepy Man. You--" Before Lyra could finish, her eyes bulged, but then settled. “Phew! Almost puked.”

Remy held her up by the shoulders. "Let's get you home."

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not." He forced a cup of water into her hand. "Stay here for a second.”

"You can't tell me what to do."

Remy briskly walked back through the dancefloor.

"Hey, don't walk away from me," Lyra yelled over the booming music, hot on his heels.

Remy scanned the area, spotting Jay within seconds. His cousin was surrounded by a group of robots near a table. As soon as Remy got into earshot of their conversation, his face dropped.

"I don't see any rule that says powers can't be used," Jay said. "There’s no sign."

"And that's the problem with you organic scum!" one robot spat. He led the pack, his rectangular-shaped head flashing purple. "The few brain cells you have possess no common sense."

Another robot pushed him hard. Jay stumbled back, but he quickly shifted into a fighting stance.

"Walk away. I don't want any trouble."

Remy almost laughed. The words did not match his cousin's expression. His eyes were clearly eager for a fight.

"Too late for that, organic. I'm sick of you mutants stinking up the place."

The leader robot threw a punch. Jay sidestepped, and the robot staggered forward, colliding with the circular table. He glanced at Remy, sending him a telepathic message.

I'm going to do it.

Don't do it.

The weapons need testing.

Don’t do it.

They’re racist robots.

Don’t fucking do it!

Jay took out the dual batons and performed a barrage of rapid attacks. Remy counted up the beating, labelling it a monstrous seven-hit combo--- three strikes to the torso and four to the head all within a matter of seconds. It was too vicious for a retaliation. Overkill was an understatement.

Thud.

The robot lay on the floor, twitching. For a brief moment, no one spoke, only the techno music blasting out of speakers and sending tremors. Then out of nowhere, Lyra soared threw the air, drop-kicking a robot in the head, and all hell broke loose. Without hesitation, Remy covered her back. He threw one robot over his shoulder, slamming it onto the table with a loud crash. Jay tossed one baton and it bounced off two robots heads before ricocheting back into his hand.

Lyra staggered back and forth, taking up a sloppy stance, yet somehow evaded every punch thrown at her. She cartwheeled in between precise kicks and elbows, cackling maniacally. While Remy sent robots flying back with his monstrous hooks, he couldn't help but focus on her movements, using his super vision’s enhanced peripheral vision. She simultaneously fought with an ethereal grace and an abnormal chaos. One second, the woman staggered into a handstand, lashing out with both legs; the next, she was flipping high and slamming a heel onto a robot's head.

Remy had known Lyra for a long time. He knew she had some fighting experience… a few taekwondo lessons she had said. But this? Was she a drunken master?

Jay sent him a telepathic warning to duck and Remy obeyed without question, avoiding a flying baton just in time. More and more robots converged on them but miraculously the trio held their own. They worked as a team, never getting in each other's way, constantly complimenting each other's attacks.

Without any form of planning, Jay became a hub of communication, constantly sending Lyra and Remy signals and warnings. With his Super Hearing, he seemed to know everyone’s whereabouts. Just like Sensei Hayato, he had no blindspots.

For a while, they held a seemingly impregnable defence but the robots held their own silent form of communication. Every robot was calling their friends and their friends were calling their friends. In less than a few minutes, it felt like every robot in the Starlight Sanctuary was after them.

Remy grabbed one robot by the arm and hurled it, sending it crashing into five more just as the music stopped and all the robots froze like mannequins.

Seconds later, a strange individual walked out of a portal. One vertical half of their whole body was an exposed grey metal while the other was normal human flesh covered in half a jacket and one leg of jeans.

“Why are you bullying those poor robots?” They said, squinting their only eye. “Fighting is not allowed in the Starlight Sanctuary! What did they do to you?”

“Booming Cyborg!” Lyra cheered, stumbling towards him. “I’m your biggest fan. I love your superhero work. Could we take a p– “

She puked violently.