Rapido!

Chapter 7

Octavio rolled over in his bed and checked his clock, which read 3:17 am. He groaned and rolled back over. He'd closed his eyes tight, had a warm glass of milk, read a book, did push ups till he was exhausted and still couldn't sleep. He had even tried counting sheep like a 5 year old! He decided to try something that always worked for his energetic self, he got ready to go on a run. It was a bit scary, knowing that last time he had gotten hit by a truck and lost half of his body, but he enjoyed running so much he thought it was worth the risk. He got his shoes, sweatshirt, shorts, goggles and mask and headed out. He decided to leave his hat. It was cold and foggy out. Octavio put in his bluetooth earbuds and started running. He usually played rock music, or electro dance, but he was in a different mood. He listened to a band that was very popular years and years ago, and their genre was love songs. Octavio came to an intersection. If he turned left he would go back to the spot he got hit, so he went right, he wasn't quite ready to go back again. He thought of Natalie, what was she doing right now? Probably asleep. Octavio was really looking forward to trying her cooking tonight after the games. The games. He didn't know if he was ready to go back there either. Everyone still thought he was a coward, even though he wasn't. And now he felt like he had to prove to Natalie that he wasn't. He stopped for a moment to sit on a bench and held his head. Octavio heard a voice he recognized, it was low and rough. He tiptoed closer to the alley it was coming from, he didn't know who it was, but he knew that he didn't like this person.

"We can't go too fast you idiot! It has to grow an audience so that we can have more power!" Octavio heard a slap sound, ouch.

"Hey I'm trying to make sure we don't screw this up! Otherwise the Marauder Corps will be after us." Another voice said, they had a helmet on and their voice sounded like a voice disguiser.

"Guys, guys quiet down!" A third voice said as Octavio started to peak around the corner but stopped, "Bruce, why aren't we at our usual spot?" The third voice also had a helmet on but no disguiser.

Octavio froze when the name Bruce was mentioned. Octavio Bruce? He thought back to a time when this guy broke into his village once and tried to hurt Ajay and her family, and his family too.

Bruce sniffed, "We can't meet there today because the local law enforcement is right outside for some dumb reason, stupid bastards."

"Well you guys need to keep it down because someone's gonna hear, Silvers, check if anyone's out there."

"Affirmative." The disguised voice of Silvers said. Octavio panicked and reached for a stim, but then heard the click-chink of a gun being cocked and then really panicked. He selected his jumpad that breaks down after one use, jumped and stimmed. The sound of a P2021 filled the air behind him, along with shouting. Octavio was around the corner and gone in a flash.

...

"CHE I SWEAR! IT WAS HIM!" Octavio threw his hands up in the air and paced the floor in Ajay's room as she shook her head.

"There's no way Tavi." She yawned, "That Militia Pilot guy took down da ship, twas a huge explosion."

"Yes, yes, I know that that guy... What was his name? Cooper! Jack Cooper. Anyway... we know that he did but he could have survived! Pilots have good gear for stuff like that!"

"You had too much alcohol I think." She started to walk away.

"Ajay no! I swear! I haven't had anything to drink in... well, several hours, ok. But I promise!"

"Ok Tavi. I don fully believe ya," She started, "But at ta same time I don tink you've ever been so serious and crazy at da same time."

He sighed, "I'm a bit scared Che... I didn't think I'd have to face this guy again." He hung his head.