City to City, Pt. 2

It was much the same routine for Lena—every city, every performance. Seoul, Shanghai, APAC, Brazil. Each stop on the tour had its own unique spin, tailored to its culture, its heartbeat. She was still the coordinator, alongside Caden and Margot as support.

Traditional dances fused with holographic projections where she could, and local scenes where she couldn’t; localized soundscapes wove into their songs. Every place brought something different, something special.

It was like Ilan always said: “It’s for the fans, Lena. Why not give them your all?”

And she did. She always did. 

But lately, it felt like “her all” wasn’t enough. Not for Elise. And definitely not for the amount of medication she was taking to keep her throat obedient.

Maya was everywhere on stage now. She had a way of taking up space, of making the audience lean into her every gesture. It worked. Of course, it worked. She is singlehandedly carrying this tour on her back. The ratings were glowing if you looked past the review bombing. The Net was ablaze with clips of her solos and stage coordination.

For the good of all, Lena reminded herself. This is the winning formula.

She also grew up these past few months. Ever since her diagnosis. She knew she had to past the torch somehow, someway. Especially when Uploading was the alternative. Sheesh, what would that do to how people perceived her. She’d be a hypocrite.

Elise was breaking.

Kiko and Popo were doing fine, more than fine. The fact they were the model Idols themselves really made their success unsurprising. 

But nobody was talking about Elise. Not really. No, that wasn’t fair—some were. A loyal fanbase always stayed, even in the shadows. Millions. It wasn’t anything to scoff at.

But “some” didn’t carry the weight of a billion other voices screaming for Maya.

This tour was doing wonders for her. She was a camera magnet, and naturally to boot. She loved the spectacle and loved the work to get there even more.

And Elise knew it. Every time she stepped onstage, it felt like an echo of something louder, something brighter. Her choreography was solid, her technique flawless, but it was becoming harder to miss what she was being edged into. 

Backup dancer.

Some mistook her as such before Elise’s fans corrected them. But they were only so many. They were a ripple in a sea now dominated by Maya. And that ripple wasn’t enough to drown out the rest.

She could see it in Elise, too—in the way her shoulders stiffened when she caught her reflection, in the way she stayed quiet when Maya floated ideas for the next performance. 

Elise never argued, never pushed back. It was almost like a parody of Elise lived under Elise's skin.

And yet, Elise didn’t break. Not yet, at least in the way Lena expected. She didn’t complain or retreat completely, not like before.

Lena couldn’t talk to her about it. She couldn’t even bring herself to look Elise in the eye when the dressing room mirrors reflected what they all already knew.

It’s temporary, Lena told herself. It’s just the cycle of these things. It’ll balance out eventually. She’s still young.

Young in a sea of countless other Idols wanting and waiting to take her place.

HOTWIRED!HOTWIRED!HOTWIRED!HOTWIRED!HOTWIRED!HOTWIRED!HOTWIRED!HOTWIRED!

The terminal hung above the Earth like a fragile cocoon, its skeletal structure of glass and steel glowing faintly against the endless expanse of black beyond. 

Above them, the transporter ring pulsed, its edges a riot of flickering energy. It looked alive in a way that nothing so engineered should.

Elise stood on the boarding platform, her head tilted as she stared up at it. It was the first time in forever Lena saw an emotion other than numbness. “You ever think it’s strange,” she murmured, “to step into something we still don’t entirely understand?”

Maya, a few paces ahead, turned and grinned. “You mean, we don't understand. I am sure the Great AIs do."

“It’s not that,” Elise said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Popo chuckled from the side. “Humans are still writing papers about interstellar travel to this day, you know. People out there are still determined to find out exactly how the AIs got to their conclusions.”

Maya shot her a look. “Wow. Way to kill the mood, nerd. Just let Elise have fun for once.” She turned back to the ring, her grin softening into something closer to awe. “It is beautiful, though.”

The train hovered behind them, its length segmented like the shell of some futuristic creature. Panels of polished obsidian shimmered faintly, reflecting the glow of the ring as though it were drinking in its light. The windows were massive, curved expanses of glass that hinted at an interior built for something more than travel.

As they boarded, the hum of the station faded, replaced by a soft, almost musical rhythm that pulsed through the floor. The carriage was unlike anything Elise had imagined. The seats weren’t really seats—they floated like cushions of light, adjusting to the slightest movement. The walls were alive with shifting images of various nature tidbits from Earth.

Elise sank into her seat cautiously, her fingers brushing the glass of the window. The transporter ring loomed ahead, its energy flickering more intensely now as the train began to move.

“It’s smaller than I thought it’d be,” Elise murmured, her voice almost lost in the hum of the terminal.

Maya glanced back at her, grinning. “Yeah, right. It’s enormous. Look at it!”

Elise shrugged faintly, tucking her hands into her pockets. 

“Wait until you step through,” Kiko said from the side. “It’ll feel plenty big then.”

Maya rolled her eyes. “Ignore her. It’s not scary. It’s like blinking and waking up somewhere better.”

Elise didn’t answer, her eyes fixed on the shimmering ring ahead.

The train waited silently behind them, its sleek, segmented body glowing faintly against the backdrop of the terminal. Each carriage was a work of art, its curved glass reflecting the stars. Maya’s voice cut through the buzz of the crowd below. Some of them held signs and fan posters, diligently waiting to get a glimpse of them in-person. 

“You think they know which one we’re in?” She gestured toward the observation deck, where fans had packed every inch of space, their glowing signs and chants rising in waves.

“Does it matter?” Lena asked from behind her, her voice sharp but tired.

“Of course it does!” Maya said with a smirk. She leaned into the comm system, her grin widening. “What do you think, guys? You think we’re in the first carriage?”

The crowd roared in response, their cheers echoing across the terminal. Elise managed a faint smile as she watched Maya tease them, her voice cutting through the static of her own thoughts.

The group boarded quietly, slipping into one of the middle carriages. Elise slid into a seat by the window, her hands resting on her lap.

She glanced outside, her reflection faint against the backdrop of the transporter ring. It was closer now, its energy rippling in soft waves that seemed to reach out and pull them in.

Maya plopped down across from her, stretching her arms behind her head. “You nervous?”

Elise hesitated, then shook her head. “No. Just… tired.”

“Well, you can’t be tired on Mars,” Maya said, leaning forward. “It’s like a whole other world.”

Elise raised an eyebrow. “That’s literally the definition of Mars.”

Maya laughed. “See? You’re fine.”

The train began to glide forward, its motion so smooth it felt like floating. The hum of the terminal faded as the transporter ring consumed the view, its light flaring as they entered its reach.

Elise pressed her hand against the window, her breath hitching as the world folded.

Colors bled into each other, sharp edges dissolving into waves of light. The air grew thick, the hum of the train blending into something deeper, more resonant. For a moment, everything stilled.

And then, Mars.

Elise gasped softly, her hand still pressed to the glass. The red soil stretched out below them, streaked with gold veins of bioengineered algae that pulsed faintly in rhythm. The domes of New Tokyo rose in the distance, their towers shimmering with light that shifted like fireflies. Above it all, the stars burned brighter than she’d ever seen, their sharpness cutting through the thin Martian atmosphere.

“It’s…” She trailed off, her voice caught somewhere between wonder and disbelief.

Elise leaned closer to the window, her chest tightening in a way that felt almost like relief. For the first time in weeks, her thoughts stilled. 

The train began its descent, curving gently toward the Martian skyline. The glow of New Tokyo reflected faintly in Elise’s eyes, and words she wanted to say were held back.

Margot watched on and shook her head.