JumpMan wakes up slowly, his hair and goggles flickering on with a quiet buzz. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo3w3IVqEL
He pulls himself from his charging station, yawning and stretching his arms and legs, reactivating his servos and joints. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2IjVABYIZ
And then performing a backflip. Just for good measure. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IJzkWC55n
"Alright. Time to start the day..." 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9t3IXa7mz
Friday is the only time where JumpMan can really lay back, a "fun day" full of school field trips and augmentation conferences. It's also the day he can wear his spiffy white outfit, the one he pulls out of his closet. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUpFChSn2a
He practically kicks opens his door, greeting the morning with another obnoxious yawn. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYHUqZGV3R
Then he smells it. Ouro Corp's blood. The deep, earthy aroma of a freshly brewed pot of coffee. A clear sign that the building is up and already bustling. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnmST94rXb
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“Alright, what’s on the agenda today?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKl5gnyr48m
The HUD in his goggles gives him a list of tasks. A group of kids from a local middle school wants to check out the Ouro Corp Science Center, and they specifically asked him to give them a tour. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ6rpCNj8K
“Aw, I’m flattered,” he mutters to himself. Sometimes he forgets that he’s a local celebrity in the scientific world. Seriously. Ouro Corp puts him on everything. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HL5FZoZSG
He watches as students and chaperones walk through the front door, their mouths open in awe as they observe the sleek atrium. He smirks, already excited. He suddenly moves forward, fast, grinding along the rail of a nearby stairway. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sAN02KQW0
“I heard you guys asked for me?” he announced with a smirk, slowing down right in front of the group. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDThaOC0t6i
The kids basically scream when they see him. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzarYWCnXm
“It’s JumpMan!”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0LBifCnBk
“He’s real!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡys9ZJMgBnp
“Welcome to the Ouro Corp Science Center, future scientists! I’m JumpMan, obviously, and I’ll be your guide for the day.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfDavp4qiw
He points out the various labs and rooms around him. “Right now, you’re in the middle of the best tech lab in the business. We’ve got robots, scientists…” He points to himself cheekily. “Cyborgs! The whole shebang!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy1ojac48a
He starts taking them to a darkened room with a large screen. “But first, let’s get through the boring stuff. We’ve got a short film to watch about the ‘history of the company’,” he puts in air quotes. “Take notes. I dunno if teachers test you for this kinda stuff.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzEGzcNe3s
Everyone pours in, sits on the floor, and the video starts, the lights dimming just enough where his hair and goggles were the brightest thing in the room… 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoo9VROW9sa
“Ouroboros Corporation was founded in 1993 as Vyper Technologies, named after founder Anthony Vyper—” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK8rdfLNdi
JumpMan immediately tunes it out. He’s heard this hundreds of times before. Corporate buzzwords like “innovation” and “future” are being slung around like baseball. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBHYNHpWsw
The video drones on and on, going through the timeline, the discoveries, the achievements of Ouroboros up to present day. Afterwards, the lights hum back to life. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmLZAivljK
“Yeah, huge snoozefest,” JumpMan stretches obnoxiously. “Trust me, it just gets better from here. Now, how many of you wanna arm wrestle with a robot?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8FAHb4mmK
The entire class raises their hand almost instantly. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7aN5HHytH
“Yeah, thought so. C’mon! We’re going to the Science Center!”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPp0x6jg0t
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***127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGrUtcSjnX
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Afternoon hits, and the class hits the gift shop. It’s been a long day, teaching kids all about the importance of science. As they file out, picking up little plushies and pins, JumpMan slides off in the other direction. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnp6EQxjzM
While today has been fun, a thought has been poking at his mind all morning. His files have been stolen by Aether Corporation. And he doesn’t know what for. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcT72hvpuE5
…Nah. King’s right. Aether doesn’t have the smarts to reverse engineer his schematics. Best in the business. That’s what he told the kids. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7F2cs6l6c
JumpMan shakes his head. “I need a distraction,” he whispers to himself. He looks towards the entrance, the afternoon sun pooling out from the glass door. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4HUTe1b2g
Usually, JumpMan doesn’t leave the comfort of the chrome buildings of Ouroboros Corporation. The last thing he wants to hear is scolding about how scuffed and dented he got from the wilder side of the outdoors. But on a rare occasion… 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aJsW6HnIE
He zooms through that door, welcoming the warm air. He leaves a transmission. “J.M.’s goin’ out. I’ll be back, naturally.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbV6w2YGEE
Quantum Row hustles and bustles as JumpMan strides on the sidewalk, carefully dodging the other pedestrians. Some recognize him, some give him a weird look. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsmk9aQ7Gd
“What to do…?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzuvgF4yhR
He scans the street with his eyes, slowing down in a search for entertainment. Some vendors are selling street food. There’s plenty of holograms that are showing off music videos of top hits. But there’s one thing that catches his eye. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLk77F1nxJ
A couple of skaters, holding onto their boards and laughing and interacting together. Skateboards? Here? Wouldn’t they get a fine for riding those around on the sidewalk? 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M1xjOg24d
More interestingly, one of them points their thumb in the opposite direction. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbApGqhokbh
“Let’s get outta here, man.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoSXR7x0mM
Then they hop onto their boards and fly off into a dark alleyway, disappearing into the darkness. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsih9QP7wB
“And where are you guys going?” JumpMan mutters, watching them go. Now he’s curious. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB1R70Nnpm
He follows them through the damp alleyway, the sleek design of the city giving way to grungy apartments and flickering lights. And right in the middle is a skate park. Concrete, graffiti, and loud music blare from all angles. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW0KoRIYy7
People move in all sorts of ways. Boards, skates, hovering and not. JumpMan snickers. “My kinda people…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYP5vBHlq69
He pushes off into the bowl, dodging and doing some small tricks. A deep breath escapes him. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbctlO0kOF
Until someone bumps into him, sending them flying while he’s pushed back just an inch or two. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSAK95PevA
“Ugh…!” A feminine voice gasps. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUReW5Q0Ea
JumpMan looks down, seeing a smaller, slimmer body. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbrt78iRRZ
“Ah—sorry about that!…Didn’t…see you there…” He reaches out to assist, when a taller, more muscular girl stepped in front of him protectively, taking lollipop out of her mouth and sneering. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtbEqqe9cN
“Watch where you’re going, asshole!” The girl adjusts her helmet. “Almost gave me a damn concussion…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5cU1kX5v1
JumpMan tries to defuse the situation with a signature smile. “Hey, I didn’t mean it, honest! I wasn’t paying attention, that’s on me…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8VOkYn5v2
The girl he bumped into places her hands on her hips and cocks an eyebrow. Her deep brown skin was almost completely covered in vibrant, deep blue and neon colors and wrapped in skating gear. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowo86ESg1v
The girl with the lollipop sticks it back in her mouth, her eyebrows pinched. A Russian accent slips into her voice as she talks. “Are you okay, Jacks?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMvDLptcih
“Yeah, I’m alright, Anya. I guess I didn’t hurt anything…” Jacks’ gaze cut into JumpMan like a knife. She jabs him in the chest. “But this guy, needs to look where he’s going—” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPwBtkCs2O
The hardness of his chest almost doesn’t register at first. Jacks’ eyebrows turn downwards into confusion. She jabs him again, hearing the quiet clink as her painted nails make contact with his metallic plate. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J4MYgEB3i
“What?” she mutters in disbelief, before she instantly presses an ear against his chest. JumpMan’s pupils widen as this stranger gets up close and personal, listening for that faint heartbeat, and mechanical hum. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vYMkyNYiF
She stomps back, huffing audibly. “Oh, no wonder you ran into me! You’re a damn clank!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBziIiOsEop
JumpMan sputters. “Clank?!” He exclaims. “Okay, step back! The term is cyborg, lady! I still have a fully functional human brain!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2GATc61dJ
“Well, you should use it and watch where you’re going!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxrTG5r7xa
The two glare at each other for a few seconds, when a third girl skates up, carrying bandages. “Jacks, are you okay? I saw you wipe out, and—…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIlcXOaPMn
There’s confusion and surprise on the girl’s face as she takes in JumpMan’s appearance. “Is…this a cosplay or something?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe2sytjThu
Anya takes the lollipop out of her mouth to talk. “He’s…cyborg, Toye. Ouro Corp clank…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomh8KTePwf
“Oh…” Toye whispers. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvImKRfLTMX
“Name’s JumpMan…I’m the kinetic specialist at Ouroboros.” He holds out his hand. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybaruEW9Fk
Jacks looks down at his segmented hand, before flitting back up to his face. “Shuri Breezei. But everyone here calls me Jacks.” With her hand, she points at Anya and Toye. “These two are my besties. We’re a skating team…the name is still in progress.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlWkyTbfNG
JumpMan moves his hand to shake hers, but suddenly, she pulls back. “Hold it, clank,” she sneers, “before I decide to be all buddy-buddy with you, I need to see how you move. I can’t respect you right off the bat…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd35dAuKjuG
He blinks twice incredulously. “…Huh?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBGRQ8QIIl
“You and me. One lap around the park. You win, I’ll let you come back. I win…you’re paying for me and my girls’ smoothies today.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtfG91Qunu
“…That’s it?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcp2Nnpe0n4
“We’re not going to convenience store, clank,” Anya adds in, “Neo-Nova. Downtown.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5BsTDl9gK
JumpMan's UI pulls up the menu with pricing. And a simple smoothie costs… 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfWjXt1QhD
“30 credits a smoothie?! That’s daylight robbery, it’s gotta be!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9whjKYQ3P3
“Duh, they’re 30 credits. They’ve got real fruit and stuff. None of that processed crap they’re making us eat nowadays. Now, are you in, or not?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dtSh9mAUB
JumpMan rubs his chin with a finger, calculating the pros and cons. “So...if I win, I get to come back, whenever I want. And you stop calling me a ‘clank’.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5F8UQPM1K
Jacks nods, “Uh-huh. Sure. And if you lose, you owe me a trip to Neo-Nova...and you agree that your stupid expensive augmentations don’t make you a real skater.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLRFcvvxpo
JumpMan hesitates for a minute. He really doesn’t want to spend money on someone he just met. But his pride…his ego would be bruised if he was “chickening out” from a simple race. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeKpQbmyfd
His pupils shift into determined circles. “Alright, I’m in. Where’s the starting line?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf9X4ob8QK
Anya points to a line, spray-painted a glow-in-the-dark neon blue. “All races start here.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdNxuAUicm
JumpMan takes his place behind the line, Jacks following right behind. Anya yells at the other skaters in Russian, telling them to make some space. “Отойдите! Move!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxciWxSxsO
Skaters immediately get the message pushing back and making a loose circle around the perimeter of the park. Cameras are recording, eyes are watching. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlXbDWVcVt
“Damn,” JumpMan mutters, “Didn’t think they’d move that fast…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVDOPMUL8Or
Toye nods. “Well, Anya’s our muscle. She can be really scary when she wants to be. That’s why we’re so respected around here...” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1RhMaxSgp
“And don’t think she won’t do anything to you either, clank...” Jacks says checking the wheels on her skates to see if they’re in prime condition. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0Uy1sdB3I
Anya takes position as referee. “Jacks said one lap. No dirty tactics or shortcuts, da? Only around the bowl.” She gives Jacks a dirty look. “I mean it. No cheating.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzg8evRmsA
“Me? I would never…I just bend the rules, a bit.” Jacks grins cheekily, before getting in position next to JumpMan. “Don’t worry, I won’t need to cheat.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIuz0q6V7W
Anya grumbles something, before starting to count down. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdARqu1Gmg
“One!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOl6GQsUKo3
“Two!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lofzv1LRv
JumpMan and Jacks crouch down… 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOxEoXnoId
“Three!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc8HBPCgFq
Both racers speed off. Naturally, JumpMan starts off ahead, already calculating his movements for the next turn. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmuvKyFQVc
30 degrees right. Curve it, don’t sharpen. Max Speed: 70 MPH. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aL27fga6Z
JumpMan’s eyes sharpen even further, then leans towards the lip of the bowl as he drifts. The blue trail fades as quickly as it appears. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp5eEIxltf
“Good start,” he mutters to himself with a smile. “Easiest race of my life…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkvv8uMcFw
JumpMan’s smug, until he hears the loud, rhythmic CLACK and roooll of Jack’s skates pushing her neck and neck with him. She’s putting her entire body into it. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlS9GXMoORA
JumpMan’s eyes widen almost comically, letting out a low whistle as he takes in the sweat blanketing her forehead. “Jeez—…you are determined to beat me…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIC1Fzbcz9
“Shut up,” Jacks breathed out, “and keep skating…!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms2vhhmrFJ
JumpMan shrugs his shoulders, focusing his attention back on the track. If she’s struggling to keep up with him now, all he needs to do is speed up a little and keep the lead for the rest of the race. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp35lWyF6a1
His HUD flashes again. Next Max Speed: 82 MPH. Ready to engage. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tje54aRdc
JumpMan calculates. If he’s too fast, he won’t be able to turn into the last leg of the race. And he’ll probably fly straight into the crowd. Too dangerous. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6vu2YRcpJ
THUMP! A rough shove shocks him out of his thoughts, almost knocking him over. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGa9LszqcV
“Hey—!” JumpMan eyes change into exclamation marks. “You can’t just shove!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI1rdlqyH9
Jacks sticks out her tongue at him. “Anya didn’t say I couldn’t shove. She said I couldn’t cheat.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIGkoSa1WD
“Shoving is cheating!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83rPDXq3VE
“Anya didn’t say anything. Not cheating!” She nudges him again, pushing him aside as she takes the lead. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU4JxzyOpa
“Ugh,” JumpMan grumbles. “Let’s get this over with.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC6dV1rEJM
He sets his max velocity to 75, just enough to close the gap. “I really could go faster if I wanted to, you know! You’re lucky I’m being fair!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaDedFqgda
“And why don’t you?!” Jacks yells back, panting. “Just go faster!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KuSA20Is3
“And run into the crowd? You’ll never let me back for that!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1RnMszsKG
Both racers glide around the final curve. The last straight path. People are screaming and cheering, their phones held high over their heads. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKzDE4UJEx
He looks beside him. Jacks is drenched in sweat, her wheels swiveling left to right as her body becomes fatigued. Slowly, she starts getting closer. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaH5xhQ9la
Twenty meters left. Fifteen. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5xo0YCqNR
Suddenly, HUD pops up again with an alert. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat1Z8tB9S2
PROXIMITY ALERT. Engaging anti-crash system. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxwtPEW8dd
“Wait. Wait, no—!” JumpMan exclaims, his eyes a mix of question and exclamation marks. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsTAF8cUCZ
CLACK! The electromagnetic stabilizers, located in his feet, were meant to keep JumpMan from leaning and crashing into walls and obstacles. But now, it’s working against him, connecting his feet with the metal axles of Jacks’ skates. Jacks yelps as she almost loses balance. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90pkCL705Z
Jacks shrieks as she’s pulled sideways. “What are you doing?!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WGgDFT1zb
JumpMan tries to override the system. “It’s not me, not really! Anti-crash systems thought you were an obstacle! Gimme a sec, I’ll try and—” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLA5jDkVoB
“Hurry up, before we both eat concrete!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG4jQIJXfz
JumpMan eyes change into a frustrated expression. “I’m trying! This stuff takes time, alright?!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKQpaRjcqF
At the last minute, stabilizers disengage, sending Jacks almost tumbling into the concrete. Almost. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqJXiVjSm2
Instead of wiping out like JumpMan expects, she recovers, arcing around with her face close to the ground in an quick, graceful motion. JumpMan looks on in awe as she takes a knee. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCf72F8SfW
Silence…then chaos from the crowd, people looking at each other’s footage, bets ready to be paid… 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFReIShiJNe
“It was too close, man! I can’t tell!”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6o3xlRU68
“Replay the video!”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhvhGa3AkK
“They gotta have another one!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY77EhqRf3
“…You alright?” JumpMan asks, cocking his head to the side. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBpt4EblQk
“Shut up!” Jacks snaps, “I swear, if your stupid shoes…skates—whatever they are made me lose, I swear to God!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjhw18lVJx
Anya looks between them, biting down on the lollipop and crushing it between her teeth. In between chews, she mutters. “Tie.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TFPjoblTs
Both of their heads snap to her, eyes wide. but Jacks speaks up first, “Anya!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClTgEtfW7w
“I saw video from Morales,” Anya states, pointing to one of the skaters in the crowd. “Crossed line at the same time. Tie.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5ldwtNsTi
Toye nods solemnly. “Sorry Jacks, you guys tied…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnf2SmOUqCt
“So…” JumpMan blinks twice. “Does this mean I can come back?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsHnUY6Q8z
Jacks huffs, turning her head away. She’s refusing to answer. Anya speaks for her. “I might convince her. But pay referee tax first.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu3NZMS1wx
“Referee tax?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNgBhCtJLs
“I do not work for free. Neo-Nova for me.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wc0VozylH
Toye immediately raises her hand. “Oh, I helped, too!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAxXWTsHcJ
JumpMan face drops. “…We can’t be seriously extorting smoothies out of me right now.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6TerpGEvu
Anya and Toye speed off towards downtown in excitement. JumpMan didn’t even have time to say no. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReegyA1KGu
Jacks tugs off her helmet and knee guards, muttering complaints and curses under her breath. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1wf0v5SVZ
JumpMan drifts towards her. “You good?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrvLTelHGr
Jacks doesn’t look up. “…Why do you skate like that?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnaqCyiPjl
JumpMan quirks an eyebrow. “Like what?" 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dq3gkBRdL
“Not once did I see you not looking at that stupid HUD thing you’ve got with you. Where’s your...passion?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1DvOLjFwe
“I literally do this for a living...skating. Moving. I have a passion for—” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH7FTwvcOL
Jacks jabs a finger into his chest. “Yeah, you can move. You’re the fastest thing I’ve raced. Ever. But you’re always calculating something...you doing math while you do it isn’t skating...” She turns away. “You can be fast. But as long as you skate like a clank, you’ll always be a clank.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusmFeerzZ0
JumpMan’s optics flicker into something he can’t name. He doesn’t have a comeback. Jacks pulls off her skates, switching them for her normal sneakers. As she walks away, he calls out to her. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3HYkfVviV
“Hey, uh…what flavor smoothie do you want?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qXcLSVOF4
Jacks stops, faltering for a minute. “...You’re paying?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGoGFYFmlr
JumpMan shrugs. “Might as well, it wouldn’t be fair to treat your friends and not you.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxduajbGE9
Jacks tucks her helmet under her arm. “...I’ll think about it on the way there.” Then she continues on her way. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLNnSm4xso
He hesitates to catch up, just long enough to hear the crowd laughing about their tie. Or maybe they thought he was trying to charm Jacks. He can’t tell. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRSMEO59Xu
He gives a sheepish shrug towards the skaters, before speeding off. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpIcmHdF62
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JumpMan watches as the three girls giggle and sip on their smoothies. The TV in the corner is broadcasting the news. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnbmDmTq2e
“...Hey...you’re not going to get a smoothie?” Jacks quirks an eyebrow. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5MjHRAWUK
“Nah. Can’t eat.” He points to his chest. “I survive on nutrient paste to keep my human parts alive. Can’t eat solid food or it’ll mess up my cybernetics.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhwsfwTGD0
“Oh…eugh,” Jacks winces, “...I don’t know if I should be sympathetic or disgusted...sorry I asked, I guess.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKUY4nSY4X
“It’s alright, kids ask me that question all the time.” JumpMan forces a grin. “They always get all weirded out that their favorite guy can’t eat like they can. Funniest thing ever.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8AgqCx88d
Toye swallows the little bit of the “Blueberry Stardust” smoothie she has before putting the cup down. “...Does Ouro at least take care of you?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoyvgDYFfx
JumpMan answers quickly. “Oh yeah. I have my own room, I get repaired on demand…I even get my own skate rink, if you can believe it. It’s just...” He puts his chin in his hand. “It’s a little too sleek sometimes. Too...lonely.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrRMtZvvvN
…Silence. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQbWO9qmyz
The jingle for the local broadcast pulls them out of the conversation before it gets too personal. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMYDuvmFkK
JumpMan stares at the hologram, as a story gets his attention. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneNjiBt3sC
“Future-Pop Artist Ziaria will be partnering with Aether Corporation for Augmentation Reconstruction—" 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKo8S1HShZ
Anya’s eyes follow his. “It seems everyone wants to be clank these days.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpazP2jWjk
JumpMan sneers, his pupils downturned semi-circles. “Using Aether tech though...?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQsssv8i3L
“In an interview conducted by our station, the pop idol states plans to use this opportunity as a way to improve her talent and connect with her augmented fans…” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEp4ZSEuXUz
Ziara’s face pops onto the screen as she participates in the interview, virtue signaling about “connection” and “unification”. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToAoe4SId1
Jacks rolls her eyes. “Yeah, right. We all know she’s doing it for the brand deal...” She leans over the back of her chair, taking a large slurp out of her smoothie. “She’s gonna regret this in a couple years, I’m betting on it.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9g5aM329q
JumpMan snorts. “Yeah...people that willingly become cyborgs ‘because it looks cool’ usually change their minds in a few years or so...” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKAiZnJpV1
Anya puts down her cup, raising a blonde eyebrow. “Have you changed your mind yet?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwfxFp8DxQ
JumpMan blinks before looking at her. “Who, me? Nah. I didn’t have a choice, really. The Ouro Corp reactor exploded five years ago and...you know, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time...” He nervously chuckles. He simulates an explosion with his fingers. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTtha83A1Y
“Holy crap, you were in that?” Jacks perks up. “That explosion took people out! They shut Ouro Corp down for months because of it! And you still work with them? I would’ve sued their ass!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKS6wPnqxXJ
JumpMan nods. “Well, I guess their idea of an apology was saving my life...I’d probably be a dead man without them. And they spent millions on me, so I guess I got them back, yeah?” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv5SoEFgW5
“JumpMan,” Toye calls, “you don’t need to stand up for them, you know? You don’t have to be loyal to them beyond their employment...” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdfpggA2Yj
“I—...” JumpMan’s mouth opens, then closes. “Yeah, that’s true, but…where would I go? All this stuff is Ouro Corp tech, and only they can fix it.” He laughs, a soft, wistful sound. “...I’m just happy with the freedom they did give me. Don’t need much now.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqxvukDKct
Jacks picks up her skates and helmet. “…Thanks for the smoothies, J.M., but we’ve got a routine to finish up.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aWEQSZEHH
“You’re welcome to come back though.” Toye offers with a gentle smile. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBMWNvh7T6
“Toye!” Jacks grinds out. “Stop being so—” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHBrUhu61N
“Sorry! I really thought—” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlbG4PyS8o
Jacks lightly pushes Toye out of the store, the two young women leaving together. Anya, however, stays behind. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWrimBNFVY
“...I don’t mind you coming back. Just one thing.” Her voice gets lower. “Jacks. Toye. They are family. Park is home. I find your corporation in home, hurting my family…?” She slams her palm flat onto the table. “They will find you in dumpster.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1MbQIQetw
Anya picks up her half-empty cup, ready to join her friends. “Later, clank.” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40D5CxCC9R
The tap of her boots fade away. JumpMan lets out a breath he didn’t even feel himself holding. “What a scary lady…” He mutters to himself.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbd2LgyRq8
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***127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJBnKHpGA2
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The walk (or drift) back to Ouro Corp is quiet. Peaceful. Despite the rocky start, he’s actually had fun with the girls today. The race especially. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmieOGPeLv3
And Jacks allowed him to come back, granted he has time and/or money to spend. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdMQOaoyzY
…The technicians in the Repair Center are going to be pissed seeing him all scuffed up like this. He can almost hear the whining now. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7I0CYbkiRy
“JumpMan! This hover tech is super expensive!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xvpy9mJRZ
“This is why we tell you not to skate on concrete, you’re all scratched up!” 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOOQiP3zEW
JumpMan chuckles, shaking his head. He’s about to push off, when… 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcZ7soYGWp
“JumpMan. It’s so good to see you.” It’s a feminine voice, with a slight, song-lilt, almost robotic. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsv3PWHCeGt
JumpMan rotates, his hovering technology activating with a soft purr. The first thing JumpMan catches was two large androids, suited in black and stepping forward. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7EyqtOaRc
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Suddenly, in-between them, another figure steps out. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5q1mU8lZ6G
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***127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK1PCvDf7N
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Author's Note: Sorry for the long chapter! There's just a lot of character build up in this chapter, with Jacks and the crew. I'll try and make the next chapter a little bit shorter so it's easier to consume...127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1y7N1WjhMl
and then Add to home screen.