#reactor (module)

Punkish tugs the android down, "The way, the way Dark talked about siblings. The way he talks about sisters. I don't like hearing it because…"

Small hands back away from the older teen and the younger one rubs an eye. "Never mind."

Pen stares at Punkish long enough as if trying to read his thoughts. "If it makes you feel better, you and Reactor can both sleep at my place for the night."

The young teen's head hangs low, nodding. "I want something cold to eat."

"Sure thing, we got all kinds of ice cream over at the cafeteria." The duo leave to their destination to enjoy frozen snacks together. To lighten the mood, the android tells jokes involving puns. As cheesy as they are, it makes Punkish laugh.

A friend who's there to give safety and security is one of many wonderful things. But why is an android so kind and caring for a kid like him? Punkish looks fixedly at the table and sounds from around wash over him. He thinks deeper and deeper until there is no noise. Pen halts his speech; his friend no longer listens to him and he finishes his ice cream.

There's something against Pun's cheek, it's cold and runs down his fingers. The young teen gasps, the ice cream is melting all over his hand! He takes a huge bite and droplets hit the table. His hand is soaked and sticky, running over to the back kitchen to wash his hands and bring out a towel to clean up the mess.

"Are you alright?" Pen rests his chin on his hand, eyes following the movement of Punkish's hand.

"It's because of last night and other things. Things I don't want to talk about."

Night falls and Punkish meets up with Reactor at the end of the day. Pen guides the pair to his home located in a different apartment. "This is it, this is where I live. For your information, I live alone. I did invite Pin! There's video games, board games, snacks, plenty of pillows and blankets, and some other stuff."

Reactor clings on Punkish's arm, the two following the android to his home upstairs. Inside the main room is Pin sitting on the couch. She waves at all three. "Hey, hey! I set up the console so all four of us can play go-kart games, party games, brawling games, and dancing games."

The small group sit together on the couch with fruity drinks and bowls of chips resting on the coffee table. The four race and go brawling after. Reactor is behind everyone else, occasionally biting her nails and cuticles.

"I can't play anymore." Reactor drops the controller by her side, biting again at the end of her nails. "My fingers hurt. My nails feel hot and it hurts. I want to cut them."

Pen pauses the game, leaving the three behind and returning with a nail kit. "No worries, these are clean. I'll help you cut them, or Pin could do that for you."

"I'm fine with you cutting them." Reactor holds out her hands.

Pin goes to the game's menu, smiling at Punkish. He reluctantly smiles back.

"Now it's just you and me. I still want to play." She laughs a little, selecting the stage.

Half an hour passes and the other two members go back to playing. The rest of the evening is spent with making candy, enjoying a simple dinner, more video gaming, and live action roleplaying.

Pin pushes the coffee table towards the TV and spreads out a blanket big enough for all four to rest on. Pen tosses blankets and pillows to their sleeping zone and drops to the ground with a soft thud. He pats the spot next to him for Punkish to join in.

Reactor doesn't join in, picking up a blanket and two pillows and she curls up on the couch.

"I don't feel like joining in with you guys." Providing no explanation, she hides herself under the sheet and forces herself to sleep. Pin plays with her thumbs, dragging her blanket and pillows next to Pen. She shrugs at him and rests her body on the flat surface, aside from the pillows.

Punkish crosses his arms, sitting next to the male android. "I wonder if it has to do with the other night." He whispers to Pen, unwrapping one of many lollipops contained in a plastic bag. Pen narrows his eyes and shakes his head.

"It feels like something different. Everyone has different problems but they're kept in like secrets, y'know? You have some things you don't want to say and so does Reactor." He pinches the young teen's cheek.

The small teen savors the lollipop, closing his eyes and the taste takes over his body. The hard sugary treat melts in his mouth with a plastic stick left behind.

He’d always try to get back at her, but she was one step ahead of him.

Dark can feel himself sinking into the water, he opens his eyes and sees a new world. So many pedestrians fill up the city and too many cars fill the world with noise. It aggravates the boy, stomping his feet and screaming for the noise to stop.

A delicious dark red sun rises and the entire world becomes the exact same shade. Dark towers over the entire city, smiling to himself. He picks up citizens, vehicles, and buildings. One by one, he mutilates every being, grinning more to himself. He smiles in joy, grabbing thousands of people onto his palm. From the distance, he hears laughter from a girl, awakening him from his perfect world.

Dark glowers at Reactor, throwing a pillow at the back of her head. Star calls out to the young group to sit for dinner which doesn’t end so well with Dark taking out his anger on Reactor and Punkish.

Punkish and Reactor stay up all night together in the living room watching movies. “Are you okay…?” Punkish holds up Reactor’s bandaged hand. “It only stings a little if I don’t move it a lot. Is that the same for your hand, too?” Punkish nods, sighing.

“I don’t understand what his deal is. We didn’t do anything to him! Looks like it’s almost morning, I’m going to head out soon and talking to Asymmetry R or find Conflict. Maybe hand out with Candy and Drop.”

‘I don’t understand what his deal is either, I just want it to be morning so I can leave already.’

Hours passing like eons, the clock strikes ten o’clock and both young teens leave the house on separate paths.

Punkish hugs himself, regretting not following after Reactor. She would have been okay with him tagging along, but he refused. The world looks much larger than before, frightening him. He hangs his head low, avoiding eye contact from the world around him.

He sprints forward, bumping into people and jumping off the sidewalk into the street. He runs as fast as he can, his destination in mind being the studio.

Pushing the door open, he stands still to catch his breath. His body cools down and he wipes away sweat from his forehead. Sounds of heels are heard from the hallway, could it be one of the scientists? Punkish steps into the white hall looking from left to right. His lips part when he notices Append Len.

The android waves at someone in front of a doorway and turns around, heading over to the same direction Punkish stands. The older teen freezes in his steps, smiling wide at the younger teen in front of him.

“Punkish!” He gasps out in excitement and trots over to him. The younger male feels the android wrap his arms tight around him, rather surprised from the close contact. His small hands press hard against Append Len’s back, hissing softly in pain; he forgot about the recent injury for a moment.

The android releases Punkish from his grasp and bites on his nails. “D-did I hug you too hard? I’m so sorry!” Punkish immediately shakes his head, holding out his left hand.

“What happened, are you alright?” The older teen covers his mouth, reaching out to Punkish’s wrist and examining the bandaged wound.

“I got stabbed with a fork at dinner, the same thing happened to Reactor…” Punkish bites hard on his bottom lip and withdraws his hand away.

“Is she okay?”

“She said she is, but I’m sure it hurts as much for her.”

The android frowns, a sigh escapes. “I’m sorry about that. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen again. I got done with recording, maybe you’d like to hang out with me?” Without hesitation, Punkish smiles up at Append Len.

Inside the cafeteria within the studio, Append Len retreats from the back kitchen with mochi and water.

“Punkish, you have a moment? Of course you do. I need to tell you something…”

 The young teen shrinks in his seat, his stomach twisting with how disappointed Append Len sounds.

“There’s a song I need to record. The thing is… I want someone to sing it with me. You are a fit participant for this!”

“I can’t sing—“

“I insist! Please. I think it’ll be fit for a next video shoot with us two.” He winks at Punkish, presenting a large mochi for the boy. “I’ll teach you how to sing and help you feel confident.”

Punkish holds on to the other end of the treat, “Okay. We’ll sing it together, Append Len.”

“Pen, you may call me Pen. Even if it sounds silly, Pun. So it’s been decided!”

”Up is mine. I’ll hurt you if you take my bunk.” Dark scowls at Punkish from above.

‘I guess I’ll be alright with the bottom bunk, but even that tall guy is going to take this one. Where’s the third bed?’ Punkish falls onto the mattress, staring up.

Blue barges into the room, dropping a large box onto the ground. “Wouldn’t kill you to help me out!” The older boy yells at his sister, tearing tape off from the large package. He throws clothes onto the lower bunk, awakening Punkish from his staring trance. He sits up, throwing shirts back at Blue.

The older teen notices the bunk bed after organizing his clothes in the closet. “One bunk bed, two mattresses.” He throws himself onto the lower mattress, one inch away from accidentally hitting Punkish.

The blond in black opens his eyes, grumbling and rolling away. He faces the wall, pulling the sheets for himself.

“You don’t talk, do you?” Punkish waves his arm at Blue, “I’ll take that as a no.”

“Shut up! I don’t wanna hear your stupid voice.” Dark throws his headset onto Blue, hitting him on the chest. Blue grabs the headset, dropping it to the floor and rubbing the spot where he got hit.

Punkish thinks to himself, wondering why Dark had to be chosen as a roommate. Couldn’t it have been Jersey, or the Asymmetry twins? Or the blue cyber cat.

Anyone. But. Dark.

From downstairs, Reactor calls out to the boys. “Dinner is ready! Better get all your butts over here!” Blue is first to leave, Punkish following after, and Dark being last. All five kids gather to the table with dishes filled up with delicious food.

Of course Dark had to be the only picky one, taking a nibble and refusing to eat the rest of “the most disgusting dinner.”

Everyone at the table but Punkish say their names and age to know one another. Star and Blue are both sixteen, Reactor is thirteen, and Dark is around eleven or twelve years of age.

After dinner, all five head to the studio where all of the modules are there. Performances are scheduled, and the order of songs are written on a large whiteboard. “Romeo and Cinderella” being the first song, and “Sekiranun Graffiti” being last.

Punkish reads further into the list; the first seven contestants are Vintage Dress, Cat Girl, Butterfly and Flower, Black Star, Spiritual, and Stroll Style. Blue was indeed going to perform along with his sister, but he doesn’t play much of a role. He’s her bassist for the song, are they also the vocalists?

Punkish bites on his nails, staring down. Was he the only one not going to sing? Then again, Jersey doesn’t look to be much of a singer.

Append Len rests his hand on Punkish’s thin shoulder from behind. “Hey kid, how’s housing so far?”

He didn’t intend to startle the young boy who runs out of his grasp. Punkish faces the android, his face softening. He scratches his arm, shaking his head in response to the android’s question.

“Not so good? Why is that?”

Punkish shrugs, point at the back of Dark. The strange child was grabbing a handful of cookies from the table.

“Try not to worry about it, I don’t think he’s done anything wrong to you, right?”

Punkish blinks, shaking his head. “If you don’t like the kid, doesn’t mean you’re forced to be friends with him, Punkish.” Append Len smiles at him, holding out a lollipop.

“I got this for you. It’s mango, I assume that’s your favorite. The candy’s kinda spicy.”

Punkish holds out his hands, the treat falling onto his palm.