Zeta leans forward to get a better look at his comrade's face. Still mostly covered by an N95 mask modified with a speaker with wires connecting to a plastic box on his neck. It is usually enough to distract people from his "M" shaped hairline.

"Don't worry Petrock. Once this water clears, we'll find the right chips to stabilize your translator box. No more rando speak."

Kiwi chirps in.

"Be sure to update your software. Moogle Translate's never one hundred percent. I don't wanna be your interpreter forever. "

["Hmpf. Egal."]

As the boat keeps moving forward, the funky crunchy 16-bit beats from the Mega Genesis become a little more audible. Hearing this, Zeta grins from ear to ear and looks at Kiwi, who can't help but catch his smile. She begins to whistle a graceful melody while Zeta begins to freestyle.

"Mmm. Yeah. Used to have 'ciety so bright and clean but the oldies got lazy, sold us to machines."

"Bad machines!" Kiwi chimes in.

"Now Big Gulch is gulped in the endless rain and those who choose to stay alive choose to feel the pain."

"Owee!"

Petrock groans but even he cannot stop himself from nodding his thick head to the rhythm.

"Now we're heading to the tower, breaking in a dent. And when we're done with that, I'll get Kiwi-"

A piercing ringing overpowers the rap, and a humming rumble is felt under the raft, making Zeta stagger.

"Gah! That sure isn't the Mega Genesis!"

A propped up smart phone screen on Petrock's right side lights up. He jerks hastily to type on the keyboard under it.

["Mae'n siŵr fel uffern onid ydych chi'n gooner! Mae'n patroliwr llong danfor."]

Kiwi holds Zeta's arm and whispers.

"It's the alarm for the Subpats. Stay quiet."

They watch text flicker onto the screens in front of Petrock.


"VEHICLE SUSPECTED OF HARBORING WANTED NEON GYARU "KIWI KITAGAWA". HALT MOTOR FOR INCOMING INSPECTION OR FACE SCUTTLIZATION."


Petrock types vigorously to counter the claims, that there's only "2 pure-skin bags abord". He turns back and in an even, but harsh tone says to Zeta:

["Kanojo o kabā shite kudasai."]

Kiwi buries her face in Zeta's chest, prompting him to hold her tight.

Crawling through the tin foil is an orb with slimy wiry tentacles. It slithers towards Zeta's position and begins to crawl on him. Despite his clothes he can feel the moving wetness. He whimpers when it crawls up his neck. As it slinks up to the top of his head, Zeta holds Kiwi as close as he can, but the tentacles still slowly descend towards her green hair. She listens closely to Zeta's rapid heart and opens her eyes wide, and her star sticker gives off a quick flash. Seemingly with no explanation, the tentacles pull away by the time Zeta turns around, the squiddy bot plops back into the water and the low humming resonance dissipates. Zeta looks at Kiwi.

"What did you do?"

Kiwi smiles and giggles.

"I synced my heartbeat with yours. It thought we were one person."

"You're the smartest K.K."

Zeta and Kiwi get smoochy, smoochy, smoochy. All Petrock can do is breath in through his nose and out through his teeth. The raft sways as the waves become more intense.

Minutes pass and the Mega Genesis is now playing a slower, more foreboding, atmospheric track; singular long held tones with no beats. The whine of the engine winds down. Petrock flicks the napping Zeta in the forehead.

["Wij zijn er."]