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"We've got a boogie right behind us!"
The driver — a wild-eyed man with long, spiky hair — slammed his foot on the accelerator, the black hover-car roaring down the rain-slick highway.
"Got it."
The man in the middle seat leaned forward, voice sharp and commanding. "Spiky, keep driving. The rest of you — deal with those cops. We finish this fast before backup shows up!"
He glanced through the rear-view holo-screen at the pursuing patrol lights. Just regular officers, he thought. No problem.
The four bandits moved in sync, veterans of a hundred dirty jobs.
One of them leaned halfway out the right-side window, hands glowing brown with earthen light as jagged chunks of road tore themselves free and shot backward toward the patrol car.
Raiden's hands moved like lightning. He twisted the steering wheel and the old patrol cruiser slid sideways, narrowly dodging the incoming rocks that shattered against the pavement.
On the opposite side, another bandit popped out the window, shouldering an S9 rifle. A faint whine filled the air as the weapon charged — its core pulsing blue.
"What the hell is that thing?" Ryley yelled, eyes wide.
"That's an S9 rifle, dumbass!" Raiden barked, jerking the wheel again. "Get out there and do your job before we're toast!"
Ryley groaned but pushed halfway through the windshield, muttering a curse. The ground beneath the speeding car trembled — chunks of asphalt ripped free and condensed into a massive boulder that he hurled straight into the oncoming laser beam.
BOOOOM!
The explosion lit the night sky in blue light. The boulder shattered, but it blocked the shot.
TUM — TUM — TUM!
Gunfire and detonations thundered as both sides exchanged attacks. Neon signs flickered. Civilians ducked for cover or simply turned away; in New Zenith, a mutant firefight was just another Tuesday night.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Ryley cursed between gritted teeth. "That stupid shield keeps blocking everything I throw!"
Raiden didn't answer. His focus was absolute, weaving through traffic, the patrol car dancing between collapsing chunks of road like it had a mind of its own.
A volley of rock bullets tore toward them — Ryley reacted instinctively, slamming his palms together. A stone wall erupted in front of the car.
Raiden's eyes widened. "You idiot! That's in front of us!"
"I—uh—sorry—"
"Don't talk, just build me a ramp! Three-and-a-half meters high, slanted forward! NOW!"
Raiden yanked the emergency brake. The car screeched sideways, sparks flying as tires screamed. The sudden drift sent the cruiser sliding up Ryley's hastily-made ramp — launching it skyward.
The world tilted. Raiden's heartbeat pounded in his ears. For a moment, time slowed — the city lights beneath them glimmering like molten jewels.
Then gravity returned.
The car spun in midair, performed a wild 360-degree rotation, and slammed down onto the street with a metallic THUD!
Raiden released the brake instantly, regaining control as the tires screeched back into motion. The patrol car bounced once, then stabilized — now right behind the fleeing bandits.
Both men exhaled at once.
"Next time," Raiden growled, "think before you build a wall in front of a speeding car! I'm not ready to die yet!"
"Yeah, yeah…" Ryley muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Raiden swerved again as another laser bolt zipped past, narrowly missing them. His knuckles were white against the wheel. Sweat rolled down his temples as he spoke into the communicator.
"Control, this is Bravo 50! Still in pursuit — suspect vehicle heading westbound through Sector 9! Backup ETA?"
Static hissed.
"Negative," came the reply. "Nearest units engaged elsewhere. Hold until reinforcements arrive."
Raiden cursed under his breath. "Figures."
It had been only five minutes since the chase began, but it felt like fifty. Every second stretched, adrenaline flooding his veins.
---
Inside the bandits' car, chaos matched the frenzy outside.
"Damn it!" one shouted. "That cop's driving's insane — he's still on us!"
"It's their driver," said the leader, jaw tight. "Guy's got skills."
From the back seat, a woman hissed, her hands glowing pink as she strained to maintain the shimmering energy field that wrapped their vehicle. "I can't hold this forever, Spiky! Drive faster!"
"I'm trying!" the driver roared, the hover-car fishtailing around a sharp bend.
Raiden's headlights flared behind them, unwavering.
---
"Pull over now!" Raiden shouted into the patrol mic. His voice boomed from the cruiser's external speakers, amplified over the roar of engines. "This is your final warning!"
TUM — TUM — CRASH!
A laser blast struck the patrol car's side, tearing through the speaker system. Sparks burst across the dashboard.
"Gotcha," the rifleman sneered. "No more yelling from that bastard."
The communicator squealed with static, the sound warping into a high-pitched whine.
The S9 rifle hummed again, blue energy swirling in its barrel. It was a weapon feared even among mutants — its beams hot enough to melt reinforced steel in seconds. Weak by top-tier standards, sure, but deadly in the hands of a killer.
Ryley clenched his teeth, summoning his energy once more. Jagged earth spikes erupted from the ground like fangs, reaching for the hover-car's wheels.
But again — ping! — a rosy shimmer enveloped the enemy vehicle, nullifying the attack completely.
"Damn that shield!" Ryley slammed his fist on the window frame. "It cancels out everything I throw!"
Raiden's eyes darted to the glowing barrier, noticing faint flickers across its surface. "Don't give up now. Look at it — it's getting weaker every time you hit. Keep pushing!"
Ryley blinked. He hadn't noticed before, but Raiden was right — the glow had dimmed. Cracks of pink static rippled across it.
He grinned. "Guess we're making a dent after all."
"That's the spirit," Raiden said, swerving again as another volley whizzed past.
Inside the bandit car, the leader's tone shifted to panic. "Spiky! Lose them now! The field's breaking!"
"I said I'm TRYING!" the driver snapped, eyes darting between the road and the rear mirror.
Rain poured harder, thunder rumbling overhead as the two cars raced through the neon city — one blazing trail of blue light chasing another through the storm.
Neither side was ready to give in.
And somewhere in the chaos, deep in Raiden's chest, that faint warmth flickered again — stronger
this time, pulsing with each heartbeat.
He didn't notice it yet. But the spark had begun to burn.
---
To be continued…