Cybernetic Beast Taming In A Game-like World

There wasn't time to spend staring so Jethro spun on his heel, bent low and deactivated the Portal Box. He picked it up and pocketed it once again before heading down a street where bars and cafes were lined.

This was his first time in a major city, even more troubling was that it was his first time in the capital of the world. Normally, he would be overwhelmed by this, and he was in truth. Sector One was a magnificent place.

Megastructures raised as high as Jethro's eyes could see, their peaks lost in the swirling cloud of the dark, forgotten sky. Lines of neon lights traced their metallic body; bold green, industrial ember, gloomy purple and corporate blues.

There were lots of advertisements, holograms hanging in the sky, monstrous in scale and warred for attention across the streets.

Between them, a constant stream of hovercrafts— both hovercars, trams, buses and cabs, even cargotrams hauling expensive mech gear and aether crystals —weaved through designated aerial highways like glowing insects, their running lights painting streaks on the perpetual wet grime coating every surface.

The floor level wasn't too dissimilar. People were everywhere, going about their nightly activities. Hovercars were parked in corners or in front of the smaller buildings that Jethro hurried past.

None of these shops or food stores was what he was looking for. He was searching for a map store.

They were not easy to come by but Jethro hoped he wouldn't have to search for too long.

He did in the end, though it was only thirty minutes. At that point, Scorch was getting weak. Jethro had obeyed the information in his mind and didn't give his Lizard any aether chips that night.

That way, Scorch would have to slowly adapt to the stronger flame-based aether that it was about to be subjected to.

But to get this flame-based aether, Jethro needed to find a flame forest, a volcanic cavern, or run into a firestorm.

To find any of these three, he needed a map.

Click.

The store's door made a soft mechanical sound as Jethro opened it and walked in. There was a wiry old man with a pot belly and a worn expression sitting on a chair behind a counter, his focus consumed by the holoscreen on his wall, showcasing news updates.

Jethro grabbed the man's attention bluntly. "Are you selling, old man?"

The man's head whipped at Jethro's direction, studying him for a moment and then his lizard. "Who you calling old man, Blood Eyes?"

Jethro didn't have time to exchange jabs. "I want a map. Of Sector One." He walked closer, scanning the round metallic devices carefully arranged on shelves. "It should be detailed. And have update features that will spot hazards like a firestorm."

The man turned fully, his chair rotating. His chips-of-flint eyes moved once again between Jethro and the Lizard, the worn cap on his hair letting strands of wispy grey hair escape and fall over the goggles on his forehead.

"Well, butter my biscuit. I haven't seen one of them glorified geckos in a dog's age. Red Lizards are the lowest of Grey-Ranks, aren't they? Rarest too. And here you are with that pocket warmer, walking around this cesspool. You are one brave kid."

Jethro narrowed his eyes at him. "I'm not here for a conversation, oldie. I just want the map."

"There you go again!" the man snapped defensively. "Calling me old. I used to be young and energetic once, kid, you know that?! I still am."

"I believe you a hundred percent," Jethro huffed. "Now can you just sell me the map?"

The man looked at him for a long time before grunting and turning away. "You want a map of this Sector?"

"Yes," Jethro replied. "A thorough one. It should have detailed descriptions of locations like flame forests and volcanoes. And an update feature that shows where firestorms could occur."

The old man's eyebrows, thick and grey, shot up. "Flame forests? Volcanoes? And of all hazards, why firestorms in particular? What is it that your red-eyed face is up to, you little squid?"

Jethro didn't want to waste any more time here, but it seemed like this old man was relentless in forcing out a conversation from him. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you, old man. So just get me the map, okay?"

"Eh! Just tell me! I will accept that I'm an old man, and that's why I'm worried about young squids like you. All those places you mentioned are drastically dangerous. I don't want you dying when I could have stopped it."

He leaned in, his shifty eyes locking on Jethro's face. "Tell me what you're going there to do and I'll sell you the map for free."

Jethro paused. That was a tantalizing offer. The only credits he had with him were the ones he'd borrowed again from Kekius after leaving the mechshop knowing he was going to spend them on this. If he could get the map for free, then he could spend the credits on something else.

He saw no reason to hold back anymore. It wasn't like the man would believe him anyway.

"I'm starting the evolution pathway for my Lizard. It needs flame-based aether to begin its evolution to an Infernal Dragon."

He said the words as plainly as he could, letting the man know that he meant it, but he also didn't care if he thought that he had lost his mind.

But there was only silence for a while.

The old man stared at him. At the absolute, unshakeable conviction in Jethro's eyes, and the thread of hope that he held on to. He looked at Scorch, who met his gaze with a surprising lack of fear, then back at Jethro. Then the old man grinned.

"Kid," he said slowly, shaking his head. "You got balls bigger than that lizard, I'll give you that. Blind, stupid, glorious balls."

Jethro grimaced. "Hey, can you not talk about my balls?"

The old man turned to a shelf and selected a small, slightly dented metal disc, slightly bigger than a coin. He slid it towards Jethro on the counter surface. "Here you go. As promised."

Jethro eyed the disc, then the vendor. "How many troopers are gonna chase after me once I leave with that thing?"

The old man erupted into a cheerful laughter, almost wheezing, then waved a dismissive grease-stained hand. "Bah. You are hilarious, kid. No troopers will be chasing you or anything like that. Just consider it an investment in sheer, dumbfounded curiosity because you, young squid, has been the most interesting customer I've heard in years."

Jethro stared at him. 'Must be terribly boring here in Sector One.'

"It's an older piece but it has all you need," the man continued, referring to the map disc. "Topographical, high aether pointmarks, real-time hazard updates and detailed locations. If you're looking for places with strong flame-based aether, you'll find it there. In fact, there should be a flame forest not too far from here."

Jethro picked up the disc, the metal cool against his skin. He activated it and the holographic map appeared. It worked fine. "Thank you," he said to him.

"Don't thank me yet," the old man chuckled, dry and raspy. "You manage this miracle, come back and show it to me. If you do that, then anything in this stall I will sell to you at ninety-nine percent off. My treat."

Jethro glanced around the cluttered shop, unimpressed. "But… all you sell are maps."

Old Man Map gave a slow, cunning smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. "You'd be surprised, kid."

With a long, curious stare at the old man, Jethro pocketed the map disc, the hologram winking out. He turned and headed towards the door again, stopping as his hand reached for the handle.

"Do you do this for every customer?" Jethro asked him. "Or am I just special?"

"Eh, you were right to call me an oldie," the man replied, returning to his seat. "I figured that out when I started to forget things in life that actually made me happy, brought me joy.

"I suppose doing risky, thoughtless things like this are a way to bring excitement back in my life. I'm gonna die soon anyway. But seeing a Grey Rank Red Lizard become an Infernal Dragon, a Black Rank, before I die? Heck, kid. Don't you think that's a terrific way to kick the bucket?"

Jethro stayed still, saying nothing.

The man sighed. "I do. It's such a terrific way to kick the bucket."

That stole a grin from Jethro and he finally looked over his shoulder to address the man. "You're a crazy old man, you know that?"

Old Man Map smiled back. "And you? You think you can evolve a Gutterling to a Dragon. You're even crazier than me!"

They exchanged this smile before Jethro turned back to the door, pulling it open to leave.

Click, the door chimed as Jethro left.