First Intergalactic Emperor: Starting With The Ancient Goddess

The neon lights of the city reflected off the wet pavement as Xavier and Oliver stood under the flickering street lamp. Oliver shifted uncomfortably, his expensive shoes already scuffed from their walk.

”How are we getting to Mira’s?” Oliver asked, glancing around nervously.

Xavier considered. ”We could take the bus or train.”

Oliver shook his head immediately. ”Can’t make any transactions - Dad would see and know I snuck out. And even if we took the bus, we’d still have to walk thirty minutes from the last station. Her place is deep in the slums.”

Xavier’s eyes lit up. ”Then we’ll take a cab.”

Oliver’s face paled. ”Too risky. Crime rates in the city double at night.”

Xavier studied his friend - the designer clothes, the nervous energy. ’He always comes to school in that fancy van with bodyguards. And his father is a senator, so it’s understandable that he can’t be left unprotected.’

”How much would a private vehicle cost?” Xavier asked with a curious look on his face.

Oliver pulled out his phone, fingers flying over the screen. ”Buying a car outright is expensive unless you do installments. What’s your budget?”

Xavier didn’t hesitate. ”$10,000.”

Oliver’s thumbs moved swiftly as he searched. After a moment, he turned the screen toward Xavier. The listing showed a sleek Yahama ZXT R69 - a year-old model with only 20,456 km on it. The paint gleamed under the screen’s light, the 650cc liquid-cooled inline-four engine with titanium valves promising serious power. The listing price was $11,000.

”Check this out,” Oliver said. ”Guy’s selling it for just over eleven grand.”

Xavier’s eyes narrowed. ”How much does the new one cost?”

Oliver tapped the screen. ”Current model runs about twenty thousand.”

Xavier stroked his chin. He didn’t really need a bike, but he had to spend money anyway. And a bike in the city could be useful. The problem was his $10,000 limit.

Oliver watched him carefully. ”Interested?”

Xavier nodded. ”We’ll haggle the price down.”

Oliver was already dialing. ”I’ll have him meet us at the station near Nexus Tower.”

The night air was cool against Xavier’s skin as they walked toward the transit station, the city’s lights painting everything in neon hues. Somewhere in the distance, a motorcycle engine roared to life, the sound echoing through the canyon of buildings.

The bike rolled to a stop just feet away, its sleek form gleaming under the flickering streetlights. The Yahama ZXT R69 was a beast of chrome and carbon fiber, its matte black bodywork accented with glowing blue circuit patterns that pulsed like a living organism. The front fairing housed adaptive LED headlights that adjusted to the rider’s gaze, while the rear featured a holographic display that could project navigation or rider stats onto the pavement behind.

Xavier and Oliver approached the guy and stared at the bike as it looked much better in person.

The seller killed the engine and removed his helmet, revealing a face lined with exhaustion. His cybernetic left eye whirred slightly as it focused on Xavier and Oliver. ”What do you want?” His voice was rough, tinged with the static of a vocal modulator.

Oliver stepped forward. ”We’re here about the bike. The one you listed.”

The man sighed, running a hand through his augmented hair - strands of silver woven with fiber optics. ”Shouldn’t have come. Such a waste of time.” He gestured at the bike. ”You kids can’t afford this.”

Oliver’s face flushed. ”We’re serious buyers.”

The seller’s cybernetic eye whirred as it zoomed in. ”You know the specs? The 650cc liquid-cooled inline-four with titanium valves? The carbon-ceramic brakes? The neural-linked suspension?”

Xavier’s voice cut through the night like a blade. ”$10,000. And I want that helmet as a free add-on.”

The seller froze, then carefully placed his helmet on the seat. The visor’s HUD flickered briefly before going dark. ”I listed it at $11,299. Why offer ten?”

Oliver facepalmed so hard his palm left a red mark. ’Xavier doesn’t know how to bargain. He just told the guy his budget upfront. Now, there is no way he will sell at that price.’

Oliver tried to butt in to handle the situation, but one look at Xavier’s emotionless face made him shut his mouth.

Xavier’s voice was steel. ”I don’t do back-and-forth. I don’t have time to waste.” His fingers traced the bike’s frame, reciting specs that weren’t in the listing: ”The adaptive traction control with predictive algorithms. The graphene-reinforced swingarm. The quantum-encrypted ignition system.” His gaze locked onto the seller’s. ”Ten thousand. Right here. Right now.”

The seller’s cybernetic eye whirred erratically. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple despite the cool night air. The bike’s systems hummed softly, as if responding to the tension.

Oliver’s breath caught. ’Even I didn’t know all that.’ Then he remembered - Xavier had been reading about this exact model while they waited. His photographic memory had absorbed every detail in one pass.

The seller swallowed hard. The bike’s holographic display flickered to life as Xavier pressed the switches, and it cast blue light across his face. Xavier was performing the inspection of the bike while bargaining the price at the same time.

’The article was really helpful. It mentioned everything I need to check before buying a secondhand vehicle.

”You... you really know your stuff.” The seller’s voice wavered slightly. ”But ten is too low. I can’t—”

Xavier’s hand hovered over the bike’s ignition. ”Then we’re done here.”

The seller’s breath hitched. The bike’s systems pulsed once, as if in agreement. A long moment stretched between them, the only sound the distant hum of the city’s nightlife.

”10,500,” he said, his voice rough with static. ”That’s my final offer.”

Xavier didn’t blink. ”10,000.”

The seller’s organic eye twitched. ”10,300. Come on, man.”

”10,000.”

The seller ran a hand through his augmented hair, the fiber optics flickering. ”10,100. That’s just a hundred more than your budget. I came down from 11,299 - can’t you meet me halfway?”

Xavier’s voice was steel. ”I have exactly 10,000.”

A beat of silence. Finally, the seller nodded sharply. ”Fine. Ten. But only because...” He trailed off, his cybernetic eye flickering. ”Only because you clearly appreciate what this machine is.”

Xavier’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. ”I do.”

Oliver watched, stunned, as Xavier transferred the funds. The bike’s display flashed green in confirmation, the transaction complete. The seller handed over the helmet without a word.

The transaction was completed with a soft chime from the bike’s systems. As the seller transferred the digital documents, his hands trembled slightly. Then, unexpectedly, he wrapped his arms around the bike’s frame, pressing his forehead against the fuel tank.

Oliver watched, fascinated, as a single tear rolled down the seller’s cheek, catching the neon light. ”You really love this bike, huh?” he asked softly.

The seller’s voice was thick. ”Had to sell it. Urgent need for cash.” He straightened, wiping his face with the back of his hand. Then he turned to Xavier, his cybernetic eye glowing faintly blue. ”Take good care of her. She’s... special.”

Xavier nodded once. ”Don’t worry.”

The seller took one last, long look at the bike. Then he turned and walked away, his boots crunching on the neon-lit pavement.

Xavier then handed the helmet to Oliver and said, ”Let’s go.”

”Yeah... but why are you giving the helmet to me?” Oliver handed it back to Xavier.

”You are going to drive without a helmet?” Xavier asked with a surprised look on his face.

”Huh? Who said I am going to drive? I don’t know how to drive a bike. You drive.”

Xavier simply stared at Oliver’s face in response.

”Wait...” Oliver raised his brow. ”Don’t tell me.... You... don’t know how to drive either...?”

Xavier nodded in response.