The biting wind slashed at Oliver's ears like a knife, whipping his messy black hair into a frenzy. He stood at the edge of the skyscraper, staring up at the stars.
His eyes followed the endless stream of ships in the sky, then settled on something far beyond. A massive deep-space battleship was gliding across the heavens, its dark hull gleaming with cold metal. It was so huge it almost swallowed up half the sky, even blotting out the rainbow-colored moon. The deep rumble of its engines sounded like thunder rolling through the city, a reminder of humanity's greatest creation—a moving mountain of steel, casting a shadow over anyone who dared look up. It was a symbol of what technology could achieve, and a reminder of just how small everyone else really was.
"I graduated and there is no job for me! WHY?"
Oliver breathed out, watching the white cloud of his breath get whisked away by the wind. As a top student from the Capital University's Commander program, he was supposed to have a bright future ahead of him. And yet, in this era of interstellar exploration, he'd somehow managed to graduate into unemployment.
"Is it my fault?" he muttered to himself, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
The building he stood on was over a hundred stories tall, right in the heart of the city. Lights glittered everywhere, like stars fallen to earth. Countless skyscrapers reached for the sky, but each stood apart, separated by deep, yawning chasms like islands adrift in a sea of void. His parents had worked tirelessly aboard deep-space warships, and it was their sacrifices that had won him a place at university. After all those years of hard work, carrying their hopes, he'd still ended up facing the harsh reality of unemployment.
"Or maybe the world isn't as fair or full of opportunity as I thought it would be," he sighed, guilt tugging at his heart.
His living expenses were almost gone. The rent for next month? Not looking great. Over the past few months, he'd faced failure after failure. Every time he sent out his résumé, he'd wait anxiously for a reply, only to be met with cold, indifferent rejections. Apply, wait, rejection—this had been his life since graduation. Each blow chipped away at his confidence until there wasn't much left.
Oliver planted his feet firmly on the cold steel surface, like he was trying to root himself to it. He leaned forward, peering over the edge into the depths of the urban canyon below. Countless flying platforms crisscrossed between the towering buildings, wrapping the structures in a web of steel. The ships zipped by in a constant rush, three layers of air traffic flowing in a complex, almost chaotic pattern. The roar of their engines filled the air. The streets below were so far away that the people trudging through the mud were just tiny specks.
"If I jumped from here, would I wake up in a better world?" he thought bitterly, shaking his head. No. That would just make his parents even more disappointed in him.
Above him, the deep-space battleship rumbled past. Around him, ships flowed like rivers of light, and far below, the people trudged along in lives he couldn't even imagine. People lived on different levels of this city, as though they were in completely different worlds. He couldn't even figure out what his next step should be.
Suddenly, his comm link buzzed in his pocket. Oliver pulled it out and glanced at the screen. A familiar name flashed across it—Kid, his uni roommate and best mate for the past four years.
"Oi, there's a job!" Kid's voice came through the comm as soon as he answered. Behind the excited shout, there was a clatter of background noise—crowds and the hum of machinery. "Something big, mate! Get here right now—you don't wanna miss out on this employer. We're at the base of the Galactic Transport Tower."
"A job?" Oliver could hardly believe his ears. He'd been searching for months and coming up with nothing. And now, out of nowhere, an opportunity?
His heart thudded in his chest, like it was about to burst through his ribs. He didn't need to think twice. Determination flickered in his eyes.
"It's now or never." He cut the call, glancing down at the building beneath his feet—the Galactic Transport Tower, the very one he was standing on.
Oliver closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The icy wind cut across his face like a blade, its chill sinking deep into his bones. He muttered under his breath, "No more hesitation. For Mum, Dad... and for myself."
The boots on his feet started to hum, a soft blue-white glow forming beneath them as the rocket systems powered up.
Without a moment's hesitation, he launched himself into the sky, his body cutting through the air like a bird taking flight. The wind roared in his ears, whipping his hair back. The world sped up around him, the sky, the ground, the ships, all blurring together.
"Mechanized Mind, activate!" With just a thought, Oliver's awareness expanded, linking with the rocket boots, feeling every gear turn, every surge of power, every flicker of heat from the thrusters. They became an extension of his own body, responding to his every move with precision.
A burst of blue-white flame shot out from the rocket boots, dragging him out of free fall and sending him zipping through the flying lanes. He darted between the layers of traffic, accelerating, decelerating, turning on a dime with pinpoint accuracy.
The three layers of ships shifted constantly. Every level was a danger zone. One ship zipped by so close he could see the wide-eyed shock of the pilot inside. But Oliver twisted through the traffic with ease, cutting graceful arcs through the air.
"Is he nuts?!"
"Who the hell flies through ship lanes?!"
Dodge. Turn. Dive. He danced along the edge of disaster with every move. But he did it, again and again, with split-second reactions and perfect timing. The wind roared in his ears, the engines of the ships rumbling all around him. His heart hammered in his chest, every breath burning in his lungs. It was terrifying—and exhilarating.
"I can do this!" The thought surged through him like a wave of energy.
The lights of the city below grew larger, and the roar of the streets grew louder. He landed smoothly, the rocket boots giving one last soft hum before powering down. Kid was already there, waiting for him, eyes wide with surprise and excitement.
"Blimey, you got here fast!" Kid clapped Oliver on the back, grinning. "That's the fearless mate I know!"
Next to him stood a sharp-eyed man in a black suit. "That's the bloke," Kid whispered. "He's the employer. Codename Red Peach King."
Before Oliver could respond, a robotic voice sounded behind him, "Violation of air traffic laws. Fine: five hundred credits."
Oliver turned around to see a small police drone hovering nearby, its red warning lights flashing. Eight camera eyes focused on him. "Please pay the fine immediately, or further action will be taken."
Oliver frowned. He barely had any credits left, and getting fined in front of a potential employer wasn't going to help his chances.
People passing by threw curious looks at him, murmuring about the daredevil who'd just flown through the ship lanes, and the quick response of the police drone.
Red Peach King seemed to read his thoughts. With a calm smile, he waved a hand toward the drone. A soft glow flickered, and the drone beeped. "Fine paid. Warning recorded."
Then, Red Peach King turned to him. "Come here, kid."
Oliver stepped forward.
"You're Oliver?"
"Yes, sir."
"I like gutsy young people." Red Peach King nodded. "You proved your skills flying through that traffic. Tomorrow, 9 AM, be at the address I just sent to your terminal. You'll get further instructions then." He paused, his gaze sharp. "I hope you're ready for what comes next."
With that, he turned to Kid. "Your referral bonus is on the way." And then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone, disappearing into the shadows.
"Who is he?" Oliver asked, confused.
"Mate, I knew you'd smash it." Kid grinned, throwing an arm around Oliver's shoulders. "It's a temp race gig. One flight, five hundred credits. Finish at the top, and there's even more to win."
A warmth spread through Oliver's chest. After months of disappointment and rejection, here was a chance—a real one. And he wasn't going to let it slip away.
But he knew the truth, too. His Mechanized Mind ability was rare, but it had its limits. Right now, he could only control small equipment, like the rocket boots. Anything bigger, or for too long, and he'd lose control.
"I'll give it everything I've got." Oliver's eyes gleamed with determination.
Above them, the deep-space battleship rumbled again, the sound echoing like a distant omen. Lightning flashed across the stormy sky, lighting up the city's outline.
Maybe this was just the beginning. He clenched his fists, heart pounding, ready to face whatever came next.