Vertigo seized Jai as he glanced down, the gap between him and certain death both vast and terrifyingly intimate. The wind rushed past his ears, rendering him deaf to distant sounds.

It's a good thing Kalla has her eyes closed. She would totally freak if she knew how high up we are right now.

Scanning the horizon, Jai's brow furrowed with concern. "Huh, there hasn't been anyone else in the sky recently. Any idea why?"

"Oh no." Kalla's response carried an undercurrent of dread that made Jai's stomach clench.

Every hour, the massive skyscrapers of Kaiden City shifted positions like pieces on a chess board. During those five minutes of movement, flight becomes strictly prohibited—a rule the two students had carelessly overlooked. Now they faced the consequences: being trapped in a lethal maze of hovering buildings.

The scrapers slowly rose from their concrete foundations with upscaled omni-propulsors, beginning their hourly migration. The creaking of their infrastructure echoed as the cityscape transformed around them.

"Kalla right! Turn right!" Jai's voice pushed against the air, just barely reaching Kallas's ears. A tower suddenly blocked their path, its glass reflecting the setting sun like a wall of fire. Although delayed, they just barely managed to evade.

Staying level-headed, Jai adjusted for the delay and guided Kalla through the labyrinth of moving structures. "Left! Right! Up! Right! Left again! Straight ahead!"

Each command came seconds before collision, their survival hanging by threads of quick reflexes and trust. Metal scraped against metal as buildings slid past each other, creating narrow corridors that closed as quickly as they appeared.

Five minutes of heart-stopping navigation later, they emerged unscathed. The experience had hardened Kalla's resolve—after surviving that, catching the bandit seemed inevitable. Jai spotted their target disembarking from the bullet train at a nearby station. The thief bolted out, his stolen goods clutched tightly in his hands. Jai locked eyes on the target and pitched forward, leading Kalla into a steep descent.

Wind shrieked past his ears as exhilaration flooded his system—despite the danger, he was living for this moment. The bandit sprinted at full speed from the station, making a desperate break for the Beta Sector. A familiar deep rumble began to grow, vibrating the air. Despite his frantic pace, the man found himself cut off by a convoy of massive storage trucks.

"Aw, come on!" he shouted, skidding to a halt.

Paranoia overtook the thief as he waited for the truck to clear. His foot tapped anxiously against the pavement while he repeatedly checked his watch and scanned for the pursuers he believed couldn't possibly have followed him. The truck's rear finally came into view, prompting a relieved sigh as he convinced himself he'd pulled off the heist. As it cleared, he leapt across the tracks—directly into Jai's waiting fist.

The impact was precise and devastating, shattering his fantasies of escape. Reality came crashing back in the form of pain blooming across his face.

"Now!" Jai's command cut through the air.

Kalla descended like a hawk, using Jai's voice as a guide. Expertly grappling the stunned thief and pinning him down. Only when she had him properly restrained did she open her eyes. Meanwhile, Jai retrieved the stolen items, carefully inspecting them for damage. The thief writhed beneath Kalla's grip, desperation in every plea for release.

"What happens now?" Jai asked, tucking the recovered goods back into the bag.

"Should be any minute now," Kalla replied, glancing at her phone.

The clock struck 6:00, and defeat dawned across the thief's face. His struggles intensified, desperation reaching new heights.

"No, please! You gotta let me go! I'll never steal again, I swear!"

A green glow began to emanate from the thief, prompting Kalla to release her hold. Despite his being free, an invisible force held him in place. His veins bulged beneath his skin as he strained with effort but remained immobilized. The green light intensified before shooting skyward in a brilliant beam. Across the city, similar columns of light in various colors pierced the darkened sky.

Kalla relaxed, one hand resting on her hip as she observed the spectacle. "Looks like he's not the only one who didn't follow the rules."

Jai raised an eyebrow. "What rules?"

"There is a curfew set for citizens that they all must abide by. If they're not in their designated sector by 6:00, an implant picks up on it. They're then restrained and pinpointed with a beam of light for easy arrest," Kalla explained.

"Dystopian," Jai responded bluntly.

"Tell me about it. It sounds crazy, but it plays a crucial role in keeping the peace here in Kaiden City."

"So our work here is done?"

"Yeah, some officers will be here to bring him into custody. Let's get outta here before they find us."

Kalla flew them back to Epsilon Sector to return and pick up the items. With midnight curfews for visiting Saviors, the night remained young and full of possibilities. They continued their shopping expedition, Jai acquiring a new phone and a handful of fascinating gadgets that caught his eye. Music pulsated through the air from a distant concert in Gamma Sector, capturing Kalla's attention. She tugged on Jai's sleeve, insisting they go check it out.

The heart of the Gamma Sector was an upbeat environment where concerts were a nightly routine. Music was important to their people, seen as the pinnacle of human creation. Loathed by the Beta Sector for disrupting their treasured quiet but adored by Zeta for complementing their musical nature. Beyond its loud signature, the sector appeared remarkably ordinary.

The crowd moved as one, thousands of bodies rising and falling in perfect sync with the music's rhythm. Laser lights carved patterns across the night sky like luminescent streamers. Jai and Kalla surrendered to the moment, letting the music dictate their movements as they danced among strangers. Amid the crushing volume, Kalla called for Jai's attention, her voice fighting to move under the weight of thunderous bass.

"I wanted to thank you for today!"

"Thank me?! For what! I should be thanking you for showing me around the city! I learned a lot from you tonight!"

Kalla shook her head, disagreeing. "You know, I was prepared for a boring night out, but I was wrong about you! You gave me a new perspective today, and its made me stronger! No one has ever done that for me!"

Uncertainty rendered Jai speechless, his fingers nervously fidgeting with the cuffs of his sleeves until Kalla stepped forward, enveloping him in a tight embrace. "Thank you."

After a moment's hesitation, Jai returned the gesture, cementing a friendship forged in vulnerability. "Any time."

Pushing him away but keeping hands on his shoulders, Kalla smiled, "Consider this an official rivalry."

Jai nodded, at peace with their new dynamic.

The evening's fun proved short-lived. At 7:00, chaos erupted as a man tore through the crowd. Jai and Kalla observed from afar, their attention sharpening when they spotted Nera in pursuit. Unnoticed by their classmate, they followed her out of Gamma Sector into a deserted Border Alley, where they discovered her interrogating the man. Water encircled his legs like a ball and chain as she leaned into his face.

"Give it back, now!" she demanded.

The man hastily complied, surrendering her wallet.

Stepping from the shadows, the students revealed themselves. "Nera?" Jai's voice caused her to freeze. "What's going on?"

Recognition flashed across her features, followed by visible panic.

Shit! What the hell is he doing here? Okay Nera, stay calm. You got this.

Composing herself, she turned to face them. "The bastard stole my wallet while I was in the middle of my set! I chased him down all over the damn city."

Kalla's laughter bubbled up at the irony. Jai, however, narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"If that's true, why isn't he being restrained? It's past curfew."

Kalla's amusement evaporated. "Yeah, you're right. That is weird."

The three students advanced on the captive, their combined presence intimidating.

"I- I can explain! Just please, don't hurt me!" His words tumbled out in a desperate plea.

Nera crouched to meet his gaze. "You have a minute. Starting now."

"Okay, I cut out my implant alright! But It was all so I could reach you guys. And it worked!" The explanation quick.

"First of all, ouch! Second of all, how the hell do you know we're Saviors?" Kalla interjected.

A smirk crossed his face. "Don't worry about it."

"Oh no, its you who should be worried! We have no choice but to turn you in," Nera declared, hauling him to his feet.

"If you do that, all of the Iota Sector will die!" His desperate proclamation stopped Nera in her tracks.

Interest sparked in Jai's eyes as he raised a hand. "Let's hear him out."

"Good luck with that, Nera would never-" Kalla's certainty faltered as Nera stepped aside, her face flushing crimson.

I stand... corrected? Nera... are you...... NO WAY!!

Excitement overwhelmed Kalla as she launched herself at Nera, engulfing her in an unexpected embrace. Meanwhile, Jai addressed their mysterious captive.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Sables."

"Nice to meet you, Sables. I'm Jai," he offered, breaking the tension. "You must have a good reason for coming all the way out here, so I'll hear you out."

The man nodded, ready to explain the motive behind his desperate actions.