He wasn't invited.
But he came anyway.
Tyler trailed behind the group as they made their way through the twisting, grime-slick alleys of the Lanes. He didn't walk so much as float between steps—quiet, light, and impossible to lose.
Vi had noticed him right away, of course. She always did.
But she hadn't said anything.
Not at first.
Mylo, though, had reached his limit three blocks in.
"Alright, that's it," he snapped, turning on his heel. "Why is the freak *following* us again?! Did we leash it or something?"
Tyler stopped.
His dark eyes blinked once, his pink childlike body standing perfectly still. His antenna twitched.
*"Buu?"* he said, with a tilted head.
Powder gasped. "Don't yell at him!"
"He's not part of the crew, Powder!" Mylo barked. "He just keeps showing up! He's like a cursed pet that *eats* people."
Vi stepped between them. "Enough. Mylo, he hasn't hurt us. He could've. But he didn't."
Mylo crossed his arms, grumbling.
Claggor adjusted his goggles. "We need a lookout anyway. We're hitting closer to the factory lines this time. We can't afford surprises."
"I vote Buu watches the streets," Powder added with a nod. "He's quiet, fast, and creepy. Perfect lookout."
Tyler tilted his head again, blinking. Then slowly raised his tiny hand in a mock salute.
*"Buu."*
Vi sighed. "Fine. But you keep out of the way unless it's serious."
Tyler grinned.
---
They made their way to an old maintenance tunnel that led into a sealed-off section of an equipment warehouse. Abandoned by its owners months ago, it still had power running through some of its systems. The job was simple: break in, loot whatever shimmer-treated parts were left, and get out.
Tyler didn't follow them in.
He stayed at the entrance, crouched behind a broken pipe, eyes scanning every flicker of movement on the street.
He wasn't just playing a part.
He *watched*.
He listened.
He moved like a spirit among shadows, always keeping sight of the only people who hadn't tried to kill or run from him.
---
Inside, the crew worked fast.
Powder handled a jammed door lock. Claggor held the bags. Mylo did the heavy lifting.
Vi took point, always listening for footsteps beyond the walls.
But they moved too slow.
Voices echoed outside.
Security patrol.
Not Enforcers—but close enough.
"Shit," Vi whispered. "We're gonna get boxed in."
"We still need two more units," Mylo said, "or we won't have enough for—"
Then they heard it.
A low, bubbling sound just outside the door.
*"Buuuuuuu."*
Vi grinned. "That's our warning. Time to move!"
They scrambled. Powder slammed the last bag shut. Claggor slipped out first, with Mylo right behind him.
But as they turned the last corner of the alley—
A shadow dropped in front of them.
Lean, fast, and grinning under a cracked visor.
**Deckard. Again.**
"You little rats just don't learn."
Behind him, two other Lanes thugs blocked the path.
Powder froze. "You've got to be kidding…"
"Left some scraps for you last time," Deckard said, cracking his knuckles. "This time? I'm keeping the bags *and* your teeth."
Claggor raised a pipe. "We don't have time for this!"
Vi stepped forward. "Then let's make it fast."
Deckard lunged—right into a punch that sent Vi stumbling.
Mylo went at one of the thugs, swinging wide.
Powder pulled a flash pellet from her pouch but dropped it when one of the thugs grabbed her.
That's when **Tyler** appeared again—like a pink phantom sliding through a wall.
One thug turned and raised a crowbar.
Tyler jumped.
A blur of motion. His small form twisted midair, dodging the strike cleanly. He flipped over the man's shoulder, landed behind him, and jabbed two fingers into his spine with a *thunk* that echoed like thunder.
The thug collapsed, twitching.
Deckard stared. "What the—?"
Vi swung again, knocking him off balance. "Told you not to mess with us!"
Another thug tried to catch Tyler with a hook punch—but Tyler ducked, then **phased** briefly—his form shimmering pink as the punch went through thin air. He countered with a palm to the chest that sent the man flying into a stack of barrels.
Mylo blinked. "Okay, that was new."
Powder, now free, clapped. "He's *so cool*!"
Tyler stood over the last groaning thug, head tilting slowly.
*"Buu…"*
Vi grabbed the bags. "We're done here."
Deckard crawled to the wall, coughing. "This ain't over…"
Tyler stepped closer to him.
Just close enough to make Deckard flinch.
Then he turned away and followed the others.
---
Later, on the rooftops above the Lanes, the crew caught their breath.
"Alright," Vi muttered, still rubbing her ribs. "New rule—Buu gets a share."
Powder grinned. "He's one of us now."
Even Mylo didn't argue.
Tyler crouched at the edge of the rooftop, his black eyes staring into the night.
Still voiceless.
Still unreadable.
But for once—he didn't feel like a stranger.
He felt like **part of the pack**.