84 CHAPTER 83 THE BOY IN YELLOW

"So, I will place a personal bet on this race, you will double the amount of the prize money if I win." Pinna winked as she collected the Rollar-board from the girl behind the counter. The girl only smiled darkly, creasing the skin that hung over the metallic face. She was a Hubot, one of Dr. Jakin's inventions that helps disabled humans by attaching lost body parts with machines. 

"Should I be afraid?" Matt said, not hiding the amusement that lingered on his words.

They walked towards the frontline and stood abreast with the other racers, about three of them, all of which have their faces buried behind their head plate.

"You should be, General," Pinna said.

Matt laughed. He really missed this. Standing here now, among these teenagers, he couldn't help the memory. The vibe of the entrance examinations was crawling on his stomach again, and the feeling was so exhilarating. It was as if his spirit wanted to jump out of his body.

"Okay racers, let���s get ready to party," The boy with the colored hair shouted and his voice boomed on the speakers. He tilted his head backward and danced to a piece of imaginary music whose beat he alone heard. If Matt remembered correctly, the last time he saw such insanity was among his brother's four years ago.

"The rule of the game is…" The boy whispered and the noise of the crowd hushed down like an assembly of little children, "No rule!" 

His last words sent screams and delightful cries throughout the cold atmosphere, echoing through the street until it was lost somewhere in the night. A glint of metal flared with the blue light that hung on the counters as the boy rolled up his sleeve. He was a Hubot too, but unlike the girl on the counter, his metallic arms looked like armor. 

Matt steadied his feet on his Roller-board, hoping to get to the finish line before Pinna. His eyes followed the metallic hands of the boy even as his Head-Plate hummed and covered his face. The feeling was surfacing and he could sense every thump in his chest, trying to propel him. Adrenaline was also rushing through his veins, making his fingers twitched, and somewhere at the back of his mind, he could feel his head swelling with excitement.

He had missed this. He couldn't remember how long. This feeling was one thing he loves about racing. It made him forget about the world outside. It always gave his mind something to live for.

"Let the race begin," The colored haired boy shouted and pointed his metallic hands to the air. A bright white light shot out from his hands into the dark night until it exploded with a deafening sound with different colors. 

Matt leaned in on his Roller Board as he zoomed into the night with the other racers. His heart continued to beat faster as the wind bashed on his helmet. The screams of the people had long been forgotten. Not that he cared. He wanted to stay focus, he wouldn't give Pinna the edge to mock him.

A small smile plastered his face when he zoomed pass a racer that was in a green jumpsuit. If this were to be an official race, then the boy would have been disqualified for standing on his Roller-board, instead of leaning in. 

Matt pass another boy and his stomach lifted when he caught sight of Pinna. The girl was in the second position and was doing everything within her power to get pass the yellow shirt in front of her. But unlike the other two armature racers with their inept skill, this racer in front clearly knew how to maneuver in the wind. The way he controlled his Roller-board with his body was something Matt had not seen in a long while. His skills were laudable and oddly familiar.

Matt bit down the frustration when the anemometer pole beeped with a red light, revealing the final lap. The racer in yellow was still on the lead with Pinna hot on his trail. Even though Matt was on his top speed, he knew it would take ages to beat either of the two.

Without thinking, he glided away from the magnetic trail and traced his way into a dusty road. He couldn't say why he had broken away from the trail, but from the coordinate on the map displayed in front of him, he will burst out in front of Pinna and the yellow suit guy if only he could iron his speed correctly.

He leaned on the Roller Board, hoping to gather more momentum, but the Roller Board grunted in protest and slowed down until it came to an abrupt stop. Matt curse and alighted from the Board. His helmet unfolded, revealing the anger that lined his fair skin.

"Useless Roller-Board." He kicked.

"Hey, are you okay down there," Came Pinna's mockery from the earpiece.

"Bloody Roller-Board just broke down," Matt grunted. 

"Oh, take it easy, General." Pinna chuckled, "I will come back for you when I have my medal." 

Matt bit his lower lips. "We would have a rematch,"

"Rematch? I don't think so. Perhaps next time you should follow the rules of the game." Pinna laughed, "I will just be glad to know that…" Her voice cracked, followed by a silence that sent a chill down Matt's spine.

"Pinna?" Matt called, "Can you hear me?"

"Matt…" Her voice came on again, but this time, Matt could hear the fright that lingered with the panting breath "No, No. Please…" There was some rattling of metal and then her voice was gone.

"Pinna? Pinna?" Matt called. The lack of response made his heart sink into his stomach. What was happening to her? And that rattling sound? Could it be that she had crashed?

He swallowed as he forced open the control panel of the Roller Board. A red light flared in the engine, making him smile despite the frustration. The Roller-Board was an upgrade and had a red light on its engine, unlike the previous versions that were so sophisticated. Matt searched through the disarray of wires and was glad when he saw the black magnetic plug. He pulled the plug and chuckled when the Roller Board roared to life.

"Stupid Dr. Jakins" Matt scoffed as he mounted the Roller Board and soared deeper into the night. 

If Pinna had crashed, then he needed to be there to carry her home. Taking her to the hospital would be ideal, but it was one dangerous task he would never venture into. But for the Keepers and some Officials in the high places of the government, every citizen is expected to wear the HT (happy tech). It was an offense punishable by death if a citizen refuses to accept the HT.

The finish line came into view and the colored light of the street revealed the face of the people, who clustered together, like an army of protesters. Even the noise that once announced their presence has been hushed into a quiet murmur.

Matt was already walking towards them before his Roller Board glided to a stop. He couldn't even remember jumping out from it. The noise of the people increased when he swims his way through the bodies, hoping to get a glimpse of what was happening.

"How dare you?" The boy with the colored hair was saying when Matt finally made it to the opening. He was pointing his metallic arms to a girl who was kneeling before him. 

"You are a fool," The girl spat and made to stand.

"Don't even think about it," The boy said, and he rested the barrel of his metallic hands on the girl's forehead.

"What will you do?" The girl panted and lifted her face. Matt swallowed when her emerald green eyes met his.

"Pinna?" He called, and all heads turned to him.

"You know this thing?" The colored hair boy asked. 

Matt did not reply. Instead, he drove his boot into the boy's face, sending him crashing to the floor.

"You..are so dead," The boy grunted as he hurried up to his feet. He checked his lips but spat when he saw the blood. "Kill them" He screamed.

Reflexively, Matt rested his hands on his waist but frowned with regret when it dawned on him that he had left his sword in his apartment. He was unarmed and vulnerable. He could take two or three people at a time, but a crowd? That would be suicide.

"This way," Somebody shouted. 

Matt dodged to the side, missing the stick that would have left him with a crushed skull. He drove his elbow into the rib of his attacker and picked up the stick, glad to finally have a weapon. The person who had spoken earlier was fighting his way through the crowd, giving them space. His face was still covered under his head plate, but the yellow jumpsuit he wore made Matt realize that it was the boy that had raced with them.

"Does this happen every time," Pinna asked and hurried after the yellow racer, who was running to the other end of the street. 

"I told you this was a bad idea," Matt said. The angry mob was hot on their tail, shouting out for blood. 

"There," The boy in yellow pointed and ran to the Air-Tripler that stood beside one of the counters and was humming like a bird.

Matt and Pinna did not ask any question as they hurried after the boy and into the Vessel. Before the mob could get close enough, the Air-Tripler was already away from the ground and gliding into the night. 

"That was close," Matt panted, "Are you okay?" He looked to Pinna, who looked like a swelled ball. 

"I will be fine," Pinna said, "Hey, you got an ice bag here?" She asked the yellow suit boy who was on the control.

"Yeah, I think so," The boy said as his Head Plate folded.

Matt's heart skipped as he watched the blue hair which dangled on the boy's shoulders. "Ham?" He called, finally placing the piece together.

"Hello Matty," Ham said and turned to them.