A Universal Magnet for Trouble

The cube-headed assassin pulled the trigger. Axel instinctively activated his force field, blocking the bullet right on time. He pulled out his gun and fired back, which deflected off its head as usual. He clicked his tongue and continued blocking bullets.

“Don’t go anywhere,” I said, passing Noah.

The boy nodded and backed away from the fight scene.

I grabbed the edge of the door, tore it right off its hinges, and rushed past the detective. When I drew close enough, I wasted no time bashing its creepy head with it, repeating it over and over.

“Damn, kid! You can rip off doors like that?” asked Axel. “How strong are you?”

“You’re overestimating me. These doors are—” It promptly splintered. “—dirt cheap. Tsk.” I threw the scraps away, coiled my wires around my fists, and activated a current of flames, striking the android with it and shredding off its defenses. After I made a dent in its neck, I raised my foot and crushed it, decapitating it on impact.

Axel looked around. “Any more incoming?”

I scanned our surroundings before shaking my head.

He heaved a sigh of relief and holstered his gun. “What was that all about?”

“A pathetic ambush.” I kicked away the cube. “Anyway, where to next?”

“To the hospital where Celia went missing from. I’ll probably need you to do some dirty work again. Sorry about that, partner.”

I shrugged. “As long as I get answers too.”

“Right.” He started walking toward his car. “Let’s go, you two.”

I followed him, but after a moment of unusual silence, I glanced over my shoulders. “Noah?”

When the kid didn’t respond, I stopped in my tracks, and so did Axel. Dread crept up our backs before we broke into a sprint, rushing back inside the office hidden at the back of the motel building.

“Noah?!” we called out.

I activated my scanners again, grasping my head. “Where the hell did he go? I told him to stay put!”

My answer arrived at the sound of a distant car whirring away. We both gaped out the door, watching a silver vehicle flying into the sunset.

“No way!” cried Axel, dashing outside. “They weren’t targeting us—they were after Noah! We’ve been had!”

I swore under my breath. No wonder they didn’t set up any death traps. They didn’t want their test subject accidentally killed! Damn it, why didn’t I realize this sooner?!

I rushed outside with the detective. “I’m going to chase after them. You can go to the hospital first.”

“Hell no, I can’t leave you on your own!”

“I’ll be damned if I’m carrying your heavy ass on my back!”

“Who said you would?! Police cars can fly too, remember?!”

“Then get moving! Or even better…” I grabbed the detective by the collar and raised him as I hovered. “I’ll send you right to it!”

“Eh—”

I launched him through the air, sending him flying and screaming before he cushioned his landing with his force field and rolled toward his car covered in dirt.

He groaned and rubbed his lower back before pushing himself back on his feet. He scurried toward the driver’s seat and started the car. By the time he hit the airy road, I had already soared far ahead, inching closer to the vehicle. I activated my scanners again, and sure enough, Noah lay curled up in the car’s trunk.

I pulled out my wires and prepared to shoot it out, only to wince when the car's headlights sprouted mounted guns, opening fire immediately.

I never imagined I’d get myself in this crazy airborne fight against a car going guns blazing, but here I was, dodging and blocking laser bullets like I was in one of those bullet-hell games—and no, first-person point of view didn’t make this fun at all when the damn lasers blended in with the sunset.

“Ugh!” A bullet grazed my shoulder, but I brushed off the pain. I was almost there. I only had to hit that tiny-ass release button under the trunk lid—aaand I missed on my first try. Of course.

“Woah!” I dodged out of the way before a random flying truck could hit me. I couldn't help but remember the last time it happened and shuddered, but I snapped out of it when the car flew too far again during that distraction.

At the same time, that detective finally caught up, his police car blaring alarms and flashing through the dimming sky. Obviously, the kidnapper stomped on its gas pedal and soared even faster, so Axel did the same.

It turned out I underestimated the car’s speed—I snatched the car’s lightbar and caught a faster ride. I gritted my teeth, whipped out a gun, and fired away, exchanging bullets with our target. Thanks to the car’s geometric force field, we didn’t have to worry about getting hit, but it was only a matter of time before our power drained.

At some point, I almost lost my grip, but I managed to attach a wire to the driver’s side mirror before my fingers slipped. Wires tied and secured to the mirror, I slid off the car’s roof and bumped against Axel’s door.

He rolled down his window and asked, “You sure you know what the hell you’re doing?!” 

“Ugh, I do! Just get close to it as fast as you can!”

With no room for debate, he slammed on the gas pedal and poured his focus on avoiding a fatal crash. Now finally close enough, I shot a wire toward the mounted guns and ripped them right off. Freed from bullet showers, I aimed for the trunk’s release button next and got it on my second try. The trunk swiftly popped open, revealing the boy restrained in ropes, mouth taped up.

While Axel descended, I untied my wire off the side mirror, climbed on top of the car’s hood, and extended my arms.

“Roll off!” I hollered.

Noah wriggled and rolled out the trunk, eyes squeezing shut. I jumped off the car’s hood and caught him mid-air, immediately snapping off the ropes and peeling off his tape.

Tears and snot stained the boy’s face, flushing with a dozen emotions. He bawled and wrapped his arms around my neck, strangling me again.

“I-I was so scared!” he sobbed.

“Ugh, s-stop choking me,” I croaked, patting his back. “You’re fine now. Relax.”

Still, he buried his face in my shoulder, crying and babbling incoherently. In the end, he was still a child, so I caved in and let him wet my jacket only this once.

Eventually, I flew back down beside Axel’s car and let Noah climb inside first—I practically shoved the kid inside as a matter of fact. I crawled in next, and the three of us slumped our shoulders in relief.

“Rats,” said Axel. “I’m low on fuel—it’s too risky for us to keep chasing them.”

“Ugh, of course,” I mumbled.

“What? There’s a reason why most people prefer to drive on the ground. Gas is hella expensive, and flying burns too much fuel.” 

I sighed and turned to the window, taking in the final moments of the sunset as it dipped below the horizon. 

Meanwhile, Axel picked up a radio and notified his department before descending. “See, this is why kids don’t get involved with investigations,” he said. “You got yourself nearly kidnapped under our noses!”

Noah shrunk in his seat, face flushing in shame. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I didn’t realize an android would sneak up behind me…”

It’s kind of our fault too… Axel and I exhaled again out of shame.

A long silence ensued, but while everyone stared out the windows, the city lights gradually adjusted to nightfall. Noah perked up first and tugged my sleeve. “Radio! Look, look!”

I peered through his window. “Hmph, told you it looks nicer at night.”

Noah’s shoulders slowly loosened up as he stretched a smile. “It’s so pretty! Mister Holton, can we stay up here a little longer?”

Axel glanced at the fuel gauge before shrugging. “Eh, one or two more minutes won’t kill us,” he said. “Sure.”

Noah pressed his face against the glass, his eyes reflecting the city lights. Skyscrapers glowed and displayed dozens of holographic advertisements and billboards while flying vehicles zipped and left neon streaks as usual. This time, the city's iconic, 3D aquatic creatures materialized and started swimming around the city, silent but graceful. Blue dolphins leaped and dove, pink oarfish flaunted their ribbon-like fins, schools of silver fish wove curtains of light, and so much more. As expected, the sight wasn't half bad.

With a quiet sigh, I, too, stretched a faint smile as I joined them in the sightseeing.