Infinite - Volume 1

As Evan and Robot Buddy stepped out of the simulation room, the savory scent of sizzling meat drifted down the corridor, hooking them instantly.

"Mmm, you smell that?" Evan asked, sniffing the air like a bloodhound.

Robot Buddy twirled midair with a gleeful hum, spinning like a top. "Ooooo, what's cookin', good lookin'?!" it sang as it zipped ahead toward the kitchen.

Kyra stood at the counter, focused but smiling as she turned over a tray of golden-brown empanadas. "Hey, tin can," she greeted without looking up. "Beef and chicken empanadas. And before you ask, no, I'm not making you a synthetic version."

"A travesty!" Robot Buddy gasped, hand over its chest plate. "My circuits are wounded."

Evan's stomach growled in response, loud enough to make them all pause.

"Damn, babe," Kyra said, raising an eyebrow. "Did you eat at all today?"

"Does punching simulated agents count?" Evan replied, flopping into a chair. "I'm starving. That training session damn near killed me."

"You make any progress in there?" Kyra asked

Evan leaned back, hands behind his head. "Yeah, I think I'm finally starting to get the rhythm down. Reaction time's better. Movements feel smoother."

Kyra joined them at the table, drying her hands on a towel. "Feeling more confident about Clarks little super minion, then?"

Evan nodded, eyes sharp now. "Yeah. I'm not gonna lie-those simulations kicked my ass at first. But I've been upgrading myself little by little. I've added super speed, super strength, the ability to survive in any climate. I can fly now-teleport too-without even needing to say a word. And I've uploaded pretty much every martial art known on Earth into my brain."

Kyra gave a low whistle. "Yikes. So basically, Bruce Lee if he were built by NASA."

Evan smirked. "Exactly. I figured if I'm gonna fight agents that break reality, I need to be just as broken."

"And you still think you can take him?" Kyra asked, only half-joking.

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Evan replied, then shrugged. "I mean, it's not like I'm getting my ass kicked anymore. I actually beat the agent in a sim. But the moment I did, those interdimensional things started draining me like a battery. Still no clue how to deal with them."

Kyra reached across the table and gave his hand a squeeze. "Well, whatever they throw at you-we've got your back. Always."

Evan looked at her, a flicker of gratitude passing through his expression. "Thanks, Babe. That actually means more than you know."

"Well," she said, getting up with a grin, "if you want to keep your strength up, I'd suggest grabbing a plate before Robot Buddy eats it all."

"I heard that!" the robot called, already hovering over the empanadas like a vulture.

Evan chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. Let's fuel up."

As dinner settled into quiet conversation, the mood gradually shifted. Plates still clinked, but something heavier stirred beneath the surface. Robot Buddy, hovering just above the table, dimmed its lights and spoke in a rare, serious tone.

"I have news," it said flatly. "It's about the Mazekielites."

The table went still.

"What kind of news?" Kyra asked, her fork pausing mid-air.

Robot Buddy's eyes flickered. "Based on a memory fragment I extracted from Agent Clark, I've calculated their estimated arrival. We've got forty-five days-maybe less-before they make their move."