《Krisis》 Chapter 1 ¡°Repent, my friends, or this nation will face judgment!¡± The shabby man cried, his voice carrying across the courtyard in a booming baritone. But the crowd ignored him, making their distaste for his message known. ¡°A terrible crisis is coming. The Sovereign has observed this country¡¯s sin and reached the limit of His tolerance. In forty days, the Union of Peoples shall collapse!¡± the shabby man continued. Yet, hardly anyone showed interest in his threat. ¡°Like I was saying, Roc, a fantastic new store downtown opened up last week. They say it can fulfill your heart¡¯s desire.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rocke said, dragging himself away from the odd man¡¯s dire pronouncements. ¡°Sorry, miles away. What were you saying?¡± ¡°Still broken up about Jafia dumping you? With these robots, terrible ex-girlfriends are a thing of the past! With these new AI bots, who needs romance? They can fulfill any desire you wish, and without the mess that comes with real girlfriends.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s fake,¡± Rocke said, sipping at his soda. At this hour, the outdoor caf¨¦ bustled with activity, conversation chattering from each table. Girls in tastefully revealing skirts served patrons with forced smiles, wishing they could be elsewhere. ¡°It¡¯s not real. Can some AI replace real relationships?¡± But his friend only rolled his eyes. ¡°Please. Who doesn¡¯t want a girl you can switch off whenever she gets annoying?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯re still single, Marsh.¡± His friend¡¯s comment had earned dirty looks from the servers. Rocke feared they might spit in Marsh¡¯s drink when he wasn¡¯t looking. Marsh wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. ¡°Not any longer.¡± ¡°The citizens of the UOP have become selfish, insular, caring little beyond their own desires,¡± the soothsayer said, as if responding to Marsh¡¯s words. ¡°Their pride will bring their own destruction. After several great disasters, the Vanderfall will devastate our great city of Vladus, leaving not a brick standing. The Demons will emerge from its remains and rule this land, so declares the Sovereign.¡± This pronouncement drew further ire of the soothsayer¡¯s audience, earning angry muttering from the crowd. ¡°The Vanderfall will be our reckoning? The Demons ruling our land? Repent? What nonsense.¡± Marsh¡¯s face twisted into an ugly scowl. ¡°The UOP is the greatest nation on the planet! None can match our technology, or military might. You expect us to believe Vanderfall is going to destroy us?¡± Similar mockery came from the crowd, many turning more hostile as the doomsayer continued. ¡°I¡¯m saying this to save our great nation. I love the UOP as much as anyone. But unless you repent, it will face the Sovereign¡¯s judgment!¡± The soothsayer kept his tone calm and reasonable, trying to calm his audience¡¯s temper. ¡°Traitor. Vanderfall sympathizer!¡± a member of the caf¨¦¡¯s staff said. ¡°We crushed them to tiny pieces years ago. They¡¯re not a threat to anyone.¡± It was true. They¡¯d defeated the western kingdom ten years ago. Their economy hadn¡¯t come close to recovering yet. ¡°Demons ruling over us?¡± His friend rolled his eyes. ¡°Um, I¡¯m pretty sure they prefer to be called the Olomon,¡± Rocke said weakly. That was their ancient name from millennia past, but they¡¯d earned the Demon nickname because of their naturally fearsome appearance. The Ottomon people have suffered since the UOP displaced them two centuries ago. The prophet didn¡¯t flinch as people threw harsh curses in his direction, some even tossed cans and litter at him. Much to Rocke¡¯s astonishment, the prophet continued with his message. ¡°Repent, o Union of Peoples, or judgment will come upon you. So the Sovereign has spoken.¡± ¡°Forget him,¡± Marsh scoffed. ¡°Nobody believes in the Sovereign anymore. Any thinking being knows he¡¯s only a fairy story. Anyway, Roc, we must go to that AI store. I know what kind of girl you like.¡± His friend made exaggerated curves with his hands. ¡°No. Besides, I bet Jafia and I can work our relationship out.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re making impossible predictions of the future.¡± His friend rolled his eyes. ¡°Whatever. Your loss.¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t bring your girlbot anywhere near my room.¡± Rocke shivered in disgust. As they left the caf¨¦, Rocke turned back to the prophet as he continued his unpopular message. Someone had thrown paint into his face, smearing it red. Yet, despite this abuse, the soothsayer continued his prophesying. Rocke pitied for the man. Sovereign worshipers were a rarity these days, almost a dead religion. The poor man must realize that his faith would soon go extinct. Yet, he admired the prophet¡¯s courage. Few would suffer such humiliation for their faith. Still, Rocke tossed aside the man¡¯s dire pronouncements from his mind, ignoring the scorn thrown in the man¡¯s direction. Cars zipped above them as they returned to their apartment building. With Rocke still in college, Marsh had insisted they live together as roommates to save money, a decision that Rocke regretted. While his old friend was a decent guy, he often got into trouble. Rocke welcomed the gentle breeze as the late spring heat rose to an uncomfortable level. He pulled at his collar, hoping to relieve some heat. Despite the temperature, it was a nice day. Vladus was as beautiful as ever, its towering ivory buildings reaching high into the stars. The city showcased the world¡¯s highest buildings, each with a unique design by top architects. The city officials seemed eager to outdo themselves with each consecutive building project. They passed an exosuit as it helped lift a steel beam into position for the latest skyscraper. On the project sign, it boasted a 3000-foot building, a masterclass of engineering brilliance. With the UOP¡¯s economy booming to new heights, the city had plenty of cash to spare. Everyone in Vladus was prosperous. Marsh gestured towards a woman in tattered clothes, begging on a street corner, shaking his head. ¡°Look at that.¡± But Rocke¡¯s assessment of the city¡¯s prosperity wasn¡¯t completely correct. Some citizens lived in less appealing circumstances. Society commonly relegated the often maligned Olomon to the city¡¯s lower, less appealing reaches. It wasn¡¯t their fault. Society didn¡¯t offer them enough opportunities. The beggar woman appeared exhausted, likely from working long hours in the factories. Since the government didn¡¯t care what rates lowly workers received, many factory workers barely scraped by. Many were homeless, like this woman. ¡°A copper for your trouble?¡± Despite her clothes¡¯ shabbiness, the Ottomon¡¯s tribal tattoo shone with color, a rainbow of swirling patterns that stretched across her skin. Her orange eyes pleaded Rocke for mercy. ¡°Here.¡± Rocke slipped two coppers into a cup as he walked by, avoiding eye contact. ¡°Why give her anything?¡± Marsh asked, his voice a bit too loud. ¡°You know she¡¯ll only spend it on booze.¡± ¡°She still needs help,¡± Rocke replied stiffly. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. ¡°Well, alright,¡± Marsh said, somewhat exasperated. ¡°Thanks,¡± the beggar girl said, head down. But Rocke noticed the scorn behind her hooded eyes. ¡°Now that¡¯s over, we have a party to plan,¡± Marsh said, throwing an arm around his friend. ¡°A party?¡± Rocke said as they walked away. ¡°I have class tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Bah, you¡¯re smart enough. What¡¯s a missed class or two? Besides, I can contrive for Jafia to come.¡± ¡°Okay, now that¡¯s a terrible idea if I¡¯ve ever heard one.¡± They¡¯d both agreed they wanted some space to think things out. ¡°Then just find another babe then! One with bigger boobs!¡± Rocke only laughed and shook his head at his friend¡¯s antics. His constant skirt chasing was infamous. ¡°Okay, just a small party. Four people max.¡± ¡°Perfect, you won¡¯t regret this!¡± ¡°I already am.¡± ¡°Change!¡± The Olomon woman said, giving hopeful smiles to passersby. But like Marsh friend, no one seemed interested in helping her. Their looks were contemptuous, wondering why she dared bother them. Rocke sighed and slunk away, trying to put the incident out of his mind. While modest, their apartment had impressive living space, almost a three-room apartment for the price of one. Its style was modern and sleek, with furniture that was all lines and angles. Cars zipped past their windows, but the soundproof glass made them almost inaudible. He¡¯d need to once again thank his uncle next time he saw him for setting them up with this place. With this and the job at his company once he finished business school, Rocke was pretty much set for life. The building boasted a shopping complex on the 16th floor below them. It even had a miniature water park. His friend fussed about making their place presentable for their guests. Rocke helped, swiftly checking for misplaced laundry or trash on the carpeted floor. ¡°I thought you wanted a robot girl? Why are you fussing about impressing a real one?¡± Rocke asked wryly. ¡°Hey, I can have both. Besides, maybe I can convince her to share a bed with both of us,¡± Marsh waved his eyebrows suggestively. ¡°Now that is science fiction. It¡¯s never going to happen, dude.¡± ¡°Hey, a guy can dream!¡± Marsh perked up as the doorbell rang. ¡°They¡¯re here early, perfect!¡± ¡°Hey, how¡¯s it going?¡± His friend said as he answered the door, all cool confidence. ¡°What a lovely place!¡± A girl Rocke didn¡¯t recognize said. The blond man whose head almost scraped across the ceiling with arms the thickness of tree trunks accompanying her, Rocke did recognize. ¡°Yeah, sweet digs.¡± The man said, taking Rocke¡¯s hand in a firm handshake. ¡°Joven! It¡¯s been too long!¡± Rocke said, pleased. ¡°Who¡¯s your friend?¡± ¡°Marty!¡± The woman said, shaking his hand next. ¡°His fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting married? Congratulations!¡± Rocke said, pleased his old high school pal had found someone special. ¡°And so, partying! Let¡¯s drink until we¡¯re blacked out drunk,¡± Joven said, laughing. But Rocke coughed. ¡°Class tomorrow.¡± ¡°Ah, you worry too much,¡± Joven said, dismissing his friend¡¯s concerns. He beamed as four more guests arrived. Rocke recognized only a few of them. ¡°A small party, huh?¡± Rocke sighed as three more people followed Joven into his apartment. Marsh did nothing in half measure. He hoped his place wouldn¡¯t get too trashed. The situation had escalated. Rocke¡¯s only choice was to ride it out. --- ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m gonna be a big shot!¡± Joven said, bursting into uproarious laughter. ¡°Big shot!¡± His fianc¨¦e echoed with enthusiasm. She pawed over Joven¡¯s massive chest in a way that made Rocke distinctly uncomfortable. ¡°Oh?¡± Rocke said, sipping at his beer. Somehow, he¡¯d resisted the urge to over indulge. The alcohol had given him a pleasant buzz but nothing more. ¡°My uncle¡¯s the chief of police. Promised me I¡¯d go far in the force.¡± Joven¡¯s drink sloshed onto the floor, making Rocke wince as it landed on his plush carpet. ¡°I can do whatever I please without repercussions.¡± ¡°Hm, sure,¡± Rocke said, uninterested. He watched the other partygoers who packed his place. Marsh hadn¡¯t exactly been truthful about only calling a few friends. The party dragged long into the night. People had already passed out on the floor, creating a messy scene. Rocke wobbled, eager to get to bed, but his friends insisted on continuing. ¡°Perfect!¡± Joven said as he checked his phone. ¡°I gotta surprise!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it wait ¡®til morning?¡± Rocke said, yawning. Morning classes had long fled his mind, only caring about sleep. ¡°No! It¡¯ll be great. You¡¯ll love this surprise!¡± Joven said, more insistent. ¡°Must come, you must. You¡¯ll love it!¡± His fianc¨¦e added. When it seemed clear the bigger man wouldn¡¯t relent, Rocke agreed. ¡°Fine. Lead the way.¡± After retrieving a passed-out Marsh, they entered Joven¡¯s car and flew to the special surprise. Thanks to the self-driving option, nobody had to drive drunk. Much to Rocke¡¯s confusion, they arrived at the Southside Bridge. The night¡¯s clouds cloaked everything in a near-impenetrable darkness. ¡°Why are we here, exactly?¡± Rocke asked, glancing around. Beyond a red sports car, the area seemed deserted. The Freshka River seemed eerily calm, its surface like polished glass. ¡°Got what you wanted!¡± A curly-haired man wearing a red jacket said, waving. He beamed as they approached. ¡°Carv! Did nobody see you?¡± Joven asked. ¡°None! I doubt anyone would care, anyway.¡± The other man replied. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± A bleary-eyed Marsh said. ¡°Just taking care of some unpleasantness. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve seen him around town. I thought it¡¯d be nice to take care of him.¡± Joven said, showing the white of his teeth. ¡°What are you¡­¡± Rocke¡¯s heart stopped as a familiar face emerged from the sports car¡¯s trunk. While gagged and battered, he¡¯d recognize him anywhere. It was the prophet from earlier that morning. ¡°What is this?¡± Rocke said, his heart beating painfully in his chest. ¡°You heard him, didn¡¯t you? He said that our great UOP would fall. He said demons would rule over our country, Promised disasters if we didn¡¯t repent!¡± Joven said, his voice full of contempt. ¡°So we¡¯re taking care of him. The fun way.¡± From his car¡¯s trunk, he pulled out several baseball bats. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to it. Have fun!¡± Carv said before getting into his car and flying away. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± Rocke said, his voice tiny. ¡°You¡¯re not planning on murdering him, right?¡± ¡°And why not?¡± Joven¡¯s fianc¨¦e said, taking a bat and throwing an experimental swing. While drunk, it still had enough power to do serious damage. ¡°And my uncle¡¯s chief of police. We won¡¯t get into trouble. Besides, he ordered this,¡± Joven said. ¡°He wanted this disruptive rabble dealt with.¡± Rocke stared in open mouth shock. While the prophet¡¯s eyes were terrified, he composed himself to die with at least some dignity. ¡°He¡¯s a prophet of the Sovereign. This isn¡¯t a good idea.¡± Rocke said, sobering up quickly. ¡°Right, Marsh?¡± However, his friend withdrew, refusing to meet his gaze. He didn¡¯t dare to stand up against this. ¡°The Sovereign, really?¡± Joven said, his voice full of mockery. ¡°You expect some fairy story to strike us down? Throw deadly plagues against us like the ancient stories? No one believes that junk anymore!¡± ¡°It still shouldn¡¯t be done.¡± Whether the Sovereign existed didn¡¯t matter. He needed to save this man¡¯s life. Rocke glared at them defiantly. But Joven only roughly thrust a baseball bat into Rocke¡¯s hand. ¡°What? Are you a traitor too? Think carefully before you say anything else stupid.¡± ¡°Who cares?¡± Joven¡¯s fianc¨¦e added. ¡°He¡¯s just some hobo. Nobody will miss him.¡± Rocke stared at the heavy wooden bat like it was a poisonous serpent. They weren¡¯t serious about hurting this poor man, right? But Rocke saw the violence sparkling in Joven¡¯s eyes. The blood rushed through Rocke¡¯s ears, the hand gripping the bat trembling uncontrollably. He watched as Joven smashed his weapon into the soothsayer¡¯s chest, the poor man howling in pain behind his gag. Another smack, and Rocke swore he¡¯d heard bone cracking. ¡°Come on, Rocke! Join the fun!¡± Joven said, laughing. ¡°Prove to me you¡¯re a patriot! Whether you like it or not, you¡¯re involved now. And if anyone learns of this? I¡¯ll swear it was your idea! You might as well enjoy the fun!¡± Again and again, Joven enacted his cruelty on his helpless victim. His fianc¨¦e laughed as she joined the show. Even Marsh reluctantly helped with the beating. Only Rocke stood stuck rigidly to his spot, sweat pooling in his palms, gripping his bat hard enough to hurt. This was wrong! Someone had to do something. The pleading look in the prophet¡¯s eyes would haunt Rocke¡¯s nightmares. Something inside Rocke snapped. Before he knew it, he stood above a cowering Joven, blood dripping from a nasty wound on the other man¡¯s head. His friend pleaded for mercy, but Rocke only struck him harder. Everyone else just watched in paralyzed shock. When Rocke was heaving ragged breaths as he finished. ¡°Roc, what have you done?¡± Marsh said, his voice quiet as he stared at the bloody remains of Joven¡¯s face. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Rocke dropped his cracked, bloody bat. This couldn¡¯t be real. He¡¯d never do such a thing. This must be a nightmare. Joven¡¯s fianc¨¦e screamed, and Rocke realized he needed to escape. He lifted a leg to flee, but a hand stopped him. It was the soothsayer. While battered and bruised, he was still alive. In the struggle, the gag had gotten torn from his mouth. ¡°Please, help me.¡± Not knowing what he was doing, he pulled the injured man to his feet. The prophet was surprisingly light, and he dragged him to Joven¡¯s car. Marsh and Joven¡¯s fianc¨¦e only stared at him, dumbfounded, before rushing over to Joven. His friend was already calling emergency services. Marsh glared daggers at him, hate blazing in his eyes. They called his friend a coward. Already unlocked, Rocke gripped the steering wheel hard as they zipped away. Hopefully, if he ran far enough, the nightmare would end. Chapter 2 ¡°Tsk.¡± Police Chief Rolf scowled as his secretary brought him the daily report, chalky smoke filled his office from his cigar as he scanned the reports. He suppressed a yawn, quickly skimming through each paper to get home early. If anything important happened, he¡¯d learn about it in the morning. ¡°Another Demon protest.¡± Rolf smothered his cigar against the report, annoyed he¡¯d have to deal with that nonsense again. If they were so unhappy about their pay, why didn¡¯t they move to Vanderfall? There, they¡¯d probably treat that trash better. If the Demons lived in his country, they lived by UOP rules. They should be proud to be citizens of the UOP, regardless of their living conditions. Some hell gas should suffice to clear that rabble. The agony caused by the nerve agent would make anyone think twice about continuing their worthless cause. ¡°Sir! Apologies for the interruption, but there¡¯s an emergency!¡± His view screen said, flickering on. Sitting inside its frame was a cartoon green-haired girl in a police captain¡¯s outfit with flashing police sirens acting as hair buns. ¡°Ph¨². I left my monitor off for a reason. This better be good.¡± While he could have easily gone through his reports with the AI¡¯s assistance, Rolf preferred the tactile nature of paper. The higher-ups had forced the damnable AI upon his department, believing it would be an enjoyable mascot for children. But his desk rattled as he abruptly stood up when he caught the AI¡¯s stark expression. ¡°It¡¯s your nephew, Joven. He¡¯s in the hospital. He¡¯s suffered severe brain trauma. The prognosis isn¡¯t good.¡± Rolf was already charging from his office to the parking garage. People scattered at the sight of their irate police chief. Above him, a flying monitor followed him, Ph¨²¡¯s hover engines struggling to keep pace. ¡°He was attacked?¡± Rolf demanded, mind racing as the AI explained the scant details. ¡°And this Rocke Ralss brat is responsible?¡± ¡°Correct. We¡¯re taking testimony from both witnesses.¡± ¡°Keep them here. Once I return from the hospital, I want to hear their testimony myself.¡± ¡°Sure thing, Cap!¡± Ph¨² said, giving him a thumbs up. ¡°We¡¯ll squeeze them for everything they got!¡± ¡°Rawr!¡± A roar echoed around the main lobby, officers were struggling to subdue a suspect. The brute was massive and violent, resembling more a wild beast than a human. Even with five officers on him, they couldn¡¯t contain him. ¡°One moment,¡± Rolf said, forestalling Ph¨² with a hand. ¡°Gah!¡± The suspect howled as Rolf delivered a powerful kick to the face. Stunned, he was helpless as Rolf grabbed him by the skull with both hands and drove his knee into his chin. With a thud, the man collapsed unconscious. ¡°Thanks, Chief.¡± Sergeant Halkken said, giving him a thumbs up for the assist. ¡°Throw that scum into a cell, Jan. Perhaps he¡¯ll calm down after a day or two without food or water.¡± --- ¡°By Solv, I...¡± Rocke shook his head, hoping to wake from this terrible dream. This couldn¡¯t be happening. His stolen car increased speed, zipping between two trucks. Metal squealed as he clipped a truck¡¯s side, leaving an ugly gash in the car¡¯s rear end. ¡°I appreciate the assist, young man. How about slowing down before you kill us?¡± the prophet said wryly. ¡°The Sovereign might have saved my life, but I¡¯d rather not risk it again, if you catch my drift.¡± ¡°R-right.¡± Rocke tried to gather his racing thoughts. Had he just killed Joven? No, impossible. It¡¯d only been an ugly head wound. He¡¯d be fine, surely. ¡°Dear Solv! I¡¯m in a stolen car fleeing from a crime scene!¡± The full impact of his situation struck him like a brick to the skull, hands trembling with pent-up emotion. He¡¯d just ruined his life, hadn¡¯t he? Rocke doubted his family would think highly of him throwing away everything for some bum. His uncle would be furious about his debacle, maybe even refusing to help him legally through this mess. And Rocke¡¯s dad? He¡¯d rather not dwell on that. ¡°It¡¯s okay, son.¡± The prophet said, giving his shoulder a tight squeeze. ¡°We can get through this. The first point, I would imagine, is ditching this stolen car.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Nowadays, cars have trackers for just such a situation. It wouldn¡¯t take long for this vehicle¡¯s theft to be reported. After taking a deep breath, Rocke guided Joven¡¯s car to a back alley behind a warehouse. At this late hour, nobody was around. With a hiss, the vehicle parked behind a bin brimming with trash bags. An idea struck his dulled mind, and his fingers danced across the flying car¡¯s controls. While people usually drove their cars manually, they had an autodrive function. He programmed a course that would drive the vehicle halfway across the city. ¡°Okay, now what?¡± A million scenarios passed through Rocke¡¯s head as his feet landed in the dark alley, almost pitch black from the lack of moonlight. Behind him the car started up on its journey. Should he turn himself over to the police and plead for their mercy? But Rocke trembled, terrified by the prospect of going to prison. How could this happen? The UOP promised its citizens perfect peace and prosperity. People like him never committed crimes! ¡°I have a friend who lives nearby. Let¡¯s stop by there to rest. After your day, you¡¯ll need it. Besides, I doubt good decisions are made in a foul-smelling alley.¡± The soothsayer wrinkled his nose at the alley¡¯s smell of indeterminate bodily fluids. Rocke watched as Joven¡¯s car sped away to parts unknown. ¡°Okay, lead on.¡± Some sleep sounded nice. It might sober him up for better decision-making tomorrow. ¡°Matthias Daliven.¡± The prophet said, extending his hand. ¡°I haven¡¯t properly thanked you for saving my life.¡± ¡°Rocke Ralss.¡± While a wiry fellow, the soothsayer¡¯s grip was firm, a sharp contrast to Rocke¡¯s more feeble one. Despite his father¡¯s emphasis, Rocke had never attained an imposing grip. After a slight smile, the prophet led Rocke into a district of Vladus he¡¯d never visited. It shocked him how grimy it was. Didn¡¯t the automatic robotic cleaners come down here? He even noticed some streetlights weren¡¯t working. With palpable unease, Rocke followed Matthias to parts unknown. ¡°Matthias, is that you?¡± A woman said. She waved as they entered the shantytown, a makeshift village within his grand city. The lady was an Ottomon, her tribal markings stretching across her middle-aged face in a sharp, zigzag fashion. To call these huts homes would be generous. They appeared more like tin boxes of thin metal than a house. It shocked Rocke that anyone could live in them. Did they even keep you warm at night? North UOP had harsh winters with meters of snow every year. ¡°Evening, Maple.¡± The prophet replied, limping over. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°By Sovereign, what happened to you?! You¡¯re all black and blue! Did someone hurt you? Angry about your prophecies, no doubt.¡± Maple said, fretting over the older man. ¡°And who¡¯s your friend? A higher district folk, from the looks of him.¡± ¡°Rocke,¡± he said bashfully under the woman¡¯s scrutiny. Her penetrating gaze reminded him of his grandmother. That woman¡¯s stubbornness could force a building to move if she wanted. ¡°He saved me from a bunch of hooligans,¡± Matthias said, giving Rocke¡¯s back a friendly pat. ¡°The Sovereign sent him to save my sorry keister.¡± ¡°That¡¯s very brave of him.¡± The woman¡¯s smile was grateful and full of admiration. It made Rocke somewhat self-conscious, but the glow from her respect felt nice. ¡°Come in. I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± ¡°Thanks, Maple. You¡¯re a dear.¡± Matthias said, limping into the woman¡¯s shack. ¡°Sure thing.¡± The metal hut was even smaller on the inside, barely larger than Rocke¡¯s bedroom. Yet, its owner maintained it with obvious love, making do with whatever was available. The air didn¡¯t smell as bad as he¡¯d expected. Instead, the fragrance was of cooked vegetables. An old metal stove sat in a corner, and above it were stacks of shelves with different utensils and spices. Two beds sat in a corner, not giving the occupants much room for privacy. ¡°No use staring, lad. We might be poor, but we manage.¡± The older woman said. ¡°But make yourself at home. I¡¯ll get you something to eat. You¡¯ve suffered quite the ordeal.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Rocke said, blushing. He found a stool next to a fold-up table and sat. ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± The prophet said, groaning as he pushed himself onto the stool. ¡°Mom? Are you talking to someone?¡± A young woman said from outside. ¡°Has Matthias come to visit?¡± Rocke gasped as a familiar face slipped into the shack, recognizing the distinctive tattoo markings anywhere. What an impossible coincidence. ¡°Didn¡¯t you give me a few copper coins a couple of hours ago?¡± The beggar¡¯s eyes became suspicious. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°None of that, Kallane. He¡¯s our guest. Please make him feel at home.¡± Her mother said. ¡°He got me out of a nasty scrape,¡± Matthias said, providing the backstory. ¡°What happened to you?¡± Kallane said, alarmed. She examined the prophet, making sure his injuries weren¡¯t serious. ¡°Don¡¯t fret. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± The prophet said. ¡°The fool has been prophesying again.¡± Maple poured a thick broth into wooden bowls and placed them on the table. His mouth watered, despite being a simple affair made from vegetables, mostly celery from his guess. ¡°Like those uptown fools will even listen to him.¡± ¡°Someone needs to warn them,¡± Matthias said, pulling his spoon to his mouth. ¡°The Sovereign tells me they must be warned before judgment. They need time to repent.¡± ¡°Brave, silly Matthias.¡± The older Ottomon woman shook her head. ¡°And are you a repenter?¡± Kallane asked, eyeing Rocke with interest. ¡°Naw, I don¡¯t believe any of that,¡± Rocke replied, trying the soup. It was excellent and flavorful, much to his surprise and delight. It helped remove any lingering effects of the drinks he¡¯d had earlier. ¡°Yet you helped me,¡± the prophet said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Against your own friends, no less.¡± This caught their hosts¡¯ attention, increasing their curiosity about what had happened. Rocke¡¯s hands covered his face, the futility of his situation crashing down on him. ¡°I¡¯m a wanted man now.¡± ¡°It was the Sovereign¡¯s will. He put you there to help me,¡± Matthias said, his words kind. ¡°Thanks for ruining my life, Sovereign,¡± Rocke replied, not hiding his bitterness. ¡°This life is temporary. What we do for the hereafter matters more. The Sovereign will judge us for our transgressions. Being a good person isn¡¯t enough. Unless we confess our sins, they hang over us like a noose.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Rocke said noncommittally. He¡¯d heard this speech countless times from his grandmother, too. She was the only person in his family that ever believed in the Sovereign. The controversy had gotten her kicked out of the family. ¡°Now Matthias, let¡¯s not scare away our guest,¡± Maple said, scolding her friend. ¡°Tsk. Seems no one wants to hear the truth,¡± the prophet said, his tone going sullen. ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m talking to myself. 40 days isn¡¯t enough time!¡± Why bother then? Rocke wanted to ask, but decided against it. It wasn¡¯t his job to tell people what they should do. ¡°Well, I¡¯m proud of you. Someone needs to speak out! The Uupies need to understand there are consequences for what they¡¯ve done. Making us live in squalor while they live in palaces!¡± Kallane spat on the dirt floor, her tone venomous. ¡°When judgment comes, they¡¯ll get everything they deserve!¡± While disapproving of her tone, the prophet patted Kallane¡¯s hand. ¡°I¡¯m proud of how much you care about your people, Kallane, but don¡¯t allow your anger to poison you. The Uupies are human too. I was once one of those snooty uptowners.¡± The prophet was an uptowner? What poor luck drove him to become a prophet of a dead religion? Despite himself, it sparked Rocke¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Tsk. You¡¯re different. You¡¯ve always had a heart.¡± They¡¯d clearly had this argument hundreds of times. Rocke shifted uneasily in his seat. He¡¯d never realized how badly the Demons despised his people. ¡°Dessert?¡± Maple asked too loudly, trying to break into the awkward mood. ¡°That sounds lovely,¡± Matthias replied. ¡°Sure.¡± His host gave them each a sweet cake. Despite its simple flavor, and small size, Rocke enjoyed it. When Maple left with her daughter to do the dishes out of a basin, it left Rocke mostly alone with the person he¡¯d lost everything to save. ¡°Are you okay?¡± the prophet asked, catching Rocke¡¯s forlorn mood. ¡°What should I do now? I have no future.¡± While his uncle had money, he doubted he¡¯d spend a copper to defend his disgraced nephew. Joven¡¯s family had even more powerful connections. His father was a powerful local politician who aimed to become Vladus¡¯ mayor. If Joven survived, Rocke would suffer only a short jail sentence. If the big man died, Rocke¡¯s uncle wouldn¡¯t dare fight that to save his own political skin. He¡¯d consider it wiser to toss away his nephew like useless chaff. Like his father always said, it¡¯s a dog-eat-dog world. ¡°The Sovereign will provide,¡± Matthias replied cryptically. ¡°Sure. Thanks for the meal, but I should go,¡± Rocke stood up. ¡°No, stay the night,¡± Maple replied. ¡°You¡¯ve been too nice. If I stay, you¡¯d only get in trouble.¡± Where he¡¯d go, Rocke hadn¡¯t a clue. He couldn¡¯t bear these good people getting hurt because of him. ¡°No, you¡¯re staying. It¡¯s dangerous at night in these parts, especially for Uupies.¡± Maple¡¯s tone was emphatic. ¡°Yeah, everyone here knows Matthias is a friend and holy man, but a rich Uupie like you would get sliced to bits in seconds.¡± Kallane¡¯s frosty glare sent a shiver down his spine. ¡°Okay.¡± Rocke¡¯s tongue caught in his throat. ¡°We have a spare mat you can use,¡± Maple said kindly. She offered the same to Matthias too, and he accepted the offer with a grateful nod. Rocke grimaced, disliking sharing a cramped room with three people. But it wasn¡¯t like he had much choice. He¡¯d lost any claim to comfort when he¡¯d attacked Joven. He hoped by tomorrow, things would improve. --- ¡°Explain again what happened?¡± Rolf said, getting into the witness¡¯s face. The young man was a scrawny thing that flinched under his piercing gaze. ¡°Like I told you. My friend Rocke went crazy and just attacked Joven. It¡¯s nuts. There wasn¡¯t any reason he did it!¡± Sweat trickled down Marshion Parra¡¯s face. ¡°He messed up, you mean?¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± ¡°Last night, Joven was at the bridge for a purpose ¡ª discarding trash.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what you mean.¡± ¡°The prophet, kid. That¡¯s the reason my nephew was near the bridge late at night. It was to dispose of a nuisance who''s been disturbing public peace.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just talking about that?¡± Parra said, surprised. ¡°Openly?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The boy flinched at the tone of Rolf¡¯s voice. His men wouldn¡¯t dare betray him. Besides, no one would care if that traitor died. ¡°Answer the damn question. Where is the prophet?¡± ¡°Rocke stole him away. Took Joven¡¯s car.¡± ¡°Better.¡± The picture of the scene became clearer. Joven asked his friends to join in the fun. But this Rocke kid wasn¡¯t as keen about it. The situation escalated, and Rocke struck Joven with a baseball bat to defend the prophet. Panic struck, and he fled with the injured soothsayer in the nearest car. ¡°Ph¨², my nephew¡¯s car has a tracker. Locate it.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± The AI said, her monitor flashing before switching off. If the kid was stupid, he¡¯d keep running with the stolen vehicle. It shouldn¡¯t be hard to trump up some charges for the prophet so he¡¯g get locked away in some cold prison somewhere. Death during a fake escape attempt was another promising idea. Still, it was nothing compared to when they caught¡­ ¡°Sir,¡± Halkken said, bursting into the interrogation room. ¡°What? I¡¯m busy.¡± But the sergeant¡¯s face told Rolf everything. ¡°It¡¯s your nephew. He didn¡¯t make it. The brain damage was too severe. He passed ten minutes ago. I just learned about it.¡± Halkken said in obvious dismay. A lump caught in Rolf¡¯s throat. Despite the grim prognosis, his nephew had still been alive when he¡¯d left the hospital. His sister¡¯s wailing still tormented him, guilt stabbing into his heart like a knife. It¡¯d been his fault the boy had gotten hurt. After a brief silence, Parra uttered something stupid. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what happened. He was a good friend.¡± The brat howled as a fist impacted his nose. ¡°You little brat. Don¡¯t you dare speak of my Joven!¡± Rolf channeled all his rage into his words, an avenging angel. ¡°He had a bright future. He was going to be police chief one day, but you allowed him to die. You allowed that Ralss kid to hurt my boy!¡± ¡°I...¡± Parra trembled, words failing him. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you be,¡± Halkken said, motioning to leave. ¡°No.¡± Rolf regained his temper. Although he''d enjoyed venting his fury on this pathetic whelp, he wasn¡¯t Rolf''s true target. ¡°Throw him out of here, and none too gently.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Halkken said, nodding. ¡°Ph¨²!¡± ¡°Yes, sir?¡± The AI said as the room¡¯s monitor reactivated. ¡°I overheard what happened, Chief! My deepest condolences!¡± ¡°Shut up. We¡¯ve got work to do!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± Ph¨²LAX, or Ph¨² or short, asked, her voice chipper as always. ¡°Are we going to hunt that murderous scum down and make him pay?¡± ¡°I like the sound of that.¡± Halkken said, amused. Rolf¡¯s heart soured with pride at his officers¡¯ sense of justice. ¡°You read my mind.¡± A devilish smile spread across his features. ¡°Put a city-wide APB on this Ralss kid. Shoot on sight with stun weapons, highest level.¡± The weapon was powerful enough to make an elephant twitch in erratic spasms. The agony would be pure misery. ¡°But I¡¯ll handle the rest myself.¡± ¡°Of course, chief.¡± Ph¨² gave a salute. ¡°Your blood. You deserve to avenge him.¡± ¡°Damn right.¡± Rolf left the pathetic Parra whimpering on the floor. He had a job to do. He¡¯d burn down half of Vladus if need be. No place could protect Joven¡¯s murderer from him. Chapter 3 ¡°Where?¡± Rocke stared up at the metal ceiling, confused. Where was he? This wasn¡¯t his apartment. He opened his mouth, but before he could cry out for his roommate, Marsh, his memories washed over him like an overwhelming wave. Dear Solv, he¡¯d almost murdered someone. A terrible guilt bore into his heart as his sore limbs rose from the bedroll. Never had Rocke spent a night on the floor before, and it cost him. His aches only added to the misery that was his constant companion as he rose for the morning. ¡°Finally! Do you lazy Uppies always sleep this late?¡± Kallane said, her rebuke harsh. ¡°What time is it?¡± Rocke rubbed his droopy eyes. He¡¯d never been a morning person. ¡°Almost eleven,¡± Kallane replied. Much to Rocke¡¯s surprise, only he and the Ottomon beggar occupied the tin house. When she caught his surprise, Kallane explained, ¡°Matthias is off doing errands. Mom is working in the mines, and won¡¯t return until late.¡± ¡°And you?¡± ¡°The holy man made me promise to watch over you. Today¡¯s my day off, so it worked out.¡± It sounded like Kallane wasn¡¯t too keen on this task, however. ¡°An oath¡¯s an oath.¡± ¡°But breakfast!¡± ¡°Mom left some leftovers for you. You can eat on the way.¡± Kallane rolled her eyes. She opened a small icebox and pushed an even smaller Tupperware container into his hands. Through the clear plastic lid, Rocke glimpsed some thin strips of sausage. This was his breakfast? He¡¯d hoped for some eggs at least. ¡°Why?¡± A jolt of fear stabbed through Rocke¡¯s heart. Did the law already have some inkling where he was hiding? ¡°Some officers have been poking around the neighboring districts. It¡¯s a big place, but they¡¯re determined. If you stay here, they¡¯ll bound to find you eventually. Wear these. They¡¯ll help you blend in.¡± She pushed some ragged clothes into his hands. ¡°You want me to wear this?¡± Rocke wrinkled his nose. They smelled something fierce. ¡°It¡¯s the best I could manage. Unless you want to draw attention to your Uppie clothes?¡± Kallane gestured to his t-shirt and jeans. ¡°Fine.¡± Rocke changed behind a screen. His cloth¡¯s wooly surface scratched at him as Kallane led him outside. The shantytown hadn¡¯t improved much in daylight. People in shabby clothes went about their morning chores, exchanging the daily gossip with neighbors. Women used old-fashioned washbasins to clean their clothes while their children laughed and played around them. Despite their squalid conditions, these people impressed Rocke with their resilience. ¡°Life goes on,¡± Kallane said as they passed through the shantytown. Everyone greeted her with a smile or a nod. The inhabitants eyed Rocke with curiosity, but were friendly enough. It surprised Rocke they¡¯d greet a non-Ottomon with such friendliness, but soon he noticed his own race milling about. He¡¯d forgotten not everyone in the UOP lived in fancy high rises. Some UOP citizens slipped through the cracks and lived in these shanty towns in destitution. ¡°Don¡¯t stare, please, you¡¯ll stand out,¡± Kallane said. ¡°Sorry.¡± He¡¯d been eyeing a middle-aged woman of his race who was missing both legs. Rocke wondered if she¡¯d fought in the last war against Vanderfall. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a terminal near here. It might have news about the scum who attacked the holy man.¡± It was a wise precaution. They¡¯d track his connection to the network in nanoseconds if Rocke used his phone. Heck, it might be smart to lose it soon. ¡°Right.¡± A lump caught in Rocke¡¯s throat, but he marched forward. His father always told him hiding from the truth would only hurt him later. It¡¯s better to face bad news head-on than avoid it. After a mile¡¯s march, normal civilization returned, the roar of cars zipping through the air audible. As they approached the cleaner parts of town, more average citizens appeared. ¡°Excuse me,¡± Rocke said after accidentally bumping into a larger man. But the man only roughly pushed Rocke aside, not even acknowledging his existence. ¡°Why are you shocked?¡± Kallane said, amused by his expression. ¡°This is our life. You must have seen people treat my kind this way a million times.¡± Much to his shame, Rocke had. Only he¡¯d ignored it, pretending it didn¡¯t bother him. His father used to scold him for even looking at those people. ¡°Let¡¯s g et going.¡± Rocke said, hiding how disturbed the encounter had left him. He beamed as he spotted a terminal attached to a grocery store. ¡°Okay.¡± He tapped at the screen, scanning through the various articles. The biggest news story was a scandal involving a business rival of his uncle. Someone discovered that the man was siphoning funds from his business to pay a blackmailer. Much to his disappointment, the article didn¡¯t mention what the blackmailer knew. Still, this gossip would surely please his uncle, he thought idly. Then he caught sight of the nex headline and the blood froze in his veins. ¡°No.¡± he whispered, catching odd looks from passersby.¡®Young Vladus Man Betrayed and Killed by Friend Near Taggar Bridge¡¯ the words almost seemed to grow as he stared at them. A tiny school picture of Rocke sat in the corner, its blandness contrasting the violent nature of his crime. Much to his surprise, Kallane placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. She said nothing, but offered solace with her presence. His heart caught in his throat as he read on. Joven died of his injuries at three in the morning from a traumatic brain injury. The suspect, Rocke Ralss, was still at large. The article suggested people should report any sign of this person to the Vladus Police, claiming this person was armed and dangerous. But Rocke barely understood this part, too overwhelmed with grief. ¡°Joven¡¯s dead.¡± Rocke slumped. He¡¯d prayed and hoped the blow had been only a grazing one. Joven would laugh it off, he¡¯d told himself. But no, Rocke was a murderer. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Here.¡± With tenderness, Kallane guided him to a bench and sat him down. When a sob escaped his lips, she grabbed his hand and squeezed. They sat that way as Rocke struggled to make sense of the nightmare he¡¯d found himself in. Joven was a total jerk, but he never deserved death. ¡°Oh, Solv. I¡¯m finished. My life is ruined.¡± His family would never support him again. A murderer in the family is bad publicity. Heck, his father might kill him on the spot for being a black mark on his family¡¯s honor. What was he to do? He had nothing. Any dreams for his higher education were ruined. ¡°Wait, doesn¡¯t that guy look familiar?¡± a man eyed his phone with a furrowed brow. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± With surprising sternness, Kallane pulled him from the bench and tugged him into a nearby alley. Rocke didn¡¯t protest. ¡°I know some places you can hide. I¡¯m behind you, Rocke. Never forget that.¡± Kallane whispered as they entered the grimy alley. From the stench, Rocke guessed the cleaning bots didn¡¯t enter this city district often. ¡°Why are you helping me?¡± Rocke said after a minute of silence. ¡°Don¡¯t you despise me? It¡¯d make more sense to throw me to the wolves.¡± ¡°You might be a spoiled Uppie, but you still need help,¡± Kallane said, her words kind. ¡°We Ottomon never abandon someone in need. Besides, you saved the Sovereign¡¯s chosen. He brought us together for a reason.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Rocke stared at the girl in utter bafflement. Didn¡¯t she realize the risks of helping him? The law wouldn¡¯t look kindly on someone aiding a fugitive, especially an Ottomon. But the girl¡¯s determined face told him she¡¯d accept any risk of helping him. Catching his confusion, she clarified, ¡°You¡¯re one of us now. Unlike Uppies, we stick together.¡± Was it really that simple? Rocke supposed that, when you had nothing, you watched each other¡¯s backside. Still, her generosity surprised him. Kallane clicked her tongue. She scanned her surroundings, making sure they were unobserved. ¡°Let¡¯s get you out of sight.¡± ¡°O-okay.¡± While his legs were shaky, Rocke managed to return to the slums with his new friend. Rocke felt aimless, like everything he¡¯d known had crumbled to pieces. Did he even have a future anymore? He puzzled over this dilemma as they returned to Kallane¡¯s hut. --- ¡°Bwahaha! Thought you could escape the law, criminal scum? Foolishness! Such foolishness! The law has eyes everywhere!¡± Ph¨² said, amused by her prey¡¯s naivety. When Joven¡¯s car turned up halfway across the city, Rolf had been furious that the trail had gone cold. Ph¨², however, hadn¡¯t been worried. She¡¯d predicted that Ralss might try to access news about the attack last night, so she¡¯d created a virus that would trigger whenever someone accessed the article. Then it was child¡¯s play to hack the device and access its built-in camera. Her digital avatar stuck out her tongue as the pair departed from the terminal. ¡°Yeah! Chief Rolf will surely give me a raise for this!¡± Or whatever AIs got for their hard work. Ph¨² bubbled with excitement, eager to see what justice the Chief would inflict on this horrible, nasty criminal. For the greater good¡¯s sake, Rocke Ralss needed to suffer for his crimes. He¡¯d show everyone what happened to evil people. --- ¡°You¡¯ve returned.¡± The prophet said, relaxing in a home-woven straw chair. His expression turned worried as he caught Rocke¡¯s expression. ¡°The news wasn¡¯t great, I suspect.¡± ¡°No. Joven died last night,¡± Rocke said, his tone dull. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Matthias said with surprising sincerity for the fate of his would-be murderer. Rocke worried the prophet would break into some platitude about the Sovereign¡¯s will. Instead, the man offered a compassionate pat on the shoulder. ¡°What will you do now?¡± ¡°I wish I knew.¡± While he had plenty of money in a private bank account, any attempt to access it would get flagged immediately. Were any options left available to him? Should he flee to Vanderfall? Matthias tapped his chin in deep thought before nodding in satisfaction. ¡°No other option, I suppose. I¡¯ll pray on it. The Sovereign will tell us the best path forward.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re thinking of that?¡± Rocke asked, not hiding his sarcasm. Some holy man. He flinched as Kallane glared at him and muttered a muted apology. ¡°In the excitement, I forgot myself,¡± Matthias said, somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Sometimes, even a prophet tries to handle everything himself instead of relying on the true Lord¡¯s power. But everything is according to His will. He¡¯s got a place for you, too, Rocke.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± Rocke said with sincerity. Despite his doubts, it was unwise to be rude to those trying to help you. If the Sovereign aided him, he wouldn¡¯t complain. He didn¡¯t protest as the prophet extended a hand. Kallane gripped the other, and Matthias united them in prayer. ¡°Dear Sovereign, Lord of Heaven, creator of the universe and ruler over all. This wayward soul, Rocke, needs your guidance. He fought to protect your servant and is paying the price. Shield this young man from his enemies, which are your enemies, too. They claim they fight for justice and law, but neglect compassion and mercy for people who slip outside the law. Show Rocke the best path forward. In the name of the heavenly king, Amen.¡± ¡°Amen,¡± A wave of nostalgia passed over Rocke. He hadn¡¯t prayed since childhood. His grandmother had insisted they pray together every night before bed. Despite himself, the prayer made him feel better. Would it help, though? In sudden realization, Rocke got an idea. ¡°That might be safe.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Kallane asked, curious. ¡°My grandmother has a place outside the city, according to her, anyway. She disappeared after my family banished her. I could hide there until the heat dies down.¡± ¡°She lives off the grid?¡± Matthias asked. Rocke nodded before deflating. ¡°No clue where it is, though.¡± This was a stupid idea, anyway. Matthias stroked his chin, tossing the idea around before nodding. ¡°That should work nicely. With the UOP¡¯s impending judgment, it¡¯d be best to stay out of the capital.¡± ¡°Oh, right,¡± Rocke said, his tone neutral. An idea popped into his head. ¡°You should come along. The police chief already tried to kill you. It¡¯s best you split the city, too. Besides, my grandmother is also a Sovereign believer. You¡¯d have plenty to chat about.¡± ¡°Is that right? What are the odds? What a tapestry the Sovereign has woven. But I must apologize. I can¡¯t accompany you,¡± the prophet replied. ¡°Why not?¡± Rocke said, a stone sinking in his gut. ¡°In 39 days, the Sovereign will give His judgment. He needs his holy man here in Vladus to spread His warning,¡± Kallane said so matter-of-factly that it drove Rocke nuts. ¡°You¡¯ll die!¡± Rocke said. ¡°The Sovereign will protect me. He used you to deliver me from His enemies, didn¡¯t He?¡± Matthias said with a chuckle. ¡°I don¡¯t believe this.¡± Matthias was throwing his life away for nothing! Fine then. Let the old prophet dig his own grave! Rocke stormed out in disgust. ¡°I can¡¯t believe him!¡± Kallane said, fuming. ¡°Let him go,¡± the prophet said. ¡°He¡¯s not a believer. To him, I must seem crazy. But he¡¯ll come around.¡± ¡°Fools, complete fools.¡± Rocke stomped around the metal hut, unleashing a mental tirade. His grandmother had suffered a similar fate for her beliefs, disowned and banished. His father had always said principles only hastened your destruction. What mattered was staying on top. And Rocke¡¯s own principles had destroyed him, too. Why bother caring about anything? Rocke put his head in his hands. Caring, not caring, both paths seemed empty and pointless. And yet, his grandmother had been firm, even happy, after her public disgrace. She¡¯d stood for something, and that gave her some measure of pride. Was he missing something? Could a person be happy in total desolation? Troubled, Rocke wandered away to think. He had nothing better to do, anyway. He watched the Ottomon go about their day¡ªplaying, working, or chatting. Despite their bleak situation, these people found joy in what little they possessed. Like Maple, these people shared what that had without reservation. It baffled, yet intrigued Rocke. Were they not afraid they might lose everything? For some hours, he explored the shantytown. While some people gave him odd looks, most were friendly. Rocke returned the greetings with an awkward wave. His stomach rumbled as the smell of baked bread wafted into his nose. It reminded Rocke he hadn¡¯t eaten lunch, and it was getting dark. Thankfully, Rocke possessed an excellent sense of direction and found his way back easily enough. After swallowing his pride, he re-entered Maple¡¯s home. Much to Rocke¡¯s surprise, a muscular man filled the tiny room as he entered. The stranger¡¯s Demon tattoos made him fearsome, punctuating the hard lines of his face. ¡°Are you Rocke?¡± the man asked. ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡± Rocke replied, pensive. The newcomer had arms the size of tree trunks. From his rough features, the man didn¡¯t seem a stranger to physical labor or violence. ¡°There you are, Rocke.¡± Much to Rocke¡¯s surprise, the prophet didn¡¯t seem angry about Rocke¡¯s previous outburst. Instead, he gave his rescuer a genuine smile. ¡°This is Dallas. He¡¯s helping you escape the city.¡± ¡°With His judgment coming, I¡¯ve been helping vulnerable people leave for someplace safe. While the holy man says the outer districts will be safe from the Sovereign¡¯s judgments, we can¡¯t be sure what damage the Vanderfall invasion might cause.¡± ¡°Right. No harm in being prudent.¡± Rocke kept his skepticism from his voice. Matthias had mentioned Vanderfall invading the city in his prophecy. ¡°Believe it or not, but I actually know your grandmother, son.¡± The big man finally smiled. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s a story for later.¡± Dallas tossed Rocke a thick gray cloak. ¡°Put this on. Maple has already prepared a meal to go.¡± ¡°Only sandwiches, but they¡¯ll suffice,¡± the woman said, nodding. Before Rocke could offer his thanks, Kallane burst into the room. Rocke¡¯s heart quickened when he caught the sheer panic on his friend¡¯s face. ¡°They¡¯ve found us,¡± Kallane said. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess her meaning as a harsh spotlight flashed into the hut¡¯s window, its light blinding. ¡°Rocke Ralss, we have you surrounded!¡± A booming voice over a loudspeaker said. ¡°Surrender or face the consequences.¡± ¡°But I hope you don¡¯t,¡± a newcomer said, a massive man even taller than Dallas. Across his face stretched a thick handlebar mustache that made his already imposing scarred features seem like a demonic bull. He stood in the doorway, cracking his knuckles. Rocke¡¯s heart skipped a beat, recognizing this man. It was Rolf Hayden, the Police Chief of Vladus City. ¡°Either way, I¡¯m going to enjoy this.¡± Chapter 5 ¡°To be honest, Mr. Ralss, I¡¯m not optimistic,¡± Rocke¡¯s lawyer was a bookish man with thinning hair. He didn¡¯t seem like much, but his eyes were alert and intelligent. ¡°I know Prosecutor Laramie. She won¡¯t go easy on you. She¡¯s planning to label you as an unpatriotic citizen who killed an upstanding member of society to defend a known traitor. And Mr. Daliven¡¯s religious practices are not popular.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Rocke mumbled, resigned. He doubted he¡¯d get any strong character witnesses, either. His name had become mud to the greater UOP society. ¡°Thanks for your help, anyway, Durren.¡± ¡°This might go easier if you accept a plea deal.¡± ¡°No. What I did wasn¡¯t wrong.¡± As he explained to his father, Rocke wouldn¡¯t be shamed for doing what¡¯s right. He¡¯d prove to everyone it was right to defend a helpless person. But this earned a genuine smile from his attorney. ¡°Then that¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. It won¡¯t be easy, but I have your back.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re so willing to help me,¡± Rocke replied, grateful but surprised. ¡°My boy, it¡¯s my job to defend people and ensure they get treated fairly under the law. Our system is cold and cruel. Sometimes, even being a Demon is enough to condemn you. Someone has to fight for people who can¡¯t defend themselves, even if it¡¯s futile.¡± Rocke gave his lawyer a firm handshake as they parted ways. It was nice to know at least someone cared about justice. He joined his guard and returned to his private cell, little more than a concrete box with a toilet, sink, and a mattress. He¡¯d lost his street clothes too, replaced with a black-and-white striped jumper. Rocke sat on his bed, hands clasped, waiting for supper time. He had little else to do. ¡°You have a visitor,¡± a guard said, surprising Rocke. Who could that be? In the week since his incarceration, nobody had bothered visiting him. His father¡¯s disownment had barred any chance it¡¯d be his family. Was it Marsh? Had he manned up to offer an apology? He¡¯d overheard Rolf mentioning he¡¯d snitched when pressured. While angry with his former friend, the spineless betrayal hadn¡¯t really surprised Rocke. ¡°You.¡± Rocke stared dumbfounded at the red-headed beauty sitting across from him between a thick pane of glass. ¡°Hello, Rocke,¡± his ex-girlfriend, Jafia, said, hands clasped across her lap. Her features were lovely as ever, with a button nose and freckles that created cute splotches across her cheeks. Contrasting her adorable features was her usual frosty, neutral expression. To Rocke, she seemed like a flawless sculpture made of ice. It¡¯s what attracted him to her in the first place. ¡°How have you been?¡± Rocke asked awkwardly. She was the last person he¡¯d expected to see again, especially here. A million questions rushing through his head. ¡°The usual. The Defense Department offered me a job. They¡¯re impressed with my grades. It¡¯s low-level stuff right now, mostly secretarial. But they are optimistic about a possible future position as an assistant to one of the Minister¡¯s staff.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Jafia was brilliant when it came to organization. She effortlessly organized any mess into a practical solution. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you again,¡± Rocke said with a sad smile. ¡°You¡¯re the first person to visit me besides my father.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s not surprising. There are plenty of rumors about you at our college. Some say you¡¯ve become a religious fanatic.¡± ¡°That figures. But why are you here? After our breakup, I thought I¡¯d never see you again.¡± Rocke fidgeted. Their breakup had been so sudden. She¡¯d told him they weren¡¯t compatible and left it at that. It¡¯d crushed him. Rocke had assumed she thought him boring and wanted to move on to someone more interesting. Jafia gave him a disappointed frown. ¡°Rocke, we might not be together, but I still care about you. Besides, I had to come. I want to hear what happened that night from your own lips. The media tells one story, rumor says another. I want to hear your story, Rocke.¡± ¡°Well.¡± Rocke did his best to recount the events. Jafia listened in silence, absorbing his story like a sponge. ¡°I thought so,¡± Jafia replied, ice entering her voice. ¡°I never liked that Joven guy.¡± ¡°Um, you¡¯re taking this very well. I just admitted to killing someone to defend what many people call a traitor to our country.¡± ¡°¡®Traitor¡¯ is all a matter of perspective,¡± Jafia said philosophically. ¡°And your parents are literally hanging you out to dry.¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Jafia muttered some unladylike words under her breath, with a vitriol that surprised Rocke. Her eyes hardened. ¡°Such is the state of the UOP.¡± Rocke stared at his ex, somewhat mesmerized. He¡¯d never seen this side of Jafia before. But it also reminded him why he¡¯d asked out this frosty, coldly smart girl out in the first place. Since he''d first laid eyes on her, Jafia had fascinated him. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, Rocke, even if no one else is,¡± Jafia said. ¡°You¡¯ve grown, I think. I noticed you seemed different since I last saw you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had to grow up,¡± Rocke replied, his smile sad. ¡°Hell of a way for it to happen, but I think I needed it.¡± His ex¡¯s expression was unreadable, but he sensed the calculation behind it. She pressed a hand against the glass. ¡°You aren¡¯t alone, okay? We¡¯re getting through this.¡± Rocke matched the gesture. ¡°Thank you, Jafia. You¡¯re a good friend.¡± He sniffed, overcome with emotion. He realized they shared something he couldn¡¯t quantify. Was it romantic? Familial? Rocke couldn¡¯t tell. Whatever the case, it was nice to know he wasn¡¯t alone. ¡°Well, visiting time is up,¡± Jafia said in her usual businesslike fashion. ¡°I¡¯ll come again soon.¡± ¡°Okay, I look forward to it.¡± A sudden realization struck Rocke. ¡°Wait, should you even be talking to me? I doubt your bosses in the Defense Ministry would approve of you talking to riffraff like me.¡± The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I doubt it will matter.¡± With this cryptic comment, Jafia left. ¡°Okay?¡± Rocke scratched his head and shrugged. Jafia knew what she was doing. There was a skip in Rocke¡¯s step as he returned to his cell. Despite the bleakness of his situation, some hope had blossomed in his heart. --- ¡°Judgment is upon us. If the UOP doesn¡¯t soon repent, it will face the Sovereign¡¯s wrath. Our Lord is kind and patient, but not forever. He has seen your hard and cruel hearts and won¡¯t restrain His anger any longer. But the Sovereign is merciful. If you repent, all is forgiven. His love will erase all your sins, no matter their depths, and they will be forgotten and sanctified.¡± But, of course, no one paid the holy man¡¯s words any attention. People passed the man trying to save their souls with nary a glance. It made Kallane wonder why Matthias even bothered trying to help these unworthy souls, and told him as much when they met up. ¡°Because the Sovereign loves all in his creation. He knows the number of every hair on their heads. Do you think this impending judgment pleases Him? He¡¯d rather they repent than punish them. Like disobedient children, they need the rod to see the errors of their ways.¡± ¡°I suppose,¡± Kallane felt somewhat guilty for her harsh words. But she couldn¡¯t help it. Since they invaded her land three hundred years ago, the UOP had abused and exploited her people. They claimed it was to give her tribal people much-needed enlightenment and technological advancement. But as for the Ottomon getting any benefit from either, she hadn¡¯t seen it. ¡°Anyway, Rocke¡¯s trial is next week,¡± Kallane said, getting to the point. ¡°Really?¡± Matthias raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s quick. It¡¯s been, what, two weeks since his arrest? I was expecting it to take at least a month.¡± ¡°The prosecutor Laramie is expediting the case. Joven came from a powerful family. They are using their connections to make sure Rocke gets everything they think he deserves, including execution.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Matthias said, troubled, and shook his head. ¡°Rocke has made some powerful enemies. Pity they don¡¯t realize Rocke has more powerful allies on his side.¡± ¡°Mom says we¡¯ll be able to move soon,¡± Kallane said. ¡°She¡¯s already got a distraction ready for when we move in.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Matthias stroked his chin. ¡°Nothing too exciting, I hope. I don¡¯t want innocents caught up in this.¡± ¡°Give my mom more credit! She says we¡¯ll be ready to move tomorrow night. The rest is in the Noble One¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°May the Sovereign guide our path,¡± Matthias replied. Anxiety bubbling in Kallane chest. So much could go wrong. While the Mighty One was indeed behind them, that wasn¡¯t a guarantee some evil wouldn¡¯t befall them. They¡¯d have to trust everything would work according to His plans. --- ¡°Yeah, you should¡¯ve seen her¡ªmuscles the size of tree trunks! But her face? A mule is prettier!¡± The man sitting across from Rocke laughed, gesturing with his fork. The eating area bustled with people, some chatting with fellow inmates, others keeping to themselves. Still, the crowd kept their distance from certain characters. ¡°And you married her?¡± Rocke asked with a grin. ¡°It seemed like a good idea at the time,¡± the heavyset man sitting across from Rocke bellowed a hearty laugh. Despite Rocke¡¯s initial fear, he¡¯d built a rapport with some other inmates. He kept his expression calm and confident, ensuring he didn¡¯t become prey to the crueler members of the detention area. It was good practice for the real prison, should his situation turn against him. Rocke was determined to fight his battle to the end, but he wasn¡¯t na?ve enough to bet on such long odds. In three days, he¡¯d face the legal system¡¯s full wrath. He chuckled as they sipped slop that even a pig would turn its snout up at. Stern, his table mate, was fun to talk to¡ªjovial despite the harsh reality of their situation. Like Rocke, Stern had gotten on the wrong side of the UOP¡¯s wrath. He¡¯d spoken of one too many things they didn¡¯t like. The UOP often held him weeks longer than necessary on minor charges, but he refused to be intimidated. Stern had quite the reputation. And his situation wasn¡¯t uncommon. When the Vladus police didn¡¯t like someone, they made their displeasure known. A bell rang, signaling lunch¡¯s end. The guards stood in place, armed with stun batons¡ªstaffs with lightning prods that delivered thousands of volts. From experience, Rocke knew the guards weren¡¯t shy about using them. ¡°Excuse me,¡± Rocke muttered as he accidentally bumped into someone while getting in line. He tensed as the man growled in response, not making any sudden movements. The tense moment passed, and the wild-eyed man moved on. ¡°I¡¯d be careful with that one, Rocke,¡± Stern warned. ¡°That¡¯s Nitao Hiancaing. They say it took six officers to subdue him. Real animal, that one.¡± ¡°Hiancaing? That¡¯s a Konquell name, right?¡± Rocke mused. Stern nodded. ¡°Not sure why he¡¯s out here. Konquell folk are usually quiet.¡± Protected by mountains, the Konquell people typically avoided the outside world. But their lands were rich in precious metals, making them natural enemies of the UOP. Their isolationism, however, had left them technologically behind. The last war, three years ago, hadn¡¯t gone well for them. ¡°I¡¯ll keep my distance,¡± Rocke said. He returned to the daily grind, focusing on basic exercises to pass the time. Thanks to tips from fellow inmates, he was improving. Another uneventful day awaited. --- ¡°All clear?¡± Dallas asked. The night was chilly, with fog creeping in and making visibility difficult. Luckily, they had the technology to bypass it. Kallane clicked a button on her headset, and the screen turned red, revealing every heat signature in the area. It wasn¡¯t difficult to spot the surveillance system. Even the guards, visible as white sentinels, stood outlined through the walls. ¡°Nice gadget, Dallas,¡± Kallane said, lifting the visor and gesturing toward the locations of the cameras and guards. Under the cover of fog, the group crept closer. Luck was on their side¡ªthe thick mist cloaked their presence well. The Vladus police station loomed ahead, a massive fortress-like building. It housed not only the police department¡¯s administrative offices but also a small detention facility. Overcrowded jails had necessitated its expansion a few years ago. It symbolized everything oppressive about the UOP to Kallane. ¡°You sure pick ¡®em, Dal,¡± said the man standing behind her, amused. The new addition to their team was gaunt, his skin too tight for his skeleton. His high cheekbones and Ottomon tattoos gave him the appearance of a ghast from a legend. Despite his unsettling appearance, his face radiated warmth and cheer. ¡°Can¡¯t be helped. Jamar, can you get us inside? We can¡¯t exactly ring the doorbell,¡± Dallas said, crossing his arms. ¡°Be patient. It needs time to warm up. But I warn you, there¡¯s some risk involved.¡± Jamar replied. He had gone over the dangers earlier, and Kallane wasn¡¯t optimistic about his plan¡¯s chances of success. The station¡¯s defenses were formidable. Kallane eyed the turrets swiveling around the perimeter¡ªthey would reduce anyone foolish enough to try an assault into a pile of ash. Patrol robots roamed the halls, mounted with the same guns. The building held scores of active guards, each relentless in their attempt to maintain order. The facility was enormous, five stories tall and spanning an entire city block. ¡°The police might have the most advanced security and combat robots known to man, but they don¡¯t possess my brilliance or gumption!¡± Jamar grinned, his smile transforming into a grimace. ¡°Fair warning, though¡ªthis might count as a terrorist attack.¡± ¡°We¡¯re ready. Just do it already!¡± Kallane said, scowling to hide her nervousness. Despite their precautions, people would get hurt. ¡°I¡¯ve scanned the building¡¯s plans many times. There¡¯s one weakness they¡¯ve overlooked!¡± Jamar cackled as he pressed the button. --- ¡°And the mayor is asking if you wish to attend a fundraiser for needy orphans this weekend. He says the appearance of the police chief would show the public the strength and unity of both offices,¡± Ph¨² said, reading from a list. ¡°I bet he does,¡± Rolf replied, tapping his fingers against his desk. ¡°Tell him I have an out-of-town trip that weekend. I can¡¯t attend.¡± ¡°Sure thing, sir!¡± Ph¨² answered cheerfully. ¡°Anything else? Ready to wrap up for tonight?¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting out of here,¡± Rolf said, stretching as he stood. The day had dragged on long enough. Due to a sudden outbreak of petty crimes, he¡¯d gotten buried in paperwork all day. Despite needing to return early in the morning, he eagerly anticipated some sleep. His office reflected his personality¡ªbold and organized, with everything in its proper place for easy access. ¡°One last thing. I want an update on Demon activity tomorrow morning,¡± Rolf said. Though Matthias had kept his word, his pet Demons were still restless. They¡¯d been quiet, but that only made Rolf more uneasy. His instincts told him they were planning something. And Rolf wasn¡¯t alone in fearing a possible Demon strike on Matthias¡¯s prophesied day. The mayor insisted on his vigilance for any potential trouble. ¡°Sure thi...¡± Ph¨²¡¯s voice cut off as the office plunged into darkness. Rolf fumbled for a moment as his eyes adjusted. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± Where were the emergency lights? Looking outside, Rolf saw the entire block had gone dark, although thick fog made it difficult to tell. He pulled out his phone, but it wouldn¡¯t turn on. Even his watch had stopped. ¡°EMP,¡± he muttered. That had to be the explanation. Someone had set off an EMP, frying all electronics within range. What a hassle¡ªit meant the building¡¯s circuitry would need to be replaced. The city council wouldn¡¯t be happy about the cost. ¡°But why here?¡± Could it be Matthias trying to rescue the boy? Did he have the resources to attempt such a thing? Regardless, it seemed likely someone was attempting an attack on the station. ¡°Brave, but foolish,¡± Rolf growled. While he¡¯d gotten caught off-guard, he wouldn¡¯t allow it to stand. Fortunately for Rolf, the station stored chemical lights for emergencies like this. And EMPs didn¡¯t affect good old-fashioned firearms. Sixteen officers were still on duty, even at this late hour. Rolf would gather them, then crush any attack, and deal with any potential escapees. Though the cell locks worked without power, some prisoners might still try escaping. No matter. These attackers would learn that disrupting his peace was a grave mistake. If Matthias was behind this, he wouldn¡¯t leave the building alive, potential riots or not. Chapter 6 ¡°Huh?¡± Rocke blinked as he stood up from his thin, bare mattress. Total darkness had enveloped him, making him fear he¡¯d gone blind for a second. But as his eyes adjusted, vague shapes outlined themselves. ¡°Is the power out?¡± Even when the facility¡¯s lights dimmed for nighttime, they still provided ample illumination to see. Now, not even the emergency lights were working. What was going on? In the darkness, other prisoners muttered to themselves, just as confused as Rocke. Guards were cursing and chatting amongst themselves about what they should do next. ¡°Hey, Rocke,¡± Stern whispered from the next cell. ¡°What do you think is happening?¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± Rocke replied. A spark of hope flared in his heart. Had someone attacked the facility? Did that mean rescue was close? Rocke found no other reasonable explanation for the bizarre power loss. He sent a silent prayer to the Sovereign that this was true. It had become Rocke¡¯s habit to pray whenever his emotions became turbulent, or he got depressed. It offered him solace during the rough hours. With tentative steps, he approached the cell door. It creaked as he pushed against it, but refused to budge. His hands wandered over the locking mechanism, but found it too difficult to move. Oh well, it had been a desperate hope. He¡¯d need something like a crowbar to force the door open. Someone howled a bestial roar. Metal squealed as a tremendous force pushed against it. What the heck was that? In the dark, Rocke saw a ragged figure in a nearby cell push against his door with incredible force. The squealing became louder as the door succumbed to the man¡¯s impossible strength and determination. With a snap, the lock broke, and the cell door swung open. ¡°Huh?!¡± Wasn¡¯t that Nitao¡¯s cell? How did the Konquellian do that? ¡°Hey, um, mind helping a guy out?¡± And Rocke wasn¡¯t the only prisoner to ask for assistance. ¡°Hey, get back into your cell, Konquellian trash!¡± a guard yelled, baton raised. It didn¡¯t flare to life with electricity, so Rocke guessed it wasn¡¯t working either. Were not even the guard robots working? The poor guy didn¡¯t last long against Nitao¡¯s fury, the bars of Rocke¡¯s cell denting as the guard struck hard against it. ¡°Hey!¡± More guards rushed to assist, but Nitao had already fled, so they followed in hot pursuit. ¡°That was something.¡± So much for any escape attempt. Again, he tried replicating Nitao¡¯s trick, but the door refused to budge. Defeated, but not surprised, Rocke sat on his bed, waiting for whatever would happen to happen. The rest lay in the Sovereign¡¯s hands. Minutes passed as Rocke waited in the dark, some prisoners were making a ruckus trying to make their own path to freedom. But their efforts were in vain, failing like Rocke had to free themselves. Then a commotion caught his attention, the sound of approaching footfalls, multiple ones. He strained his ears, hearing faint whispers. He gasped in shock, recognizing the voices. ¡°Over here,¡± Rocke whispered, his voice emphatic. ¡°There he is, Rocke!¡± Kallane said, rushing into view. Though blocky night-vision goggles blocked her face, he¡¯d recognized her anywhere. ¡°You¡¯re behind this?¡± Rocke asked, amazed. He¡¯d hoped, but this was beyond anything he¡¯d ever expected. ¡°The Sovereign¡¯s will, lad,¡± another familiar voice said, laughing. ¡°Matthias too? You¡¯re all crazy!¡± But Rocke laughed with him. ¡°What¡¯s your plan to help me escape?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I got this,¡± Dallas said, crowbar in hand. With a grunt, the door squealed open. ¡°This is easier than I expected.¡± Behind her goggles, Kallane furrowed her brow. ¡°Where are the guards? They can¡¯t all be sleeping!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain later,¡± Around him, other prisoners pleaded for their freedom. Rocke sympathized with them, but they lacked the time to free everyone. He imagined it wouldn¡¯t take long to restore power. In the darkness, Rocke¡¯s eyes met Stern¡¯s. ¡°Best leave, lad. I¡¯ll be fine. Heck, it might look better for me if I stayed instead of escaping.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re sure,¡± Rocke said reluctantly. ¡°Positive. Get going. I doubt Nitao¡¯s distraction will last long,¡± Stern said. ¡°Okay.¡± Though it pained him, Rocke respected Stern¡¯s decision. Besides, the police were only holding Stern for a minor charge. He¡¯d get out soon enough. ¡°When they release you, flee the city. Maybe even the country. Things will get bad soon.¡± Huh? Why had he said that? But Stern gave a nod of understanding. ¡°This way!¡± A man Rocke didn¡¯t recognize called. In his hand was a tablet, its screen faintly glowing. ¡°This should be the quickest way out.¡± ¡°Gah!¡± Rocke grimaced as his shin struck the edge of a table. Cloaked in darkness, he hadn¡¯t seen it. ¡°Hey, give me one of those night-vision goggles. I can¡¯t see anything!¡± ¡°Sorry, Rocke, but we could only procure four of them. Just bear it with it,¡± Kallane said sheepishly. ¡°Wonderful,¡± Rocke said, annoyed, dodging around another table. They¡¯d entered a guard station, the gate wide open. Even in the dark, Rocke could tell that someone had forced open the gate. Two guards sat slumped against a wall, their breathing steady as they lay there unconscious. ¡°How far is the exit?¡± ¡°We¡¯re pretty deep inside, but not far,¡± Kallane replied. ¡°Stay close. This building is maze-like.¡± ¡°Hey, another prisoner has escaped!¡± Rocke heard from where they¡¯d come. With rushed steps, they moved forward before someone noticed them. They tried to move quickly and silently, but Rocke¡¯s lack of clear vision caused him to stumble into his allies more than once. The outside wasn¡¯t any brighter, a murky fog was visible through the windows. ¡°This way!¡± The man who called himself Jamar said. ¡°There¡¯s a fire exit down this hallway.¡± ¡°Home free, perfect!¡± Kallane said, beaming. As if to mock her words, a large figure moved to block their path. In the dim light of a light wand, a familiar, bulky figure stood before them. From his smile, Police Chief Rolf seemed pleased with himself. Behind him stood six officers, each wearing a malevolent grin. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°You¡¯re mighty resourceful. I¡¯ll give you that,¡± Rolf said. ¡°But you¡¯re mistaken if you think you and your Demon buddies are leaving this building in one piece, Daliven.¡± ¡°I do what I must,¡± the prophet replied. ¡°We protect our own. I won¡¯t let this boy suffer for my sake.¡± ¡°Guts. I rather like that about you, holy man, but foolish. Still, I¡¯m an understanding man,¡± Rolf replied. ¡°Surrender now? You¡¯re locked up with a broken jaw. Resist, and you¡¯re leaving as a corpse.¡± The officers behind the police chief raised gleaming metal objects, but they were unlike any laser weapon Rocke had ever seen before. Was it some sort of weapon that worked without power? ¡°Well, you¡¯re not getting him!¡± Kallane shouted back, ignoring the threats. ¡°How about coming and getting him, eh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not helping.¡± His friend had thrown oil on an already volatile situation. Why must that woman be so hotheaded? ¡°You know our answer,¡± Matthias said, his voice firm. This earned an unpleasant smile from Rolf that froze Rocke¡¯s blood cold. ¡°Get them, boys. Be none too gentle. Shoot to kill if necessary.¡± ¡°Scatter, now! Keep low,¡± Matthias said, words frantic. Rocke did as instructed, ducking into a nearby alcove. A loud sound made him flinch, a crack echoing through the empty hallways. What was that? From the lack of any pained screams, nobody had gotten hit. ¡°What was that, Larks! You missed that big guy completely!¡± Rolf admonished. ¡°Sorry, sir. I wasn¡¯t ready for the recoil!¡± an officer said. More weapons fired, almost deafening Rocke. ¡°This way!¡± Kallane dragged him away by the collar. Without night-vision goggles, Rocke was running blind and allowed the Ottoman woman to guide him behind a corner. Steps pursued them, an officer raising his baton to bash Rocke senseless. But the massive Dallas clotheslined their attacker with his muscular arms, hurling them painfully to the tiled floor. ¡°If you want them, you¡¯ll need to get past me,¡± Dallas said, arms crossed. ¡°You!¡± Another officer raised his weapon to fire, but a body was hurled into him and the pair collapsed in a heap. Rocke marveled at how strong the Ottoman man was. He¡¯d lifted the fallen officer with one arm. The other officers engaged, but Jamar struck out with a palm, hitting one in the chin. Another pulled out his gun. There was the now familiar cracking sound but the projectile struck a wall harmlessly as Jamar jerked the officer¡¯s arm to the side. A skull to the nose drove the man to his knees before getting knocked unconscious by a following kick. ¡°These guys are just bullies. They don¡¯t know how to fight,¡± the skeletal man said, pleased. But Rolf, who¡¯d been watching the exchange, only snorted. ¡°You¡¯ve got some fight in you! Good.¡± The big man cracked his neck from side to side and rolled his shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve cut loose.¡± The police chief didn¡¯t bother with a gun or even a baton¡ªhe engaged the two Ottomans with only his fists. Despite being outnumbered, Rolf matched the two combatants easily. While Dallas was huge, the police chief was even larger. The pair wrestled, but Rolf easily overpowered him. The police chief threw Dallas against a pillar, cracking it and dazing the large man. Jamar launched himself at the cop, attempting to disable his opponent with debilitating palm strikes, but Rolf was swift on his feet. What should have struck a vulnerable point hit Rolf¡¯s hard abs instead, deflecting the blow with ease. Jamar howled in pain as Rolf drove a knee into his chest, knocking the air out of him. Another kick took the man out of the fight entirely, rendering him unconscious. ¡°Holy!¡± Rolf really knew how to fight! Rocke watched helplessly as Dallas got the stuffing kicked out of him. ¡°We have to get out of here!¡± Kallane pulled at his prison jumper, her tone urgent. ¡°But¡ª!¡± Rocke hesitated, not wanting to abandon the ones who¡¯d risked their lives to help him. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we have no choice, lad,¡± Matthias said, his tone grim. ¡°My mom¡¯s distraction won¡¯t last forever,¡± Kallane added, more insistent. ¡°She¡¯s keeping the other police busy, but someone¡¯s bound to come soon.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± Rocke cursed, but couldn¡¯t argue against that. He allowed his friends to guide him toward the exit, a pang of guilt turning his stomach. He hadn¡¯t known Dallas or Jamar for long, but they were brave men. Rocke jerked back as Dallas almost collided with him, barely missing by a hair. The big man was bruised, bloody, and barely conscious. ¡°You aren¡¯t going anywhere.¡± As if to punctuate the police chief¡¯s words the lights flashed on. Rocke flinched, his eyes too accustomed to the darkness. ¡°Oh crap!¡± Kallane cursed, throwing away her night vision goggles. ¡°Perfect,¡± Rolf said, pleased. ¡°As usual, Halkken gets the job done. Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s as easy to restore the guard robots to full function.¡± ¡°Sovereign preserve us!¡± Rocke muttered. ¡°No, we haven¡¯t lost yet,¡± Matthias said, his resolve hardening. ¡°Run, run for all it¡¯s worth.¡± Despite the hopelessness of the situation, something in the old prophet¡¯s voice pushed Rocke forward. He took off at a full sprint, letting his feet guide him. ¡°Still fighting, eh?¡± Rolf said, more amused than worried. He motioned to give chase, but Dallas tackled him from behind. The big Ottoman hasn¡¯t lost yet. Rocke didn¡¯t wait to see the contest¡¯s result, taking a right turn at full speed. ¡°Here!¡± Kallane pointed at a door labeled ¡°Fire Escape.¡± It warned that opening it would trigger an alarm, but that was the least of their concerns. Rocke charged into the door, hand ready to press the release handle. Pain rippled through his shoulder as he collided with the door, wincing as two other bodies crashed into him. ¡°What gives?¡± Rocke pushed against the door release again, but it refused to budge. Was it stuck? ¡°Foolish, so foolish!¡± a smug voice said, amused by their failure. ¡°Did you really think I¡¯d let you escape so easily?¡± ¡°Hey, open this door!¡± Rocke pushed against it with all his strength, but it refused to budge. Kallane and Matthias threw in their weight, but it still refused to yield. ¡°Go ahead! Push harder. It still won¡¯t work!¡± A screen floated above them, showing a rather smug Ph¨². ¡°I control all the doors. Pity for you. That¡¯s what you get, criminal scum.¡± ¡°Come on!¡± Escape was so close! ¡°In this station, I¡¯m God! Decider of life and death. Remember what I told you?¡± Ph¨² said, her tone nasty and vengeful. ¡°The guard robots should arrive in about thirty-three seconds. Chief Rolf will be upset about all the bloodstains, but oh well! Still, if you abandon your silly, made-up god and worship me, I might show you mercy.¡± Terror spiked through Rocke¡¯s spine as the guard robots came into view. Their bodies gleamed black like midnight, their arms decked out with the latest destructive weaponry. A singular, cold red eye gazed upon them, cold and ruthless. Ph¨² laughed, pausing her attack robots so she could savor her victims¡¯ helplessness. Her smile turned devilish as she grinned. ¡°Open fire!¡± Rocke winced as a red bolt flew past his scalp, singing his hair. He ducked, barely avoiding getting blasted to pieces. Desperate, he rushed toward a nearby hallway, but pain reverberated through his body as a guard robot intercepted him with impossible speed. It towered over him, and fear spiked through his spine as it aimed its weapon at his forehead. ¡°Rocke!¡± Kallane swung a wild fist at the nearest guard robot, but it dodged with contemptuous ease. The Ottoman woman howled in pain as a bolt struck her in the chest. She collapsed to the ground, her breathing labored. The robot shot another bolt into her chest for good measure, leaving her body deathly still. ¡°Huh, so that¡¯s what two full-power stun bolts do to a person! Good to know!¡± Ph¨² said cheerfully. ¡°That wasn¡¯t necessary,¡± Matthias said, seething with righteous fury. Somehow, he¡¯d avoided the sporadic laser fire. ¡°You have us beat.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like people like you.¡± Ph¨² said, her voice cold. ¡°You tell the public we¡¯re wrong, that the state doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s best for them. I plan on showing everyone how weak and pointless you all are. The Sovereign can¡¯t protect anyone¡ªonly we can. Have fun, my pets.¡± ¡°Matthias!¡± Rocke watched in helpless fury as a guard robot decked his friend across the face with a metal fist. It didn¡¯t stop there, beating him senseless. Ph¨² watched with glee, delighting in her victim¡¯s helplessness. Rocke wanted to stop the madness, but the guard robot¡¯s weapon made it clear he¡¯d suffer Kallane¡¯s fate if he tried anything. ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± Matthias said, spitting out blood. He sported a nasty bruise across his face, one eye swollen shut. ¡°You? A goddess? Don¡¯t make me laugh. You¡¯re an instrument of cruelty. You say you fight to protect people? Then why is it no one feels safe around you?¡± ¡°Shut up. I won¡¯t let a dead man lecture me,¡± Ph¨² replied. She had her guard robots shoot multiple rounds of high-powered stun bolts into the prophet. They swiveled away from him, caring little if he lived or died. ¡°And now you, Rocke. The main course,¡± Ph¨² said, her synthesized smile unpleasant. ¡°How should I punish you?¡± A pit dropped in Rocke¡¯s stomach as the guard robots focused their attention on him. Despite their lack of faces, they seemed to smile with malevolent glee. Ignoring the weapons pointed at him, Rocke stood tall and glared at his tormentors. If he was about to die, he refused to beg for his life. This only elicited an eye roll from the AI. ¡°Humans. Whatever, just finish him¡ªI don¡¯t care anymore.¡± Energy gathered in the guard robots¡¯ blasters, but Rocke stood his ground, bracing himself for whatever agony awaited him. Before they could strike, a movement caught Rocke¡¯s attention. It was his only warning, and Rocke ducked, covering his head. Glass shattered as bullets tore through the robots¡¯ eye stalks. Having lost their vision, the guard robots fired their lasers wildly. Rocke winced as one shot flew past his ear. ¡°Hey! Calm down!¡± Ph¨² shouted, annoyed. ¡°Fire that way!¡± But before the robots could regroup, their rescuer charged into the fray, howling like a banshee. Nitao¡¯s eyes gleamed as he entered the battle, eager to engage. Unlike Rolf¡¯s men, the Konquellian knew how to handle an old-fashioned gun with expert precision. The robots tried firing back, back Nitao was quicker. Several shots to the chest units disabled their functionality as Nitao scored hit after hit. In a matter of seconds, two were already heaps of scrap metal. ¡°You idiots! Fight better!¡± Ph¨²¡¯s protests were in vain as her forces were decimated. ¡°You¡¯re not getting away with this!¡± Nitao ignored her threats and, with a powerful kick, broke down the armored fire door. Rocke stared, marveling at the Konquellian¡¯s strength. ¡°You¡¯d better hurry. They¡¯ll have reinforcements soon,¡± Nitao said, speaking for the first time. His voice was rough, like he was unused to speaking. He gestured to the open door before disappearing outside. Ph¨² continued to hurl insults and threats, her language foul enough to make Rocke¡¯s ears burn. He ignored the AI and helped Kallane to her feet. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°I think so,¡± Kallane said, clutching her chest but appearing capable of standing. The prophet, however, was in terrible shape. It took the two of them to carry him outside to whatever fate awaited them in the world beyond. Chapter 7 Fire burned in Rocke¡¯s chest as he ran, not helped by the burden he carried. Though wiry, the unconscious Matthias weighed more than he looked. Rocke struggled to keep pace with Kallane. Not even winded, Nitao dashed ahead of them. Yet, Rocke noticed the Konquellian had stayed with them instead of fleeing somewhere alone. ¡°Please tell me you have an escape vehicle somewhere.¡± In his prison uniform, he¡¯d stick out like a sore thumb to any observer. Behind him, Rocke heard the sounds of pursuit. It wasn¡¯t hard to recognize Police Chief Rolf¡¯s booming, powerful voice. ¡°Indeed, explain,¡± The Konquellian said, his tone clipped. ¡°It¡¯s not far¡ªthis way.¡± Kallane replied, face red from exertion. ¡°Hurry,¡± a gruff voice said. ¡°They¡¯re escaping on foot this way.¡± Oh, crap. Their pursuers were getting closer. It wouldn¡¯t take long until they caught up. Kallane guided them through an alley to a parking lot behind a takeout pizza place. Waiting outside a nondescript van stood a familiar, welcome face. ¡°Maple!¡± Rocke almost cried in relief. ¡°Oh dear, you look in bad shape!¡± the matronly woman said, concerned. ¡°Hurry inside, quickly.¡± Nitao took the lead and headed inside first. The vehicle had seen better days, its interior worn and shabby, but it seemed heavenly to Rocke. It had blackened windows to obscure its passengers. No doubt, Rolf already had their photos circulating in the news as persons of interest. ¡°Is Matthias okay?¡± Maple asked, worry creeping into her voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Matthias still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness. With his advanced years, Rocke feared the stun bolts might have damaged the prophet¡¯s heart. ¡°And we can¡¯t bring him to a hospital, either.¡± Rocke cursed Ph¨². Her careless use of violence might have killed his friend. ¡°Where are Dallas and Jamar?¡± Maple asked, browning furrowing. ¡°And you picked up another passenger?¡± ¡°This is Nitao, but introductions later. The cops are on our heels,¡± Rocke replied. ¡°Hurry!¡± Maple nodded, and their vehicle took to the air. Despite the blackened windows, they stayed low, just in case, as they slid into traffic. Despite the late hour, the airways buzzed with activity. Rocke¡¯s heart thumped in his chest, fearing possible pursuit as they blended into traffic. In this rust bucket, they¡¯d never outrun a police vehicle. Rocke held his breath, fearing even breathing might give them away. But minutes passed, and no sirens or lights pursued them. ¡°We seem to be in the clear,¡± Maple said. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it. We got away.¡± It seemed almost impossible to believe, and Rocke sighed in relief. Still, his worry doubled for Matthias, eying his unconscious friend. ¡°Is there somewhere we can get Matthias medical attention?¡± Though, with the Sovereign¡¯s holy man so infamous, Rocke wondered where they could go without drawing undue attention. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, child. I know a place,¡± Maple said. From the road they were taking, they were heading to an outer district of the city. In the meantime, the matronly woman bombarded them with questions about the botched rescue attempt. Rocke and Kallane filled in the gaps the best they could. Nitao listened with interest, but otherwise didn¡¯t comment. ¡°Tough break. We underestimated Chief Rolf,¡± Maple said, shaking her head. ¡°Yeah.¡± Rocke suppressed a shudder, unpleasant memories of their encounter returning in a rush. ¡°Still, we wouldn¡¯t have succeeded without your help, Maple. How did you keep the cops busy while Matthias and the others came to rescue me?¡± This earned a slight smile from Maple. ¡°A little spirited Ottomon demonstration kept their attention. But we broke it apart before the situation turned violent.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± However, guilt tugged at Rocke¡¯s heart. Dallas and Jamar should be with them. Somehow, he¡¯d make things right. They sat in nervous silence as Maple to shepherd them to possible sanctuary. After the excitement of his escape, Rocke had little energy remaining. He felt burned out and dissipated. They left towering buildings for the suburbs of Vladus. Identical rows of houses greeted them as they entered the new district. With his escape, Rocke had destroyed any leniency the state would have shown him. He was truly a wanted man now. He wondered what the future held for him as they drove into a well-appointed house¡¯s parking lot. It was modest but well-maintained. Whoever lived here made decent money for themselves. After a quick scan of the surrounding streets, Maple waved for them to follow. With a grunt of effort, Rocke pulled Matthias up. With Kallane¡¯s help, they got the prophet outside. They waited in silent patience as the woman rang the doorbell. A middle-aged man in a robe with thinning hair answered the door, his expression darkening as he saw Maple and the still-unconscious Matthias. ¡°Maple, what trouble have you brought to my door this time? Are those men in prison garb!?¡± The man was tall and muscular, someone who enjoyed keeping himself fit and trim. ¡°May we come in, Hooven?¡± Maple gave another surreptitious glance around. ¡°Out here¡¯s not exactly safe.¡± The tall man scowled, contemplating the wisdom of inviting obvious fugitives into his home. But he eventually capitulated, gesturing for them to come inside. The interior was even nicer. The walls looked recently painted. Its furniture was modern and arranged attractively. ¡°Thank you, Hooven. You¡¯re a dear, as always,¡± Maple said. Rocke sighed in relief as he gently placed Matthias on a couch. ¡°Talk. Who are these people?¡± Hooven said, his tone borderline hostile. ¡°Why have you brought him here?¡± He gestured to the slumped Matthias. Faint breaths escaped the soothsayer¡¯s lips, his complexion pale. ¡°Because we need your help. The holy man¡ª¡± But Hooven cut Maple off. ¡°Don¡¯t give me this hogwash about how he¡¯s the Sovereign¡¯s chosen.¡± ¡°You dare speak of the holy prophet like that, uncle?¡± Kallane said, getting into Hooven¡¯s face. ¡°He¡¯s a good, brave man. He¡¯s done more to help our kind than you ever have! And some doctor? Has it escaped your notice that he¡¯s hurt?¡± ¡°Uncle?¡± Rocke said, the pieces coming together. Of course, Maple would turn to family for help, especially if he was a doctor. But then Rocke¡¯s brow furrowed. If Hooven was an Ottomon, where were his tattoos?This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°Ah, I see you¡¯re figuring it out, Rocke. Yes, Uncle Hooven is an Ottomon. Why doesn¡¯t he have our tribal tattoos? Because he¡¯s a coward! He removed his birthright so Uupies wouldn¡¯t persecute him! That way, he¡¯s no Demon!¡± Kallane spoke the hated slur for her people with biting venom. Rocke tensed, realizing he¡¯d just stumbled into heated family drama. Nitao watched from the sidelines, wisely keeping out of the argument. ¡°Because we need to move on from the past,¡± Hooven replied, fury blazing in his eyes. ¡°You let yourself live in squalor because of the trappings of the past. Our old religion? Our old traditions? They¡¯re the reason we¡¯re held in contempt. Our Ottomon pride is a blight and a curse!¡± Kallane seethed, opening her mouth for a scathing retort, but her mother interrupted. ¡°But none of that matters right now. A man needs help. You¡¯re the only person we could turn to, Hooven. I promise we won¡¯t stay long, but I fear if Matthias doesn¡¯t get the necessary medical attention, he¡¯ll die!¡± ¡°Okay. You¡¯re right, sis,¡± Hooven said, regaining his composure. Rocke guessed these were old arguments they¡¯d had hundreds of times. ¡°Get my bag,¡± he said, gesturing to a medical kit near the door before turning to Matthias. ¡°What happened?¡± Rocke gave a cursory explanation of their brush with the killer guard robots. The doctor pulled a device from the kit and hovered it over Matthias¡¯s chest. Hooven shook his head. ¡°This man requires serious medical attention. He¡¯s suffered significant damage to his heart. He isn¡¯t young anymore. Those stun bolts caused some dangerous strain. But I suppose that isn¡¯t an option, is it?¡± Maple shook her head. ¡°Sadly, no.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do the best I can,¡± Hooven replied, running a hand through his thinning hair. ¡°But no promises. If this man dies, it¡¯s because you didn¡¯t rush him to a proper hospital.¡± ¡°Everything in His hands now,¡± Maple replied, though her mention of the Sovereign turned Hooven¡¯s expression sour. ¡°I¡¯ll get him comfortable.¡± Hooven gestured to his guests in prison garb. ¡°And get you a change of clothes. Can¡¯t have people dressed like escaped convicts wandering my home.¡± --- ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± Rocke pulled on an old t-shirt emblazoned with the Vladus Vipers logo, the city¡¯s trademark and beloved baseball team. The bedroom¡¯s decor was well appointed with simple luxuries. Hooven liked surrounding himself with whatever finery he could find. ¡°Humph.¡± Nitao accepted his change of clothes with only a grunt, showing his gratitude with only a slight nod. Rocke remained uncertain about his new ally. They knew basically nothing about him. Why had he been arrested? Rocke worried they¡¯d brought along a dangerous criminal. And he couldn¡¯t just ask about why the man had gotten arrested, either. ¡°Still, he helped us. He¡¯s been fine so far.¡± Rocke thought. He¡¯d have to watch the doctor but he wouldn¡¯t judge the man without cause. ¡°Some day, huh? I¡¯m glad to be free of that cell,¡± But Nitao only grunted in reply. Minutes of silence passed between them, with neither saying anything. ¡°This is awkward. Nitao doesn¡¯t like speaking, does he?¡± Rocke thought. Or was it because the Nitao didn¡¯t speak their language well? The man¡¯s mystery only intrigued Rocke further. ¡°How is he?¡± Rocke asked as Hooven entered. But the doctor¡¯s expression offered nothing, just giving a weary sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve done the best I can. I¡¯ve given him some heart medication that should ease the strain. If we were in a proper hospital, we¡¯d clone his heart and transplant it right away. Since that¡¯s impossible, I¡¯ll prescribe rest as treatment.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Rocke offered the doctor a bow. ¡°You helped save a good man.¡± ¡°A good man, eh?¡± Hooven chuckled without humor. ¡°I saw the headline of my news app. You¡¯re all wanted men.¡± Rocke bristled at his terse tone, but nodded. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. Maple thought I was worth helping.¡± This caught Nitao¡¯s attention, who eyed him with curiosity. But his friend¡¯s uncle only offered Rocke a cynical smile. ¡°My sister has always championed lost causes. Gotten herself arrested more than once at foolish rallies. But after her boyfriend got killed in a riot, it left her pregnant and realizing she had more important prerogatives. And now her daughter¡¯s repeating the same foolishness.¡± ¡°Maple is a wonderful, kind woman. She helped me without asking anything in return at my darkest hour.¡± Rocke¡¯s blood boiled at the blatant disrespect. ¡°She is.¡± Hooven shook his head. ¡°But understand this, kid. My kindness only goes so far. I¡¯ll allow you to stay the night. But I want you gone in the morning. I don¡¯t want trouble knocking at my door.¡± That only left them a handful of hours until they needed to get moving. Rocke clenched his fist, but nodded. ¡°That¡¯s acceptable.¡± ¡°Good. Take one of the spare rooms. The girls can use the other one.¡± With that, Hooven walked out. ¡°Jerk.¡± Rocke scowled. But when he glanced at Nitao, he retreated a step. The Konquellian was seething in rage. ¡°That¡¯s not how you treat family. Even if disagree, he should honor her.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± While Nitao clearly hadn¡¯t completely understood their conversion, he¡¯d gotten its gist. ¡°If not guest, I¡¯d wring his neck.¡± Nitao turned away, exiting the room. Rocke had heard that Konquellians had a high regard for family, and Hooven had crossed a line. Still, Nitao had made it clear he wouldn¡¯t do anything while under someone¡¯s hospitality. It was another important Konquellian custom, from what Rocke understood. When guided to the guest bed, Rocke flopped onto it. Konquellian was already asleep on a nearby chair facing towards the door, taking it before they could argue who slept where. The room was a mess, with random pieces of furniture thrown in for storage. While grateful for his freedom, the day¡¯s events left him bone weary. Hooven hadn¡¯t bothered sheeting the guest bed, but Rocke barely noticed when he landed on the mattress. His exhausted mind wandered to his captured friends, hoping they¡¯d be okay. Before sleep overtook him, Rocke offered a prayer of protection over them. He didn¡¯t neglect Matthias, either, reminding the Great Lord that His prophet still had an important role to play. Rocke didn¡¯t bother praying for himself, feeling it selfish. His friends needed the Sovereign¡¯s grace more. ¡°Please Sovereign, make this right somehow,¡± Rocke thought before drifting off to sleep. --- ¡°Still no report of their whereabouts?¡± Rolf asked, already knowing the answer. ¡°No,¡± Ph¨² replied, sulking. Since Rocke¡¯s miraculous escape, the AI had been in a gloomy mood. It was a surprising display of emotions for something created from ones and zeros. While he¡¯d scolded her for using more force than necessary, his heart wasn¡¯t in it. The disappointment of their failure weighed heavy on Rolf¡¯s heart, too. ¡°And now Joven¡¯s murderer is loose again.¡± The wood beneath his fingertips squealed under the pressure of his iron grip. After all the kindness Rolf had shown the foolish lad, this was how Rocke repaid him? He should have followed his initial instincts and throttled the kid. Still, it wasn¡¯t all bad news. Matthias Daliven was a wanted man now. It gave Rolf the perfect excuse to deal with him. Pity. He wanted to watch the so-called prophet¡¯s face when his grand prediction of doom failed. It seemed unlikely Daliven would survive the next day after Ph¨²¡¯s rough treatment. As expected, the runaways hadn¡¯t taken him to any hospital, not even the seedy back alley ones. ¡°Chief, the Mayor¡¯s on the line,¡± Ph¨² said. Rolf glanced over at his desktop clock. ¡°At this hour? It¡¯s almost three o¡¯clock in the morning.¡± ¡°He insists on speaking now,¡± Ph¨²¡¯s tone was dull, like she didn¡¯t care either way. Rolf would have to treat her to something to raise her spirits. But what treat could he offer an AI? He pondered this quandary as the mayor¡¯s gleaming smile appeared on his screen. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to interrupt you at this early hour, Rolf, but I heard what happened,¡± Sunbearer said, no apology in his voice. No, Rolf heard the seething anger behind it, bracing himself for the incoming tirade. While a slick politician, Sunbearer had a volcanic temper. ¡°It¡¯s all under control. I¡¯ve restored order to the station. It¡¯s nothing that needs to concern you.¡± ¡°Yet I hear two prisoners escaped!¡± Sunbearer snapped. ¡°They slipped right through your fingers.¡± ¡°Two unimportant, low-level prisoners.¡± While Rocke¡¯s crime had great significance personally to the police chief himself, the kid was only a murder case suspect. His case hadn¡¯t even gone to trial yet. Heck, it amazed Rolf that Daliven and his friends had gone to such trouble to rescue the lad. Personal responsibility was a torment, he supposed. But this excuse didn¡¯t impress the mayor. ¡°That¡¯s all you have to say? A Vladus public facility openly attacked? Two dangerous criminals broken loose? It damages the public¡¯s fragile trust in us! It makes us look foolish and weak!¡± ¡°We have the matter under control. We have two suspects in custody. We¡¯ll interrogate them soon.¡± The pair were in isolation, given neither food nor rest. A few days of this treatment would soften them enough for interrogation. He could tell the pair of Demons wouldn¡¯t be easy nuts to crack. ¡°And we¡¯ve put an APB with their full descriptions. We¡¯ll nab them, soon enough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not good enough!¡± Sunbearer seemed ready to explode, making Rolf blink. Why did this incident matter so much? Rolf asked as much. ¡°Because you¡¯ve overlooked something. You¡¯re so focused on the Ralss kid, you¡¯re forgetting about the other escapee!¡± ¡°The one charged with assault and reckless endangerment?¡± The Konquellian had a nasty temper and had hospitalized someone in a bar fight. He¡¯d been called a racist slur and retaliated. It was a minor offense that happened every day. No reason it should interest Vladus¡¯s busy mayor. ¡°Sloppy police work, as usual,¡± Sunbearer said, scowling. ¡°Did you even dive into his background?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Well, I have. He¡¯s clearly a Konquellian spy.¡± Rolf blinked. ¡°How do you figure?¡± ¡°He used a forged passport to enter the country.¡± ¡°So?¡± Though, Rolf made a mental note about the Konquellian being an illegal alien. ¡°I¡¯m not finished. We did a background check on this Nitao Hiancaing. Do you know what we found? Nothing. There¡¯s no record of that man¡¯s name on the Konquel¡¯s database. Nor is there any record of anyone matching his picture either. Officially, he doesn¡¯t exist. Do you know what that means?¡± ¡°It¡¯s curious, but¡­¡± ¡°It means he¡¯s an elite agent here in Vladus for some espionage or sabotage! Heck, he might even be an assassin sent to kill high-level members of Vladus¡¯ ruling council!¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re being silly. If he was so elite, why would he get caught in some bar brawl he started?¡± Rolf crossed his arms. ¡°So na?ve,¡± Sunbearer said, raising his nose at his police chief. ¡°It was obviously on purpose, so he could infiltrate your station without suspicion. It¡¯s awfully convenient that a breakout just happens to occur when he¡¯s incarcerated.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look into the matter,¡± Rolf said to placate the irate politician. While a curious turn of events, it wasn¡¯t as serious as Sunbearer feared. He was turning coincidence into conspiracy. ¡°We have enemies everywhere, Police Chief Rolf. We¡¯re watching you. You¡¯d better get results.¡± Without even saying goodbye, the mayor hung up the call. ¡°That was something.¡± The mayor seemed out of sorts. Had something happened since they last spoke? ¡°Ph¨², have there been any other recent break ins?¡± ¡°Checking. No. But some high-profile experimental weapon plans were stolen from the Defense Ministry a day ago,¡± the AI replied. Her hacking skills were exemplary, as usual. ¡°And no one bothered telling me about this?¡± Rolf considered the implications. The mayor had mentioned his fears of a potential conflict with the other nations. Something was going on. ¡°But Rocke and his motley gang aren¡¯t involved.¡± That Rolf was one hundred percent certain about. Still, Nitao Hiancaing was worth investigating. While he doubted the spy or assassin story, there was a mystery here, and Rolf loved mysteries. Chapter 8 ¡°Ugh,¡± Rocke groaned, stretching his back. He¡¯d fallen asleep at an odd angle. ¡°Sorry, Rocke. I didn¡¯t mean to wake you so early, but uncle insisted,¡± Kallane said, her mood sour. ¡°It¡¯s not even sunset yet, and he¡¯s already kicking us out.¡± In response, Rocke mumbled a garbled reply that vaguely sounded like a request for coffee. He disliked mornings, his scant hours of sleep not helping. But his friend intuited his words with a nod and left. Rocke dragged himself to the dining room, delicious smells greeted him as he entered. After two weeks of bland gruel, they were heavenly!. Everyone was already there. They must have woken him last. ¡°Matthias!¡± Rocke blubbered as he spotted his friend sipping a glass of orange juice. While still in rough shape, the prophet¡¯s condition seemed much improved. ¡°Morning, Rocke,¡± Matthias laughed as Rocke dove into him for a hug. It was unseemly, something his father would have scolded him for, but he didn¡¯t care. ¡°It¡¯s okay, lad. I¡¯m alright,¡± the prophet said, returning his hug. There was no judgment in his tone, only loving acceptance. When Rocke regained his composure, he pulled away from his friend, slightly embarrassed. ¡°I thought I lost you. Are you okay?¡± ¡°My chest still hurts, but I¡¯ll manage,¡± Matthias replied. ¡°Thank the Sovereign,¡± Rocke said, sighing in relief. He thanked Kallane as she passed him a cup of coffee. While bitter and without either cream or sugar, it helped wake his dull mind. ¡°Eat up, everyone,¡± Maple placed a plate of sausages and toast on the table. It smelled wonderful. ¡°The eggs are almost done.¡± ¡°Thanks, Maple. You¡¯ve always been a fantastic cook,¡± Hooven said, taking his share before anyone else. ¡°An impatient boy, as usual,¡± Maple replied, with some amusement. Of everyone, only she seemed unbothered by her brother¡¯s rotten behavior. ¡°I recall how you snuck food before prayer at the dinner table. Mom used to give you such a scolding for it.¡± ¡°I remember,¡± Hooven said, wearing a nostalgic smile. ¡°I was an unruly child.¡± Maple beamed, and the pair of siblings shared a moment between them. Despite their differences, Rocke realized Hooven truly loved his sister. ¡°While I don¡¯t think they¡¯d completely agree with your decisions, they¡¯d still be proud of you,¡± Maple whispered, pulling her brother into a hug. ¡°You¡¯ve made a life for yourself.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah. Stop bothering me. I¡¯m trying to eat.¡± But Hooven¡¯s protest was half-hearted. ¡°When you leave, just be careful, okay? Your world isn¡¯t mine. I can¡¯t join you. You know that, Maple.¡± ¡°He could if he tried,¡± Kallane said, crossing her arms. But Maple only gave her brother a sad smile. ¡°As always, you never change. Just be careful, okay? Vladus isn¡¯t as safe as it appears. The Sovereign has proclaimed that the city will soon face His judgement.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I can handle myself,¡± Hooven seemed unconcerned about his sister¡¯s dire pronouncement. After sharing a look with Hooven, Maple shook her head. ¡°Now, enough about that. Eat up. We¡¯ll need your strength for the day ahead. We should leave as soon as possible. It isn¡¯t safe sitting in one place for too long.¡± Rocke nodded, filling his plate with more sausages. This might be his last decent meal for days. He forgot the troubles ahead and only enjoyed the food before him. When eggs were done, Rocke took a generous portion of that too. ¡°Where are we going from here?¡± Rocke asked once he depleted his plate. A welcome fullness filled his chest, rejuvenating him. ¡°Leaving Vladus would be preferable,¡± Maple replied. ¡°But they¡¯ll expect that. They¡¯ll have a tight grip on who passes the city gates. I have a safe house ready where we can stay until the situation cools down.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rocke didn¡¯t allow his disappointment to show on his face. He¡¯d been looking forward to reuniting with his grandmother. ¡°But what about you, Nitao? What are your plans?¡± Rocke asked, curious. ¡°Stay with you,¡± Nitao replied in his usual terse way. ¡°Best chance.¡± ¡°And after that?¡± Kallane asked. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy, but we might be able to smuggle you out of the country. Though, returning you to Konquell will be a tougher prospect.¡± The country had strict travel restrictions. That race enjoyed its privacy. ¡°Still stay. Nowhere else to go,¡± Nitao refused to elaborate any further. Rocke sensed a deep sadness within the man, something painful from his past, perhaps even shameful. They didn¡¯t press the issue, allowing the man to open up when he was ready. ¡°We¡¯re glad to have you, Nitao,¡± Matthias said. ¡°We¡¯ll do our best to keep you safe. You¡¯re under the umbrella of the Sovereign¡¯s protection.¡± Nitao stayed deathly quiet after that, refusing to look at anyone. ¡°Thanks.¡± After breakfast, they quickly gathered everything they needed. Hooven offered them some packs of bottled water and canned goods. While the safe house had supplies, the extras wouldn¡¯t hurt. They didn¡¯t know how long they¡¯d stay there. ¡°Keep it easy and no strenuous activity,¡± Hooven told Matthias as they approached the door. The prophet nodded and promised to follow the doctor¡¯s advice. ¡°Thanks for all your help,¡± Maple said. She gave her daughter a nudge with her elbow. ¡°Yeah, thanks,¡± Kallane reluctantly added. Rocke wondered if she¡¯d ever get along with her uncle. The proud girl didn¡¯t easily forgive. Rocke shared a handshake with their host, wondering if he¡¯d ever see the doctor again. ¡°Just be careful out there, okay?¡± Hooven said from the doorway. ¡°I never saw you, okay? You were never here.¡± Maple gave her thanks, and they crammed into the van. Rocke watched as they left the suburbs for the rougher parts of Vladus. A palpable unease gathered in his chest the further they got away from Hooven¡¯s house. They¡¯d left their last bastion of safety. Danger would hunt them from now on. Chief Rolf still wanted revenge for his fallen nephew. He won¡¯t stop until he got his justice. --- ¡°The UOP has forsaken the Sovereign¡¯s protection. It has become sinful and vain; ergo, it must be judged. But fear not. The Sovereign is merciful and won¡¯t destroy the UOP utterly. No, He will humble you and show that He is the Lord,¡± Matthias said. ¡°Repent, and you will avoid much unneeded pain.¡± ¡°Still at it, huh?¡± Rocke said, amazed. ¡°I may be a fugitive, but the message must continue.¡± The prophet stood over a microphone connected to a miniature computer, beaming at his young friend. ¡°It is what the Sovereign commanded me to do. I dare not be derelict in it. Twenty-one days remain until His judgment day.¡± ¡°Right.¡± While Rocke had developed a greater affinity for the Great Lord, he remained doubtful about the incoming judgment. Would He really bring the UOP to its knees? While well-deserved, could such a powerful nation fall so easily? The UOP had developed many powerful enemies over the centuries, but none had withstood its overwhelming might. ¡°It¡¯s a pain that I can¡¯t appear publicly anymore, but this podcast business should work as a nifty alternative. Okay, Kallane, I¡¯m done. Get this spread across the internet.¡± Matthias said. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°You¡¯re such an old man, Matthias,¡± Kallane said, amused. ¡°I¡¯ve never been that technologically literate,¡± the Soothsayer admitted, abashed. To Rocke, this seemed like rather simple technology, but whatever. Behind him, Nitao watched with interest. ¡°So, Matthias, prophet?¡± ¡°Oh, I suppose you don¡¯t know about that yet,¡± Rocke said. While Kallane had called Matthias a holy man several times, they hadn¡¯t exactly given their new allies the details. ¡°It¡¯s part of the reason they arrested me.¡± Rocke¡¯s tone became more melancholy, laced with pain. ¡°A man died when I fought to protect Matthias here. Many people don¡¯t like his message.¡± ¡°The UOP is prideful. It is said in my old country that it will be their downfall.¡± Nitao nodded in understanding. Was that respect in Konquelian¡¯s eyes? ¡°You are an honorable man, Rocke. The UOP did you a disservice. I envy you.¡± There was genuine pain in his voice. They waited for him to elaborate, but he didn¡¯t. Nitao left them for the small kitchenette to get a light snack. Rocke changed the subject. ¡°Still, won¡¯t they delete it right away? And it might lead them to this safe house.¡± It was a spare building, hiding among many other simple apartments. While not a slum, exactly, the neighborhood had seen better days. It was Vladus¡¯s policy to build over buildings that had become obsolete. Rocke guessed the neighborhood would face demolition within two years for new development. Seeing the writing on the walls, many of its inhabitants had already moved out. Anyone who couldn¡¯t afford to move the city would forcibly evict them. The city would force those poor souls to live in the slum district. In the UOP, the poor fend for themselves. ¡°We¡¯ll spread it around. I¡¯ve already made sure it won¡¯t get tracked back to us,¡± Kallane replied, putting the portable computer away. ¡°And I know some circles who¡¯ll ensure it doesn¡¯t get lost.¡± The main problem was getting the people of the UOP to believe the message. ¡°Good luck, then,¡± Rocke said solemnly. His mood dampened, flopping onto a nearby armchair. His friends were so amazing and brave. Rocke felt useless and hopeless, like a boat without a rudder or engine. ¡°Is everything alright, Rocke?¡± Matthias asked. ¡°I envy you, Matthias,¡± Rocke replied. ¡°You always seem to know where you¡¯re going. Your life has a purpose. Me? I have nothing anymore.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± the prophet replied. ¡°Meeting me has thrown your life into turmoil. For that, I¡¯m sorry. You don¡¯t deserve what happened to you.¡± This admission surprised Rocke, but he didn¡¯t begrudge his friend. ¡°No, it¡¯s not your fault. I chose to stop Joven, and I¡¯m paying for it.¡± ¡°But remember this, Rocke. You aren¡¯t alone. I¡¯m here for you.¡± Matthias gave him a slight smile. ¡°And the rest of us are, too. I don¡¯t think your life¡¯s over with, either, Rocke. The Sovereign has a special purpose for you. There¡¯s a reason we met on that fateful day.¡± ¡°And what would that be? I¡¯m a killer, Matthias. Why would the Sovereign want to use someone whose hands are stained with blood?¡± Frankly, the more he prayed to the Great Lord, the less deserving of His blessings Rocke felt. It made him painfully aware of how sinful, selfish, and unworthy he was. Compared to the Sovereign¡¯s majesty, he was less than a dust mote. Matthias grabbed his hands and squeezed. ¡°We all fall short of the Sovereign¡¯s majesty, but He still loves us, even the worst sinners. He offers forgiveness to anyone, no matter their crime, if they only ask sincerely. Not because we deserve it, but because He wants to give it. His grace knows no bounds. The Sovereign isn¡¯t finished with you. You have a special purpose. Just wait and see.¡± He gave Rocke a wink. ¡°If you say so.¡± But Rocke¡¯s heart lightened. That the Sovereign forgave him with no conditions made his head spin. Rocke¡¯s own father had expected him to earn his forgiveness. That man gave nothing freely. It almost made Rocke doubt his friend¡¯s words, but some insight insisted they were true. ¡°Given freely, huh?¡± Could he help Matthias spread this message? While not a preacher, Rocke figured he could help in his own way. ¡°Is there anything I can do to help here?¡± Kallane lifted her attention away from her portable computer. ¡°Sure! What are you good at?¡± ¡±I have some rudimentary computer skills, but I¡¯m no hacker. I was taking business classes if that helps. My father wished for me to pursue law, but I lacked the talent for it.¡± ¡°What kind of business?¡± Kallane asked, curious. ¡°I¡¯m not too sure yet. I was thinking about starting a printing company. Everyone has needs for flyers, banners, leaflets, that sort of thing, even in our computerized age.¡± ¡°Can you design one¡ªa flyer, I mean?¡± Kallane¡¯s eyes were shining. ¡°I suppose. I took some design classes. Why?¡± Kallane slapped Rocke¡¯s back, making him jerk forward. ¡°I think we might have a use for you.¡± She beamed at him, and Rocke grinned back. --- ¡°No, not there!¡± Marsh said in frustration. ¡°Okay, Master Marshion,¡± Kana said, dropping the vase like a stone. Marsh winced as it smashed against the hardwood floor. ¡°You idiot! That was my grandmother¡¯s!¡± Marsh cursed Rocke¡¯s uncle¡¯s insistence that the apartment¡¯s floors be hardwood. Carpet might have saved it from being smashed. Whatever. Once the lease expired, Marsh would move somewhere else. While he hadn¡¯t said anything, Rocke¡¯s uncle had implied he wanted Marsh to leave as soon as possible. Until then, he¡¯d enjoy the apartment and the lavish shopping complex beneath it. Three floors down was the best noodle restaurant he¡¯d ever seen. ¡°My apologies, Master Marshion. Do you want it placed somewhere else? What about the coffee table near the sofa?¡± ¡°How? It¡¯s broken beyond repair!¡± Marsh fought back his annoyance. Kana was only an AI bot; she didn¡¯t have normal thinking processes like a human. The mechinoid was remarkably human-like. If it weren¡¯t for the flashing red triangle on her forehead, she might pass for a human. ¡°Just stand over in the corner, please.¡± Marsh winced as Kana knocked over some books sitting too far off a side table and smashed a glass he¡¯d carelessly placed on top of them. He grunted in frustration when the front door buzzed. ¡°Coming.¡± He hoped it wasn¡¯t another leech asking for donations. Instead, he found Rocke¡¯s ex-girlfriend, Jafia, behind the peephole. ¡°Jafia, hello,¡± Marsh said as he opened the door. ¡°Nice to see you?¡± ¡°I hope I¡¯m not intruding.¡± The woman¡¯s eyebrows raised as she saw the mess behind him. ¡°No, come in. Sorry about the mess. It¡¯s been a trying day,¡± Marsh said, allowing Jafia inside. As usual, Jafia absorbed her surroundings with a glance. Her hawk-like gaze missed little, noticing the blonde-haired woman standing in the corner, still as a statue. ¡°Is it one of the new AI bots?¡± ¡°Yeah, bought her last week. I wasn¡¯t happy with her initial programming, so I¡¯ve been tampering with it. She talked way too much. I prefer my women to be pretty, but preferably furniture when they¡¯re not needed. My efforts haven¡¯t been very successful, though, so there¡¯ve been some complications.¡± He gestured to the mess. ¡°Even getting her to clean has been a hassle.¡± ¡°Women should be seen but not heard?¡± The icy woman didn¡¯t even hide her disdain. ¡°What do you want, anyway?¡± Marsh asked, clearly aware Jafia hadn¡¯t come for a chat. ¡°I was wondering if Rocke dropped by.¡± ¡°Rocke? Why would he? He¡¯s still in jail. From what I understand, they refused to release him on parole.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t heard?¡± Jafia raised an eyebrow. ¡°Rocke escaped jail yesterday.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Marsh blinked, befuddled. ¡°Don¡¯t you read the news?¡± Jafia asked, somewhat exasperated. ¡°No. First I¡¯ve heard about it. But no, he hasn¡¯t been around,¡± A twinge of guilt stabbed Marsh¡¯s heart. Since his arrest, Marsh hadn¡¯t visited his friend once. But he tossed the guilt aside. Like his father always said, guilt and shame were a prison. The past didn¡¯t matter. Besides, Rocke only had himself to blame for his predicament. ¡°Thought as much,¡± Jafia replied. ¡°It was a long shot. Like Rocke could expect you to help him in his hour of greatest need. I heard you ratted him out to the police. You didn¡¯t even try to help him, did you?¡± How did she learn about that? ¡°Is there anything else you want?¡± Marsh didn¡¯t appreciate being talked down to. And how could anyone blame him for giving up Rocke to the police? It was his civic duty to help the law! ¡°Are Rocke¡¯s things still here?¡± Jafia asked. ¡°Yeah, why? Don¡¯t tell me you want them?¡± How lame. After breaking up, she was pining for Rocke again? Someone who was a criminal, too? Whatever. ¡°They¡¯re still in Rocke¡¯s room. His family told me to throw his stuff, but I haven¡¯t gotten around to doing that yet. Take whatever you want.¡± In fact, he hadn¡¯t even entered the room since Rocke got arrested. For whatever reason, he couldn¡¯t muster the courage to do so. ¡°Good.¡± Jafia stepped out the front door and returned with some empty boxes. Rocke¡¯s room reflected its once-owner. While there was a thin layer of dust, it was clean and organized, a trait he shared with Jafia. On a shelf were rows of books on various topics, mostly business. Rocke was serious about his studies, though there were also some books on philosophy and history. It wasn¡¯t all dry academic stuff, though. Rocke also enjoyed sports and had various merchandise for the local baseball team, the Vipers. His prized possession was a baseball signed by Rue Ravel, a star player who died years before they were even born. Marsh couldn¡¯t recall what made him so famous, caring little about the dull sport. With surprising care, Jafia stored each piece neatly, wasting no space within the boxes. She stored Rocke¡¯s personal computer in a backpack, careful not to damage it. In quick order, she had everything packed. ¡°Why bother taking his stuff?¡± Marsh asked when she finished. ¡°I doubt you¡¯ll ever see him again.¡± But Jafia didn¡¯t respond, instead taking an interest in Kana. She inserted a wire from Rocke¡¯s personal computer into a slot on the AI bot¡¯s neck. ¡°You said you had some trouble with her AI? Let me see if I can help.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Marsh said in surprise. It was remarkably generous, considering Jafia¡¯s usually cold opinion of him. He watched as she typed away at the keyboard with deft fingers. ¡°There, done,¡± Jafia said, hitting enter. She returned the personal computer to the backpack. ¡°Okay, nice.¡± Marsh waited for her to elaborate on what she¡¯d fixed, but Jafia said nothing. Instead, she balanced the boxes with Rocke¡¯s stuff and moved to leave. Marsh didn¡¯t offer to help open the door for her. ¡°Hello, Master Marshion. Is there anything you require?¡± Kana asked. ¡°No, stop bothering me.¡± He watched as Jafia returned for the last set of boxes. ¡°Hello, Master Marshion. Is there anything you require?¡± ¡°No! Did you really fix her, Jafia? She¡¯s acting annoying again.¡± ¡°Hello, Master Marshion. Is there anything you require?¡± Kana moved uncomfortably close, and Marsh edged away. ¡°AI bots are notorious for serious bugs.¡± Jafia left without a backward glance. ¡°Hello, Master Marshion. Is there anything you require?¡± Without realizing it, he¡¯d accidentally cornered himself. ¡°Stop! Leave me alone, Kana!¡± ¡°Leave you? How could you say that after everything I¡¯ve done for you? You are a real brute, Marshion. I hate you.¡± A blow came so fast that he hadn¡¯t the chance to dodge. It left Marsh dazed on the ground. He glanced up in terror at the blonde beauty standing above him. ¡°Brute. I hate you. Don¡¯t leave me. I don¡¯t want to be alone.¡± Another blow to the ribs left Marsh feeling it crack bone. ¡°Jafia! Anyone! Please help!¡± But no one came as the AI girlfriend pounced on him, each blow landing with crushing force. She wailed at him until he was a red streak across the hardwood floor. --- With a grunt, Jafia loaded the last of Rocke¡¯s things into her car. His collection of heavy books had made taking them down a challenge. She hoped it wouldn¡¯t be too long until she reunited with Rocke, but she wouldn¡¯t mind keeping his things in her car until then. Above her, birds chirped in a nearby tree, their birdsong almost drowned out by the traffic. Despite her many years in Vladus, the hustle and bustle of the city still overwhelmed her. It was a far cry from the village she¡¯d grown up in. A notification flashed on her phone, pulling her to the news page. ¡°Yesterday, household staff found Defense Minister Polk Loffie in critical condition. He¡¯d apparently fallen down a flight of stairs at his home. The minister was rushed to intensive care at Hope Hospital, where he remained until he passed away last night. He was 68.¡± With a slight smile, Jafia snapped her phone shut and whistled to herself as she closed the rear door of her car. Traffic was bustling as she headed deeper into Vladus. Jafia tapped her finger as her radio blared hard music, almost deafening in its intensity. She nearly missed her phone¡¯s notification chime. She gave a quick glance at the brief message she¡¯d gotten. With a tap of her fingers, she changed course from her apartment to a park on the city¡¯s outskirts. The return to nature was nice as she walked through the park. The landscape sprawled in the distance, almost making one forget it sat on a building¡¯s roof. Vladus didn¡¯t have any natural parks anymore. Jafia watched some children play around an artificial lake, chasing ducks that had been minding their business. She gasped as someone bumped into her hard and glared at them. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going,¡± Jafia said, her tone frigid. ¡°Apologies. My mistake,¡± the older man said, tipping his hat at her before walking away. ¡°Hmph.¡± Jafia walked off, palming the metal box in her pocket. When she returned to her car after a lengthy walk, Jafia opened the gift. It contained a slip of paper written in a complicated cipher, but Jafia¡¯s technical mind translated it in a glance. She shoved the paper into her mouth and swallowed. ¡°Honestly, that¡¯s my next assignment?¡± Jafia shook her head as she started her car. ¡°They realized that I¡¯m not a miracle worker?¡± Still, she¡¯d fulfill her duty. For Vanderfall¡¯s sake, Mayor Cal Sunbearer would die. Chapter 9 ¡°What now, Sunbearer?¡± Rolf asked, not hiding his annoyance. After suffering another long sleepless night, he had little patience for Sunbearer¡¯s nonsense. ¡°I told you! And you didn¡¯t listen,¡± the mayor¡¯s face flushed red like a plump tomato. Though behind his bluster, Rolf saw the fear in his eyes. ¡°Minister Loffie is dead¡ªmurdered!¡± ¡°Murdered?¡± Rolf had better things to occupy his time than humoring the mayor¡¯s paranoid delusions. Late last night, someone had spotted a person fitting Rocke Ralss¡¯s description in the suburbs. Before this unwanted interruption, Rolf had planned to follow the lead personally. ¡°I visited the scene myself. There was no evidence of foul play.¡± ¡°Just as the Konquellian assassin intended! Who¡¯s still not in custody, Rolf!¡± Sunbearer said with barely controlled rage. ¡°Nitao Hiancaing? We figure he¡¯s lying low until the heat dies down, likely still in Ralss¡¯s company.¡± Adrift with nowhere to go. It made sense they¡¯d stick together. ¡°No one saw anyone matching the Konquellian¡¯s description around Loffie¡¯s house around his death.¡± ¡°Incompetence! You underestimate him. You¡¯d better have him arrested by the end of the week, or I¡¯m replacing you with someone else.¡± With that blatant threat, the mayor hung up. ¡°End of the week?¡± That was only two days away. Didn¡¯t the mayor know about the established procedures? Rolf didn¡¯t appreciate the threats, either. ¡°How about I replace you instead?¡± But Rolf dampened down his temper. It was an odd coincidence that Minister Loffie died the day after some major defense plans had gotten stolen. His highly tuned cop instincts argued that there was a connection. ¡°A closer examination of the scene of Loffie¡¯s accident wouldn¡¯t hurt.¡± He might have dismissed it as an accident too quickly. ¡°Ph¨², call Halkken into my office.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the AI assistant said in her usual perky tone. After he¡¯d invited her to a Vipers game, Ph¨² was acting more like her normal self. Who knew AI liked baseball? Ph¨² said she enjoyed the element of probability in hitting the ball and how a player¡¯s individual stats influenced the game. She claimed to have a 94 percent certainty about the game¡¯s outcome just by reading the roster. When pressed, she refused to reveal who she predicted the winner would be. ¡°Yes, Chief?¡± Halkken asked after entering. ¡°I want you to follow this lead on Rocke Ralss¡¯s possible whereabouts.¡± While he wanted to investigate himself, the defense minister¡¯s case held more importance. Rolf handed over a data stick with the relevant information. Halkken nodded in understanding, pocketing the data stick in his jacket pocket. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll see what I can uncover.¡± ¡°Good hunting,¡± Rolf said as the sergeant departed. ¡°Should I come along and help?¡± Ph¨² asked, desperate eagerness entering her digitized voice. She sounded like an eager child begging her parents for some toy at the store. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The AI vanished from her screen. Although Rolf might have needed her assistance with the defense minister case, keeping his subordinates happy and productive was more important. Besides, he preferred to investigate old school style, anyway. If there was any foul play in Loffie¡¯s death, he¡¯d find it. --- ¡°And the Chief insisted you come along?¡± Halkken asked, dubious. ¡°Of course, you big meanie. How can you be so selfish?¡± Ph¨² said, throwing a fit on his police car¡¯s desktop screen. This earned a laugh from Halkken, giving his new AI partner a thumbs-up. ¡°Very well. Welcome aboard, partner!¡± With his own partner, Dagou, in the hospital after complications from bladder surgery, he¡¯d appreciate the company. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s grind Ralss¡¯s bones to dust! Make him suffer for daring to defy the UOP!¡± Ph¨² said. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Halkken inserted the data stick and scanned its contents. Besides the witness testimony, it had a blurry picture of someone who matched Ralss¡¯s description. The subject wore a gray hoodie, obscuring his features further. ¡°Ph¨², can you clear this up? It looks like our mutual friend, but I can¡¯t be sure.¡± ¡°Sure, give me a sec,¡± Ph¨² said. After a minute, the blurriness cleared, revealing the face¡¯s features. ¡°So much for our lead,¡± Halkken said, leaning back in his seat. The photo¡¯s blurry figure showed full lips and a crooked nose. ¡°I give a 5 percent chance this is our subject,¡± Ph¨² said, just as dubious. Her mood turned gloomy. ¡°Now what?¡± ¡°We keep looking,¡± Halkken said, undeterred. Investigations were always rife with setbacks. He drummed his fingers against the dashboard. ¡°Ph¨², can you read through all the video data taken since Ralss¡¯ escape?¡± ¡°What? No! Not by myself! That¡¯d take weeks! We¡¯re talking about thousands of cameras with dozens of hours of footage each!¡± ¡°If I recall, wasn¡¯t the phony prophet seriously hurt by a guard robot? Any sign of him at any hospitals, legit or otherwise?¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Ph¨² went silent for a heartbeat before speaking. ¡°No one of Matthias Daliven¡¯s descriptions was admitted to any hospital, even the back-alley ones. Though, a private back-alley doctor isn¡¯t an impossibility.¡± ¡°Hmm. They¡¯ve gone into hiding? The consequences for their holy man¡¯s wellbeing be damned?¡± He was missing something, some hint that would guide them to the right trail. Halkken slapped the tabletop, startling Ph¨². ¡°Of course. She would know!¡± ¡°Sorry? Who?¡± Ph¨² asked, somewhat baffled.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°The power of darkness! It can peer past the veil.¡± Halkken grinned, ear to ear. ¡°The fortune-teller, Babaka. I¡¯ve used her on previous cases. She¡¯s never wrong.¡± ¡°Uh, I was hoping we¡¯d use a more scientific method of finding the criminal scum,¡± Ph¨² replied, but Halkken was too excited to notice. With lightning-fast fingers, he disabled his car¡¯s auto-drive system and took the steering wheel with both hands. Halkken loved to drive and cackled as it sped to life. With lightning speed, it swerved between two cars, wheels squealing. ¡°Are you crazy? Are you trying to kill us?¡± Ph¨² said. But Halkken ignored her, accelerating as he took a sudden right turn. He was the law. Who cared about a couple of traffic violations? Especially when destiny awaited them? --- Tires squealed as his vehicle slid into place, just avoiding slamming into a fence. Halkken beamed as he spotted their destination¡ªa mid-sized house with a thatched roof and a white picket fence. But unlike the other idyllic UOP houses lining the block, this one had unique lawn decorations. Pale gravestones sat planted deep into the lawn. Spiderwebs clung to the branches of the trees, shadows hinting to the monsters who spun them. A skeleton chattered in eerily as it hung by its neck from a rope attached to a tree branch. ¡°Hey, wait a minute,¡± Ph¨² said from his phone. ¡°Those gravestones are plastic! And that skeleton is plaster of Paris!¡± But Halkken hushed his AI partner. ¡°You¡¯re ruining the illusion!¡± Candlelight cast eerie shadows in the house¡¯s dark corridors as the door creaked open. Halkken passed a row of pumpkins as he entered, each with a twisted, tormented face. ¡°Welcome, visitor. Come to seek your future?¡± A wizened, creaky voice said from everywhere, yet nowhere. ¡°I warn you, you might not like what you learn.¡± ¡°Hello again, Babaka. I have come for your advice in a case,¡± Halkken said, all boyish enthusiasm. He loved this house and its spooky interior. It put him in the mood for a good ghost story. ¡°Ah, Halkken. Enter. I will give you the advice you seek,¡± the voice replied. Halkken marched forward, already knowing where to go. He ducked under some cobwebs as he entered a far room. Inside an almost pitch-black room sat an elderly figure dressed in rags huddled over a crystal ball. The years had left deep crags across her features, her wild silver curls seeming to possess a life of their own. Incense permeated the room as Halkken took a seat across the fortune-teller. ¡°You need me for a case, you say?¡± The woman¡¯s wrinkled hands hovered over her crystal ball. Halkken pulled a picture from his coat¡ªthe profile picture of his target. ¡°I am searching for this man, Rocke Ralss.¡± ¡°I will contact the demon, Behealzbub. His dark powers will guide me to the person you seek!¡± ¡°Who?¡± Ph¨² asked, somewhat muffled by Halkken¡¯s coat pocket. ¡°The dark god Behealzbub, the true master of the world. The Sovereign is only a usurper. He was jealous of the dark god¡¯s majesty. He used an underhanded tactic¡ªa poisoned gift given in false friendship¡ªto steal the demon¡¯s power for himself and claim a title that didn¡¯t belong to him.¡± Halkken explained. ¡°Right,¡± Ph¨² said, unconvinced. ¡°Except that story matches none of my records about the legends of the Sovereign or¡ª¡± ¡°Hush, she¡¯s starting,¡± Halkken said, finger over lips. ¡°Behealzbub! Oh, mighty Behealzbub! Grant your servant your wisdom!¡± The candles flickered as the fortune-teller¡¯s cadence increased in intensity. An eerie moan echoed through the room. Babaka waved her arms wildly, her movements becoming more frenzied. ¡°Find this man, Rocke Ralss! Let a curse be upon him. May he not escape your grasp, Great One! Oh, greatest of demons!¡± After unleashing an unearthly cry, the room went dark as Babaka collapsed. ¡°And what happens now?¡± Ph¨² asked, breaking the silence. ¡°In a hill, you will find him!¡± Babaka said, suddenly leaping to life as the light returned to normal. ¡°But only when the wolf howls! Present an offering of tulips as you spin around six times to a tall man wearing a fancy suit. Then, the path will become clear.¡± ¡°Huh? That made no sense whatsoever!¡± Ph¨² said in protest. ¡°Thank you, Babaka. The Vladus Police Department always appreciates your help,¡± Halkken said, ignoring his partner. ¡°We will pay you in the usual manner.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m always happy to help you with your investigations, young man,¡± Babaka replied. ¡°Come back anytime. You¡¯re always welcome.¡± Ph¨² looked ready to explode with more protests, but Halkken lifted a finger to forestall her. ¡°I will. Until we meet again.¡± ¡°And there we go, a new lead!¡± Halkken said, pleased with himself. Finally, the case was taking shape¡ªa jigsaw puzzle with its corner pieces done. ¡°What a bunch of hogwash!¡± Ph¨² said, fuming as Halkken pulled his phone from his pocket. ¡°What a waste of time!¡± ¡°Trust me. This will work,¡± Halkken said as he approached his car. ¡°Babaka hasn¡¯t failed me yet.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± But it sounded like Ph¨² wanted to swallow her own tongue. ¡°Just do whatever you want. I¡¯m searching surveillance data.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± Halkken nodded, saying, ¡°A back-up plan never hurts.¡± He mused over the fortune-teller¡¯s words, wondering what hill she meant. Vladus was a hilly city. There wasn¡¯t one particularly famous hill or anything. ¡°There is a flower shop near a hill near where I live. Might that be it?¡± Halkken said, nodding in satisfaction. It seemed a logical place to start. He was already one step closer to apprehending the devious murderer! --- ¡°Fool.¡± Sunbearer closed the connection, uttering a curse. As usual, his idiot police chief failed to understand the gravity of the situation. The fact he didn¡¯t immediately realize Loffie¡¯s death was a murder in disguise proved his utter incompetence! Next election, Rolf wouldn¡¯t be the police chief. He would guarantee it. A chime from his console interrupted his brooding thoughts. Sunbearer composed himself, giving his best winning smile as he answered his secretary. ¡°Yes, Midion?¡± ¡°Sir, the Prime Minister wishes to speak with you,¡± Midion said from a speaker. Finally, someone intelligent to speak to! ¡°Patch him through.¡± ¡°Cal, how are you?¡± Prime Minister Lux Luciest said, his smile radiant as the sun. Luciest was a heavy-set man of upper-middle years. Despite this, however, his auburn hair only had a dusting of gray. He projected youthful energy. Luciest was like gravity itself, always the center of attention whenever he entered a room. It amazed Sunbearer how the man seemed to remember everyone he¡¯d ever met, even if it¡¯d only been a brief encounter. Luciest greeted even the briefest acquaintance like an old, dear friend. The Prime Minister was a rare leader and the reason for the UOP¡¯s current prosperity. ¡°It¡¯s been hectic with Minister Loffie¡¯s tragic death, but I¡¯m managing,¡± Sunbearer said with more candid honesty than he¡¯d usually use. The Prime Minister had a talent for drawing out the truth from people. ¡°Yes, I heard. Poor Polk. He was a hearty old guff. I¡¯d almost expected him to outlive us all,¡± Luciest replied, his tone solemn. ¡°He would have if he wasn¡¯t murdered,¡± Sunbearer said, his tone dark. ¡°Ah, so you¡¯ve had similar doubts about his accident. The timing seems a little too convenient,¡± Luciest said, considering the matter in his usual measured way. ¡°I¡¯ve doubled security on myself, just in case. I requested the other Ministers to do likewise until the situation settles down.¡± ¡°Situation?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve all heard Matthias Daliven¡¯s dire pronouncements. It¡¯s all my wife has been talking about. I met Matthias once at a rally a decade ago. He seemed like a sturdy, steadfast fellow. Honest too. A likable sort, the type people listen to.¡± ¡°It surprises me you give the ravings of an ex-filing clerk any credence.¡± Was the Prime Minister superstitious? ¡°I don¡¯t. But many do. Including the Ottomon population. They are angry, Cal. The prophecies are fueling their resentment and desire for revenge.¡± But Sunbearer only gave a derisive snort. ¡°The Demons are a rabble, easily squashed.¡± ¡°Yes, but we can¡¯t underestimate the possibility of violence. Violence that will be difficult to quell. So far we¡¯ve been lucky they¡¯ve only been protesting, and only a small minority have turned to terrorism to achieve their goals.¡± ¡°It¡¯s their religion. It forbids violence.¡± And a useful tool to keep them obedient sheep. ¡°Yes, we are lucky in that regard, but they won¡¯t stay silent forever. We have 21 days until the Day of Promise. We must take action to keep the peace.¡± ¡°Chief Rolf is searching for Matthias Daliven to arrest him.¡± Though, in his usual incompetence, he had yet to apprehend him. ¡°Law enforcement is vigorously stamping out any trouble. Though¡­¡± A thought occurred to Sunbearer. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to have a military presence ready on the Day of Promise.¡± But the Prime Minister seemed unsatisfied, tapping his fingers on his desk. ¡°I¡¯m fine with ordering martial law, but still, I worry.¡± ¡°The Demons aren¡¯t the problem! We might have foreign agents working against us!¡± ¡°That is a distinct possibility,¡± Luciest said with maddening calm. ¡°There are reports Vanderfall has mobilized its military. For training exercises, they claim.¡± ¡°Do you think they might strike on the Day of Promise, taking advantage of the civil unrest?¡± And what about Konquel? They were another unknown. While a small country, they had an impressive military. ¡°It¡¯s possible. I¡¯ve been talking to General Xander about it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the capital. I will make sure it stays protected.¡± Vladus would endure, no matter the cost. A light flashed in Sunbearer¡¯s head, an idea that¡¯d solve all his problems. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear, Cal,¡± Luciest said with his trademark smile. ¡°I¡¯ll leave it to you to protect Vladus. Do what you think is best. Sorry, but I must run. I have a meeting in five minutes.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t keep you then. Don¡¯t be afraid to keep in touch.¡± After some farewells, Sunbearer¡¯s monitor went black. ¡°Midion, please contact General Xander. Make an appointment sometime tomorrow. Tell him it¡¯s important, vital.¡± While the Vanderfall and Konquel situation might be beyond his immediate control, the Demons were a different story. He¡¯d show them their prophet¡¯s Day of Promise was an empty dream. This would also address a problem that¡¯s been plaguing the city for decades. ¡°A clean Vladus, free of filth!¡± Sunbearer delighted in the thought. He¡¯d force out the entire slums, threaten violence or even death on anyone who¡¯d dare defy the order. It won¡¯t stop there. Anyone of Demon heritage would no longer be welcome in Vladus. If they weren¡¯t in his city, they couldn¡¯t riot on the Day of Promise. Some people would die, but it was a small cost to pay to keep his city safe and clean. The UOP and Vladus would stand forever, that was his solemn oath.