THE MOMENT
Connor blinked as soon as the world disappeared. It's what he was told to do. Except, even after several blinks, he was still standing alone in an empty white void. He wasn't alone when he put the visor on, and hoped he still wasn't. Monday joined him on the wall as he waited for the next group of fog stalkers to appear; she had a gift for him.
"I don't see anything?" he asked. He heard Monday sigh before she helped him.
"They're off, dummy. Use your nanos to turn them on and change settings."
"Oh yeah..," Connor nodded. Five days ago Connor met Monday and discovered an entire universe he didn't know existed. He was still trying to get a handle on the technology. When he first made his AlterNet character and learned how to use nanos, it was still difficult.
He struggled to get them to do anything at all. But, Monday gave him a key piece of advice that he found helpful. She told him, 'You don't give nanos orders; focus on what you want and trust them to help you.' He willed the visor to 'turn on'.
The empty world returned. In an instant he was standing atop the stone wall again. A rainbow-haired teen girl stared at him through her own translucent-white visor. The only difference was that he was looking through a light fog. He almost panicked until he realized the visor was coloring his view.
"This is why you're farming fog stalkers?" Connor asked. "To make designer sunglasses?"
"Different parts are used in different crafting recipes. There's always demand," Monday shrugged. "But, these are more than sunglasses. They also let any Unique use Star Sight," she added. A pair of golden stars began to glow on her visor, one over each eye.
"Whoooa really!?" Connor was instantly excited. After he met Monday, she introduced him to Mundo who explained everything. Star Sight allows Estrellas to see the souls of others and the world as it really is, and Connor was eager to try it. He focused on Monday, and suddenly his vision changed.
The world looked more or less the same, though everything seemed to shimmer with faint purple light. Although, Connor couldn't focus on anything else but Monday. A large golden crescent moon hung behind her; and, he noticed three small symbols orbiting the moon. A skull, a flaming star, and a golden crown circled the top point of the crescent. Mundo mentioned that each Unique had an aura and he wondered what his looked like. Monday's made sense, she was Unique Soul #23, La Luna.
Connor wanted to ask about the three symbols but he was startled off his train of thought when a new voice spoke up. He was so focused on Monday that he didn't notice a teen boy join them.
"Hey, Monday," he said. Connor expected another Unique, but when he focused on the teen he only saw a sparkling purple aura. "Here's the first batch, let me know when they sell out," he said. Monday giggled, to Connor's surprise. He hadn't known her for very long, but she always seemed so quiet, if not annoyed. She smiled as she the teen two grapefruit-sized golden cubes. He accepted them.
"Thanks, Turbo. But, you should grab a case of pelts," Monday gestured over her shoulder with her thumb. "These are already sold out."
"Turbo?!" Connor couldn't help but blurt out the name in surprise. He looked at Turbo's aura up and down but only saw purple light.
"Aren't you Unique?" he asked. Turbo chuckled and nodded.
"#42, La Calavera," he said. Connor turned back to Monday and saw the moon behind her. Then, he looked at Turbo again, but he only had a purple aura.
"You can't see my aura, can you," Turbo grinned.
"Just purple...," Connor replied.
"That's a standard Zero aura," Turbo said. He smirked at Connor, "It's helpful to keep a low profile sometimes. Especially if everyone is going to have those," he pointed at Connor's visor.
"You can hide your aura?" Monday asked. Golden stars appeared on her visor again and she looked at Turbo. "Whoa... when can I start selling that?" she asked. Turbo shook his head.
"Sorry, I gotta keep some tech for myself," he said. "But..," Turbo still held the two golden cubes in his hand and offered one back to Monday.
"Speaking of business, I need some dragonbreath roses. And, I wanted to ask you before everyone else realizes that Valentine's day is coming up." Monday shook her head but accepted the cube.
"Then, you should've asked last month. But, I've still got...," she hefted the cube. "..this many left. Do you want them now?" Turbo shook his head.
"Hold on to them for now, I'll pick them up when I drop off the next batch. While you wait for me to come back...," Turbo handed her the other cube. "...can you get me some information on someone?" Again, Monday accepted the cube with a nod.
"Who?" she asked.
"Abby, on the B-Squad," Turbo replied.
"I can already tell you she doesn't like being called Abby...," Monday said. "She loses it a little bit if you don't call her Spider." Turbo shrugged and half-nodded.
"Oh yeah. Well, her. Find out what you can, please," Turbo asked.
"Will do," Monday nodded.
"Thanks," Turbo said. He pulled a black card out and dropped it at his feet. But, as he began to sink into it, a faint look of panic flashed across his face. He blurted out a deflection randomly.
"But, she’s totally unrelated to the roses!"