Vyvani

My heart is racing as we hover into the Kendaku Bridge which stretches across the Hano River. Looming on the opposite side is the mountain and surrounding hills which make up the Indato District, the stronghold of the wealthy and the powerful of Handata City. I can already make out the massive structures which populate its green terraces: towering cylinders of glossy polycarbonate or glittering marble which serve as both protection and elevation. On top of and within these bastions are built massive mansions, gardens, private hangars, anything that one can imagine—if money can buy it, it's probably in there.

I've been here several times, courtesy of Sangsum. His family is what people call a Legacy Founder Family, or LFF—one of the first families to form and found a powerful conglomerate, the likes of which are now embedded into the very fabric of our lives. Even Indato has its hierarchy, and the LFFs rule at the top. LFF mansions are usually located at the top of a hill or at the pinnacle of Mount Indato. Sangsum's mansion is built on the top of one of the tallest hills. Never in all my days did I think that I would be coming into Indato this way, as a servant of the law, an uninvited intruder.

The bridge isn't like the bridges of the automobile era—it’s more like a tall, steel trench that extends the breadth of the river. Hovercars zip to and fro in the hollow between the two walls.

As we cross, I can see the fluorescent lights of blue, green, and red that are supposed to guide the way. We're at the very rear of a long train of armored transports. Commissioner Akato kept his word, bringing ten teams of stratTroops, locked and loaded and ready to go. Twenty huge, blocky hovercraft hurtle down the steel alley, tailing Commissioner Akato's hovercar as he leads the way into Indato.

"You scared?" Shora asks me.

I nod. "Kind of."

"Good," Shora says. "That means you won't be making any rash decisions."

"I've already done something rash," I say quietly.

"Are you talking about that Vorin kid?" Shora says. "Don't worry, Vyvani. It's not your fault, nor should you hold yourself accountable for the actions of bad players. Every time you work to serve the law, there will be collateral damage. It's best you learn that now."

I don't like the thought of that, but I nod nonetheless. "Okay."

Shora shakes her head. "I went through the same thing when I first began cracking down on corporate corruption. I had to get it through my head that there's always a trail of dead bodies on the road to justice."

The convoy makes it past the bridge. The vehicles in it are now lowering their altitude so that they can drive on the ground on actual, paved roads—Indato doesn't allow any craft that are not their own to fly in their airspace. Their defense systems see to that. Muzgal presses a button to lower the wheels, and the hovercar bounces when we hit the ground.

We continue snaking up the hills. All we can see ahead is the asphalt road—the views on the sides are screened by walls of trees and vegetation so thick that they look like black shadowy masses in the dark. Behind them though, the towering citadels of the residents of Indato burst into the sky.

After a while, Muzgal stops the car. I look out the windshield, and I see that the convoy has halted as well. Far ahead, in the front, I can make out iron-wrought gates set in between an impenetrable wall of trees. Behind it, there's another road running into the distance. But from the midst of the forest that guards the perimeters of the property, Sangsum's estateTower thrusts into the sky, looming over us all. It's a massive marble cylinder, larger in circumference than most skyscrapers in the city, rising and rising into the night. It's so tall that I can't even see the top of it.

"How do we plan on getting inside of that?" I ask.

"Because we have a warrant, we can storm the property," Shora says. "I believe the stratTroops are getting their strikeChoppers ready right at this moment."

As if on cue, the armored transports splay out like boxes spreading flat out onto the ground, revealing a strikeChopper within each transport. The pilots start up the engines, and green, circular lights flutter and spin rapidly on the bottom, top, and tail of the craft. Even from within the car, I can hear the wailing sound of their engines. The strikeChoppers gain momentum, and their bodies lift into the air, wobbling for a bit before finding their balance. Twenty strikeChoppers launch into the sky, rising higher and higher until they look like fireflies in the night. Then they rush towards the pinnacle of the mansion.

I jump at a knock on the window. Shora lowers hers. Commissioner Akato is standing without.

"Councilor," he says. "Would you like to board a strikeChopper as well? Be a part of the action?"

"Always," Shora answers.

I prepare to follow her as she undoes her protective seat straps.

Shora turns in surprise. “Uh-uh,” she says. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going with you,” I answer. “Aren’t I?”

Shora shakes her head. “I don’t think so, Vyvani. Things might get a little rowdy here. You need to stay in the car.”

I begin to voice my protests. “But back at Meradon Hills—”

“You were nearly assaulted by Joryoku members,” Shora cuts me off. “So no, Vyvani. We won’t be risking it.”

Muzgal opens the glovebox and draws from it a pistol, as if to reinforce Shora’s refusal to allow me to accompany her.

She looks into my face, and her eyes soften. “I get that you want to be a part of the action, Vyvani. But no more unnecessary risks tonight, got it?” She hands me her tPanel, then puts on a pair of techSpectacles. She calibrates the two, and the tPanel mirrors what Shora is seeing. I see my face, very sad, very disappointed. I force myself to smile. She then takes the listening chip, the same one I had been using earlier, and places it into her cTab. “You can listen in to. It’ll be like you’re right there with us. Good?”

I nod in sullen agreement.

Muzgal and Shora exit the car. Any hope of escape is daunted by the arrival of two stratTroopers to guard my car.

I curse under my breath, and increase the volume on the tPanel.

I hear Akato’s voice first, then see his face in the tPanel. I’m not half angry at the resolution and sound quality. I’ll take what I can get, I suppose.

"If you don't find anything, Councilor, there's bound to be repercussions," Akato warns. "Are you prepared for the fallout that may follow?"

"We are here because Sangsum Gato, the chairman's son, has been abducted by Joryoku," Shora says nonchalantly. "What backlash can there be when we're only here to help the Chairman find his son?"

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Akato smirks, then his tone turns serious once more. "And if Kashniro and his son are not here as you believe?"

"Then we flip the city on its head until we've found them," Shora says.

I watch as Shora boards the strikeChopper. I look longingly after the whirring lights of its engine as it catapults into the air towards the mansion. Through the tPanel, I see the familiar sights of Sangsum's home. The pinnacle of the marble cylinder is a massive garden, filled with pools and fountains and secret walkways in quiet groves of trees. A little to the rear of the center, there is a massive courtyard. At the end of it rises Sangsum's mansion, a sprawling palace of ten stories. Near the edges of the grounds are dotted the many hangars where his family keep their flightCraft—they also have more in garages underneath, within the tower. I begin wondering exactly where in that monolith Kaz could be.

I start feeling a bit of guilt bubbling up once more. If I had stood up for Kaz that day in front of our apartment in Shirumo, would he have shown up to school the next day? He was kidnapped at the VR café. If he was at school instead, would he have been taken?

When Shora exits the chopper after it lands, I see that the stratTroops are already scouring the grounds. It's a scene of total chaos. Guys in black suits and tattoos all over the visible parts of their bodies—Joryoku clan members—are being arrested and held at gunpoint by stratTroops. Business officials are screaming that they are important people, how dare we come barging into Indato without any evidence. Teams of stratTroops in black polycarbonate armor are running this way and that, guarding groups of kneeling Joryoku, clapping the rowdier ones in plasmaCuffs.

"Now we're getting somewhere," Shora whispers. I’m not sure if she was talking to herself, or talking to me.

A stratTrooper runs up to Commissioner Akato. "The Chairman is not here, sir."

"Were there any prisoners?" Shora interjects hurriedly.

"We don't know yet, Councilor," the stratTrooper says. "We're searching the property as best as we can. I got guys on the surface, and we just sent several teams underneath as well, with laser scanners."

"Damn," Shora says. "There was undoubtedly something going on here tonight. Look at all the Joryoku here." She then begins whispering. "Good job, Vyvani. You've found the site of their meeting. Your theory was right."

I smile at my embarrassment at the compliment, then hurriedly look out the windows to see if the stratTroops saw me smiling like an idiot by myself.

"And the Chairman?" Akato says, his nose scrunched with worry.

"All the flightCraft registered to the Chairman and his family are still here," the stratTrooper assures them. "If he's in the building, we'll find him."

Suddenly, far in the sky, there is a high-pitched whirring. Shora looks up, and she sees a black and red corvette flying overhead. It's size is immense, and the craft is shaped somewhat like a hammerhead shark. The blue and turquoise lights of its boosters dim as it begins its slow descent to the ground. Commissioner Akato leads Shora away towards the edges of the courtyard to make room for the ship's landing. I draw closer to the tPanel and watch with increasing interest—the craft seems to be sending gusts of wind everywhere from the power of its thrusters.

"And what could that be," Shora shouts to be heard above the noise. "An unregistered craft, perhaps?"

"Shampai's corporate corvette, for missions out into the colonies, Councilor," Akato yells back sternly.

After the corvette lands, the ramp falls open. All activity in the courtyard has ceased, and all eyes are glued to it. Even through the barrier of pixels, I can taste the trepidation in the air. First steps out a tall, broad man in a business suit and techSpectacles. He has greying hair, and his eyes are as deep and cold as night. Sangsum is standing just behind him, and I infer that this is Chairman Gato of the Shampai Group—Sangsum’s father.

Chairman Gato is surrounded by bodyguards, and none of them appear to be Joryoku—they’re all clean cut and well put together. They're wearing black suits as the Joryoku do, but they lack the air of hostility and danger that the Joryoku shroud themselves with—not to mention that they are absent the bioEnhancements on their bodies. They look very businesslike.

Chairman Gato begins descending the steps, but Sangsum doesn't even move until a bodyguard to his rear nudges him forward. When he looks up, his eyes are hollow and dead, like he's just seen a ghost. His knees buckle, and a bodyguard to his rear catches him by the arms. Chairman Gato notices the ruckus; he whirls around and levels a gaze at Sangsum. Sangsum sees his father, swallows, and stands up straight.

"Commissioner Akato," Chairman Gato says as he straightens his suit while stepping down the ramp. He's a huge man with broad shoulders. He terrifies me in the way that a dark and empty alley might fill a lone traveler with fear—an unknown of what dangers are contained within. "To what can I owe the pleasure of your stratTroopers on my property?"

Shora looks at the commissioner—he’s blanched, and I think I know the reason why. The grounds for the warrant is that Sangsum was kidnapped, and that we came to Indato for safekeeping and investigation. But Sangsum is right there in the corvette, and our warrant no longer holds any water. Our justification has evaporated into mist.

"Councilor Shora," Gato growls. "Of course, you are involved in this madness." He turns back to Commissioner Akato. "You can expect a call from my friends at City Center, Commissioner."

"Chairman Gato," Shora shoots back. "I'm happy to see that your son is safe with you. There was, however, another boy who was abducted along with your son—by Joryoku, no less, the very same sort of men you are hosting here at your estate. You wouldn't have happened to see Vorin Kanbar, would you?"

Everyone is focused on Chairman Gato, but I have my sights on Sangsum. I zoom through the tPanel. At the mention of Vorin's name, he's paled like I've never seen him before. He looks like he's aged thirty years; I think I can even see his hand trembling, and he avoids the gazes of everyone around him as if their looks alone sting.

"I don't even know the name, Councilor," Chairman Gato says.

At that moment, a team of stratTroops runs towards Shora. "Commissioner! We've found something!"

Councilor Shora glares at the Chairman. "We'll see about that, Chairman." All attention is on the team of stratTroops now, and we follow them. As Shora marches along, a pit forms in my stomach, and my head begins to feel light. I hope with all I have that Vorin's alright, otherwise I'll feel responsible. I ratted him out to Sangsum, and if he's hurt...

The stratTroops lead Shora into a massive lift, and she soon ends up within the main underground hangar. Steel floors and ceilings shimmer on all sides, lit by bright fluorescent lights. There's a good number of spaceYachts, airShips, and hypercars inside, but not as many as I remember there to have been. The stratTroop captain leads Shora and the Commissioner to the doors of the steel vault. At first, I'm unsure as to why he's led them there, but then I understand—there’s a bloodstain on the handle wheel.

The Chairman's expression is unreadable—Shora flaunts a mocking smile. "I wonder what we've got here," she says.

Commissioner Akato hangs back. He's a bigger coward than I thought he was. It's Shora who gives the command. "Captain," she says, shooting the Commissioner a look of contempt, "will you do the honors?"

The stratTroop captain steps forward and places a breakLock over the wheel—it’s shaped like a large, black box, and it fits right over the vault handle. He presses a few buttons on the touchscreen; the contraption begins whirring, and then from beneath it sounds the muffled bang of a contained explosion. When the breakLock is removed, there's a nice, square hole where the wheel handle had been.

The stratTroops smash the door in and all those present crowd inside—Muzgal, Shora, the Commissioner. But the steel vault is empty. There's nothing. Not a single bloodstain, not even a grease smudge in the entirety of that cold chamber.

Shora whirls on the Chairman, and I see that he's wearing a smug smile. Sangsum's eyes are glued to the floor. Shora notices Sangsum’s reduced manner as well, and it vexes her all the more.

"You'll have to continue your search for Vorin Kanbar elsewhere, I'm afraid," the Chairman proclaims. He places a shoulder over Sangsum, causing him to flinch. "My son here is safe and sound. I thank you for upholding the law and keeping our city safe, Councilor."

I can hear Shora breathing deeply. "Of course, Chairman," she replies coldly. "Glad I could help." With that, the people begin streaming out of the vault wordlessly. The Chairman, Sangsum, and their entourage leave as well.

Shora looks around the room. I can sense her anger through the tPanel. My own hands are trembling and clammy.

“Where are you, Vorin,” I mutter, pressing my face against the screen.

Shora looks around the chamber in a last sweep of exasperation—and that’s when I see it—a shiny cylinder in the corner by the door, nearly invisible from the silver color of it atop the steel floor.

“Shora!” I hiss. “Pick that up! Pick that up!”

Relief washes over me when Shora does indeed approach the object. She picks it up.

My heart drops to my feet.

It's an ePipe, with a waterdrop etched onto the surface.

I recognize it. It's Vorin's ePipe, plum flavored: the one his dad obtained from Zanaku City.

“Madam Councilor?” a voice behind Shora calls.

She turns to see the Chairman, standing there, looming like a terrible ghost of impending danger.

“What’s that you have there?” He strolls over. “An ePipe. Very good. If I could have my property back?” His face is unreadable, but I catch a glimmer of taunting in his cold eyes.

Shora looks down at the ePipe once more. No smears, no DNA, nothing to implicate criminal activity. I can feel her seething through the screen as she drops it into the Chairman’s waiting hand.

I’m shrieking and cursing at the tPanel as Shora walks out of the vault, and back to the deck of the estateTower, absent Vorin, and absent evidence.