Chapter 7: Changing Perspectives

Bri, Maka, and Zuku arrive in the back room of Gizmo’s Lab through a portal. The room is filled with different computers and equipment used for research. There is a new metal known as Terainium on one of the tables, a unique ore was found in the mines and Gizmo helped research the new metal. Several screens are floating around the room and multiple hover bots are zooming across the room looking at different objects. Gizmo is sitting at his desk and Sara is sitting on a chair hooked up to a wire in the back of her neck. Gizmo snaps his fingers and multiple comfy chairs get built by the hover bots.

“Have a seat you three. I’m just doing a daily check-up on Sara. She’s in stable condition after the explosion caused some artificial damage.” Giz exclaims. They all take a seat in different chairs.

“How ya been doc?” Bri asks.

“I’ve been fine, just the usual work. Cilents with check-ups and research on species of this planet.” Giz says.

“Sounds boring.” Maka chuckles.

“I do very important work around here, Keke. I don’t fight but I do help. In ways…” Giz says then sighs.

“I wish you would work faster on my new body, to be honest.” Bri lets out.

“It’s done. I will bring it out once I finish work on Sara” Giz replies.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner.” Bri shows the doctor her injuries from battle.

“I told Sid,” Gizmo exclaims.

“That bastard, first he doesn’t tell me that the Demi’s leader is his brother, second he doesn’t let me get my new body before that goth doll girl arrives.” Bri looks extremely angry.

“He must not think you're ready,” Zuku exclaims.

“What do you mean? I used to do all of Sid’s dirty work. I’ve killed a lot of evil creatures in my day.” Bri replies.

“Cin does the real hard work. You are strong Bri but something is limiting you.” Zuku exclaims.

“Your personality,” Maka says and laughs to himself. Gizmo stays stern but Zuku starts laughing like an idiot after.

“Asshole. I’m revoking your screen-watching rights at my apartment. You won’t be able to surf the web or do anything but training.” Bri smirks.

“Hey, hey, that’s unfair. I was joking.” Maka looks scared and worried.

“I would not want to be Bris pet,” Zuku exclaims.

“I’m much more than that,” Maka exclaims.

“Okay, one hour of screen time each day after training,” Bri says.

“Come on, I’ve been finishing training faster. At least four hours.” Maka turns his tails into the number four with blades on the lettering.

“Oh since you’ve killed the Manti, Sid told me to tell you you're ready,” Zuku says.

“Let’s go. Time for me to become a Reaper.” Maka says.

“Bri practice training with your new body. This is going to sound a little odd but I think you should enter the Mayhem cyber show. It starts very soon.” Zuku says.

“Why should I enter? That web show could be the death of someone if they're not strong enough. I’ve heard sometimes the audience gets to vote on whether the person lives or dies.” Bri looks worried.

“Trust me you’ll win. Gizmo’s got something else other than just the new body.” Zuku exclaims.

“What’s this other thing?” Bri asks Giz.

“Aww yes. So I have been researching Keke’s DNA. Apparently, there is a way for him to transfer his power.” Giz says.

“We’ve been working on merging energies in training. I can already do that.” Bri says.

“Yes, but you can only absorb the red energy. The new body will help absorb the green empowered Keke.” Giz exclaims.

“But I can only absorb the energy from contact and I can’t store it.” Bri sighs.

“The new body will be able to store the energy now. A radar will appear to you internally showing the energy meter stored. I will also extract energy from Maka and put it into capsules for bursts of power.”

“Doc you’re a genius,” Bri says and looks extremely happy. Her eyes glimmer.

“I knew, that I could be useful.” Gizmo looks happy too.

“So where is my new body?” Bri asks.

Gizmo finishes working on Sara and turns her back online. Sara looks at everyone.

“Whoa everyone is here? I just wanted him to run a functions test.” Sara says.

“Am I fine doctor?” Also is my brothel okay?” Sara asks.

“Yes, everything looks perfectly normal. Your optimization is perfect.” Gizmo says.

“Don’t worry Sid will pay for the damages if necessary,” Zuku exclaims.

“Oh, I have plenty enough Meni. I run the best brothel in Lower Boe of course. It’s not a problem.” Sara boasts.

“Might I suggest stronger defense weaponry? Maybe install laser cannons on the roof?” Gizmo says.

“If the Demi want to attack someplace, they are going to get in it,” Zuku exclaims.

“That might be true, but I think there are extra precautions she could take. It doesn’t hurt to be better armed.” Gizmo says.

“Yeah avoid Bri and Maka like the plague. Oh, I should show you how I release the purple death plague from my portals. It frys any internal organs, even semi-robotic ones too.” Zuku says.

“I’d rather not,” Bri says.

“Oh come on, we can try it on your new body,” Zuku says.

“Would it block it, doctor?” Bri asks.

“I’m not sure. See I have done some research on the purple plague in lower Boe which happened some hundred years ago. Actually yes, it should block it. In theory…” Gizmo starts researching different things on a screen.

“Hey, don’t get sidetracked. Show me my new body.” Bri’s eyes start to shine.

“Ahh, yes. One second.” Gizmo starts to tap on his screen. Sara moves off the chair. The hover bots make a new comfy chair near Bri. Sara takes a seat in the new comfy chair. Bri stands up and moves to the medical chair and takes a seat on it. A wire comes out and plugs into her neck. A hover bot brings in the new body, it is identical to Bri's old body but has the new metal Terainium in it. The hover bot places it on the medical chair beside Bri and then a wire goes into its neck.

“How long is this going to take Doc?” Maka asks.

“Shouldn’t be too long. Just transferring data from the mind to the new body. Make yourself at home. I could bring some herbal tea out if you want.” Gizmo says.

“Got any coffee?” Zuku asks.

“Oh of course. It’s a laboratory. Everyone that works in labs run on it. How would you like it?” Gizmo asks.

“Double double of course,” Zuku says with a smile under the cloth wrapped around his head.

“I’ll take an orange peco tea please,” Sara asks.

“On it and my young friend, what do you want?” Gizmo asks.

“A Slurp doc,” Maka asks. Gizmo taps a screen and multiple hover bots deliver the drinks around the room.

“Delicious,” Zuku exclaims after taking a sip.

“So what kind of music do you listen to Zuku? Bri has been showing me different genres at her place. There's so many talented artists, I’ve never heard of.” Maka looks at Zuku and asks.

“Oh, what it was like to be young again.” Sara pouts but remembers stories from her golden days.

“Demon’s Rage of course,” Zuku says.

“Who are they?” Maka asks.

“Only the best metal band on the planet. Bri hasn’t shown you yet?” Zuku looks shocked.

“I might have heard it on her playlist but didn’t look at the band’s name. I’ll check it out when I get back to her place.” Maka says.

“No, listen to it now,” Zuku exclaims.

“Sure, don’t mind me. I’ll just jam out for a bit once I find ear pods.” Maka says. Maka runs around the room looking for ear pods. A hover bot flies over to Maka with ear pods and drops them on the comfy chair, he was previously sitting on.

“Here you go, my little friend,” Gizmo says.

“Thanks again Doc.” Maka puts on the ear pods and then fiddles through a screen to find the band. The music starts playing in his hand. Maka starts head-banging and then turns his tails into guitars. Maka plays all four guitars at once, shredding the life out of them. Bri wakes ups in her new body. The hover bot flies over the old body and picks it up. Then the hover bot carrying the body flies to a storage room.

“I’m keeping this body just in case something happens and what do you think of it?” Giz asks. Bri opens a screen that converts to a mirror. Then Kaisii starts flexing and punching the air.

“Feels a lot smoother. Thanks, doc.” Bri replies.

“Make sure you check all of your systems and internal data. Terainium Is much stronger than other metals. It took me a while to construct your new body and research the properties of this new metal. I have a lot of pride in my work and hope you use it to the best of your abilities. If you have any problems with it, then you are welcome to come back for a check-up.” Gizmo exclaims.

“Tada run a systems check,” Bri asks her inner computer.

“Systems check complete. Operating at 100 percent. Functions normal. ” Tada replies. Tada keeps listing multiple lists of complete processes. Brii looks at Maka who is still jamming out to music.

“Does he always do this?” Zuku asks.

“Sometimes he bounces around my room with headphones on. He broke some things in my room the first couple of times he was listening to music.” Bri replies.

“Hmm, how about I try this,” Zuku says. Zuku puts two portals above and below each other. Then puts Maka into the portals so he keeps infinitely falling over and over. Then he moves the portals side to side with the momentum.

“Wheeeee. This is fun.” Maka shouts. Everyone starts laughing.

“How does he have so much energy?” Sara asks.

“I don’t know. I’m still researching his DNA. Such a unique breed. Simply fascinating species.” Gizmo replies.

“Yes, we get it Maka is the best. So what about the other thing you talked about?” Bri says.

“Oh yes, one second. Zuku put him down.” Gizmo takes out a microchip. Zuku drops him on a comfy chair. Then a hover bot removes the headphones.

“Why did you take off my headphones? Demon’s rage is amazing Zuku. Whoa, I’m kinda dizzy.” Maka sighs.

“Keke go into your green form. Then put all of your energy into these capsule storage chips. Then Bri can save your energy in condensed capsule form.” Gizmo says.

“Will I get paid for this?” Maka asks.

“You're already living at my condo rent-free and you're going to become a Reaper soon. Money won’t be an issue. Don’t be greedy.” Bri states.

“Oh come on it was a joke, I’ll gladly lend you my energy anytime.” Maka reaches out to Gizmo with one of his tails and grabs the capsule devices with one of his tails. Then Maka charges up his energy. Maka touches the device with his tails which transfers the energy into it. Maka throws the energy capsules at Bri. Bri inserts one of the stored energy capsules into the back of her head.

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“Can you see the energy meter, Bri?” Giz asks.

“Yep, it's at full right now,” Bri says.

“Try using some of the energy,” Gizmo states. Bri slowly starts turning green and then a mini explosion happens knocking back and destroying some nearby equipment.

“Put it on the Reaper tab.” Zuku sighs. Maka laughs.

“Shit this is hard to control, Meke how do you do this?” Bri asks.

“Natural talent.” Maka boasts.

“You’ll have a day or two to train with Maka before he starts the initiation, hopefully, he can teach you by then. I have to talk to Sid and see when the Reaper trials are.” Zuku says.

“When does Mayhem happen?” Bri asks.

“It starts this weekend, on Saturday. Don’t worry I already signed you up.” Zuku states.

“Could have asked me first. Whatever, looks like I’ll have to master this new power in four days of training.” Bri sighs.

“You need to learn to perform under high-pressure situations. You’re a Reaper for a reason.” Zuku nods his head.

“You're sounding like Sid actually nah more like Cin. Don’t worry next time I’ll be saving your ass.” Bri says

“Haha, I’d pay Meni to see that.” Zuku quickly opens multiple portals. One opens near her head and a fist flies out. Bri dodges backward another portal opens near her ass and slaps it.

“You asshole.” Bri powers up and turns green. Her eyes light up with rage. Then she dashes forward, then jumps in the air, and attempts a super kick on Zuku.

“Shit gotta go.” Zuku jumps into a blue portal. The portal disappears and Kaisii smashes into a computer behind it. Another portal appears with Zuku’s head quickly.

“Transfer 7,000 Meni, sorry Giz. Hot-headed woman, can anyone deal with them?” Zuku says.

“Wait Zuku, before you leave. Do you want to go eat some food? I won the bet who could take out the most enemies so Bri owes me a nice meal.” Maka says.

“I could go for some Sushi,” Zuku says his head still sticking out of the portal. Bri punches the portal but it disappears too fast. Another portal appears further away. Bri sighs and stops trying to fight him

“I’m feeling like going to a BBQ place. Sara or Giz do you want to come with us?” Bri says out loud.

“No dear, I’ll pass. I’m heading back to my bunny brothel, I need to check up on the condition of it.” Sara says.

“See ya later Sara,” Bri says and waves as Sara nods her head and then leaves. They turn their heads to look at Gizmo.

“I’m not that hungry and I have one more patient visiting me later. Sorry, I’m busy.” Giz says.

“Come on Giz, you never hang out with us.” Maka squeaks.

“I’m sorry young one, work always comes before play. I’ll make it up to you someday.” Giz states.

“You better, I want to be the strongest Reaper on Boe, No the strongest creature on Boe.” Maka smirks.

“It would be interesting to see you fight Cin someday,” Zuku says.

“Is Cin the strongest person on Boe?” Maka asks.

“Some would say so, but there are many hidden powerful creatures and cyborgs on Boe. There might be someone or something hiding in the shadows of Boe that is much more powerful.” Zuku explains.

“We just haven’t discovered it, yet...” Giz suggests.

“Energy level is low. Suggestion: Charge body or consume nutrients.” Tada the computer suggests.

“You didn’t charge my new body? I thought all new bodies came charged at least” Bri looks at Giz somewhat mad.

“It’s only been online in testing and the charge should be full, I’ll double-check power functions. Let me run a quick scan.” Giz sighs. A hover bot flies over Bri and scans her body. Giz checks a screen to see the status of Bri’s new body.

“Everything seems perfectly normal. Go get something to eat, I’ll continue to monitor your new body and we’ll see how it functions in the real world.” Giz states.

“Thanks, Doc. I will enjoy these new upgrades. Ready to go grab something to eat Zuku and Maka?” Bri asks.

“Sure I know the perfect place to grab a bite in Upper Boe of course. Lower Boe food never satisfies my standards.” Zuku says and opens a large blue portal then steps into it. Bri and Maka both look at each other, then grin. Both of them wave at Giz, then step into the portal.

They enter a busy fine-dining restaurant. Several different creatures and cyborgs are eating at tables scattered across the room. Different types of foods are flying around the air on wind currents. There are also cooking devices on each table that the customers are eating at. You see multiple robotic chefs in the middle of the room cooking while huge flames shoot upwards into the air. Hover bots are also flying everywhere in the room, assisting customers and delivering orders. The place has a calm atmosphere well known to most residents of Upper Boe. This restaurant was known as La Verte known for having some of the best food in the city of Boe. There were plenty of different strange delicacies and offered you both the option of having the food cooked for you or cooking it yourself. You notice a robot waiter in the front of the room standing at a serving table with different screens displaying information on news programs or sports across the planet. Zuku looks at Bri and then motions to her, they all walk to the robot waiter.

“Welcome back to La Verte, Zuku. You three were scanned upon entrance to this establishment. It seems there are no reservations for you here, today.” Waiter suggests.

“Do you have any open tables available?” Zuku asks.

“Only one open table for three. Approach the lit-up table at the far back right of the room. Have a delightful day today and thank you for choosing La Verte” The robot waiter smiles and then continues working on a small screen. Zuku nods his head and they all walk through the restaurant.

“This room smells delicious, all of the different scents in the room are making me hungry.” Maka starts to drool a little.

“It has plenty of options. I prefer sushi. Fresh fish from some of the different oceans on Gorro.” Zuku grins thinking about food. They pass the chefs in the middle and walk to the back of the room to see a green marker on a table. They all sit down on chairs at the table. There is a hotpot and a charcoal grill in the middle. A blue portal opens and Zuku reaches his hand into it. Then pulls out a plate of fresh sushi.

“I spotted this hovering above us earlier. What will you two be having?” Zuku asks before eyeing his meal. Bri pulls up a screen and looks at everything on the menu.

“I’m feeling like Ribs or BBQ pulled pork. Maybe I’ll get both and put them on the grill?” Bri asks. A blue portal opens above the grill and different meats drop onto it. Zuku turns on the grill and the meats start to cook. The smoke rises into a blue portal above the grill and disappears somewhere into existence. The different meats start to sizzle on the grill. The group stops and stares at the food in delight.

“This is taking too long, I want my food now,” Maka states.

“Patience, kiddo. Good food takes time to reach perfection.” Zuku suggests.

“I’m going to speed it up, just watch,” Maka says. Maka lights himself on fire and then starts to shoot flames from his tails. Maka redirects the flames onto each of the different meats. A large amount of smoke goes into the blue portal but the meat gets cooked perfectly.

“Alright, let’s dig in then,” Zuku says.

They all start putting different foods on their respective plates. Then they start to eat.

“How’s it taste? I’ve never had anything this delicious in my life.” Maka starts to cry tears of joy as he stuffs his face with food. He turns his tails into knives and cuts up some of the meat. Then he turns his tails into forks and devours the food.

“The sushi is always top class here, there’s a reason why this is my favorite restaurant in Boe,” Zuku states.

“It’s good but I’ll always prefer some of the food in Lower Boe. Tony’s for pizza and Maci’s for chicken.” Bri takes another bite of the meat.

“Okay, I don’t know if this is my new body adjusting itself but this meat is beyond delicious,” Bri says and Zuku laughs.

“You are stubborn to the core,” Zuku suggests.

“I am not…” Bri looks flustered.

“Wait, why do cyborgs eat anyways?” Maka asks.

“We like to enjoy tasting food of course but our bodies do process foods and use them for energy. We also have the option of plugging in and charging which only takes about an hour to charge to full. But I think it's unique that we can gain energy in different ways.” Bri states.

“I always learn something when I talk with you,” Maka states, then continues stuffing his face with food.

“You should eat slower, you’ll enjoy the taste more Maka,” Zuku says and slowly eats his sushi with a delightful face.

“Yea, have some table manners. I think you learned how to eat from the red Warfs.” Bri laughs.

“We should visit Don again, I haven’t been that drunk since we last saw them,” Maka suggests.

“Good idea, I’m always in the mood to party,”Bri says.

The group finishes eating their food and everyone looks completely stuffed.

“Ready to go?” Zuku pulls up a screen and inputs payment information.

“Payment received.” The screen shouts out.

“Sure, mind dropping me off at Tara’s? I want to change my hair color and I can send you some money for the food, I’ll pay for Maka too since I lost the bet earlier.” Bri mentions.

“It’s fine Bri. This one is my treat.” Zuku opens two portals in front of him. One leads to Tara’s Digital Salon and the other leads to the Reaper hideout.

“Well, goodbye. It might be a while before I see you Meeks, sometimes the initiation takes a long time, depending on the individual.” Bri smiles at Maka. Maka jumps up towards Bri and wraps her in his tails, hugging her tightly. Maka leaps off Bri and then jumps onto Zuku’s shoulder.

“Shouldn’t be too long. I’m stronger now.” Maka grins.

“See ya soon Bri.” Zuku waves and then steps into the portal leading to the Reaper Hideout. Bri walks into the portal leading to Tara’s Digital Salon.