aOS v.2.14

The penthouse was every bit as luxurious as Jack had promised. Sunlight poured through floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating a space designed to impress. The city skyline stretched out below them, with Manhattan's iconic landmarks visible at every turn. Alex paused, trying to take it all in—the polished floors, the state-of-the-art furnishings, the sheer expanse of the place. It was the kind of luxury he'd only seen in magazines, and now he was living it.

Jack dropped his bag on a nearby sofa and grinned, clearly pleased with Alex's reaction. "Welcome to the big leagues, brick-phone…No… Han. You've earned this."

Alex forced a grin, though part of him still felt like he'd wandered into someone else's life. "Guess the perks of being Kenjiro's successor come with a view."

Jin wandered over, his gaze equally appreciative as he scanned the space. "Not just a view," he said, gesturing around. "This place is packed with everything you need to stay ahead, partner."

Alex nodded, pretending to absorb it casually, though he felt an odd undercurrent of tension. Jack's approval and Jin's smirk felt genuine, but there was a sense of expectation in the air—a pressure to live up to the role they believed he was ready to play.

As he moved toward the living room, Alex's fingers brushed his new aPhone, his thoughts drifting back to the tech store. The device was undeniably impressive, packed with features he hadn't seen on anything from this year. He unlocked the screen, scrolling through the apps, noting a few he didn't recognize. Notifications pulsed in his digital vision, reminders of messages that felt like they were waiting for him alone.

Kofi's voice crackled through his AeroPhone, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Well, well, look who's finally decided to join the modern era. About time, kid."

Alex adjusted his AeroPhone, feeling Kofi's presence settle into the device more fully, as if they were syncing on a deeper level. "What's that supposed to mean?" he murmured, half-expecting a straight answer.

"Means you're out of excuses. Can't blame your 'brick-phone' anymore. But hey, don't get too comfortable. Just because it's fancy doesn't mean it can handle the crap we're about to wade into."

Alex's hand tightened on his AeroPhone. Kofi's words held a gravity he hadn't expected. "A little late to question my place here, isn't it?"

Kofi's reply came back, dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, sure. You're totally untouchable now. Because, you know, a penthouse makes you invisible or something. Newsflash, kid—this little upgrade doesn't make you invincible."

A small alert flickered in Alex's vision. His aPhone screen pulsed with a new message:

Remember, every upgrade has its price. Watch closely, or you might miss what's really changed.

WTF!!! That message again?

The message vanished before he could reread it. He blinked, trying to process the words that felt almost like a warning, something directed specifically at him. Kofi remained silent, his presence settled in the AeroPhone, as if he hadn't noticed the message.

Jack broke the silence, clapping a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Alright, get settled in. We've got work to do if you're going to keep up with us in Vegas."

Alex let out a low breath, trying to shake off the unease. "Guess I'd better make the most of these upgrades, then."

Jin grinned, already focused on his own new AeroPiece. "hmm…"

As they checked the penthouse, Alex adjusted his AeroPhone again, feeling a faint hum through the connection, the device almost alive under his touch. He glanced around, feeling the weight of this new life settling over him. Whatever awaited him in Vegas, it was clearer than ever that he was stepping into uncharted territory.

—--

After they'd settled into the penthouse, Jack checked his watch, smirking as he slung a casual wave at Alex. "Alright, Han. I've got to run. Important meeting. But hey—since you're back in town, why don't you head over to Neptune's Paradise? Enjoy yourself for once. Drinks on… well, you, obviously."

Alex laughed, shaking his head. "Generous as ever, Jack."

"What can I say? I'm a giver." Jack winked, and with a parting slap on the back, he left the penthouse.

The mention of Neptune's Paradise pulled Alex back to a time when he'd first crossed paths with Jack. A warm grin crept onto his face as the memories surfaced. Neptune's Paradise wasn't just any bar—it was the place where his strange, winding journey had all begun.

Alex could practically hear the bass thumping and smell the smoke lingering in the neon-lit air of that place. He'd been fresh out of college, brimming with ideas and absolutely broke. On a whim, he'd wandered into Neptune's for a drink, hoping to unwind after a long week. Instead, he'd found himself sitting next to Jack Connors, who'd seemed like a friendly face—until he wasn't.

"First night in the big leagues, huh?" Jack had said with an inviting smile, already ordering rounds for everyone nearby. "Tell you what, I'll cover the first few drinks. You can take care of the rest."

Alex hadn't thought much of it, especially after a couple of drinks had lowered his guard. Jack's charm had worked on him effortlessly, and before he knew it, the entire place was in on the celebration Jack had orchestrated—for him. Only, by the end of the night, Jack had somehow slipped out, leaving Alex to foot an outrageous tab for half the bar. The debt was dizzying, more than he'd ever thought he'd spend in one night. And yet, somehow, that initial shock had set off a chain of events, leading him right into Jack's world and, eventually, into the casinos.

From that night on, Jack had been a near-constant in his life, always pulling strings and testing his limits. In some strange way, the debt at Neptune's Paradise had been the price of entry to a life he could never have imagined—a world that was still as thrilling as it was treacherous.

Kofi's voice piped up in his ear, slicing through the nostalgia. "What's that dumb grin for? You look like you just remembered where you lost your dignity."

Alex snorted, adjusting his AeroPhone as he walked toward the window, looking down over the city. "Funny, because that's exactly what happened."

"Oh, this sounds good. Let me guess—another one of Jack's schemes?" Kofi's tone oozed with sarcasm. "I'll bet you even fell for the 'first drink's on me' line."

"Pretty much." Alex shook his head, chuckling despite himself. "But it led to… all of this."

"Yeah, and a mountain of headaches too. But hey, if that's your idea of a good time…" Kofi trailed off, his voice full of the usual dry humor.

Alex's gaze drifted back toward the bar's neon-lit memory. Neptune's Paradise felt like a distant mirage now, a piece of his past that had somehow pulled him to this very moment. The luxurious penthouse, the tech humming in his ear, the looming Vegas mission—it was all connected, strands of fate woven from that night.

With a deep breath, he pushed the memory aside and glanced around the penthouse, steeling himself for what lay ahead. Neptune's Paradise had once opened a door he hadn't expected; now, he was on the edge of another, and there was no telling where it might lead.

—--

Alex hadn't taken more than a few steps toward the door when Kofi's face popped up on his digital screen, the alien's eyes practically sparkling.

"Ah, Neptune's Paradise. Finally, a chance to enjoy ourselves! Maybe tonight we'll see some actual beautiful faces instead of the usual grim poker mugs you've been hanging around with."

Alex rolled his eyes, typing a reply directly onto the screen with a few deft strokes. He barely had to think about it—the typing came naturally, courtesy of the Master Kenjiro's Flash technique he'd been honing.

"I thought you liked ants more than humans," he shot back.

Kofi scoffed, his face twisting into an exaggerated expression of disgust. "Ants, humans—it's all a matter of perspective. But come on, even I can appreciate a well-dressed human. Besides, it's not every day I get to people-watch at a bar!"

Alex smirked, slipping his aPhone into his pocket. "Just don't get too excited. I'm not exactly planning to be the life of the party."

"Who said anything about you being the life of the party?" Kofi retorted, his voice practically dripping with mock sympathy. "I'm there to appreciate the scenery, kid. You're just my ticket in."

With one last chuckle, Alex took a breath and stepped out of the penthouse, heading toward Neptune's Paradise. Whatever the night held, he knew that with Kofi's antics in his ear and memories of his first encounter with Jack in his mind, it was bound to be eventful.