Battle Of Planets

Chapter 18: Deal!
Emily dragged her cycle slowly, its wheels squeaking faintly as she navigated the familiar streets of her neighborhood.The first time she had seen Alex when they were children—just five years old. His small hand clung to his mother’s finger, refusing to let go while frightened eyes fixed on the unfamiliar world around him. Unlike the other girls who swooned over his bold, confident face, Emily had always remembered that look of vulnerability. It was the first thing that had made her feel connected to him.

She often thought back to that year—just one year—when they played together on the slides, shared toys, and built castles in the sand. The memories, vivid and sweet, felt like an imprint on her heart. After he left, she heard nothing but stories of him—the talented, successful Alex, who had grown into the person everyone admired. Emily joined fan clubs, hoping that somehow, someway, she’d cross paths with him again, and maybe he’d remember her.

Middle school had brought a twist of fate...Emily discovered that her best friend was none other than Alex’s adopted brother. It felt like a dream come true. Hope surged within her when she learned that they both would attend her school.

She could hardly believe it—Alex was in their class but he barely attended classes, until, a few days ago, he suddenly decided to show up.

Emily felt a rush of excitement, she was happy just to see him again, recalling their childhood memories. She often found herself smiling at him, hoping he would remember her.

But cruel fate had struck again. Just when it seemed like there was a chance for something more, Alex drifted away once again, leaving her heartbroken. Why? Why did this always happen to her?

Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the blue-haired boy standing in the middle of the road until it was too late. A sudden bump startled her as the front wheel of her cycle hit between his legs.

”Yo, glasses!” he snapped, glancing back at her with a smirk. His eyes quickly shifted to the wheel wedged between his legs, and she realized she had unknowingly crashed into him.

A few other boys, who looked like trouble, flanked him. Hooligans, Emily thought, instantly feeling a knot tighten in her stomach. The carefree bubble she had been floating in shattered instantly, replaced by the tension of the unexpected encounter.

”Blue, who’s this one?” a guy with a scar on his hand asked, eyeing Emily. ”She seems lost.”

Blue glanced at the road, his attention on the space ahead. There was plenty of room for her to pass, but for some reason, she decided to shove her bike right into his legs.

Thank God I had my back turned, he thought.

”Are you insane?” Blue chuckled, turning to his friends. ”Do you even know who we are?”

Emily pushed her glasses up with one finger, her face as serious as a tax collector’s. ”Yes, I know exactly who you are,” she said, giving her cycle a little push forward again. ”A bunch of hooligans. And you, I’m guessing, are the leader of this circus?”

Blue stumbled back a bit, rubbing his knee where the wheel had slammed into him. He wasn’t sure whether to be offended or impressed. ”What... What kind of weirdo just bumps into someone like that?”

”You better move off the road, or I’ll run you over,” Emily threatened, her voice completely unamused. ”And don’t even think about popping up around here again.”

Blue stood there, blinking, utterly dumbfounded. He wasn’t sure whether he should laugh or call for backup. It wasn’t every day some random girl acted like she owned the street. His friends looked just as lost as he felt.

”Damn, that chick’s nuts,” Blue muttered, staring after her as she rolled off. But just as they began regrouping he spotted her peeking out from behind the corner.

”Let’s go,” He dragged his friends ”This place isn’t safe.”

Blue glanced back one last time, still shaking his head with a smirk. ”She’s got guts, I’ll give her that. She is fearless and completely nuts. I think I’m in love,” he joked, leading his crew away, though a small part of him kind of respected the girl for throwing him off like that.

The news of Alex and Seraphina’s engagement spread like wildfire, sweeping through the entire town. And why wouldn’t it? After all, Seraphina was the daughter of the long-reigning President Edmund Carver, and Alex was a son of General Edward Rogers. Two of the town’s most influential families had officially forged a sacred bond.

While the townspeople were buzzing with excitement, they knew it wasn’t just a marriage; it was an unbreakable alliance between two powerhouse families. It stood as a testament to the long-standing friendship between the Carvers and the Rogers.

But the opposition party? They were rattled to the core. With the engagement, they saw their hopes of winning the upcoming election slipping away. Their defeat now seemed inevitable—unless, of course, they could pull off something truly unexpected.

---

Blue and Coco sat in a bustling coffee shop, with the murmur of baristas behind the counter. Above them, a transparent LED screen on the ceiling displayed the latest news feed, scrolling in holographic letters. The wide glass window offered a panoramic view of the city—skyscrapers with neon lights.

Coco took an occasional sip from his coffee, his fingers grazing the warm surface of his cup. His eyes remained fixed on the view, though his mind seemed to be elsewhere.

Blue, on the other hand, couldn’t help but smile to himself, his mind replaying the earlier encounter with the strange girl with glasses. The scene kept looping in his head. What if this could lead to something good for him? What if he stuck around, or what if they crossed paths again? And if that happened, he was certain—he would ask her out.

Suddenly, a group of well-dressed individuals barged inside, their voices loud and demanding.

They ordered everyone to leave the café, clearing the space in a matter of moments. In the blink of an eye, the entire place was empty, leaving only Coco and Blue.

Blue was taken aback, feeling both surprised and slightly threatened. His hand instinctively reached for the bracelet on his wrist.

”Don’t worry,” Coco said with a calm smile, as a man in fine clothing walked in, his guards flanking him. The baristas were also surrounded, making sure no one could escape or hear them.

”Hi there,” the man greeted, loosening the tie around his neck as he slid into the seat beside Coco and Blue. ”Quite a fascinating place for a secret meeting, don’t you think?”

”We’re both walking on thin ice,” Coco replied not missing a beat. ”Mr. Kyle, or should I say, Mr. Future President?”

”Don’t butter me up, Coco,” the man in his late fifties said with a gruff tone. ”This meeting could turn disastrous for me if people see me with you.”

”Or maybe a miracle,” Coco quipped, finally setting his cup down. ”It’s up to you how you want to play it, Mr. Kyle.”

”Since you said it, why not I turn this meeting into a miracle by handing you over to Edward?” Mr. Kyle pressed, leaning forward.

Blue tensed, ready for action, his eyes darting between the man and his bodyguards.

”That way, I can earn public recognition.”

”Let’s assume you did manage to capture me right here, right now, and handed me over to Edward,” Coco leaned closer to the table. ”Then what? Open your eyes, Lesley. You need more than just recognition to win this election.”

”Oh really? Like what?” Mr. Kyle snapped, clearly irritated.

”Since Rogers and Carvers are now relatives, politics have turned upside down for your party—and for you,” Coco continued, his voice calculated. ”You see, Carver are always one step ahead, and no matter what you do, you can’t get more votes than him.”

”So what do you suggest?” Mr. Kyle asked slowly, skepticism creeping into his voice. ”I should work with traitors to get the throne?”

”I dare you, Kyle,” Coco’s voice dropped low, carrying a weight of warning. It filled the space, leaving the café quiet, despite the tension in the room. Mr. Kyle shifted uneasily, his hand tightening around the armrest. ”Don’t cross your line. I don’t care who becomes the president. All I care about is my motives.”

Mr. Kyle nodded seriously. ”Yes... I’m listening.”

”Good,” Coco said, ”I’ll help you destroy Carver’s reputation before the election, and in return, you help me get into a position where I can do so effectively.” He stood up, glancing out of the wide window at the presidential buildings. ”Help me reach there, and I’ll make it worth your while.”

”Impossible!” Mr. Kyle blurted out, his voice rising in disbelief. ”You can’t! Edward won’t let you. He has a whole army of Rangers. What can you do against him?”

”That’s why I called you here,” Coco replied smoothly. ”I heard the Rangers are going on a joint operation in another city.”

Mr. Kyle fell silent, wondering how this Rogue found out inside information like this. Blue observed, impressed by how effortlessly Coco was handling the situation.

”I need to know when, and at that exact time, I will strike,” Coco said.

Sweat began to form on Mr. Kyle’s brow as he processed the gravity of the situation. He knew the second most powerful figure in the city—Coco—was a force to be reckoned with. If he could use this ”monster” to his advantage, he might be able to land a powerful blow against his political rival.

”What are you planning to do?” Mr. Kyle asked, unsure whether Coco had other motives hidden beneath the surface.

”I want to capture the Parties Building and force Carver to admit all his wrongdoings on live broadcast,” Coco said, his tone unwavering. ”We, the rogues, will get what we want, and he will lose his throne.”

Blue smiled at the boldness of the plan. ”That seems possible.”

Mr. Kyle was deep in thought, weighing the risks. If he went through with this, it could seriously damage Carver’s reputation. He was well aware of the political games being played, and Coco’s vendetta against Carver was no secret.

He also knew about the balancing act Carver had been playing: painting the rogues as villains while secretly leaving them unchecked in his own city. While it might have been the right thing to do on a larger scale, to the public eye, it was a crime—something that shouldn’t exist.

Carver, and even Kyle, understood that humans, as a single entity, needed both the Rangers and the Rogues to fight in the tournament.

The gods, or whoever was running the tournament, didn’t see any difference between them. They summoned one hundred champions at random to fight in the tournament, both Rangers and rogues alike, with no regard for allegiance.

Kyle swallowed hard. If he played his cards right, after the breach in the Presidential Building, he could turn the situation around for himself—and later place the blame squarely on the rogues.

”let’s shake hands on this,” Mr. Kyle said,