JumpMan wakes up slowly, his hair and goggles flickering on with a quiet buzz. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6ZvrMYPAz
He pulls himself from his charging station, yawning and stretching his arms and legs, reactivating his servos and joints. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EKl3DPNzU
And then performing a backflip. Just for good measure. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ9MyurOcf
"Alright. Time to start the day..." 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVYLws2LXY
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9l2B7dHfl
He practically kicks opens his door, greeting the morning with another obnoxious yawn. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdab8VIcHXv
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSeId8b95W
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“Alright, what’s on the agenda today?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MUSUp9HPk
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jptU1fc8U
“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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4qhbJLj28
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkbcj4hRe9
“I heard you guys asked for me?” he announced with a smirk, slowing down right in front of the group. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOJGOa3TtW
The kids basically scream when they see him. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOejF5weCDg
“It’s JumpMan!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMkzkFLBcT
“He’s real!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gpZC9zzU6
“Welcome to the Ouro Corp Science Center, future scientists! I’m JumpMan, obviously, and I’ll be your guide for the day.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6a9NvbW6Y
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!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSuo6ooT4J
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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvcl2Yj5z0
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… 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3g1Rq0EvF
“Ouroboros Corporation was founded in 1993 as Vyper Technologies, named after founder Anthony Vyper—” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhwAEyRiAB
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09CgupJALx
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHPPsBWgdY
“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?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ7l349iDV
The entire class raises their hand almost instantly. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaZ67KwzCf
“Yeah, thought so. C’mon! We’re going to the Science Center!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4FrEPjonK
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***125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4Sb5O8Hm1
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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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEXHfVNcs4
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30dmvTZMSs
…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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88Snyk1yWT
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgXzaaff8k
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… 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2huIUL7UNO
He zooms through that door, welcoming the warm air. He leaves a transmission. “J.M.’s goin’ out. I’ll be back, naturally.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxw7nTai0j
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7C9drErXA
“What to do…?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjzg4IIW3K
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6PHkVPqNq
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? 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6RY2rbDRf
More interestingly, one of them points their thumb in the opposite direction. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5Ezwf7EbW
“Let’s get outta here, man.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NgOLI3fqJ
Then they hop onto their boards and fly off into a dark alleyway, disappearing into the darkness. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3inKXaUgJ8
“And where are you guys going?” JumpMan mutters, watching them go. Now he’s curious. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqJRWql8Lx
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1sOSiIhHV
People move in all sorts of ways. Boards, skates, hovering and not. JumpMan snickers. “My kinda people…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0srN9699R
He pushes off into the bowl, dodging and doing some small tricks. A deep breath escapes him. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqq7HIzlOj
Until someone bumps into him, sending them flying while he’s pushed back just an inch or two. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvECambKcl
“Ugh…!” A feminine voice gasps. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NHU0giHOj
JumpMan looks down, seeing a smaller, slimmer body. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn9PNqNZCU
“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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrT1YBrlvBN
“Watch where you’re going, asshole!” The girl adjusts her helmet. “Almost gave me a damn concussion…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSHn6S3NOl
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…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNRsXAX0KL
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3R8d5BWqI1
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?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknhcDdYqEz
“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—” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfCVEdJQoC
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8ZTD34O5T
“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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPcxHLu3pR
She stomps back, huffing audibly. “Oh, no wonder you ran into me! You’re a damn clank!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxRE1sDr5J
JumpMan sputters. “Clank?!” He exclaims. “Okay, step back! The term is cyborg, lady! I still have a fully functional human brain!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd31SGm5SVU
“Well, you should use it and watch where you’re going!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZruqXa6JJ
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—…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiOPp1Kq6N
There’s confusion and surprise on the girl’s face as she takes in JumpMan’s appearance. “Is…this a cosplay or something?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeLqBJ0QuU
Anya takes the lollipop out of her mouth to talk. “He’s…cyborg, Toye. Ouro Corp clank…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygLWUVVIRd
“Oh…” Toye whispers. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFTOKU8qAC
“Name’s JumpMan…I’m the kinetic specialist at Ouroboros.” He holds out his hand. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTttrP0CwXR
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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgo29r7eX5
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…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5oT60xX7v
He blinks twice incredulously. “…Huh?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZD8kxyhZm
“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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLPVSEOZS1
“…That’s it?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5n2Mht6Lo
“We’re not going to convenience store, clank,” Anya adds in, “Neo-Nova. Downtown.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegEv5tyB09
JumpMan's UI pulls up the menu with pricing. And a simple smoothie costs… 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0Gaz1xfPO
“30 credits a smoothie?! That’s daylight robbery, it’s gotta be!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUchueOHA0
“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?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyB5KoDrzb
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’.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalV1OYXroq
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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YJPMPwW0d
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVNVhrh4oB
His pupils shift into determined circles. “Alright, I’m in. Where’s the starting line?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyLRN1EvP6
Anya points to a line, spray-painted a glow-in-the-dark neon blue. “All races start here.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ix9s3QAJb
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!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1Ag36n49b
Skaters immediately get the message pushing back and making a loose circle around the perimeter of the park. Cameras are recording, eyes are watching. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcpgZF2xlq
“Damn,” JumpMan mutters, “Didn’t think they’d move that fast…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SRxtV4Nmh
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...” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XyF4Ey2Yn
“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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaqBnnIhbX
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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcYOoj5ScQ
“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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJG4wFANrG
Anya grumbles something, before starting to count down. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DLrMyWqpE
“One!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWYUthjWb1
“Two!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk52kFbdop
JumpMan and Jacks crouch down… 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdmRLpHxVk
“Three!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHVcwjUGsO
Both racers speed off. Naturally, JumpMan starts off ahead, already calculating his movements for the next turn. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HzjFrPiQk
30 degrees right. Curve it, don’t sharpen. Max Speed: 70 MPH. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxyvE6DHnn
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoUOOZ6TVT
“Good start,” he mutters to himself with a smile. “Easiest race of my life…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e2QxXWU75
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPjEw0rp7s
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…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Dd2EjxcaR
“Shut up,” Jacks breathed out, “and keep skating…!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtLyzFts0E
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEx7v0maa5
His HUD flashes again. Next Max Speed: 82 MPH. Ready to engage. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqdHVudvnu
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB6HgNAbYG
THUMP! A rough shove shocks him out of his thoughts, almost knocking him over. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7o7Nxi0GG
“Hey—!” JumpMan eyes change into exclamation marks. “You can’t just shove!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwrhJJE9bU
Jacks sticks out her tongue at him. “Anya didn’t say I couldn’t shove. She said I couldn’t cheat.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ966ea7Ty0C
“Shoving is cheating!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUhQ9Fu06R
“Anya didn’t say anything. Not cheating!” She nudges him again, pushing him aside as she takes the lead. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp7jSUFeug
“Ugh,” JumpMan grumbles. “Let’s get this over with.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qr9PLJ8NG
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!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfPllz2SHG
“And why don’t you?!” Jacks yells back, panting. “Just go faster!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQ6yMfqbyu
“And run into the crowd? You’ll never let me back for that!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA35LwQk3So
Both racers glide around the final curve. The last straight path. People are screaming and cheering, their phones held high over their heads. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8c5w1ArIzY
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfUg0oChPo
Twenty meters left. Fifteen. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZzz9YDbxs
Suddenly, HUD pops up again with an alert. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysVnE5OZel
PROXIMITY ALERT. Engaging anti-crash system. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnC9mh4vIX
“Wait. Wait, no—!” JumpMan exclaims, his eyes a mix of question and exclamation marks. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu4j9dCjmZ
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvcuxAuWyG
Jacks shrieks as she’s pulled sideways. “What are you doing?!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayl3TXIQsB
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—” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8kwJKsZ97
“Hurry up, before we both eat concrete!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ9XlA8leQ
JumpMan eyes change into a frustrated expression. “I’m trying! This stuff takes time, alright?!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEszTGSLnV
At the last minute, stabilizers disengage, sending Jacks almost tumbling into the concrete. Almost. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy1xpxj1TS
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMHqKiawvU
Silence…then chaos from the crowd, people looking at each other’s footage, bets ready to be paid… 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGGfR8NXzc
“It was too close, man! I can’t tell!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOwYsYFT1s
“Replay the video!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mJJZhik1G
“They gotta have another one!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiY6EFr3hsJ
“…You alright?” JumpMan asks, cocking his head to the side. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkyCp61JXb
“Shut up!” Jacks snaps, “I swear, if your stupid shoes…skates—whatever they are made me lose, I swear to God!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFc9QsCela
Anya looks between them, biting down on the lollipop and crushing it between her teeth. In between chews, she mutters. “Tie.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA0Ptn3cVn
Both of their heads snap to her, eyes wide. but Jacks speaks up first, “Anya!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjqt8WfAkC
“I saw video from Morales,” Anya states, pointing to one of the skaters in the crowd. “Crossed line at the same time. Tie.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYbPSSvb8P
Toye nods solemnly. “Sorry Jacks, you guys tied…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaasgM19dja
“So…” JumpMan blinks twice. “Does this mean I can come back?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkqxks0MzL
Jacks huffs, turning her head away. She’s refusing to answer. Anya speaks for her. “I might convince her. But pay referee tax first.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTjAn0WHmf
“Referee tax?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4MPlRkfat
“I do not work for free. Neo-Nova for me.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhNUsWFDxe
Toye immediately raises her hand. “Oh, I helped, too!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc0C2TNb0Y
JumpMan face drops. “…We can’t be seriously extorting smoothies out of me right now.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoQqnXZ9YM
Anya and Toye speed off towards downtown in excitement. JumpMan didn’t even have time to say no. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkTEFUMzig
Jacks tugs off her helmet and knee guards, muttering complaints and curses under her breath. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIASaekhIi2
JumpMan drifts towards her. “You good?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQNSY0ZMKL
Jacks doesn’t look up. “…Why do you skate like that?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXKdusAJ3e
JumpMan quirks an eyebrow. “Like what?" 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPosgjpRiC
“Not once did I see you not looking at that stupid HUD thing you’ve got with you. Where’s your...passion?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiSRLKb0f9
“I literally do this for a living...skating. Moving. I have a passion for—” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfyS4T6fQa
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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n6BPJlDwS
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNHT8U4ocP
“Hey, uh…what flavor smoothie do you want?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyCCKdO2a9
Jacks stops, faltering for a minute. “...You’re paying?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdMYFtePFx
JumpMan shrugs. “Might as well, it wouldn’t be fair to treat your friends and not you.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMXe2pGoha
Jacks tucks her helmet under her arm. “...I’ll think about it on the way there.” Then she continues on her way. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cfmR5EyAP
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEn5D1RrSn
He gives a sheepish shrug towards the skaters, before speeding off. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuOe2xcmCY
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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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIMIorSox7
“...Hey...you’re not going to get a smoothie?” Jacks quirks an eyebrow. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggzc1dp6Ne
“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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5y6JhWqx6c
“Oh…eugh,” Jacks winces, “...I don’t know if I should be sympathetic or disgusted...sorry I asked, I guess.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiMA0Bb1Wo
“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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4xkAI6GHU
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?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaAIkj7jX8
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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG0UOOxIIp
…Silence. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IZrgt0Hwb
The jingle for the local broadcast pulls them out of the conversation before it gets too personal. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptZEWOna5F
JumpMan stares at the hologram, as a story gets his attention. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4k1Nmv46s
“Future-Pop Artist Ziaria will be partnering with Aether Corporation for Augmentation Reconstruction—" 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiAh3X31Qn
Anya’s eyes follow his. “It seems everyone wants to be clank these days.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE8xLcomvV
JumpMan sneers, his pupils downturned semi-circles. “Using Aether tech though...?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fbBcYg9xq
“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…” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeWpzM89KC
Ziara’s face pops onto the screen as she participates in the interview, virtue signaling about “connection” and “unification”. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuCJ463Wmc
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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N4x1RGFWR
JumpMan snorts. “Yeah...people that willingly become cyborgs ‘because it looks cool’ usually change their minds in a few years or so...” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPGWa2E6Rn
Anya puts down her cup, raising a blonde eyebrow. “Have you changed your mind yet?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDTRfwzHcu
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSnwu77B5g
“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!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYO5Vfnpb9
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?” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYfx8MeU9r
“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...” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6OrGP43oT
“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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eIAl3N0GM
Jacks picks up her skates and helmet. “…Thanks for the smoothies, J.M., but we’ve got a routine to finish up.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkyjTdDCly
“You’re welcome to come back though.” Toye offers with a gentle smile. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8z3sjJvzP
“Toye!” Jacks grinds out. “Stop being so—” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWc3FbQU7G
“Sorry! I really thought—” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN9MPOfKff
Jacks lightly pushes Toye out of the store, the two young women leaving together. Anya, however, stays behind. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHhnC6NDOG
“...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.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqcpfyAmA5
Anya picks up her half-empty cup, ready to join her friends. “Later, clank.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEYiR82wBF
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8S1LJwYFj
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***125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Qi5eg1RqG
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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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh9wOT0IDQ
And Jacks allowed him to come back, granted he has time and/or money to spend. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpVVdGIA1O
…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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCUmYHl7cr
“JumpMan! This hover tech is super expensive!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX7JKgmSpl
“This is why we tell you not to skate on concrete, you’re all scratched up!” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeoqBcgCNP
JumpMan chuckles, shaking his head. He’s about to push off, when… 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHr2PLuX9dM
“JumpMan. It’s so good to see you.” It’s a feminine voice, with a slight, song-lilt, almost robotic. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB0yukcUxQ
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. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9Xx9tkl9C
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Suddenly, in-between them, another figure steps out. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK66t9c3Bk
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***125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEeffFzYxW
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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...125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQiZqIiIVg
and then Add to home screen.