“PS/Fusion. Any Driver known to possess this Wheel is called a Forger. Allows for duplication of any item, including any properties it might have had,” Alfis said from his seat.

“And that is the fablade you used to duplicate all those items?” the judge asked.

“Why of course I did.”

“And where would this fablade be at this moment, Mr. Alfis.”

Alfis gave a pause. “Hmmm…. No idea whatsoever, your honour,” he said with a smile.

The judge sighed.

“But I do know it’s the perfect tool to ruin the business of those who pride themselves on selling shallow products that they consider unique and market as high class. Oh yes, perfect for that,” he finished. By that time, he’d fully given up the poetic way of talking he adopted as the mysterious leader of his gang. Now he was just content with the damages he had caused.

Fenis Showal, however, dealt his hand at the last possible moment. He gave a full confession the day after Alfis was arrested. The confession, read in front of the jury, displayed his full anger and resentment towards his family, for what they’d stolen from him. The hard work of his father that had been snatched from right under him, depriving him of his inheritance.

The letter painted a nasty picture of the Showals, which didn’t help their reputation with other families. It forced them to pull their operations out of Leostita for the moment. The letter never even mentioned anything about Alumn’s children, yet it bashed and demeaned him at every moment.

Titanis’ calls with the families became more frequent. They admonished him for his failures, insulting him at every opportunity. Some of them even showed up personally to the station, demanding the location of the forged jewelry and ordering Titanis to hand it over. But he’d had enough for this moment and the rest. Titanis walked up to one of them, Raiy Kumanda and began to speak.

“Seeing as your stolen goods have been returned. I see no reason why I should return to you anything more, Mr. Kumanda,” Titanis said.

“You best listen here-“

“No, you listen,” Titanis said as he grabbed his collar. “I’m sick of you. All of you! From now on you let me do my job, you let me do it right, or I swear no law in this country is going to protect you from me! Understood?” he pushed Kumanda away as he swept a glance through all the people who had come to him.

“You’ll regret this Titanis,” Kumanda said firmly before tightening his collar and leaving. The rest followed after as Sincan walked up to Titanis.

“It was the honourable thing to do, Titanis,” he said.

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“In threatening the people I’m supposed to be protecting?”

“In standing up for the ideals your job embodies.”

Titanis sighed. “Now I have to protect Alfis from the families until his sentence is through. Bad situation to be in.”

“But it’s the better situation to be in. If they ever pressure you again, call me,” said Sincan as he turned to leave.

“You’re leaving? You know, I could use an officer like you on the field,” Titanis offered.

“I took up being a Solik after a friend of mine. So, no thanks,” Sincan said. Before he fully left, however, he said one last thing. “Thank you, Titanis. You’ve taught me a lot.”

Sincan admired his new staff as he went to his hotel. Cervo wouldn’t use lethal tactics, so Sincan wouldn’t either. The weapon had long reach, capped off at the ends with blunt metal protrusions. He’d have to learn to use it first, but he hoped it wouldn’t take too long.

Okshender was stationed on top of his hotel. Sincan had especially asked for that. He passed by the reception area and reached the door to the roof, opening it to find Okshender… and that weird man from the party once more.

Sincan had had enough of the man and picked him up, pushing him against the wall.

“Are you a Hand of Phobos?” Sincan demanded.

“Whatever those are, ain’t know ‘em,” the man replied. Sincan held him tighter, causing the man to cringe a bit. “Honest!”

Sincan let him go. “Then why do you keep following me and my Gear around. And why do you not have Wheels!?”

“What. Is it so wrong to not be tatted out ‘round ‘ere?” the man asked. “I got my own quirks, y’know,” he said as he took a small piece of some metal and swallowed it. Instantly Sincan felt the weight of the man increase, his skin taking on a metallic quality as he did so. He fully moved his hands away from the man at that point

“What is that? Magic?” Sincan asked incredulously.

“You’re a man-sized lizard, yet I’m the magician here,” he replied.

“Because scutalins are completely normal,” Sincan replied.

“Not where I come from,” the man answered.

“Must be an isolated village.”

“More of an isolated planet, Sincan. That is your name, innit?” he asked.

“Yeah, it is. Another planet? Don’t believe it,” Sincan said.

“Well, you should. It’s quite interesting, y’see, this place you’ve got here.”

Sincan covered Okshender as the man’s eyes glanced at the Gear. “Your name, then,” Sincan demanded.

“Karver. Don’t be alarmed, I’m not a part of whatever cooky cult you were thinkin’ of,” he answered.

“Would be simpler that way.”

“Just wanted to ask for a bit of your mech there.”

“You’re not getting Okshender,” Sincan said firmly.

“Not the whole thing. Just a piece. I’ve a theory on my powers and him that I’m itchin’ to test. Who knows, maybe I could give you some info you didn’t know.”

“Still not happening.”

“Drats. Fine, at least take my info in case you change your mind,” Karver said.

“You’ve got a phone?”

“Technology evolves at roughly the same rate between our worlds, from what I’ve seen. Anyway, I stole this one,” he said as he held up his phone.

Sincan didn’t have time for his antics. He just exchanged info with the man and saw him leave, weirded out by his presence and demeanor.

Nice Bo staff, young Sincan. It’s a great weapon for self-defense.

“Thanks, Ok. Still wouldn’t have been enough to stop Alfis, however.”

There are things we cannot stop, Sincan.

“He got what he wanted. I think I could have stopped him, had I been more cautious. Next time,” he said as he clutched the staff, “I won’t make the same mistake.”

Sincan placed down his belongings, stuffing them into Okshender as best as he could have. He then looked over the sun setting on Leostita, how the rays shined on the beautiful architecture, how the children played in the parks, how the people lived their lives, and bid the place a final farewell for now as the jets ignited on Okshender.