Dynamis | Chapter 27 - Bond (Patreon)

Jark was the spitting image of positivity when Karl delivered the news that Lilibelle would be accompanying them to see Cever. Wrench was equally jubilant, holding hands with Jark as she jumped for joy. Short and Dart exchanged exhausted expressions but were otherwise unaffected one way or the other by Lilibelle’s presence. Several of the other mechanics in the hangar regarded Jark and Wrench with pointed glares and raised brows. Wanting to appear professional, Karl gestured for them to quiet down.

“Ah, don’t worry about them,” Jark said, waving his hand in front of his face. “If not us, then they’d find something else to worry about.”

Wrench clapped her hands together, her smile uncannily wide. “I am so, so happy your partner is coming along. This’ll be a real treat.” She bit her bottom lip and nudged Jark between the elbows. “They’re gettin’ closer, Piston. If you don’t make your move soon, Karl’s gonna beat you to the punch.”

“Nobody beats my punches,” he said, barking a laugh.

“Oh boy,” Short muttered from behind Jark. Dart shared a similar reaction, clearly trying to stop himself from laughing.

A portion of Wrench’s smile disappeared. “That’s… not what I meant.”

Jark tilted his head. “What did you mean?”

“Well, Karl’s gettin’ closer to Lilibelle,” Wrench said, gesturing to Karl. Jark nodded. “Maybe you should consider doin’ somethin’ similar with another lady?”

Jark frowned. “I’m not a conductor. I’m a mechanic.”

Short snorted.

“What’s so funny?” Jark asked.

Karl didn’t like where this conversation was going. As much as he wanted his relationship with Lilibelle to improve, the fact of the matter was that he was going to have to get accustomed to partnering with other people on the regular. If Lilibelle’s experience with Derrin Testarone was any indicator, then there was a good chance that he, too, would be paired up with other non-Harmonic conductors. He didn’t want Jark, Wrench, anyone for that matter, to imply that he and Lilibelle might somehow become an item.

“Karl and Lilibelle are warming up to one another,” Wrench continued. She pressed herself up against Jark, nudged him gently between the ribs. “Maybe you should consider warming up to a lady?”

Jark’s frown tightened. “What lady? Is there something I’m missing here?”

Karl watched as Short and Dart whispered something to one another. They exchanged a couple of small, black devices, credit sticks from the looks of it, then nodded to one another and leaned back as they watched Jark and Wrench.

“I’m going to get going,” Karl said as he turned around. He couldn’t watch this. Whenever Wrench prodded Jark about the ‘lady he should be making moves on,’ there were dozens of parallels drawn between him and Lilibelle, and he just wasn’t in the mindset for that kind of thing right now.

“Now look what you did,” Karl heard Dart say as he was leaving, “you scared the poor boy off.”

—

Lilibelle marched off the elevator and up to Admiral Chovek’s office as soon as she received a reply denying her a reevaluation of her simulation with Derrin Testarone. She was still dressed in her tank top and shorts—the clothes she usually wore to bed—with her boots haphazardly tied and the zipper of her jacket tinking with every step. She came to an abrupt halt in front of the door and pressed the button for the secretary.

“May I help you?” came a woman’s voice.

“Lilibelle Katsun. I wish to speak with Admiral Chovek.”

“What is this regarding?” she asked after a pause.

“I would like a thorough explanation regarding a report I received. It’s urgent.”

“One moment please.”

Lilibelle lolled her head back while she waited. The hallway was so quiet she could hear the subtle ringing in her ears. She tried to distract herself with other things, but the ringing continued to grow louder and louder. It was nearly unbearable by the time the secretary returned to the intercom.

“He is not expecting anyone today,” the secretary said. “He asks that if you have a concern that you send it up the chain of command. He trusts you know how it works.”

Lilibelle gritted her teeth. “I thought he would want to know about the inaccuracy. I suppose I was incorrect.” She regretted the words nearly as soon as they left her mouth.

“If the inaccuracy is important enough to bring to his attention but ignore the chain of command, then I shall inform him right away.”

“I don’t have time anymore,” Lilibelle quickly said. “I’ll do as he said and inform him some other way.”

“Very well. Will there be anything else?”

Lilibelle’s eye twitched. “No. That will be all.”

The static cut out and the green light that usually implied that a connection had been made between two voice boxes faded to red. She stared at the light for a while, perhaps longer than she should have, then turned around and made her way back to the elevator.

As the elevator hummed its descent, Lilibelle leaned against the wall and clapped a hand across her face. Once again, her temperament had landed her in hot water. It was fortunate that she had the sense to realize it and jumped out before she could be boiled alive. She kicked her heel against the wall behind her and dragged her hand down her face. Was it her imagination or was everyone trying to make a fool out of her at every turn?

The elevator dinged at its arrival to the ground floor. The doors slid open to reveal Karl and Millie, because of course they did.

Everywhere I go, you’re there. I turn around, you’re there.

“Good morning, Lilibelle,” Karl said. That stupid, dopey smile she’d attached to his personality was on full display today. He wore a comfortable-looking bomber jacket that resembled her own. The idea that they almost matched made her sick to her stomach. Hell, half of her wondered if he was actually happy to see her for a change. Going to Cever together couldn’t have made him that happy, could it?

“Good morning,” Millie said. Always the picture of demure and modest, she wore a long pleated skirt that stopped below her knees and a thick, white sweater. She jogged up to Lilibelle and leaned up against her. “How are you?”

“G-Good morning,” Lilibelle managed before gently pushing away from the wall. “This is my stop.”

“You can stay for a little bit, can’t you?” Millie asked. “Class isn’t for another twenty minutes.”

Lilibelle swallowed a groan. “I… guess I can.” As annoying as Millie could be, she did seem to actually care about the other conductors in their unit. An air of gentle kindness followed her wherever she went, which made it difficult to disagree with her. Lilibelle didn’t get the sense that Millie ever did this on purpose or had any sort of ulterior motive, and perhaps that’s what irritated her the most. She was just genuinely an annoyingly kind and gentle person. “But not for long. I have a report to file.”

Karl snickered as he walked into the elevator next. “I don’t think twenty minutes is going to save you from that.” He clicked the button for the second floor and the elevator began to move. “What did you need to report?”

“I, uh,” Lilibelle stammered, “wanted to expose an inaccuracy I discovered in one of the, um… the, what do you call it…?”

Karl furrowed his brow. “Call… what?”

Lilibelle spun her finger in midair, looked away from Karl, met Millie’s curious gaze, then allowed her eyes to wander back to Karl, and then finally to the floor.

“The, uh, DF inspection.”

“What DF inspection?” Karl pressed. “You’re not talking about the one when the Sovereigns were first discovered, are you?”

Karl offered her an out and she took it without hesitation. Whether he was doing that for her benefit or if he was genuinely curious, she couldn’t care less. “Yes! That’s the one!” She couldn’t bring herself to admit that she was still hung up over her simulation results. None of the other students combated or disputed with their superiors the way she did, and she worried that may reflect poorly on her. “I-I heard one of the mechanics talking about it and wanted to let Admiral Chovek know.”

A knowing smile tugged at Karl’s lips. “Is that so? If it’s so important, won’t the mechanics report it in their own time?”

Was this what it felt like to be offered food and then have it taken away the moment you reached for it? “W-Well, sure,” Lilibelle said, crossing her arms. “But I figured urgency was important.”

The elevator dinged as it halted. The doors spread open and another pair of guys from their class, Ader and Lars, stepped in next. Karl and Millie were starting their way out, Millie giving Ader a casual wave on her exit, when Karl stopped and turned his side toward Lilibelle.

“Are you coming?” he asked.

“S-Sure.” Lilibelle’s cheeks burned as her gaze darted between Ader and Lars, and she stepped out just as the doors were closing. The last thing she saw before the doors shut were Ader’s sharp eyes, glaring, watching. But they weren’t looking at her. They were looking at Karl.

“Thank you for coming along with us,” Millie said, her hands clasped in her lap. “Have you put together any new earrings since we last spoke? I’ve wanted so dearly to approach you, but I haven’t been able to build up the courage.” She raised her hands and tapped the tips of her fingers together. Her cheeks pinked. “I hope you don’t mind.”

Lilibelle nearly gauped. This woman was way too pure to be in Deadeye.

“No, I haven’t had the chance,” Lilibelle admitted. The truth was, ever since she’d been reprimanded, she’d been hesitant to approach the scrap heap. It didn’t help that the last time they spoke, Karl had reminded her that it was strictly off limits.

“That’s a shame,” Millie said with a sad tone to her voice.

“Come on, let’s keep moving,” Karl said.

“Right!”

“Where are we going?” Lilibelle asked.

“Nowhere,” Karl said. “Just stretching our legs.”

Lilibelle frowned and followed. “That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“The second floor makes a complete circle,” Millie explained, “so we can walk as many laps as we like. Karl thought it would be a good way to wake up before class starts.”

“Heh. The squirt has some good ideas after all,” Lilibelle said.

Karl rolled his eyes. “I’ll pretend that was a compliment.”

“It wasn’t?” Millie said.

Sweet and airheaded. What a treasure. “Sure it was,” Lilibelle quickly said. She and Karl shared a look—the same one they usually shared before an argument started—and refrained from lighting the fire they both surely felt.

“Are you being mean to him?” Millie asked, puffing out her cheeks.

“I would call it playful teasing. I want to make sure he has his head in the right place.”

“Karl’s head is always in the right place,” Millie continued. “He’s kind and generous and intelligent, and I want you to be nice to him. I know you two have had your differences, but from the sounds of it, you haven’t been very kind to him.”

“From the sounds of it?” Lilibelle repeated, then slowly looked at Karl for elaboration. Karl ran the most uncomfortable hand down his neck that Lilibelle had ever seen. “So, someone’s talking shit about me, is that it?”

“Now, hold on, I didn’t say anything—” Karl started.

“We got twenty minutes, white bread. Why don’t you tell me what you told her?”

“Yeah, tell her!” Millie said, surprising Lilibelle. “Tell her what you told me!”

The color drained from Karl’s face in an instant. Oh, this was good. Now, this was justice. This was vengeance. At last, she got to watch him squirm and wriggle like the little worm he was. Lilibelle watched, lips pulled into a toothy smile, and waited.

“It’s nothing we haven’t already talked about,” Karl said dismissively. He quickened his pace, and Lilibelle jogged to catch up to him, sticking to his side with a grin. “Rust on the gun, right?”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Nowhere.”

“You can say that again.”

Millie skipped up to Lilibelle’s side, maintaining the same brisk speed that Lilibelle and Karl had now adopted. “Is this part of the exercise routine, Karl?” she giggled.

“That’s right.” His pace quickened further still. “Can’t strengthen the muscles if you don’t stress them out on occasion.”

“There are plenty of better ways to do that. Ways that don’t involve running away from a person who’s trying to speak with you,” Lilibelle chided.

“I’m not trying to avoid you.”

“I think you are. Come on, white bread, cough it up! What did you say?”

“I didn’t say shit!” He wasn’t just walking anymore. He was practically running. That was fine. Lilibelle could keep up. In fact, some weird part of her enjoyed this little chase. “It’s not that big of a deal! We’re fine now!”

“Oh, we are? When did that change?” Lilibelle pressed. Millie had fallen behind, but neither she nor Karl—as far as she could tell, anyway—cared. “Because last I recall, you were doing everything you could to avoid me up until we spoke with Sean.”

At last, Karl slowed, and the evasive expression he wore turned to one of direness. Lilibelle ran past him at first, but spun on her heel and stopped, waiting for him to catch up. When they were side by side once more, Karl stared at her. Directly at her. It was enough to make a girl blush.

“W-What?” Lilibelle stammered.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Lilibelle frowned.

Millie finally caught up, panting and wiping the sweat from her brow. “I can’t run as fast! Can we please slow down?”

“Sorry,” Lilibelle said. “I got ahead of myself and assumed Karl would come clean with me.”

Karl sighed.

—

“Everyone, sit down,” Instructor Boldwin said. “We have a lot to go over regarding proper neurolinking.” Karl frowned as he took his seat. “You’ll be undergoing your first neurolink later this afternoon.”

Karl’s mouth grew dry. Already?

A hand shot up instantly, and the instructor flicked his head toward it.

“Instructor Boldwin,” Shelly Welwer said, “who are we linking with?” There was genuine concern in her tone. “We just barely started pairing with new people. Isn’t this a little… well, premature?”

Boldwin drew a deep breath. “You’ll be given your assigned partners at the end of class. Doctor Almezer will be administering the tests and assigning your partner. To answer your question, I don’t know who you will be linking with.” He sat on the edge of his desk. “Until then, let’s have a little chat about what to expect.”