Bab 23: JavaCity
Two days had passed.
Aaron occupied the passenger seat while Max maneuvered from the driver's seat. Beads of sweat formed on Max's forehead as he steered, seemingly oblivious to Aaron's fixed gaze upon him.
In the backseat, Serena's eyes remained shut, seemingly immersed in her own world. Garry, on the other hand, peered out of the window, his attention caught by the desolate landscape passing by. Lolita, the girl they had encountered just two days prior, sat with her arms folded. She wore big pink headphones, lost in the rhythm of the music she was playing. Her lips moved in slow synchronization to the lyrics.
"Why do we have her with us?" Aaron's voice was low, yet carried a serious tone. Max's fingers tapped nervously on the steering wheel. "W-well," he stammered, "she seemed distressed, and her city is along our route. So, maybe... we could drop her off?" He glanced at Aaron, who exuded palpable annoyance. Max gulped and quickly shifted his gaze forward.
Garry's voice came from the backseat, breaking the silence. "We're running out of water," he observed as he peered outside, his expression pensive.
"Hmm," Max responded, deftly avoiding a sizable rock in their path. "There's no water source nearby, and we're low cash."
Aaron's attention shifted to the wasteland outside, taking in the arid, post-apocalyptic scenery of the year 2120.
"How far is Boston?" Aaron inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Max met Aaron's gaze and replied, "We have to cross borders to get there, as it's situated in the Old West."
"Huh, and how many days will it take us to reach Boston?"
"It's about a month by car, but just a few hours by fleet. However, we need to drop Miss Lolita in JavaCity," Max explained.
Garry's ears perked up, and he interjected, "Hey, you also need to drop me off in UltaCity!"
Max rolled his eyes in response. Just then, Serena's eyes fluttered open, and she rubbed her eyes before asking, "Where are we?"
Max's face lit up with excitement as he looked at her. "We're just one day away from JoranCity," he replied, a smile forming on his lips.
"And... why are we headed there? Are there any other cities nearby?" Serena's gaze shifted from Aaron to Lolita, who was still engrossed in her music.
"There's a city about an hour away, but if we divert there, it'll only delay us further. And Miss Lolita has some important stuff to do so we have to drop Miss Lolita First.," Max explained.
"Huh? Why do we have to drop this brat? and what do you think we are? bloody pick and drop?" Serena's irritation was evident in her voice. Max's nervousness grew as he glanced at Aaron, who was already irritated, and now Serena seemed to share the sentiment.
"Could you please not shout?" Lolita's voice cut through, her attention still consumed by her music, further aggravating Serena.
"Ugh!" Serena's frustration peaked, causing the car to jerk and come to a stop.
"What's wrong? Did we run out of power again?" Aaron inquired, as Max attempted to restart the car. "Yes, well, it's around 12 pm, and there's no sun, so no solar energy for the car. We'll have to wait until morning," Max replied.
Aaron nodded, closing his eyes and suggesting, "You should rest too. You've been driving non-stop." Max looked at Aaron, a blush tinting his cheeks. "A-are you concerned about me?"
"No," Aaron retorted, turning away. Max rolled his eyes, reclined his seat, and shut his eyes. However, Garry, seated behind him, shouted for more space. Max ignored him.
The following day, after yet another exhausting drive, they finally arrived at their destination. Serena gazed out through the window and saw a magnificent, bustling city under a massive, sky-blue bubble-like dome. Despite their fatigue, the sight of this grand, beautiful city stirred a wave of excitement in everyone.
"Keep driving straight," Lolita instructed, removing her headphones and providing directions to Max. Aaron's attention was captured by the stunning scenery: towering buildings, a train suspended by wires in the sky, and an enormous gate adorned with illuminated letters spelling out "JavaCity."
Am brought the van to a stop at the entrance, where two square-headed robots, their LED faces displaying the JavaCity logo, approached.
"Welcome to JavaCity," one of the pink robots greeted, while the other, equipped with a scanner for faces, focused on Max. A laser light scanned his face, a green light signaled, and then the same procedure was repeated for Lolita. Upon scanning her face, the robot remarked, "Welcome back, young lady."
Max exchanged a glance with Aaron, whispering, "Seems like she's someone important." The robots proceeded to scan each person's face before granting them entry to the city.
The van glided slowly into the protective bubble, and as it did, everyone lowered their windows to gulp in the fresh air.
"Finally!" Serena exclaimed, her head poking out of the window. Aaron followed suit, taking in deep breaths, a smile of relief and refreshment on his face. His gaze fell upon the bustling scene outside—people walking on streets while some hovering on hoverboard, children's laughter echoing in the corners, and a couple crossing the street holding hands. His attention shifted to the high-speed train gliding through the sky, supported by wires, while on the ground, tireless cars moved seamlessly. His eyes then landed on a massive billboard depicting a proud woman brandishing a gun, advertising "Ascendant Struggle," now showing in theaters.
"This city is beautiful," Serena whispered, a tear tracing a path down her cheek. She couldn't help but miss her own city, even though it paled in comparison to this vibrant place. Her city hadn't aligned with the new order, resulting in limited resources and only the bare essentials. In contrast, here, the city thrived with lights and smiles.
"It's one of the main cities governed by Lord Jason," Lolita explained, her gaze fixed outside, her expression distant.
"The city is truly well-designed," Garry agreed. "I'm hopeful I can find the medicine I was searching for in Kempas." The mention of her devastated hometown caused Serena's gaze to fall.
"Stop here," Lolita requested, and as Max complied, she gathered her bag and headphones. "Thanks for the ride," she said, ready to leave. However, Serena halted her departure. "Hey, wait," Serena called out, stepping out of the car and approaching Lolita. "You need to pay us."
Lolita looked puzzled. "Huh?"
"We brought you here, so now you have to pay us," Serena declared, and though Max appeared to have something to say, Aaron silenced him. Rolling her eyes, Lolita inquired about the amount.
"How much?" Serena smiled, replying confidently, "1 million GetCoins." Lolita's awe-filled expression was mirrored by Garry and Max.
"WHAT!" Lolita exclaimed. Just then, the city plunged into darkness, only for every building to light up in vibrant green. Billboards and LEDs displayed a figure dressed in a black suit.
"Good evening, Javians!" he proclaimed, his medium-length hair and devilish red eyes giving him an intriguing aura.
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