Novels2Search

Chapter 4

The classroom buzzed faintly with the hum of an old ventilation system struggling to filter the stale air. The room itself was a patchwork of salvaged tech and cracked concrete, lit by the flickering fluorescent strips overhead. The dim, flickering light panels overhead cast a faint, yellowish glow over the classroom. Kite sat at his usual spot near the front, with his worn notebook lying open on the cracked metal desk.

His multi-tool pen, a gadget he'd cobbled together from scraps, rested beside his hand. The substitute teacher, Ms. Grath, stood at the front, her frazzled appearance a testament to years of managing rowdy undercity kids. "Kite," she called out, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"What's the primary energy source for most of the undercity's systems?" Kite straightened in his chair, pushing his thoughts about the weekend aside. "Thermal generators from the core heat vents," he said confidently.

Ava, sitting next to Kite, raised her hand half-heartedly, but Ms. Grath didn't call on her. Instead, she pointed at a boy in the back row who clearly hadn't been paying attention. The boy stumbled over his words. "Uh... they, um, make heat... bad?" The class chuckled softly, and Ms. Grath sighed. "Close enough. Yes, the heat dissipation affects the undercity's climate, making it hotter and harder to maintain air circulation. Pay attention next time."

Rad, sitting two rows behind Kite, leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed. He wasn't antagonistic anymore, Kite's defense of him last week had shifted something between them, but he still carried an air of quiet defiance. He hadn't raised his hand once all morning, opting instead to observe the class with a detached gaze. The teacher launched into a discussion about basic circuitry, diagramming a rudimentary energy flow on the old holographic board. Ava nudged Kite with her elbow. "Bet you could build that with your eyes closed," she whispered, her pink eyes glinting mischievously. Kite smirked but didn't reply. He liked having Ava beside him.

She added an unpredictable energy to the classroom that made the dull lessons feel more bearable. "Kite," Ms. Grath called again, interrupting his thoughts. ‘’What happens if the capacitor in this circuit Overloads?"

He glanced at the board, scanning the diagram quickly. "It would fry the connections and create a short circuit." "Good," she replied, gesturing to him. "And how could you prevent that?"

“Add a resistor before the capacitor," Kite said automatically, his fingers tapping on his desk as though sketching the solution in his head. Ms. Grath gave him an approving look. "Exactly." Ava gave a low whistle, leaning closer. "Show-off" she teased, but her smile showed she didn't mean it.

Rad, however, sat up straighter, frowning slightly. Kite noticed but didn't think much of it. The next question came, and Rad surprised everyone by raising his hand. His movement was sharp, almost defiant, and Ms. Grath's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Yes, Rad?" Rad spoke quickly, clearly trying to beat Kite to the answer. "The diode would regulate the flow of electricity, making it more stable." Ms. Grath nodded. "That's correct. Good Work, Rad." The class murmured in surprise. Rad rarely participated, and Kite turned slightly to glance at him. Rad caught his eye and gave a small shrug as if to say, what? I know things too.

The lesson continued, and Kite answered a few more questions, each time with a mix of precision and confidence. Rad stayed quieter after his single moment in the spotlight, and Ava occasionally scribbled sarcastic doodles in her notebook to show Kite. Toward the end of class, Ms. Grath posed one final question: "What's the safest way to bypass a broken relay in a circuit?"

Kite's hand shot up first, but Rad's was a split second behind. Ms. Grath hesitated, her gaze flickering between them. She sighed and called on Rad. "Go ahead." Rad cleared his throat, his voice steady. "Uh... you could use a... uh... direct jumper wire to bypass it?" Kite opened his mouth instinctively, the real answer on his tongue, but he stopped himself. Rad's answer was wrong, overly simplistic and dangerous if applied in a live circuit. Still, Kite stayed silent, his fingers tightening around his multi-tool pen as he glanced at Ava. She raised an eyebrow, silently asking why he didn’t jump in.

Ms. Grath frowned slightly but didn’t correct Rad outright. Instead, she addressed the class. "That's one approach, but it has risks. Anyone else?"

Kite hesitated. He could easily offer the correct answer, but he caught Rad’s nervous glance in his direction. It reminded him of their silent truce, of how Rad had shifted from adversary to something closer to an acquaintance. Kite decided to let the moment pass.

When no one else raised their hand, Ms. Grath turned back to the holographic board. "The safest way would be to use a bridging circuit with an inline fuse to prevent overload. It's important to always consider safety first when dealing with live systems."

Rad's face turned red, and he sank into his seat. A few kids snickered, but the moment was brief. Ava leaned over to Kite and whispered, "Why didn’t you correct him? You know that wasn’t right."

Kite shrugged, keeping his eyes on the board. "He’s trying. Let him have his moment." Ava smirked. "Fine."

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. Chairs scraped against the floor as the students packed their things and filtered out. Rad stayed behind, lingering near the back of the room while Kite and Ava gathered their notebooks and tools.As Kite stood, he felt a hand tap his shoulder. Turning, he saw Rad standing there, his expression unreadable. "Hey," Rad said, his voice quieter than usual.

Kite raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?" Rad shifted uncomfortably, his hands shoved into the pockets of his patched-up jacket. "Thanks... for not, you know, making me look stupid back there."

Kite shrugged again; his tone casual. "It’s no big deal. You were close. You’ll get it next time." Rad’s eyes flicked away, and he gave a small nod. "Yeah... maybe." He paused, glancing at Ava, who was watching the exchange with open curiosity. "Anyway, uh... see you tomorrow, I guess." As Rad walked out, Ava crossed her arms, a sly grin on her face. "Looks like someone’s warming up to you."

Kite laughed softly, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Guess so." "Still," Ava added as they walked toward the door, "he owes you one. Bout time he stopped antagonizing you." Kite didn’t reply, but he felt a small sense of satisfaction. The undercity was a harsh place, and if he could find friends, even unlikely ones like Rad, maybe things wouldn’t feel so lonely.

The metal doors of the school creaked as Kite and Ava stepped out into the bustling chaos of the undercity. The air was heavy with the smell of ozone and machine oil, a constant reminder of the sprawling industrial world they called home. The streets were crowded with a mix of humans and chimeras, some carrying goods, others bartering or arguing in the narrow alleys. Above, tangled cables stretched across the cityscape like veins, and the distant hum of massive turbines reverberated through the air.

Kite adjusted the strap of his bag and glanced at Ava, who was already grinning mischievously. "So, Mr. Genius, saving Rad’s pride and all, what’s next on the Kite agenda?" she teased, her pink irises sparkling with amusement.

Kite rolled his eyes but smiled. "What can I say? I’m a hero to the socially awkward everywhere." Ava snorted. "Yeah, right. Don’t go getting a big head now. You’ll float away into Horizon Heights or something."

"Float away? With the air pressure down here? I’d sink like a rock." Kite shot back, and Ava laughed, the sound echoing faintly in the tight street.

They weaved their way through the crowded pathways, dodging a rusted delivery drone as it sputtered overhead. Ava smirked, side-eyeing him. "You’re too nice sometimes, you know that?"

"I could say the same about you," Kite said. "Who else would bring a total stranger up to Horizon Heights just because they looked curious?" "Fair point," Ava admitted, her grin widening. "Guess we’re both suckers for charity cases."

They walked a bit further in comfortable silence, the noise of the undercity swelling around them. Ava finally broke it. "Hey, speaking of curiosity… You got any plans for the rest of the day?" Kite glanced at her, suspicious of her tone. "Why?"

Ava slowed her pace and turned to face him, walking backward through the crowd with surprising ease. "Because I’ve got this idea," she said, dragging the word out for emphasis. "Uh-huh. And what kind of idea are we talking about here?"

Ava’s grin turned sly. "Hoverboards." Kite blinked, then stopped in his tracks. "Hoverboards?" he echoed, his voice a mix of skepticism and intrigue.

"Yeah," Ava said, spinning around to walk forward again, her tangled brown hair bouncing as she moved. "Think about it. No more trudging through these gross streets, dodging drones and stepping in who-knows-what. Just zip around above it all. Could even make it fast enough to outrun those Cybercop patrols with enough effort."

"That… sounds like a logistical nightmare," Kite said, though he couldn’t help the flicker of excitement in his voice. "Only if you’re boring," Ava shot back. "Come on, you’re the tech genius. I’ve got some spare repulsor parts from a broken delivery drone. We just need to tweak them, slap on a power core, and boom, hoverboards."

Kite frowned thoughtfully. "You’d need to stabilize the propulsion field to make it rideable. And a way to balance the weight distribution so it doesn’t flip the rider off." Ava’s grin widened. "See? I knew you’d get it. So, what do you say? Want to help me out?"

Kite hesitated for a moment, looking down at the grimy street beneath their feet. His parents had always told him to be careful about curfew, but he couldn’t deny how much the idea intrigued him. Tinkering was second nature to him, and Ava’s wild energy made it impossible not to get swept up in her plans.

"Alright," he said finally, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "But if this thing explodes, I’m blaming you." Ava whooped, throwing her arms up triumphantly. "Yes! I knew you’d say yes. Come on, let’s go grab the parts from my new place."

She took off ahead of him, her ragged clothes flapping as she darted through the crowd. Kite followed, shaking his head but unable to suppress his grin. Whatever happened next, he knew it was going to be an adventure.

The air inside the abandoned house was thick with the scent of dust, mildew, and oil. Tall metal shelves, once stacked with goods and supplies, lay overturned and scattered across the cracked concrete floor.

The worn-down streets of the undercity were a maze of metal, grime, and rusted machinery, but Ava knew every twist and turn. She led Kite down a narrow alleyway lined with half-collapsed buildings, their facades grimy with layers of soot. The air felt thick with industrial fumes and dust, the kind that settled into every crevice and made breathing feel like a chore.

The faint hum of the nearby generators, always running in the background, gave the place an almost alive feeling. Ava stopped in front of a decrepit building with crumbling walls and windows that had long since been shattered. The door, hanging off its hinges, revealed a dark, musty interior. Kite hesitated at the entrance, noticing the faint smell of mold and decay that lingered in the air.

"Here we are," Ava said, stepping inside without a second thought. "My workshop for the day" Kite followed reluctantly, his eyes adjusting to the dimness as he stepped into the interior. The building, once a family home, was now an abandoned shell, filled with the scattered remnants of a forgotten life.

Dusty orange brownish light filtered through broken windows, casting beams that illuminated the piles of discarded machinery and forgotten tech. The faint hum of distant industrial activity still echoed through the walls, a reminder of the undercity's perpetual state of decay and unrest. Ava’s footsteps echoed loudly as she made her way past another collapsed metal doorframe, the remnants of a more prosperous past that had long since vanished.

Rusty tools lay strewn across the floor, piles of scrap metal and broken electronics cluttered the corners, and the faint outline of an old, sagging couch could still be seen beneath the debris. Some of the walls had been partially stripped, exposing the exposed pipes and wiring that ran along the ceilings. Kite looked around, taking in the stark contrast to the modern, pristine home Ava had shown him in Horizon Heights.

"This place is a lot different from the one you showed me before" he remarked, his voice softer than he intended. "It's... not exactly the same vibe." Ava froze for a moment, her gaze flickering over the room before she quickly brushed off his comment.

"Had to move," she said, a vague dismissiveness in her tone. She didn't meet his eyes as she moved toward a pile of discarded parts in the corner. "This place is perfect for what we need. And besides, this old house has potential, right? Think of it as my little corner of the undercity."

‘’Did something happen?" Kite asked, raising an eyebrow. "Like... drones or-" "Both," she cut in, not meeting his eyes. "You know, the kind things that make you disappear overnight." She paused, as if debating whether to say more, but then brushed the conversation away with a wave of her hand.

"Anyway, enough of that. We've got a hover board to build." Kite didn't push it further as he looked away, feeling a flicker of unease. The undercity had a way of making people disappear, whether through corporate machinations or gang factions. He wasn't sure which was worse. He could sense the walls she had built up around that particular topic, and something about her tone made him realize it was best not to dig. Instead, he focused on the task at hand.

"Alright, fine," he said, forcing the topic change. "Let's get to it." Ava threw him a knowing glance and nodded toward a pile of broken drone parts. "Those should have most of what we need. Get the power cores out. find more repulsor parts. We need something to stabilize the hover boards. You know how it goes."

The workshop, messy as it was, was a treasure trove of parts. Shelves were lined with wires, broken drones, dismantled robots, and old, cracked motherboards. It was like walking into a tech junkyard.

Kite picked up a nearby repulsor, turning it over in his hands. "You've got a motor here, too," he noted, examining the gears and wires. "We'll need to modify this to create lift."

"Exactly," Ava said, grabbing a coil of copper wire from another pile of scrap. "I've scavenged some capacitors and resistors. Should be able to tweak the repulsor's power flow to stabilize it." Kite moved to the table, pulling his multi-tool pen out of his bag and clicking it open.

He began cutting wires, stripping insulation off copper cables, and piecing together circuits. "This will need to run at low voltage to maintain balance," he said, connecting the ends of the stripped wires and attaching the repulsor to a makeshift frame made of scavenged steel rods. Ava, meanwhile, had dug up several repulsor engines, their frames dented and scarred, but the inner components still looked promising.

‘’might be able to salvage these," she muttered to herself as she ran a hand over the fragile parts. Kite couldn't help but be impressed by how focused and quick Ava was in this environment. She was clearly in her element.

Despite the chaos of the surroundings, there was an underlying sense of purpose in the way she moved. It was the same look he often got when he was deep in a project, lost in the small details. There was something about the way they both lost themselves in their work that felt right.

But Kite’s curiosity continued to gnaw at him ‘’Did someone go after you up there?’’ Kite asked, his voice cutting through the rhythm ava had steadily built up. Ava's fingers paused, but she didn't look up from the task. "Sort of" she replied.

‘’Had a run-in with some bounty hunters who were sent after me." She finished soldering connection and tested it with a small, humming flick of electricity that made the repulsor buzz faintly. "Had to disappear before things got uglier."

Kite considered her for a moment, noting the stiffness in her shoulders and the sudden tautness in her voice. "Did they hurt you?" he asked, his tone softer than he meant it to be.

Ava shook her head, a wry smile flickering across her face. "Nah, nothing a few busted ribs and a few hours in the vent shafts couldn't fix." She glanced up at him, pink eyes narrowing in challenge.

"What, you worried about me now?" "Just making sure you didn't end up as some kind of lab rat or something," Kite shot back, trying to keep his voice light. "Sounds like something they'd do; from the rumors I hear." "Thanks for the vote of confidence," she replied, but her eyes were searching his face, as if trying to see past the rough exterior to the person beneath. "Good," she said, the edge of a smile on her lips. "Wouldn't want to have to hunt you down for leaving me hanging." "Yeah, right" Kite said, but the corners of his mouth twitched into a reluctant grin.

They worked in comfortable silence after that, moving from one component to the next, making sure everything was securely connected and insulated. Ava showed him how to adjust the repulsor's power output to create the right amount of lift, and Kite explained the logic of balancing the propulsion system to maintain stability.

The two of them worked side by side, the room filled with the hum of tools and the smell of oil and metal. Ava showed Kite some of her shortcuts, teaching him how to bypass certain system limitations and rewire connections in ways that made the tech more efficient. Kite, in turn, contributed his knowledge of energy flow and circuit design, pointing out ways to optimize the board's energy usage and stability.

It was clear that they made a great team, each playing to their strengths. “Alright," Kite said, wiping his hands on his pants as they finally attached the last pieces. "We're almost done.

Just need to test the balance and the propulsion systems." Ava stood back, surveying their work. The hover board was rudimentary, nothing like the sleek designs of the ones used in Horizon heights, but there was something satisfying about seeing their handiwork come together.

The metal frame was sturdy, reinforced with scraps and patches, while the repulsors and power cores were securely wired into place. A thin, fragile hum could already be heard coming from the board. "You think it'll work?" Ava asked, her voice tinged with excitement. "Only one way to find out," Kite said, a grin spreading across his face.

He stepped back and examined the board, his mind running through the calculations one last time. “Alright. Here goes nothing." He reached for the power switch, flipping it with a flick of his wrist. For a split second, nothing happened.

Then, with a sharp whine, the hover board vibrated beneath them. The repulsors flickered to life, a faint green glow surrounding the edges. "Whoa," Ava whispered, her eyes wide with feigned disbelief. "Did we actually...?" Before Kite could respond, the hover board lifted slightly off the ground, wobbling for a second before it steadied, hovering about six inches in the air.

The faint hum filled the room as the board hovered gently, its weight perfectly balanced. "It works," Kite said, laughing in disbelief. "It actually works." Ava and Kite’s eyes lit up with excitement, as the two stood there, basking in the success of their shared creation.

“Wanna take it for a spin?” Ava asked, her voice light but teasing, her pink-tinged eyes gleaming mischievously as she leaned against the workbench. Her smirk stretched into something almost devilish, a glint of pride shimmering in her gaze.

Kite looked down at the hoverboard they’d spent the better part of the day cobbling together. It was an amalgamation of scrounged parts, a scratched metal frame with exposed wiring, glowing repulsors they’d calibrated themselves, and a haphazard control panel held in place by sheer determination. To him, it was a masterpiece.

“Well, yea, of course! But what about you?” Kite asked, his excitement barely restrained as he ran a hand over the rough edges of their creation. He glanced up at her, his curiosity piqued. Ava wasn’t the type to let him have all the fun, and he knew she’d been suspiciously patient during the build.

Ava’s smirk widened, a playful spark in her expression as she stepped back, her bare feet padding softly across the dusty concrete floor of the workshop. “Oh, don’t worry about me,” she said, her voice dripping with mock innocence. “I’ve got something of my own.”

She spun around and skipped to a corner of the room, her movements light and almost childlike. Kite watched her, eyebrows raising as she approached a large, oil-stained tarp draped over a mysterious shape. With an exaggerated flourish, she grabbed the edge of the tarp and yanked it off, sending a small cloud of dust into the air.

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Underneath was a hoverboard, a sleek, compact design that immediately made their newly built one look like a clunky prototype. The frame was a patchwork of salvaged materials, but unlike their project, this one bore Ava’s unmistakable, newly gained craftsmanship. The edges were smooth and aerodynamic, the repulsors smaller but brighter, pulsing with a faint pink hue that matched the iridescent streaks along the sides. It looked as though it had been pieced together with care, each component thoughtfully chosen for both functionality and flair.

Kite’s jaw dropped. “You… You had that this whole time?” Ava crossed her arms, the smirk never leaving her face. “Built it ages ago,” she said nonchalantly, inspecting her nails as if she hadn’t just unveiled the coolest thing Kite had ever seen. “Figured I’d let you have your moment. Besides, it’s way more fun when we both have one, don’t you think?”

Kite shook his head, half in awe, half in disbelief. “You let me think we were building something groundbreaking, and you’ve been sitting on that the whole time?” Ava shrugged, her smirk shifting into a mischievous grin. “We were building something groundbreaking, your first hoverboard. Call it a rite of passage.”

Kite turned back to their clunky creation, suddenly seeing it in a different light. It wasn’t sleek or polished, but it was his. And he couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling in his chest at the thought of riding it for the first time. Still, he couldn’t resist a bit of mock indignation. “You could’ve told me, you know.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Ava teased, already hoisting her hoverboard under one arm. She gave it a quick pat, the soft glow of the repulsors intensifying for a moment as if the board itself were eager to take off. “Now, are you gonna stand there whining, or are we gonna ride?”

Kite’s grin matched hers, but he hesitated slightly, glancing down at his board. It was bulkier, less refined, but it had a rugged charm he couldn’t help but feel proud of. He flipped the switch again, and the soft whine of the repulsors filled the room. With a deep breath, he stepped onto the platform, his legs wobbling slightly as the board hovered beneath him.

“Oh, we’re riding,” he said, his eyes alight with determination. “But don’t think you’re leaving me in the dust, Ava.”Her laughter echoed through the workshop as she stepped onto her board, the glow of its engines illuminating her mischievous expression. Already gliding in lazy circles around him. “Better keep up, rookie,” she said with a wink, as she glided toward the door. “I’d hate to have to come back and rescue you.”

Kite rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress the thrill coursing through him. “We’ll see about that,” he muttered, stepping onto his own board and feeling it lift beneath him. This was it, the start of something incredible. And he wasn’t about to let Ava outshine him.

Ava shot him a mischievous look and with that, she leaned forward, her hoverboard accelerating smoothly as she darted out into the open alley. “Hey, wait up!” Kite called, fumbling for a moment before finding his rhythm. He leaned into the board, and it surged forward, the rush of wind hitting his face as he followed her out into the labyrinthine streets of the undercity.

The alley was a blur of rusted pipes and flickering neon signs as they weaved through the narrow passageways. Ava moved like she was born on the board, her body fluid and relaxed, barely needing to shift her weight to navigate tight corners and sudden obstacles. Kite, on the other hand, was more cautious, focusing intently on staying balanced as he tried to match her pace.

“Not bad, Kite!” Ava called over her shoulder, her voice carrying above the hum of the boards. “But you’re gonna have to do better than that!”

“Oh, you’re on!” Kite shot back, his competitive side kicking in. He leaned harder into the board, his speed increasing as he began to close the gap between them. The thrill of the ride overtook his nerves, and for the first time, he felt the freedom Ava had been talking about.

They burst out of the alley into a wider street, where a few startled undercity denizens glanced up from their makeshift stalls. Kite barely noticed, his focus locked on Ava as she pulled a sharp turn, heading toward a series of stacked shipping containers.

“You’re not seriously going up there, are you?” he shouted, his voice tinged with a mix of excitement and panic.

“Watch and learn!” Ava called back, her grin widening as she angled her board upward and launched herself onto the first container. The board’s repulsors flared briefly as she landed, the impact absorbed smoothly before she zipped to the next level.

Kite swallowed hard, his adrenaline spiking as he followed her lead. The makeshift ramp of debris leading up to the containers wasn’t exactly stable, but he leaned into the motion and soared upward, landing with a jolt on the first container.

“Not bad!” Ava shouted, already perched on the topmost container, her board idling beneath her. “Think you can make it all the way up here?”

“Oh, I’m coming for you!” Kite yelled, his confidence surging as he ascended the stack, one level at a time. By the time he reached her, his chest was heaving, but the exhilaration on his face matched hers.

“See?” Ava said, her tone smug but playful. “Told you it wasn’t so hard.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kite replied, brushing off her comment as he caught his breath. He glanced around, taking in the view. From the top of the containers, they had a clear line of sight over the undercity, a sprawling, chaotic expanse of rusted buildings, glowing neon, and endless shadows.

For a moment, the two of them stood in silence, the hum of their boards the only sound. “This…” Kite began, his voice soft. “This is amazing.”

Ava nodded, her smirk fading into a more genuine smile. “Told you it’d be worth it. Up here, it’s like the city doesn’t own you anymore. Just you and the sky.”

Kite glanced at her, the soft pink glow of her board casting faint light across her face. “Thanks for this, Ava,” he said earnestly. “I never thought I’d ever get to experience something like this.” Ava shrugged, but there was a warmth in her eyes. “What are friends for?”

With that, she tilted her board downward, preparing for another dive. “Race you to the bottom!” she called, her smirk returning full force as she shot off the edge like a streak of neon light. Kite grinned, adrenaline pumping through his veins.

The wind whipped through her hair, the glow of her board leaving a faint pink trail behind her. Kite hesitated only for a heartbeat before he followed “Oh, it’s on!” He shouts, kicking his board into gear and plunging after her. The undercity rushed up to meet him, a chaotic mix of industrial grime, glowing advertisements, and looming shadows.

“Catch me if you can!” Ava’s voice echoed above the din of the city below, playful and teasing. She wove through the air with a natural ease, banking sharply to avoid a towering vent stack and diving under a hanging catwalk. Her movements were fluid, almost effortless, as though she was born for this kind of freedom.

Kite, on the other hand, was still finding his balance. His hoverboard wobbled slightly as he followed her, but his determination pushed him forward. He leaned into the turns, adjusting his stance and grip, and found himself grinning as he began to close the gap between them.

“You call this a race?” he shouted, his voice carried by the wind as he surged forward. Ava glanced back over her shoulder, her eyes sparkling mischievously. “You’re gonna have to do better than that, slowpoke!”

She led him into a narrow alleyway, the space so tight that the edges of their boards nearly scraped the walls. Kite’s heart pounded as he ducked under a hanging pipe, barely missing it by inches. Ava, ahead of him, laughed and banked hard to the right, shooting out into an open plaza that was alive with the glow of neon signs and the hum of street vendors peddling their wares.

The plaza was a sprawling expanse of cracked pavement and makeshift market stalls. Bright holograms advertised everything from synthetic food to illegal augments, their light casting an otherworldly glow over the gathering crowd. Kite caught sight of Ava zipping through the open space, weaving between pedestrians and discarded crates with ease.

“Come on, Kite!” she called over her shoulder, her laughter ringing clear. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of a little crowd!”

“Not a chance!” Kite yelled, leaning forward to pick up speed. He swerved around a vendor shouting about half-priced neural implants, his board skimming dangerously close to a cart piled high with scrap metal.

Ava darted toward the far side of the plaza; her board glowing brighter as she pushed its limits. She glanced back again, her expression one of pure delight. Kite was closer now, his determination and growing skill evident in the way he maneuvered through the chaos.

The finish line, as Ava had silently decided, was a flickering streetlamp at the edge of the plaza. She shot toward it with a burst of speed, the wind rushing past her ears. Kite, catching on to her plan, gritted his teeth and pushed his board harder.

The hum of the repulsors grew louder, and he felt the vibration beneath his feet intensify as he closed the gap. In the final stretch, they were neck and neck, their boards almost touching as they raced toward the lamp. Ava’s laughter mixed with Kite’s exhilarated shout as they both reached out, straining to be the first to cross the imaginary finish line.

At the last second, Ava let out a triumphant cry as her fingertips brushed the lamp post just ahead of Kite’s. She skidded to a stop, her board spinning slightly as she turned to face him with a victorious grin.

“Beat you by a hair!” she declared, her pink irises practically glowing with excitement. Kite rolled to a stop beside her, panting but grinning just as widely. “Only because you had a head start,” he said, his tone teasing. “Next time, I’m wiping that smirk off your face.”

Ava shrugged; her expression smug. “Sure, you will, rookie. But you’ve got a long way to go before you’re as good as me.”

Despite her taunts, there was a glimmer of pride in her eyes as she looked at him. Kite might have been new to this, but he had kept up, and that was saying something. For a moment, they stood there, catching their breath and basking in the adrenaline rush of the race.

The plaza buzzed with life around them, but in that moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world. Ava reached out and lightly punched Kite on the arm. “Not bad for your first time, though. I might even let you win next time.”

“Yeah, right,” Kite shot back, rolling his eyes but unable to hide his grin. “You’d never let me hear the end of it.” “You’re learning,” Ava said with a wink. She hopped off her board, its glow dimming as it powered down, and glanced around the plaza. “Alright, let’s grab some food before we head back. Racing works up an appetite, doesn’t it?”

Kite nodded, his stomach growling in agreement. “Lead the way, champ. But don’t think this is over. I’m winning the rematch.”

Ava smirked, slinging her board over her shoulder. “We’ll see about that, Kite. We’ll see.” Ava led the way into the bustling heart of the plaza, her hoverboard slung casually over her shoulder, its faint pink glow fading like a cooling ember.

Kite followed closely; his own board tucked under his arm. The air buzzed with the overlapping sounds of shouting vendors, the hum of machinery, and snippets of conversation from the crowd. Neon signs and holographic projections painted the cracked pavement in vibrant shades of blue, green, and orange.

Ava stopped in front of a food stall that looked like it had been cobbled together from scrap metal and salvaged parts. The vendor, a wiry old man with mechanical hands and glowing yellow eyes, was grilling synthetic meat skewers over a makeshift burner. The smell of spices and charred protein filled the air.

“Two skewers,” Ava said, tapping a chipped Teca-stick against the counter. The vendor nodded and handed over the food, the skewers wrapped in a thin, waxy paper. Ava tossed one to Kite, who caught it awkwardly but grinned as he peeled back the wrapper.

“Best in the plaza,” Ava said, already taking a bite of hers. “Trust me.” Kite hesitated, eyeing the synthetic meat with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. He took a cautious bite, and his eyes widened. “Whoa, this is actually good,” he said, his voice muffled around the mouthful.

“Told you,” Ava replied, her words slightly garbled as she chewed. She leaned against a nearby stack of crates, her free hand gesturing toward the bustling scene around them. “This is what I like about the plaza. No matter how messed up the undercity is, places like this remind you there’s still life, you know? People just trying to survive, same as us.”

Kite glanced around, taking in the sights and sounds with fresh eyes. There were kids darting between stalls, laughing as they chased each other. A street performer juggled glowing orbs while a small crowd clapped and cheered. A man with a patchwork coat was haggling over a pile of spare parts, his animated gestures making Kite chuckle.

“It’s… different,” Kite admitted, leaning beside her. “Most of the time, the city feels like it’s out to get you. But here, it’s like…” He struggled to find the words, then shrugged. “It’s like people are actually living.”

Ava nodded, finishing the last of her skewer and tossing the stick into a nearby trash compactor. “Exactly. Gotta hold on to places like this. They’re rare.” She turned to Kite, her expression softening. “And hey, not bad for your first night out on a board. You didn’t even crash once.”

“Barely,” Kite said with a sheepish grin. “Thought I was gonna eat pavement a couple of times.”

Ava laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Well, you survived. That’s what matters.” She glanced up at the towering structures surrounding the plaza, their jagged silhouettes outlined by the faint glow of the upper city far above. “But don’t get too comfortable. The undercity’s not always this forgiving.”

Kite followed her gaze, the weight of her words sinking in. The undercity was a place of harsh contrasts, moments of wonder like this one, surrounded by ever-present danger. But for the first time in his life, he felt like he belonged somewhere that wasn't his home.

“Thanks, Ava,” he said quietly, his voice almost lost amid the noise. “For everything.” She looked at him, her pink irises catching the light from a flickering neon sign. “Don’t get all mushy on me, Kite,” she teased, though her tone was light. “We’re practically fam now. And out here? Family sticks together.”

“Got it,” Kite said with a nod, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Ava waited a moment longer with a smile before pushing off the crate and stretching her arms over her head. “Alright, enough standing around. Let's get you home before someone decides to swipe our boards.

Kite frowned, his shoulders sagging slightly. He wasn’t ready to leave just yet. Spending time with Ava was the highlight of his day, and the thought of going home felt like cutting the fun short. Ava, ever perceptive, caught the change in his expression.

"Hey," she said, her voice softer now, stepping closer to him. "You’ve got two parents waiting for you, Kite. They're probably already worried." Her pink irises glimmered with a gentle warmth; their usual mischievous edge replaced with understanding.

Kite sighed, looking down at his scuffed shoes. "Yeah, I know you’re right," he admitted reluctantly, his voice low.

Ava smiled warmly; her usual smirk replaced by something softer. Without a word, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Kite froze for a second, not expecting the gesture, but quickly relaxed, leaning into the embrace.

"We’ll hang out more tomorrow," Ava said, her tone filled with certainty. Kite hesitated, pulling back just enough to look at her. "You promise?"

Ava hugged him tighter, as if to banish any doubt. "I promise, Kite. You’re stuck with me, whether you like it or not." Kite's heart skipped a beat, a warmth spreading through his chest.

He couldn’t help but smile, a genuine, wide grin that he didn’t often wear. He held onto her for a moment longer, savoring the rare feeling of connection before they both stepped back. "Okay then," Kite said, his smile lingering as he glanced at her.

Ava’s smirk returned in full force as she stepped back, activating her hoverboard with a faint hum. The neon undelights lit up her face, accentuating her playful expression. "First one to your house decides what we build next!" she declared, her voice filled with energy. Before Kite could respond, she jumped onto her board, the wind catching her messy hair as she soared off into the undercity’s night sky.

"Hey! Not fair!" Kite yelled, quickly hopping onto his own board. The engine whirred to life, and he shot forward, the exhilaration of the chase sparking his adrenaline. The two of them weaved through the labyrinth of the undercity, dodging pipes, skimming low rooftops, and soaring over narrow gaps between buildings.

Ava stayed ahead, laughing over her shoulder. "Come on, slowpoke! You want to pick the next project, don’t you?" she teased, her voice echoing through the towering structures. Kite grits his teeth, pushing his board to its limit. "Dang right!" he shouted, determination blazing in his eyes.

The streets of the undercity blurred beneath them, the neon lights casting streaks of color across their paths. The cool night air whipped past, carrying the sounds of their laughter and the hum of their boards.

As Kite closed the gap between them, the towering silhouette of his family’s run down home came into view, nestled amid the chaos of the city. Ava glanced back, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Last chance, Kite! Think you can actually beat me?"

"You bet I can!" Kite yelled, leaning forward as he pushed his board into overdrive. The finish line drew nearer, and the two of them raced neck and neck, neither willing to give an inch.

As the finish line loomed closer, Kite poured everything into his hoverboard, his body low and streamlined, his heart racing. Ava was just ahead of him, her laughter echoing over the whir of their boards.

But then, with a barely perceptible shift, she eased off the accelerator. Her hoverboard's hum softened slightly as she slowed just enough to let Kite pull ahead. The gap between them closed, and with a triumphant whoop, Kite zipped past her, crossing the "finish line" marked by the patch of dim light spilling out from the narrow alley beside his house.

"Yes!" Kite shouted, his voice brimming with pride as he hopped off his board. "I told you I could beat you!" He spun to face Ava, his grin so wide it seemed to light up the shadows around them.

Ava glided to a stop beside him, stepping off her board with an exaggerated shrug. "Guess I underestimated you, champ," she said, her smirk hiding the playful glint in her eyes.

Kite puffed up his chest, his confidence soaring. "Maybe you’re just losing your touch," he teased, stifling a laugh as he tried to sound serious. "Looks like I get to pick the next project!"

Ava crossed her arms, tilting her head as though considering his words. "Alright, alright. I’ll give it to you. Fair and square." Her tone was light, but she couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at her lips as she watched Kite’s excitement.

Kite glanced at his hoverboard, his mind already racing with ideas for what they could build together next. "We could make a grappling hook attachment! Or maybe an autopilot mode for the boards?" he suggested, his eyes lighting up with inspiration.

Ava chuckled, leaning casually against a nearby wall. "You’re getting ahead of yourself, genius. Let’s not forget whose workshop you’re borrowing."

"Borrowing?" Kite asked, feigning offense. "I think I’ve earned permanent guest privileges after this victory!" Ava laughed, the sound genuine and warm. "Yeah, yeah. Keep dreaming, Kite."

The two of them stood there for a moment, the night air settling around them. The usual sounds of the undercity, distant clanging, faint shouts, and the hum of machinery felt quieter somehow, muted in the glow of their camaraderie.

Finally, Ava straightened up, brushing a strand of messy brown hair out of her face. "Alright, champ. You better get inside before your parents send out a search party."

Kite nodded reluctantly, stepping back toward the rickety metal staircase that led to his home. But before he climbed up, he turned back to Ava, his expression softening. "Thanks, Ava. For letting me win. I mean... everything tonight."

Ava raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning. "Letting you win? Please. You just got lucky." Kite grinned but said nothing, letting her have the last word.

As Ava mounted her board, she glanced back at him, her pink irises gleaming under the dim light. "Tomorrow, same time?" "Same time," Kite said, his smile growing. "Don’t be late!"

With a nod and a smile, Ava shot off into the night, her hoverboard humming as she disappeared into the maze of the undercity. Kite watched until she was out of sight, then turned and climbed the steps to his home, his heart still racing, not from the race itself, but from the connection he felt every time they hung out.

Kite pushed open the metal door to his family’s small apartment, the hinges squealing as he stepped inside. The warm, familiar scent of spices and sizzling oil greeted him, mingling with the faint hum of machinery from the old appliances in the kitchen. He held his hoverboard tightly under one arm, his other hand brushing against the worn frame of the doorway as he stepped through.

“Kite, you’re late again!” his mother’s voice rang out from the kitchen, a mix of exasperation and relief. The clatter of a spatula against a pan followed her words, the rhythmic sound of her cooking filling the apartment.

“Sorry, Mom,” Kite called back, trying to sound nonchalant as he kicked the door shut behind him. He adjusted the hoverboard under his arm, the faint hum of its idle state barely audible. He didn’t mention the race, figuring it was better to skip over the details that might spark a lecture.

His mom appeared in the kitchen doorway, a wooden spoon in one hand, her apron dusted with flour. Her dark hair was tied back in a messy bun, and a faint sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead from standing over the stove. Despite her stern tone, her eyes softened the moment she saw him.

“You know the rules, Kite. Home before ten,” she said, pointing the spoon at him for emphasis. “The undercity isn’t safe at night, and you’re not exactly invincible.”

Kite smiled sheepishly, leaning the hoverboard against the wall by the door. “I know, I know. I just lost track of time. Ava and I were testing out the boards.”

His mom sighed, shaking her head as she turned back toward the kitchen. “That girl’s going to get you into trouble one day,” she muttered, though there was a hint of fondness in her voice. “Now wash up. Dinner’s almost ready.”

Kite followed her into the kitchen, where the cramped space was alive with the scent of freshly cooked food. The small stove was covered with pots and pans, steam rising as his mom stirred a bubbling pot of stew. The single overhead light flickered faintly, casting a warm, golden glow over the room.

As Kite washed his hands at the sink, he glanced over his shoulder. “What’s for dinner?”

“Stew and flatbread,” she replied, her tone brisk but comforting. “And don’t even think about complaining. It’s what we could afford this week.”Kite nodded, drying his hands on a threadbare towel. “I’m not complaining. It smells great.”

His mom paused, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. “You’ve been hanging out with Ava a lot lately. She keeping you out of trouble?” Kite smirked, pulling out a chair at the small kitchen table. “Ava? Trouble? Nah, never.”

His mom snorted, a wry smile tugging at her lips as she turned back to the stove. “Uh-huh. Just don’t forget you’ve got school in the morning. No staying up all night tinkering with that... new hoverboard?” Mira asks rhetorically with a raised eyebrow.

“Got it,” Kite said, though his mind was already buzzing with ideas for modifications. As he sat down, the warmth of the room and the quiet hum of the appliances filled the space. For a moment, Kite felt the weight of the undercity lift, replaced by the comforting presence of home. He didn’t mind being late tonight. It had been worth it.

The small kitchen was cozy, lit by the flickering overhead light and the soft glow of a neon sign visible through the apartment’s one window. The hum of distant machinery from the undercity outside created a faint backdrop as Kite and his parents now sat together sat at the wobbly dining table. The table was old but sturdy, its surface scratched and marked with years of use, yet it held their modest meal, a steaming pot of stew and a stack of slightly charred flatbreads.

Kite’s mom ladled another helping of stew into his dad’s bowl, her movements practiced and efficient. She sat down with a satisfied sigh, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Kite tore a piece of flatbread and dipped it into his bowl, savoring the hearty flavor. The stew was simple but warm, filled with chunks of vegetables and the occasional morsel of meat, a rare treat.

His dad, a tall man with strong, calloused hands from years of labor, leaned back slightly in his chair. His sharp eyes fixed on Kite. “So, what have you been up to at school, son?” he asked, his voice deep and steady.

Kite paused mid-bite, the question pulling him from his thoughts of Ava and their race. He shrugged, chewing quickly before answering. “Same old stuff. Math, history... they’ve been making us do a bunch of problem-solving exercises lately. It’s boring.”

“Boring, huh?” his mom said, raising an eyebrow. She reached for her cup of tea, the steam curling lazily from the chipped mug. “You’re lucky you’re getting an education, Kite. Some kids down here don’t even have that.”

“I know, Mom,” Kite replied, his tone slightly defensive. “It’s just... I don’t see how some of it helps. I mean, when am I ever gonna need to know the history of the two great Automaton wars? Ava and I learn more building stuff together than I do sitting in class.”

His dad let out a low chuckle, tearing off a piece of flatbread. “You’ve got a point there. You’ve always been good with your hands, just like your old man. But school’s about more than just the lessons. It teaches you how to think, how to problem-solve. You’ll see the value in it eventually.”

Kite nodded, though he wasn’t entirely convinced. His mom gave him a look, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “Speaking of Ava,” she said, her tone shifting. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with her. What exactly do you two get up to?”

Kite hesitated, glancing down at his stew. “Just... building stuff. Metal crafts, mostly. Sometimes other things, like gadgets or tools. She’s really smart, Mom. Smarter than most adults I know.”

His mom exchanged a glance with his dad, her expression softening. “I know she’s smart, and I’m glad you’ve got a friend like her. But you two need to be careful. The undercity isn’t forgiving, Kite. Even the brightest minds can get into trouble if they’re not careful.”

“We are careful,” Kite said, his voice firm. “Ava’s always looking out for me, and I’m looking out for her. We’ve got each other’s backs.”

His dad smiled, nodding approvingly. “That’s good to hear. Having someone you can trust down here is rare. Just don’t forget, you’ve got us too. You don’t have to take on the world alone.”

The conversation lulled as they focused on their meal. Kite took another bite of flatbread, his mind drifting back to the feeling of the wind in his hair during the races with Ava. He glanced at his parents, their faces lined with years of hard work but softened with genuine care. For all the challenges of the undercity, moments like these reminded Kite that life in the undercity wasn't always horrible.