"So, how's city life treating you?" Delis asked.
Ulim blinked, a little surprised at how easily his friend could talk as if the past few months hadn't happened. Still, he didn't want to be the one to reopen old wounds, so he played along.
"I'm adjusting," he said. "Just… not used to the people. There are way too many of them."
They both chuckled.
"So how are things on your side?" Ulim asked.
Delis's expression turned serious. "Things have been moving fast. We've even been hearing whispers about a new project. They're looking for recruits."
He paused before continuing. "Over the past few months, the number of renegade Boost users has skyrocketed. I heard from one of the scientists that someone out there might've found a way to hack restrictor bands. That's how we've got so many renegades running around."
"But the HDF is meant to handle that sort of thing, right?" Ulim asked.
"Yes, but they can't be in two places at once—or three, or four, or ten. You get it. We're starting to see more renegades than ever. It's not even a secret at the academy anymore. You've probably noticed it too, Ulim."
Ulim thought back. He *had* noticed. The HDF had shown up three times in just two months. For the average person, that might not sound like much—but in Eclipse City, where the crime rate was practically zero, that was alarming. The HDF usually got called once every four months, if that. Most crimes were stopped instantly by restrictor bands disabling powers before they even began.
Delis sighed. "Anyway, I've got to go. Early mornings and all. Say hi to your sister for me—and I'll try to stay in touch more."
The call ended. Ulim lay back, staring at the ceiling, the words replaying in his mind.
Then—
"RING."
"RING."
"RING."
He sighed. "And there's the scheduled call from Mom."
He answered, and his mother's face filled the screen, tired but smiling. A baby's cry echoed in the background.
"We've tried everything to calm her down," Daina said. Jerold nodded behind her, rocking the baby in his arms.
"Okay, Nani, look! It's big brother!" Daina said, holding the phone close.
The baby reached out, tiny fingers pressing against the screen, eyes locking on Ulim's face.
"How's my cute little princess doing?" Ulim asked, smiling for real this time.
The baby laughed, pure and loud.
"I told you," Jerold grinned, "all she needed was to see her big brother's face."
Then, predictably, Nani dropped the phone.
Daina picked it up again, laughing. "Well, I guess that means she's happy now. So… when are you coming to visit?"
Ulim looked away. "Well… I—"
"Don't you dare make excuses to me, young man," Daina warned.
"Okay, okay. I'll come during my next off time," he promised.
"Good. We'll be waiting," she said, smiling warmly.
"Alright, Mom. I need to go—it's late."
"Yeah, we need to put Nani to sleep," Jerold called from the back.
"Bye, dear."
The call ended, leaving Ulim in silence.
Later that weekend...
Ulim woke up late—no shift today. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall.
"I guess it's time for more random city exploring," he muttered, getting dressed.
Outside his apartment complex, he squinted eastward. "I've never gone that way before."
He hopped on his scooter and drove off toward the eastern side of Eclipse City.
The streets grew brighter, busier. New stores, tall glass towers, food stalls—he'd lived here seven months and still hadn't seen half of it. The deeper he went, the more endless the city seemed.
Then he saw it: the Battle Dome.
He slowed down, memories flooding back. The noise, the fights, the cheering crowd.
"Maybe I'll check it out tomorrow," he said, turning away.
Further down the street, a bright blue sign caught his eye: BYTE BARREL — EAST SIDE BRANCH.
"Well, might as well check it out," he said, parking outside.
Inside, two clerks in store vests were glued to their phones, not even noticing him. The girl had her restrictor band styled like a glittering tiara. The boy's was shaped like a silver ring on his middle finger.
Ulim sighed. "Do I say something?"
Then he remembered—there were cameras. They'd see him eventually.
He wandered over to the plushie section. Rows of soft, colorful toys lined the shelves.
"Wait—we don't have this one at our store," he muttered, picking up a Bumbo plushie in a superhero outfit.
"Getting something for your sibling?" a gentle voice said behind him.
Ulim turned to see a a slightly short girl in a store vest smiling at him.
"Uh… something like that," he said awkwardly.
"That's nice. You're lucky—we've got a special today. Buy one, get one free."
Her smile suddenly vanished.
"YOU TWO!" she barked. "A customer walked in, and neither of you noticed?"
The two clerks froze. "Sorry, Mom," the girl said sarcastically.
The boy snickered—until the short-haired girl's eyes flashed.
Her Boost activated—two perfect clones appeared beside her, all three growing taller and more intimidating.
"What did you say?" they demanded in unison.
No answer.
Ulim just stood there, clutching the plushies.
Moments later, the clones vanished, and the girl smiled sweetly again. "Sorry you had to see that."
"No problem," Ulim said, still a bit stunned. "I'll take these two, I guess."
"Great choice," she said with her warm smile.
He left the store more confused than when he went in.
---
The evening air was cool as he drove home, the city lights reflecting on his helmet. His mind drifted back to that girl—her confidence, her strange boost.
"Maybe she's the real reason that branch won Store of the Month," he thought.
Then, out of the corner of his eye—he saw her.
Mrs. Perma.
And she was in trouble.
A man towered over her, yelling. His restrictor band wasn't glowing.
"Why isn't the system alerting the police?" Ulim muttered. "And why isn't hers triggering a distress call?"
Mrs. Perma tried to activate her Boost—to freeze his hands—but nothing happened. Her skin faded back to normal. **Her powers were being nullified.**
Ulim ducked behind a bench and called the police. But this area was far from the city center—they'd take time to arrive.
"I might not have a Boost," he whispered, "but I have to do something."
He sprinted forward and **tackled** the thief to the ground.
For a second, victory. Then—
The man's eyes flared. Gravity thickened around Ulim's body, forcing him to his knees.
"Shouldn't have played hero, kid," the thief sneered, stepping closer.
Just as he raised his fist—
WHAM!
A blur of movement. The thief hit the ground, unconscious.
"This city's getting worse by the day," a deep voice said.
Ulim looked up. The man towering over him wasn't just anyone.
Jack. From the Battle Dome.
"You okay?" Jack asked, offering his hand.
Ulim nodded, still stunned.
"You should try building more muscle before doing something stupid like that," Jack said, smirking.
"Wait—you're Jack! From the Dome!"
"You a fan?" Jack chuckled.
Ulim laughed nervously, rubbing his neck.
Jack handed him his wallet. "You dropped this. Weird kid—no Boost, but guts."
As Ulim drove off, police sirens echoed in the distance.
Jack glanced over his shoulder. "Look who's late to the party." He tossed the unconscious thief toward the officers. "Here's your guy. Bit beat up, but he'll live."
An officer frowned, crouching beside the thief. "He's got some kind of device under his hoodie… damaged, but we'll have the techs check it."
Above, on a rooftop, a shadowed figure lowered a pair of binoculars, phone in hand.
"I've got good news and bad news," the figure said, voice low. "Which do you want first?"