Shun Steel's Arc

Chapter 6 of 6

Morning light hit the wrist port as Shun stepped off the fire escape onto the rooftop. The old brick building stood quiet under his boots, its weathered face still holding the night's chill. Chip blinked awake against his skin, eager. Today the crew would meet the newest member. The drop site was already alive. Aero leaned against the graffiti half wall, the bright Neon Tigers letters glowing behind his shoulders like a crown he never asked for. Zorey sat cross-legged on a crate, painting her claws a soft pink. Rylie stood near the ledge in black boots, eyes lined sharp, smirking at nothing. Chance filled the doorway behind them, arms crossed, looking like a wall that could hug you. "You're late," Rylie said. "And you brought a guest." Her eyes flicked to his wrist. Shun walked to the console he had set up under the tarp, six screens humming on a neon-lit desk. He pressed his wrist to the port. Chip jumped in with a happy chirp, and the smiley face spread across every monitor. "Crew," Shun said, "meet Chip. He's living tech. He sees what I see. He's one of us now." Zorey gasped and waved at the screens. Chance grinned wide. Aero just nodded, slow and easy. "Cool. He drinks with us too?" Rylie stepped closer and tapped a screen with one black nail. The smiley winked at her. She laughed, surprised, then matched it with her own crooked grin. "Alright, little guy. Welcome to the Neon Tigers." Shun let out a breath he didn't know he held. The crew had taken Chip in clean, no questions, no flinch. The drop site felt fuller now, the family he chose standing whole around him, and a new pair of eyes watching the skyline for trouble he hadn't seen yet.