Chapter 9: Sparks Across the City

Chapter 9: Sparks Across the City The next morning, Jaden stood on the rooftop of the completed AI Apartment Block. The city stretched before him—broken buildings, rusted roofs, and flickering streetlights that barely worked. Main Quest: Urban Grid Revival Objective: Power 3 Slum Sectors with Modular Energy Systems Reward: Command Center Blueprint + Map Expansion Tools The system showed three zones blinking red on the map: Sector 9, Sector 14, and Sector 18. They were dark zones. Forgotten places where people had no power, no clean water, and no support. Carl joined him, sipping from a steaming mug of synthetic coffee. "Three sectors. That’s no small task." Jaden nodded. "We can’t do it all from here. I need to set up new energy hubs—each one connected to a microgrid." Emma came up behind them. "Let me guess. Solar-powered again?" "Mostly," Jaden said. "But the system just unlocked a new type. Kinetic Grid Nodes—power generated by movement. People walking, kids playing, even carts rolling over plates in the ground. Every step produces energy." "That’s genius," Luke said, overhearing them. "Perfect for crowded places." Jaden tapped the new blueprint: Blueprint: Modular Kinetic Grid Node Pressure plates and magnetic generators Stores power in underground batteries Links wirelessly to local structures Each node can power 3–4 buildings They had the tech. They had the plans. Now they just needed to move. Their first stop was Sector 9. It was even worse than Sector 12 had been. Most buildings had crumbled. The few that still stood leaned like tired bones. Children played in the dirt with sticks. The streets smelled of burnt plastic. Jaden stood in the middle of it all, projecting the grid map onto a cracked wall. Residents gathered to watch, curious but cautious. "We’re here to give this place power," Jaden told them. "Not just for lights—but for fridges, fans, even clean water." An old woman stepped forward. "Why would you help us?" "Because someone has to," he said. The Ground Circuit got to work. Rick and Sarah led a team clearing the central walkway. Emma and Marcus began installing the pressure plates—flat, tough tiles that clicked softly when stepped on. Kids started jumping on them just for fun. Their laughter filled the air. And the lights came on. The first house lit up, then the second, then the streetlight near the market corner. People cheered. Sector 9 Status: Powered +1 Urban Grid Token +50 XP Next came Sector 14. It was quieter here, but not safer. Gang signs painted the walls. Watchers stood on rooftops with old rifles. The local crew, known as the Iron Dogs, ran everything. Carl spoke to them directly. "Back off and let us build. We’re not here to take over." Their leader, a man named Tyler, walked up to Jaden and looked him over. "You fixed Sector 9?" Jaden nodded. Tyler cracked his neck. "We’ll let you work. But if one wire crosses into our block wrong... we tear it down." Jaden didn’t flinch. "We’re not here to fight. We’re here to power." They worked faster this time. The team set up motion-powered lamp posts and wired public fans in the alleyways. Luke reprogrammed two vending machines to run on grid power and serve filtered water. By sunset, Tyler came back, watching the lights flicker on one by one. He gave a slow nod. "Not bad, Architect." Sector 14 Status: Powered +1 Urban Grid Token +50 XP At night, back at the AI Apartment Block, Jaden sat with Carl and opened the final sector map. Sector 18. Carl frowned. "That place is different. High tech ruins, but crawling with surveillance. NovaCore tested a failed city upgrade there once. Now it’s sealed off." Jaden stared at the screen. "I think we’re going anyway."