It's day sixty-five on the Arkvault, a seven-mile zoo of galactic chaos, and we're D-rank Earthly Ramblers, standing in a sleek white room that screams secret lair, walls pulsing with starlight, a nebula swirling like cosmic soup through a massive window. I'm Alex, Coach Bounce, my red-and-black suit humming, flux tingling in my palms, heart doing burpees as Fiona's hand brushes mine. My bracelet, that cheeky glowing bangle, pings: Location: Secret Guild room. Query: Conspiracy cardio stats? "Not now, bangle," I mutter, gripping my plasma pistol, glowing blades, and power fist, binding rope clipped from our Morph hunt. Fiona's white-and-black suit glows faintly, her flux staff in sword mode, while Dmitri's orange-and-black suit shimmers, his magma spear and fire-wind shield at ease. Single—well, Fiona's glances say maybe not for long—I'm ready to hear out this elder, his metallic skin like cracked starlight gleaming under the nebula's glow.
The elder, one of sixteen council bigwigs running this cosmic circus, leans on his desk, eyes like twin suns blazing with curiosity. Varkis, his sleek, dark metal-clad bodyguard, stands in the corner, bowing after that teleportation stunt that had us thinking we were ambushed. "Speak, mate," I say, flux simmering. Fiona's eyes lock on the elder, staff ready. Dmitri smirks, shield cool but poised. The elder's voice rumbles, like gravel in a warp drive. "I'm a scientist first, an elder second. Your team intrigues me—a block elemental user," he nods at Dmitri, "a flux mage," at Fiona, "and you, Alex, a leader wielding flux and earth elemental power. Unheard of for a human."
I blink, my gym-coach brain doing a quick set of mental reps. "Earth's still new, mate. Barely a spark." The elder's smirk widens, metallic skin glinting. "Exactly why I'm interested. I propose a deal: my support—protection, resources, free training—in exchange for experiments. Not harmful, Alex, just tests to see your limits. Can you learn any power through contact? Fire, wind, water, void?" His eyes gleam like a kid spotting a new weight rack. Fiona raises an eyebrow, staff pulsing. Dmitri's smirk deepens, muttering, "Cosmic lab rat, eh?"
I cross my arms, flux tingling. "What kind of experiments? No needles, right?" The elder chuckles, a cosmic cackle shaking the holo-displays on his desk—images of our eel-killing spree in Habitat-411 flicker. "No harm, I swear. I'll guide you to wield powers, see what sticks. My hypothesis: you're a cosmic anomaly, Alex, with infinite potential." I glance at Fiona, her braid swaying, eyes cautious but warm. "And my team? They get no free training?" Dmitri grunts, spear glinting. "I'm not here for show." Fiona's smirk returns. "I'd rather not be sidelined."
The elder raises a metallic hand. "Free training for all—flux for Fiona, elements for Dmitri. I'll cover the costs, consider it payment for my experiments." Fiona nods, her hand brushing mine again, sending a spark that's not just flux. Dmitri's smirk says he's in. "Deal," I say, grinning like I've hit a PR. "But what's the catch, mate?" The elder's eyes darken, voice low. "We elders are in a constant power struggle. Befriending me makes enemies of others—Kryon, Sylara, Zethar. They'd snatch you for their own games. Our alliance stays secret." He slides three glowing chips across the desk. "Add these to your bracelets. More ship access—teleporters, this room—encrypted communication with me, and 10,000 credits each, a token of my appreciation."
My bracelet pings as I slot the chip: Upgrade installed. Credits: +10,000. Query: Secret lair membership badge? "Blimey, 10,000!" I whoop, high-fiving Fiona, her touch lingering, eyes sparkling. Dmitri slots his chip, shield flickering. "Don't flash it in public," the elder warns. "Use the access discreetly, or the council's spies will notice." Varkis nods, his armor humming. "I'll monitor for leaks," he says, voice sharp. I grin, flux and earth tingling. "Secret's safe, mate. We're still hunting that Morph, though." The elder's cackle returns. "Good. Keep it quiet, and we'll test your powers soon." I'm Coach Bounce, allied with a cosmic scientist, chips loaded, and a shapeshifter to catch, one sneaky step from galactic trouble.