Experiment 7: Youngsters

"Come on, Eve! You need to hurry up!" Rika cheered as she run freely at the wide open park.
Eve, followed Rika's lead as they played tag, laughing softly try to catch up on her along with Piz.

As the two and Piz continue playing outside at the open park surrounding by the skyscrapers and the sky almost covered by the cars and drones suddenly a loud WHOOSH  interrupted their play.

Piz barked looking up, Rika followed then yelped seeing a teenage boy came falling from the sky, crashing into a soft patch of bushes.
Eve blinked. "Is he supposed to fall like that?"
"Probably not." Rika replied

The boy groaned as he crawled out brushing away the leaves on him but his messy hair stood up the most. He had a cocky grin despite the failed landing. "Nailed it!"

"You nailed the ground." Rika shot back.

"Who are you?" Eve asked plainly.

The boy puffed out his chest. "Name's Leo Volt! Future champion of the Sky Skate Championship!" He said with full confidence proudly.

"The Sky Skate Championship? Really?" Rika questioning.
"What is that?" Eve tilted her head to Rika.
Before Rika could say anything, Leo already let a snorted.
"You don't know about Sky Skate?" He said. "It literally one of the coolest and popular sports ever! Even most kids your age knew about this."

"I know." Rika said. "But I don't care, although others at my school keep talking about it."

Leo adjusted his hover skates and turned to Rika and Eve with confident smirk. "Alright, prepare to witness greatness! This is how pro does it!"
He kicked off from the ground, the skates gives a surprise speed, Leo shot up into the air, twisting and spinning before landing in perfect hovered mid air. "How's that?" He grinned.

Rika clapped politely. "Not the same as I've seen in TV, but that was cool, I guess."
Eve on the other hand, show a rare sight of being amazed.

Leo, seeing this started getting more ahead of himself. He purposely clear his throat then gestured at his hover skated. "These bad boys are top tier floating gear, powered by a magnetic field generator and AI balancing tech. They make you feel light and fly like a bird!"

This make Eve more interested of the Sky skates. "Can I try?"

Leo blinked. "These are serious gear, kid. Not a toys."

"Eve is awesome, you just scared that an eight years old is better than you, right?" Rika said with a smug.
"Eight?" Eve tilt her head.
"Hm?" Rika look at her back confused. Eve doesn't remember ever telling her age.

"Whatever, you see, I don't want to waste my time argue with kids. I'm gonna head off now." He smirk then flew off with the sky skate shoes.
Both, Rika and Eve looking up seeing him go freely in the sky. But suddenly, when Leo already far up, Piz detected something wrong and barking many times alerting them.
"What's wrong Piz?" Eve asked then she turn to look up again.

Rika raised and eyebrow. "Is that a smoke?"

Then again, Leo struggle at the sky gathering his balanced before falling to the ground.

Leo groaned. "Ouch, that hurts..."

They ran towards him.

Leo rubbing the back of his neck as he inspected the damage to his sky skates. A faint crack ran along the propulsion panel, and the hover under the soles only let a fait breeze. "Great. Just great," he muttered, crouching to get a closer look. "These are top-of-the-line! Do you know how long it's gonna take to get these fixed? And it’s gonna cost me a fortune!"

Rika leaned over Eve shoulder, smirking looking Leo state. "Maybe stop landing in the bushes next time, pro."
Leo shot her a glare. 

Eve, standing quietly nearby, tilted her head at the broken skates. "If it’s broken, why not ask someone who can fix it?"
Leo sighed dramatically. "Oh, great idea, kid! Let me just summon a tech wizard out of thin air!"

Eve blinked, unfazed. 'Leia can fix it."
“Leia?" Leo frowned. "Who’s that?"

"She’s my... uh..." Eve hesitated, looking at Rika briefly before finishing, "She’s a scientist. She builds things. Like Piz!"
The dog jumped, barking excitedly when getting mentioned.

Leo raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "A scientist? What kind of scientist?"
"The smart kind," Eve said.

Rika’s eyes lit up. "Wait, you mean your mom?"

Eve nodded once.
Leo crossed his arms. "No offense, but this isn’t some cheap toy. This is high tech gear. No random scientist is gonna know how to fix-"

“Leia’s not random," Eve interrupted, frowning, her voice flat

Eve nodded again. "She can fix anything."

Leo stared at her, still doubtful, but the look in Eve’s eyes made him pause. "...Fine," He muttered, slinging the broken skates over his shoulder. "But this just because I'm desperate for it to get fix, if she messes this up, you owe me."

Eve blinked. "I don’t owe you anything."
Rika burst out laughing as Leo sighed. "Great, I’m putting my precious skates in the hands of a mystery scientist."

Eve simply turned and started walking. "Follow me."

Leia opened the door, a soft smile on her face. "Eve, Rika, did you have fun at the-" Her words caught in her throat when she saw the teenage boy standing awkwardly behind them, looking completely out of place. "...What did I told you about bringing stranger to our house,"

Eve, as calm as ever. "This is Leo. He fell from the sky."
Leia froze, confused. "Excuse me?"

"It’s true!" Rika chimed in with a big grin. "He was training for some fancy sky skate competition and, well, crash! Right into the ground."

Leia raised an eyebrow at Leo.
"I didn’t crash okay? It just.... The wind." He said.

Leia sighed, folding her arms. "And now you’re here because...?"
"My sky skates are broken," Leo admitted, holding them up for her to see. "This little girl said you’re some kind of genius who can fix stuff."

Eve nodded. "You can fix it."

Leia glanced at the damaged skates, tilting her head slightly. "Those look like a custom model... pretty expensive."
Leo nodded. "They were a gift from my dad. I don’t usually let anyone touch them, but... I’m kind of desperate."
“I see.." Leia replied, her tone neutral while scanning the shoes.

Still hesitant, Leo held the skates closer to his chest. "But, uh... no offense, ma’am, these are top grade tech. I don’t think just anyone-"
Leia interrupted, her voice calm but with a hint of humor. "I’m not just anyone. I was part of the team that designed those sky skates eight years ago."

Leo froze, his jaw dropping slightly. "W-what? You worked on these?"
Leia gave a faint smile, leaning against the doorframe. "I was part of the research and development team back then. I’m familiar with every part of their design."

Rika gasped dramatically. "No way! Eve, your mom’s so cool!"

Eve blinked, looking up at Leia. "You made these?"

Leia gave her a small nod. "Partly." She glanced back at Leo, who was now clutching the skates. "Do you trust me enough to let me fix them, or are you going to keep hugging them?"

Leo blinked, flushing slightly. "Uh... yeah, okay. Please fix them."

Leia held out her hand, and after a moment of hesitation, Leo reluctantly handed over the skates. 
"Relax," Leia said lightly, stepping inside. "I’ll take good care of them. Come on in, it's not always I allowed strangers inside my house."

All three of them followed Leia into the house. But not Piz, he's been staring at something from far corner across the house.
Piz lingered near the door with his mechanical ears perked up, scanning the surroundings. Something across the street caught his sensors, he detected a slight movement.

With a low mechanical whirr, Piz turned and padded silently toward the shadowy figure. His glowing eyes narrowed as he approached.

There, half-hidden behind a streetlamp, was a girl around Leo's age. She had a scrappy, rebellious look, her arms crossed as she stared at Leia’s house. Her sharp eyes widened slightly when she noticed the robot dog approaching.
"What the-" She muttered, stepping back as Piz stopped a few feet away, tilting his head curiously.

The girl raised an eyebrow. "What's up Robo dog?"

Piz let a short but loud barked. His tail wagged slightly, but his sensors remained on high alert.

"Alright, alright, I get it. You’re suspicious." The girl crouched slightly, meeting Piz’s glowing gaze. "You gonna report me or something, tin can?"

Piz barked again, his tail swishing.

"Relax, I’m not here to cause trouble," she said, raising her hands in mock surrender. Then extended her hand to Piz for them to shake hand. "You do learn how to shake hand... Or paw like other dog, right?"
Without warning, Piz lunged forward, not to shake, but to playfully bite her hand with his blunt, metallic jaws.

Inside the house, the group sat in the living room, with Leo awkwardly fidgeting in his seat. Suddenly, a loud clanging noise echoed from outside.

Leo’s head snapped toward the door. "Did you hear that?"
Eve’s eyes widened as she realized something. "Piz.... He’s not here."

"I thought he come in with us?" Rika said.
"No," Eve said, already heading toward the door. "I think he stayed outside."

Leo and Rika followed Eve as she walked out. The three stopped in their tracks when they spotted Piz and a teenage girl locked in a chaotic standoff near the corner of the street.

Piz barked loudly, hopping around as the girl, now holding a small stick, waved it defensively. "Stop biting me, you little tin can!"

"Piz, stop!" Eve called out, running toward them.
Leo froze, his jaw dropping as he got a good look at the girl. "Wait… is that…?"

Rika tilted her head. "Who is that noble looking lady?"

"That’s Ellen.... D. Veranique, The top student in our school, She’s, like, perfect at everything and well-respect person. What’s she doing here?"

Eve stepped forward and clapped her hands. "Piz, come here!"
Piz stopped mid bark, turned his head toward Eve, and trotted over proudly, tail wagging as if he’d won a battle. Meanwhile, Ellen stood there, disheveled and glaring at the robot dog, her hair slightly out of place and her stick raised in surrender.

When she noticed Leo, her expression turned slightly embarrassed. "Leo Colt!" she muttered.

Leo pointed at her in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just passing by," Ellen said, brushing dirt off her uniform. "And this metal menace attacked me!"

Leo shook his head, his tone incredulous. "You’re the school’s star student, and you’re out here losing a fight to a robot dog?"
Ellen narrowed her eyes at him. "Shut up, Sky Skater Wannabe."

Rika raised an eyebrow at Ellen. "That doesn't sound like a creative insult."

Piz barked again, wagging his tail as if proud of the chaos he’d caused.

Ellen groaned in frustration, dusting herself off as she turned on her heel. "Whatever, I’m leaving. Keep your psycho dog away from me," she muttered, walking briskly down the street.

Eve and Rika exchanged a glance, guilt flashing across their faces. Without a word, they both bolted after her.
"Wait!" Rika called out, catching up first. "We’re sorry! Piz didn’t mean it!"
Ellen stopped but didn’t turn around. "It’s fine. I don’t care." Her voice was cold.

Eve came up beside Rika, looking up at Ellen with an earnest expression. "Are you okay? Your hand…" She pointed at the faint bite marks from Piz.
Ellen hesitated, finally glancing down at the two. "It’s nothing. I’m not mad or anything. Just… leave it."

"You look mad. And you were spying, weren’t you?" Rika questioned

Ellen stiffened, her ears turning red. "I wasn’t spying!" she snapped, louder than she intended.
Eve tilted her head innocently. "Then why were you hiding across the street?"
Ellen’s face flushed deeper, and she crossed her arms defensively. "I was just… walking by. That’s it."

Rika smirked slyly. "Ohhh, I get it. You weren’t spying on us. You were spying on Leo!"

Ellen’s head whipped toward her, eyes wide. "What? No! Why would I-" She cut herself off, realizing she was getting too defensive.

Eve blinked, her curiosity piqued. "Do you… like Leo?"
Ellen’s face went beet red, and she stammered. "W-what? No! Don’t be ridiculous!"

Rika leaned in, grinning. “You so do. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?"

Ellen let her voice out louder. "You just a child! Why would I like some clueless, airheaded guy who can’t even land a decent trick on his Sky Skates? Who got a dream so big knowing that he wouldn't make it! He should have focus on his academic!"

Eve tilted her head again. "You know a lot about him for someone who doesn’t like him."

Ellen’s mouth opened, then closed, before she groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Ugh, I hate kids."
Rika giggled, and Eve simply blinked, watching Ellen’s flustered reaction with quiet curiosity.

Finally, Ellen sighed in defeat, lowering her hands. "Look, I’m leaving, I got test tomorrow. Just… don’t say anything to him, okay?" She turned and hurried away, her steps quick and awkward.

Leia cluelessly stepped out of the house searching for the youngster then she finally spotted Leo standing across the street with Piz.
"There you are!" Leia cross the street, holding the sky skate shoes dearly making sure it save.

Without much explanation, Leo eyes widen seeing his sky skate looking brand new.

Leia smile, expected the reaction from Leo. "I made some adjustments. Added stabilization sensors, upgraded the hover thrusters, and tweaked the speed limiter. You’ll find it smoother and faster than before."

Leo blinked, amazed. "Wait. Speed limiter? So you’re saying… it’s faster now?"
Leia smirked faintly. "Much faster. Don’t crash it, or your father won’t be the only one angry."

Leo’s jaw dropped. "Holy- this is awesome!" 
Leia paused. "Wait, where’s everyone else? I thought Eve and Rika would want to see this."

Leo scratched the back of his head, clearly just as confused. "Yeah… Actually they went after some girl from school. Ellen."

Leia raised a brow. “Ellen?”

"Yeah, but she seemed mad for some reason," Leo added, shrugging. "They all bolted out of here like five minutes ago."

Leia sighed, shaking her head. "Great. I fix the skates, and now I’m babysitting a bunch of kids." She glanced at Leo, her voice turning dry. "Well, one kid left, at least."

Leo blinked, caught off guard. "Hey! I’m not a kid!"

Leia smirked faintly. "Then try not to fall off those skates again, kid."

Leo muttered something under his breath but couldn’t help grinning as he eyed his upgraded Sky Skates. "Still... this is the coolest thing anyone’s ever done for me. Thanks, Doc."

Leia waved him off with a small smile. "Just don’t make me regret it. And don't called me that. Call me Miss Leia."

Leo surprised. "Miss...? You aren't married?"
Leia choked on her own breath. "What!? What you mean by that?"
"I mean... That kid of yours..." Leo talking about Eve.

As the sun casting a warm orange glow through the windows, Rika and Eve returned to the house, slightly out of breath.
Eve looked around. "Where’s Leo?"

Leia glanced at them. "He left a while ago after I fixed his skates."

Eve looked disappointed but quickly perked up, turning to Rika. "Do you want to play again tomorrow?"
"I can’t. School starts early tomorrow." Rika replied

Eve’s face fell, her voice quiet. "Oh."

Noticing the change in Eve’s mood, Rika quickly smiled. "But after school, I’ll come back, okay? We can play then!"

As Rika waved goodbye and headed down the street, Eve stood by the door, watching her leave.
Leia, sipping water in the background, sighed. "Well, that was a busy day."

Eve suddenly turned to her. "I want to go to school."

Leia choked, sputtering the water she just drank. She coughed violently. "W-What did you just say?"
Eve stared at her blankly. "I want to go to school."

Leia blinked, still trying to catch her breath. 
Of all the things I wasn’t prepared for….

Leia stared at her. "B-But… you’re, uh…" She glanced helplessly at Zero, at the screen on the wall, Zero lazy eyes on screen with his voice almost whispering to Leia "You don't even know her exact age.... Mentally."

Eve smiled at Leia’s silence. "I want to learn. And make more friends."