Nexus Headquarters:

                Floating screens manned by Rift Runners of all realms flickered steadily around the multi-tiered, circle room, changing with each new image that was pulled up.  Most looked calm enough (and humanoid), with smooth facial features and easy demeanors, but one station housed a flustered young woman who frowned at her screen darkly.  Chocolate eyes darted over the surface while her fingers flew above the holographic panel.  Biting her lip, she reached to tap the screen, rewinding the image of the young-appearing woman on it.

                Heterochromatic eyes almost seemed to stare at the screen, one blue and one red.  Long black hair that transitioned to white by the tips billowed around her shoulders in the frozen image, while the black leggings under jean shorts and a snug white tank top under the dark blue crop top supplied a strange juxtaposition to her otherworldly heritage.  “What are you doing?” Minji murmured with narrowed eyes as she searched around the rest of the image; something was off.  When nothing jumped out at her, she tapped the screen again and watched the woman slide back into motion.

                Pale skin gleamed as she raised her hand up, the too sharp nails obvious in the picture.  With a quick swipe, empty air tore like fabric fluttering in the wind.  For a split second, the outline of her form blurred with a dark haze that Minji wasn’t even sure she saw - despite watching it twice.  Without pausing, the woman slipped through, disappearing entirely.  And no matter what Minji did to find her, the screen remained blank.

                She took a breath and threaded her short, black hair behind her lobe before she pressed the coms device in her ear.  “Celestial Commander Park.”

                Even though she expected it, Minji nearly jumped when her screen immediately showed the face of another heterochromatic being with the same eye and hair color as the previous one: Celestial Commander Park Sandara – the highest ranking Nemon in the Nexus.  “Minji,” she stated, the acknowledgement sincere despite manning an organization that observed dozens of realms with countless operatives.  “Something’s happened, hasn’t it?” Sandara guessed with a thoughtful look on her face.

                “Yes, Commander,” Minji nodded once, answering in a hesitant but determined tone.  “It appears as if Pearl has gone rogue.”

                “Hmm,” the Commander hummed, resting her fingers on her chin with a concentrating frown.  “What about her Runners?” she inquired next, obviously thinking.

                Minji pushed the image aside and pulled another screen up to hone in on a group of seven young men.  The picture was clear and there was no trouble in seeing that they were apparently celebrating a successful, neutralizing run.  “Accounted for,” she confirmed as she noted the closeness of the party, though a couple kept looking around as if searching for someone.

                 “Good,” Sandara smiled, her slightly pointy teeth showing through gentle lips.  “Call them in.”

                “Are you sure?” Minji asked, glancing between the screens.  “They are her friends aft-”

                “And as such, they’ll have the strongest connection to her and the best chance of finding our errant Nemon,” the Commander explained simply with no room for argument.

                “Of course, your Eminence,” Minji bowed her head in deference as the screen went blank.  She took another small breath, focused her gaze on the image of the young men, and hit her coms device again.

                It beeped twice before the young man with mint green hair placed his hand to his ear.  “Yoongi here,” he answered quickly, turning away from the others to hear better.

                “Per Commander Celestial Park, you and your Runners are requested back at the Nexus,” Minji explained simply.

                “Nice to hear from you too, Minji,” he laughed with a crooked smile.  “What’s up this time?  They so shorthanded up there you guys need us to make another neutralizing run already?” he joked, the sound falling flat when it was received with no response.

                “Pearl’s gone rogue,” the coms Runner explained in a deadpan tone.

                “Oh .”

Lovely posters and backgrounds done by Nolza21 at Nolza21 Graphics.  If you need a poster or trailer, you should definitely check her work out!  ^_^

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This entry has also been entered into the Royal Spark Writing Contest.  Feel free to check it out if you're interested!

Prompts used: BTS - "I Need You" and "Run"

Chapter 1 reviewed by SouthWest at The Library Review Shop.

Chapters 1 - 6 also reviewed by SouthWest at The Library Review Shop. - 89/100

Chapter 1 reviewed by baekforu at Kuma Review Shop.

Chapters 1 - 6 reviewed by gaksitalGaksital at Drowning in Fireworks. - "This was a fantastic read and I’m really glad that I had the honour to review it."

Chapter 1 - 6 reviewed by thunderingexo at World of Literature Review Shop. - 95/100

Chapter Soundtrack composed by Seollin at Lullaby Kisses - A Piana OST Shop.