Heat of the Moment

[Android 17]

“So what do we do now?” One of the koopas inquired once the group had exited the throne room and made their way into the relative privacy of a small chamber a few hallways removed from the heart of the fortress.

Seventeen thought over the question for a few moments before offering a response. “Anything going on outside the Koopa Kingdom? You guys the only people who live in this place?”

Seth shook his head. “Got the gorons. There’s also travelers and explorers who set up little camps here and the. Don’t know how interesting any of them would be, though. You’d be better served going to someplace with a real society.”

“That magic city?” The cyborg chuckled. “Maybe Julius can teach me how to create a chicken from a handful of feathers?” The koopas snickered at the joke as well, which served to lighten the mood. “Nowhere else?”

“Coruscant?”

“Have I heard about that one?” Seventeen asked as he twisted his mouth up into a little knot.

“The one with the flying cars and the armored cops?”

The machine-hybrid shrugged his shoulders. “No clue, but it sounds pretty neat. Why not? Which way?”

“Back the way you came.”

“The white place?

“Go to the Nexus and take the metal-looking gate. Can’t miss it.”

Seventeen furrowed his brows. “You guys ain’t coming with me?”

The koopas shook their heads before Dutch responded. “We will meet you there, but for now, we have lives to tie together. You know, in case we don’t come back from this mission like the others.”

“Makes sense,” the cyborg replied as he started to exchange firm handshakes with the surviving members of his troupe. “Drop me a line when you reach future-town.”

With that, Seventeen boarded the Barrel Train and began his journey back to where he’d started this whole ordeal.