The whole place was bursting with energy. Once-shy kids swarmed the rides, and fans of Asian cuisine kept seizing the food stalls. It seemed like there wasn’t a single hungry or unhappy soul left in the area. Even an old one-legged hurdy-gurdy player was enjoying unprecedented popularity.

— This game taught me how to shoot. Plasma blaster range, what a nostalgia!
— I’m more into barrel pickles and sausages with lager.

Stuffed to the brim, Cat made a wild attempt at Celtic dancing, moving so clumsy that he kept bumping into everyone in sight. The booze and the atmosphere of reckless joy were getting the better of him.

— You’re seriously loaded, Fluffball. Try not to fall over.
— Let’s fire up a portal flash just for fun! I just need to activate it and… oh no! I think I lost it.
— Lost what?
— My smart bracelet…
— I’m constantly amazed by how hopeless my partner is!

With a frustrated wave of a hand, Spacelunch stormed off. His silhouette vanished into the crowd just as quietly as the key accessory, that custom-made piece of tech, had gone missing. The professor was baffled by this unpleasant turn of events, a fresh wave of unease settling over him.