Chapter 29: Hovercar Havoc, Misquotes, and the Hunt for Dr. Kain
The hovercraft screamed through the neon-stained sky of Nexus-9 like a dying animal.
Blazing plasma bolts roared past Elliot and Nova, lighting up the skyline as the Chrome Reapers, Spire Syndicate, and Ghost Circuit all closed in like a pack of bloodthirsty cyber-jackals.
And Elliot?
He was still sparking like a human power outage.
His Neural Boost was now at 195% — a violent storm of untamed electricity crackling across his skin, sending arcs of blue light snapping off his fingertips. Every jolt surged into the feedback loop with Nova's bioluminescent suit, causing the glowing lines along her ribs, thighs, and spine to flare brighter with each pulse.
It was like they were two malfunctioning bombs — and the countdown was getting louder.
The System buzzed in Elliot's head.
---
[New Mission: Hover or Die Trying]
Objective: Escape Nexus-9's factions in a stolen hovercraft.
Bonus: Don't blow up the engine with your Boost.
Failure: Mid-air explosion, public humiliation, and possibly death.
---
"Rookie!" Nova shouted, gripping the side of the hovercraft as Elliot fought the controls. "This thing doesn't have training wheels—fly better!"
Elliot's hands crackled against the console, his Boost overloading the ship's systems with every twitch of his fingers. The craft lurched hard left, nearly clipping a neon billboard that read:
"WELCOME TO NEXUS-9 — DON'T BLEED ON THE SIDEWALK."
"I'm TRYING!" Elliot snapped. "But maybe if you stopped glowing every time I breathe, I wouldn't be frying the ship!"
Nova's suit flared again — the neon lines crawling down her hips and way too low before glitching back up.
Her breath hitched. "You're the one feeding into my suit, rookie!"
The System chimed in.
---
[Pro Tip: Love sparks joy. Neural Boost sparks citywide destruction. Balance accordingly.]
— Marie Kondo… allegedly.
---
Elliot's eye twitched. "Not now."
Nova blinked. "... Did you just quote Marie Kondo?"
"NO, IT'S THE SYSTEM—"
The hovercraft jerked again as a plasma bolt grazed the tail end, sending sparks flying.
Another Chrome Reaper hovercraft roared alongside them — a gunmetal beast with glowing crimson lights — and Rend, the seven-foot cybernetic nightmare, stood in the open hatch, plasma rifle locked onto Elliot's head.
Rend grinned, metal teeth gleaming. "You're dead, spark boy."
Elliot grimaced. "I hate that nickname."
Nova unholstered her sidearm. "I don't."
The System buzzed.
---
[New Side Quest: Dodge, Shoot, or Crash]
Objective: Get Rend off your tail.
Bonus: Make a cool one-liner while doing it.
Hidden Reward: Nova's approval… or her further disappointment.
---
Rend's plasma rifle charged.
Elliot's Boost snapped again — sending a raw arc of electricity from his hand into the hovercraft's console.
The ship glitched — panels flickering, controls sparking — and suddenly, the hovercraft did a barrel roll.
Nova was launched sideways — barely grabbing the edge of the cockpit — while Elliot spun in his seat, electricity still crackling from his fingers.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!" Nova shouted, her suit flaring again as another pulse of static jumped from Elliot to her waist.
Elliot fought the controls. "I didn't mean to!"
The System buzzed.
---
[Pro Tip: Use the Force, Elliot.]
— Obi-Wan Kenobi… or some guy named Greg.
---
"ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!"
Nova blinked. "... Is your system quoting Star Wars now?"
"YES—DON'T ASK QUESTIONS."
Another plasma blast roared past them — narrowly missing Nova's head.
Her bioluminescent suit flared again — the neon lines trailing down her legs and rippling dangerously close to places Elliot was definitely trying not to think about.
Nova clenched her jaw. "Rookie, if you fry me again—"
Elliot's voice cracked. "I'm NOT DOING IT ON PURPOSE!"
The System chimed again.
---
[Libido Meter: You're the problem now.]
Warning: Neural Boost syncing with… other impulses.
Solution: Less touching. More running.
---
Elliot groaned. "I hate you."
Nova squinted. "Again — please tell me that wasn't directed at me."
A plasma blast from Rend smashed into the side of their hovercraft — sending the ship spiraling downward through a tangled cluster of neon signs.
"We're gonna crash!" Elliot roared.
The System buzzed.
---
[Misquote Mode Activated]
Quote: "I'm the king of the world!"
— Probably not Leonardo DiCaprio.
---
Nova blinked. "Did you just quote Titanic?"
Elliot's eye twitched. "It's the SYSTEM—"
The hovercraft spun again — diving straight into a back alley as Rend's ship pursued, plasma blasts tearing through the air.
Nova gritted her teeth. "Get us to Dr. Kain, rookie — NOW."
Elliot's Boost flared even hotter — 198% — sending wild arcs of electricity through the hovercraft's controls. The console flickered, warning lights flashing.
The System buzzed.
---
[Warning: Neural Boost approaching 200%]
Side Effects:
Uncontrollable energy surges
Citywide power outages
Unwanted sexual tension
---
"I'm gonna explode," Elliot rasped.
Nova smirked. "At least buy me dinner first."
The hovercraft lurched forward, blazing past a holo-billboard flashing an ad for Dr. Kain's Clinic:
"GOT A GLITCH? GET A FIX."
Elliot pointed. "That's our guy!"
Nova's blade crackled to life. "Then let's crash his party."
Rend's ship fired again — plasma bolts tearing through the alley — but Elliot slammed the controls forward, sending their hovercraft rocketing straight toward Kain's hidden clinic.
"Hold on!" Elliot roared.
The System buzzed.
---
[New Mission: Find the Mad Ripperdoc]
Objective: Get to Dr. Kain and fix Elliot's Boost before it hits 200%.
Bonus: Don't let Nova stab you.
Hidden Reward: The truth about Elliot's glitch.
---
The hovercraft spiraled downward — plasma blasts behind them, glowing neon ahead — as the legendary ripperdoc's clinic loomed larger and larger.
And with Elliot's Boost seconds from hitting 200%, and three factions still hot on their trail —
The only thing more dangerous than the enemies behind them…
Was what waited for them inside Dr. Kain's lab.