"You just spent ten grand on something you can't even use."
Xavier's smile was sharp. "I'll watch a tutorial." His phone screen lit up, the title "Learn to Ride a Motorbike in Just 30 Seconds" glowing in the dark. But the progress bar showed 15:00.
"Even if you watch it, you can't learn without practicing!"
Xavier's thumb flicked across the screen, the video playing at 2x speed. The instructor's voice became a chipmunk squeak as Xavier absorbed every frame. When it ended, he turned to Oliver. "I can try now."
Oliver handed over the helmet, its visor flickering with the bike's HUD. "Just go to that intersection and back. Alone."
Xavier secured the helmet, the neural interface syncing instantly with his movements. The bike roared to life beneath him, responding to his touch like an extension of his body. He geared up and took off, the machine handling like he'd ridden it a thousand times before. But it was certainly his first time driving one.
Oliver thought to himself, 'Xavier is like a high end robot who can learn things immediately, as if installing software in the system.'
Xavier returned moments later, the bike purring as he killed the engine. "Easy. Your turn."
Oliver shook his head violently. "I'll pass." He climbed on behind Xavier, gripping the grab handles.
The bike's engine growled as they took off, the city blurring past. They entered a new district - the Neon Bazaar, where holographic signs flickered in the air above open-air markets. The scent of synthetic spices mixed with ozone, the streets packed with augmented vendors and glowing wares. Towering screens displayed ads for cybernetic upgrades, their light reflecting off the chrome and carbon fiber of passing vehicles.
The bike's display flashed red: LOW FUEL. RANGE: 20KM.
Xavier's fingers tightened on the handlebars. He was out of money for the day, and Oliver couldn't spend anything. They could reach Mira's, but getting back...
Oliver's voice came through the helmet's comm. "We'll talk to Mira tomorrow at the academy. If she's not there, we'll go with Kael after classes."
Oliver then told Xavier that they would talk to Mira tomorrow at the academy if she comes, otherwise, they would visit her home with Kael after academy hours.
Xavier sat on the bike, the engine still warm from their ride, his fingers drumming against the handlebars. The city's neon glow painted everything in shifting hues of blue and violet. After a moment of consideration, he turned to Oliver.
"Give me Mira's contact info from the police report," Xavier said, his voice cutting through the night air.
Oliver pulled out his phone, the screen casting a pale light across his face as he scrolled through the documents. He read off the number, and Xavier immediately dialed it on his own device.
The call connected after three rings. A woman's voice answered, hollow and lifeless as if speaking from beyond the grave. "Who is this?"
"Xavier Cross," he said, his voice steady despite the late hour. "We met during sports activities. I was with Kael that day."
A pause stretched between them, filled only by the faint static of the connection. Then Mira's voice came through, barely above a whisper: "Xavier..." Another beat of silence. "Why are you calling past midnight?"
"I want to talk about what happened to you," Xavier said, his tone measured. "Can you come to the academy tomorrow?"
The line went silent for so long Xavier checked the connection status. Then Mira's voice returned, stronger now but still carrying the weight of trauma. "I'll try." The call ended abruptly.
Xavier's vision flashed with the system notification:
[Task Completed: Talk to Victim]
He checked the time on his neural interface - barely an hour past midnight. And he was already done with the day's transaction and task.
The bike's adaptive suspension hummed softly beneath him, responding to his movements.
Xavier turned to Oliver, his eyes reflecting the bike's HUD display. "I'll drop you home."
Oliver waved a hand dismissively. "No need. I'll walk."
Xavier's voice hardened. "Get off and I won't talk to you again. And I won't think of you as a friend."
Oliver's breath hitched. He couldn't dare to get off. He rattled off his address, the bike's navigation system plotting the route instantly. Xavier revved the engine, the bike's systems responding as he took off.
The city blurred past as Xavier wove through traffic with precision. He took short and sharp turns that sent the bike leaning at impossible angles, the tires barely kissing the pavement. He performed controlled drifts around corners, the rear wheel kicking up sparks against the asphalt. Nearly missing autonomous taxis as their collision avoidance systems flashing red as they swerved.
Oliver's grip on Xavier's jacket was white-knuckled, his breath coming fast. The thrill of danger mixed with the rush of speed, his laughter ringing through the helmet's comm system. Xavier's own laughter joined his, the two of them whooping as they narrowly avoided a collision with a delivery drone.
The bike's systems flashed warnings as they pushed the limits, but Xavier ignored them, the machine responding perfectly to his touch. They were a single entity - man and machine in perfect sync.
Oliver's mansion loomed ahead, its security systems already tracking their approach. Xavier killed the engine, the bike's neural interface powering down with a soft hum. Oliver climbed off, his legs slightly unsteady. "Thanks for the ride." He hesitated. "I saw the announcement today. Tomorrow's the last day to select your academy subjects. Have you chosen yet?"
Xavier removed his helmet, his hair tousled from the wind. "I haven't decided yet."
Oliver's fingers flew over his phone screen. "There's a test tomorrow for all subjects. Take it, then pick your top three scores. I'll send you the important questions which I had prepared last year."
"Thanks." Xavier nodded. "I will check them out when I get home."
Oliver sneaked toward the mansion's side entrance, the security cameras tracking his movement. Then he was gone, swallowed by the shadows. Xavier swung back onto the bike, the city's pulse surrounding him. The night stretched ahead, full of possibility. He revved the engine once, the sound echoing through the neon-lit streets. Then he was gone, the bike's taillight disappearing into the maze of the city.
Xavier parked the bike on the tower's parking floor and went to his apartment. And then, he fell asleep while studying for the subjects.