Vyvani

The atmosphere in the hovercar is heavy. Shora's gazing out the window. I'm staring mindlessly into the pool of shadow at my feet. Muzgal drives silently as we return to Shora's apartment in Temata District, right beside City Center.

She knows she may have failed to collect potential evidence.

“If I had been there—” I begin.

“No,” Shora says, her voice terse. “We’ll find something else.”

“Will we?” I ask.

“I won’t be questioned on this front, Vyvani,” Shora says. “End of discussion.”

I decide not to press her.

I soon inform her of my reluctance to go home tonight. She gives me permission to stay at her place if my parents allowed for it. Luckily, they did when I convinced them that it was for my internship—they were more than happy to hear I had gotten it; it was holiday break for the next two weeks, in any case, so I don't think they really minded.

Anything for your career, Father had said to me. His voice was the happiest I’d heard it since he lost his job as a pilot.

But there was another reason why I didn't want to return to Shirumo District. I don't think I could bear staying in the same building where Kaz and his dad once lived. And there’s something about staying with someone who has endured the same hardships that offers a condolence not found elsewhere.

A couple of days later, we received the call.

They had discovered Vorin's body floating down the Hano River, alongside the corpses of several other mobsters, though whether they were Joryoku or Contractors was unclear. They were all killed in the same way—a single beamShot to the head, execution style. When Shora requested a second warrant to search the Gato estateTower, she was denied for lack of grounds. One failed warrant with no results was bad enough for her reputation. No one would risk a second warrant for Councilor Shora now.

We eventually find ourselves at Shora's apartment, scouring through files, records, anything that might aid us against the Shampai Group. Shora tries several times to reach out to Commissioner Akato, but he's basically unreachable. When our late dinner arrives, we eat in a weighty, solemn silence.

All through our meal, I can tell that Shora's fearing that Kaz and Kashniro have met the same fate as Vorin. Her feigned calm exacerbates the fact that she's terrified that she'll get a second call, informing her that they've found their bodies floating down the Hano River. But we didn't get a call like that tonight.

We get it the next morning.

They found Kashniro's corpse caught in some fisherman's net on a wharf in the river. It hadn't been long since he was killed, they informed us—his corpse wasn't bloated enough. When Shora answered her cTab, we were at her office. After she hung up, she left me alone while she headed out for some fresh air. When she returns, she reeks of cigarette smoke, and her eyes are red and puffy.

For the entirety of her absence, I was begging, praying that Kaz would be found alive. I still hadn't had time to make sense of Vorin's death, or to properly assign blame to myself and process the events leading up to his abduction. I'm still trying to think my way through this carefully, but it's as easy as stacking wooden blocks on a windy day. I attempt to ignore my thoughts for now so that I don't cave in on myself and break down. Maybe I'll sort through the whole thing once Kazin is back home, safe. Until then, I remind myself of the need to find something that will aid our search.

Shora rubs her eyes and leans back. She draws out a cigarette and lights it. She's smoked so much that the entire room is drenched in a choking fog. It's disorienting for me, but I don't have the heart to deny her even that small indulgence. From what I gather, it seems that she was friends with Kashniro.

"What do you think about taking a look at these files for yourself, Vyvani?" she asks me. "A pair of new eyes might discover something different."

My mouth is dry and my throat is parched, so I take a drink of water.

"You would have to see some pictures," Shora warns me. "Of people you knew, no less."

I swallow hard, forcing both the water and nausea back down my throat. "Maybe I could look through Kashniro's file. Not Vorin's though."

Shora nods. "I can respect that."

I take her tPanel and flick through the images and descriptions. I try to remain detached and distant, just looking at the facts, viewing the images while trying to tell myself that it's not a human who is lying there bloodied and dead. I had read somewhere that seeing humans as mere sacks of meet eases the pain for those who for their jobs are forced to deal with such gruesome paraphernalia. It helps, to a small extent, but I feel myself growing lightheaded more than once.

"Shora," I say, mustering my courage. "Do you mind if I take a look at Vorin's file?"

She looks up from her papers. "You sure you can stomach it?"

"I think I have to," I answer resolutely.

She nods. "The password is 24000215."

I punch the numbers into the software, and Vorin's file is unlocked. I view the pictures the investigators took of him and the others, washed up on the shore. I inspect the 3D holograms of the crime scene replicated by the laserScanners. I reopen Kashniro's file, and I notice something.

"Their wounds are different," I say.

"They are," Shora agrees. "Vorin's is from a photonBlaster. You can see the burn mark characteristic of a beamShot. It was shoot to kill—I’m going to guess purple beam. High radiation, high kinetic energy. They left nothing to chance." She sighs before continuing. "Kashniro's shot was from a bullet. Old-fashioned, and pretty rare."

I rub my temple. "Is that common? To use the old-style gun, I mean."

Shora stares into the ceiling. "It's not unheard of. It's like seeing a classic car on the road. It's not common, but you don't think too much of it when you see one rolling along. It's the same with old-style guns. Some folks enjoy collecting them. The Joryoku use them, as they do swords, knives, etc. Whatever serves their intended purpose."

I nod. Maybe it's not as strange as I initially thought. Maybe I was chasing a false lead. But then, I've caught the tail end of an idea, and I can't let it go. I search for the files I need and flick through them. Shora and I sit there for hours, searching, finding, analyzing.

"Shora," I finally say. "I've been looking through every single known slaying executed by the Kargu clan in the Tri-City area for the past three years. There's nothing that suggests Kashniro's death was their doing. Vorin's maybe, but not Kashniro. Their preferred methods of execution are beamShot and...beheading. But they don’t seem to kill with bullets."

Shora peers at me long and hard. "We need something more foolproof than that. The Handata City Constabulary has already determined Kashniro's slaying to be connected to a Joryoku battle that night, as they have with Vorin's. They're already going through the motions to close the case, and they'll be reluctant to reopen it."

"Why?"

"The Constabulary has historically been hesitant to dig too deep into cases they see as Joryoku affiliated, unless a civilian was caught in the crossfire."

"Vorin was a civilian," I point out.

"His father was a Contractor," Shora says. "A famed one at that—Danba Kanbar—and Vorin's been photographed alongside his father at many notorious meetings by constabulary investigators. In the eyes of the law, he was not a high schooler, but a Contractor grunt."

"Still, shouldn't we at least suggest this to the Commissioner?"

Shora sighs. "Not only is Akato MIA, but there is something you should know about Kashniro. You see, he was once a lieutenant in the Yamda clan. To be more precise, he was an assassin in said clan. He died the same way he used to take out his targets."

I'm silent as I wallow in my shock and confusion. Never could I have imagined that the nice man who was father to wimpy Kazin, who quietly resided in my apartment complex, was a dreaded Joryoku mobster.

Shora nods. "He was quite well known in Handata City, actually—or rather, his alter-ego was the notorious one: simply called the Gunman. When his identity is revealed to the public at the press conference tomorrow, the populace will most likely believe that his death was a poetic end to a famous gangster. You can see how the odds are stacked against us, unfortunately."

Despite myself, a sigh which scarcely belies my discouragement escapes through my lips. "Has the Constabulary run the bullet through their ballistics department?"

Shora nods. "They had to dig out their antique equipment to do so, but they have done that. Turns out, the pistol is registered within their systems already. It was actually a gun—a revolver, to be more precise—that was once owned by Kashniro's boss in the Yamda clan, a man by the name of Hata Zakinodo. The clan that Kashniro eventually left."

"Shit," I mutter. "Everything just comes full circle, doesn't it?"

Shora nods. "So you see, everything is connected back to the Joryoku. Folks will just assume that Kashniro was taken out in a hit by his old clan for having ditched in the first place. Vorin's death is just the death of another Contractor. Case closed, city at peace, the Constabulary can mark up their statistic of solved cases. A happy ending that leaves a bad aftertaste." She puffs into the air. "Finding Kazin might be our best bet now."

I inadvertently reach for a cigarette. When I realize what I'm doing, I snatch my hand back.

Shora chuckles. "And now you understand why I started this shit."

At that moment, there is a knock at the door. Shora's abruptly lifts her gaze, and I brace myself. I realize then just how exhausted and alert we are.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Come in," Shora says tersely.

The door opens, and Muzgal admits himself. "We've got a problem, Councilor."

"What is it?" Shora asks.

"I...I think it's best if you come see for yourself," Muzgal says quietly. "Maybe without your intern."

I shoot a pleading glance at Shora. We already missed something once because I wasn’t present. I can only hope that Shora will let me accompany her.

“Who is our guest?” she asks cautiously.

“Law enforcement,” Muzgal answers hesitantly.

“Hm.” Shora pushes herself onto her feet, then gives me a nod. "My intern is knee-deep in this situation now. She has a right to see anything and everything if she wants to. She might catch something that I miss.”

I stand triumphantly as Shora shrugs on her coat. "Lead the way, Muzgal," she says.

I follow the two of them out the door and through the hallway. We walk past the antechamber and head for the lifts. Muzgal presses the 'down' button.

Shora raises her brow. "Parking hangar?"

Muzgal nods. "Yes, Councilor."

"Can I have a hint of who to expect?"

Muzgal hesitates. "A guest, Councilor. He requested discretion."

Shora nods, continuing to puff at her cigarette. “If it’s Akato, I’ll kill him.”

Muzgal sighs.

We enter the lift. My heart's racing as it descends to the basement floors, where the hovercars are parked in the hangar garage. Each second seems as long as a minute, and I'm breathless from anticipation by the time the elevator beeps to signal that we've arrived.

The doors slide open, and Muzgal leads us out. We follow him through the steel and aluminum garage, where various hovercars and hypercars are parked—all belonging to the government officials of City Center, some more bent than others. When Muzgal rounds a large pillar, Shora curses.

"You've got to be kidding me! Shit!" She lights herself another cigarette. I wonder why she's cursing so loudly, and I walk faster to catch up to her and satiate my curiosity.

It's Commissioner Akato, standing beside his hovercar. He looks haggard, as if he hasn't slept in days. His normally well-styled hair is unkempt, his shirt is untucked, his coat is unbuttoned. Bags hang beneath his eyes, watery and webbed with red veins.

"Councilor," he croaks. "I need your help." He reeks of alcohol. I can smell it from where I stand.

"Screw it!" Shora says. "If you want me to help you get out of any trouble you might face from Gato's friends at City Center, you can kiss my ass, Akato. Big help you were at Indato. Meeker than my grandmother's damn puppy is what you were in the presence of the chairman when he told us to pack our bags and leave. How long have you been kissing his ass? Buried your nose in his shit? And where have you been? I've been trying to get in touch with you for days, and you turn your cTab off?"

Akato takes it all, his eyes glued to the floor. His hands are shaking though, and he has a restless glint in his eyes, akin to that of a madman.

"You done now, Shora?" Akato asks suddenly.

"What?" Shora says. She is taken off guard, and her voice trails. She clears her throat to regain her composure. "What kind of question is that? Make excuses for yourself, Commissioner!"

"I need your help," he repeats. He doesn't even try to hide the desperation in his voice this time.

I think it extremely strange, and I can tell Shora does too. "What is it?" she asks suspiciously.

Akato takes a step towards Shora, and her body tenses. He seizes her by the arms—his grip is iron, and Shora winces from how tightly he clenches her. "You must be sworn to secrecy," he pleads. "Or we are all dead."

My fists are clammy with sweat, and I notice that my every muscle in my body is prepared for exertion, whether that be to fly or fight.

"Alright," Shora says calmly. She speaks slowly, as if consoling a child. "Alright, Akato. You have my word. Tell me what it is, and we'll talk. I promise I won't tell anyone."

I can almost see the fear seep from Akato's body smoke leaking from a burning candle. He hangs his arms at his sides and nods slowly.

"Okay, Shora. Okay." He stumbles over to his hovercar, fumbling with the keys as he draws them from his pocket. My eyes widen—I haven't seen someone use keys on a hovercar since, well, forever. Shora and I creep over to him.

When he finally manages to lift the hatch, I'm speechless. I gasp and take a step back. Shora covers her mouth with her hand.

"What the fuck, Akato," she whispers. "What the actual fuck."

There, lying inside the trunk, is Kazin Moyashino, with a damn hole in his neck. It’s ringed in black, implying a beamShot, though I’m unable to infer neither the kinetic energy nor the radiation level.

"Is this Kazin?" Shora manages to ask.

Akato nods.

"Is he alive?" Shora says.

"He is," Akato rasps. "The photonBlaster I carried with me that day was only an immobilizer, I made sure of it—"

Shora looks at Akato, turning her head slowly. "What are you talking about, Akato?"

"Nothing," he whispers. "Nothing." He turns to Shora. "We must take him to the Crystalline Towers. It is the only way to save him now. I've tried everything else."

Shora takes a step back. "You know I can't do that."

"He will die otherwise," Akato says, his voice rising like an approaching tsunami.

"To take him to the Crystalline Towers would be to go against the very thing that Kashniro and I were fighting against," Shora says. Her face is steeled, her voice as hard as iron. "I thought you were in on this fight as well." Shora takes another step back and grasps my hand in hers.

When Akato moves towards us, Muzgal draws a pistol from his coat. "Not another step, Commissioner," he growls.

Akato's eyes are burning with fury. "I knew you for the moralistic hardneck you were, Shora. All you ever cared about was your principles, your damn morals! You never cared about Kashniro or the others, did you! And now you would let the boy die for your precious self-righteousness?"

"Step away from the car, Akato," Shora says. "We'll call a mediCar here, and we'll treat him the right way. If he's still alive, as you say, he can still be saved. You're not in your right mind right now."

Akato spits on the ground. His lip is curled in a sneer, his tone a menacing snarl. "Then the fact that he is still alive won't be a secret anymore, will it?"

"You're the mole, aren't you?" Shora says, her voice strained. "You're the damn mole that Kash was talking about. Did you leave Kash and his son as offerings for Gato?" When Akato does not answer, Shora's eyes widen. Her voice is barely audible as she speaks. "Did you kill him?"

In a sudden movement, Akato draws a photonBlaster from beneath his coat and begins spraying us with beams. The color is green—high radiation, low kinetic energy. Muzgal takes the Councilor and me in his arms and dives behind a nearby hovercar.

"Get him!" Shora screams. "Get Kaz!"

We hear the hovercar start up, and even as Muzgal is climbing onto his feet, the hovercar speeds away.

"Shit!" Shora yells. She stands there, staring helplessly at Akato's hovercar as it passes through the gaping entrance of the hangar before disappearing into the streaming throng of hovercars flying through Handata City.

Shora turns back to Muzgal and me. "Is anyone hurt?"

I slowly emerge from behind the car. We shake our heads.

"Good," she says. I can see she's fighting to keep her cool. "We can't put word out to the Constabulary—if even the Commissioner has sold out, we don't know who else has. But I think I might know where Akato's headed."

Muzgal's already dashing towards our car. I don't even have time to catch my breath before the car is up and running. But then I realize that maybe it's not my breath that won't catch. I collapse onto the ground. Shora looks back, and a cry tears through her lips.

"Vyvani!" She rushes to me and cradles my head in her lap. "Muzgal! Call a mediCar!"

I look down, wondering what's wrong with me. There's a burn mark on the left side of my stomach. The skin is already beginning to crack and rot from within due to the high level of radiation from the green beamShot. I might be hallucinating in my delirium, but I believe the spot is spreading, ever so slowly, imminently, relentlessly.

"Shit," I whisper. Everything becomes a blur, and the world around me spins as Muzgal picks me up and rushes me to the hovercar.