“That’s fucking bullshit, man!” Strucka shouted as the car hurtled down the highway. He throttled the engine with his anger.

Evan grabbed the seatbelt and the car door, bracing against the acceleration. “Hey, slow down, slow down! We don’t know who did it.”

Strucka’s neck veins bulged, his face red. “But we can make a pretty damn good guess!”

“I know Domrik personally,” Evan insisted. “He doesn’t seem like the type to pull off a heist.”

“To you, he doesn’t.”

“He would have had to lie to both of us, and again, to me, that seems unlike him. I know a police officer personally, and he said he talked to Domrik, and he has no reason to suspect him. Even if he is somehow the perpetrator, you’re still innocent. You had no idea, and neither did I.”

“I know I’m innocent,” Strucka groaned, rolling his eyes. “But I just can’t afford to be implicated in any of this. I already have one felony to my name, and honestly, I got pretty lucky with that short prison sentence. It’s already hell to apply for jobs. The investigation alone for a full-blown crime is almost worse!”

Evan gazed out the window as Strucka took an exit ramp off the freeway. He couldn’t think of a productive response, so he joined in Strucka’s angry silence. What if it were true? The mere possibility was enough to get his blood pumping. Hector’s head would explode. Brandon would have been vindicated for his instinctual distrust.

He tried to push those thoughts out of his mind, but they persisted like an irritated itch. He fell back on the techniques Domrik had taught him. Feeling his body in the seat. Watching his breath. The irony was not lost on him. Maybe it’s just one big coincidence.

Mt. Speed was located kilometers from any other form of civilization, as required by hoverpark regulations. It wasn’t as much a matter of safety as it was noise pollution. Most hoverboards could be heard from over a kilometer away, racing hoverboards from half a dozen kilometers. Mt. Speed did its best to live up to its name. The hoverpark was centered around a large hill that had been covered in gray concrete and decorated in colorful advertisements. The park itself covered roughly twenty square kilometers.

The tortured chorus of hoverboard engines grew prominent over the car’s old engine as they approached. Red streaks danced over the hill’s surface. The main building complex partially obscured the artificial canyons weaving around the hill.

Strucka parked as close as he could to the main building. Evan put on his riding armor with Strucka’s help. The process was awkward, as Strucka was still fuming in silence. Evan managed to magnetize the hoverboard to the back of the armor. He held the helmet under an arm and set off toward the entrance of the main building. Strucka followed, fiddling with the settings on his wristpad.

The place echoed with electronic rock music, inside and out, with the volume just below the level of discomfort. The gift shop featured the latest hoverboard-themed apparel. The restaurant on the second floor was called Blazin’ Dave’s. Evan navigated to the hardware shop near the back of the building to check in. The glass windows facing the park vibrated with the droning engine roars. He wondered how often those windows shattered from sheer vibrational intensity.

He saw the initial spark of recognition in the clerk’s eyes as he approached. He felt a pang of guilt. What had he done to deserve such recognition? He just wanted to be a regular person for once. The toss of a coin could determine if his first impression on the next stranger he met was genuine. He didn’t like those odds. He was glad he broke through that barrier with Strucka. It wasn’t too difficult to find common ground with common pain.

“Welcome to Mt. Speed!” the clerk, Markos, said with a smile.

“Hi,” Evan awkwardly, almost adding, Please don’t give me a discount.

“You look ready to rock’n’roll,” Markos observed, checking the projection to his left. “We have plenty of slots open today if that’s what you’re looking for.”

“Yeah, just for an hour or two,” Evan replied. He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder at the hoverboard magnetized to his back. “Custom gear is allowed, right?”

Markos eyed the gear with a hint of surprise. “Sure, as long as you follow the rules and safety protocols, we won’t have a problem. Have you ridden here before?”

“First time.”

“Alright, we keep things straightforward here.” Markos counted on his fingers. “Rule number one: The speed limit is six hundred fifty kilometers per hour. Racing is permitted, but this is not a professional arena. First violation of this rule gets you a warning from the Safety Guards. Second violation gets you a two-hundred shard fine and a three-month ban from the premises. Clear?”

Evan nodded.

“Rule number two,” Markos continued, making a wide circle with his finger, “You must stay within the perimeter at all times. We do not have an altitude limit, but most riders prefer that sweet ground effect for that extra speed and efficiency. Violations behave identically to those of rule number one, yes?”

“Got it.”

“Rule number three: No physical contact with other riders while moving over fifty kilometers per hour. I don’t care if you’re fighting or giving friendly fist-bumps. We’ve seen serious accidents even with riders using stabilization. If the Guards catch you, you’re out for the next week, plus extra if there was resulting injury. You don’t wanna end up like my boy Androy. Damned shame, banned from the League for five years and is at risk of losing his sponsor.” He opened a drawer and retrieved a red wristband. He held it out for Evan to take. “Before I explain rule number four, I need to introduce you to our tracking bands.”

Evan held it in his hand as Markos continued. “Rule number four: Tracking bands must be worn at all times, as that’s how we know where you are and how fast you’re going. Remove the band from your wrist while riding, and you’ve earned yourself a year-long ban from Mt. Speed. Not ideal. Not worth it. Believe me.” He leaned in, put a hand next to his mouth, and spoke in a hushed voice. “I’m speaking from experience.”

That got a smile out of Evan. “Understood.” He gestured to Strucka. “He’s with me. Is he allowed to be out there with me? My gear is a work-in-progress, and he’s the engineer.”

“We have pedestrian zones carved into the landscape, including the one that borders the perimeter. He will need to keep within those boundaries, which means he will also need a tracking band. Same rules apply.”

“Great,” Strucka said with a chuckle. “I’ll be careful not to break the speed limit.”

Markos played along with a laugh. “Oh yes, we’ll keep a close eye on you sir! Between you and me, you have no idea how much money I’d pay to see that.” He peered down over the counter. “You got artificial legs or something?”

Strucka shuffled nervously side to side. “Heh, not yet.”

Markos refocused on Evan. “Excellent, so how long do you plan on riding today? If you’re unsure, we can log your time when you return. Our morning rate is thirty shards an hour. We track time down to the minute, so any unused minutes will go towards your next visit.”

Evan thought for a few moments. “Two hours is good enough for now.”

“Two hours it is,” Markos noted, working with the projection. “The Guards will notify you when you have fifteen minutes remaining, and you can always opt to extend your stay at the same hourly rate.”

Evan paid and signed the liability waiver with his thumbprint. Strucka rented a headset, both for communication with Evan and protection of his hearing.

“One more rule,” Markos said as he pointed toward the back windows. “Take-off and landing are prohibited inside the pedestrian zones, for everyone’s safety. If your Aetherite starts running low, we have an outdoor vendor who can hook you up in a pinch. And for the super-secret final rule…” He gave them a double thumbs-up. “Have a blast!”

“Got it!” Evan replied in kind. “Thanks, man.”

He took off an armor gauntlet, slipped on the wristband, then replaced the gauntlet. Strucka fiddled with the position of the headset mic as they walked toward the back entrance. He muttered under his breath, “Is it ironic that a place called Mt. Speed has a speed limit?”

Evan shook his head. “Nah, the limit’s the highest of all the others.”

The back doors slid open as they approached. Evan stood to the side as a group of four riders walked through. Their rental armor was worn, and their hoverboards were magnetized to their backs. He could feel on his face the residual heat emanating from the hoverboards from two meters away. Evan put on his helmet and led Strucka through the door.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“That’s not technically true,” Strucka said, speeding up to walk next to him. “You see, this hoverpark is considered a casual park. Competitive parks exist, though the nearest one is about a hundred kilometers away. Burnout Canyon has a speed limit of seven hundred twenty-five.”

"No way? What are the rates there?"

"You wouldn't be interested. A hundred shards an hour, and you'd need to prove your skill level."

"Good call on that one." He tapped his helmet. "Hey, you got comms working?"

"Yep, using my wristpad as a relay for the headset. As long as you don't leave the perimeter, we should have a stable connection."

"Good, 'cause I have a feeling we'll need it," Evan said as he scanned the expanse of concrete. Riders whizzed this way and that, never coming too close to risk collision. Most stayed within a few meters of the ground, but some ventured higher. A circle of riders hovered high in the air, most likely a relay team meeting. The booming music was barely audible with the blaring engines so close.

Safety Guards were stationed at regular intervals around the perimeter, each with their own hoverboard. Evan zoomed his vision on the nearest one. His hoverboard had racing heatsinks and extendable wing mods. There was no outflying him.

Evan crossed a collection of scorch marks within the pedestrian zone. He wondered how often they enforced that rule. Markos hadn't mentioned the violation penalty. Evan decided now was not the time to find out. He crossed the boundary line and set his board down where the concrete had been burnt soot black. He wondered how the concrete came to look like that, since Aetheric exhaust didn't produce soot.

"Step one." He mounted the board and activated the electromagnets in the armor's feet. He was instantly secured. "Check. You got the data stream?"

"Affirmative," Strucka replied.

"I like your professional attitude. Step two!" He powered up the board after making sure all thrust settings were set to zero. "Power module on and idling."

"On the plus side, because our board is simpler than most others, we have a split-second start-up sequence," Strucka observed. "It might even be a world record."

"Not a record to brag about, honestly," Evan said. "Let's get this thing airborne."

He turned on stabilization and throttled the downward-facing engines. Red flames fanned out on the ground as they screamed to life. He lifted up. He settled at three meters in height and glanced around, making sure he wasn't in anyone's way. He grit his teeth. "I'm also in the running for the loudest engines."

"We expected that. Premium metals would be quieter. How does height control handle?"

He tested raising and reducing altitude. "Good response, almost too good."

"We can calibrate the controls later. You using full-hand controls?"

"Oh hell no, man. Just my thumb for today. Pro controls take months to master."

"Just curious. How's your manual flying?"

"Good enough to disable stabilization, see?" He swayed back and forth, getting the feel of the board's weight. He checked the metrics. "Temps look good, thrust is nice and clean. Damn, I didn't think we'd get this far this soon!"

"We're looking good for speed testing," Strucka said, matching his excitement.

"Right, here we go!" Evan bent into a lunge and grabbed the nose of the board with one hand. A standard racing pose. "Time to make a sonic wake."

"We'll start at ten KPH," Strucka stated, unamused. "We are not blowing up this project within the first ten minutes."

"Relax, relax, I'm not that reckless. Ten kilos. Crawl along beside me."

They spent the next half-hour testing acceleration and deceleration. He gained the attention of a few spectators during that time, some of them riders. They were curious about his project, and while he appreciated the support, he hoped they didn't recognize his voice. He used "E" as his comms ID, so he was sure his anonymity was preserved. Strucka jogged along the perimeter, ignoring the other pedestrians.

The hoverpark grew more crowded as the day drew on. He wasn't comfortable with the increased attention either, so he decided he was going to do a lap around the mountain and call it a day.

He set off at fifty KPH. He aimed toward a shallow ramp and let the auto-height adjustment propel him into the air. He used the descent to accelerate to one hundred KPH, whooping as he went. He took an entrance to a shallow canyon, navigating its dips and curves with caution. He dared to boost his velocity to one hundred fifty at the exit of the canyon. He heard Strucka’s concerned voice saying something about the temps and his speed, but he didn’t care.

This was freedom. This was his board, his work, and his speed. He was going to enjoy it while it lasted.

Once halfway around the mountain, he got a strange feeling of being followed. He glanced behind him and saw nobody, yet the feeling remained. He dove into another canyon and took it all the way to the end. When he came out, he saw a rider flying parallel to him.

His back was facing Evan. He wasn’t wearing armor. In fact, the hoverboard wasn’t even running. How was he staying airborne?

Then Evan recognized the black hair. The coat remained untouched by the whipping wind. An Aetheric blade extended from one of the arms.

Tingles shot down Evan’s legs as they trembled with weakness. Zandith turned his head slowly to reveal a threatening eye. He leaned gently toward Evan, bringing their paths closer together. Terror constricted Evan’s throat even as he gaped in a silent scream. Zandith leapt off his hoverboard, smiling with vicious glee, and plunged the shimmering blade into Evan’s abdomen.

Evan’s legs collapsed as pain shot through his torso. His hoverboard wavered and wobbled underneath him. He tumbled backward, his hand reaching out for help that would not come. Just before his back hit the ground, the armor activated its safety jets. He was flung forward and came face-to-face with the speeding ground. The front thrusters activated with less than a half-meter of clearance.

His hoverboard wasn’t so intelligent. It clanged off the pavement and jerked free of the armor’s magnetic grip. The collision sent Evan into a spinning tumble. He squeezed his eyes shut, certain he was moments away from meeting his end. The armor’s safety thrusters flared and spasmed as they tried to correct for his spin and keep him from hitting the ground. Something hard collided with the back of his hand, then his leg jerked from an impact. The rapid changes in orientation combined with the unpredictable thrusts made him feel nauseous.

The movements and rotations slowed after what felt like a minute. Then the thrusters stopped. He fell to the concrete, the metal screeching in protest as he ground to a halt. He lay there on his back, stunned. Engines roared around him as usual. The upbeat rock music still echoed across the hoverpark.

As his heartbeat slowed, he noticed a distressed voice yelling into his ear.

“Come on, talk to me, bro. What happened? You stopped three kilometers away! Don’t tell me I gotta come over there. I don’t do cardio.”

Strucka droned on as Evan put a concerned hand over his abdomen. The pulsing pain was already fading away. His limbs ached from the abuse, although nothing felt broken. He had a new appreciation for riding armor. They not only saved lives, they saved the entire hoverboard industry. He had just become another living example.

A rider landed next to him. He opened his eyes. It was a Safety Guard.

“You still alive, speeder?” the Guard asked. “That was a rough fall. I can take you to the medical building if you need it.”

“I think I’m good,” Evan said, waving him away. “I just need to catch my breath. That landing knocked the wind out of me.”

“No, you’re not going free that fast,” the Guard warned. “We need to check for fractures. You still have adrenaline pumping.”

“Did you catch him?”

“Catch who?”

“The guy who attacked me.”

Evan saw the Guard look around before uttering his uncertain response. “Nobody attacked you. Nobody was near when you fell.”

“Seriously?”

“We get everything on video. I can bring up the replay.”

Evan closed his eyes and exhaled. “No, it’s fine.”

“Is that a custom board you were riding? I haven’t seen anything like it.”

Evan twisted gingerly off the ground, grunting in his efforts to stand to full height. His legs had regained most of their strength. “Yes, it’s a work-in-progress. Probably more so now.”

“Cool, but hey, I need you to remove your helmet. I need to get an ID for the daily incident report. Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble. We just need to keep track of shit that happens.”

Evan groaned. There was no way around it. He unlatched his helmet and removed it. He squinted with the new sun exposure.

The Guard was silent for a moment. “Evan Norallis? I thought I recognized that voice.” He took off his own helmet.

He looked vaguely familiar to Evan, but he couldn’t nail him down. “Yes, and you’re… uh…”

“Alek,” he said, extending his fist. “We met at Inspira Hospital. I was one of your security guards.”

“That’s right,” Evan replied, bumping metal fists.

“I didn’t expect to see you out here so soon.”

“Yeah, well I had help,” Evan said, glancing in Strucka’s general direction. In the distance, a cart approached.

A feminine voice called out from behind him. “Hey, who’s hunk’a junk is this?”

Evan turned to find another rider approaching them. She carried his battered hoverboard in both arms while her own was mounted on her back. He put his hand up to block the sun. “You saw that too, huh?”

“Oh, believe me, your blunder wasn’t private,” she said as she laid the board on the ground in front of him. She put her hands on her waist and seemed to stare from within her helmet. “So Evan Norallis has graced the scene. Working on the next big invention?”

Evan tried his best not to sound frustrated. “Just working on a passion project.”

“Mm-hm, can’t wait to see what comes of it.”

Alek leaned in. “She’s jealous.”

“Am not!”

“She’s lying.”

“Alek, you fucker!”

Evan looked at her. “Who is she?”

She started taking off her helmet while Alek grabbed his shoulder and introduced her. “Ah, today you have been unfortunate enough to meet my girlfriend, Adrana.”

She shook her dyed red hair free of her armor and smiled. Intelligent blue eyes beamed over freckled cheeks. She held out her hand. “Soon-to-be professional hoverracer and hobbyist daredevil extraordinaire.”

“Pleasure,” Evan said as they shook hands.

Alek looked behind Evan. “Oh, hey, this is your project!”

Strucka stepped out of the cart and rushed over to Evan. “Thank god, you’re okay. You scared me there, man. You didn’t respond. I thought you might be dead!”

Evan put a hand up to calm him. “I’m not, I’m fine. Alek’s gonna take me to get checked out to make sure nothing’s broken.”

Strucka met Alek’s gaze and they clapped each other’s hands in a rough handshake. Evan picked up his hoverboard and examined it while they caught up. It was in better condition than he thought, but worse than he’d hoped. One of the heatsinks was bent out of place, and the nose of the hoverboard had a big dent. He didn’t want to risk starting it up to test its responses. At least the auto-turnoff mechanism still worked.

Adrana swung her head around, stretching her neck. “This was fun here, fellas, but the adrenaline’s starting to wear off. I’ll be back to riding. Have a good one!”

As Evan carried the hoverboard to the cart, Strucka walked next to him. “Hey, so what happened? The temps were in the orange, but I didn’t see anything out of place when you fell.”

Evan frowned, trying to come up with a coherent explanation that wouldn’t make him sound crazy. “I think I know what happened.”

He gave Strucka a hard look, silencing his follow-up query.