Chapter 3

Cascade / Redirect

In the dim light of the office, Archer’s pupils had been dilated, but they narrowed as Tanalia approached his desk. He kept his eyes focused on Tanalia, slid his hand down by his waist, and pulled open the first drawer on the right hand side of the desk. Inside was a pile of junk, various bits and bobs that Archer had accumulated over his life. Many of them were trinkets he had taken in exchange for his work as a Collar (he found working for money to be distasteful), retrieved from the old squad’s ready room after the team had disbanded. Dominic had died, Riley may as well have, and Isaac could barely get through a day on his own. Archer had asked Alkaid to keep an eye on Isaac, knowing of course that he had failed his old team, that he hadn’t been strong enough to make a difference. Archer didn’t harbor this guilt in his heart, he also knew that it wasn’t his place to make decisions for other people, and that their decisions would define who they would become. There was little Archer could have done differently. Instead of letting any unwanted guilt fester in his chest, distracted him from his duties, he kept mementos in the top drawer of the desk where he was sure not to forget them. He felt a stink each time he gazed into the drawer, remembered that there was nothing he could’ve done, and made sure to keep his eyes open to the future. If it was possible, no more of his friends would end up lost or alone.

“For decades, every city has operated as an independent city state. Ever since the Thrall numbers got large enough to dwindle the population, drive everyone behind the city walls. There’s communication between the cities, sure, but there isn’t cooperation.” Tanalia spoke effortlessly, drawing Archer’s eyes to her, she stood in such a way as to make her chest even more alluring.

On a normal man, it may have been an easy win. Archer nodded for her to continue.

“You’ve been a busy boy, Archer. My apologies, Director Archer. Since you left and started working your way up here, to get this job, I’ve been a busy girl, too.” Tanalia was an image of seduction, she spoke in velvet and her exotic accent was pleasing to the ears. She ended with a sharp smirk and waited for Archer to begin the pursuit.

“A busy girl? No doubt making the world a little less wrong.” Archer brushed his fingers over the oldest trinket in his drawer, a poorly carved wooden sherrif’s badge.

Tanalia’s eyes gleamed. “I think what you’ve been doing is making the world a little less wrong. No shame in aiming low to make sure that you succeed, but it seems I’ve had loftier goals all these years.”

Archer couldn’t help but laugh at Tanalia’s jab. “Loftier goals? So you’ve stopped stealing, then.”

“I’ve stopped stealing food. Hearts, on the other hand, that’s a different story.” Tanalia rested her hands on her hips.

“So you claim you can change the world, Tanalia. It’s late, I want to get to bed, so let’s get to the point, please.” Though it had been long ago, there had been a time when Archer had been attracted to Tanalia. He glanced away as those memories seeped back into his consciousness.

[Good idea, wrap this up. Never in my years with the Directors has anyone ever had a good way of changing the world.]

Tanalia is harmless. At least, she was harmless. You can see as much in my memories.

[I can see that she is a distraction. Now quit imagining taking her to bed with you and get her out of here.]

I wasn’t…

“I’ve gotten two other cities, on the far ends of the Brink, to agree to a unification plan. I’m talking about taking the Brink back and becoming a single country under a single government. Director Archer, if Bastion were to join, civilizing the Brink wouldn’t be a dream anymore. The number of lives that we could improve or flat out save would be in the millions.” Tanalia explained.

“You’re a diplomat.” Archer chuckled. Of course she was a politician.

“I represent a group that wants to see the return of civilized life to the modern world. We sit in these glass towers and look down on those who weren’t lucky enough to be born into money. Life is short and harsh out in the Brink, you know that, Archer.” Tanalia spoke more passionately, sounding less scripted now.

[Absolutely out of the question.]

Wait, we should hear her out.

[I said no. It’s time for Lady Baht to leave.]

Chase.

[No.]

Archer sighed and stood up slowly. “I’m sorry Tanalia, but this is too large of a discussion to have so late at night. Overall, it would be a logistical nightmare. I just gave a speech about how I’m planning to make life right in this city. To help take back the Brink, I would have to divert resources away from the people I just vowed to help. It’s a good dream to have, Tanalia, but it is still just a dream.”

Tanalia stared for a moment, eyes searching for something in Archer, but when they didn’t find what they were looking for, they looked away. “I have a meetings through the week with other interested parties in the city. If you aren’t the representative from Bastion to step forward and take charge, someone else will be.”

“I’m the highest authority in Bastion.” Archer didn’t intend to sound as haughty as he came off.

“We’ll see about that.” Tanalia blinked and turned away, hiding her fury out of view. “Thank you for your time, Mr. Archer.”

After Tanalia was gone, Archer slumped back into his chair. What she had been describing was what Archer had been working his whole life towards. Chase materialized on the far side of the desk in a swirl of dust, his arms crossed over his chest.

“What the Hell?” Archer narrowed his eyes at the Indicia.

“The power we would have to give up in order to enter into an agreement like that would be crippling. We wouldn’t be able to do my job, our job, anymore. The position of Director isn’t about micromanaging the lives of the people. If millions have to die so that we can do what is necessary of us, then that is the way it is.” Chase scolded Archer like a naive child.

“We’ve been down this road before, you know I don’t think like that.” Archer said.

“Canaan didn’t at first, either, but when you understand the importance of the job that I’m here to do, then you will. We need to do something about Tanalia and the group she is with.” Chase turned around, leaned on the desk to start thinking.

“We aren’t doing anything to Tanalia. I’m going to talk to her again when I’m more awake, and we can sort this out peacefully.” Archer waved Chase off.

“If you don’t learn to see things the way I do, the way that Canaan learned to, then I might have to do something about you, too.” Chase snapped before vanishing.

“Chase…” Archer started, and when the kangaroo disappeared, he kicked the inside of the desk. Since he had made the pact with Chase, since he had learned about the Index, it was like he had made a deal with a demon, and for now and as far into the future as he could predict, there was simply no way out.

/////

Isaac woke as he often did, with his arms stretched out before him, one pinned against the sheets by the warm weight of Alkaid. The cat slept soundly, he was a cat after all, and Isaac looked closely at him, awake but not ready yet to move. The light filtered through the window was vibrant without being glaring, and it illuminated Alkaid’s whiskers like fiber optics. It wasn’t the life Isaac had envisioned for himself long ago, but it was a good substitute. Alkaid was an anchor, keeping Isaac tethered to the light as he delved into the darkness. He knew that if he ever found himself lost with no way home, he could tug on the rope and Alkaid would pull him to safety.

His free hand stretched out and stroked Alkaid along his cheek. The cat murmured and stirred, opening his slit eyes to gaze back at Isaac. There was love in those eyes, the same look that Isaac had gotten from Miria in the morning when they woke together. As far as the big picture went, Isaac knew he didn’t understand love, how it developed or even what it should feel like. He was beginning to learn what it looked like, though, as Alkaid narrowed his eyes and his muzzle spread into a smile.

If Alkaid had been upset with him for missing the gala, he didn’t seem to be anymore. They had danced together in the ballroom, danced again in bed, and then gone to sleep. The pair rose together and washed, getting ready for the day. That was how each day went, they had fallen into a comfortable routine. Alkaid was a safe place for Isaac to come home to at the end of the day.

“Today is the first day of operation for the new command center.” Alkaid said as they brushed their teeth, side by side in the bathroom. Towels around their waists protected their modesty, Alkaid no longer felt it necessary to hide his scars from Isaac. Isaac’s fingers had no trouble stroking Alkaid’s fur and skin where he was scarred, either.

Isaac spit into the sink and then examined his face in the mirror. His blue eyes were vibrant, brighter than he had remembered them looking when he was younger. His yellow hair was longer than it used to be, as well, parted at the side to frame his face. If he hadn’t been looking in the mirror each day as he was changing, he wouldn’t have recognized himself at all. “We’ve used it a few times before, but yeah, today is the first official day.”

“You trust Claire? The whole setup revolves around trust in your engineer.” Alkaid slipped his yellow hoodie on as he talked.

Isaac dressed into his uniform, black pants and a white undershirt, topped by a white, black, and gold Registry jacket. Though not technically a part of the uniform, Isaac slipped on a pair of black gloves, which helped protect him from Tyloki’s penchant for punching things too much. “Tyloki’s been training with Abel and Oliver for months, not to mention having Renton for technical support and Claire as an eye in the sky. So no, I don’t trust the kids.” He bent down and kissed Alkaid on the nose, which earned him an eye roll from the feline. “I trust Tyloki, though.”

“You two have the most unusual bond I have ever witnessed between an Indicia and his Collar.” Alkaid observed, as he had observed and repeated plenty before.

“If Claire makes a bad call, Tyloki will do what he needs.” Isaac said as if it were an appropriate reply. “And you know, as much as he likes to bark about it, that he wouldn’t let the kids get hurt.”

“Wolves don’t bark.” Alkaid corrected.

“Howl, whatever.” After Isaac spoke, there was a silence that lasted longer than usual.

“I’m more worried about the damage he’ll do to you.” Alkaid broke the silence with a sly grin and narrow eyes.

Isaac wiggled his fingers in the air between them. “He hadn’t gotten us killed yet. I suppose you’ll just have to learn to trust him like I have.”

“It’s not about trust, Isaac…” Alkaid started.

A slight vibration on Isaac’s wrist alerted him to an incoming notice on his LINK. “Ah, looks like the command center is going to be getting an early start, today.”

“Already? Thralls have no sense of time, it seems. Or courtesy.” Alkaid crossed his arms and followed Isaac back into the bedroom.

“Time to go to work.” Isaac closed his eyes.

While Isaac’s eyes were shut, Alkaid scrambled to spit out the words that were on his mind. “I love you. Be safe!”

Isaac’s eyes opened, and in place of vibrant blue was shimmering flame. Tyloki was in there now. “He did not hear that.” The wolf said. “Do you want me to tell him?”

“No, I think if he heard you say those words, even by proxy, it might break him.” Alkaid said.

“I have no idea what you see in this runt.” Tyloki glanced at his body.

“Sometimes, neither do I.”

/////

“The System has confirmed a Thrall is likely to appear uptown, and that’s where the rich people live.” Claire took pleasure in being in command, and she spoke with authority. “The rich people sign our checks, so we want them to be happy. What does that mean?”

Oliver and Abel stood side by side at the top of the theater. Oliver was observing the massive city map on the screen, Abel was picking his nose. Neither of them answered.

The door to the Command Center opened and Tyloki came in, taking a spot next to but slightly in front of the boys. On the screen behind Claire, a map of the city showed a section highlighted by a red overlay. It was the range where the Thrall was predicted to appear. Even Claire had no idea how they were predicting Thrall appearances, but it had something to do with technology co-developed by Victor Noether and Renton. Oliver had asked about the technology, the ‘System’ as it was called, numerous times and every time he got nowhere.

“It means no wanton destruction. I’m talking to all three of you boys. Yes, this means you, too, Tyloki.” Claire said.

“I will destroy what I must.” Tyloki growled in Isaac’s voice. The wolf didn’t enjoy taking orders, but it was the way things had fallen, and due to the nature of his bond with Isaac, he didn’t have much of a choice.

Claire seemed as if she was going to have a comeback for a moment, but she let it go. “The Thrall is calculated to have an 84% chance of appearing in the hot zone. You know the drill. It might appear somewhere else, it might not appear at all. Be ready for changing conditions, and for the love of Indicia, listen to my orders when I give them.”

Abel flicked a booger onto the floor. “You got it, Chief.”

“What are you waiting for? Go!” Claire waved them off and turned to watch the screen. The rows of computers were manned by countless engineers, monitoring and relaying information, but Claire was a lead engineer. The lives of her friends were in her hands. They didn’t want to listen to her, but she would have to make them if she wanted to keep them alive.

/////

The city of Bastion was shaped like a mountain, with the Registry tower being the tallest building located at the highest point at the center of the city. The rest of the city was broken down into districts based on distance from the Registry and function of the area. Lowtown was closest to the front gates of the city wall, and during times of war, saw the most damage from Thralls. Between Lowtown and the Registry was a business district, this was where InCorp was located. Situated facing the water, between the Registry and the port district, was a rather wealthy area known as Cascade, or uptown. Boasting a beautiful waterside view, Cascade had more live plant life than any other part of the city, and space was afforded for the houses to have actual lawns, instead of butting up against one another or simply being apartment buildings. The only things in Cascade were for the wealthy, and most citizens of Bastion never bothered to visit.

It would have taken longer to drive to the hangar and get to a VTOL than it did to walk to Cascade from the Registry, so walk is what they did. Oliver walked briskly next to Tyloki, both on edge and ready to fight at a moment’s notice. A pouch tied to Oliver’s thigh contained his main weapons, though they were only useful in an emergency. A combat knife on his belt could be useful on occasion, and was good to have in an emergency. Primarily, Oliver was a magic user, not a martial artist.

Abel was practicing what he called his ‘tactical walk’, which mostly meant walking like he thought he was in a movie. He boasted specially crafted knuckle dusters as his weapons, and every single person he showed them to tried to explain why it was a bad idea. Abel had an itch that he needed to scratch, though, and he couldn’t be talked out of it.

Tyloki sported Isaac’s extendable staff on his back, though he had no intention of using it. The wolf wasn’t a fan of physical weapons and preferred to treat Isaac’s hands like paws.

One of the virtues of living on top of a mountain was that the walk to Cascade was downhill. From where they were currently, they could see the winding roads forming a maze as they slithered towards the port. If a Collar wanted to climb on rooftops, which they generally had no problem with, the trip down to the port was a short one. If one instead followed the roads, which crisscrossed longways through the town, it would take considerably longer.

“No visual yet. Is the system picking anything up?” Oliver asked, making sure to sweep his vision across the entire district, aware that his visual feed was being played back for the engineers in the control room.

“We still only have it narrowed down to Cascade.” Claire answered over comms.

“A lot of good this does us.” Abel put his hands on his hips. “Cascade is still a big place, and if it materializes inside, we won’t be able to see it.”

Another voice over comms, this time belonging to Renton. “Are you damn serious? I create a machine that can narrow Thrall prediction down to a single district, and yet still complaints?”

“Don’t take all the credit.” That jab came from Dr. Noether.

“Is everyone at the Registry in there?” Abel asked.

“Yes.” Canaan answered.

“Focus!” Claire stamped her foot on the ground, and the others in the control room quieted.

“What I would not do to get all of your voices out of my head.” Tyloki added, burning eyes still locked on the district of Cascade.

“Is that irony?” Abel glanced at Oliver, waiting for an answer.

Oliver shrugged. “Who knows? Claire is right, we should focus.”

“Thank you, Ollie.” Claire coughed, “I mean, Oliver.”

“Oooooh!” Abel and Renton both crooned in harmony. The next sound over comms was Renton being smacked.

“I’ve got one for you, too, Abel. When you get back.” Claire promised. “Renton, might I remind you that I don’t need you in here right now. Your lab is next door, don’t make me send you to your room.”

“Please, Mom, no, don’t.” Renton pleaded flatly, monotone.

“The readings are getting stronger.” Claire said. “Don’t forget to keep your eyes on the sky, this thing could pop up anywhere.”

“Not anywhere, definitely in Cascade.” Renton added.

A rumbling sound began to drown out the voices in Oliver’s head, though he couldn’t pinpoint the source. Tyloki and Abel noticed the sound as well, and had both tensed up, ready to move. It was almost on top of them before they noticed it. A second later and they may have been flattened. The three Collars deftly dodged to the side of the road as the Thrall went careening past.

“Well, that’s new.” Oliver commented.

The Thrall was spherical in shape, and was rolling down the sloped streets of Cascade at a speed high enough to demolish buildings.

“We have eyes on.” Oliver confirmed.

“Confirmed, we have visual here.” Claire responded. On the screen in front of the room, the live visual feed from Oliver, Isaac, and Abel’s eyes displayed exactly what they were seeing.

“Is it gonna just...keep rolling?” Abel asked to break the stunned silence.

“Do not misunderstand. Just because it is not attacking anything directly does not mean it poses no threat. If it continues to roll down this hill, it will destroy buildings and kill innocent people.” Tyloki chimed in.

“I didn’t misunderstand.” Abel gritted his teeth. “What’s the plan? We can’t catch it by standing here.”

“Unless Vivi has any better plans, I say we start running.” Oliver shrugged and started running.

“Boys, think. Cascade’s streets are sloped sideways, you can just jump down to the lower streets and cut it off.” Claire suggested.

“And break our legs while we’re at it.” Abel countered.

“You are Collars, your bodies are tougher.” Tyloki said.

“I know that, but we’re not superheroes. There are like ten people with better powers for fighting this thing. Starting with Isaac!” Abel said.

“Where’s all this concern coming from?” Oliver asked, smirking. “Vivi has an idea, but if I recall correctly, you don’t like our plans, Abel.”

As they group talked over their plan, the Thrall could have been moving far out of range. Instead, something unexpected happened. It stopped on a dime, cancelling its downward momentum, and immediately began rolling uphill, back towards the Collars. It didn’t begin its ascent slowly, fighting gravity and friction as would have been expected. It launched at high velocity up the streets, seemingly at the same speed that it had been rolling down.

“What the…” Abel started to ask as they were forced to dodge to the side of the road again.

The Thrall ball rolled past and then stopped once more, hurtling back at them.

“Aww, how sweet, it likes you.” Claire said.

“Let’s just dodge around it all day. That’ll kill it for sure.” Abel said.

Archer watched from the back of the command center, silently studying not only the tech that supported the system, but the human components as well. If they didn’t start to make a move soon, and Claire didn’t order them, he would have to step in and take control. It would be embarrassing for Claire, and it would undermine everyone’s faith in the new system. He didn’t want it to come to that, so he watched, perhaps for longer than he would have had he still been a foot soldier, on the ground and ready to fight. His hand instinctively hovered near the summonable sword at his waist that no longer existed. He’d given that all up to become Director. To make the world a better place.

“It’s going to follow us, apparently.” Oliver said. “Abel, looks like today is the day. You ready for it?”

“You bet.” Abel said.

“Tyloki, there isn’t much you can do here. Just follow along with me and support if you can. Here’s the plan.” Oliver explained as they all made sure that the Thrall didn’t crush them. “Abel, you act as bait. Keep it on your tail. Don’t dodge from too close or it might not be able to correct quick enough. We want it following you. Lead it down the streets towards the port, don’t let it hurt anyone or destroy anything. Tyloki and I will follow down the quick way, jumping from rooftops street by street. With any luck, I’ll be able to kill or dissolve it before it does any damage. Because it is moving so quickly, breaking down its shield is unlikely, so my light magic will be more useful than Tyloki’s fire.”

“Got it.” Abel started down the street as soon as Oliver explained his job. He heard the rest of the plan over their LINK comm.

“Good plan, Ollie.” Claire smiled, watching the screens above her confidently.

“If all else fails, Abel, lure it to the docks and send it into the water.” Oliver said.

The Thrall took the bait, following the moving target over the stationary ones. Thralls didn’t always react in a predictable way, but when they did, it made killing them much easier. Abel ran quickly, but it wasn’t quick enough to outrun the speeding boulder for long. The ball gained on him and got within seconds of overtaking him. When this happened, he had to dodge to the side and let the ball roll past him. It would reverse its momentum and try to hit him again, whereupon he would dodge diagonally past it again, narrowly missing it, and haul ass as quickly as he could down hill again. He was also able to gain some distance on the ball when he turned on the tight corners, as the ball had to stop and change directions entirely, evidently only able to roll in one direction, unable to curve its trajectory.

As Abel weaved his way down the streets, avoiding getting turned into roadkill, Oliver and Isaac followed on the rooftops. The jumps were jarring, and they had to take them with rolls to avoid breaking their bones when they landed, but the speed with which they were able to make their way down Cascade was several times what it would be for Abel. Isaac’s body was used to it, and Tyloki seemed to be tapping into some sort of muscle memory for the parkour, but all Oliver had going for him was his basic Collar training.

“Isaac’s barriers would really be useful here. You sure you can’t call him?” Oliver asked as they approached the edge of the rooftop overlooking the street where Abel was currently guiding the ball Thrall.

“That is not how this works. I am inhabiting his body while he is away. I can not contact him at will.” Tyloki answered without irritation. It sounded downright genial compared to his usual manner of speech.

Oliver stood ready, right hand held out flat, left hand clasped around his right wrist. Light began to swirl and gather around his hand, and he waited only for the right moment to fire. Abel turned his head and winked at them as he ran past. The ball was moving fast, maybe it was too fast to hit, like the flying Thrall had been. Abel anticipated this, or maybe they just got lucky, as he dodge out of the way of the Thrall and caused it to stop for a fraction of a second to reverse its momentum. A fraction of a second was all Oliver needed. The blast of energy shot from Oliver’s hand like a cannon, piercing through the barrier and Thrall faster than the eye could see.

The Thrall continued its pursuit of Abel, seemingly unaware of the attack from Oliver. The blast had done almost no damage. That was to be expected, Oliver didn’t build up strong blasts that tore holes through things. The effort it took to gather and control enough light to do any damage at all limited the total potential of his blasts. The key to the ability was that it ignored barriers. Thralls practically couldn’t build up an immunity to the magic, either. They would have to try it again and again until it worked.

The events repeated themselves on the next street, Abel dodging and leading the Thrall on, and Oliver taking a shot when he had the chance.

“I don’t know if my magic is going to work. It isn’t strong enough. I think we need to change gears.” Oliver said.

“Just make sure it doesn’t hurt anyone or anything.” Claire reminded them.

“I wasn’t aware...that the new policy...was to patronize us every chance you get.” Abel huffed breathlessly.

“Abel, let’s fall back on the throwing it into the water thing. Vivi thinks that is a good idea.” Oliver said.

Abel continued to lead the Thrall down the streets until they were nearly out of Cascade. That was when the plan stopped working quite so smoothly. Oliver and Tyloki still followed along the rooftops, making sure that Abel had a clear path to the port district. As they got closer to the edge of the city, the streets straightened out and Abel had less corners to gain ground on. He was running slower now, showing signs of exhaustion from his full speed sprint. Then came the fork in the road.

“Which way?” Abel asked as he approached the fork.

“Turn right, that will take you to the docks.” Tyloki answered, having a better view from above.

Abel started to curve right at the fork, but now he stopped dead in his tracks. “Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding. Why didn’t anyone evacuate this yet?!”

The street to the right was packed full of people, it was evidently a fishers market of some sort. If Abel led the Thrall that way, it was guaranteed to kill people.

You thinking what I’m thinking, Ari?

[Can’t go that way.]

“Abel, what’s happening?” Claire asked, watching his visual feed as he took a second to glance at the people, down the left fork, and then back up towards the pursuing Thrall.

“Change of plans, I guess.” Abel said.

“You’re out of Cascade, you’re in the port district if you go right. Turn left and you end up at a dead end.” Claire said. “Lead it back the way you came.”

“I can’t, I can’t run uphill at this rate. It’ll kill me if I go back, it’ll kill those people if I go right.” Abel said.

“I’ll try to kill it quickly.” Oliver said, readying another blast of light.

“No time.” Abel started to the left. Towards the dead end.

“Vivi, tell me you’ve got something good.” Oliver spoke to the air.

“Abel.” Tyloki said. “Sometimes when running does not work, you have to fight.”

Tyloki couldn’t see the smirk on Abel’s lips as he ran towards the dead end. The street ended up in a courtyard of sorts, a parking circle for a ritzy boating club. Citizens of Cascade that owned boats could come and drink mimosas with their pinkies up while they felt superior to the working classes as they went out fishing. Being a boating club, directly behind the building was a dock for the patrons, and beyond that, open ocean. Abel reached the center of the courtyard and stopped, pivoting to face the Thrall.

Oliver watched from a nearby rooftop, everyone in the command center held their breaths, waiting to see what would happen. The ball was getting closer to Abel, ready to squash him and then do the same to the boating club. Abel’s feet were planted on the ground, and he balled his hands into fists.

If this works, I get to be on top.

[No deal. This is going to work for sure.]

Abel was ready to strike, he’d been waiting to punch a Thrall in the face for months. This Thrall didn’t have a face, but it would have to do.

“Abel, that isn’t going to work. It’ll kill you!” Oliver shouted.

The one and only power that Abel had been given, taking pain from others and experiencing it himself, was no good here. Abel had become a Collar to fight, and his ability only let him support others. For months, he had argued with Oliver and Claire about his usefulness in a fight. Oliver explained on more than one occasion that his pain stealing ability was vital. Vital to the team. For now, Abel wasn’t interested. He would have to substitute a good punch for his useless ability.

The ball was upon Abel, so close that he was in its shadow. At the last possible moment, Abel sidestepped, just enough to avoid being crushed. The ball stopped for only an instant before it changed its momentum towards Abel again. While it was stopped, Abel brought his fist upward into the underside of the ball. When Abel’s fist came into contact with the Thrall’s barrier, something almost imperceptible happened, and he nearly didn’t notice. The barrier flickered. From only a single punch, the barrier flickered out. It lasted only as long as Abel had his fist against the Thrall. The hit knocked the creature up into the air, and it seemed that Abel’s punch served more as a redirection than an attack. Instead of the momentum being targeted towards Abel, the ball rocketed upwards with all the speed it had been using to chase the Collar.

That was one problem taken care of.

“Except now it’s just going to fall back down and land somewhere else.” Claire said.

The solution to this new problem came from an unexpected source. As the Thrall launched upwards, Oliver assumed it would take only a moment to reorient itself, and then it would stop and reverse itself to the ground again. There was a loud report. Something seemed to pierce the Thrall. It looked similar to Oliver’s light blast, but instead of light consisted of a swirling shadow. It came from behind the boat club, so Oliver couldn’t see where it originated from. The bolt of shadow pierced the Thrall’s barrier, shattering it. The Thrall was defenseless now, that changed things.

As soon as the barrier was down, Vivi had a plan. Oliver passed along the message.

“Ari, Tyloki, Indicia can materialize in the middle of the air, right?” Oliver asked, but he already knew the answer.

“Got it, hold this.” Tyloki said, and Isaac’s body slumped to the side. Oliver caught it and let it down to the ground lightly.

Tyloki, in his own body, appeared in the air above the Thrall. Even as he materialized, his feet were wreathed in flame. He angled down, falling toward the rising Thrall with his foot outstretched. Underneath the Thrall, Air materialized, fists held aloft. Between wolf and lion, the Thrall was pincered in the air by their attacks. Without it’s protective barrier, the Thrall’s flesh was torn by the attack. Ari and Tyloki fell side by side through the dispersing cloud of Thrall as it began to dematerialize. They both disappeared well before hitting the ground.

“We did it!” Claire shouted. “No casualties, no damage.”

Oliver and the others could hear applause from the command center over their comms. Abel was beaming up at him from the ground below. Tyloki stood and dusted Isaac’s shirt off with his hands.

“Where’d that shadow thing come from?” Oliver asked.

“We didn’t have anyone else in the area…” Claire mused. “We’ll have to look into that.”

“Must have been a Vassal with a stake in the boat club.” Renton suggested.

“I’ll make sure to have Felix ask Jensen next time they meet.” Archer said. “He ought to be upfront about it if it means keeping us off of their backs.”

“Who cares!? We did it!” Abel shouted up to his teammates.

Tyloki, back in his Collar’s body now, turned Isaac’s head away to hide the satisfied smile that he couldn’t quite wipe off of his face.

Despite the insistence from the others that they would look into the source of the shadow later, Oliver couldn’t shake the feeling that it was something significant. Gazing across the courtyard at the roof of the boat club, he thought he saw a figure standing there, cloaked fully in shadow, as if the sun couldn’t illuminate them. It was a silhouette, distorted by distance and by the brightness of the sun. Whoever it was, they didn’t want to be seen, for as soon as he put his hand over his eyes to shield them from the light and get a better look, the silhouette was gone.

/////

“A success.” Victor joined Archer as he entered the unassuming room at the back of the command center.

“In a manner of speaking.” Archer agreed as they stepped through the door.

The hidden chamber was not quiet. The room was soundproofed, so there was no way to know about the commotion until the inner access door was open. Hobbs’ Indicia, Koda, was standing by the door, watching his Collar at the back of the room. The Hologlass effects were turned off, leaving them in a white metal room. Archer looked to Koda to get a measure of the situation. Hobbs having a freak out was a regular occurrence, and it happened more violently when there was a Thrall around. The man was slamming his fist into the wall repeatedly, and he had been doing it long enough and with enough force that he was beginning to smear blood on the metal.

Koda’s face clearly showed his pain at watching Hobbs. Many Indicia were careful in showing emotions to their Collars, much less to a third party. Either Koda didn’t care, or his anguish was too great to hide. Archer had sat up on more than one long night talking to Koda, trying to understand the canine, to comfort him. The purpose of an Indicia was to help and nurture a human, to make them better through companionship. Indicia lived forever so that they could help as many people as possible. Koda had broken Hobbs, and as soon as that had happened, he knew he could never take a Collar again. He was an Indicia without purpose. An eternal life with nothing to live it for.

For the benefit of the system, for the benefit of the Index, Archer had to urge Koda to keep going. Day by day, he would check on Koda and Hobbs, make sure they were as comfortable as they could be. Archer had sat with Koda through the longest night of the canine’s life, the night when the Indicia decided he couldn’t put up with it anymore, when he realized that he couldn’t be distracted from the pain anymore. Partly, Koda was running from the shame he felt. Fearful of what he sensed happening in Hobbs’ mind after they had made a pact, Koda had severed the emotional link between them. It kept Hobbs’ madness from feeding back into Koda, but maybe if he hadn’t done that, he could’ve saved the man.

Archer had to teach Koda not to ask ‘what if’ anymore.

“Just another fit.” Koda answered to the question that hadn’t been asked. Blood dripped from his lip as he moved his muzzle. “I’d hug him down but he caught me in the face. Didn’t want him putting out one of my pretty teeth, so I took a step back.”

It’s hard to say this is worth it, Chase.

[What alternative is there? Put him out of his misery?]

Put him far away from all of this where Koda can take better care of him. He isn’t too attached to reality but fresh air is better than living in a box.

[How many lives did we save today alone?]

“An unfortunate side effect.” Victor spoke with genuine remorse. “But Hobbs is every bit as important to the system as the Collars in the field.”

“I know.” Koda kept his wet eyes glued to Hobbs. He had failed his Collar already, the least he could do was stay by his side.

“We should stop him before he breaks too many bones in his hands.” Archer said, stepping forward.

Koda held out his arm and stopped Archer. “I’ll do it.” The dog vanished and appeared near Hobbs, who was still slamming his fists against the wall and wailing loudly. As he moved to wrap his arms around the human, he caught a fist to his eye, but he didn’t recoil. Arms wrapped tightly around Hobbs, Koda rested his chin on the man’s shoulder and squeezed tightly until Hobbs calmed. The calm came slowly, in the form of weakened punches and quieter shouts, until Hobbs slumped in the dog’s arms. Tears dripped onto the floor beneath them, but whether they came from Hobbs or Koda, Archer couldn’t tell.

“So this is it. Just this, forever.” Archer said.

“Not forever. Hobbs will die eventually, if from nothing else but age.” Victor straightened his tie. “I hope to find a solution before then.”

“For now, then.” Archer nodded.

Renton watched the scene unfold through the hidden camera. He couldn’t hear their words still, but he knew that Dr. Noether was in on it now, too. Victor wouldn’t be his target, though. The boy’s eyes locked on Koda as he began to formulate his plan.

/////

Tanalia Bhat sat with proper posture in the authentic leather chair across from President Parker of InCorp. The President was young for his post, but he had done a surprisingly apt job of running the company since the disappearance of previous President Julian Shaw. Parker had his feet up on his desk and he was leaning back in his chair dismissively. A glass of scotch sat untouched on the side of the desk. The President watched Tanalia carefully through narrowed eyes. Sitting at that desk, wearing a finely tailored suit along with the snide look on his face, Parker looked out of place.

Parker was good at what he did, and Tanalia had a feeling, based in gut instinct, that the man had manipulated others to get where he was. Parker had a knack for controlling others. Tanalia had done her research on the man and she knew that he wasn’t really someone she wanted on board the unification plan. Tanalia entered the meeting with no intention of actually joining with Parker. Instead, she also had a knack for control, and a meeting with InCorp would be enough to further catch Archer’s attention.

“So you think we can really take back the Brink?” Parker asked skeptically.

“It’s something I’ve dedicated the last decade of my life to, so I damn well hope so, Mr. Parker.”

“Oh, no, my last name isn’t Parker. That’s my first name. I use President Parker so that I don’t have to use my last name.” Parker waved a hand in the air in front of him. “Mr. Shaw makes me sound like my old man.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Tanalia offered her condolences, but Parker Shaw didn’t sound broken up over the disappearance of his father.

“Don’t worry about it.” Parker’s feet fell to the floor and he leaned forward. “I’m interested, but I have to say that tensions are high between InCorp and the Registry. See, we seek to provide technology to the common man that will let them live a quiet and peaceful life. The way the Registry sees it, we’re taking away their jobs, what makes them special. They don’t like being brought down to our level. I have no intention of holding back the advancement of humanity to stroke the ego of a few...animal lovers. If you can get them to see eye to eye with me, then InCorp is in. You’ll have more funding than you know what to do with, provided we get to be the recipient of any contracts that you have when it comes to rebuilding. Symbiosis, Ms. Bhat.”

Tanalia sensed a hanging thread in what Parker had said, and she decided to pull it. It was a natural curiosity that drove her to do so. “Bringing the Collars down to our level? Tall order.”

“If what I have cooking up right now comes through, and, between you and me, it will, then the Registry and Collars will be a thing of the past.” Parker winked at Tanalia.

A chill skittered down Tanalia’s spine at the wink, though it could’ve been fear or disgust. “What are you working on?” Tanalia swallowed the lump in her throat. She wasn’t certain exactly what was making her anxious, but there was something she couldn’t put her finger on.

Lady Bhat had done her research on President Parker and InCorp before going to her meeting. She had a knack for controlling others, and her meeting there was for just that purpose, to win Archer over to her side. It wasn’t a nefarious purpose, it was for the good of humanity. Parker grinned at Tanalia and cracked his neck by tilting it to the side. Tanalia had gone into the meeting with no intention of actually inviting InCorp to join the plan. Parker began to explain what he was working on, and Tanalia’s intentions began to change.

Parker also had a knack for controlling people, after all.

/////

“You’re telling me you don’t know about the shadow user at the dock earlier today?” Felix asked as he sipped slowly on his glass of cola.

Jensen, reluctant leader of the Bastion Vassals, shook his head and took a bite of his food. He spoke through his chewing. “Only shadow user I’ve ever known was Freeman,” he paused to take a drink and wash down the food. “Freeman is dead. One of your boys squashed him, remember?”

“Not my boys.” Felix shrugged. “I’m impartial.”

“No one in the city is impartial. There’s lines, you just haven’t realized which side you’re standing on yet.” Jensen advised.

The Vassals had been quiet for the past two years, since Freeman had been killed. Jensen was smart, didn’t aspire to revolution as Freeman had. The man kept his Vassals calm and hidden, and that kept the Registry happy.

Jensen and Felix were sitting on the patio of a cafe in town not far from the Registry. “So whoever used the shadow wasn’t Collar, and he wasn’t Vassal. At least, he wasn’t one of yours.”

“Man of my word.” Jensen placed his hand over his heart. “If I hear tell of a shadow user anywhere in the city, I’ll make sure I let you guys know. It’s the least I could do.”

“You sound unusually grateful.” Felix smiled.

“You threw such an enjoyable party, I want to return the favor. Don’t think this means we’re allies or anything. Favor for a favor, that’s all.” Jensen said.

“In that case, there’s a favor I’d like to ask you. A personal one. I’d be sure to repay you appropriately, of course.” Felix couldn’t quite contain his excitement as he explained. “Have you ever broken into a prison before?”

/////

Dinner with Alkaid was quieter than usual. Isaac and the cat sat in front of their plates eating, neither wanting to talk because they knew what they were going to talk about. Dishes and silverware clinked. Normally it would be called tranquility, but there was something off about it that night. The two barely looked at each other. Alkaid had been cold since Isaac had gotten home, having forgone his traditional greeting at the door.

It wasn’t until Isaac stood to carry his dishes over to the sink that Alkaid was ready to talk. “The Thrall today would’ve been child’s play with you around.”

“They took care of it.” Isaac gazed down into the sink.

“At the risk of destruction and loss of life. Your ability would’ve simplified it greatly.” Alkaid stood from the table and looked at Isaac with arms crossed over his chest.

“There’re Thralls all over the world that would be easier to fight with someone else’s magic. The best person can’t be in the best place all the time.” Isaac argued, still turned away.

“You could be there, you should be.” Alkaid said.

“Can we not do this?” Isaac asked, turning to face Alkaid.

“I think that it’s time to give up on Miria, Isaac.” Alkaid whispered.

Isaac didn’t respond, instead, he turned and walked to the bedroom. He stared out the window at the city lights, thinking about the things he had lost, the things he had caused to be lost. Looking for Miria didn’t have to do with his potential love for the woman. It had to do with defiance, his inability to give up on her when there was a chance. After Rain died, and Isaac lost Riley as a friend, he couldn’t just let Miria go as well. Life couldn’t be that cruel.

Alkaid found him on the bed shortly after, and the cat wrapped his arms around Isaac. It was those arms that kept him stable, that reminded him that life wasn’t that cruel. They sat like that, gazing out over the near and distant lights, man made and celestial, until it was time to go to sleep.

/////

Life was cruel. The city was brightly lit, but often times, those high hung lights didn’t reach all the way to the bottom of the streets. It was like the ocean floor, dark and dense, filled with unseen threats and things plucked from nightmares. Being a good person didn’t protect you from the darkness, it could get to you any time, any place. It wasn’t that the city was harsh, the city was indifferent. It was the monsters that used the alleys and streets as their dens that crowded out the light.

One such monster lurked in the alleyways that night, waiting for his prey. It wasn’t specific, but it was particular. The monster needed something that fit a certain mold. He waited for hours, unmoving, barely breathing. He was a coiled snake waiting to strike. It was in the early hours of the morning, still before twilight, the darkness thick in the air like miasma. Several people had passed already, none noticing the monster, none fitting the bill. Finally, when the monster considered giving up and retreating before the sun rose, life chose to reward him for his patience. He could smell her blood, even through her skin.

She walked casually, likely a route she was used to taking. Was she a waitress or a whore? It didn’t matter. She was young and perhaps had the potential of beauty. The monster barely looked at her appearance, he focused instead on the smell of her blood. It was alluring, exactly what he needed. Like a shark hunting for a wounded fish, he struck the unsuspecting woman.

There were screams that pierced the night, loud and shrill enough to call others to her aid even in those hours of the morning. By the time help arrived, there was no sign of the woman or the monster, and though there should have been a pool of red after what the monster had done, not a single drop of blood remained. It was as if it had all been washed away by the relentless ocean that was threatening to engulf the city, drowning the people not in water but in despair.