Apocalypse Trade Monopoly
Chapter 100: - The Flash and the Fuss

Chapter 100: - The Flash and the Fuss

"Five minutes," Lucas said, checking his watch with a casual flick of the wrist. "Time’s up."

He gave Ava a look that was half grin, half armor. She didn’t miss the way his hand brushed hers again before the door opened.

Elias stepped out of the transit office, arms spread like a host welcoming long-lost guests to a party he barely believed was still happening.

"All clear," he called. "Everyone inside’s drunk enough to be friendly, but sober enough to lie well. Come on, let’s make it weird."

Lucas walked in first, one hand still resting lightly at Ava’s back.

The inside of the office had been cleaned up. Barely. Fluorescent strips flickered over a half-circle of low couches and a cracked table buried in bottles, data slates, and snack wrappers. Three people looked up as they entered.

Elias raised a lazy hand and gestured to each of them.

"Lucas, Ava—meet the not enemies."

The first to stand was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a shaved head and a laugh already on his face.

"Rhys Ten," he said, reaching out to Lucas with a firm shake. "Underground rail captain, retired smuggler, occasional bastard. Heard about you from Bai Senior."

Lucas chuckled. "Only the flattering parts, I hope."

"Only the terrifying ones."

Next was a younger woman—piercings along her brow, red streaks through her braids, and eyes sharp enough to slice glass. She didn’t rise, but nodded.

"Cassi Ardent," she said. "You owe me three core maps, Lucas. I’ll settle for two and a smile if Ava says something interesting tonight."

Ava raised an eyebrow.

"I’m not the entertainment."

Cassi smirked. "That’s what makes it fun."

The last man gave a lazy two-finger salute, still slouched deep in a battered chair. Long coat, tech-band running up his arm, expression unreadable behind mirrored lenses.

"Havelock’s pet code dealer," he said. "Goes by Keel. I stay alive by staying useful."

"Keel trades in silence," Elias added, dropping into his seat again. "But he drinks like someone who wants to be remembered."

Lucas glanced at Ava.

"See? Told you. Friendly."

Ava didn’t sit yet.

She looked at each of them, scanning. Watching. Their posture, their hands, their micro-reactions. No one flinched. No one looked ready to start anything. And that, somehow, made them even more dangerous.

She finally sat beside Lucas.

He leaned in and whispered,

"Welcome to the trade floor. Just with fewer bodies... for now."

The moment Ava settled beside him, the others started in—nothing aggressive, just the usual feel-out questions passed like cards across a low-stakes table.

"So," Rhys asked, cracking open a drink with one hand, "what’s your sync percentage at now? Heard you two jumped a few ranks."

Before Ava could open her mouth, Lucas answered smoothly,

"High enough that people are watching. Low enough we’re not interesting yet."

Cassi raised a brow. "How’d it feel when your system kicked in? You get the burn? The fever?"

Ava looked at her, calm.

"Both."

But Lucas cut in again, light and practiced. "She got better and then she got lethal. You know the type."

"Mmm," Keel hummed, stirring something in a chipped mug. "Any regrets syncing this early?"

Lucas smiled over the rim of his glass.

"Wouldn’t you like to know."

Ava shot him a sideways glance.

Elias, lounging against the side of the couch, lifted his drink and redirected with a grin.

"Alright, let’s not interrogate the lady all at once. You ask too many questions, she’ll think you’re about to draw weapons."

Rhys laughed. "Come on, it’s friendly fire."

"There’s no such thing," Ava muttered under her breath.

Cassi leaned forward, chin resting on her hand. "I like her."

Elias gestured at Lucas. "You always do pick the ones who don’t flinch, huh?"

He leaned in and whispered,

"Welcome to the trade floor. Just with fewer bodies... for now."

The moment Ava settled beside him, the others started in—nothing aggressive, just the usual feel-out questions passed like cards across a low-stakes table.

"So," Rhys asked, cracking open a drink with one hand, "what’s your sync percentage at now? Heard you two jumped a few ranks."

Before Ava could open her mouth, Lucas answered smoothly,

"High enough that people are watching. Low enough we’re not interesting yet."

Cassi raised a brow. "How’d it feel when your system kicked in? You get the burn? The fever?"

Ava looked at her, calm.

"Both."

But Lucas cut in again, light and practiced. "She got better and then she got lethal. You know the type."

"Mmm," Keel hummed, stirring something in a chipped mug. "Any regrets syncing that tight this early?"

Lucas smiled over the rim of his glass.

"Wouldn’t you like to know."

Ava shot him a sideways glance.

Elias, lounging against the side of the couch, lifted his drink and redirected with a grin.

"Alright, let’s not interrogate the lady all at once. You ask too many questions, she’ll think you’re about to draw weapons."

Rhys laughed. "Come on, it’s friendly fire."

"There’s no such thing," Ava muttered under her breath.

Cassi leaned forward, chin resting on her hand. "I like her."

Elias gestured at Lucas. "You always do pick the ones who don’t flinch, huh?"

"She picked me." Lucas grinned, not missing a beat. "I’m just along for the ride."

The room chuckled—Rhys low and booming, Cassi amused, Keel giving a single dry snort like it cost him effort. Elias just shook his head, already topping off his glass.

Lucas leaned forward, elbows on his knees, smile shifting into something sharper.

"Alright, now that we’re all cozy—let’s do what we actually came for."

Cassi’s eyes narrowed with interest.

"You’re trading tonight?"

"Information." Lucas nodded. "Favor for favor. Clean, quiet, and nobody tries to screw anyone. Not here." He tilted his head, lazy but calculated. "We’re not friends. But we’re all very... useful."

Rhys raised his bottle slightly. "You always open with a proposal or is this special for us?"

"I’m feeling generous," Lucas replied, then flicked his gaze to each of them. "You want insight into intel leaks? I’ve got it. You want blueprint algorithms or sync anomalies? She’s got them." He motioned to Ava without looking, already knowing she’d follow his lead.

Cassi’s smile twitched. "And what do you want, Bai?"

"Information that matters. Trade lines. New sync pair formations. Rogue labs. The works." Lucas’s voice was smooth, but there was no mistaking the steel underneath. "Tell me something I don’t know. I’ll return the favor."

Keel finally leaned forward, placing his cup down with a soft clink.

"Guess it’s that kind of night."

Elias swirled his drink, amused.

"Told you he came to make it weird."

"Weird," Lucas said, smiling wide, "is profitable."

The others smirked, exchanging glances like they knew that better than anyone.