"She keeps following us." Sweat trickled down Rocke's neck as he peered backwards at their constant pursuer. No matter what tricky paths they took, Phú2 only found them again.
"Pain." But Nitao only continued his driving, swerving between two smoldering cars. Their owners' already sour moods became worse, cursing at them as they spotted Maple's Ottomon tattoos underneath her hood.
Despite the constant obstacles and frequent dead ends, they made decent time. While Rocke had somewhat limited knowledge of the city's layout, he recognized the area. He guided them to Vladus's border. If everything went well, they'd leave the city in about half an hour.
"Wait."
Nitao jerked the bike to a halt as they passed a building Rocke recognized. It was the shopping/apartment complex he had lived in before the Joven mess. A pang of worry stabbed his heart. While his friend had abandoned Rocke to save his own skin, he loathed leaving Marsh to die.
"We have to stop first," Rocke said. "There's someone I need to get."
"You know time is running out?" Maple asked, not unkindly. "But if you must, we'll wait." Nitao only grunted, but didn't complain.
"You're just letting me go?" Rocke asked. "You won't argue how foolhardy this is?"
"Lad, you have a kind heart, one more decent than most in the UOP. Why would I argue it should be harder? That you should just abandon a friend out of expediency?" the matronly woman replied.
"I'll be back soon," Rocke said. His friends nodded, waiting by the bike for him.
"This is so stupid." Yet he continued into the building despite his instincts arguing against it. He had to try. Rocke only hoped it wouldn't give Phú2 time for whatever nastiness she had planned. "Please be home, Marsh."
The entire shopping complex that sat under his uncle's apartment was pitch black as he entered, the only light coming from its patrons' phones. They sat around complaining to themselves about the blackout, wondering when power would return so they could return to whatever trivial shopping experience they'd wanted. Didn't they realize what day it was? What calamity awaited them?
Rocke rushed over to the nearby elevators and slapped at a button, only for nothing to happen. He swore under his breath. He'd forgotten that the elevators didn't have power either. The apartment was ten flights up what would usually be a five-minute trip would be at least a half-hour one. Despite the danger, Rocke continued forward anyway.
"There they are!" Rocke beamed as he spotted the stairs sign that a phone just illuminated. As he grabbed the door's handle, someone called his name. Rocke froze like he'd gotten caught in a net. Impossible.
"Uncle?" Rocke said, turning around.
"You have some nerve showing yourself," Uncle Fenweller's weathered, tanned face wore a deep scowl. "And weren't you in prison? That's what Ekkor said, at least."
"Little Rocke, how are you?" said the much younger woman attached to his arm. She swayed on her feet, her eyes blurry. His uncle's fourth wife, Liddie, was drunk as usual. Rocke had rarely seen her sober. Life with Uncle Fenweller could be hard.
"I'm on parole," Rocke lied. It was the simplest explanation. He winced as the lights suddenly turned on, blinding him. Everything restored to life, holographic ads singing jingles of the newest diversion.
"I suppose Phú2 couldn't maintain the blackout forever." At least the elevators were working again. That'd save so much time.
"What?" his uncle said, baffled.
"Nothing. What are you doing here anyway? I understood you were abroad." Rocke asked.
"I was, but I heard about a bit of nastiness that needed my attention before this happened," Fenweller said, scowling. "What the heck can blackout an entire city!"
"Some dumb kid got himself killed," Liddie laughed like she'd said the funniest thing in the world.
"What?" Rocke said, taken aback.
"He got himself a little lover AI bot, only for it to slaughter him!" Liddie laughed again.
"Hold on. Are we talking about Marsh?" Rocke's heart beat faster, knowing how his friend had droned on about wanting one.
"Yes. It had some malfunction, apparently. Left a real mess. It's going to cost me a fortune to refurbish it," Uncle Fenweller said. "What madness convinced me to let that rat room with you?"
"Marsh is dead?" Rocke's voice was unsteady. It seemed unreal, like he'd entered a bad dream. How could this happen? He'd only seen his friend a couple of weeks ago.
"And if you think I'll let you use my apartment again, you're sorely mistaken," Uncle Fenweller glared at his nephew.
"I don't care about that. Marsh is dead." Like his father, Rocke's uncle only cared about what best served him. Rocke had trouble keeping the anger from his voice.
Uncle Fenweller's cold glare only confirmed what Rocke expected from the man. Instead, Rocke changed tactics. "A-are Marsh's things still there?"
"Yes," Uncle Fenweller replied. "The police left everything as it was after their investigation. You want his things?"
Rocke only nodded. Some memento, anything to remind him of his late friend. It wasn't fair. Marsh could have become something. He'd only needed guidance, the right friend to show him the light. "Can I have a key? The police still have my things. They're needed for the investigation, apparently." A terrible lie, but his uncle didn't care enough to contradict it.
"Fine. Get his trash out of my apartment," Uncle Fenweller said, throwing his nephew a ring of keys.
"Thanks. And I'd leave the city right away. Things have gotten crazy. You must have heard about the police station attack. I fear this blackout might only be the start."
But his uncle only snorted and left with his wife, who nagged him about what shops she wished to visit. He wouldn't listen to any warning. Frustrated, Rocke only sighed. It'd been worth a shot. He rushed over to an elevator and pressed the up button.
It was uncanny as Rocke walked into his old abode, only everything was wrong, tainted. In many ways, it was how he'd remembered it. Even some of Marsh's discarded clothes were still on the ground. But Rocke detected a hint of wrongness. The place seemed too empty somehow without its occupants. He tasted acid as he found a bloodstain that had seeped into the carpet. That was where his friend had met his untimely demise.
How could this have happened? Marsh was often a careless jerk, but he didn't deserve this. Every instinct yelled at Rocke to flee this haunted place, but he held firm. He glanced around, lost what he even wanted as a memento.
Rocke planted himself into a nearby chair and put his face into his hands. His old life truly had been destroyed beyond all repair. His best friend was gone. His family had forever cut all ties with him. Unexpected tears stung Rocke's eyes. He hadn't realized how much it had hurt him. Despair clung to his aching heart.
"Oh, dear. What a mess," a familiar voice said, startling Rocke.
"Maple?" Rocke lifted his head to the Ottomon woman. What was she doing here?
"Nitao's at the bike, glaring at anyone who might get close. "I followed to see if you were okay." The Ottomon woman plopped herself next to Rocke.
"I suppose I'm not," Rocke sniffed, tears stinging his eyes. "I didn't know what I expected coming here. Marsh, my old friend, is dead."
"Yes, I overheard everything. Poor lad, come here." Maple pulled him close into a big hug. Unexpectedly, Rocke found himself crying into her shoulder. She said nothing, just stroking his hair. It struck him how his own mother had never offered him such comfort, even when he was little. Somehow, it made him cry harder.
Eventually, Rocke pulled himself together somewhat. "This is so stupid. The city's about to be destroyed, yet I'm here crying over someone I usually only barely tolerated."
"No, it's not. And your tears don't make you weak. You care about people, Rocke. That's nothing to be ashamed of."
"I suppose."
"You stood up for us when no one else would. You're very brave and kind. The UOP might demean you, but I won't. Kallline too. And Nitao. You aren't alone."
"Thank you." Rocke's throat tightened. "My mother was always off doing whatever. I barely even saw my parents together. I kind of envy Kallene. She has someone wonderful like you in her life."
"And now you have me too." Maple pulled him close. "Your family doesn't have to be the people you're born into. You have us. And the Sovereign, of course."
"I suppose so." Rocke sniffed, his mood somewhat lightening. "W-we better get going."
Maple only nodded, but was in no hurry to rush him.
Rocke looked at his old space and everything it represented. Once he left this apartment, his previous life would vanish forever. He didn't think, nabbing the closest item of Marsh's within his grasp. Much to his astonishment, it was a stuffed turtle. His late friend had brought it from his house, an old toy that Marsh hadn't the heart to leave behind. It was perfect. Rocke stuffed it in his pocket.
"Goodbye, Marsh." Rocke gave his old apartment a final glance before turning away and departing forever.
///
"Is everything alright?" Nitao eyed Rocke with concern as they exited the building. The Konquellian was leaning against his stolen motorcycle, acting as nonchalant as possible.
"…yeah." Rocke had little energy to muster beyond that. He secured Marsh's stuffed turtle in his pocket before mounting the motorcycle.
While the city had returned to some normalcy since restoring power, Vladus was still a total mess. Work crews were trying to dislodge wrecked vehicles from the streets to restore some flow in the city's veins. With the city still in turmoil, this was their best opportunity to escape. Someone would eventually come looking for the stolen motorcycle. Rocke hoped they'd be free of Vladus before then.
"A curfew?" Maple said, drawing their attention. She pointed at a bulletin scrolling across the huge screen on the city's famous skyscraper.
"Thanks, Prime Minister Luciest," Rocke said, scowling. Thanks to the general chaos, the prime minister had announced martial law. Until they restored law and order, a strict curfew was in effect. More forces were being brought into Vladus.
"And in other news," a newscaster said. "Tensions between the UOP and Vanderfall are at an all-time high. We have confirmation that Vanderfall forces are gathering at the border. The Prime Minister is talking with President Plummer to try and de-escalate the situation, but many fear war is inevitable."
"Ah." Rocke's mood darkened further as Jafia's mission became even clearer. She's come to the city to create chaos, weakening it for her country's forces. Part of him wanted to cheer Vanderfall on, but in his heart of hearts, he couldn't do it. Despite how terrible they were, the UOP were his people. Oh, Jafia, what would he do with her?
"We'd better hurry." With the curfew, they really couldn't afford to linger. Rocke's turbulent relationship with Jafia would have to wait. They looked super sketchy—three people awkwardly riding a two-seater bike, especially during the curfew. Whatever the case, the only road was forward.
"The border's not far," Maple said, scanning the bike's city map. Her face hardened. "Only forty minutes left until midnight."
"Okay, but we should probably avoid the main streets," Rocke said with a grimace, knowing how exposed they were. "I hope that shouldn't add too much time."
"It'll have to do," Nitao said simply.
"She's nowhere to be seen," Rocke said refering to Phú2 as they zipped into a somewhat narrow street. This one had a maze of crashed cars, one still emitting black smoke from its hood. Despite the tight fit, Nitao navigated it expertly.
"Let's hope the military scared her off," Maple replied.
They'd seen a few military copters across the sky. Still, Phú2's disappearance hadn't put Rocke at ease.
Yet everything seemed to go smoothly. While they received some odd looks, no one bothered giving them a second glance. Not even the police paid them much notice, as they were more interested in stopping looters and other general mayhem than suspicious characters on a motorbike. It'd take some hours before they restored enough order to enforce any curfew.
Still, as they approached the city's border, Rocke's apprehension grew. He knew this accursed city wouldn't allow them to leave so easily. They rode without any lights, t
he last thing they needed was a military patrol spotting them.
"Seven minutes," Maple shouted over the roar of the engine. They passed empty warehouses and office buildings. Since the blackout had happened so late, everyone had already left for the night, leaving the streets deserted, free of any crashes or debris.
"The city border is only three minutes away. Gives us plenty of time." Rocke only hoped his other friends had also reached safety.
"Something bad's coming," Nitao said. "It's in the air."
"Hm." Rocke realized his friend was right. The whole city had suddenly become so calm, like it was holding its breath. "We'd better hurry."
In the distance, Rocke spotted the rocky plains that surrounded the city. It was bleak, difficult terrain, almost lifeless if not for the sparse patches of green. Mounds of rocky hills dotted the landscape with red lines drawn along their surface. A sudden roar of a siren broke Rocke's reverie.
"Oh no!" Rocke turned to see that three police cars had suddenly got on their trail, chasing in hot pursuit. Despite going dark, the officers had clearly spotted them. He cursed as a police copter came into view. Despite being inanimate, it seemed somehow smug. Had Phú2 reported their location to the police?
"Forget them," Maple said. "Go faster. We can't dawdle. We need to leave the city now."
In response, Nitao increased his speed to a reckless level. The police gave chase, easily matching their prey's pace. In fact, they were gaining on them. But it didn't matter. They only had a singular goal: escape the city.
"Slow down your vehicle and come to a complete halt. If you don't, we will open fire," a loudspeaker said. "This is your only warning."
"Catch us, if you can!" Nitao cried, tightening his grip on the handlebars. Rocke winced as a bullet sped past his ear, but this only increased the Konquellian's determination to escape.
A police car caught up to them, saddling up parallel to the fleeing motorbike. It tried colliding with them, but Nitao avoided it at the last second. But the distraction cost them. The bike wobbled as a bullet struck their rear tire, and it careened out of control. Time stood still as the disaster unfolded in front of Rocke's eyes. A crash was inevitable. In response, Rocke offered a quick prayer that it wouldn't be too painful.
With surprising tenacity, Nitao gained enough control to turn the crash into a slide. Metal sparked as the bike slid across the road. A defiant smile grew on the Konquellian's face as his controlled turn allowed them to slide right past the city's border mark. They'd finally left Vladus.
This victory was short-lived as Rocke found himself flying end over end. He feared the worst, but something odd happened. As he flew toward a patch of rocky grass, a cushion seemed to form in the air, slowing his descent. Instead of dashing him against the rocks, he only struck the rocky patch hard enough to graze his skin. While battered and bruised, the pain wasn't too bad.
"Ugh." Rocke didn't protest as someone pulled him up and pushed him hard against a police car.
"What was that about?" A bemused police officer asked. "Did you think just leaving the city would make you immune to the law?"
"He's remarkably intact considering that fall," another officer said, eyeing Rocke in puzzlement.
"Good work, gentlemen," a suited blond woman said, exiting a police car. Her sharp features studied their captives through thick spectacles before nodding.
"Thank you, Deputy Shiisaa," the man holding Rocke said. "The mad AI's tip was right." The officers gathered up the rest of Rocke's friends and cuffed them, though thankfully, they didn't seem too battered either.
Rocke cursed under his breath. He'd been right. His body straightened in alarm as he realized something. "We can't stay here. She might crash that helicopter right on top of us!" To his growing alarm, a police helicopter was heading right toward them.
"I am well aware of Phú2's tactics. I predicted she might repeat what she did at the precinct, so I came prepared." Shiisaa snapped her fingers, and a police officer exited the vehicle she'd just departed with a long-barreled weapon. A rocket launcher? Where had they gotten one of those?
The helicopter turned about-face after spotting the weapon. The machine pouted like a child denied a toy. It patrolled the area but kept a healthy distance away, much to Rocke's relief.
"Fear not. I have no intention of allowing Phú2 to get her way." Shiisaa adjusted her glasses. "We've been working hard to purge her from the police and emergency systems. We won't allow her to harm you."
"That's something at least," Rocke sighed in relief.
"I see. Keep looking," Shiisaa said into her earpiece, her mouth creasing into a hard frown.
"Deputy?" an officer asked, worried.
"Still no sign of Chief Halkken." Despite Shiisaa's flat tone, worry crept into it. "They haven't found his body. So I'm still hopeful." The rest of the officers nodded, their concern evident.
"Regardless, return to City Hall," Shiisaa said. "It will serve as our base of operations for the immediate future. It has cells we can use to secure these high-profile prisoners."
"You're assuming that City Hall will still be there," Maple said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"You're referring to the late Matthias' prophecy? I'm assuming that's why you worked so hard to leave the city bounds?" Shiisaa replied. "The late Chief told me about it. He thought it was utter nonsense. He was willing to leave Matthias alone to let time disprove him until you started causing messes we couldn't ignore."
"What about you?" Maple pressed. "What do you think?"
"I believe in facts," Shiisaa replied. "And one fact is that you'll soon face the full extent of the law."
Yet Maple's face lit in triumph. "How I've waited for this. That you would finally face the justice you deserve. My late husband died due to your cruelty. The Sovereign's judgment comes to everything in the end."
Before Shiisaa could offer a snappy, cold retort, the ground shook beneath them. It rumbled so hard that everyone lost their footing. Rocke winced as his forehead scraped against the car door.
Instead of dying down, the rumbling intensified. Rocke clung to the police car's tire for dear life, closing his eyes tight. With how hard he was shaking, Rocke feared he'd break to pieces. Finally, it died down enough for him to stand.
"What the heck was that?" Rocke tried calming his beating heart.
That was a terrifying experience. Still, what could have caused it? Vladus wasn't anywhere near a fault line. Everyone else rose shakily to their feet. Much to Rocke's surprise, the officers weren't in a hurry to restrain him. In fact, from their expressions, they'd forgotten him altogether. The reason soon became apparent.
"Oh my…" Words failed Rocke. He stood there, rooted in place. He just stared.
Vladus was on fire. But that was an incomplete description. One might say that was the least important part. Compared to the lava flowing through Vladus's streets like blood through a person's veins, it was an inconsequential detail. It consumed everything in its path, its intense heat burning anything it didn't touch. A terrible gash stretched across the city, a gaping hole leaking the burning liquid. Somehow, a volcano had emerged from beneath Vladus. Then Rocke remembered something Maple had mentioned earlier.
The Sovereign cleanses sin through fire.