Gamzee made simple chat with me as we walked through the dark streets, grinning widely and occasionally tripping over himself. The streets weren't crowded just yet, since the sun had set less than an hour ago. But there were enough city dwellers bustling about, to jobs, schools, and breakfast areas, that I was becoming uncomfortable. I dreaded the crowds that might appear as the sky grew darker. I swallowed the last of my bread and ground my teeth together, letting my eyes wander. I was only half listening to the clown, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Here we are, best friend!" He put a hand on my shoulder, steering me towards a small shop. He held the door open, and I pulled my motorcycle inside, glancing around. The building was relatively empty. The far wall was covered in shelves of neatly organized parts and tools, and there was a service counter not far from the door. Behind the service counter was an open doorway, with beads hanging down so I couldn't see much in the connecting room.

Gamzee strolled in after me and made a beeline to the counter. He rang the bell a few times and leaned on the clean wood, propping himself on his elbow. I kicked the kickstand up on my bike and moved to stand beside him.

"Greetings," a young man passed through the beads, which made a soft rattling sound as they knocked together. He dressed rather nicely for a mechanic, but his thick gloves were worn from work and his tool belt was heavy. From his long, straight hair stood a horn in the shape of a spear. Its pair had been broken, leaving a jagged stump. He glanced at us from behind dark, cracked shades, folding his hands on the counter politely.

"I need new tires," I informed him, and his head turned in my direction. "For my motorcycle. The current ones are in poor shape."

"I see." He replied simply. He walked around the corner and to my bike, bending down to look at the wheels. "Poor shape is a light way to put it. These look like you drove them across the hivelands for over a day."

"Not exactly…" I laughed nervously, and he gave me an odd look.

"Oh! Are you gonna ask about your buddies, best friend?" Gamzee elbowed me in the side, and I winced.

"Buddies?" The mechanic repeated, a tinge of curiosity in his voice. He picked up my motorcycle effortlessly, carrying it to an empty area in the shop. Pressing a button on the floor, a circle of light formed around the motorcycle, and lifted it into the air like it was a balloon. The mechanic easily removed the tires and tossed them into a large pile of old parts and rubber, then went to get new ones.

"Yeah. I'm looking for a couple of trolls that probably live around here." I tried to keep from gaping at the technology. It made the entire process so much easier. I settled with a bewildered frown, following the mechanic, who was trying to decide which tires would fit my motorcycle best.

"Many trolls have come into my shop," He replied in a bored monotone. "Perhaps I know of your... buddies."

"Well, the first one I'm trying to find is Kankri. He's about nine sweeps, nubby horns…" I couldn't think of how else to describe him. I didn't know what he looked like now.

"I can't say that I recognize the name." The mechanic replied. "My sincerest apologies, perhaps I know the second?"

"It's all right. Do you know a Terezi?"

His muscles tensed up a bit, and his mouth twitched. I felt excitement growing in me. He must have recognized the name! However, he remained silent, sifting through the tires and trying to avoid my gaze.

Finally, he pulled out a pair and handed them to me, a little roughly.

"Please excuse me sir. If you would, make sure these tires fit your specifications. I must go and… Check something in the back." He hurried past me into the second room, sending the bead chains wildly spinning.

"Check something?!" I tried not to sound offended. He obviously knew what I was talking about! What was with all of the secrecy?

Choosing not to push my luck, in case he decided not to tell me, I returned to being quiet, rolling the tires over to the motorcycle.

"Bro, you have got to try this!" Gamzee stuck his head in the gravity field with the motorcycle, laughing to himself. "It's like water, but less wet. It's wicked!"

"That's nice." I grumbled, annoyed with the mechanic. I set the wheels down beside the glowing circle, jogging to the far wall and grabbing a few tools.

I could hear whispering in the adjacent room, which annoyed me further. Was Terezi back there with the mechanic? Maybe the mechanic was Terezi, and he was unsure of my intentions?

I easily removed the old wheels and was in the process of replacing them with the ones the mechanic had given me when I heard the beads move again.

"Karkat?"

I turned, eyes widening.

"Nepeta?" I stuttered, and she beamed at me. The mechanic followed her out, standing above her protectively. Nepeta bounced over to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and hugging me tightly.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" She laughed, and I awkwardly put my hand on her back in a half-hug.

"Yeah, I'm just fine." I muttered. "Listen, Nepeta, I'm really sorry I left you like that-"

"No, it's fine, I understand!" She let go, giving me space. "You needed to clear your head. It's understandable."

"I'm sorry, but did you say Karkat?" The mechanic interrupted, and I looked up to see he had returned to Nepeta's side.

"That's right, pal." I lifted my chin, annoyed that I was standing in front of yet another tall troll. "Karkat Vantas. Who are you?"

"Equius. Nepeta's moirail." He sneered, exposing broken teeth. "So you are the one behind all of Nepeta's wild ideals."

"Excuse me?"

"Karkat, just ignore him." Nepeta punched Equius in the arm, but she might as well have been punching a wall. He returned his attention to her, and they exchanged a look. "Why are you looking for Terezi?"

"So you two do know her!"

"Of course! She's an old friend of mine. We ride together."

"Can you take me to her?" I tried not to sound impatient. "It's really important!"

"Yes, if that's what you want." Nepeta rolled her sleeve back, looking at a small screen attached to her wrist, below her olive L.U.S.I.I. "But we'll have to leave soon, or we might miss her!"

"Sir!" Equius grabbed the back of Gamzee's shirt, just noticing him. "Please do not place your head in the anti-gravity field!"

"Sorry, bro." Gamzee backpedaled, trying to keep his balance as Equius pulled him away from the glowing circle. "It just looked like so much fun!"

"I'll go get my bike! Meet me in front of the store, okay?" Nepeta gave me a thumbs up, smiling widely and disappearing into the adjacent room.

"Thank you!" I called after her, spinning the wrench in my hand. I smiled. I was so close to finding Kankri, I could taste it! I turned back to my motorcycle, finishing my task of attaching the wheels.

"I got you!" Gamzee punched me in the arm, laughing. "Wheels are on me."

"You don't have to-"

"Nah, it's all good." He shrugged off my attempts to stop him, lazily reaching his arm out to Equius. Equius scanned his L.U.S.I.I. with a small device, then turned to me.

"Mr. Vantas, may I speak to you privately before you leave?" Equius inquired, and I could feel his hard stare from behind his dark glasses.

"I suppose..?" Suspicious, I turned the gravity field off, standing beside my bike with my hands on the handles.

"I'll go wait with Nepeta," Still smiling, Gamzee shuffled out of the door, utterly relaxed.

After the door closed, Equius took a step towards me, towering over me easily. I did my best to keep a calm face, but my hands tightened on the handlebars.

"I am going to tell you this once, and once only. The only reason I have yet to report you to the authorities is because Nepeta favors you, and you helped her in a time of need. But I promise that if you come back to this shop, I will not hesitate to unveil your identity to the police."

I was too shocked to say anything. Gaping, I nodded my head, silent, and backed away from him slowly. He didn't say anything else, but Equius did not take his eyes off of me until I had left the shop completely. I was still shaking when Nepeta greeted me, jumping on her bike.

"Sorry t-to make you wait," I apologized to her again. I had to stop doing that.

"No, you're fine!" She flexed her hands, obviously impatient to leave despite her apparent calm demeanor.

"Mind if I come?" Gamzee gave me a pleading look, and I shrugged.

"I don't really have a reason you couldn't." I jumped onto my bike, and Gamzee slid on behind me. My skin prickled again at the contact, frowning.

"Keep up!" Nepeta revved her engine, speeding away from me down the street. I started my bike and quickly followed her, lowering my head to make up for the speed I was losing with an extra passenger. Gamzee carefully copied me, sensing our closeness was making me uncomfortable and keeping as much distance as one could keep whilst sharing a motorcycle.

We wound our way through the city, driving through shortcuts between buildings and avoiding main roads, since by now there would be more trolls wandering around. After about ten minutes, we reached the entrance to an old warehouse, and Nepeta and I slid to a stop. She jumped off easily, motioning for me to follow her inside. Gamzee and I got off of my motorcycle, and I moved to intercept Nepeta.

"Hold on." I grabbed her arm, and she stopped. "I want to ask you a couple of questions before we waltz right in!"

"I'm sensing sarcasm in your tone, Karkitty."

"How observing of you! And don't call me that, it's stupid!" I grimaced, and she laughed.

"Fine. Shoot."

"How come you wandered into the Hivelands with a dying exo battery, when you have a perfectly good motorcycle to ride?"

"I was walking to the store to get a new battery, actually, and I saw Eridan following me," She shrugged like it was perfectly reasonable. "I figured he wouldn't follow me into the Hivelands, but I suppose I was wrong."

"I guess that makes sense… What about-"

"Hold on! It's my turn to ask a question!" She put her hand on my mouth to silence me. I glared daggers at her, and she smirked. "Why do you live in the Hivelands if you obviously disliked being there?"

"Because I hated living here even more!" I retorted after I pried her hand off.

"Ooh! My turn!" Gamzee clapped his hands together excitedly. I bit my lip to keep from yelling at him to shut up and turned to look at him.

"Yes? What is it, Gamzee?!" My voice sounded strained, but it was better than losing my top.

"If you lived in the city before, how come you don't have a L.U.S.I.I.?"

I froze, and Nepeta stared at my bandaged wrist.

"I… Um…"

"I'm not an idiot, Karkat." His smile disappeared a little at my surprised tone. "You don't have to worry. Your secret's safe with me!"

"I… My dad didn't want me to have one, and I ran away from the orphanage before they save up enough money for me to get one." I admitted, my shoulders falling a little at the memory.

The other two fell into an awkward silence, unsure what to say.

"Your turn, Karkat." Nepeta broke the silence, not looking directly at me.

"Never mind. It doesn't matter." Frowning, I knocked on the heavy doors, my hand on my motorcycle.

A pale troll around my age slowly opened the door, keeping her hand on the frame so that I couldn't walk past her. She wore a bright red skirt and a purple sash, bright against her black shirt and styled black hair. When she saw Nepeta, she relaxed, letting go a small smile.

"May I help you?" She inquired, enunciating carefully as if she was trying to cover an accent.

"Hi Kanaya! This is my friend Karkat, and his friend Gamzee." I gave Kanaya a small wave, and Gamzee grinned joyfully.

"Karkat?" Kanaya sounded surprise, turning her full attention to me. "As in, Karkat Vantas?"

"Yes..?" I cocked my head to the side a little, confused. "Have you heard of me?"

"Of course! Many people have. You're writing is very popular in this area." She smiled widely, sharp white fangs glittering out at me. "I am a particularly big fan of yours."

"I see." Writing? What the hell was she talking about? "It's… Always nice to meet a fan."

"Please, come in." She stepped out of my way, holding the door open. I steered my motorcycle inside, and Nepeta and Gamzee followed close behind me.

The warehouse was filled with boxes of all sizes, spilling with assorted technology and parts. In the center, a boy typed away on several patchwork computers, his back to us. He turned around, red and blue glasses glinting in the dusty moonlight that sifted through the high windows. He wore mismatched shoes and dark clothes, and his four symmetrical, spiked horns jutted out of his short hair.

"Who're the new guys?" He pointed at Gamzee and I, his lisp ever so slightly muddling his speech.

"Karkat Vantas, and his friend." Kanaya introduced us. The troll frowned when he heard my name, turning around again and typing on his computers.

"Sure he is." He replied skeptically, ignoring us again.

"That's Sollux," Nepeta whispered. I was a little annoyed. This jerk was another god reincarnate? Couldn't any of these reincarnates be friendly, helpful, or at least quiet?

"Wonderful." I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, and leaned my bike against the wall. "Where's Terezi?"

"Are you a friend of Terezi's?" Kanaya asked, a little surprised.

"Not exactly. She has something I need." I explained, and Kanaya nodded.

"I'll fetch her, then." She turned and walked away, her heels clicking. I leaned over to Nepeta, who was leaning her bike against the wall near mine.

"Is this your racing team?" I asked, surprised.

"Sort of. We don't have enough members to be an official team yet." She shrugged. "They might not look like a gang, but both of them are amazing racers."

I nodded, turning my attention to Gamzee. He was rocking back and forth on his heels, resisting the urge to touch everything.

"Do you want to play rock paper scissors?" I asked him with a small sigh, and he perked up.

"That sounds like fun!" He closed his hand into a fist, and we started playing, amusing ourselves until Kanaya came back with Terezi.

"Would you two stop that?" Sollux snarled after a few minutes. We froze, and he glared at us again. "Can't you see I'm trying to concentrate?"

Our arms fell to our sides, and I matched his annoyed look. When he turned around again, Nepeta covered her mouth, muffling her laughter.

"Hey cool kids!" I looked up, watching a girl with sharp horns strut towards me. She wore sharp red glasses and simple clothing, expressing herself instead with her short hair and red metal staff, which was shaped like a dragon. "I heard the great Karkat Vantas was looking for me?"

"That would be me," My fingers tingled, and I resisted the urge to rip the metal chain off of her neck. As soon as I got that, I could find my brother and get out of this filthy city.

"Oohh, you sound a lot different than I thought you would!" Terezi sauntered over to me, stopping inches from my face. She poked me with her stick, sniggering. "Like someone ran your voice box through a blender."

"There's nothing wrong with the way I sound!" I shouted, defensive. Terezi only laughed harder, leaning on her staff and grinning wickedly at me.

"Whatcha want from little old me?" She asked, ignoring my outburst.

"Your necklace," I replied bluntly, pointing to the chain around her neck. "I need it for… something important."

Her fingers touched the chain, and her smile faltered. She pulled it out, feeling the Libra etching on the surface of the silver amulet.

"And you expect me to just hand it over?" She grinned again, but it was not at all friendly. "Not like it's precious to me or anything." She added sarcastically.

"I'll give it back when I'm finished." I scowled, trying to stay calm. "I really, really need it."

She sniffed at me, then backed up. Crossing her arms in thought, she licked her lips, sniggering again.

"Do you race?" She asked, finally.

"Not exactly." I narrowed my eyes. "I'm a mechanic more than a rider."

"That's too bad," She sighed dramatically, swinging her necklace in a circle. "Because the only way you can get this precious thing is if you can beat me!"

Sollux stopped typing, and the room became silent once more. He stood up quickly and jogged over to Terezi, tapping her on the shoulder.

"Your helmet isn't fixed yet," Sollux whispered, and Terezi shrugged.

"I don't need sight to beat a mechanic." She boasted, grinning wickedly. "I know this place like the back of my hand!"

"You can't see the back of your hand!"

"Wait, you're blind?!" I exclaimed, and Terezi laughed again.

"Um, duh. Get with the program Vantas!"

"How the hell do you expect to be able to race if you're blind?!"

As an answer, she brought her staff down on my head, and I squeaked in pain.

"The same way I do anything because I'm blind, you dolt!"

I rubbed my head, baring my teeth.

"Fine! I'll race you. Winner gets the necklace!" I snarled. "And if you get yourself killed, it's not my fault!" I stormed away from her, pulling my motorcycle away from the wall and getting on.

She laughed triumphantly, racing behind a pile of crates and coming back out on her own bike, the engines roaring.

"First to the central wins?" She challenged, shouting over the noise her motorcycle was making.

"Bring it on!" I hollered, revving my engines defiantly.

Kanaya, barely masking her worry, opened the doors for us, and we pulled up to the imaginary starting line. Nepeta hurried over, handing both of us face covering brown helmets: back-ups kept for training, if I had to guess. They reminded me of the ones they wore in the centuries old classic movie, Tron. Sollux grabbed Terezi's wrist again.

"Just wait until the helmet's done! It's only going to take me another day!" He yelled to her over the noise.

"I can't stay holed up here a second longer!" She hollered back, bending low over the motorcycle. "I need to ride!"

Sollux stared at her, anger flushing his cheeks. He let go of her wrist and stormed off in the opposite direction, refusing to look back.

"Hey!" I called to Nepeta, and she turned her head to me. "Um… Which way is Central?"

"You agreed to race there, and you don't even know where it is!?"

"Just point, jegus!"

Nepeta rolled her eyes and pointed to my left. I nodded my thanks and assumed the same position as Terezi, glancing at her from the corner of my eye. She flexed her muscles, itching to get going.

Kanaya stepped out of our way, holding her arm up. After a brief hesitation, she let it drop, and Terezi and I sped out of the old building, leaving a thick cloud of dust in our wake.

"Go, Karkat!" Gamzee hollered after me, pumping his fist in the air.

"Damn it, Terezi," Kanaya whispered, holding her hand to her forehead. "You better know what you're doing…"

Terezi immediately cut into a side street, expertly maneuvering within the small space. I continued heading straight, looking for the main road. It would be a straight way to central, and I was desperate enough to risk riding through a crowd.

I could see the thick soup of trolls already, but I was going too fast to stop.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGH!" I screeched, easily getting their attention. They screamed, scrambling to get out of the way as I barreled towards them. I cut into the street easily, dodging between groups of terrified and confused trolls, looking around me.

There! One of the skyscrapers had their doors propped open, and there were few trolls gathered around it. I steered towards it, zooming into the building and sending papers flying. Secretaries and citizens threw themselves out of the way, and I hit the brakes as quickly as I could, sliding into an open elevator. I planted my foot on the ground and hit the button for the top floor, panting.

With a ding, the doors shut. I turned my head to look at an older couple who had gotten into the elevator before me. They stared at me in horror, clinging to each other.

"Hey." I grunted, turning away. The woman made an indignant noise, but they still forgot to press a button for their floor, so we rode together to the top floor. The elevator music was extremely annoying, but I still tapped my finger to the beat. There wasn't much else to do. As soon as the elevator opened again, I raced out and into the hallway.

It looked like a hotel, which would explain the old couple. The walls and floors were nicely carpeted, and sped by in a blur.

Luckily for me, I have an amazing sense of direction, and I easily turned myself in the correct direction, zooming through the hallways. I pulled a sickle out from my cloak, throwing it ahead of me and through a ceiling to floor window at the end of the hallway. It shattered in a waterfall of glass, and I drove through it and out into the moonlight.

For a moment I hung, suspended, flying through the empty air. I fought to keep my motorcycle balanced in the air, accidentally doing a backflip, filled with terror. Finally, my wheels touched down on the roof of the adjacent skyscraper, bouncing a little and then speeding forward with ease. I thanked the Knight that the city had been designed so the skyscrapers were progressively shorter closer to the center of the city. I could see the huge, spiking building that stood in the center of the city.

I looked down, tracing the sidestreets behind the sky scrapers, and caught a glimpse of Terezi speeding far below and behind me. Memorizing the fastest route, I grinned and drove off the roof, freefalling again. I pulled my second sickle out, latching it onto a fire escape ladder as I passed. It caught briefly and then began to fall, wrenching my arm but slowing me down so I wouldn't splat at the bottom. As soon as my tires hit the concrete, I sped away, abandoning the sickle. I took a moment to look behind me and relish in Terezi's blank look of surprise, before facing forward and riding along the route I had traced in my mind.

Terezi was hot on my tail, but I continued to press forward, just barely faster than her. Breathless, I burst out into Central, skidding to a stop at the foot of the huge center building. Terezi slammed onto her brakes and slid beside me.

We sat there, panting, staring at each other through our visors. Suddenly, Terezi burst out laughing, almost bending in half as she cackled, struggling to breath. I smiled, then laughed with her, the exhilaration of it all making me giddy.

"Are you sure you're just a mechanic?!" Terezi gasped out. "You drive like a professional!"

"I guess I have a knack for it!" I squeaked out, pounding my fist on the handlebar and trying to control my laughter, to no avail.

"Damn!" Terezi snickered, taking deep breaths to calm down. She pulled the silver chain over her head, and tossed it to me. I caught it, fumbling with my hands, and stared down at it.

"Bring it back when you're done, okay Karkles?" She nodded at me, starting her motorcycle again. "I better see you soon!" With that, she turned, speeding away into the darkness of the back roads once more.