Still, Bugz felt calmer and more comfortable with Feng. Together they walked back to the Rez in the fading light, talking to and texting each other as the day became night.

CHAPTER 27

Feng woke to a buzzing feeling, sort of like a hangover. VR sickness. It hit him whenever he spent a lot of time offline. He looked around and realized he was laying in dirt. As Feng stood he saw other members of Clan:LESS welding broken vehicles together and stacking pallets of ammunition. After scanning the tarmac and the helicopters they’d escaped on not long ago, Feng turned to confirm the location of Alpha’s bunker, noting the Ø painted on the building’s side. He looked to the sky—two moons. This was home base, the Clan:LESS headquarters.

Activity pulsed across the compound: sparks flew from the salvaged vehicles and sweat poured off the soldiers running from one task to the next. Everyone rushed to get Clan:LESS back in fighting shape, or at least strong enough to defend itself should another clan raid the base. Feng found his clanmate Gym crouched beside a vehicle, tightening lug nuts.

“Can I give you a hand?”

“No,” Gym grunted. “I got it.” He stood and looked Feng over from top to bottom. “You been checked out a long time,” Gym said. “You ain’t been in the ’Verse since the battle.”

“New school, new house.” Feng rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve got a lot going on.”

“Word is you’re on the run out there, maybe in trouble with the law.”

“Who told you that?” Feng focused on making eye contact even as he dodged the allegation.

“I don’t care, to be honest. As long as you carry your own in our missions, you could already be in jail in the real world for all I care.”

This small validation filled Feng’s heart for a moment. It helped him find the nerve to pitch a cover story for his next move. “Anyways, I think I’m gonna go forage. It looks like we could use some more resources to help with the rebuild.”

“Forage?” Gym looked at Feng like he’d just spoken Klingon. “What the heck you going to forage? Our top priorities right now are to fix the gear, find new recruits, and stockpile ammunition—in that order.”

“I just figured we’d need more wood to build structures for the recruits to stay in and food for them when they get here. Just want to work ahead.”

Behind Feng and across the tarmac, Alpha watched the conversation. Gym made eye contact with his leader, asking for direction. Alpha nodded his head and motioned, Let him go.

“Well, I guess that makes sense.” Gym’s tone softened.

“Alright, then. Thank you, brother.” Feng leaned in for a bro hug.

Gym cringed; Feng was trying too hard. “No problem,” he offered.