With a mix of anticipation and confidence, Aiko activates an app on his phone. The screen lights up, displaying a complex interface. He taps a series of commands, his nimble fingers tapping across the touchscreen. The panel hums to life, electricity crackling through its circuits. The panel's purpose becomes clear. It controls the container's security system, including the stubbornly sealed door. As he activates the final command, a surge of power surges through the cable, rippling through the panel. A soft mechanical whir resonates through the air as the door slides open, revealing a sight that fills Aiko's eyes with awe. Before him, a room unfolds, bathed in the glow of artificial light. The ceiling is adorned with rows upon rows of bots, suspended like an ethereal mechanical forest. "This... this is exactly what I need," Aiko whispers, a victorious smirk etching itself across his face. With determination burning in his eyes, he steps into the room, putting his hands on the first bot he sees. "Let's see, if I remove its head first, maybe I can... got it!" Aiko whispers as the head effortlessly comes off. He smirks, not too surprised by the ease of getting it off. "Guess I now know why they ended up rejected," he remarks with a hint of amusement. Aiko's gaze narrows as he focuses on the bot's eyes. "Ah, the chip must be hidden behind the eyes in the back of the head," he mutters, while carefully extracting the eye Aiko unveils the inner workings of the bot, and there it is—the chip he's been searching for, no larger than his pinky nail. "Yes! Gotcha!" he yells, catching himself just in time, mindful of the need to stay quiet. Grasping the chip gently, he carefully navigates his fingers toward a small valve on the right side of his neck. Opening it up, he carefully inserts the chip into the motherboard he made himself.
"Link-up online!" echoes a melodious feminine robotic voice.
"Hello, sir!" Nas exclaims as her systems surge back to life. "You've finally got the system back up and running!" Aiko's voice carries a hint of hurried joy as he responds,
"Yes, Nas! I got the chip, everything seems to be working again!" In that moment, a hologram of a woman's head started to materialize, her appearance synchronized with Nas's voice. Aiko's eyes widen with anticipation as he asks, "Can you come out? Are you able to show yourself now?" With a gentle glow, Nas's holographic form solidifies, revealing her ethereal presence before him. "So, that's how you look" he laughs, a wide grin spreading across his face. "It's funny to finally put a face to the voice I've been hearing for this long"
A mixture of awe and happiness fills the air as Aiko and Nas share this moment of camaraderie and understanding.
However, their blissful moment is abruptly shattered by distant voices that permeate the air. A wave of panic washes over Aiko's face as he realizes the urgency of the situation. "Voices? Oh crap! I need to go right now!," he mutters under his breath, his heart pounding. Cautiously peeking out from the door of the container, Aiko's eyes widen as he spots three figures approaching in the distance, armed with guns. "Guards? No!" he whispers. "Can you see them Nas? he asks.
"No sir, I can not make them up because of the smoke" Nas replies. Upon closer look, he notices that their gear is far from that of the guards. Clad in tattered black garments, Aiko realizes they are none other than the scavenger gangs that sometimes roam these dumps. A realization strikes him "These scavenger gangs must have bribed the guards to gain access!" Aiko surmises, his mind racing with a sense of danger and urgency.
"I need to get out of here before they catch sight of me, or I'm a goner!" he mutters.
As Aiko stealthily moves towards the container's exit, his heart pounding in his chest. Taking slow steps backward to the far side, where he hopes to remain hidden from the scavengers, his body tenses with anticipation. But in a sudden twist of fate, he bumps into something, causing him to exclaim, "Huh!"
Turning to face the thing he bumped in to, his eyes widen with suprise Before him stands a towering figure, a hulking man adorned with scars etched across his weathered face. Clad in all-black attire and a hoodie pulled over his head, the man emanates an aura of danger. Aiko's mind races, realizing with a sinking feeling that this is one of the scavengers. His heart skips a beat as the scavenger's voice booms through the air, filled with malicious delight.
"Hey, fellas! We've got an uninvited guest here!" the scavenger calls out with a bright smile, sending chills down Aiko's spine
Realizing the urgency of the situation, Aiko's instincts kick into high gear. Without a moment's hesitation, he forcefully pushes himself away from the looming figure and swiftly activates his skates. Fear propels him forward as he glides away, his heart racing in his chest.
However, before even a second can pass, Aiko finds himself surrounded by a daunting sight. Eight scavengers closing in on him from all directions. Panic tugs at his gut as he takes in the sheer numbers against him. The same man who had confronted him earlier exudes confidence, "Boy, there's nowhere for you to run. Just give up already."Aiko's eyes dart around, assessing the situation with a determined yet quiet resolve. A defiant smirk tugs at the corners of his lips as he softly responds, "Well, let's see about that, big guy." In a daring move, while running at then he abruptly changes direction, propelling himself through a narrow gap between two of the scavengers with nimble precision.
"GET HIM! HE TOOK SOMETHING!" the man bellows, his voice laced with anger.
Aiko glances over his shoulder, adrenaline coursing through his veins as he sees all eight scavengers hot on his heels. Confusion clouds his thoughts.
"Wait, how are they keeping up with me? Those must be some sort of jump shoes!" Aiko thinks, momentarily perplexed by their agility.
Aiko's heart pounds in his chest as he spots a railing that offers a chance to leap over and leave his pursuers behind. The chase spills into the bustling streets, and Aiko maneuvers through the crowd with skillful agility, deftly dodging people along the way. He navigates the busy market, his focus fixed ahead, skillfully leaping over tents, darting through stands, and sliding under a hovering truck. The exhilaration of the chase fills him, and he can't help but shout, "This is awesome!" But the realization of why he's running quickly resurfaces, and he restrains his excitement. Catching a quick glance over his shoulder, Aiko's eyes widen as he discovers that the scavengers are no longer in sight. Confusion sets in until he hears a noise above him—a clambering on the rooftops. One of the scavengers jumps down, nearly capturing Aiko by a hair's breadth. "Wait! They're jumping between roofs!" Aiko realizes, a sense of urgency flooding over him. Determined to lose them, he desperately searches everywhere for a place where he can escape this pursuit. His eyes scan the surroundings until he spots the nearby highway.
"This is where I'll lose them," Aiko declares. He leaps onto the highway, skillfully weaving through the cars and trucks that race past. Adrenaline courses through his veins as he slaloms between the vehicles, his focus sharpened on the goal of evading these scavengers. The scavengers' frantic shouts echo from behind. "Quick, we're losing the kid!" one of them yells, followed by another's frantic exclamation, "Where is he? I can't see him, it's to dark!" The realization dawns on them that Aiko's speed might have left them in the dust. With a sigh of relief, Aiko clings to the front of a hovering truck, watching as the scavengers whiz past above his head. He keeps his body pressed flat against the truck, barely visible in their field of view. "Phew, I think that's all of them," Aiko whispers to himself, his eyes scanning the empty highway. The danger has passed, at least for now.
Dashing off the highway, Aiko skates with urgency back to his apartment building. Wanting to ensure he isn't being followed, he chooses to take the emergency stairs instead of the usual route. Climbing quickly, he reaches his balcony and releases a long sigh of relief, he's finally safe. But just as he starts to relax, a soft and enchanting female voice, like music to his ears, echoes from the roof above. "Hey Aiko, why are you out of breath?"