3 MONTHS LATER
Zane is running on the top of a building behind someone who jumps off the building he flexes his wrists.
"Come on...you got this, you're a boss...you're a boss.."
He says between breaths as he reaches the ledge, the moonlight shines againsts his black hoodie with green stripes at the arms and joggers with blue running shoes as he leaps frim a red rooftop to a the top of a grey one below.
He snaps his fingers but noting happens, he leans forward and catches the ledge
He attempts to stand up when a hand reaches down to help him.
"Good try,bro."
Eight says leaning down to reach him.
Zane looks at the hand but pulls him up by himself.
Eight pulls his hand back with a disappointed look on his face as Zane sits in the gravel covered roof, gasping.
"Hey don't beat yourself up.
Six walks upt to him in blue hoodie and grey joggers and branded sports shoes.
"You guys don't need to help me." he says looking at Eight. "Increased bloodflow is what stimualtes a N.E.X.Ts ability to generate
"Sadly you still don't remember despite six trying to jog your memory. "
Eight comments.
He picks pebble off the ground and throws them into the sea of them.
" I can remember in bits and pieces and don't get me wrong, I appreciate you guys, I'm just frustrated." He gets up. "Let's go again."
"We've been going all nigt Za..."
"Please!"
Eight looks at six
"Alright,but this is the last one. "
Eight says to Zane as he brushes past him and runs ahead.
10AM
Zane wears a black T shirt and blue jeans as he switches between frying eggs and manning the toaster, placing the golden toasted slices of bread on one of the three plates stacked with them.
Five; a amall eight year old balck girl runs into the kitchen in pajamas.
"What smells so good?"
Zane hand her aplate with toast and eggs on it.
"Bon apetit."
"Merci pour le petit déjeuner."
(TRANSLATION:Thank you for the breakfast.)
"Go easy on me, that's actually all the french I know. The butter's in the fridge."
She takes a stool and reaches for it as Eight and Six whter the Kitchen.
"Whoah, did you even sleep bro?Eight asks.
"Enjoy, today's a Saturday. "
Zane responds not looking at him.
Both of them sit wooden chair with foam padding covered by a cloth with floral pattetsn sewn into it on the seat and the back rest.
Zane throws on a sling bag and a white baseball cap.
"Are you going out? Aren't you gonna eat?"
"I gotta work, I'll see you guys later."
He puts on a pair of blue sneakers and stumbles out the front door.
"Did you see him eat at all yesterday?"
"Eight asks."
"I...um..."
Zane rushes back in, going upstairs and running back down.
"You forget something? "
"Yeah, Pryce's glove. He puts the black glove with three white lines in the back in his bag.
"You could've just asked one of us to get it for you."
"Nah, I didn't want to bother you guys.
Zane rushes out again, forgetting to close the door.
"I think he's lost weight." Five says with toast in her mouth.
Zane walks to a grey building with a a purple stripe lining the center.
He walks into a reception area with seats filled with empty metal seats and two desks with people seated behind them.
He waves to one of the men behind the seat.
A tall slim caucasian in a pink shirt and chinos motions for Zane to come over.
As the person the man attends to stands up, Zane takes the seat.
"Hey "FF". How's the job?"
"It's really great. Help me thank Tim again for the recommendation. "
"It's cool, you didn't have to mive out though."
"No, I'm already eighteeen, besides the house was already getting crowded."
"You're not eighteeen, you're forty-four."
"Ha! I love that."
Zane hands him a card and he runs it through a scanner.
"You're free to do and please avoid using your abilities, the government was really close to becoming a plouce state after the incident at the police station. People don't trust N.E.X.Ts anymore.
"I get it...but don't worry, that probably won't happen anytime soon."
"Zane?" He says looking at him. "Is everything okay? "
"Why'd you ask?".
"You didn't look this slim the other day. Did you eat this morning?"
"It doesn't matter, man...I'm doing great."
"Younhave bags under your eyes."
"No rest for the widked amirite?"
He hands Zane the card and he leaves through the autimated door at tge back. The door leads to a walkway eith two paths, a straight path leading to the train station and another to a bridge arcing iver the path of the hover train.
Zane takes the first path and he places the card against the sensor on the train door and it opens for him.
The silver vehicle with two orange lines at tge edges generate a mgnetic force that pulls it through the hovering black rings it passes through.
This continues arm through the journey except at stops where a ring shifts to hover under the train, making it hover in one place and allowing passangers to get down.
The automated voice says the stop nd Zane catches himself dozing off.
He puts on the glove and snaps,making a ggren dome cover about an eighth of the city.
He pulls out a bottle of caffeinated soda and downs tge entire thing before snapping again and taking off the glove.
He alights and goes into a red fastfood restaurant with a jiant plate and "PALLATABLE" in the center as its not logo where cars are parked outside.
As he gets to the front door, someone taps him on the shoulder.
Julia a dark skinned girl in a blone wig wearing a black shirt under a red shirt and jeans with slippers.
"Zane, how are you...did you sleep last night?"
"I'm good...don't worry..."
They both go to the back room and change into work outfits comprising annorange T shirt with "PALLATABLE" in italics written on the ledt fo the chest segemebt of the shirt and nametags that both read "Joe"
A hefty caucasian man walks in, the sound of his boots catch the attention of everyone, his jeans and leathwe jacket as well. He walks forward and presses the bell to get their attention.
"Hello, welcome to Pallatable what can I do for you"
Zane responds.
"Are you Zane?"
Zane says, secretly putting on the black glove behind his back.
"Whose asking?"
The man squints to look at him.
"Nah, you're not the one I'm looking for, my apologies." He walks to the door "or are you?" He pulls out a shotgun and fires three bullets at Julia.