Pain of The Lone Spectre

by Adrian P

  Sasha kept silent.

  “Do something about these Tyrant enforcers,” Konstantin glared at the police barricade. “If we don’t—“

  The door of a truck next to Konstantin’s opened.

  The Man in Blue Suit stepped out with a rocket launcher on his shoulder.

  He kneeled, aimed at the police.

  And fired the rocket.

  The rocket screamed towards an armoured vehicle and punched its chassis, exploding from within. Panicked, the police readied themselves and planted their shields on the ground. The Man in Blue Suit activated his jet thruster and jumped to their position. He punched one officer to the ground and aimed his wrist gun at another, firing straight at his head. Other officers took aim and returned fire, but his armour deflected their bullets. It took twenty seconds for him to defeat the police.

  “Not bad for a Tyrant slave,” Konstantin spoke to the communicator. “He might be better than most of their warriors.”

  “Shall we move?” Sasha asked with a sour tone.

  “Immediately,” he tapped the driver next to him and pointed ahead. “Maybe we should let him handle The Bandana Boy—”

  “I handle The Bandana Boy,” Sasha stiffened his tone.

  He hung up.

  The convoy moved again. The trucks smashed the police armoured vehicle aside and sped up through the highway. Konstantin leaned his elbow on the window and grumbled. He switched his communicator onto another channel. “Nice job with the police,” he spoke in English.

  “That’s what you’re paying me for; I simply deliver,” The Man in Blue Suit replied. “Why do you call?”

  Konstantin paused. “The Bandana Boy and his friends are definitely following us, somewhere, somehow,” he said. “I want you to ambush him, and take him out quickly.”

  “When and where?”

  “We will be passing through Kotabaru’s secondary business district,” Konstantin opened a map on his UFX-PDA. “I’ll lend you several squads of conscripts to take care of his buddies, so you can kill him with ease.”

  “What about Mr. Gryaznov?”

  “What about him?”

  “I thought he wants to kill the boy? I thought we’re to bring the boy to him and—“

  “Stuff the idiot,” Konstantin clicked his tongue. “He’s off rambling on how his son was dead, revenge this and that,” he shook his head. “The Brotherhood’s cause has no room for personal vendetta. Everything we do is for the collective sake of humanity.”

  “He won’t forgive me if I kill the boy.”

  Konstantin frowned. “Who’s paying you, him or me?”

  “Well—“

  “Then do as I say.”

  A pause. “Understood.”

  He hung up.

  As Konstantin put down his communicator, the convoy climbed a ramp onto the highway’s top flyover, unveiling the sight of a hill amidst the skyscrapers of Kotabaru. A small, cylindrical building stood at its highest point.

  Kotabaru’s observatory, he thought. A perfect spot for launching another warhead. But I shouldn’t spawn another hurricane—tested that well on Benteng City.

  He smirked.

  I need to shake this world with an even stronger phenomenon.

  Chapter 2 / Part 3

  Two green armoured vans with Armed Forces insignia entered an area filled with burning skyscrapers. Rioters and Police Force clashed on a distant crossroads, while Police airships patrolled the skies, echoing a threat for the mass to stand down. The vans stopped, and Audi stepped out of one. He walked towards the backdoor and opened them with both hands. Princess Victoria and her two maids turned to Audi in simultaneity.

  “Keep the Princess safe and bring her to the safehouse,” he said. “The mercenaries and I will scout the path to both the observatory and spaceport.”

  Dina leaned forward. “Can’t you do that with aerial remote surveillance?” she asked. “The Armed Forces have provided us with state-of-the-art command centre and experienced staff—“

  “There’s only so much you can see from surveillance feed,” Audi replied. “Konstantin knows we are following him, and I’m more than certain he’s put some sort of traps and ambush on the way.”

  “How can you tell?”

  Audi pointed at the riot-police clash in the distance. “I’ve monitored the movement of rioters using orbital imaging system, and they are designed to suffocate every path leading to both the observatory and the spaceport.”

  “Aren’t you valuing yourself a little high?” Dina frowned. “You’re saying that Konstantin is willing to go through all this trouble just to stop you from chasing after him?”

  Audi sighed. “I’ve done some terrible things to the Brotherhood army three years ago,” he said. “This is the least that they should do to keep me off their trail.”

  Victoria closed her eyes. “Let him do what he wants,” she spoke softly. “It’s him taking the risk, so there’s no reason to refuse his plan.”

  “But, Princess—“

  “Dina,” Victoria turned to her. “Let him go.”

  She looked at Ayu for a second. Ayu shrugged. Dina switched her sight to Audi and slowly pointed away. “You go.”

  Audi closed the door, and the armoured van drove away.

  Bryant jumped out of the other van, followed by Charlotte, Christina, and Rachele. The big man calibrated his armour and activated its internal power cells, and the three Petit Fantome women formed a closed circle, whispering and strategising.

  Bryant approached Audi and tapped his shoulder. “It’s a huge city,” he said. “Do you think Konstantin really planted an ambush party?”

  “It would be foolish not to,” the boy took out his pistol and checked its bullet count. “The rioters are keeping every form of law enforcement busy, and taking us out as early as possible is the most rational course of action.”

  “Wow,” Bryant’s eyes widened. “Do you think of anything other than this operation? That analysis must’ve taken you a long time to do. An entire night perhaps?”

  Audi frowned. “If you think that analysis is complex, you need to get your brain checked.”

  “Are you calling me stupid?” Bryant laughed. “I was just joking. Besides which, I’m sure you were…busy last night.”

  The boy glared at him. “That just happened, okay? There’s no conspiracy theory behind all our bodyguard mission with Simonovsky Tech or crap like that.”

  “So how do you end up together with The Ghost Girl?”

  “We’re not together!” he said. “It’s just so happened that I…”

  Bryant crossed his arms while smirking.

  The boy sighed. “I promised her that I’ll take her to Nagisawa Corporation.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s a long story, but she’s been a little lost,” he replied. “Everyone in her life wanted her to do what everyone does, whether it’s hobbies, interest, or even choice of vocation,” he paused. “I’m simply offering her a place where she can be herself, surrounded by people who would help her fulfil her destiny; her reason for existing in this world.”

  Bryant loosened his arms and put them down. The grin on his face faded. “Do you really think it’s that simple?”

  The boy listened.

  “One’s reason for existence. The life you yearn for. The people you wish to protect,” he continued with a flat tone. “Do you think it’s easy to defy people’s expectation of what you should become and what you should believe?”

  “That’s why I’m bringing her to Nagisawa Corporation,” Audi replied. “The CEO of the company is a visionary, someone who dares believing differently, despite the opposition others mount. Someone who—“

  “You’ll find that believing differently will cost you,” Bryant interrupted. “People will frown upon you. Cast you away. Refuse to love you. Throw you away. Frown upon. Jeer. Sneer. People will—“

  “Big man?”

  Bryant flinched.

  The big man laughed.


  Audi cocked an eyebrow. He opened his mouth to speak, but Bryant cradled his arm around his shoulders and clenched him tight.

  “Don’t mind what I said! I’m just glad that you actually picked up a girl in that Charity Ball,” he laughed louder. “Though I didn’t expect it to be the Ghost Girl! What irony!”

  “That’s not what happened—!”

  “Ehh, I’m pretty sure you flirted with me all night.”

  Bryant and Audi turned to the voice.

  Charlotte stood with both hands behind, leaning forward as she approached the two men. “Don’t get too close to him, I’ll get jealous,” she pouted.

  “I’m sorry, Miss Ghost,” Bryant raised both arms as he laughed. “There, have him all to yourself.”

  Audi took a long breath and heaved a long sigh. “I’m surrounded by idiots.”

  “Let’s see,” Charlotte cleared her throat. “Couldn’t you tell how much I didn’t want to part from you then?” she deepened her voice.

  The Bandana Boy flinched.

  “I know I care a lot about you,” she continued. “To know that one day I will part from you is another feeling that will devastate me—‘

  “Okay fine!” Audi yelled. “Yes, I said those to you. Fine. Damn, I must be out of my mind back then, saying all those things,” he scratched his hair violently.

  Bryant shook his head. “I was so sure that he’s the coldest man in the galaxy, turns out—“

  “Shut up, big man,” Audi glared at him.

  Bryant laughed.

  “Well,” Bryant nudged the boy towards Charlotte. “If that’s what happened, then take care of her well,” he grinned. “Mutual love isn’t as common as people say it is. So cherish each other while you can—“

  Christina kicked Bryant with force, slamming him down to the floor.

  The woman stepped on Bryant’s back. “We have a serious mission to execute, why are you three yammering and laughing about like morons?” she frowned. “Are Rachele and I the only ones going to fight?”

  Bryant picked himself up and turned to her. “If we’re all at fault, why am I the only one you kicked, Chrissie?”

  “My name’s Christina, you damned gorilla!”

  “But your two teammates called you so—“

  Christina kicked him again. “I refuse to let a gorilla call me by nickname.”

  Rachele approached Audi and Charlotte, and she smiled. “I’m sorry about Christina,” she chuckled. “She’s never usually this hot-headed.”

  Audi stared at the two bickering mercenaries. “These two fought head-on when we were still enemies,” he said. “Is the animosity a result from how intense their fights were?”

  “No,” Charlotte said. “Chrissie is a professional. She’s not the kind of person who will drag past conflict ahead of its relevance. It’s not like we’re still enemies now, right?”

  “So why does the big man piss her off so much?”

  Rachele put both hands on her hips. “He reminded her of William’s Green’s leader.”

  “The vegan environmentalist group she was in?”

  Rachele nodded. “What do you know of William’s Green?”

  Audi pinched his nose and closed his eyes. “William’s Green…mysteriously vanished in the aftermath of a peaceful protest gone violent. The subject of protest…factory farm. Event chronology—“

  “He knows enough,” Charlotte interrupted. “How is William’s Green leader similar to him, Ray?”

  “From what Chrissie told me, William Chance was a virtuous man who cares about others,” Rachele replied. “He created William’s Green after witnessing the cruelty that humans have done to animals; be it as pet or as livestock.”

  Audi chuckled. “Reminds me of a certain bald bastard.”

  “William kept a happy demeanour in public, but Chrissie believes he’s hiding his pain and agony behind the scene,” Rachele continued. “It is impossible for someone to be happy every day, every night, every week, and every year. Someone like that is either a lunatic, a fool, or a really good liar.”

  Audi crossed his arms. “And someone capable of mobilising a group like William’s Green can neither be a lunatic nor a fool.”

  “Precisely,” Rachele nodded. “Chrissie is projecting William’s image onto Bryant, which fits rather conveniently.”

  “Image, huh?” Audi opened his palm like a claw and stared at it. “To be how others want you to be. To look how others want you to look. To believe how others want you to believe,” he paused. “To love the way others want you to love.”

  Charlotte and Rachele turned to him.

  “I need to get that medicine from Konstantin,” he clenched his palm into a fist and tightened it. “How’s Petit Fantome’s preparation? How’s your scouting plan?”

  “Diamond solid,” Charlotte gave an OK sign. “I’ll be in charge of high grounds, while Ray and Chrissie will scan street level. You?”

  “Not much preparation, really.”

  “Eh?”

  Audi stepped forward.

  “Those bastards want me dead, so I naturally should be the bait.”

  Chapter 2 / Part 4

  Audi walked on the pavement of a six-lane avenue in an arterial highway. Buildings surrounded the peripheries on both sides, with abandoned cars scrambled in-between. Emergency siren of the city rung periodically, while public announcement speakers echoed instructions for citizens to evacuate riot-conflict area.

  The boy took out his communicator. “The street’s clear so far, how’s everyone?”

  A crackle echoed over the channel. “This is Rachele. I’m observing the entire district right now. No suspicious activity.”

  “This is Christina. No movement from around your proximity.”

  “This is Bryant,” he spoke next. “I’m hiding in a truck an intersection away behind you. You’re in my sight, but nobody is trying to screw you yet.”

  “Don’t jinx me, big man.”

  Bryant laughed.

  “Hey ya,” Charlotte giggled. “Are you talking about me—“

  “Quiet, Ghost Girl,” The Bandana Boy leaned on the wall and covered his mouth with his red scarf. “Anything on your sight?”

  “Negative,” she replied. “The only ones roaming about are evacuating civilians, police, and stray rioters. The riot is pushing the police force back.”

  “You’re kidding me,” Audi looked around. “How so?”

  “These rioters are almost fanatical. They chanted cries as they push through barrages of water cannons. Even as their compatriots fell, the rest kept pushing, and eventually the officers have to retreat.”

  Audi frowned. “The Brotherhood,” his tone lowered. “Looks like they have been infiltrating The Crowned Confederacy for years. How terrifying.”

  “Credit’s due not only to the Brotherhood, me think,” Charlotte replied. “These rioters are mostly young people who are disgruntled by the government, not given a chance to work, and whatever jobs available are either shit, or bullshit.”

  “How do you know so much?”

  “I was there for a bit, sneaking around.”

  “…why?”

  “A little curious, for their chants are quite interesting,” she replied. “No state guarantee for welfare! Price too expensive! No leisure! No freedom to live!” she deepened her voice while yelling.

  “I’m sure you can relate.”

  “Yeah,” her tone softened. “The Brotherhood must’ve used this common disgruntlement amongst the people to stir up fanaticism. I wonder how Konstantin managed all this while busy running a company.”

  “It’s not Konstantin,” Audi said. “Don’t you remember what he described himself as when we confronted him before? He’s the Chief War and Armaments Engineer for his fleet.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means he’s the guy who designs and maintains weapons,” Audi replied. “But that also means he has no direct command over their military, especially propaganda assets.”
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br />   “Boo,” Charlotte said. “This whole Brotherhood thing is getting so complicated.”

  “Nothing is simple in life, Ghost Girl. Explanations can only be simple when it deliberately ignores the intricate dimensions of truth associated,” he paused. “For the past three years, I have been studying the Brotherhood with whatever little information I’ve got. The way their society works. The way their military works. But there’s one thing I still don’t understand: why they fight.”

  The channel was quiet.

  “From what I’ve deduced, the only reason why Brotherhood plans to destroy The Crowned Confederacy is simple: hate. They hated us. The way we do things. The way we believe in things. From our economy, to our life philosophies.”

  “That sounds reasonable,” Charlotte said. “Why does that confuse you?”

  “If they simply hate us, waging war against us makes no sense,” Audi replied. “I greatly disagree with many things The Crowned Confederacy embodies, but even so, I still do not understand. They don’t like us? They should’ve stayed away and keep their people away—”

  “It means they have a sense of duty,” Christina interrupted.

  The boy paused.

  “Whichever people who lead this Brotherhood must believe it’s their destiny to correct humanity’s way,” Christina continued. “They must’ve witnessed some of our sufferings, and realised something inherent in our system that’s causing them. Hence they jumped into war. To stop whatever atrocity they see from ever happening again.”

  “That’s a sympathetic analysis.”

  “Of course,” Christina replied. “I joined William’s Green a few years ago for the same reason. I witnessed the cruelty humans have done to animals. We’re already perverse enough to breed them for the sake of consumption, and yet, we still do not have the decency to at least let them live a comfortable life while it lasts.”

  Silence.

  “I wanted to change the world, and William’s Green was the only place I can be to realise this dream, this destiny that I believe in. Together with like-minded people, to strive for a world that is, even just a little bit, more moral than it currently is.”