The day was gray and quiet, the kind of day that felt heavy, like something was waiting to happen. It was in the shadow of the Tower of Songs where the people gathered. The building stood tall, its walls lined with the echoes of melodies past, some of joy, others of sorrow, all mingling into a symphony that seemed to breathe life into the tired bricks. The slums stretched around it, homes huddled together like old friends sharing secrets.
Fii walked through the crowd slowly. Her eyes were somber, reflecting the overcast sky above, her face devoid of the usual bright expression she wore. She moved like one who knew each step took her closer to something inevitable, something necessary. Her worn sneakers scuffed against the uneven ground, each footfall a muted thump on the cracked concrete.
She had walked this path many times, each step ingrained in her memory, but today it felt different. She felt the weight of the past few days pressing down on her, a physical thing that seemed to settle on her shoulders, making each breath a conscious effort.
Around her, the people of the slums moved with a quiet dignity. They were dressed in simple clothes, the kind worn by those who knew the meaning of a hard day's work. Men and women, young and old, they all carried the weight of life in the slums, but today they carried it like a badge of honor. The weight had a purpose.
They were here not just to mourn but to stand together, to show that even in the face of sorrow, the spirit of their community could not be broken.
The Tower of Songs loomed ahead, its facade marked by time and weather. It was an old structure, one that had seen better days, but it stood resilient, much like the people who sought refuge in its embrace. It had once been something else, something less noble, but now it was a sanctuary for those who found solace in music and art.
The courtyard before the tower was a sea of faces, a gathering of those who Kenzo’s music had touched. His bandmates, the members of Shunkashūtō, were scattered among the crowd, their instruments clutched like lifelines. There was a stillness to them, a heavy silence that was more eloquent than any words could be.
Fii’s eyes swept over the crowd, noting the diversity of those gathered. A young woman stood with a baby strapped to her chest, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. Next to her stood an older man, his stooped frame draped in a battered jacket, a single tear trailing down his grizzled cheek.
Even gangs who had long feuded with each other stood shoulder to shoulder, united in grief and respect. Fii smiled grimly at the sight, knowing it was only momentary.
People nodded to her as she passed, some with a smile, others with a tearful glance. They knew her now not just as Fii but as Axion.
Word had spread of her true identity and her defeat of Prime. She tried not to think too hard about the consequences of killing the Metropolis's top hero...it didn't feel real.
She continued weaving her way through the crowd, eventually finding herself near the front. The stage where Kenzo was to be laid to rest stood before her, a makeshift set of steps leading up to its dusty platform. An open casket lay upon the stage, the body inside still and quiet.
Fii swallowed past the lump in her throat, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She wanted so badly to turn back time, to somehow prevent this tragedy. But she knew it was a futile wish; the damage was done. She forced herself to push on.
The sound of footsteps came to her ears as Kasumi reached her side.
Fii glanced to the side to find Kasumi's eyes fixed forward as she stared at Kenzo's body. She looked almost like she was expecting to see Kenzo sit back up and say that he was only kidding. Fii knew the feeling all too well.
"He would hate this," Kasumi finally murmured, her voice quiet and subdued. "He would have wanted something low key...something private, just for those closest to him." Her gaze drifted away from the body, landing somewhere on the far horizon.
Fii nodded silently, unable to find the words to express how she felt. So much had happened in the past few days, and she still hadn't come to terms with all of it. She sighed and wiped a tear from her cheek.
Kasumi's eyes flicked over to Fii briefly, then returned to the stage. Fii could see a storm brewing in her gaze, and she feared what would come when it finally broke.
"Tell me," Kasumi said after a long moment. "Did you make that bastard suffer before you killed him?"
Fii winced at Kasumi's harsh tone, but she had expected some reaction like this.
"I crushed Prime until he was less than a speck of dust," she answered truthfully. It sounded strange to her own ears; it was so far removed from how she usually spoke...it wasn't like her at all—but her heart was hardened. A small, vengeful part of her reveled in the brutality of those words—a dark part of her.
"Good," Kasumi whispered fiercely. She fell silent, and the two stood there together as the crowd began to murmur in hushed voices. The ceremony was about to begin.
The first strains of music rose from the crowd like a phoenix from the ashes. It was a song Fii had heard many times before but never like this. The melody floated into the air, carried on the wings of sorrow and hope. It was a fitting tribute for someone who had meant so much to so many.
Fii watched as Shunkashūtō took the stage one by one. Each musician took their place, each instrument held in solemn reverence.
They played without speaking, letting their music speak for them. As the last note faded from the air, each member stepped to the casket. One by one they placed an object inside with trembling hands: an old photo of the group together smiling; an ornate guitar pick inscribed with Kenzo's name; a crumpled set list stained with sweat and tears; a torn and faded piece of sheet music with Kenzo's handwriting scrawled across its surface; and finally, the bouquet of purple hyacinths clutched in Kasumi's fist.
They were beautiful flowers and they symbolized forgiveness. But Fii also recognized another meaning...sorrow...pain...regret.
Fii took a step forward—hesitant...uncertain. She didn't know if she should follow. She paused before taking a deep breath and closing her eyes. With slow and careful footsteps, she climbed the stairs to the stage and gazed upon Kenzo's body once more. A single tear ran down her cheek and fell upon the white satin cloth lining the casket.
Her lips curled in a half-hearted smile; she wanted to say something, anything...but no words came. Instead, she bent down and tucked a strand of hair behind his cold, stiff ear.
Reaching into her backpack, she pulled out the remains of her broken helmet and laid it beside his folded hands. It wasn't much of a memorial but it was all she had. With another tearful gaze, Fii turned away and descended the steps.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The crowd was silent as Fii crossed the courtyard and disappeared into the sea of faces, lost in her own thoughts. She had done what she had come to do. It was time to move on.
The sky rumbled as she walked away.
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Fii walked through the Rust Market like a ghost drifting through a dream. People passed by her in a blur of color and sound but she paid them no heed.
She entered Rao's shop and sat on a worn stool, her shoulders hunched forward as she stared at her shoes.
Rao looked up from his workbench, his keen eyes softening at the sight of her. He wiped his hands on a rag and walked over to her side. His face held a somber expression as he asked quietly. "You alright?"
Fii nodded but said nothing. She couldn't bring herself to speak, not yet anyway. Her throat felt tight as she tried to keep from crying again. She had cried enough.
Rao sighed as he leaned against the wall, his eyes distant as he gazed out the window. "Only met him a couple of times, but he was a good guy. A good voice for the slums. Made us remember we could be more than just scraps. I wish I could have known him better."
Fii nodded again, her eyes still fixed on the floor. The rain outside picked up in intensity; a steady patter filled the room as rivulets of water trickled down the glass. They sat together in silence until eventually Rao spoke up again.
"So, all this time...you were Axion, huh?" The statement was matter-of-fact, no trace of accusation or anger. Rao's eyes remained focused on the downpour outside as he waited for her response.
The corners of Fii's mouth lifted into a faint smile as she answered. "Yep."
There was a certain sense of relief as she spoke the words, an almost weightless sensation in her chest as she let go of the secret she had been harboring all these months.
Rao gave a quiet chuckle and shook his head. "I should have known. Ever since you showed up lookin' all glowed-up, I had my suspicions. Heh, guess you were a late bloomer, eh?" His hand moved to pat her shoulder lightly before moving back to the counter. He fiddled with some parts on his workbench.
Fii laughed softly in return, her mood lifting slightly. "You could say that."
She sat quietly for a while, the only sound being the rain falling outside. She listened to it for a bit before speaking again. "Sorry for not telling you."
Rao shrugged, his attention still focused on the gadgets on the desk. "Wasn't your secret to tell." He paused as a wisp of steam drifted from one of the devices he was working on. It hissed and popped like a little dragon's breath as he muttered a curse. "And to be honest, it was probably for the best. I wouldn't have been able to keep my mouth shut about it."
Fii chuckled. "Probably not," she conceded. She could only imagine Rao crowing about her heroics to anyone within earshot. He would have turned her exploits into some kind of urban legend. His enthusiasm was infectious; her eyes crinkled ever so slightly as another soft giggle escaped her lips. The heavy feeling in her chest lightened.
Rao caught her amused expression and cracked a smile of his own. "Still. Now that everyone knows who you are, you'd best be more careful. The gangs will want you for themselves...especially now. And there's no doubt more than a few folks out there who ain't happy you put an end to Prime's reign."
His tone became more serious as he went on. "People fear what they can't understand and right now...well...you've just become the greatest mystery in the slums."
Fii nodded; she understood the unspoken warnings behind Rao's words. Things were going to become more dangerous.
"I'll be careful," she promised.
Rao grunted in acknowledgement as he resumed work on the gadget before him. Fii watched in silence as he tinkered with the device. The rain continued to fall outside. It was comforting.
"What happens now?" Fii asked softly.
She didn't really expect an answer but she had to ask. Things had changed so much since she started out and now...well...now everything seemed like it had just blown up in her face. What was she supposed to do? There was no clear path ahead of her.
Edith had been abducted by Salvatore, and Virgil was still recovering in the clinic. The three people she had come to rely on for guidance were all gone or too injured to help her. Now...it was just her. No plan. No guidance. She felt lost. Adrift.
"Don't look so worried," Rao chided gently as he glanced her way. His eyes were kind. "You'll figure it out. You're a survivor...just like me...just like everyone who lives in these streets." His voice held a confidence that she wasn't quite sure she felt herself. He looked back down at his work with a faint smirk.
"And besides...if you get stuck...I'm still here." His eyes darted upwards again, filled with mischief. "Though...if you still need some tinks, I could use another pair of hands...on a part-time basis." He emphasized his statement by throwing a wrench into the air. It arced gracefully through the air—bounded off his open palm—and clattered into a pile on his workbench—a shower of metal and bolts.
His features held a smug expression. "Of course...only when you're not too busy running around keeping order...or whatever you heroes do."
Fii laughed, the first full laugh since the whole ordeal. It lifted her spirits. "Deal." She grinned widely and stood from her seat. "Thanks for the talk, Rao. I really needed that."
Rao gave her an offhand wave as he continued tinkering with his contraptions.
With a quiet laugh, she stepped out the door and onto the streets.
The rain had lightened to a steady drizzle, though there was a chill in the air as evening drew near. The Rust Market had mostly emptied out; the shops were shuttered tight against the weather. Only those who had nowhere else to go were still milling about.
Fii pulled her hood over her head and began walking toward the clinic. Her mind raced as she ran through all the things she would need to do. Edith was still out there. She needed to find some way of getting her back. Virgil needed someone to look after him while he recovered.
There were others that needed her help. The aftermath of Salvatore's assault had left its scars behind...the gangs were more active than ever and she could hardly walk a block without stumbling onto some sort of fight or turf skirmish.
She sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. It felt like everyone was waiting for her to do...something. For now, she just had to do what she could on her own.
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Fii found herself back at Edith's lab, alone and at a loss for direction. With Virgil's injury leaving him incapacitated, and Edith gone...Fii's path ahead seemed unclear. She sighed and sat down on the cold floor. Her thoughts turned to the past. Back to the event that led to her life being changed forever.
She needed to get Edith back from Salvatore's clutches. That much was clear. Fii owed her that much. For all the time they spent together—and the secrets that remained unspoken...she felt a certain obligation.
After all...without Edith—and the serum—she never would have become Axion in the first place...and she certainly wouldn't be where she was right now. It wasn't something that she liked to dwell upon...but it was a debt that couldn't be ignored.
Fii leaned her head back against the wall and let out another sigh. "Helix. Are you sure Edith is going to be okay until I can rescue her?"
The nearby computer chimed as the AI responded. "Dr. Weiss is unlikely to come to physical harm at this point. Salvatore will most likely wish to use her as an asset in his research, which will likely span months or years." There was a pause as if the AI were hesitating before adding, "Haste is not advised in this case. I recommend proceeding with other aspects of your daily life and continue to grow in experience and strength in preparation."
"Mm...yeah...I guess that makes sense," Fii admitted with a grimace. "It's still hard though...to leave her there like that."
She idly drummed her fingers against her knees as she stared off into the distance. "How about you? What are you gonna do now without Edith around?"
There was a brief silence before Helix answered again. "In case of her absence, I have been instructed to aid you and Sheri in maintaining her operations...until such a time that she is recovered."
Fii smiled wryly as she stood from her spot on the floor and made her way over to the computer terminal. "Is that so? Thanks...I'll try not to be a burden on you." She leaned closer to the screen; the holographic display reflected in her eyes as she scrolled through the list of open files and notes. There were many technical details, medical terms, and genetic coding she didn't understand—but enough for her to catch a glimpse of Edith's genius.
She shook her head in amazement as she straightened from her hunched position. "Edith really is something...isn't she?" The words tumbled from her lips as she looked up towards the ceiling absentmindedly—as if addressing an unseen being.
Hang in there, Edith. I'll figure something out. Just need time. For now...let me take care of the slums.