The neon lights flickered above them as they walked through the crowded streets of Psilo. The city's hustle and bustle blended with the synthetic music escaping from the buildings, while holographic advertisements floated in the air, projecting personalized commercials for every passerby.
After a few minutes, the three stopped in front of a colossal building. Its structure loomed imposingly over the surrounding establishments, boasting an ultramodern design with dark tones and metallic reflections. The most striking feature was a massive vertical screen running along the entire facade, from the peak down to nearly the entrance.
The words "NEON BITE" gleamed in a flashing purple hue, accompanied by an animation of a digitized bite appearing and disappearing intermittently, as if the sign were devouring its own name over and over again.
Maddie tilted her head back, trying to see the top of the building. Her eyes widened in awe.
—E-It's... huge… for a restaurant? —she stammered, surprised. In her mind, she had imagined a more modest place, not an entire skyscraper dedicated to serving food.
Dedrick let out a dry chuckle and crossed his arms.
—Welcome to the wonderful world where the world government doesn't give a damn how many buildings get built or at what price they sell —he said sarcastically—. Any company with enough money can buy itself a skyscraper like this. Hell, even you have an entire building, Andreas.
Andreas scoffed in evident annoyance.
—Yeah… though most of it is empty —he muttered, his tone laden with irritation.
Dedrick glanced at him out of the corner of his eye but decided not to press the issue. Instead, he shrugged and moved toward the entrance. The doors of NEON BITE were anything but conventional; instead of physical panels, a holographic barrier blocked access. As soon as it detected their presence, the image flickered and dissolved completely, allowing them to pass.
The restaurant's interior combined the warmth of a family-friendly diner with the futuristic aesthetics of the city. The tables were arranged in neat rows, some with translucent dividers for added privacy. The surfaces shimmered with LED lights that changed colors according to the ambient lighting. The ceiling projected an artificial sky in shades of purple and blue, simulating a perpetual sunset.
As they moved forward, a few diners cast fleeting glances at them before returning to their conversations. Paying them little attention, they chose a spacious table in the center of the place. Andreas and Maddie sat together on one side, while Dedrick settled across from them with a relaxed expression.
As soon as they took their seats, holographic screens appeared in front of each of them, displaying images of dishes along with multiple customization options.
—All of this is breakfast? —Maddie asked, sliding her fingers across the interface, marveling at the number of choices.
—And damn good breakfast —Dedrick replied with a confident smirk.
After browsing the menu, they placed their orders:
Maddie ordered pancakes with honey, strawberries, blueberries, and scrambled eggs, accompanied by a glass of milk.
Andreas opted for two egg-and-cheese sandwiches and a black coffee.
Dedrick went for pancakes with honey, eggs, and bacon, along with a strong black coffee.
It only took a few minutes before a floating drone emerged from a side compartment. With precise movements, it placed the plates in front of them and then silently drifted away.
—Gotta love this era —Dedrick commented with a grin, picking up his utensils.
Without further delay, they began to eat. Maddie savored every bite slowly, enjoying the sweetness of the pancakes with honey and the freshness of the fruit. In contrast, Andreas and Dedrick devoured their meals without restraint, as if competing to see who could finish first.
Maddie frowned at their eating habits and scooted slightly away.
—Do you guys always eat like someone's about to steal your plate? —she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Dedrick shrugged while chewing, and Andreas simply kept eating without answering.
Once they were finished, both leaned back in their seats, letting out satisfied sighs.
—Aaaahhhh… I feel so much better now —Andreas murmured, closing his eyes with a grin.
Dedrick stretched his arms and smiled as well.
—Same here…
Maddie finished her meal shortly after and took a sip from her glass of milk.
—That was delicious… —she said with a small smile, relaxing in her seat.
Andreas adjusted himself, reaching for his coffee cup… but before he could grab it, a sound caught his attention.
Footsteps.
Strong, confident, echoing against the restaurant's polished floor. Instinctively, he lifted his gaze.
Two men walked down the central aisle. They wore black clothing with jackets featuring neon-yellow details. The way they moved—firm, unwavering—exuded confidence… or arrogance.
But what truly caught Andreas’ attention was the logo on the back of their jackets.
A jagged lightning bolt with sharp edges and a slight curvature, as if vibrating with pure energy. Within it, a sinister carved face emerged—elongated, glowing eyes shaped like slanted rhombuses, pulsing with neon-yellow light. Its mouth twisted into a crooked, sharp-toothed grin, with mechanical details, as if the creature itself was a fusion of electricity and metal.
Beneath the logo, in bold, heavy letters…
VOLT STRIKERS.
Andreas narrowed his eyes. His hand, which had been reaching for his coffee, froze mid-air.
Something about those guys didn't sit right with him.
Dedrick brought his coffee cup to his lips, sipping calmly without looking away from the restaurant window. His eyes reflected a mix of boredom and disdain.
—Volt Strikers, huh? —he muttered dispassionately—. Another one of those dumb criminal and racer gangs…
Andreas scoffed sarcastically, stirring his coffee with a spoon.
—Tch… Yeah… A whole load of bullshit… —he said with a mocking smirk.
The restaurant's atmosphere remained calm, with the faint hum of drones serving customers and the soft murmur of scattered conversations. Andreas took a slow sip of his coffee, enjoying the warmth of the liquid down his throat. After a few minutes, they were all done. Just then, a drone floated over to their table, collecting their plates with mechanical precision, and an instant later, a translucent screen appeared beside them, displaying the bill.
—Relax, I got this one —Dedrick said, pulling out his card and holding it to the scanner.
The screen confirmed the transaction, and as a response, a small hologram of a chef appeared above it, giving a thumbs-up with an exaggerated grin.
—Thank you for your purchase! Come back soon! —the animation said before disappearing.
Once the transaction was complete and the screen vanished, they decided to leave. Andreas was the first to stand, but just as he turned to move, he collided with someone.
A sharp impact hit his chest, followed by the sound of liquid spilling.
Andreas blinked and swallowed hard.
—Shit… —he muttered.
Before he could say anything else, the guy shoved him roughly, making him stumble and nearly fall back into his seat.
—Watch what you’re doing, you damn idiot! You better fix this… —the man spat furiously, his eyes flashing with anger.
Tension thickened in the air. Dedrick let out a heavy sigh and, without hesitation, stepped between Andreas and the guy.
—Relax, it was an accident.
—And who the hell are you? His babysitter? You both look equally stupid —the man sneered with a twisted grin—. I don’t care. That moron has to make up for it.
Dedrick narrowed his eyes in annoyance, but instead of answering, he simply exhaled sharply and gestured for Andreas and Maddie to leave. He turned around, ignoring the guy entirely.
The gang member watched them walk away, his jaw clenched in frustration. His companion, a man with a scar across his lip, leaned toward him with a crooked smile.
—So? You gonna do something about it?
The man looked down, sliding his hand toward his waist. His smile darkened as he pulled out a compact black-metal pistol with neon-yellow details.
Etched along the side of the weapon, the words VOLT-9 gleamed.
—Oh, yeah… —he whispered, his gaze brimming with pure hostility—. I’m gonna blow that motherfucker’s head off.
A metallic click echoed as he switched off the gun’s safety.
—Things are about to get… intense.
Just before the man fired, Dedrick felt a chill run down his spine. Something was off. His instincts screamed at him to move, and without thinking, he turned his head. His gaze met that of the man, who, with a mocking smile, pulled the trigger of his VOLT-9.
—Andreas, Maddie! Move!
Dedrick lunged at them, shoving them forcefully at the last second.
The shot echoed through the place. The plasma bullet struck directly into his right shoulder. A searing pain coursed through his body, and he staggered back, clutching the wound before dropping to his knees, feeling electric shocks pulsing through him.
—Dedrick! —Andreas shouted, his eyes wide open.
But he had no time to process what had just happened. The armed man was already aiming at him again.
Andreas reacted instantly, pushing Maddie to the ground to get her out of the line of fire. The shots continued, shattering tables and chairs around them. People screamed and ran in all directions, trying to escape.
—Damn bastard, we just wanted to have breakfast! —Andreas shouted, rolling on the floor to dodge another shot.
He quickly got to his feet and charged at the shooter, dodging the incoming projectiles. He was about to reach him when a brutal punch to the jaw sent him flying backward.
The man’s companion had appeared out of nowhere and landed a direct right hook.
Andreas was thrown back, crashing against a table that flipped over under his weight.
—Tsk… I didn’t even see where that bastard came from —he muttered, shaking his head to clear it.
The man who had hit him smirked arrogantly.
—You messed with the wrong people, idiot.
Andreas immediately got up.
—No, dumbass, you messed with the wrong person.
With a swift motion, he placed his hands on the table and used his strength to launch a rising kick. His boot struck the guy’s face directly, making him stumble.
—Fuck! —the thug growled, holding his face.
But Andreas didn’t give him time to recover. He tackled him with his full weight, knocking him to the ground.
Meanwhile, Maddie, who had been frozen in adrenaline, finally snapped into action.
—I'm not just going to sit here and do nothing…
Without hesitation, she ran toward the armed man and tried to snatch his gun away.
The guy clicked his tongue in annoyance.
—Get out of my way, bitch!
He shoved her back forcefully, making her stumble. But before she could react, he punched her straight in the face.
Maddie felt a sharp sting in her left cheek, and the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.
—Shit…! —she whispered, bringing a hand to her now-bleeding nose.
The man laughed mockingly.
—Better stay down, little girl.
Maddie gritted her teeth, rage bubbling inside her.
—Little girl?
With a growl, she lunged at him and landed a right hook straight to his jaw.
The thug staggered back, surprised.
—Fucking bitch…
He tried to hit her back, but Maddie quickly dodged and delivered another punch to his stomach.
Meanwhile, Dedrick, still in pain from his wounded shoulder, managed to get back on his feet.
—Ugh… fucking hell.
Andreas, on the other hand, was still fighting the second thug barehanded.
The blows were fast and brutal. Fists clashed against flesh and bone, grunts of effort and pain filling the air.
Andreas dodged a punch and took advantage of the opening to knee the guy in the stomach.
—Take this, asshole!
The man doubled over, struggling to catch his breath.
Andreas gave him no time to recover. He grabbed his head and slammed it against a table, climbing on top of him.
—Come on, get up, dumbass —he growled, landing a punch to his face.
The man struggled, but Andreas struck him again, leaving him semi-conscious.
Meanwhile, Maddie continued her fight.
The thug, furious, kicked her in the stomach, making her fall to her knees.
The thug raised his gun and aimed it at her head.
Before he could pull the trigger, Dedrick appeared behind him and locked his arm around the thug’s neck.
—Not so fast, asshole.
Andreas rushed forward and snatched the VOLT-9 from his hands before he could fire.
Without hesitation, Andreas shot him in the leg.
The man screamed in pain and collapsed to his knees.
—"FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!"
Andreas smirked.
—"Go to hell, asshole."
And he kicked him in the face, knocking him out instantly.
Silence filled the place, broken only by their heavy breathing.
—"Well, that was a mess…" —Andreas sighed, tossing the gun onto the thug’s chest.
—"Ngh… yeah…" —Maddie nodded, still sore.
Andreas turned to her.
—"Maddie… your nose is bleeding."
He grabbed some napkins from a table, cupped her face with one hand, and gently wiped the blood away.
She blinked in surprise, feeling her heart race.
—"There… much better."
Maddie gave him a small smile, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks.
—"Ehem… We should get out of here before the cops show up," —Dedrick said.
—"Yeah, let’s go," —Andreas agreed.
The three of them left just as the police arrived.
—"One less problem…" —Andreas muttered.
Dedrick sighed.
—"I still can’t believe all this started over a damn can of soda," —he said, covering his right shoulder, where the shot had hit him. It was bleeding, but he did his best to hide it.
—"Well, at least we got out unharmed… sort of," —Andreas laughed—. "I think we should go out for breakfast more often."
Dedrick and Maddie gave him an annoyed look.
—"Not for now…" —they replied in unison.
And so, the three walked across the platforms, heading back to their building.