JumpMan wakes up slowly, his hair and goggles flickering on with a quiet buzz. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡin0mEG29zQ
He pulls himself from his charging station, yawning and stretching his arms and legs, reactivating his servos and joints. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz4jeMu882
And then performing a backflip. Just for good measure. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvgOAebFKu
"Alright. Time to start the day..." 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNCHeUBd25
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tLCAzd5HD
He practically kicks opens his door, greeting the morning with another obnoxious yawn. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebcpMLtkWh
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwcgXyzWjw
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“Alright, what’s on the agenda today?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8c3phWs63
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TI0NhipHd
“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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZ3a86OQbS
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7XRcFyYD3
“I heard you guys asked for me?” he announced with a smirk, slowing down right in front of the group. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRPaCdMR3L
The kids basically scream when they see him. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRC590ZBlv
“It’s JumpMan!”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydChi9hpxj
“He’s real!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL9KM5vTlt
“Welcome to the Ouro Corp Science Center, future scientists! I’m JumpMan, obviously, and I’ll be your guide for the day.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7KviEVxIr
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!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cvkhc2tJE
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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPGs0UPk8u
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… 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yGYTrDAjn
“Ouroboros Corporation was founded in 1993 as Vyper Technologies, named after founder Anthony Vyper—” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZOAMxTOMR
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbgtVklcMw
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVZPcZaLJa
“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?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIQwTKGFcv
The entire class raises their hand almost instantly. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQti5YSk6U
“Yeah, thought so. C’mon! We’re going to the Science Center!”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYtLCvSbRV
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***126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXFP0eEiay
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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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkppnM6MLTD
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhjBePdMY3
…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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB176JjVncd
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ8PVum63G
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… 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS900Z3o5Y
He zooms through that door, welcoming the warm air. He leaves a transmission. “J.M.’s goin’ out. I’ll be back, naturally.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIKAwjKwBg
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLPQdpecUt
“What to do…?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaTdvLPqGq
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexyQNpavKz
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? 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0CiQ7pvkF
More interestingly, one of them points their thumb in the opposite direction. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpDDDsP1hc
“Let’s get outta here, man.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedk18mXTEW
Then they hop onto their boards and fly off into a dark alleyway, disappearing into the darkness. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNJPoNwwkZ
“And where are you guys going?” JumpMan mutters, watching them go. Now he’s curious. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvw2m06MF2F
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2cj7m3Dju
People move in all sorts of ways. Boards, skates, hovering and not. JumpMan snickers. “My kinda people…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL1bn4qZ3T
He pushes off into the bowl, dodging and doing some small tricks. A deep breath escapes him. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV390r5YKL
Until someone bumps into him, sending them flying while he’s pushed back just an inch or two. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKeOWgfOPM
“Ugh…!” A feminine voice gasps. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ98eEFyla0
JumpMan looks down, seeing a smaller, slimmer body. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EV31cCFmp
“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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmT6cV3cv3B
“Watch where you’re going, asshole!” The girl adjusts her helmet. “Almost gave me a damn concussion…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCWwLHdwfH
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…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFFnOoTM5V
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SKo9JYZ9I
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?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6a5ZKB1tH
“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—” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjw88UOzmS
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IPbllk2wA
“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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPLD6YB0t8
She stomps back, huffing audibly. “Oh, no wonder you ran into me! You’re a damn clank!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJTqCWLLB9
JumpMan sputters. “Clank?!” He exclaims. “Okay, step back! The term is cyborg, lady! I still have a fully functional human brain!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2PUXFPq75
“Well, you should use it and watch where you’re going!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPz2AUpc0u
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—…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvxnUnbdU8
There’s confusion and surprise on the girl’s face as she takes in JumpMan’s appearance. “Is…this a cosplay or something?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68w1cmSttV
Anya takes the lollipop out of her mouth to talk. “He’s…cyborg, Toye. Ouro Corp clank…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkzbWhh4TC
“Oh…” Toye whispers. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLFnPkFDYz
“Name’s JumpMan…I’m the kinetic specialist at Ouroboros.” He holds out his hand. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vGbWHb3Q9
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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiHj7T5G7k
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…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1HpT5EFE6
He blinks twice incredulously. “…Huh?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGro8SjICOV
“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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1QDmDcEd1
“…That’s it?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zqnqYhwbp
“We’re not going to convenience store, clank,” Anya adds in, “Neo-Nova. Downtown.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRH5kSvBQ8
JumpMan's UI pulls up the menu with pricing. And a simple smoothie costs… 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXr6GgBdUzw
“30 credits a smoothie?! That’s daylight robbery, it’s gotta be!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVCHCfpYsI
“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?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHlijoY0Ra
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’.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Mmv8c8rtX
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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcues2H7Ka
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQwnrMIEQT
His pupils shift into determined circles. “Alright, I’m in. Where’s the starting line?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahjQjzodpY
Anya points to a line, spray-painted a glow-in-the-dark neon blue. “All races start here.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0B9dbb0UF
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!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIPaUGRJmd
Skaters immediately get the message pushing back and making a loose circle around the perimeter of the park. Cameras are recording, eyes are watching. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT4MQ52nks
“Damn,” JumpMan mutters, “Didn’t think they’d move that fast…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXlIbKBibm
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...” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriBRNT8m7f
“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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtqrAc1Ozo
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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7n88G63mK
“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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY4Z3czxp7
Anya grumbles something, before starting to count down. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBDEVAua8K
“One!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTRzW9lLzN
“Two!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wfMALrDqh
JumpMan and Jacks crouch down… 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrjumbh35T
“Three!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DnkTQViIb
Both racers speed off. Naturally, JumpMan starts off ahead, already calculating his movements for the next turn. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSNVIQtSHi
30 degrees right. Curve it, don’t sharpen. Max Speed: 70 MPH. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UgDQAyjB1
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KEdbzRiSY
“Good start,” he mutters to himself with a smile. “Easiest race of my life…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZVMfWTNDO
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9l3FO8cS6
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…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKywFUfig6
“Shut up,” Jacks breathed out, “and keep skating…!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdji5h1J3h
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rJAL7fzJ6
His HUD flashes again. Next Max Speed: 82 MPH. Ready to engage. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGKcJTHCMa
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYovvjAslrc
THUMP! A rough shove shocks him out of his thoughts, almost knocking him over. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6V4jUvFes
“Hey—!” JumpMan eyes change into exclamation marks. “You can’t just shove!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgxwHEcMiL
Jacks sticks out her tongue at him. “Anya didn’t say I couldn’t shove. She said I couldn’t cheat.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHhWQgHKam
“Shoving is cheating!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbso3SFDaZm
“Anya didn’t say anything. Not cheating!” She nudges him again, pushing him aside as she takes the lead. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoT9HKCr8H
“Ugh,” JumpMan grumbles. “Let’s get this over with.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwi6cwi43H
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!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmUm8IoWfn
“And why don’t you?!” Jacks yells back, panting. “Just go faster!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2XnBRriVc
“And run into the crowd? You’ll never let me back for that!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUwSRxAPGC
Both racers glide around the final curve. The last straight path. People are screaming and cheering, their phones held high over their heads. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ438CitR2ZB
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCticZaw6W9
Twenty meters left. Fifteen. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxkmVNQ0jq
Suddenly, HUD pops up again with an alert. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP4uGqNgzE
PROXIMITY ALERT. Engaging anti-crash system. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGfoJTxiii
“Wait. Wait, no—!” JumpMan exclaims, his eyes a mix of question and exclamation marks. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwQ9pbcZYR
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoGyxUz8wr
Jacks shrieks as she’s pulled sideways. “What are you doing?!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Fj0VjZr1j
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—” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAbyJ4N0k3
“Hurry up, before we both eat concrete!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfunkZVUcs7
JumpMan eyes change into a frustrated expression. “I’m trying! This stuff takes time, alright?!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl14dLhYhs0
At the last minute, stabilizers disengage, sending Jacks almost tumbling into the concrete. Almost. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2hUvWR2Rb
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCR7MHELSS
Silence…then chaos from the crowd, people looking at each other’s footage, bets ready to be paid… 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6kHjDGc4F
“It was too close, man! I can’t tell!”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepZEbg5zcg
“Replay the video!”126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB02EQDsqHX
“They gotta have another one!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctvHYpiRwH
“…You alright?” JumpMan asks, cocking his head to the side. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthUhIZ7gC8
“Shut up!” Jacks snaps, “I swear, if your stupid shoes…skates—whatever they are made me lose, I swear to God!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogQQGOZOQb
Anya looks between them, biting down on the lollipop and crushing it between her teeth. In between chews, she mutters. “Tie.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67VIV2DWma
Both of their heads snap to her, eyes wide. but Jacks speaks up first, “Anya!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo8YcS2S0N
“I saw video from Morales,” Anya states, pointing to one of the skaters in the crowd. “Crossed line at the same time. Tie.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuytULqI7i
Toye nods solemnly. “Sorry Jacks, you guys tied…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJUCoNmwOZ
“So…” JumpMan blinks twice. “Does this mean I can come back?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt4OwFDWRI
Jacks huffs, turning her head away. She’s refusing to answer. Anya speaks for her. “I might convince her. But pay referee tax first.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrxrEM1Hx3
“Referee tax?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fW4D0mdzl
“I do not work for free. Neo-Nova for me.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdLMH1A2t5
Toye immediately raises her hand. “Oh, I helped, too!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJo12dxjo2
JumpMan face drops. “…We can’t be seriously extorting smoothies out of me right now.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqSRoROzTJ
Anya and Toye speed off towards downtown in excitement. JumpMan didn’t even have time to say no. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeweCD7lIWw
Jacks tugs off her helmet and knee guards, muttering complaints and curses under her breath. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXELFDUSRQ
JumpMan drifts towards her. “You good?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UjmcStj56
Jacks doesn’t look up. “…Why do you skate like that?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4dByWi0IR
JumpMan quirks an eyebrow. “Like what?" 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOhTNylWJp
“Not once did I see you not looking at that stupid HUD thing you’ve got with you. Where’s your...passion?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oXToETEvI
“I literally do this for a living...skating. Moving. I have a passion for—” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJG10X7uycI
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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX59kJqSgf
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAdHFuu6Iy
“Hey, uh…what flavor smoothie do you want?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mDzDujPRU
Jacks stops, faltering for a minute. “...You’re paying?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL5KFKaLE5
JumpMan shrugs. “Might as well, it wouldn’t be fair to treat your friends and not you.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv5MzBvxSa
Jacks tucks her helmet under her arm. “...I’ll think about it on the way there.” Then she continues on her way. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdarHsl8Bb
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJ51Z6a9AF
He gives a sheepish shrug towards the skaters, before speeding off. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42EtiX2DuL
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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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhj2PsaDQf
“...Hey...you’re not going to get a smoothie?” Jacks quirks an eyebrow. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVyJfAiNpw
“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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4o65LsejC
“Oh…eugh,” Jacks winces, “...I don’t know if I should be sympathetic or disgusted...sorry I asked, I guess.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDd6K9M2FjI
“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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJPRswL2D4
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?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUEjOx9hjY
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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvfoW1AgfG
…Silence. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8c5r633WP
The jingle for the local broadcast pulls them out of the conversation before it gets too personal. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPkMMshLrM
JumpMan stares at the hologram, as a story gets his attention. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeujL6m485L
“Future-Pop Artist Ziaria will be partnering with Aether Corporation for Augmentation Reconstruction—" 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTX0uhjhAP
Anya’s eyes follow his. “It seems everyone wants to be clank these days.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNudPBCwtv
JumpMan sneers, his pupils downturned semi-circles. “Using Aether tech though...?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnsIpnbtpH
“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…” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG3oR4eTuO
Ziara’s face pops onto the screen as she participates in the interview, virtue signaling about “connection” and “unification”. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKTjlGtcDD
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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP5xPSPnYj
JumpMan snorts. “Yeah...people that willingly become cyborgs ‘because it looks cool’ usually change their minds in a few years or so...” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweCOgMFuu7
Anya puts down her cup, raising a blonde eyebrow. “Have you changed your mind yet?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj68taZcnc
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoaFsiuAho
“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!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mMBLa4dGb
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?” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwEov05Fcl
“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...” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mzZAEEJVr
“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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡast6P0z62f
Jacks picks up her skates and helmet. “…Thanks for the smoothies, J.M., but we’ve got a routine to finish up.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUu8LbRfk2
“You’re welcome to come back though.” Toye offers with a gentle smile. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OdmGyGVul
“Toye!” Jacks grinds out. “Stop being so—” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpGkM1bkXr
“Sorry! I really thought—” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGjcI3Fhes
Jacks lightly pushes Toye out of the store, the two young women leaving together. Anya, however, stays behind. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CMfggjcgi
“...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.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOefw5UVHBq
Anya picks up her half-empty cup, ready to join her friends. “Later, clank.” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAxDNEJbCd
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.126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF75jZoupw
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***126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7y1hyfjlV
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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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nZiVhtB1C
And Jacks allowed him to come back, granted he has time and/or money to spend. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoaxPe2OQ9
…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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DuFquglAT
“JumpMan! This hover tech is super expensive!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEywmUrKWi
“This is why we tell you not to skate on concrete, you’re all scratched up!” 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zyTIEZ8ES
JumpMan chuckles, shaking his head. He’s about to push off, when… 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDxO1EhQFQ
“JumpMan. It’s so good to see you.” It’s a feminine voice, with a slight, song-lilt, almost robotic. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbuk5mh8Mm
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. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WIM0h5tPq
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Suddenly, in-between them, another figure steps out. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMfJ87H91F
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***126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VV4JPRdr4
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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...126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSM9U0PMmJ
and then Add to home screen.