Zoe activated one of the music streaming services she had and settled on classic rock for her run. The services offered free trials, but Zoe didn’t have a bank account to add for the trial nor did she want to put up with the ads, spam, and malware that would result from signing up for a free trial. So, she had sliced the services and made a few accounts. Zoe was sure the accounts would be found and shut down eventually, but all of them were created with profiles she had gotten through Grave Robber. So, Zoe wasn’t too concerned.

Zoe took off at a light jog to warm her muscles. She smiled and waved at the people that noticed her. Some smiled and waved back. A few of the street vendors even called out greetings. After a few minutes, Zoe started running.

“Watch it!” a man called.

“Sorry!” she called to the man after almost running into him. Her Kaisers proved their worth as Zoe noticed a gap between him and a wall. She dodged around the man easily enough by kick jumping off the wall. He ducked and cursed her as Zoe landed and grinned. That guy had been the third person she had almost ran into already. “Maybe I should broadcast a message to warn people I’m coming through.”

Zoe checked her software and noticed she didn’t have anything that would broadcast a message easily. She did a quick net search while running. Broadcast would do the trick. The utility daemon would send out a user created message to all nearby systems. Zoe downloaded it and Lockpick. She then had her ICE scan both programs.

After making sure they were both clean, Zoe opened Broadcast and composed two messages. The first was a warning to beware of a runner and the second was a simple apology. Zoe tied Broadcast to her Angel and set that daemon to monitor her surroundings. Hopefully, that would keep her from having anymore near accidents.

Zoe decided to stick to the main streets as she ran through the neighborhood. Zoe leapt over stairs, benches, and even a hotdog cart. That vendor had not been pleased and hurled a ketchup and mustard covered bun after her. She threw a smile at the woman over her shoulder and took a sip from the camelback. Zoe continued to jump, run, duck, dodge, and roll for another half hour before calling it a day.

Zoe jogged back to Aunt Anne’s apartment building. She decided that the parkour videos and instructional apps she had downloaded had been worth the time. Zoe couldn’t wait to try the rooftop since satellite pictures showed that it had a couple of levels in places as well as low walls and pipes to jump and swing from. She slowed as she neared the building to a fast walk. Jimmy was just getting out of a car when she got to the front steps.

“Hi Jimmy. Have a good night?” Zoe asked her cousin. Grunting answered her. She grinned. “What’s that?”

“I said good morning and yeah, I did,” Jimmy replied.

“Zoe, you’re looking good this morning,” a fresh-looking Tommy said from the driver’s seat, where he was checking her out. She ignored him. “Ah, don’t be that way.”

“Tommy, leave my cousin alone,” Jimmy said bending down to look in the passenger side window.

“Alright,” Tommy replied throwing up his hands in surrender. “Zoe, when are we going after your new wheels?”

“Mother pus bucket,” Zoe muttered. Jimmy laughed while Tommy looked confused since he didn’t catch her muttering.

“What was that?” Tommy asked.

“In a couple of days,” Zoe said louder.

“Why are we waiting?” Jimmy asked.

“That’s right. We could go now,” Tommy said.

“No. I’m waiting for Zane to be free to go with me.”

“Got a crush on the nurse?” Tommy asked. “You know he’s married, right?”

“No, I don’t have a crush on him. And yes, I know he’s married.”

“Then why are we having to wait?” Tommy asked.

“Because Zane knows a lot more about motorcycles than I do and probably a lot more than either of you two as well,” Zoe answered.

“I know next to nothing about motorcycles,” Jimmy admitted.

“I know enough,” Tommy said. Zoe just shook her head.

“I’m going in to take a shower and get breakfast,” Zoe said choosing not to respond to Tommy. “Coming Jimmy?” She asked turning to head into the building. She then spun back around. “I meant are you coming inside, not to join me in the shower.”

“I know what you meant,” Jimmy laughed. He caught Tommy’s expression. “Don’t say it, whatever it is you’re thinking.”

“You know me too well, but she left herself wide open there,” Tommy said watching Zoe walk up the stairs and disappearing through the doors.

“True,” Jimmy agreed. “See you around, Tommy.”