I burst through the door without looking back. Then I started to weave through the streets and alleys. I zipped around pedestrians and occasionally attempted to circle around in a circuitous route to through off my assured followers.

I didn’t know what they wanted from me, but I knew it couldn’t be good. From their threat of ostracization from the guild and the mayor threatening to call the guards, I didn’t think they wanted anything pleasant. Killing monsters increases the power of robot companions, and I killed a lot of them. They were surely upset that I killed so many, and they missed out on all the compatibility-increasing De.

I turned the corner after a particularly long sprint and stopped to catch my breath. I looked around the corner, relief washing over me as no one emerged. Then cold dread spiked through me from head to toe. The group leader dashed out of the side street I had just been in.

I took off again before he noticed me, but my abrupt movement changed that. From my peripheral, I caught a glimpse of his head whipping in my direction and his body flinging into action. He was too far, and it was too late for him to actually catch up with me, though. I continued my dash around the city streets and alleyways.

Still, no matter where I ran, I didn’t seem to be able to shake them. It was probably my unfamiliarity with the city. Multiple times during my mad fleeing, I became lost and was forced to slow to either get my bearings and find where I had to go or look at my map.

While looking at my map, I had a great idea. I didn’t need to search around for the optimal path. I had forgotten from my time walking through the mountains, but I could direct my map to give me directions to where I needed to go. At least, I hoped I could. While looking at my map, it displayed all the buildings and streets in a highly detailed picture that looked like it was taken from the sky.

I hoped that the program would register the existence of the buildings and give me a route in between, instead of when I was in the mountains, and it just placed a straight line. Sure, I was able to follow the visible cues on my goggles, but I still had to dodge around trees and rocks. Having to do that with the buildings would be much more annoying. That would only slightly improve my progress toward my destination since there would still be a chance that I run into a dead-end.

“Corelink, search for the train station.”

After a moment, the map shifted to the portion of the city with the train station. Right above the center point was a red dot indicating my destination. I mentally chose the red dot, and another, smaller screen appeared. There were a few smaller pictures underneath an additional visual of the train station. One of the visuals had an arrow with the word directions underneath.

I mentally clicked the visual.

On the map, a red line appeared from my spot to the station that zigzagged through the streets. To my surprise, it even showed me how long it would take me to get there. Another small visual popped up that let me display the route on my goggles instead of staring at the map. I chose that, and after giving a quick look around to ensure I was still free of pursuers, I set off at a steady jog.

While running, I considered that I might not have even needed to use the program. It appeared that I had lost the guild members before I stopped to check my map. Still, I didn’t stop looking around for any signs up them while I ran. It was a good thing because I spotted them just before I arrived at my destination.

It was right when I turned the last corner before the train station. All five who had been sitting at the table in the hotel were standing on the steps to the station. Thankfully, they were all facing each other, talking, and they hadn’t spotted me before I could duck back behind the corner.

“Damn,” I hissed outwardly.

Carefully, I peeked around the corner and watched them. I was surprised to see that they were all in Symbiotic Mode. I wondered how long they had been in that mode during the chase through the city. I hadn’t been paying attention to them, too focused on my path and, eventually, my map. If I could stay ahead of them while in Companion Mode, I would be able to escape much quicker if I changed.

Too bad we’re already at my destination.

While the group talked, they swung their arms wildly and periodically shook heads. I imagined that they were discussing me eluding their capture. There appeared to be a lot of blame being thrown around in different directions. Abruptly, the leader held up both hands to end the bickering.

Then, just as abruptly, they split up. One stayed to watch, and three left in opposite directions. One started walking into the station.

“Double-Damn,” I hissed. I couldn’t let them get embedded inside the train station. It was apparent that they knew my destination, but I didn’t need them to find a spot where I couldn’t get around them. Their position in front of the train station was already bad enough.

I ditched them before. I guess I’ll just have to do it again.

I stepped around the corner of the building so I was in full view and called out to get their attention.

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“Where you guys going? I thought this was a chase,” I yelled. I figured I could also confuse them about my actual destination, which would give me some extra space to get around them. “If you guys are here, I guess I’ll just have to take a caravan.”

I turned around and ran a half block away before ensuring they followed. I wanted all of them after me so I could circle around as swiftly as possible and get into the station. Relief flooded me when I saw them all following, but then I realized how close and fast they were.

“Symbiotic Mode,” I said while ducking around a corner. I needed the extra speed provided by my robot to get away from them.

Once in that mode, it became laughably easy to get away from them. I was glad I hadn’t switched before. If I had swapped modes and they hadn’t been able to keep up, then they might not have all chased after me.

Although, if I did change modes, I might have already made it to the train station.

I made sure to lead them a reasonable distance from the train station, always staying barely in sight, so they thought they had a chance to catch me. As soon as I knew there was no way for them to catch me or make it to the train station before it left, I turned and sprinted as fast as I could.

They didn’t stand a chance of catching up to me.

I changed back into Companion Mode before walking up to the steps of the train station, yet I barely slowed my pace. The train was set to leave shortly, and I didn’t want to miss it. I had worked too hard and long to throw it out the window.

I pulled my ticket out of my bag and walked up to a small queue where they were being checked. Even though I knew the monster hunter team wouldn’t be able to return in time, I continued nervously glancing backward until it was my turn. When I finally made it through, relief from the stress I didn’t realize I was carrying washed over me. I felt lighter in mood and step as I made my way to the boarding area.

There were two trains docked inside the boarding area. The engines were made of dark iron with massive wheels on each side. On top of the car were three covered domes that I assumed were the De collectors. Looking down the entire train length that I could see, I noticed at least one De collector on each car. The length of the train curved slightly out of sight, and if they had Engine Cars on each end of the train so it could go either way, it meant that there was an insane number of collectors in such a small area. It also meant that I wouldn’t be able to cultivate during the trip.

Once I arrived closer to the train’s entrance, I was informed my spear wasn’t allowed in the cars. An attendant took it from me for storage and gave me a ticket to claim it after we arrived at our destination. He offered to take my bag too, but since it wasn’t too large, I was allowed to keep it.

“All aboard,” yelled the sharply dressed train attendant.

He didn’t have to say it a second time, though. I briskly walked toward the door and prepared my ticket to show him.

“Matt,” bellowed a gruff voice I recognized. I turned to see Hadrian striding up from the side. His smile was wide, and his gait had a positive bounce. “I was getting worried that you weren’t coming. You sure like to cut it close, eh?”

“I ran into a small…complication,” I replied. I didn’t know him well enough to give him any details; he might be sympathetic to the Monster Hunters Guild. He could even be a member. I briefly considered that he was and could be after me as well. I dismissed it, though, as he walked past me and entered the train. I noticed that he still had his giant hammer strapped to his back.

“They didn’t make you turn your hammer in?” I asked as I followed him onto the train.

“They made me turn in my other hammer, the insufferable Orb suckers. There’s an exception to the policy regarding robot companions, though.” Hadrian talked as he walked through the tight hallway inside the train. His already wide frame looked even more massive in the enclosed space. I wondered if my father had ever ridden on a train and how he could have managed to walk down such constricted confines.

“While I’m happy I get to keep my robot,” Hadrian continued, “I almost wish I did store it away. The space here is so small. Having my robot makes it even more difficult to get around.” He sighed loudly. “But I know that I would feel naked without it.” Hadrian suddenly exploded in raucous laughter. “That’s something few would want to see coming down this hallway.”

I grimaced at the image and told him I wished he hadn’t filled my head with such a thought. “I am only sixteen, you know.”

Hadrian stopped abruptly, and I ran into him and promptly bounced off his humongous frame.

“What the hell?”

“You’re just a kid?”

“I’m a legal adult with a robot.”

“Yeah, but barely. And how are you going to say that after you just mentioned for me to watch how I talk because of your age? Hold on, our compartment is here.” He opened a sliding door to his right and stepped inside.

He plopped down on an upholstered bench seat lining one side. A large window was looking out past the station with numerous people bustling by, either going to their own train or working diligently for the train company. I sat heavily on the opposite bench and closed my eyes momentarily. I let the relief of being on the train about to leave the city wash over me.

Hadrian had no idea what I just went through before getting to the station, so I had to try to school my reactions. I wasn’t sure what kind of trouble I was in, but I didn’t want my newest companion to think of me differently.

Instead of showing my distress from the morning’s activities, I decided to take in all the sights of the station.

“Excited?” Hadrian asked.

“You’re not?”

“Nah,” he chuckled good-naturedly. “I’ve been on one or two in my life. I took one to get here.”

“Well, they didn’t have one of these in my town. I’ve only read a little about them.”

“Wait ‘til we get going, and you can see the view as it practically flies by.” I smiled giddily at the thought. “You know, I can see it now.”

“See what?”

“Your age,” Hadrian replied with a nod. “It’s pretty Orbs damned impressive that you’re so skilled at such a young age. It’s hard to tell with those goggles, but when you were looking out of the window, I could see it.”

Hadrian and I sat there for a few more minutes, chatting aimlessly while we waited for everyone to finish boarding. It was nice to have someone to talk with that didn’t treat me differently. The final boarding of passengers didn’t take long since I arrived at the tail end of the process, but I still wasn’t the last person.

As we talked, a wave of silvery locks flashed at the side of my vision. Suddenly, she was there. The girl from the stadium was standing right outside my compartment. It appeared that she had emerged from the compartment across from ours. I gaped as I admired her from across the hallway, my intense gaze burning the sun. Even so, she didn’t seem to notice me as she looked down the hallway toward the train’s entrance.