JumpMan wakes up slowly, his hair and goggles flickering on with a quiet buzz. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZm0PFaKSX
He pulls himself from his charging station, yawning and stretching his arms and legs, reactivating his servos and joints. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MB2OX8mUS
And then performing a backflip. Just for good measure. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlErjTbd3D
"Alright. Time to start the day..." 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv4HoUEXVL
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYMwpMtf3y
He practically kicks opens his door, greeting the morning with another obnoxious yawn. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLAu8cgQU9
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ayQLE8uut
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“Alright, what’s on the agenda today?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmspmJ3uWhY
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGlLbqDpcn
“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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaCynvbxlv
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUzub7bvSI
“I heard you guys asked for me?” he announced with a smirk, slowing down right in front of the group. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rLQ2QEWcq
The kids basically scream when they see him. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBFKXHVNTf
“It’s JumpMan!”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2jUQIdk3W
“He’s real!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnOolxdfBB
“Welcome to the Ouro Corp Science Center, future scientists! I’m JumpMan, obviously, and I’ll be your guide for the day.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvhrLxO0ag
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!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT7g35ythv
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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOd4e5dlGF
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… 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YddOrSiol
“Ouroboros Corporation was founded in 1993 as Vyper Technologies, named after founder Anthony Vyper—” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JbJBN3q8v
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQurOzsms0b
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYQCTeVdLy
“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?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp47qk3cIJ
The entire class raises their hand almost instantly. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl2YxE4D7v
“Yeah, thought so. C’mon! We’re going to the Science Center!”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIusi1VLgUY
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***129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKrQqmFSlS
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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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3blnGYw19v
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwJzHhsJWl
…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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5S3WQL6Xe
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EUToRs5qn
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… 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f5UXlYv8I
He zooms through that door, welcoming the warm air. He leaves a transmission. “J.M.’s goin’ out. I’ll be back, naturally.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnd1jcOkfQ
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGvrFQC5Pp
“What to do…?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClWcHUbOQG
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCSYPyoT0t
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? 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyRedniQB6
More interestingly, one of them points their thumb in the opposite direction. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnnWxm7Fnt
“Let’s get outta here, man.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9AjCuf7Yj
Then they hop onto their boards and fly off into a dark alleyway, disappearing into the darkness. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dqee1suyu
“And where are you guys going?” JumpMan mutters, watching them go. Now he’s curious. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2oDxKygVK
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkasbNDxBF
People move in all sorts of ways. Boards, skates, hovering and not. JumpMan snickers. “My kinda people…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaURUTtvaz
He pushes off into the bowl, dodging and doing some small tricks. A deep breath escapes him. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6e1m9d7yM
Until someone bumps into him, sending them flying while he’s pushed back just an inch or two. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPgAuIJPwj
“Ugh…!” A feminine voice gasps. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYyQHKFGHd
JumpMan looks down, seeing a smaller, slimmer body. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclwQG3UTKJ
“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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dCDsfF5K5
“Watch where you’re going, asshole!” The girl adjusts her helmet. “Almost gave me a damn concussion…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWZMZLTo9s
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…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AXZNxXlMp
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEcfwfYplo
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?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO8pKksIU5
“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—” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEJisMMpy1
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKyH68dZ8o
“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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4XVzHPrj3
She stomps back, huffing audibly. “Oh, no wonder you ran into me! You’re a damn clank!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncV75KjMu7
JumpMan sputters. “Clank?!” He exclaims. “Okay, step back! The term is cyborg, lady! I still have a fully functional human brain!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3T3pwJvRoR
“Well, you should use it and watch where you’re going!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7KVqfBaGr
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—…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcGUHrpHsB
There’s confusion and surprise on the girl’s face as she takes in JumpMan’s appearance. “Is…this a cosplay or something?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtSZpSt6ls
Anya takes the lollipop out of her mouth to talk. “He’s…cyborg, Toye. Ouro Corp clank…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyFG7iOR4s
“Oh…” Toye whispers. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz8DMyZvFU
“Name’s JumpMan…I’m the kinetic specialist at Ouroboros.” He holds out his hand. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMPCsXJpqP
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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRlMmSEXWm
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…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9KKMZYu4E
He blinks twice incredulously. “…Huh?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGQRgrccyH
“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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXVpAj4gEx
“…That’s it?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8CvdJnygd
“We’re not going to convenience store, clank,” Anya adds in, “Neo-Nova. Downtown.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L4goXH76K
JumpMan's UI pulls up the menu with pricing. And a simple smoothie costs… 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZgJk9KSdr
“30 credits a smoothie?! That’s daylight robbery, it’s gotta be!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszkUoYbyzy
“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?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawmzbX4oUT
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’.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk02eYuOGOW
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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5prjiUgFp7
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Zx7wFddal
His pupils shift into determined circles. “Alright, I’m in. Where’s the starting line?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vupU8cKe0
Anya points to a line, spray-painted a glow-in-the-dark neon blue. “All races start here.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWkXKyd7Pf
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!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbURiDelHu1
Skaters immediately get the message pushing back and making a loose circle around the perimeter of the park. Cameras are recording, eyes are watching. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0Kl0rwqgN
“Damn,” JumpMan mutters, “Didn’t think they’d move that fast…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMm4UfVqLs
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...” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKQkZFVGvY
“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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0ANFJ66od
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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK0dhWmgJB
“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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKuP4Z7MTF
Anya grumbles something, before starting to count down. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQxVoLHBJT
“One!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZjIqNFNr7
“Two!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIHOKL7zAh
JumpMan and Jacks crouch down… 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWAg4WIrOd
“Three!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGVpcEXBTO
Both racers speed off. Naturally, JumpMan starts off ahead, already calculating his movements for the next turn. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYMb2f0you
30 degrees right. Curve it, don’t sharpen. Max Speed: 70 MPH. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbNRqYl0Ut
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeoAyT6mQ0
“Good start,” he mutters to himself with a smile. “Easiest race of my life…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxF1075hB8
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQfg1ISdGH
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…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYghNzRmZA
“Shut up,” Jacks breathed out, “and keep skating…!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PGpnWFG7z
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a1wG6M9vV
His HUD flashes again. Next Max Speed: 82 MPH. Ready to engage. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWONHAmmi51
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTD7T6kZPA
THUMP! A rough shove shocks him out of his thoughts, almost knocking him over. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHDr3LXK2K
“Hey—!” JumpMan eyes change into exclamation marks. “You can’t just shove!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSHlqJesiz
Jacks sticks out her tongue at him. “Anya didn’t say I couldn’t shove. She said I couldn’t cheat.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGratc3TlLu
“Shoving is cheating!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAERrOBBJCz
“Anya didn’t say anything. Not cheating!” She nudges him again, pushing him aside as she takes the lead. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOhpFvOzI9
“Ugh,” JumpMan grumbles. “Let’s get this over with.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbGxgmIzgC
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!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcALOPv9U96
“And why don’t you?!” Jacks yells back, panting. “Just go faster!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2TE4LaEXj
“And run into the crowd? You’ll never let me back for that!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOmwpPB839
Both racers glide around the final curve. The last straight path. People are screaming and cheering, their phones held high over their heads. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRugSk3qX8
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbndb6O28Ph
Twenty meters left. Fifteen. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8Th5RC04N
Suddenly, HUD pops up again with an alert. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ26X07Zog
PROXIMITY ALERT. Engaging anti-crash system. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6xWCXzOoG
“Wait. Wait, no—!” JumpMan exclaims, his eyes a mix of question and exclamation marks. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWcwOclFTc
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD3MCH5pfM
Jacks shrieks as she’s pulled sideways. “What are you doing?!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMxsUWIyYa
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—” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufSoY1T9ll
“Hurry up, before we both eat concrete!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lza6WzaWs
JumpMan eyes change into a frustrated expression. “I’m trying! This stuff takes time, alright?!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40EPVSarng
At the last minute, stabilizers disengage, sending Jacks almost tumbling into the concrete. Almost. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr2aSZV7n9
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dlKjkJbjG
Silence…then chaos from the crowd, people looking at each other’s footage, bets ready to be paid… 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn64RKxk6aP
“It was too close, man! I can’t tell!”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsdoic3coN
“Replay the video!”129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAP6kl83wM
“They gotta have another one!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXWxcAShli
“…You alright?” JumpMan asks, cocking his head to the side. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1oK2P5sUY
“Shut up!” Jacks snaps, “I swear, if your stupid shoes…skates—whatever they are made me lose, I swear to God!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcL1kJyK8gD
Anya looks between them, biting down on the lollipop and crushing it between her teeth. In between chews, she mutters. “Tie.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaHlAjQHgH
Both of their heads snap to her, eyes wide. but Jacks speaks up first, “Anya!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1u1Pb0ekA
“I saw video from Morales,” Anya states, pointing to one of the skaters in the crowd. “Crossed line at the same time. Tie.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs82rOcJDvX
Toye nods solemnly. “Sorry Jacks, you guys tied…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmlx9gkG1G
“So…” JumpMan blinks twice. “Does this mean I can come back?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSpGOguVaD
Jacks huffs, turning her head away. She’s refusing to answer. Anya speaks for her. “I might convince her. But pay referee tax first.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOKccpXsHM
“Referee tax?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH7l6zIhpg
“I do not work for free. Neo-Nova for me.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRki3SsGN0t
Toye immediately raises her hand. “Oh, I helped, too!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAnO17nvnp
JumpMan face drops. “…We can’t be seriously extorting smoothies out of me right now.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWaTH9u7yp
Anya and Toye speed off towards downtown in excitement. JumpMan didn’t even have time to say no. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDhOlj0l7H
Jacks tugs off her helmet and knee guards, muttering complaints and curses under her breath. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPXrzOUWgj
JumpMan drifts towards her. “You good?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjZdkLlRvB
Jacks doesn’t look up. “…Why do you skate like that?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYJHTzILdP
JumpMan quirks an eyebrow. “Like what?" 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOQga6Jak2
“Not once did I see you not looking at that stupid HUD thing you’ve got with you. Where’s your...passion?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodY6yiP17t
“I literally do this for a living...skating. Moving. I have a passion for—” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpWT72UVwR
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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06L4Lz0B8P
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizAYLqBM3o
“Hey, uh…what flavor smoothie do you want?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXiZ2RL3yp
Jacks stops, faltering for a minute. “...You’re paying?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqK1ZmiSnIc
JumpMan shrugs. “Might as well, it wouldn’t be fair to treat your friends and not you.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZI1ouznUZ
Jacks tucks her helmet under her arm. “...I’ll think about it on the way there.” Then she continues on her way. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5lnH3lHaC
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikozIde8WV
He gives a sheepish shrug towards the skaters, before speeding off. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB1fzCZe9t
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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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCfAEZJlhv
“...Hey...you’re not going to get a smoothie?” Jacks quirks an eyebrow. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNNQB80dbu
“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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnBOcpXZyG
“Oh…eugh,” Jacks winces, “...I don’t know if I should be sympathetic or disgusted...sorry I asked, I guess.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoa2Uh5E64a
“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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ3KBPMwVD
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?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09dzy3MxCx
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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIlw0EdZmp
…Silence. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7XcEAfAoS
The jingle for the local broadcast pulls them out of the conversation before it gets too personal. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZm4b4OqBK
JumpMan stares at the hologram, as a story gets his attention. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMpYqAYKvk
“Future-Pop Artist Ziaria will be partnering with Aether Corporation for Augmentation Reconstruction—" 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImNtAzGjfl
Anya’s eyes follow his. “It seems everyone wants to be clank these days.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpLNecgQCu
JumpMan sneers, his pupils downturned semi-circles. “Using Aether tech though...?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeh6pDbOiv
“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…” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpBXirPbky
Ziara’s face pops onto the screen as she participates in the interview, virtue signaling about “connection” and “unification”. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlMRkgFUSn
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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rKy092Eig
JumpMan snorts. “Yeah...people that willingly become cyborgs ‘because it looks cool’ usually change their minds in a few years or so...” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvQYf0lFbi
Anya puts down her cup, raising a blonde eyebrow. “Have you changed your mind yet?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmIGhAb9Dv
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBBLlHl1nI
“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!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhB7ScM6nS3
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?” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFAYA8tGbI
“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...” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmcQWbzE8U
“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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua1NHsFXsn
Jacks picks up her skates and helmet. “…Thanks for the smoothies, J.M., but we’ve got a routine to finish up.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gaeNFvcyT
“You’re welcome to come back though.” Toye offers with a gentle smile. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeFqWhGlp6
“Toye!” Jacks grinds out. “Stop being so—” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcll1Q4lnRm
“Sorry! I really thought—” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRcskPlppk
Jacks lightly pushes Toye out of the store, the two young women leaving together. Anya, however, stays behind. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Oy2waGSLN
“...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.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0XsXsnTC7
Anya picks up her half-empty cup, ready to join her friends. “Later, clank.” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0Li1JRfHz
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.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcgdw98IFQ
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***129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m65TZgWvB
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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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiotz0RIGI
And Jacks allowed him to come back, granted he has time and/or money to spend. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYXbdHKtx0
…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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJubMsdCHqj
“JumpMan! This hover tech is super expensive!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iNWZ5zCY0
“This is why we tell you not to skate on concrete, you’re all scratched up!” 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkvaPHC7FZ
JumpMan chuckles, shaking his head. He’s about to push off, when… 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj6rJLfOBV
“JumpMan. It’s so good to see you.” It’s a feminine voice, with a slight, song-lilt, almost robotic. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk35i6v29KP
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. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaoEsN28Dc
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Suddenly, in-between them, another figure steps out. 129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgrVT9Yona
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***129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDR5Zv72km
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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...129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYh62BmIvHD
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