JumpMan wakes up slowly, his hair and goggles flickering on with a quiet buzz. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRKSNHh2AY
He pulls himself from his charging station, yawning and stretching his arms and legs, reactivating his servos and joints. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTuQoKaeEi
And then performing a backflip. Just for good measure. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtDGM6SiQg
"Alright. Time to start the day..." 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6LRMxcbpC
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzmbI0wH1g
He practically kicks opens his door, greeting the morning with another obnoxious yawn. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2A58vC2Jx
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGvCV3she0
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“Alright, what’s on the agenda today?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlInhl7FuB
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ILqd2e91v
“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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Afy0UYWJR
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX52mKcPzKD
“I heard you guys asked for me?” he announced with a smirk, slowing down right in front of the group. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPq0TZIGxB0
The kids basically scream when they see him. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hFSUt8BIc
“It’s JumpMan!”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut5nA6hw5R
“He’s real!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxCLgKoQ2X
“Welcome to the Ouro Corp Science Center, future scientists! I’m JumpMan, obviously, and I’ll be your guide for the day.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm5E1t33IX
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!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62lGrpFIYM
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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CZsbHTBiE
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… 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7441ELnKYg
“Ouroboros Corporation was founded in 1993 as Vyper Technologies, named after founder Anthony Vyper—” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OBTk70240
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanB1RkCJCp
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxAeoCX6Nl
“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?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS95GLtANdV
The entire class raises their hand almost instantly. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AwbNqjMvZ
“Yeah, thought so. C’mon! We’re going to the Science Center!”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mZzPbY2gk
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***202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBjsO0CAWN
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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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoeS0zplBM
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKWPu65uj1
…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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA5sQsIHrL
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v3GirYKoM
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… 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYljzyTdPP
He zooms through that door, welcoming the warm air. He leaves a transmission. “J.M.’s goin’ out. I’ll be back, naturally.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV0GnD8gqh
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ExNI9Bwbc
“What to do…?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nL9QiwrSf
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkCoN85g6e
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? 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmp8V94vwJ
More interestingly, one of them points their thumb in the opposite direction. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsvBrQ7aOX
“Let’s get outta here, man.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMWFo2vHAV
Then they hop onto their boards and fly off into a dark alleyway, disappearing into the darkness. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuLvL0HYs5
“And where are you guys going?” JumpMan mutters, watching them go. Now he’s curious. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1ES2Zyd6p
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LtALxMc4Y
People move in all sorts of ways. Boards, skates, hovering and not. JumpMan snickers. “My kinda people…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFcZ1fOhMS
He pushes off into the bowl, dodging and doing some small tricks. A deep breath escapes him. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqP9pNAdZI
Until someone bumps into him, sending them flying while he’s pushed back just an inch or two. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QWl5HhLwt
“Ugh…!” A feminine voice gasps. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6hoUQxoqL
JumpMan looks down, seeing a smaller, slimmer body. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRd6lBlAgl1
“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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F9i5mlAOl
“Watch where you’re going, asshole!” The girl adjusts her helmet. “Almost gave me a damn concussion…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFTWGwe5FD
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…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGIm79y9X9
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKKYOH0jnA
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?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57qc12tDAD
“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—” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf1UPfw81n
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4XSJewcfK
“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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4QdIJ1ZpW
She stomps back, huffing audibly. “Oh, no wonder you ran into me! You’re a damn clank!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqzTmgbHSF
JumpMan sputters. “Clank?!” He exclaims. “Okay, step back! The term is cyborg, lady! I still have a fully functional human brain!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZFlbOCcm3
“Well, you should use it and watch where you’re going!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN4OLsQGEg
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—…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfnygtTzoD
There’s confusion and surprise on the girl’s face as she takes in JumpMan’s appearance. “Is…this a cosplay or something?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPvZKSvKTr
Anya takes the lollipop out of her mouth to talk. “He’s…cyborg, Toye. Ouro Corp clank…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoU6Z1IhxE
“Oh…” Toye whispers. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm8fJBdtI5
“Name’s JumpMan…I’m the kinetic specialist at Ouroboros.” He holds out his hand. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDCPzrODj8
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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWeJAXKktW
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…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUDMiNfvqJ
He blinks twice incredulously. “…Huh?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT4KzWbMc0
“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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa53xwaHxJg
“…That’s it?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO6LFDjQAt
“We’re not going to convenience store, clank,” Anya adds in, “Neo-Nova. Downtown.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQL1I3nIAuV
JumpMan's UI pulls up the menu with pricing. And a simple smoothie costs… 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65annoVhXn
“30 credits a smoothie?! That’s daylight robbery, it’s gotta be!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ih1IFepsm
“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?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bVe6mrLWf
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’.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEdWpSgL8x
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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EIujNv6z1
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0X4ph08dW
His pupils shift into determined circles. “Alright, I’m in. Where’s the starting line?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBPtgeRUTW
Anya points to a line, spray-painted a glow-in-the-dark neon blue. “All races start here.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamaz7YzXY2
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!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5SqtPdgxF
Skaters immediately get the message pushing back and making a loose circle around the perimeter of the park. Cameras are recording, eyes are watching. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lBL0Ds62i
“Damn,” JumpMan mutters, “Didn’t think they’d move that fast…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRU0DVpoOKB
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...” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5B1CzdDbt
“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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrI9XTr0MC
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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiuZgRwLLw
“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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8GT6ryT4d
Anya grumbles something, before starting to count down. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3qHfCJnKD
“One!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjBOxcmdrZ
“Two!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCsxJyCyDL
JumpMan and Jacks crouch down… 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUF9HNfnnIM
“Three!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgz2LEH5wT
Both racers speed off. Naturally, JumpMan starts off ahead, already calculating his movements for the next turn. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSCaI6W81R
30 degrees right. Curve it, don’t sharpen. Max Speed: 70 MPH. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhunmOvqYOb
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfHfLEnEm5
“Good start,” he mutters to himself with a smile. “Easiest race of my life…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBB4fkn0Fm
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXF6bMaTxl
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…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkPliM8XdJ
“Shut up,” Jacks breathed out, “and keep skating…!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMIMU7LEgS
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZ8MkO7uOZ
His HUD flashes again. Next Max Speed: 82 MPH. Ready to engage. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDZJvYlPzp
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow9DqrJu28
THUMP! A rough shove shocks him out of his thoughts, almost knocking him over. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC47XigxuZg
“Hey—!” JumpMan eyes change into exclamation marks. “You can’t just shove!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3t7gnYPcQ1
Jacks sticks out her tongue at him. “Anya didn’t say I couldn’t shove. She said I couldn’t cheat.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm19ufWHQm
“Shoving is cheating!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPBCV6kctF
“Anya didn’t say anything. Not cheating!” She nudges him again, pushing him aside as she takes the lead. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUd1yLRGzY
“Ugh,” JumpMan grumbles. “Let’s get this over with.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYfmig39dG
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!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBoJjtDeQH
“And why don’t you?!” Jacks yells back, panting. “Just go faster!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGLPFMiK5V
“And run into the crowd? You’ll never let me back for that!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtvdm5qt6Z
Both racers glide around the final curve. The last straight path. People are screaming and cheering, their phones held high over their heads. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnoviQviBi
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw7ziH00CB
Twenty meters left. Fifteen. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4uSxX37Tt
Suddenly, HUD pops up again with an alert. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZzgFsWHC2
PROXIMITY ALERT. Engaging anti-crash system. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMrwaU23td
“Wait. Wait, no—!” JumpMan exclaims, his eyes a mix of question and exclamation marks. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLU8A5HcES
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPedX8cW88
Jacks shrieks as she’s pulled sideways. “What are you doing?!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqsNffXRnm
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—” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNUAlrLBr6
“Hurry up, before we both eat concrete!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EBS549Vf5
JumpMan eyes change into a frustrated expression. “I’m trying! This stuff takes time, alright?!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPB1Egk84H
At the last minute, stabilizers disengage, sending Jacks almost tumbling into the concrete. Almost. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MjR3F5iwC
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhlRXgVKlQ
Silence…then chaos from the crowd, people looking at each other’s footage, bets ready to be paid… 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxszG9OPPi
“It was too close, man! I can’t tell!”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM88UlDXrFK
“Replay the video!”202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEOzO05q6g
“They gotta have another one!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYna3fR99fz
“…You alright?” JumpMan asks, cocking his head to the side. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZqI54SGan
“Shut up!” Jacks snaps, “I swear, if your stupid shoes…skates—whatever they are made me lose, I swear to God!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pwdclMhiE
Anya looks between them, biting down on the lollipop and crushing it between her teeth. In between chews, she mutters. “Tie.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxFPDQUWFH
Both of their heads snap to her, eyes wide. but Jacks speaks up first, “Anya!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AdZEA22VV
“I saw video from Morales,” Anya states, pointing to one of the skaters in the crowd. “Crossed line at the same time. Tie.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnC8ct0yMV
Toye nods solemnly. “Sorry Jacks, you guys tied…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTIdicSauN
“So…” JumpMan blinks twice. “Does this mean I can come back?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot6MXgRYdH
Jacks huffs, turning her head away. She’s refusing to answer. Anya speaks for her. “I might convince her. But pay referee tax first.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOXHQYEmGv
“Referee tax?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpNQ2eKROR
“I do not work for free. Neo-Nova for me.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uOkwXsVw8
Toye immediately raises her hand. “Oh, I helped, too!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOoN065PbG
JumpMan face drops. “…We can’t be seriously extorting smoothies out of me right now.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4gdX4fzjs
Anya and Toye speed off towards downtown in excitement. JumpMan didn’t even have time to say no. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyC0gtLgwzw
Jacks tugs off her helmet and knee guards, muttering complaints and curses under her breath. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVe2afTmnRa
JumpMan drifts towards her. “You good?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYu2f41vgq
Jacks doesn’t look up. “…Why do you skate like that?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0YZokAIH8
JumpMan quirks an eyebrow. “Like what?" 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvAYzpzAnk
“Not once did I see you not looking at that stupid HUD thing you’ve got with you. Where’s your...passion?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpA7i6hhPH
“I literally do this for a living...skating. Moving. I have a passion for—” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGLDjaL4eI
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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaxUjrpzuv
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDac3rGY4g
“Hey, uh…what flavor smoothie do you want?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwUR751ooO
Jacks stops, faltering for a minute. “...You’re paying?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFd0HeBDFsY
JumpMan shrugs. “Might as well, it wouldn’t be fair to treat your friends and not you.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM57rICwv9
Jacks tucks her helmet under her arm. “...I’ll think about it on the way there.” Then she continues on her way. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbERNlglNH
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCDndPhpDT
He gives a sheepish shrug towards the skaters, before speeding off. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLzQRyuvSG
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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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYXSqrTk2k
“...Hey...you’re not going to get a smoothie?” Jacks quirks an eyebrow. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCEPdkYuai
“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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OXDGG0elu
“Oh…eugh,” Jacks winces, “...I don’t know if I should be sympathetic or disgusted...sorry I asked, I guess.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWWSIqZOHp
“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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr840Rd56W
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?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKbljYbNs0
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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xMxBPgMv5
…Silence. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCyMu4gEU7
The jingle for the local broadcast pulls them out of the conversation before it gets too personal. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuMURi4Ju0
JumpMan stares at the hologram, as a story gets his attention. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJMCzDlrJt
“Future-Pop Artist Ziaria will be partnering with Aether Corporation for Augmentation Reconstruction—" 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN9m8jsmFw
Anya’s eyes follow his. “It seems everyone wants to be clank these days.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BYe7tuJhK
JumpMan sneers, his pupils downturned semi-circles. “Using Aether tech though...?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8L6oMJclJ
“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…” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID9714nfHF
Ziara’s face pops onto the screen as she participates in the interview, virtue signaling about “connection” and “unification”. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4BSRFeE9O
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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dTBQmg4yC
JumpMan snorts. “Yeah...people that willingly become cyborgs ‘because it looks cool’ usually change their minds in a few years or so...” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcs2zDF9rC
Anya puts down her cup, raising a blonde eyebrow. “Have you changed your mind yet?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zxbT3Jfmk
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsfmnoeh1T
“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!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPcK7SCH1f
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?” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgY6UR7XpI
“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...” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4racxZec3
“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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhuj5rXJTy
Jacks picks up her skates and helmet. “…Thanks for the smoothies, J.M., but we’ve got a routine to finish up.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmZKykhD1D
“You’re welcome to come back though.” Toye offers with a gentle smile. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE63utHneEU
“Toye!” Jacks grinds out. “Stop being so—” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3ubPz0bI8
“Sorry! I really thought—” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWCdcd1YHy
Jacks lightly pushes Toye out of the store, the two young women leaving together. Anya, however, stays behind. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF3eggZjtl
“...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.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLFAD9FJet
Anya picks up her half-empty cup, ready to join her friends. “Later, clank.” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL41TjZoaWJ
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.202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDf9tEpc9x
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***202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GsHCrcXTW
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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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZR6OVxrH4
And Jacks allowed him to come back, granted he has time and/or money to spend. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYpZVqRsZm
…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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6vT9c82J7
“JumpMan! This hover tech is super expensive!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0KBk8FXfi
“This is why we tell you not to skate on concrete, you’re all scratched up!” 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoj6fW9HzK
JumpMan chuckles, shaking his head. He’s about to push off, when… 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GDuntN2vR
“JumpMan. It’s so good to see you.” It’s a feminine voice, with a slight, song-lilt, almost robotic. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPunvzFVRTl
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. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OGcj2IUfc
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Suddenly, in-between them, another figure steps out. 202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDeamslYEx
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***202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJz5gi8cY8z
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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...202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAp3LEYxzG
and then Add to home screen.