David powered on his gadget and immediately dialed the number Pandu had shared with him. The device emitted a soft chime as it connected. David, unaware that the speaker was on, brought it close to his ear in an old-fashioned gesture. This made the three people standing nearby chuckle. His serious expression, mixed with the awkward pose, only added to the humor.
"Hello...?" a familiar voice came through.
"Bintang, how are you?" David asked with a grin.
"Ohh, it's you, David! I'm good, terrific!" Bintang replied brightly.
"Bintang, what--?" David began, but was quickly interrupted.
"I know what you're going to ask. Listen, I want you to come to my place. Yes, with the three people next to you. I can tell who they are... even through your device," Bintang said cryptically, his voice hinting at a knowing smile.
David blinked, momentarily taken aback. How did Bintang know who was with him? It was almost unreal.
"Alright. We'll come see you," David replied, ending the call and slipping the gadget into his jacket pocket.
He turned to the others. "We'll follow the real-time map Bintang sent us. Let's head out."
They nodded and moved to their vehicles—three motorcycles and one car. David climbed into his four-wheeled ride, taking the lead as they exited the basement parking lot of the apartment complex.
Moments after hitting the street, David's gadget vibrated with a new notification. The screen briefly lit up, showing Bintang's shared location. With a tap, David transmitted the coordinates to his companions.
The convoy of vehicles moved through Jakarta's bustling streets. Traffic thickened near a major intersection, causing a delay. David's car was caught in the jam, while the motorcycles weaved through more easily. It wasn't long before Sebastian, from his rearview mirror, spotted Rangga taking a different turn, not in the direction they were headed. Sebastian hesitated but remained focused. There was a mission at hand, and he needed to stay on course.
As the city center loomed, they neared Plaza Indonesia, a prestigious shopping mall known for being a neutral meeting ground. The building's glass windows glistened under the afternoon sun. Sebastian parked his motorcycle and scanned the area.
Pandu arrived shortly after, pulling up next to him. "Have the others arrived yet, Sebastian?"
"Not sure. I just got here, too. Try calling David and Rangga," Sebastian suggested, brushing some dust from his jacket.
Just as Pandu reached for his phone, Rangga's motorcycle pulled into the lot. He removed his helmet, revealing his ever-calm face and wireless headset clipped to one ear.
"David's already in the lobby. He's waiting for us," Rangga informed them, casually parking.
Together, the three entered the mall, their boots echoing softly against the polished floors. Escalators transported them upward as advertisements flashed by. Everything felt too normal, too calm, yet beneath the surface, something stirred in Sebastian.
As they reached the upper floor, where cafes offered quiet spaces for business or relaxation, Sebastian's senses tingled. Something was off. He saw flashes of light—some faint, others vibrant—emanating from people walking past. These weren't ordinary people. Bio-evolved. The realization shook him.
Their presence was overwhelming. Glowing auras, barely visible to the untrained eye, moved through the crowd. Some were subtle, mere flickers. Others were radiant, powerful, and Sebastian could feel the energies clashing, swirling around them like waves.
"Keep your focus," he muttered, blinking the haze away.
Finally, on a terrace that overlooked the heart of the shopping center, they spotted Bintang and Thalia seated at an open-air coffee shop. The air was fragrant with roasted beans and city winds.
David greeted them warmly. "Bintang, Thalia!"
The two stood and welcomed their guests. Bintang offered a handshake, his smile friendly but unreadable.
"Hi, everyone. Please, sit," he said, gesturing to the chairs around the table. He munched on a French fry and sipped his iced drink with casual ease.
"Sorry it had to be like this, but I'm glad we're together again. Something's changed, hasn't it?" Bintang's eyes drifted to Sebastian.
"Ah, I haven't introduced myself properly. Sebastian, I'm Bintang. Everyone here—David, Pandu, Thalia, Rangga—we were once students of Professor Rhinno. You probably don't know much about that."
Sebastian nodded slowly. "No, I don't."
Bintang continued. "We were part of a project. Selected children, chosen for a genetic development experiment. The aim was noble—helping nature through biology. But... a tragedy happened. One of us, Bayu, didn't survive. The project was shelved indefinitely."
His face darkened with regret. David stepped in.
"Bintang, what happened to Bayu wasn't your fault. None of us fully understood the risks back then."
"Yeah," Pandu added. "We were just kids."
The group fell silent for a moment.
Bintang cleared his throat and turned to Sebastian. "So, Sebastian, when did you first notice your... condition?"
Sebastian thought back. "I'm not sure. But since I was three, I could speak fluently. My mother noticed. No one else did."
Bintang leaned back, intrigued. "I appreciate your honesty. But what comes next—between you and me—it's uncertain. We could be allies. Or enemies. It all depends on your strength. Right now, you're not ready. But your potential... It's limitless."
He turned to address everyone.
"That's why I called this meeting. I want us to dream again. To achieve what we started."
His proposal hung in the air, met with silence.
David finally spoke. "You're still too naive, Bintang. Just like before. And I think you already know what our answer is."
Sebastian didn't fully grasp the history between them, but his gut told him the same.
Suddenly, Sebastian's body responded to something. A shimmer of rainbow light flashed across him. The reaction stunned Bintang, but David quickly reached over.
"Easy, Sebastian. We're in a safe zone."
Bintang stared, awestruck. He muttered, "They're here."
All eyes turned southward. Four figures approached—two girls and three boys. Their presence carried weight.
Bintang stood. "Apologies. Our comrades were delayed."
The newcomers joined the group. Sebastian's gaze scanned them. Three of them had a glowing blue core—he sensed kindness. But one, a girl in a hijab, had a strange aura. Though her glow was blue, it was veiled in a thin black mist. Oddly, she and the boy beside her seemed linked—one light split between two bodies.
Bintang began introductions.
"This is Putri, my assistant. The tall guy is Felix. Next to him, Nicholas. And the twins—Rico and Astrid."
Sebastian studied them all closely, especially Felix. His gut told him they'd meet again—under different circumstances.
Bintang smiled. "I gathered you all so there'd be no more confusion. We're stronger together."
Just then, the coffee cup in front of Bintang slid across the table, toward him, unaided. It was subtle, but Sebastian caught it. He exchanged glances with David.
"Bintang, I think that's enough for today. We've got more pressing things to do," David said, rising.
The others stood as well. Rangga's fists had subtly clenched. Bintang's mind games were dangerous.
As they left the cafe, Sebastian locked eyes with Felix one last time. In that moment, he knew they would cross paths again. Their destinies weren't separate—they were intertwined.
In the parking lot, they split into pairs.
David and Thalia, Sebastian and Pandu—all headed back to meet Professor Rhinno.
"You guys go ahead. I need to grab something on the other side," Rangga said nonchalantly.
Sebastian watched him ride off. Something felt off.
Rangga slowed his bike, turned, and stopped in front of a mini-market. A man stood waiting. Without a word, Rangga handed over his helmet. The man climbed on.
Together, they drove a short distance to a nearby barber shop. Rangga stepped inside, emerging minutes later in a different outfit.
He tossed the keys to the other man and slipped into a parked car.
Rangga was gone.
Or rather, he had become someone else.
The truth was, Rangga's identity wasn't as simple as it seemed.
And that secret might change everything.