Chapter 33: Night in Daylight

Epra: a planet mostly covered in large scorching deserts, rich forests, large rivers, and lakes. During the winter seasons, the lakes would be frost over with a thin sheet of ice, the mountain peaks themselves would be powdered with snow. People would stop, and gaze at its beauty. Other times, the mountain peaks would be hugged by blankets of clouds.

It is now morning, with the sun beaming down from high above. Within the town, where Leah, and Kase reside; people walk to and fro, as well as a few vehicles that hover through the streets.

Clothing, and all sorts of other accessories are seen near the entrance of the one building. Just then, Leah walks out. She is now clothed with faded-blue rags which hug around her torso, and arms. Still with a dark-blue polar-neck top, and her red sash around her waist, which hangs over her gray pants.

After a moment of admiring her new wears, Leah starts adjusting the soft fabrics around her arms, with her attention focosed only on that, as if she has forgotten about Kase.

She stops fiddling with the fabrics, and watches the people around her.

"It will be the last time she stole from us," a rough male voice is heard, urging Leah to turn to the source, only to see two armored individuals, a man and a woman dressed in scraps made from leather, and metal.

"Wait until we find her," he said, only to look Leah's way.

"What are you looking at, woman?" He stopped walking with a snarling glare.

The woman next to him stops, and looks her way as well. She shifts her gaze to her friend beside her and back at Leah. "We have other duties at the moment. Don't waste your time on this alien outsider," she said, her voice sounding clean, and precise. She carries on walking, followed by the big guy.

"The audacity she has for coming here, trying to act all tough." He said, looking over his shoulder at her.

Turning her attention away from them, Leah walks towards the market, and leans herself against the wall.

--

Leah still leans on the wall with her arms crossed, aher gaze drawn to the floor.

"What do you think?" Kase's voice is heard nearby, urging her to look up to see him standing in front of herself.

"Would this work?" He asked, gesturing his arms out.

She starts smiling, only to chuckle, urging him to frown at her.

"What?" He said, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Is there something wrong?"

"What strange taste you have," she said, leaning her elbow on her other arm, and her hand near her lips.

"You said we had to blend, didn't you?" He said, with a frownfuk gaze.

"Yeah but, it's so basic." She said, looking at him from head to toe.

"Maroon Shirt, and gray-"

She pauses while looking down under his torso.

"Whatever kind of pants that is." She added, pointing at them, still with her one arm crossed.

"We don't want to stand out do we?"

Leah lets out a sigh.

"I guess you're right." She steps towards him.

"We need others to find us intimidating though..."

She smiles slightly.

"Well I suppose this will do." She added, looking up at him.

"Intimidating?" He said, frowning at her.

"That's immature."

"Tell me about it." She said, turning, and walks in the same direction the two individuals she saw earlier. Kase starts following her.

"Where are you going now?" He asked, jogging to meet her.

"I spotted two scavengers, they walked this way," she said, looking ahead of herself.

"So...?"

"I was thinking that we could maybe follow them; to see where they're heading." She looks at Kase, still walking besid him.

"So are you with me?" She asked with a smile.

"Won't it be too dangerous?" Asked he, with his eyes narrowed.

"We don't know what we'll find there."

"That's what makes it interesting." She answered him, and looks ahead of herself to see the two scavengers walking ahead of them.

"If there's trouble, we'll handle it."

"I hope so," he said, looking ahead of himself.

"But is this really necessary?" He asked.

"I just need to ask their leader a few questions," she answered.

"The blacksmith won't be any help to us. I realized that now."

"Alright then," he said.

"As long as you know what you're doing, I'll follow."

--

Leah and Kase continue to follow the two. The two scavengers cross the street, as a vehicle hovers past them.

They both watch as the two enter a large building which stands a few stories high. Looking up at the building, Leah narrows her eyes.

"So that's where you hang out," she muttered.

"I thought it would look ugly, and stuff," Kase said, standing next to her.

Looking at him, she shakes her head with a huff, and starts walking towards the building, followed by him.

"Are you sure you want to enter it that way?" Kase asked, stopping her with his hand on her shoulder.

"Shouldn't we sneak in, instead?"

"That's ridiculous," she said with a frown, and takes his hand off her.

"It would only cause trouble for ourselves."

She proceeds towards the building.

"We're going through the normal way," she said.

"How a decent person should."

"Alright, fine." He simply said, and follows onward.

--

Leah, and Kase enters through, only to find lights, with the sound of loud music. Lights that sweep across the dance floor as they change color. Crowds of people dancing to the music on the dance floor. Waiters, and waitresses are seen walking around, holding a tray of drinks near their head. Large screens are seen projecting video clips of blue skinned women dancing. Their choice of clothing, leaves little room for anyone's imagination.

"It's a nightclub," said Leah, scanning her eyes across the place

"In the day?" Kase said, looking at her with a puzzled gaze.

"Probably an all hours one." She said, and chuckles a bit.

"These people are so busy enjoying themselves, they've most likely lost track of time."

"Are you saying that most of them, have been here since last night?"

"Exactly," she said, stepping forward.

"Come, let's find out who runs this place."

Kase follows her through a row of distracted people of different species. Walking through the crowd, Leah gently pushes a young man out of her way, and reaches the bar.

"Really, Leah?" Kase said, stepping next to her.

"Going to drink again?" His voice barely heard from the chatter, and loud music.

"What!?" She said, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"No, I'm not here for a drink!"

"Then what?"

"I'm going to ask him if he knows anything." She walks stops at the bar, where there's two women sitting on their stools, only for her to start ease dropping on their conversation.

"...no matter how many times I tried to explain myself, he didn't want to hear it." The one women said to her friend.

"Not even giving you the benefit of the doubt?" Her friend asked.

"Both of you have known each other for years. It's strange for him to stop trusting you all of a sudden."

The woman in topic lets out a sigh.

"I know." She said, taking a sip from her drink.

"But let's just forget about it, alright? Let's rather forcus on tonight." She raised her glass.

"Toast to our friendship." She added.

They both tap their glasses together.

"To our friendship." Her friend said with a cheerful tone, and takes a big gulp with her.

Leah turns her attention away them. Just then, Kase sits next to her.

"Hey, bartender!" she called out, waving at him.

He walks over to her.

"What is your order?"

"No order, but-"

"Then go." He said, before turning away from.

"Wait, listen. I have a question!" Leah said with a fustrated tone in her voice.

"Make it quick then, woman." He said turning to her once more with glare.

She leans over the bar.

"Can you tell me who's in charge of this club?" She said, looking her gaze into his eyes.

"I want to have a word with them."

"It's kind of argent," Kase added, urging the guy to look at him, and back at Leah.

The bartender let's out a sigh.

"Anya. She's up there," he said pointing behind himself in an angle, where a large bowl-like structure looms. Colors of pink, purple, and red lights are seen shining through the large opening.

"Try not to do anything stupid, you hear?" He turns away from them.

Leah, and Kase walks around the bar with their gaze fixed on the structure at the corner of the club.

"Looks fancy." Leah said, narrowing her eyes.

"Let's go and meet this Anya."

She starts walking with Kase following from behind. The both of them squeezing their way through the dense crowd of people.

--

They both start walking up a spiral of stairs leading up to Anya.

"What do you even want from Anya?" Kase said, looking up at Leah, as she continues to walk.

"What are you even going to ask her? Ask her if there's a job opening, or something?"

"Haahaa, very funny," she said with sarcasm oozing from her words. She stops, and turns to him.

"The captain of the ship that invaded; her name is Raine."

She continues walking up the stairs.

"I want to know if Anya has any information about her."

"We don't even know if she's been here or not." Kase said, with a reasonable tone in his voice.

"Remember, you told me that someone else bought those weapons."

"Oh I did, didn't I?" She stops for a moment, and continues to climb the stairs.

"Well, maybe she knows something about that blue-haired woman I saw, who collected the weapons."

"Not a bad idea." He said with a calm tone in his voice.

Just then, both of them walk in the booth where a large beam projecting a screen of magnenta colored words streaming across. At the base, is a couch surrounding it, along with smaller sized couches in front. The two scavengers they saw earlier are seen standing beside a woman seated on it, her arms resting on the back of the couch itself, with her legs crossed.

Her skin: blue as well, her hair grey with white highlights, a ponytail with a fringe over one of her eyes. Her clothing: a brown jacket with the colar standing up and grey trousers. She crosses her arms, when noticing Leah, and Kase's pressence, showing her black gloves that reach along her arms.

One of her guards aims his weapon at them, only for her to show a signful gesture with her hand, urging him to lower his weapon.

The big guy Leah saw earlier, glares at her, urging her to look his way, not breaking any eye contact with him.

"Are the two of you just going to stand there?" The woman asked, in a politeful manner.

"Sorry, where are my manners," she said, gesturing with her hand.

"Please..." She said, crossing her arms.

"Take a seat."

Hesitant, Leah, and Kase walk towards their couch of choice, and take thier seats.

"Never expected to see other ningens." The woman said with a narrowed gaze.

"You know about us?" Leah asked, with a puzzling look.

"I also know that you can be irritating thieves too," she said, narrowing her eyes, only for her face to soften.

"But, I'm sure not all of you are like that."

"Are you Anya?" Kase asked, leaning forward.

The woman's lips twist into a smile.

"The one and only." Anya said.

"Now what can I do for you?"