Aurion Chapter 2: Street Kid

*CRUNCH*

Naya smirked as she felt the familiar sensation of two squishy orbs compress against the steel toe of her boot. She wished she could afford a composite metal like mythril or even adamantite, but that was far beyond her reach for now. Steel was still more than enough to achieve her desired effect.

"GHYYUUUAAAAAGHH!" The boy screamed in a vocal pitch that easily reached the soprano range, now that his nuts were in his throat.

"How do those nuts taste?" Naya teased with a grin, wiggling the toe of her boot against his pancaked balls. The local thug had been bragging about his new orichalcum enhanced pelvis and how she'd break her foot if she tried to kick him in the nuts. Too bad for him he forgot about the fact that his testicles were there to cushion her toes. His new augmentation, which most likely wasn't real orichalcum anyways considering he was broke too, only served to ensure his precious testes were crushed between metal reinforced bone and her steel toe.

"Too bad those nano-fibers in your balls don't stop them from squishing," she mocked as she mercifully withdrew her foot and allowed the young tattooed man with a dyed green mohawk to collapse into a ball of tears and nutpain. "At least they make it harder for us girls to pop them right?" She laughed while casually resting her foot on the side of his face, pushing his tear streaked cheek into the dirty street while he clutched at his bruised balls and sobbed.

Most of the time Naya was content to end confrontations like this with a swift kick to the nads, but this guy had been especially annoying recently. Her golden brown eyes moved to a dumpster further down the alley, where wide blue eyes and blonde hair peeked out.

*I told her not to come,* Naya mentally complained with a heavy sigh, but she couldn't blame the younger girl. Watching the guy who had been harassing her get his nuts smashed in must've been too tempting for her to resist.

Bending her knee, Naya refocused on the guy underfoot as she shifted more of her weight onto his face. "Let me know when you boys find a way to reinforce your nuts with adamantite," she requested teasingly, reminding him of the impossible goal many male scientists had spent years researching. Unfortunately for the boys, organs just couldn't be reinforced with anything beyond some basic nano-fibers without destroying them. "Until then, remember that I can do this to you whenever I want, and there's nothing you can do to stop me." Naya's eyes narrowed as she punctuated her point by grinding her boot into his jaw, eliciting more whimpers and sobs from the thoroughly defeated thug.

"So don't fuck with me." With those parting words of warning, she removed her boot, smirking at the imprint it left on his cheek. Stepping casually over his curled up body, Naya stared down the remaining thugs as she walked towards the dumpster where her best friend Trixie was shaking with excitement, barely able to keep herself from cheering.

"Holy shit, Naya! That was amazing!" Trixie squealed, bouncing on her heels as Naya approached. "You totally owned him! Did you see how hard he dropped? I bet he won't be walking straight for a week!" Trixie's pale blue eyes sparkled with excitement and awe. She had always looked up to Naya, ever since they were little girls running through the slums together. Naya was her hero, her protector, her everything."I can't believe you actually kicked him in the balls!" Trixie continued, her voice barely above a whisper now as she leaned in close. "I mean, I've seen you do it before, but…wow. It's always so intense. How do you even do that? I thought guys would like, die if you hit them that hard!"

Naya chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Trixie's blonde hair affectionately. "Nah, they don't die. They just wish they did." Her golden-brown eyes glinted with mischief. "Boys will be boys. They just can't accept the fact that no matter how much they augment themselves, they'll always have those weak balls dangling between their legs. Easy targets." she added with a grin, giving a casual shrug of her shoulders, before turning a little serious. "But seriously, it's all about the angle and the timing. You gotta hit 'em just right, ya know? Too soft and they'll just get pissed. Too hard and you might actually rupture something. Gotta find that sweet spot."Trixie nodded eagerly, hanging onto Naya's every word. "I wanna learn how to do that someday. I wanna be able to protect myself like you do. Will you teach me?"

Naya's expression softened at her friend's plea. She knew how much Trixie looked up to her, how much she wanted to be strong like her. But Naya also knew the risks. Knew that one wrong move, one missed kick, could spell disaster."I dunno, Trix," she said hesitantly. "It's not as easy as it looks. And if you miss…well, let's just say it ain't pretty."Trixie's face fell, disappointment clear in her eyes. Naya sighed, reaching out to cup her friend's cheek. Trixie was only two years younger than Naya, who had just turned 18 last month, but she had always felt very protective of the smaller girl. "Tell ya what. I'll teach you some basic self-defense moves. Show you how to get out of holds and stuff. But no ball-busting. Not yet anyway. You gotta work your way up to that, okay?"

Trixie pouted at her as they walked out of the alley, leaving the rest of the wannabe street gang to collect their still sobbing boss. "Why not!" she protested, giving Naya her best puppy dog eyes. The look that almost always got her what she wanted from her older friend. "You said it was easy last time!" She quickly scanned her memories, trying to remember the exact words Naya had spoken. "You said, 'I'm going to go crack that asshole's nuts. It'll be easy.'" she mimicked in Naya's voice, though a little higher-pitched and much more playful than the angry tone Naya had used when Trixie had informed her about the way Ryan, the green haired punk, had been following her around and cat calling her. "We both have the same government issue augments too!" Trixie added, crossing her arms with a huff. "Minus your nano-motors," she added as an afterthought.

It wasn't entirely true, since 'government issue' augments really just meant whatever old scraps happened to be lying around when a person was born. These days everyone received at least basic cybernetic implants like nano-fiber enhanced muscles right after birth, ensuring the body would adapt to the implants. Of course, the quality of those nano-fibers varied wildly. Naya was keenly aware that her left leg had superior quality nano-fibers than her right leg, making running a pain since she had to account for the difference in max speed and acceleration. To solve that issue, she had saved up for three years and purchased some really low quality nano-motors to put in her right leg. Normally nano-machines like that would be controlled by an AI, but the government issue all citizens were provided with was complete garbage. Trusting that thing to control her power output was like trusting a blind man to drive a car at 100 miles per hour. Needless to say, Naya had immediately taken manual control of her nano-motors after the first few face-plants and never looked back.

Trixie was like a persistent little gremlin when she wanted something. Once she latched onto an idea, she didn't let go until she got her way. It was both endearing and infuriating. Naya let out an even heavier sigh, her golden-brown eyes narrowing at Trixie. "Okay, okay, fine. I'll teach you how to kick a guy in the balls. But you gotta promise me you won't go looking for trouble, okay? This is for self-defense only."

Trixie's face lit up like a Christmas tree, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "I promise, I promise!" She bounced on her heels, barely able to contain her enthusiasm. "When do we start? Can we start now? Pretty please?"

Naya rolled her eyes, but couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. Trixie's enthusiasm was infectious, even if her timing was terrible. "No, not now. I gotta go to work in like, 20 minutes." She held up a hand to stop Trixie's protest before it could leave her lips. "And you gotta go to school. I'll teach you after, okay? Meet me at the old warehouse on 5th street. And Trix?" She waited for the blonde to meet her gaze, her expression serious. "Be careful. I know you got the same augments as me, but that don't mean you're invincible. Don't go picking fights you can't win, got it?"

Trixie nodded solemnly, her excitement dampened by Naya's warning. "Got it. No fights. Only defense." She held up her pinky finger, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Pinky promise!"Naya linked her pinky with Trixie's, shaking on it. "Pinky promise," she echoed, before pulling the smaller girl into a quick hug. "Alright, get going before you're late. I'll see you after school, yeah?"Trixie nodded, returning the hug tightly before skipping off towards the school district with a cheery wave. Naya watched her go, a fond smile on her face. That girl was gonna be the death of her one day, she just knew it. But for now, she had a job to get to. Shoving her hands in her pockets, Naya headed off in the opposite direction, towards the glittering skyscrapers of downtown Aurion.

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The train ride was the same as always. Rich people didn't need public transportation, which meant the trains were barely kept running and cleaned maybe once a year. Even for someone used to the smells of the slums they were hard to stomach. The only good part about the extremely unpleasant, shaky trains was that they were seen as kind of a safe zone for the poor people of Arion. Anyone stuck taking one had to be broke. Robberies and harassment were heavily frowned upon and usually resulted in everyone else on the train kicking the offender's ass. Sometimes there was solidarity among the impoverished.

Naya took a deep breath of fresh air as she stepped out of the train and began quickly walking down the spacious sidewalks of downtown Arion. She subconsciously ran her hand through her curly black hair, trying to keep it somewhat presentable. Dressed in her best, and only, leather jacket and jeans she stood out like a sore thumb among the corpos in suits and fancy dresses. There were other working class citizens walking around too of course, but she looked especially disheveled. Street scuffles had a way of getting dirt all over and staining clothes. Most passersby simply ignored her. Some smiled at her. Most of those smiles were the patronizing smiles of the elites amused by the efforts of the poor. Yet, some were genuine, their expressions seemingly encouraging her to continue pursuing honest labor to improve her station in life. The difference was subtle, but Naya could spot it instantly. She always smiled and nodded back at those kind individuals that made her daily commute a little brighter. Just as she returned genuine smiles that were directed at her, she also directed menacing scowls at anyone who made mocking gestures at her. Her scowls must've been getting better, as today she scored a new record on snobby rich assholes that fearfully refused eye contact after witnessing her best threatening expression. Or maybe she just smelled worse than usual and thus drew the ire of more rich assholes. Naya decided to believe the former.

After a relatively short walk, she entered into a small building with a simple sign on its front.

"David's Delivery Service"

The name was unassuming and definitely didn't stand out enough to bring much business. But that was intentional. Anyone who needed something basic delivered along the usual routes would just use the drone system. It was reliable and secure enough for most people. For the people who needed a guarantee that their package, no matter what it was, would be delivered, no matter where to, David's was the best choice.

The inside of the building was just as nondescript as the outside. A small, uncluttered lobby with a single receptionist desk manned by a bored-looking woman in her 40s. She glanced up as Naya entered, giving her a once-over before returning to whatever she was doing on her computer. Naya walked past the desk, heading straight for the back room. She'd worked here long enough to know the drill. Clock in, grab your package, get your destination, and go. No need for pleasantries or small talk. The back room was a stark contrast to the sterile lobby. Crates and boxes of all shapes and sizes were stacked haphazardly along the walls, some spilling out onto the floor. A large table dominated the center of the room, covered in maps and delivery logs. And sitting at the head of the table, looking as harried and overworked as ever, was David himself."

Naya, thank god you're here," he greeted, running a hand through his thinning hair. "I've got a rush job that needs to go out ASAP. High priority, high risk, high reward. You up for it?"

Naya shrugged, grabbing a tablet off the table to check the details. "Yeah, sure. Just tell me where to go."

David tapped a few keys on his computer, transferring the information to Naya's tablet. "The address is 1201 West 53rd Street. Package needs to be delivered to a Mr. Xavier by 5pm."

Naya raised an eyebrow. "West 53rd? That's in the warehouse district, isn't it? Kinda sketchy for a high-priority job."David nodded, his expression grim. "That's why I'm sending you. I need someone who can handle themselves if things go sideways. Just get in, drop off the package, and get out, got it? Don't ask questions, don't snoop around. Just do the job and come back."Naya saluted mockingly. "Aye aye, captain. I'll be back before you can say 'worker's rights violation.'"David rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Just be careful, Naya. I know you're tough, but even you have limits." He paused, his gaze serious. "And Naya? If you do run into trouble…just remember what I told you on your first day. The package is always the priority."Naya met his stare, her eyes hard. "Understood, boss." She grabbed the small package he held out, tucking it securely within the inside pocket of her jacket. "I'll see you in a few hours." With that, she turned and walked out, ready to face whatever the day had in store for her. Knowing her luck, it probably would be trouble.

Getting to the warehouse district meant another train ride. Naya decided to turn on her AI assistant, Iris, just to have someone to chat with to kill her boredom. Plus, it was worth having an extra pair of eyes to watch the package. Or sensors, in Iris's case.

"Good morning, Nayah. Are you having a pleasant day today?"

Stupid AI couldn't even pronounce her name right half the time, despite literally being embedded in her brain and speaking inside her thoughts. Oh how she envied people able to afford the latest models. Then maybe she wouldn't have to manually use thought activation to directly control the nano-motors in her right leg.

*Not bad so far, just gotta deliver this to 1201 West 53rd street. Can you navigate me there?* Naya asked inside her mind to Iris. Map navigation. Surely Iris could handle that much.

"Of course, Nayah. Navigation is one of my primary functions." Iris responded, her voice chipper. "I will guide you to the destination. Please proceed to the train station."As Naya walked towards the station, Iris projected a map of the area in her vision, with a glowing blue line showing the path to the warehouse district. It was a handy feature, one that Naya appreciated greatly. Even if Iris was a bit…off, she was still a useful tool.The train ride was boring as usual, which was both a blessing and a curse. Naya was grateful for the lack of drama, but it also meant she had nothing to distract her from her thoughts. And right now, those thoughts were all focused on the job at hand.

*What's in the package?* She wondered idly, feeling the weight of it in her jacket pocket. *And why does it need to go to the warehouse district?*She knew better than to ask. David's rule was clear: the less you knew, the better. It was safer for everyone involved that way. But that didn't stop Naya's mind from wandering.

As the train pulled into the station closest to her destination, Naya hopped off and made her way onto the streets of the warehouse district. It was a far cry from the sleek, architectural marvels of downtown. Here, everything was gritty and industrial, with towering warehouses and factories as far as the eye could see. Naya kept her head down and walked quickly, following Iris's directions to the letter. She didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to herself. The less people remembered seeing her, the better. Just in case it was one of *those* deliveries.Finally, after about 15 minutes of walking, she arrived at her destination. 1201 West 53rd Street. A large, nondescript warehouse that looked like every other building on the block. There were no windows and the most obvious entrances were massive garage doors clearly intended for loading vehicles."You have arrived at the destination, Nayah." Iris announced cheerily. *No shit,* Naya thought wryly. *Alright, just gotta find Mr. Xavier, drop off the package, and get out. Easy peasy.*She walked around the side of the warehouse until she spotted a person sized door. Approaching it, her hand reached for the door handle. It was locked. Naya frowned, glancing around for another way in.

While her gaze was averted, the door suddenly opened and a hand reached out, latching onto her shoulder painfully and pulling her inside before she could react. Which was saying something considering Naya was well known for her reflexes.

She stumbled forward, caught off guard by the sudden force pulling her inside. Acting on pure instinct, she tried to yank away from her attacker and pushed both hands forward to attempt to shove away as her head whipped up to take in whoever had grabbed her. Instead of feeling the firmness of muscle, it felt like she had tried to shove against a steel wall. Her eyes widened, registering the appearance of the youthful man who wore a bright grin beneath his glimmering green eyes."Tell me who you are before I crush your skull!" He requested cheerfully, as if asking a favor from a friend instead of threatening murder. The hand gripping her shoulder remained firmly locked in place, while his other hand came to rest on her head. His strength was great enough that Naya couldn't move an inch, proving that he could easily deliver on his threat. Her heart raced as she stared up at the man, feeling the nostalgic feeling of helplessness that she had believed herself free of. He was tall, easily over 6 feet, with a lean but muscular build. His green eyes glinted with amusement, contrasting sharply with his threat of crushing her skull.

*Fuck, fuck, fuck,* Naya thought rapidly, her mind desperately searching for an escape. *This guy's no joke. I can't just knee him in the balls and run.* She'd have to be smart about this.

"Easy there, big guy," she replied, keeping her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. That was something she had learned to perfect a long time ago. "I'm just here to make a delivery. David sent me. I've got a package for Mr. Xavier."

The man's grin widened, and he released her with a not so gentle pat on her back, nearly sending her tumbling into him once more. "Ah, my courier!" he cheered animatedly, looking her up and down. As a rather attractive young woman, Naya had been eyed up many, many times by men. Yet his inspection didn't seem to carry even the slightest hint of attraction. He firmly grabbed her chin and tilted her head side to side, apparently unconcerned with her comfort or sense of personal space.

"Hmmm…" The man hummed with clear delight, his eyes roving over Naya's face with an intensity that made her want to squirm. "Yes, you do match the description…" He muttered to himself, sounding pleased. He finally released her and took a step back, finally giving her a little bit of space and a chance to breathe.

"I am Mr. Xavier!" He announced proudly, standing up straight with his hands behind his back. "Sorry about the rough welcome, but we can never be too careful. Can't have anyone snooping around and finding out our secrets, now can we?" He winked at her, his green eyes twinkling.

Naya swallowed hard, trying to keep her heart rate under control. This guy was intense, to say the least. She'd dealt with her fair share of eccentric clients before, but Mr. Xavier was something else entirely. "No worries," she replied, keeping her tone light and casual. "I get it. Gotta protect your secrets and all that." She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the small package, holding it up for him to see. "I've got your delivery right here. Just sign for it and I'll be on my way."

Mr. Xavier's eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of the package. "Ah, perfect! You're a lifesaver, my dear." He plucked it from her hands and held it close to his chest, almost cradling it."You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this." He turned and walked over to a nearby desk, setting the package down gently. He rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a small device, which he used to scan the barcode on the package. It let out a cheerful beep, indicating the delivery was complete."There we go! All signed and accounted for." Mr. Xavier turned back to Naya with a wide smile. "You've done me a great service today, my dear. I won't soon forget it." He stepped closer to her, closing the small gap that had only briefly existed, his green eyes boring into her own with an intensity that made her want to take a step back. "In fact, I'd like to show my appreciation. How would you like the opportunity to obtain part of what's in this package?" he asked with the most serious expression she had seen from him so far.

Naya's eyes widened at the offer, her curiosity piqued despite herself. She knew better than to get involved in the specifics of her deliveries. It was safer that way. But something about Mr. Xavier's intensity, the way he looked at her like she was the most important person in the world, made it difficult to refuse. The fact that he was willing to share whatever was inside with her was both intriguing and unnerving."Part of the package?" She asked cautiously, her eyes flicking to the package he was still holding closely to his chest. "What's in it? And what do you mean by 'opportunity'?"

Mr. Xavier's grin turned sly, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Ah, ah, ah," he chided, wagging a finger at her. "No questions, remember? That's the rule." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I'll give you a hint though. I'm a designer."

Naya's heart skipped a beat at Mr. Xavier's words. A designer. The most sought-after professionals in the world. The ones who could take a person's body and turn it into a work of art. Or a weapon. And this man, this eccentric, slightly unhinged man, was claiming to be one of them. She had always dreamed of being able to afford a designer. To have her body customized to her exact specifications. But that was a pipe dream, something only the rich could afford. She had long since resigned herself to making do with whatever scraps she could afford. And now, here was Mr. Xavier, offering her a chance at something she never thought she'd have. A chance to be more than just a delivery girl with second-hand augments. A chance to be…something else entirely.

"A-a designer?" she finally stammered dumbly, unable to come up with any reply beyond a mere echo of his words.

Mr. Xavier nodded, his grin widening at her shock. "The best in the business, if I do say so myself." He puffed out his chest with pride. "I specialize in… unique enhancements. The kind that can't be found on the open market." He leaned in even closer, his nose almost brushing against Naya's. "And I think you, my dear, would be the perfect candidate for my latest project."

Naya's heart raced, a mixture of excitement and disbelief coursing through her. A chance to get top-of-the-line cybernetics? To have her body optimized by a true professional? It was everything she'd ever dreamed of. Everything she'd worked so hard for.

She took a deep breath, getting her emotions under control. Trust didn't come easily to a girl from the slums. Especially trust towards the wealthy.

"What exactly are you offering? And what's the catch?" she asked suspiciously, her eyes narrowing slightly. There was always a catch.

The tall man smiled brightly. "Simple," he replied cheerfully, "you just have to prove you want it more than the hundred other people I invited to try to win it." He turned away from Naya and began walking deeper into the dark warehouse. Suddenly, all the overhead lights turned on and revealed a complex series of obstacles scattered throughout the large warehouse, even extending up to the second and third story. Climbing walls, balance beams, rotating platforms, swinging ropes, and far more. It was the most grandiose obstacle course Naya had ever seen. Mr. Xavier hopped onto a swinging platform and turned around to face Naya while holding onto the attached rope. "Win the race, win the package!" he exclaimed joyfully, his voice almost sing-song in its cheerfulness.

Naya stared at the obstacle course, her mind reeling. This was insane. A race? For a chance at top-of-the-line cybernetics? It seemed too good to be true. And yet, here she was. Standing in a warehouse in the middle of nowhere, being offered the opportunity of a lifetime by a man who claimed to be one of the best designers in the business. She looked back at Mr. Xavier, who was still standing on the swinging platform with an expectant grin on his face.

"You're serious?" she asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and excitement. "I just have to win a race and you'll give me part of what's in that package?"

Mr. Xavier nodded, his green eyes glinting with amusement. "That's right, my dear. Win the race, win the prize."

Naya's gaze flickered to the package, her curiosity burning. What could possibly be inside that was worth all this trouble? And more importantly, what kind of 'unique enhancements' was Mr. Xavier talking about? She knew she should be wary. Nothing in her life had ever come easy, and this seemed like it was too good to be true. But the opportunity was too tempting to pass up. A chance to finally have the body she'd always dreamed of? To be strong, fast, and powerful? To never have to feel vulnerable again? "Alright, I'm in," she declared, squaring her shoulders and meeting Mr. Xavier's gaze head on. "Let's do this."

Mr. Xavier clapped his hands together in delight. "Excellent! I knew you had the spirit of a champion." He hopped off the platform and landed gracefully on the ground, motioning for her to follow. "Come on then, let's get you set up. The other racers will be arriving soon."

Naya followed him, her heart pounding with anticipation and nerves. A race. She was fast, she knew that. But was she fast enough to beat out everyone else? Especially with her mismatched legs? She couldn't afford the latest and greatest cybernetics. Hell, she couldn't really afford any cybernetics besides the bottom of the barrel nano-motors she had in her right leg. How many of the competitors would have top of the line augments?

Her curly black hair bounced as she shook her head free of doubt. She didn't know what she was getting herself into, but she knew one thing for certain - she was going to win this race, no matter what it took.