Chapter 68: Breakfast at Kanani's

As he feared, the number of players roaming Nexus had increased again, just as it had every day since his own arrival. They attracted a lot of attention during their drive down to the Food Court. Players stopped to stare and he saw several people either reach for their Books or turn to their Navigators for answers.

However, it turned out he wasn't the only person on the road. They passed a few dozen players on dirt bikes and motorcycles. Even more people drove scooters or one of the various eco-compacts on the real world market, which were only slightly bigger than bumper cars. He actually ended up behind another hoverbike at a stop light, but it was a loud, boxy real world model with two large drone fans at the front and rear whereas whatever made Hugh's bike hover was completely hidden from view and nearly silent.

"We should get helmets, too," Dex called over to him, pointing a finger at the other hoverbike driver.

Hugh nodded and mentally added it to his growing to-do list. Down at the Food Court, several limousines were circling around the central Gateway Hub and picking up wealthy passengers who acted like they'd just returned from a luxury cruise instead of having to trek twenty miles or more between their spawn points and Nexus.

He didn't understand the significance until he pulled up to Kanani's Lanai and saw the Hawaiian standing outside his shop door, watching the circus with an expression of distaste.

"Aloha," Kanani called, belatedly recognizing Hugh and Dex as they dismounted. They dismissed the mounts with a verbal command and both vehicles instantly evaporated. Kanani laughed and shook his head at the sight. "It's something new every time I see you, brah. Maybe you could show the trick to some of these yahoos. They been circling like sharks for hours now. Kind of sick of 'em."

"What's going on?" Hugh asked as he followed him into his shop. Both the exterior and interior had been completely renovated since Hugh sold it to him. The outside had a new sign with gaudy flashing neon and fake palm trees. The interior had been plastered with wood, bamboo, and wicker, giving it a traditional beach ambiance. Instead of tables and chairs, there were bars and tall stools set up below several televisions, so people could either sit or stand and watch various channels while they ate. It wasn't a place set up to encourage long sit-down meals—people could take their food out to a cafe table for that.

They took a seat on one of the stools lining the main counter while Kanani ducked into the kitchen to make them something. The man didn't bother asking what they wanted and they didn't bother looking at the menu overhead, instinctively knowing Kanani would bring them something good.

Kanani returned a minute later. He set a breakfast smoothie in front of each of them, then tossed his chin toward the door and answered Hugh's question. "Ever seen a disaster movie, brah? You know how the rich folks always find a way on board the escape ship first? Well, that's what's going on, except in real life. Turns out I got supa lucky by logging in so fast. My brother, he planned to get one of those freebie suits to log in, but when he went there, there was a line around the block. The news says every log-in center can process five to ten thousand people a day, but there be two and three times as many who show up. They overwhelmed big time, yet who all seems to be logging in with no problem? Rich folks. Pah."

"Hey, I'm no fan of the rich, but isn't it understandable? The Cryosis suits are cutting edge tech. They probably pre-ordered their suits as soon as they hit the market last year like I did, but were just waiting to log in themselves until after they heard feedback from the first round of players. Once the news went out about what the suits were really for, they probably sent people ahead to get things set up for them. It's what I'd have done if I had a crap-ton of spare money and I heard the world was coming to an end. Wouldn't you?"

Kanani huffed, but couldn't argue. Hugh figured it probably wouldn't be a good idea to tell him most of the limousines were probably owned by corporate runners who were waiting to pick up their bosses. When he'd asked 'what's going on', he'd actually been more curious about why so many were showing up on a Thursday of all days.

Hugh turned to Dex as Kanani ducked into the kitchen again. "Is there something special about today? Why Thursday?"

Dex chuckled and took a quick sip of his smoothie before answering. "Because they're smart enough to know when humans plan ahead for something, they usually plan for things to happen at the start of the week, Monday, or the start of the weekend, Friday. These people took a few days to make arrangements, but planned with the intention of beating the weekend rush."

Hugh grunted at the logic, wondering what it said about Frankie's Director since he'd planned for Thursday, too.

Kanani returned, setting out several coconut bowls between them to share. Two of them held sliced fruit, but the other two held a bowl of scrambled eggs mixed with chunks of ham, potatoes, cheese, and pineapple. He wasn't done, either. He ducked back into the kitchen yet again and brought back another bowl for each of them. Inside, a fried egg sat top a gravy-doused hamburger patty in a bed of rice.

"Loco Moco," Kanani said at Hugh's wide-eyed expression. "If you want more, let me know, brah. My uncle was as big as the two of you and he ate twice this every morning. I need to find bigger plates to serve people right. Coconut bowls are good, but they ain't great."

"How much do I owe you?" Hugh asked.

Kanani made a rude noise and disappeared into the kitchen again as if Hugh hadn't just asked such an apparently stupid question. He hid out in there long enough for Hugh and Dex to dig in, then came out again with a smoothie for himself to enjoy while he watched the counter.

"Where's Kamaka?" Dex asked curiously between bites of perfectly fried egg. Hugh didn't even attempt to make conversation, focusing his full attention on the hot and delicious—and apparently free—meal in front of him.

"He's in Aina helping the NPCs. If we gonna stay open, we needing real farms and ranches running to support us. The loan we took to buy the building ain't going to pay itself. No, don't look guilty, brah," he added when Hugh's expression twisted at the mention of a loan. "You helped us big time with the break you gave us. We have the spare cash now to hire a few people so we can keep up when more crowds fill up the streets. We gonna be sitting pretty in the long run. Just have to get the supplies ready to go so we don't get a reputation for always being sold out. Oh, that reminds me—"

Kanani held a hand out in front of him and said, "Memory Module Copy."

A blue orb the size of his fist appeared midair and dropped directly in Kanani's hand. He immediately held it out for Hugh to take.

"Here," he said. "I bought the module at an authorized dealer in the Tech Mall, so it's legit. It's a system tool to let you transfer scans between players. This one holds six hundred. Lots of good stuff on there, just like we promised."

Hugh dropped his chopsticks. He had to remind himself to finish chewing and swallow before he choked out, "Six hundred?"

"Not exactly six hundred, but close. We would have scanned you more, but my tutu said the Handiscanners were hard to use underwater. He kept dropping it in the reefs and it kept scanning the protective bag he put around it instead of fish and stuff. My Master Scan List was a mess for a while."

"How do I—"

"Just store the module in your inventory for now," Dex advised. "When you scan it, you'll have to add everything to your Book one at a time."

Hugh stored it, then turned a look of gratitude on the Hawaiian chef. "That's far more than I was expecting, Kanani. I know it was all part of the deal, but I feel like I owe you one now. If there's ever anything you need, let us know—especially if you plan to keep feeding us like you have been! Did I mention this is incredible? I've never had Moco Loco before, but I think it's my new favorite breakfast food."

Kanani laughed and flushed with pleasure at the compliment. "It's all good, brah. You come back anytime and we'll be happy to feed you. Don't try to pay, either. My aunt would beat me if I let you. She said so herself when I talked to her. Just to warn you, but my whole family wants to meet Kahuna Pono."

"Kahuna Pono?" Hugh repeated around a bite of cantaloupe. "I don't think my translator is working, because I don't know what that is."

The chef pressed his lips together, attempting to keep his smile from spreading out of control, but he failed miserably.

"Wait," Hugh said, realizing the system had to be treating the words like they were a name. "Did you guys give me a Hawaiian nickname? Are you guys calling me Bigshot Pony or something?"

"Pono means righteous, not pony," Kanani replied with a chuckle. "It's good. Outsiders think kahuna means any man of power, but it actually means master of an art or profession. It's also translated as a priest or wizard—people with spiritual authority—depending on how it's used. I could tell right away you were a real kahuna. When I told my family of the deal you made us, they all agreed you were also a righteous and honorable man, hence Kahuna Pono."

"I'm not sure how I feel about that," Hugh said. "Going by your definitions, I'm not a kahuna at all. Frankie, the guy who was with me, would be a kahuna—he's a doctor. But me? I'm just Hugh. What would make you tell your family I'm something special like that?"

Kanani shrugged. "Just a feeling, brah. Finish your breakfast. You're both dressed like you're supposed to be somewhere." Before Hugh could argue, he ducked into the kitchen and, this time, he didn't come back out except when a couple of players came in to buy breakfast.

They took the hint and quickly finished off their meal, then called out their farewells as they left.