by K. L. Lewis
Keith’s brows made a slight hop. “Well, my apologies for interrupting.”
“It’s okay,” said Shen. “We were just about to leave.”
“Well, if that’s settled, I have some important details to share with you, Cayce,” said Keith.
Shen opened the door on the way out, with Jiao glare hammering down on the DeMarcus and Yue on their way through. They looked back at Mitch waiting outside, his lips pursed as he watched them leave in shame, and it was a long dark walk on the way outside the academy.
On the ride back, DeMarcus gritted his teeth behind his wrist as he leaned on the door, gazing out the window at the buildings running past them on their way to the bridge. Glancing at Yue, her arms and face were as tense as their parents’ stern eyes piercing back at them in the rear-view mirror. She mumbled that Crystal no doubt instigated the whole thing that led them here, but DeMarcus found that hard to believe given that all Crystal did was ask for help. From what he noticed, Vearez and Chris had him in their sights after bumping into Rafeal on his first day and tried to intimidate him for that. Didn’t look like things worked out the way they wanted, and he gave them some pain to remember. It was like his mother said when he couldn’t escape a conflict: never fight fair. But it looked like things worked differently with the Sun family.
“Fighting in school?” Shen asked, his tone flat and dull. “You’re lucky Keith was there, but you’re not off the hook.”
DeMarcus looked away. He had nothing to say, nothing to prove their innocence. Yue, however, spoke out. “But dad, they started it! One of those guys tripped DeMarcus for trying to talk to a girl, then threw him against the wall!”
“How are we supposed to believe that?” Jiao asked.
Yue lowered her head, then her face brightened. DeMarcus watched her take her OmniMorph and open a video, and to his shock Yue had the whole fight recorded!
“Here, watch this!” Yue said, passed her phone to Jiao.
Jiao watched the scene play out, seeing DeMarcus sitting at his seat before rising to talk to Crystal. Jiao shrugged and shook her head at how peaceful the scene was before her eyes stretched at the boys harassing DeMarcus. And after watching the fight, she gave back Yue’s OmniMorph and her tone went dull. “Yep, they’re innocent.”
DeMarcus and Yue sighed in relief. They’re off the hook now.
“Just like that?” Shen asked.
“Those boys struck first. I’m glad they fought back.”
Shen snorted a laugh. “Not something I expected from you.”
“I don’t play when it comes to my kids. And I don’t blame them for talking back to the principal after seeing that.”
“Why didn’t you show that video to the principal, Yue?” Shen asked.
“It slipped my mind,” Yue answered.
“He didn’t really give us a chance,” DeMarcus added.
They arrived home and went from the garage to the kitchen. “Well, if it happens again, feel free to kick their ass.”
DeMarcus caught the smile growing on Yue’s face, knowing how eager she was to pummel Crystal the first chance she got.
“But don’t take advantage of that and start beating up just anyone you want, understood?” Jiao added. And with that Yue’s smile vanished as she and DeMarcus gave a “yes, ma’am.”
“You sure about that?” Shen asked.
“Sure about what?” Jiao asked.
“Just giving them a simple green light like that? Couldn’t they do better than just getting into a brawl?”
“So, sign them up for self-defense classes?”
Shen smiled. “Well, that’s one place. But how about this one? James told me of a new Iuvian self-defense program that Keith is starting at the Civil-Military Compound, one tailored against militants. He’s having Tyrone take part, why not have our kids sign on?”
DeMarcus and Yue smiled at each other. Sounded better than nothing.
But Jiao looked hesitant. “Against militant attacks? That’s not just self-defense. Sounds like too much.”
“Well, DeMarcus was hospitalized from militants, remember?” Shen asked. DeMarcus huffed at the reminder. “And with reports of them operating nearby, it scares the hell out of me to think of that happening to anyone else. What if that happened again to DeMarcus? Or to Yue? Jun? Even Amy?”
Jiao pursed her lips. “What do militants have to do with bullying?”
Shen poured a cup of coffee. “I guess I’m just fearing the worst. But hey, it’s best to be prepared. It’s up to them though.”
DeMarcus’s fist tensed. “I’ll do it!”
“DeMarcus? You sure?” Jiao asked.
He paused as that painful memory of his attackers surfaced. If Keith’s training could prevent that, then it was worth it to him. “Uh-huh,” he said. “I don’t want that day to happen again.”
Yue winced a bit, but joined him in the idea. “Then I’m with you, too. No one’s taking us down without a fight.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be that surprised of you getting in one, Yue,” Jiao joked.
“I’ll contact Keith and see if we can get them onboard,” said Zhen, entering his office.
Jiao made a slight frown. “You realize he’ll be training them like soldiers, right?”
“And what’s wrong with that?” Shen asked.
Jiao shrugged and shook her head. Everyone had already decided, and there was nothing else to be said as DeMarcus went upstairs with Yue.
“So, you really up for this?” Yue asked.
“Hell yeah,” DeMarcus answered. “I’m not going out like before.”
CHAPTER 15 – INTEL-BY-FORCE
The blue sky turned dusk orange over the city of Chaco, capital of the Illina province. Fara Torres stood on the rooftops of a five-story building. Behind her stood Lian, designated “A-2”, and Tehpa, designated “A-3.” They pulled down their hoods and pulled over their balaclavas, then brought their visors to their eyes, looking at the streets below before turning to Fara.
Chatter buzzed in her earpiece of the militants moving in the area, with thin white outlines appearing on their visors of some of them running and jumping along the buildings nearby. A small drone flew before them, its triple fans hovering in front of Lian before ascending over the buildings. “Incoming live-feed,” said Lian, tapping on his OmniMorph.
Fara’s visor lit up with a drone’s view of the buildings, showing a sparse crowd of humans applauding a man descending the steps of city hall. It was none other than their main target, Representative Jack Allers, waving at the crowd behind a wall of police keeping the path open for him to move. That was just a fraction of the security—the streets and rooftops had more of them and security androids overlooking several city blocks that the drone had to keep a firm distance away at best.
The further the better as far as Fara thought. She saw more than enough as the drone’s camera zoomed in to Allers as he made a brief speech about law and order, and how society’s rules are to be followed.
“Give me a break,” Fara muttered. If the man was in any way connected to the HDF, then he was the last one to be talking about law and order, using it to hide any skeletons of his. She tightened a black glove with metal knuckles on her hand, then checked the time on her OmniMorph: eighteen twenty-nine hours—ten seconds until she pressed her earpiece and said, “Begin.”
Her, Tepha, and Lian vanished in the air, their bodies clear as glass as they raced across the buildings toward the police and androids. Fara rushed an officer at the buildings edge scoping the area with a sniper, her black glove sparking with electricity as she ran up and punched the unwary officer unconscious.
Tehpa uncloaked and wrapped the officer in a thick band, then her head snapped toward a crackle and a shout from around the corner of a rooftop entrance. An android fell to the ground as Lian walked over with a stun baton in hand, giving Fara and Tepha a thumbs up.
“Stand guard, A-3,” Fara ordered.
Tepha raised her rifle and stood watch while F
ara checked with Lian, his OmniMorph projecting a map of the area with the other teams nearby. “Everyone’s in position, ma’am,” he said.
Their position was at the exit point where the last of the guards stood in wait. Shifting back to the drone’s view of Allers, the thought of what she had in store made Fara chuckle a bit. “I almost feel sorry for him,” she said.
“The more we cut off the Fronties’ support, the better I say,” said Tehpa.
Fara pressed her earpiece as she scanned around. “A-1 searching for B-2, do you read? Over.”
The drone’s live feed highlighted a woman leaning across the street in casual blue pants and red shirt. A quick zoom in showed Iya Kalir, watching as Allers entered his autocar. “A-1, this is B-2, with eyes on the Trophy,” Iya answered. “Hold for painting.”
Iya pointed her wrist at Allers’s car, firing a tracking dart that stuck to the car’s door. “Paint finished. B-2 departing.”
As Allers’s car drove off, the drone kept track for Fara. “A-2, patch me through to Mr. Allers,” she ordered.
Lian opened a prompt on his screen and typed his commands. “You’re in.”
The dial tone rang until Allers answered. “Hello?”
“Representative Allers?” Fara asked on her earpiece, her voice masked in the tone of another woman.
“Yes? Who is this?”
“This is Griesa Bive of the Human Defense Front. I’m currently supervising the new Grassland sect in the region,” Fara lied. “We’ve heard you’re quite supportive of our parent organization’s goals.”
“What makes you say that?” Allers asked. “I’m here on behalf of Pewter Tech. I’ve not received any word from the HDF.”
Pewter Tech, huh? Must be the HDF’s front organization. “There’s no need to be alarmed, Representative,” Fara assured. “This call is secure. Better yet, we love Pewter Tech ourselves. We’re just trying to rebuild our lost numbers amid all the chaos.”
“Well, I’d say you’re lucky right now. Most of the world is focused on Monuma and Serali,” Allers added. “I suppose this little mess might give you room to maneuver. At any rate, this call is earlier than expected. I take it the product at Shipping Center 12 has been secured for our clients?”
Fara smiled. Little did he know, he just confirmed a connection between Pewter Tech and the HDF. “I believe the other team has it ready as we speak,” she lied. “Not too many are aware of the specifics for fear of compromise by the Amalgam.”
“Understandable,” said Allers. “The High H has been furious with the constant Amalgam raids over the years, so the less on our back, the better as we wait for the Solar Tech Summit.”
Lian’s map lit with blue dots as her troops confirmed their view of Allers, each sending videos of the representative’s tense, sweating face as he noticed the tiny crowd of humans and parahumans scowling at him from the sidewalks.
Fara pulled out a blue missile launcher and waved her hand over its scanner, springing the weapon to life. She loaded a small missile into the tube, then slung it over her shoulder as she took aim at the dart blinking on Allers’s car. She waited as four of her troops materialized in front of the crowd and on the nearby rooftops in plain view of Allers’s autocar driving by. The autocar accelerated, and Fara heard Aller’s heavy breath panting on the phone. “E-excuse me for a moment,” he stuttered to Fara. “I-I seem to have lost track of the police that were keeping watch.”
Fara’s eyes flashed a predatory glint as her finger curled over the launcher’s trigger. “Yeah, about that,” she said, her voice returning to normal. “They’re a bit tied up right now.”
“Wait—who is this?” Allers demanded.
Fara smiled. “To be frank, no one among you Fronties. The truth is, where I march, I fight for all. But thank you for the intel, we greatly appreciate it!”
With the squeeze of the trigger, the missile popped out and zipped after Allers, blasting the side of his autocar. The explosion sent the car swerving into a building and smashing against its side. Smoked spewed from the vehicle as Allers laid unconscious in the backseat. Fara smiled at the wreckage as she and her team dropped from the roof to the alleys, scattering among the pathways. “A-1 to all parties,” she radioed. “Trophy scored. Proceed to your shops. Out.”
Their goal accomplished, Fara and her militants vanished and scattered into the alleys as people poured from the buildings, murmuring and gathering around the crash. Sirens wailed as police and fire apparatuses flew toward the wreck, and soon dozens of drones from various news organizations flew by, missing the militants hiding in the light of dusk.
Just when she thought everything was going swell, Fara received a call from Lucas back at HQ. “Main Shop calling A-1, over!”
Fara pressed against the wall, dodging the sight of a police cruiser and drones flying by. “Main Shop, this is A-1. Over.”
“We have a breach of intel: several new members are MIA along with project files of Red Phoenix! I say again, new recruits MIA with project files! I’ve deployed search teams to locate them, but we’ve lost track of their presence. Over.”
Fara cursed at the timing. Now of all times? It had to be that grey haired parahuman acting suspicious earlier. She engaged her thermoptic camo, her body vanishing as she ventured deeper into the alley. “Take charge until I return. They can’t be too far. A-1, out.”
CHAPTER 16 – VETERANS
DeMarcus woke up to a loud ping on his OmniMorph. It was a news update, the caption reading “Attack on NAF Representative” in bold. Unfolding it into a wide sheet, he read one of the many articles tracking the subject, with images of a car crashed into a brick wall, black smoke fuming from its side as ambulances and police blocked off any curious bystanders.
He unmuted a video broadcasting the aftermath. “Rumors of Allers having possible ties to the Human Defense Front have led many investigators to believe this was a targeted effort by the Amalgam Concord, but the Bureau of Investigation has yet to verify any parties involved.”
Another militant attack. This time on a political figure. Where had he seen this before? But this news only added more spark to DeMarcus’s day. People normally lounged around during the weekends, either with friends or by themselves—it was a perfect day for magnaskating at the Rula. But for DeMarcus, this day was about preparation as he put on his red shirt and loose grey athletic shorts before meeting Yue downstairs in her pink and orange athletic wear. Shen came out from his office, wearing a simple yellow and red t-shirt and navy pants as he escorted them to James waiting outside his house in his green NAF uniform. Tyrone stood by his father in a green shirt and black shorts, smiling and DeMarcus and Yue as they came over.
The soothing breeze restrained the energy that DeMarcus wanted to erupt as soon as they got to this Civil-Military Compound. There he’d learn to fight for himself, not only against dwits like Rafeal and his goons, but also against militants that seek to do him harm.
“You look set to go,” Shen said to James.
“Well, I’m on duty today,” said James. “The brass wants us on alert after the attack on Allers last night. No telling when another might happen. The usual.”
“Sad times,” Shen said with a glance at the three teens. “Any idea who did it?”
“Nothing concrete,” James said with a shrug. “They came in, struck, then left without anyone knowing—which if I had to guess, is the usual MO of the Amalgam Concord. Makes this seem more urgent for dad to teach them the Iuvian way of handling things.”
“You won’t be working with him?” Shen asked.
James chuckled. “I don’t have his time or energy. A Solar War veteran like him can teach these guys far more than I can. Plus, we need one Iyrons out there watching over things.”
“I’ll leave the kids with you then,” said Zhen, waving at them entering James’s aerocar. They waved back as the car rose into the air and flew off toward the city.
Approaching the bridge and zipping over the river, DeMarcus saw the
Iyrons Academy and the Rula Megaplaza appear and vanish as they went west to the city, nearing the Tavilla Terraport. He searched around for the Compound, recalling it was something his mother once watched over. If only she told him what it looked like—he probably should’ve asked before he lost her.
“How far is it?” DeMarcus asked.
“Not too far,” James answered. “We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“So, I’m guessing you’ve met Marshal Iyrons?” Yue asked DeMarcus. “He seemed to know you.”
“Not really, but my mom was a friend of his. Said he trained her when she was young.”
Tyrone looked back at them. “You make grandpa sound old, man.”
“Well, he is old,” said James. “Not that he minds, as young as he looks. I wish I’ll look like that his age.”
“Some Iuvian perk?” Yue asked.
Ty laughed. “That and busting you guys out at school. He told us he gave Principal Cayce an earful after that scrap you had with Vearez and Chris.”
DeMarcus wished he forgot, and after meeting the marshal in person, he couldn’t help but wonder how much Keith knew about him.
Passing a checkpoint and descending to a parking lot, they watched Gentili drones flutter around with Blue Havocs on patrol. Other drones perched themselves on the roof of a large slab of a building half a mile wide, its arch surrounding three massive domes rising from the ground. The Civil-Military Compound of Detroit, its name etched in the plaque on its front gate where Iuvian and NAF troops stood guard with androids and Shephounds.
An Iuvian officer approached the group, a stone-faced human with scars on his cream skin and under the dark bristles of his shaved head. DeMarcus recognized his icy blue cybernetic eyes. It was the same man involved in the Fronties’ attack on the Rula Megaplaza. The man smiled as his thick voice called out to James. “Captain James Iyrons?”
“Yes, sir,” James answered.
“Major Anton Mironov of the Iuvian Terrestrial Forces, 5th Battalion. A pleasure meeting the Marshal’s son.”
