"We should probably go for the jobs that are local, you know, the ones offered by the Thunderblades and Steel Nomads. And obviously, the ones with the best reward," Rex said, leaning back in his chair. "I mean, I’m already full bionic, and with Cleo’s help, we’ve got a serious edge."

    "First thing tomorrow, we’ll use our credits to get the materials Cleo needs for combat drones. Once we’ve got a few of those, we could be running missions like an elite squad. But for now, we need to get some rest. Carlos especially. He’s got to recover from the surgery. Tomorrow, we hit the road and start our first job."

    "Sounds good," Carlos said, stretching out. "I’m taking the cockpit seat tonight. Way better than those car seats." He shifted around, finding a spot, and closed his eyes.

    "Alright, get some rest, man. I’ll be in the recharge bay. See you in the morning." Rex gave a nod and headed to his recharge room. He lay down on the metal bed as the crystal door slid shut, the quiet hum of the recharge process starting up.

    Cleo, being a hologram, didn’t need to open anything. She simply phased into the recharge tank and laid down next to Rex, watching him quietly.

    "Rex... Are you sure you want to help me get a body?" She whispered, her voice soft, almost hesitant.

    "Of course we’re doing it. It’s good for both of us, you know?"

    Cleo blinked. "Good for you? What do you mean?"

    Rex smirked, eyes still closed. "Well, once you’ve got a body, we can finally get married. You know... do this and that." His voice trailed off playfully.

    If Rex had been able to see Cleo, he would’ve caught the flustered look on her face as she went quiet.

    "..."

    "Cleo? Hey, don’t get mad. You still there? Hello?"

    But Cleo stayed silent, lying beside him without saying a word, unsure how to respond. And so the night passed quietly, the soft glow of the small white sun rising in the distance.

    Rex climbed out of the recharging tank, stretching his body as he made his way toward the cockpit. When he got there, he could barely see Cleo behind all the screens; it looked like she was buried in them.

    "Hey Cleo, how are the preparations going? Are we ready to leave today?" he asked.

    Without even glancing up, Cleo slid one of the screens over to him. "Yep, everything’s ready. Here’s all the data you need. It’s got the route to the city and the locations of the military groups. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m busy."

    Rex nodded, deciding to leave her to it, and headed outside. The scene that greeted him was chaotic; drones were buzzing everywhere. Some flew in and out of the smugglers’ cave, carrying everything from food and vehicles to weapons and other illegal goods.

    "Alright, sounds good. Let’s get moving."

    The city, like every other commerce hub, was a mega-metropolis sprawling across the entire continent. Massive buildings stretched endlessly, and the web of roads and walkways made the place feel like an astronomical labyrinth. Even lifelong locals could easily find themselves lost in its maze.

    Cargo ships streamed in and out by the minute, a constant reminder of how prosperous the planet was. The sheer scale of the trading fleets here kept space pirates at bay, but it was a paradise for smugglers. They bought stolen goods from pirates and sold them in the city as if it were a legitimate trade route.

    Luckily, with Cleo’s navigation system guiding them, Rex and Carlos didn’t have to worry about getting lost. After about an hour, they arrived at the headquarters of the Thunderblades. Parking the car in the underground lot, they made their way into the building.

    It was the typical setup: huge, bustling, with a bar and restaurant on one side and holograms of different missions and contracts projected throughout. At the center was the reception desk, where mercenaries went to accept contracts.

    "Alright, Rex. Just follow my lead. No unnecessary moves," Cleo’s voice echoed in Rex’s mind.

    "Got it. I’m all yours."

    Rex and Carlos walked toward the reception, where a mantis-looking guy was stationed.

    "Welcome, strangers. How can I assist you?" he asked, his antennae twitching.

    "We need to speak with Talon—’The Reaper,’" Rex replied.

    The second those words left his mouth, the mood in the room shifted. Mercenaries who had been quietly eating and drinking jumped to their feet, forming a tight circle around them. Weapons were drawn, blades and other melee arms gleaming in the dim light, ready for a fight.

    This was the moment Cleo had prepared Rex for. As the tension mounted, Cleo activated the overdrive mode, and Rex’s eyes glowed a mesmerizing amber. Mechanical wings unfolded from his back, and the green glow of his bionic enhancements shone through his skin.

    The mercenaries around him hesitated. The veterans, sensing the overwhelming pressure radiating from Rex, began to sweat. They knew they were dealing with someone dangerous, someone far beyond their pay grade.

    "What’s the meaning of this? You think you can challenge me?!" Rex’s voice boomed, amplified by the overdrive mode, like thunder echoing through the room. But before the situation could escalate, the elevator doors opened.

    A massive figure stepped out. It was a towering creature, part machine, part beast, resembling a hulking minotaur. Within moments, it was in front of Rex, its fist already flying toward his abdomen.

    Rex wasn’t about to stand there and take it. He clenched his fist, and, in the blink of an eye, their fists collided with a deafening thud. The shockwave from the impact sent a gust of wind throughout the room. Rex quickly sidestepped, landing a powerful kick to the minotaur’s ribs, sending the giant crashing into the nearby tables.

    From the dust of the crash, the huge figure could be seen lying down on the debris of the tables. "HAHAHAHA."