The bus climbed a steep incline, groaning under its own weight. The engine hummed, the vibrations rattling through the metal floor beneath their feet.
brrrrrrr
Chet leaned back, arms crossed, ears flicking.
"How long do you think it will take to get there?"
Nox adjusted his scarf, his breath fogging the scratched window. Outside, the greenish haze of the lower sectors was finally starting to thin out, but the air still had that metallic taste, Coreline's version of fresh.
"Not sure, but we're still climbing out of the Crossway. It'll be a bit."
The narrow, grimy streets of the lower sectors stretched wider as the bus ascended, leaving behind the tangled mess of pipelines, rusted scaffolding, and grayish-drenched alleyways.
Then, the bus rolled over a bridge, a rare break in the skyline, offering an unobstructed view of Sector Crossway below.
Not quite the Lower District, but not far from it either.
From up here, the rooftops looked like patchwork, built from salvaged metal sheets and scavenged tech.
The streets were busy with foot traffic, market stalls crammed between old apartment complexes, and shiny billboards flickering between ads and static.
The air transit lanes above buzzed with delivery drones, zigzagging between high-rise platforms.
Nox leaned against the window, watching the city blur past.
He pointed toward a crowded street corner, where a familiar red neon sign flickered above a vendor stall.
"Chuck's Crib. See that guy? He sells the best fried dumplings in Coreline, if you don't mind dodging a few health violations."
Zee arched an eyebrow, smirking.
"Knowing you, I bet you've traded double his stock for half the price."
Nox grinned.
"Hey, a fox's gotta eat. Besides, he loves me. Calls me his best customer."
Chet let out a low chuckle.
"I'm pretty sure he calls you the fox who keeps talking him down in price."
They passed a cluster of industrial silos, steam hissing from rusted vents, while massive holoscreens advertised Coreline's latest VR games and off-world lottery tickets.
Further ahead, the bus rolled past a fenced-off area, its barbed wire glinting under the artificial glow of floodlights.
The Undercity Chokepoint.
Nox's ears flicked, his gaze sharpening for a second.
They'd been down there just earlier that day. The narrow passage into the forgotten depths of Coreline, hidden beneath heavy metal gates and warning signs.
He tore his eyes away, exhaling slowly.
Too many memories. No need to dwell.
He tapped his fingers against his knee, shifting his focus back to the ride.
"You ever think about how small we are?"
Zee gave him a sideways glance.
"Oh no. Here we go. Existential fox mode activated."
Nox chuckled but didn't look away from the window.
"I'm serious. Look at this place. It's huge. We're just... here. A tiny piece of it. Like pawns in a game we don't even get to play."
Chet stared out at the towering skyline, his brow furrowing.
"You got a point… but no one changes things alone, Nox. Even the small stuff? It only matters if someone's got your back."
Zee smiled slightly, her tone thoughtful.
"Maybe. But change doesn't start big, Nox. It just needs a few people crazy enough to make a difference."
Zee watched the city fade behind them, arms crossed.
Nox blinked, caught off guard.
For once, he didn't have a quick-witted comeback.
A few seconds passed before a smirk tugged at his lips.
"See? This is why I keep you two around. You make me sound smarter by association."
Zee rolled her eyes, nudging him with her elbow.
"You wish."
The bus rumbled past a derelict station, its tracks half-buried under layers of grime and discarded junk.
Chet watched the decaying rail lines fade into the distance.
"But you know, it's funny… our sector feels like it's holding its breath, like it's just waiting for something to give in."
"Or explode," Zee muttered dryly, flicking her eyes toward a distant plume of black smoke rising from a factory chimney.
Nox smirked, nudging her playfully.
"Hey, we could be stuck all the way at the bottom, in the Lower District."
Zee arched an eyebrow.
"The best? Now that you mention it... what does 'the best' even look like in Sector Crossway?"
Nox tapped the window with his paw.
"It's not about getting rich. It's about not being poor. Big difference."
Zee shook her head, her expression softening.
"You're always chasing creds, Nox. You underestimate the things you already have."
Chet gestured between himself and Zee, his tail flicking behind him.
"Like us. Small things matter, remember?"
Zee's smile faded slightly as she looked back at the blurring city below.
"Yeah… but what worries me is how fast this city is breaking apart. The Lower District used to be a part of us.
Our sector wasn't always covered in smog. But now? We're just waiting for the trash and factory smoke to push us down with it."
The bus turned onto a main avenue, passing a massive, abandoned mall, its once-bright billboards now cracked and flickering.
The CoreMart Ruins.
Another reminder of how fast things changed.
Once a place full of life, shoppers, street vendors, late-night markets.
Now? A shell of itself.
A perfect symbol of what was happening to Sector Crossway , slowly getting devourd by the pressure of the city.
As the bus turned a corner, the murky haze of the streets began to lift. The way ahead was wider, cleaner, though not pristine. Neon signs glowed steadily, still advertising noodle shops and virtual arcades.
after a while the static robotic voice started speaking again.
"Next station, Midway Plaza."
Nox leaned back in his seat, his eyes scanning the changing scenery.
"The Lower Districts, where dreams are made of broken parts and duct tape.
And then there's Coreline's middle fields, where they're polished and sold for double the price.
Especially Midway Plaza. Guess our sector gets slowly overtaken by the smog and trash until we too become just the Lower District."
Chet looked out the window, his ears perking up.
"This is more my speed. Plenty of space, good food, and decent people."
The Midway Plaza wasn't exactly glamorous, but compared to the hazy streets of Crossway, it felt like an entirely different world.
The air here was clearer, though still tinged with the faint metallic scent of industrial exhaust.
Neon lights and holographic billboards flickered in countless numbers overhead, advertising everything from VR lounges and high-energy drink brands to corporate job listings promising stability that never quite materialized.
The streets were wide and well-maintained, bustling with people who weren't quite rich but weren't struggling to survive either.
Vendors lined the sidewalks, selling freshly grilled skewers, synthetic pastries, and pre-packaged meals that were heavily overpriced but looked quite decent.
The storefronts here were a mix of chain restaurants, convenience hubs, and old-fashioned street markets where merchants yelled over one another, offering "limited-time" discounts that never actually ended.
"Yeah, yeah," Nox teased, waving a paw dismissively.
"Midway's sector is great if you like playing it safe. No risks, no adventure. Just… normalcy. Capitalism at its peak."
"Some of us like normalcy, Nox," Zee retorted, crossing her arms.
"Not everyone enjoys running on the edge like you."
Her tone softened slightly.
"It's just sad that Sector Crossway doesn't even get a chance at normal anymore.
Our sector used to be different, you know? More street markets, less factory smoke.
Then the megacorps pushed more production down here, and now we're just waiting for the smog to settle in for good."
The bus passed a small park, a rare splash of green amidst the urban sprawl. Families sat on benches, and kids played around a sputtering fountain that still managed to catch the glow of nearby lights.
Nox sighed dramatically, throwing his head back.
"Alright, fine. Midway has its perks."
He grinned mischievously.
"But let's be honest. You two wouldn't last a day in the High Spire District."
Zee scoffed.
"The Nexus? Oh, please."
"Exactly," Nox said, still grinning.
"Glass towers, floating walkways, sky gardens. Clean air, sure, but it costs you your soul."
Chet tilted his head.
"Sky gardens? Really?"
"Yup," Nox said, standing up and pressing his face to the window, peering as high as he could.
"Been there once or twice. You know me."
Zee chuckled, leaning back in her seat.
"Oh yeah. Sure you have, Nox."
She smirked.
"Let me guess. You were just passing through on your way to make another deal?"
Nox turned to her with a mock-offended gasp.
"Hey, it's true. And trust me, Chet, you'd love those gardens. Giant trees, fresh air, all that space to stretch your legs."
Chet's eyes widened slightly, a smile creeping onto his face.
"Bet I would."
The bus slowed as it neared their stop, the hologram above the driver's seat flickering:
CoreCoaster Station – Midway District.
The low hum of the engine filled the cabin as it came to a full stop.
Zee stretched her arms, glancing at Nox.
"Alright, fox boy. Last chance to back out before we drag you onto every ride."
Nox sighed dramatically.
"Oh, woe is me. Forced fun. What a nightmare."
Chet chuckled, already standing up.
"Come on, guys. Time to make some memories."
A busker played a synthetic guitar, his voice barely carrying over the noise, while a massive holo-ad for the CoreCoaster spiraled up a building, promising:
"The Ride of Your Life."
The three of them stepped off the bus, the gates of CoreCoaster looming ahead of them.
The night was just beginning.