Activate the Zoomies!

“Happy Birthday, Mrs. Morgan.” Gunther handed over a gift. It was intricately sealed in a small jewelry box. “I’m not sure if this can be a replacement for your bracelet, but I thought it was fitting for the occasion.”

“Oh, dear. You didn’t have to.” She opened it. It was a necklace. She curiously felt around the pendant. “What is it?”

“It’s, um, a gift from my… son.” It was Bread’s necklace that he had shattered on the floor. He had 3D printed a real life version of it with various rare metals. “I think it’s supposed to be some kind of boxing gloves in the shape of a heart. Weird, I know.”

“Well, if it’s from your son, surely it isn’t weird.” She clasped it around her neck. It rested comfortably below her collarbone. “But isn’t this more important to you? I feel so guilty for taking it.”

“No, no. It’s alri—”

An alert. His UI flashed.

Bread? He was at the Simular office? Why?

“Is everything alright, dear?”

“I… Sorry, I think I need to go.” He started to collect his belongings. “The boy—my son. I think he’s back at my office.”

“Oh, that’s great news! Well, don’t let me stop you.” She waved him out. “Go, go!” She rushed him towards the door.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Morgan. This was supposed to be your special day—”

“Don’t be daft. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

“Oh, I know.” She nodded. “You’ve been great to this old lady, but a smart, young man like you shouldn’t be wasting away with me.”

“You’re not old, Mrs. Morgan. You’re about the same age as my mother.” He grabbed his coat from the hanger. “I’m sure if she were still here, she’d have enjoyed your company.”

“Sweet words, young man. Sweet words.” She patted him on the back. “You sound just like my son. I feel like I’m finally getting to know you better…” Then she gently pushed him out. “Now go. This is the only time I’ll tell you to leave.”

“Thank you. I promise, I’ll be back.” With that, Gunther swiftly headed out. Back to his job. Back to Azan.

Back to home sweet home.

…

Bread, what are you thinking?

Azan was usually the only one at the office—the only actual human inside. That eyesore of a tower was more of an empty façade. Simular Inc. needed to be grand, and to Azan, that was to have a large symbolic office for their company even though they didn’t have any other human employees.

As the only corporation in the world to have two human members registered under their corporation name, most of all company business matters were conducted autonomously through sophisticated programs. Almost everything was computerized. There was no point in having the largest building in the city, but Azan never did listen to him…

He could see the structure from here, but that meant nothing. The place Azan was most likely residing in was much higher and further above the clouds. To the average eye, Azan would’ve never been visible. But of course, Gunther wasn’t average. Far from it. His cybernetic implants were far more valuable than even the largest of his rival corporations. And amongst his implants, his eyes were, by far, the most valuable.

X-Razen Mark-X. These were able to perform like most ordinary eyes, but included were a countless number of widgets and sub-systems. As well as having the most sophisticated UI of the century, these implants were able to zoom in farther than modern binoculars. All the way up to the swirling gaseous surfaces of Jupiter if need be.

While he made his way over to the base of the building, he used his eyes to zoom in on what was happening inside—

And he grimaced.

Azan had his ornate, golden pen locked in his hand—a disguised photon revolver. It was his most prized possession. And he had it aimed directly at Bread’s heart, the source of his energy—his core. At its highest settings, that gun could pierce through a solid block of chromium the length of two football stadiums.

What are you trying to do, Azan? That was a last resort. You never bring that out. Immediately, Gunther started to speed up his pace. Whatever was happening up there, he knew Azan was serious. Bread was in danger.

The building was still about a mile away. He wasn’t going to make it on foot. There was no way…

“System: activate Raijin Storm.”

He quickly skidded to a stop, bent down, and tensed his legs. Steaming, crimson blood pulsated through his calves; the ground started to crumble under the pressure. Then, with all his strength, he jumped.

He sliced through the air.

Trajectory was accurate. Velocity was good. He was launched straight towards Bread. But he didn’t have boosters to control any sort of deviation in sudden atmospheric pressure. He had no way of stopping himself either. He’d crash through the glass, and then what? How would he decelerate? Doesn’t matter. He just had to get there. Then he’d grab onto a table or something.

Azan had his finger hovering over the button on his pen.

Don’t you dare, Azan. He was almost there. Just a bit more… He was about to make impact…

The tip of the pen flashed. It was getting ready to fire.

At the same time, Gunther made contact—crashed head first through the glass. Shards scattered everywhere. He swiftly pulled Bread out of the trajectory of Azan’s gun, and with the other hand, he dug into the metal elevator door.

The door tore at the ends but held. It managed to soften his landing just enough for him to not fall out of the building. He rolled across the floor with Bread in hand. And finally, he stopped. Everything was quiet. As if they were all holding their breaths… But then, an intense pain shot through his chest.