Page 269 of Light Leech

“Yes. Especially from me. Look at me now, Akna. I’m a girl. A human. Nothing worthy of worship or the devotion the world tosses me because of my talent. That’s not even mentioning the lesser person I was when Reef owned me. Sure, Bom-Girls have done some terrible things, but even if they were great, it doesn’t mean they need your love. The lumens and egos they receive are more than enough.

You’re a Cross follower, right?”

Akna nodded.

“Then prioritize your worship. Bom-girls aren’t worth it.”

“I never said I worshiped them.”

“I know, I know, it’s just… I’m seeing the consequences of my devotees when I didn’t deserve all that they gave me. I guess I still feel lingering guilt.”

“I understand. I just like their music and thought it was cool to see them.”

“Right, I’m sorry, Akna.”

“Don’t be. You’re just trying to keep us all safe, right? What did they do that was so bad anyway?”

“They pull fanboys in, make them think they have a shot, then basically enslave them. That’s just a taste of what I’ve heard before it takes a darker turn. Reef isn’t good. I see that so much more now that I’m on the outside.”

“Which is probably why they were meeting with Haven,” Abbas said. “I think we have the competition wrong. I don’t think Reef wants the presidency, not officially at least. They want to join with Haven.”

Boyband laughed. “Drugs and entertainment, what could go wrong?”

Naoma didn’t acknowledge Boyband but looked at Abbas, distraught. “What?”

“Haven thinks they’re going to lose the upcoming election after declaring war without any Neon Essence to make it worth it. They still have the monopoly on current techbone treatment, but figure they need a new approach. What better way is there to gain public adoration than through their idols?”

Naoma pressed the skin of her forehead up as she groaned.

“Hey,” Boyband said. “This isn’t that bad. Our ties with Haven are destined to burn when they get a clue, but you still have connections to Reef, don’t you?”

“I don’t know if they’ll be happy to chat after leaving to work for Nichley.”

“It was just another contract, right? Don’t things like that happen all the time? I’ve seen the Neon Idol advertising meds, cosmetics, and all of that guk.”

“But it’s Nichley.”

“They don’t mix well? Reef has their head on right, then.”

“I don’t know if I would say that. Regardless, I didn’t leave on the best terms.”

He nodded and shrugged. “And I guess killing your producer and his buddy wasn’t the best way to–”

“What?“ she exclaimed, glaring at Boyband, then at me as if to check the validity of his claim.

“Why would you care?” Boyband asked. “They were your captors, weren’t they?”

Her glare turned to concern, eyes looking down in introspection. “Yeah… I guess they… were.” She groaned and ran her fingers through her hair with enough tension to move her forehead back. “Light.”

“You good?” I asked.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “I guess some of my old self is still in there. I should be glad they’re dead, but I only get that by taking a moment to internalize it. The Neon Idol has only good memories of them, though I know they are all through Reef’s lens. I–Naoma–never really knew them.“ She nodded. “Sorry, Boyband.”

The corner of his mouth turned up. “It’s all good.

She sighed. “I can’t make any promises, but if you really need me to get us in, I might be able to.”

“Pulse. Wait, why do we want that? What are we looking for exactly?” He pointed at Abbas and Akna. “And why didn’t they zeg you up at Haven for going AWOL?”