Chapter 20 [Most Girls]

Aquarius 16/2261 14:23

"Heya, Nightmare," Cleo said as she entered my lab. She threw a bag of chips at me, which I managed to catch before it hit the screen I was working on. "What's up."

"Working," I answered. I watched the simulation of the cells from when I took the new serum. "What is it?"

"I got new nail polish. I'm testing it on you." She stated. I nodded, only partially paying attention. I set the chips beside me and ran the simulation. Cleo pulled a stool out from under the counter and set up her nail kit. She took my hand and stared at my nails. "You've been biting your nails again."

"Yep," I muttered. The cells shrunk, appearing to die, but the cell membrane remained intact. It almost looked like they went into a dormant state. There was a type of frog on Earth and Juni that did that. They had been the focus of study of decades in the medical field.

Cleo filed my nails, humming quietly to herself. I glanced over and saw the colour of the polish, grey and dark green. A small smile tugged at my lips when I glanced at her bright pink nails. She never wore dark colours.

"Vix, what is the main component of water on Juni?" I asked.

"The usual. Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon. Traces of Lithium, Tigraten and Kilkium. It also has five elements yet to be classified." She said. "None of them Hyper elements so far."

"Set up an alert for any new Hyper elements found," I command. Vix shook her head, a hand on her hip as she read the file. I knew Hyper elements were tough to classify because of how frequently they changed. "How does the Kilkium remain stable?"

"It doesn't. Juni oceans frequently experience what they call Gasum explosions. The water randomly explodes in places of high levels of Kilkium. Usually, it's nothing dangerous." she explained. I bit my lip and tilted my head. "They only happen when the chemicals fall out of equilibrium, such as after a storm."

"So there should be something there that stabilizes the Kilkium." I murmured. "I need those elements to be classified."

"Well, there is nothing we can do for now." Vix sighed. Cleo moved to my other side and worked on my other hand. I glanced at the finished one and saw she had done grey with small green flowers on them. "

You're getting really good at the old fashion way. Much prettier than the print ones." I commented. I knew nothing about nails other than what Cleo told me, but since she liked it so much, I did my best to remember what she told me.

"Hand-painted is simpler," Cleo mumbled. Her tongue stuck out as she worked. "

I never cared for the crazy ones. I like it simple." I answered. Vix met my gaze and smiled. I returned the grin before looking back at my work.

"So, you haven't told me anything about this Legend you're working with. Raven was talking about it, but she twists things." Cleo said. I swallowed and shrugged with one shoulder.

"There's not much to say. He wears his amour all the time, so I don't know what he looks like. He doesn't talk... I know nothing about him." I answered. I recalled my conversation with Jermia. "Jermia said he didn't choose him and Lily said she just approved it. So who paired us?"

"Maybe he chose you," Cleo suggested. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "

As if," I muttered. Pain flashed through my chest.

"You know... people choose you... it does happen." She mumbled quietly. I bit my lip and shook my head. "You're not unloveable."

"To be honest, I pity anyone that loves me," I answered. Cleo flinched and narrowed her eyes at me.

"Well I love you, so start pitying sis," Cleo stated. I looked at her and grinned. "You're a bit of an ass, you're comet headed and despite your intelligence, pretty dumb, but I love you."

"Thanks, Cleo." I chuckled. She finished the final nail and made a clicking sound with her tongue.

"Finished." She nodded. She stared at the finished product with critical eyes. "I think next time I'm going to try for roses next."

"Thank you. Pretty." I looked at them and grinned. She packed her stuff and gave me a quick hug."

Think about what I said. Don't forget that even though he is a Legend, he was human once." She said before letting go. "Later, Nightmare."

"Later, Cleo." I waved at her as she left. Once she was gone, Vix turned to me."You know she buys those for—"

"For me, I know. Cleo only wears pink and light blue. Never grey and green. Those are my colours." I smiled. My best friend, as different as we are, was the closest thing I had to family. Lily hated my guts. Most of my family was dead, and I had been disowned by what little I had left.

I'd met Cleo when I was eleven and just started training. Cleo, sixteen at the time, had been trying to get a job in the military. Unfortunately, because of her age, they refused to look at her. I gave her the idea to hack their most secure files and show them. There was a chance they would lock her up, a possibility I warned her about. Instead, Cleo took the opportunity and hacked it. Like I had suspected, the military was desperate and impressed, taking her on within months.

"Also, she is just as stubborn as me, she can't keep calling me comet headed."

"I think you are slightly more stubborn than her." Vix shrugged. I rolled my eyes.

"Let's keep running it. Something has to pop up."