Power Punk

Downtown traffic was picking up with the growing light. Sunrays bounced between tall glass facades, scattering reflections. Rubber rustled on the pavement as a small delivery van rolled ponderously among scooters and bicycles. Bells mixed with voices and the flapping of pigeon wings, drifting into the bright sky above. Somewhere nearby, heads turned to watch a minor commotion.

It was two kids, in colorful jumpsuits with little capes and domino masks, dodging trees and street vendors while they chased each through the foot traffic. The van braked abruptly as one of them dashed across the road. Startled, the girl jumped high into the air, and never came down again, instead hovering at second-floor height, hands on her hips. Her friend followed a moment later, only to be met with a bright energy beam. He took it on his chest, seeming unfazed, then rushed his playmate so hard they both flew into the windows of a nearby office tower. The reflective surface rippled like water, splitting up long enough to admit them, then reformed.

Inside, countless columns lined a vast gloomy space. Loose pieces of construction materials littered the bare floor. Little feet echoed, punctuated with shrieks of delight; now and then, the air crackled with energy beams that didn't seem to cause much damage apart from leaving pockmarks where they hit.

After a while, someone came up the stairs. Someone two meters tall, with glowing eyes and metallic skin.

"Hey, kids!" he shouted. "How many times do I have to tell you, this isn't your playground. You could get hurt!"

"Sorry, mister!" they both answered at the same time, and ran outside past the uniformed guard at near-supersonic speeds.

( Read more... )