Machined Hearts

[machinedhearts]

Adrian stared at the thug gripping her by the coat collar. His arm snapped back, ready to throw all his might into beating her senseless. She stared at the wannabe ganger, who was poised to strike, still dazed from her gaze into the angel's eyes. Strangely content with her fate, her posture was loose, part of her weight held by the comb-over's grasp on her jacket.

The tram car shook, and a gust of wind filled the cabin. A force drove her back around the stanchion Adrian was once pinned against, and at the same time the thug released his grip on her. She staggered and fell to a sit with a surprised grunt, her noodley legs pressed against each other, feet pointed away. The angel's figure filled her vision. In the blink of an eye, he moved all the way from the rear of the car to near the front.

The angel snatched up the comb-over's arm. With just his grip, the angel broke the comb-over's wrist. Sounds of snapping cartilage and bone filled the tram. The wannabe ganger screamed, tugging with his whole body in a bid to free himself but he couldn't even budge the angel from his narrow stance. With a shove, the angel hurled the comb-over. The thug slammed into the gangway door and left a dent in the graffitied metal.

The ganger with one knee on the seat next to the angel produced a switchblade and threw himself into stabbing the angel. The winged warrior side-stepped the knife attack and laid a pair of punches on the off-balanced foe. Before the ganger could recover, the angel snatched him up by the neon green shirt and black leather pants. Like a sack of potatoes, the winged warrior pivoted at the hips and flung the ganger through the window. With a foreshortened cry, the flying thug slammed into a metal pole and the impact showered the rear of the car in blood.

Panicked, the last remaining wannabe-ganger cowered in the corner, against the twin platform exit doors.

"Hey man, this wasn't my idea!" The wannabe shouted, terror flecked from each word as he extended his hands, braced.

As the angel stomped over toward the recoiling, surrendered ganger, his head dragged along the ceiling, his neck craned in a bid to fit his towering form within the confined space. His wings were retracted, folded against his back but the beige tatters weren't enough to conceal them. Dislodged feathers were wedged between the rough cloth and his body. As the angel closed and loomed over the ganger, he clenched a fist, ready to strike.

"He's had enough." Adrian mustered the courage to speak.

The angel's attention snapped to her. His look sliced her soul like daggers. Gone was his kind, welcoming gaze, replaced by a wrathful, vengeful glare that emanated through his full-face mask made of brown rags. The look pinned her to the floor, filling her with a woeful paralysis. With a slow, panning return to the ganger, the angel jammed both hands in between the door and with an effortless yank, drew it apart like he was opening a pair of curtains.

Adrian watched the traffic of the highway that flanked the monorail blasting past at high speed. Then she looked at the angel. Despite only being able to see him from behind, she sensed a disgust wafting from him. His attention darted around the highway as a flood of cars blew past the tram in opposition to its motion.

Panicked, the wannabe-ganger latched onto the angel's leg. "Please man, please, I don't wanna die." Tears ran down his face and he trembled in horror.

The angel looked down in pity. "Non est duellator." The words came calm, but overpowered the cacophony which flooded the cabin from outside.

After the angel nodded, it calmed the wannabe. As his grip on the angel's leg loosened, the angel slipped his leg from the ganger's grip as if to pry a toy from a sleeping baby. The wannabe looked up with a shred of hope peeking through his mortified expression.

"Mors timidi." The angel spoke with a delicate, inoffensive tone.

With a jab from his leg, the angel launched the ganger from the train and into oncoming traffic. The thug's body slammed into the broadside of a car and sent the wreckage tumbling across six lanes of traffic. As it toppled, it caused further pileups, creating a car-length gouge in the pavement which caused cars in the high-speed lanes to lose traction and collide with each other.

The angel looked out at the growing pileup with a scowl. "Machinas horrendum."

Adrian, laid out on the floor, wanted to reach out. To scream. But she couldn't even muster noise from between her lips. This angel was a monster. She suddenly understood why the corpos wanted to get their hands on him. Hatred welled in her heart, stemming from the resentment of this thing making her feel any empathy towards the depraved lunatics on the upper plate. A tear ran down the side of her face, as terror blended with rage. What a horrible blunder she made in accepting this job, getting wrapped up in all of this.

All the struggle to stay alive in this forsaken city was for nothing. It was the end of the line, no matter what she did. Either she was going to be consumed by this angelic monster, or by the ultra-rich demons now vying for her demise.

The lights in the cabin flicked red and a sharp, shrilly alarm blared out over the wind gusts in the cabin.

Warning: An unauthorized passenger has been identified in this car. Please remain seated while authorities help to identify this rider.

A loud crashing rang out against the gangway door. The unconscious body of the ganger coupled with the deep dent in the door pinned it shut. On the other side, armored officers were fighting to get the gangway open. The angel looked at the door and tensed, ready for another battle. But he turned and looked at Adrian and as he contemplated, drawing his attention between the cops hammering the door and her, he grumbled and relented.

With a gentle scoop into his muscular arms, he hoisted Adrian and unraveled his wings. On approach to the rear of the car, he sized up the exit and turned. He moved with grace; each step was like a motion in an elaborate dance of which only he knew the tune. Adrian panicked, not ready to meet her fate.

Security ripped open the gangway as the angel reached the end of the car. They trained automatic submachine guns at him, shouting for the angel to get on the ground. He extended one wing out the back of the train, letting it wag in the turbulence.

Adrian freaked, seeing the ground hurdling under them as the tram accelerated on a straightaway. She closed her eyes and strained to force every muscle in her body to tense. As the angel let one foot dangle from the train, she readied herself for a swift but painful end in being smeared across the maglev below. A blast of air was followed shortly by bursts of gunfire. The tumble felt like she was on a rollercoaster as her stomach launched into her throat. Opening her eyes, she found the ground beneath them very far away. The train itself, disappearing into a tunnel, was about the size of one of her brother's scale models.

The paralysis of the angel's gaze began to wane, and Adrian began to find her strength again. The first order of business was to latch onto this monster as hard as possible. To fall to her doom was not part of the plan. Next was to get to the ground in one piece. She saw police cars converging on the district tram station below. And that's when she noticed they were flying at overwhelming speed. She had only one option in this scenario.

"Put me down dammit!" Adrian shouted over the wind howling around her.

The angel looked down at her and she could see frustration in his eyes. Before she could follow up with another demand, the angel gripped her tight, pivoted his wings, and he banked toward the ground. They were soaring almost vertically downwards. Adrian's eyes watered as the air rushed toward her, stinging her skin. Before smashing into the roof of a long, stubby rectangular structure, he flapped his wings, and they came to a slow. Then another wing beat almost stopped them in mid-air. As gracefully as he walked, he planted his bare feet on the roof of the building.

In moments, they landed on the District 27 administrative center, the district's town hall.

With a delicate plop, he placed her down on her feet. The moment her heels touched the gravel rooftop, she wanted to fall to her knees and kiss the ground. But there were more pressing matters.

Adrian thrust her finger in his face. "What the hell were you thinking?" Her voice trembled with rage.

 

[machinedhearts]

Adrian shoved her finger in the angel's face and scowled, furious. The angel loomed over her, wings splayed, and eyes squinted, contemptuous.

"How could you do such a thing?" She shouted at him, enraged at the massive pileup he caused on the expressway. "Do you know how many people you've hurt?"

The angel looked away like a child being scolded by his mother. All around, the sirens of police cars blared from the roads below, either rushing toward the monorail station or the highway. In the distance, a massive plume of smoke rose into the air and began to waft away the haze of the smog that blanketed the district.

Spinning on her heels, Adrian began to breathe rapidly, panicked by her situation once more. She was standing there yelling at someone who didn't understand a word she was saying. The desire for all of this to go away burned in her gut. Falling into a squat, she gripped the side of her aching head, brought on by the sudden stress of it all. She thought that getting fired from the force was the worst day of her life, but by far, the looming threat of what the corpos had in store for her was far, far worse.

It began to rain. As she felt the stinging singe of the acidic precipitation dropping on her hand, she curled up her coat over her hair and fumed at the further bad luck. Getting caught out in the rain without an umbrella was a sure way to end up with chemical burns. Then, a sudden reprieve fell over her. Adrian looked up and found the angel extended a wing to shield her from the burning droplets. White feathers shed from his wing with holes etched away by the rain.

"This doesn't change anything." Adrian took a deep breath and let it out slowly, grateful for the sudden absolution. "How can you live with yourself?"

Standing up, she spun and found him wincing in pain from the acidic droplets, evident through the eye slits in his full-face, wrapped cloth mask. Adrian wrestled with her heart to stave off concern, reaffirming this was a monster who deserved this fate and worse.

"And another thing. I know what you said back there at the border station. I'm not your daughter. I don't know who she is, but I know damn sure she'd be disappointed in you too."

The angel again looked away, a sorrowful look in his eyes.

A pulse of pink light burst from the highest point of the elevated District 1 in the center of Nocturine City, followed by a low thud that filled the air above. Then, the clouds dissipated, and the rain ceased. The Cresica Consortium had a weather control system. Apparently, this wasn't a pre-planned precipitation event.

As the sound rang out, the angel turned and looked up at the massive circular plate of District 1, high above the city, suspended by huge support structures. He muttered something Adrian couldn't understand, then shook his head.

"You see that? The people who control that machine. Control the weather. Yeah, they're after you." Adrian pointed toward District 1. "I was going to help you but—"

She was going to say '…just let them have you' but she caught herself. Despite the horrible atrocity the angel just committed, who knows what kind of heinous acts the corpos would make him do if they got their hands on the angel. Adrian had to keep reminding herself she wasn't on the force anymore when it came to the little things, like routine, or reaching out to former colleagues. But this was the biggest thing yet, her sense of justice and desire for order. If she wanted to hold out any hope of seeing tomorrow, Adrian needed to be far more pragmatic.

"Never mind. I lost my cool, and I apologize." Adrian looked out at District 27, feeling like a slug for swallowing her dignity on the matter.

The angel tilted his chin up and stared down at her, skeptical.

"Look, down there." Adrian pointed at a far city block. "My car is over that way. I've dipped through my fair share of security checkpoints with that thing. It's our only hope of getting out of here."

It was an absolute lie. The speed at which he flew, no drone of any kind could ever hope to catch him, save for unmanned military jets. She just wanted to be sure her car wasn't impounded.

"Let's just—"

A banging on the rooftop exit door echoed out. They both stopped and looked for a moment. Before either of them could react, the metal access door exploded from its hinges and tumbled across the rooftop, then plummeted over the edge.

"Lookie, lookie, I found two perfect little pigeons to play with." The cybernetic horror from the park struggled and squeezed through the doorway.

As he approached, pus oozed from the wounds that latched his mechanical legs to his hips, huffing and puffing in exasperation as he drew closer. The angel squared off and with a firm arm, pushed Adrian behind him.

The horror cackled. "I was worried you'd take flight, pigeon. The chase isn't so fun. But the struggle? That's what makes life worth living."

The angel dashed forth and drove his fist square into the Skab kingpin's face. A dull thud sent the horror sliding back a bit with head cocked. A smile from the kingpin revealed a tungsten grill. The angel gripped his hand and recoiled trying to shake away the pain from slamming his fist into solid metal. Adrian backed away, shaken, as the two hulks began trading blows, the pressure from the angel's strike was like standing near a jet engine.

Seeing weakness, the kingpin raised his leg and kicked the angel square in his chest. As he spread his wings to stabilize, the angel slid back. The gravel on the rooftop drew blood from the soles of his feet and he staggered from pain. Adrian gasped in concern at the sight.

"I have to thank you. Before now, I was growing bored, pigeon." The cybernetic horror spoke with a thrill-tinged voice as he began to advance on the angel. "You can only crush so many heads and cut out so many hearts before the banality of it all sets in."

Driving his fingers into his flabby hip, he yanked out a pair of wires and tossed away a chunk of bloody dislodged flesh. He wrapped the wires around his back and connected them to ports under his opposite arm. "But to finally meet someone who can last more than a few moments. I no longer have to remember what it feels like to live again." A set of metal trenches in his arm, beneath his skin, ignited in a fiery orange.

Small valves embedded beneath his flesh sheared the kingpin's skin and blew off pink steam. Adrian shuddered as the smell of fresh blood wafted atop the roof.

Recovering, the angel raised his fists again and grumbled. He wasted no time and thrust himself forward, hovering off the ground and launching himself toward the cybernetic horror. The kingpin blasted his empowered arm toward the angel. With a last-minute bank, the angel tilted his shoulder away from the strike and began landing blows on the horror's flabby body to no effect. Before the angel realized his attack was ineffective, the kingpin snatched him up by the skin of his chest and leaned in, to dampen the attempt to flutter and escape.

"Now, let us show the world what this pretty little birdie looks like." The kingpin snatched the cloth tatters from the angel's head.

The moment the rags fell from the angel's face, a plume of red-hot flame burst from his mouth and filled the air above the rooftop. Adrian cowered from the overwhelming heat. The smell of burning flesh wafted as the heat dissipated. She recovered, only to spot the angel hastily replacing the head wrap, kneeling on one knee with wings splayed.

Not far from the angel, the cybernetic horror was aflame from the waist up. He screamed in agony but did not move, standing there as if he were frozen, and beating himself with his palms in a bid to stifle his ignited body. More valves burst out from under his skin and drenched him in pink mist, extinguishing the flames. His entire upper body was covered in third degree burns. Charred flesh began to slide off in chunks as he wrestled to regain control of his legs, forcing movement with strained throws of his shoulders. Adrian wanted to gag from the smell and sight.

"You're good, pigeon." His voice was distorted and artifacting with each syllable. He wagged his finger and burned skin fell away to reveal a metal exoskeleton. "I'll give you that."

As his flesh slid from his body, a clear barrier beneath protected his internal organs. Each step further revealed his yet-beating heart among his stomach, intestines, liver, and kidneys. He was a walking museum exhibit displaying the inner workings of the human body. Each writhing twitch from the horror's innards sent woeful shivers down Adrian's spine.

"This changes nothing. We're still playing." The kingpin let off a crispy smirk.

Suddenly a pack of armed quadcopters rushed upwards from the street and trained their gun turrets on the angel.

 

[machinedhearts]

Adrian stared at the armed quadcopters in shock. "We have to go!"

The kingpin's charred flabs dangled and flecked off as he whipped to stare at the police drones blasting search lights upon the rooftop. He pinned his arms back and shouted with unbridled rage. Then he threw his arm forward. An explosion burst from his left wrist and launched his fist at the drone. A chain link attached gave slack as the disembodied hand tore the quadcopter to shreds, the metal spikes on his knuckles carving through the polymer drone frame.

Seeing the cybernetic horror distracted, the angel pivoted on his heels and dashed toward Adrian. Without stopping, he snatched her up by the waist and they both fell over the ledge of the roof. Adrian let out a wail as her stomach lodged in her throat. The ground rushed towards them. Then the beating of wings followed the angel grasping her with both arms. And the rush of the ground eased as they leveled off and soared close to the street.

The snaps of bullets whirring past them rang out over the stream of air washing around as the angel picked up speed. As he banked and rolled in a bid to evade the officers firing at them from the ground, the kingpin also launched himself from the rooftop. Before the angel banked around a skyscraper, Adrian spotted the horror slamming into the ground and the sonic boom from his crash filled the air around them, shattering windows.

As they flew closer to the garage where Adrian's car was stored, the angel's flight slowed, and they began to lose altitude.

Adrian gasped as she noticed the ground growing closer. "What's wrong?" She moved her hand and felt something slick, warm leaking from his side. Blood. He'd been shot.

As they glided toward the sidewalk, only a few blocks away from the garage, pedestrians panicked seeing the looming presence of the angel descending upon them. Many froze, unsure of what to do. Adrian began to yell at them to make way, but it was no use.

Higher than a jump off the ground, the angel passed out and fell limp. The two smashed into a mass of pedestrians, and they all fell to the sidewalk. Adrian yelped as they tumbled over each other. Panic filled the group of rush hour commuters and they scattered, shouting.

Adrian was stuck under a pile of people. She shifted and began to thrash in a bid to get them to go away. "Get up, it's an emergency!"

The fallen group of pedestrians scrambled to their feet and fled as fast as their legs would carry. Adrian was mixed. It was what she hated about this city; nobody had any concern for another. But this time, it worked out in her favor. Gawkers would only serve to get in her way. As the sidewalk cleared, Adrian spotted the angel sprawled out unconscious on the ground, his blood-soaked tatters clung to the concrete.

She looked around for anything that would help her carry him. Now alone on the sidewalk, there was nothing but empty streets, barren sidewalks, and cold skyscrapers. In a panic, she took a chance, hoping that maybe she was strong enough to hoof him the few blocks to the car. Squatting, she steeled herself for the lift. He was almost twice her size; his shoulders alone were almost as wide as she was tall. Adrian closed her eyes, prayed for the fortitude to carry him, and yanked with all of her might.

Her strength lifted him high into the air and she stumbled backwards as she hip-drove herself upright. She staggered back and slammed into the tinted glass window of the building behind her. Adrian let out a yelp, surprised by the angel's weightlessness. He was no heavier than a down pillow. He had an unnatural buoyancy in the air. Bewildered, she placed two fingers on his jugular, concerned he was dead. That could be the only explanation, as if she knew anything about the physiology of angels.

But she felt his heart beat slow and steady. He was alive.

Not one to buck favor for misfortune, she threw him over her shoulder. He bent at the hips. Running down the street with the angel's wings sprawled and unconscious was like carrying a massive, stiff throw-rug. He caught in the wind, and she struggled to fight against the lift he created, even in his droopy state. It tossed her around, threatening to scoop Adrian from her feet. Stumbling around like a drunk after happy hour, she threw all her might into rushing to get her car.

Outside the old-style brick three-bay building with an ancient neon sign labeled 'Paul's Garage' sprawled above the doors, she laid the angel in the alley just next to the entrance. Adrian looked down and found herself soaked in blood. Panicked, and pressed for time, she decided to roll with it, hoping the mechanic wouldn't ask too many questions. She strutted in, nonchalantly.

"Hey Paul." Adrian called out to the lone mechanic under a partially dismantled car.

Paul rolled out, covered from head to toe in grease and oil. He was one of the last remaining combustion engine mechanics in the entire city. A real chatterbox but a good friend. Once he got going about cars, he could talk a dog off a meat wagon.

"What in the hell happened to you?" He sized her up as he rose to his feet.

Adrian had to think fast. "My uh, lipstick container exploded." She cleared her throat. "Look, I'm in a bit of a rush. Is it out back?"

He bobbed his eyebrows in bemusement. "That's a lot of lipstick. Yeah, it's out back, everything looks good. I rotated the tires and—"

"Yeah, I trust you. Bit of a hurry."

"…okay then. You in some kind of trouble?"

Adrian looked away, getting frustrated at how long this was taking. "Just working a job. Got some things sort out." She produced her credit chip.

Paul raised his hand. "You go settle business, get back to me later."

"I appreciate it." Adrian started to walk out back to the lockup yard but stopped mid-step. "Oh. One more thing. You never saw me."

"Like wanted for murder didn't see you or—"

"For your sake, you don't know a thing about me."

Paul nodded. "I ain't seen shit. I don't know shit."

"Thanks." She spun on her heels and rushed out to the back lot.

In the empty half-paved lot, her car was sitting at the front near the gate. She jumped in, flipped the throw switches on the center console to engage the spark system for all cylinders. The cabin filled with an audible hum. Then Adrian reached up over the sun visor, swiped her keys, threw the clutch forward and cranked the ignition.

The vehicle roared to life and filled the lot with a throaty scream as she revved the engine in a bid to get it warm fast. Ahead, the gate buzzed and rolled away automatically. Seeing no cross traffic on the street, Adrian shifted into first and dropped the clutch after pushing it to the redline. Keeping the tires spinning and throwing smoke into the air, she drifted around the side of the building and screeched to a halt, on the wrong side of the street in front of the alley next to the garage's entrance.

Popping the rear hatch, she tossed aside all the paperwork, and other miscellaneous junk to carve out enough room for the angel to be sprawled out. Then she threw forward the rear seats and hoped he would fit. Snatching up the unconscious angel from the alley, she approached the open hatch and cursed. There was no way he would fit, stretched out.

"Dang girl, you do got some stuff to sort out." Paul leaned against the wall between two bay doors and bounced a wrench off his shoulder.

Unable to hold back a scowl, Adrian glanced over her shoulder, frustrated at how nosey he was.

"You're right. I ain't seen shit, I ain't know shit." Paul spun around the moment they locked eyes and disappeared into the garage.

As best as she could, she wrapped the angel in his own wings and stuffed him in the back of her car. Then squeezed together his legs and turned them to the side so that the hatch would close. The contorted way he was laying didn't lend to keeping his wounds from worsening, but she didn't exactly own a tank, so fitting the gargantuan angel in the back like that would have to do.

Hopping in the driver's seat, Adrian punched in directions to the District 9 hotel. It was a haul and crossed through more than ten different districts, but it had to be done. With a deep breath, she needed to calm herself. This was a marathon, not a sprint. Everything would be alright if she just stayed cool, kept a level head, and cruised to her destination like any other place on any normal day.

With a careful U-turn, she returned to the main street and decided to catch the highway on the other side of District 27, away from the carnage. A slightly longer route but far less of a chance that there would be an incident.

As she pulled onto the main avenue, Adrian looked into the side mirror and saw the twin-axle limo of the kingpin trailing her.

 

[machinedhearts]

The sun peaked high in the sky as Adrian continued her journey, trailed by the kingpin's limo. Of the dozen districts she needed to cross to get to District 9, she already passed through eight. It wasn't much farther, an hour of driving at the speed limit, maybe more. For most of the trip, she tried to forget the fact that the cybernetic demon was on her tail, lagging behind by only a couple of cars. But closing in on her destination, she realized that this had to be dealt with.

District 9 was unfamiliar territory. All Adrian knew was that it was the oldest district in Nocturine City, the site where it was founded in ancient times. It was the most labyrinthine and also one of the most dangerous parts. A rundown slice of history. She considered taking the long way around, lose them in District 12, one of the many port districts. But she was running low on gas. In fact, she didn't know if there was even a gasoline refueling station in District 9. She usually got it from Paul.

Adrian passed through the automated scanning station into District 3 and found herself in the shadow of a massive support structure for the District 1 plate, one of many scattered throughout Nocturine City. It looked like a crescent-shaped arrowhead, with a huge arch that led from the massive toe at the right of the highway, to the heel at the left of the raised thoroughfare. Within the support structure, rows of lights dotted across and stacked upon each other. The internals were inhabited. The consortium really didn't like to waste space.

As she looked up, Adrian could see red and green aircraft safety lights blinking overhead. Squinting, she made out the shapes of two helicopters flying far above, close to impacting against the ceiling of the support structure. They didn't look like police choppers, but regardless, considering their speed, the aircraft were certainly following Adrian. She hoped it wasn't more of the kingpin's goons. The Skabs weren't exactly a civilized group of people, but they certainly were sophisticated when it came to tech, a relentless hive of cybernetic killer hornets.

After passing through another three districts, Adrian exited the shadow of the support structure only a few miles before crossing into District 9. Stone buildings with lichen-plastered metal roofs lined the area. The highest point in the whole district was the raised highway upon which Adrian drove. Cold metal chimneys dotted the buildings around. Adrian wondered if she'd gone back in time.

As she pulled off the highway, not far from the hotel, Adrian realized she'd need to solve the kingpin problem as she watched the limo follow her down the off-ramp. Her attention was diverted the moment the car slammed hard upon a massive pothole in the road. She groaned, cursed, then realized that the road wasn't paved with asphalt. It was ancient brick with cobblestone sidewalks. And the avenues hadn't been maintained in ages, only a solid rainstorm away from the area turning into nothing more than rubble.

Adrian's initial idea of out-maneuvering them went by the wayside. There was no way she could outrun them when she was basically off-roading as it was. She was focused on avoiding the huge holes in the road, many times swerving across the median line to make way. That's when she noticed the limo was having no trouble navigating. It plowed across gaps without much concern. With a string of curses, she flipped the switches for the ignition on the center console and engaged the entire engine, exiting from cruise. With a throaty roar and sharp pops from the exhaust, the car burst to life. She needed to get creative, and fast.

The traffic light ahead turned red, and she slowed to a stop. Adrian fought to keep calm, wondering why the kingpin wasn't making a move. Something was amiss and it twisted her gut to knots. With a steely heart, she peeled her eyes from the rear-view mirror and onto the nav map. Zooming out to get a lay of the land, she panned around and found a section of row buildings off the direct path to the hotel. It was a long shot; anything could go wrong. Particularly that any point between here and the new path to her destination could be completely blocked off, not traversable by car.

A vehicle behind the limo laid on the horn and Adrian jolted her attention to the mirror. Finding nothing wrong, she looked up and found the light turned green. Then a smile formed on her face, seeing the cross-street filled with cars waiting to go. Alright cat, come get the mouse.

Jamming the car into first, Adrian waited for the light to turn red. Then she looked at the cross-traffic ready to go. As soon as the traffic's wheels began to turn, she redlined her car and dropped the clutch, throwing it into motion. The cross-traffic raced into the junction. Behind, the limo sped in chase. With a yank on the wheel, she whipped the car into a slide and curved around the vehicle rushing toward her on the driver-side. After drifting, she weaved to cut into the lane and led the pack of traffic released by the stoplight.

Horns blared behind her, and Adrian laughed, smacking the steering wheel at her genius. Then in the rear-view mirror, the limo smashed into the oncoming traffic and its mass launched the cars across the intersection and into stopped vehicles. The limo swerved and raced toward Adrian's car. She gritted her teeth, angry at herself and the kingpin. But mostly herself. She should have seen that coming.

Weaving in and out of narrowing side streets toward the row buildings, Adrian had no choice but to slow as abandoned vehicles and trash lined the street. Moreso, she could see pedestrians far ahead crossing the road with little regard for their surroundings. As potholes rattled her, she watched the kingpin's limo behind her, much wider than Adrian's car, plowing vehicles out of the way and launching trash as it slammed into the piles. She pushed her car forward as fast as she could manage, trying to keep away from the limo creeping closer.

Adrian reached the waypoint and drifted onto the narrow road at high speed. Around her, vagrants and thugs jeered at her as she pushed ahead into the tight street. Then, in a panic, she slammed on the brakes. This road was also lined with decrepit vehicles, and she was a hair's width away from smacking her car into them. Now in second gear, she was going just faster than a sprint. In her mirror, she spotted the limo sliding to a stop as it almost missed the turn, nearly slamming into the brick row houses flanking the microscopic street.

Then the kingpin's limo backed up and aligned with the road. With tires spinning and bellowing smoke, it launched forward, hurdling into the tiny avenue toward Adrian. At full speed, the limo began plowing its way through the dilapidated cars flanking the street, launching them into the buildings. Some landed on the second and third stories. Flashes of light illuminated Adrian's rear view mirror as the batteries of the flung vehicles exploded and caught fire, igniting the insides of the row houses.

With tense muscles, Adrian locked both hands on the wheel after hammering the throttle and kicking it into third. Now careening down the block, abandoned vehicles blasting past her, a matter of inches away, she clenched her teeth and leaned forward to concentrate on the obstacles blasting toward her.

Adrian honked the horn repeatedly. "Get off the street! Get out of the way!" She shouted at her windshield to the panicked pedestrians.

Despite her double-time pace, the limo was just about to close and ram her. As the end of the street arrived and ended in a T-intersection, she threw the car into a slide and rounded the corner. Then she noticed more abandoned vehicles lining the road. In a panic, she tried to weave and pull the car harder into the drift. But wild with terror, she turned too hard and caused the tires to lose grip entirely. With a hard crash, Adrian's car collided with a hollowed-out car frame.

Her head hit the steering wheel. The passenger-side window exploded, bathing the interior with glass. With car stalled, Adrian gripped the steering wheel in a bid to stop the world from spinning. Panicked, she reached behind for the angel, finding him right where she left him. Wondering if the airbags went off, Adrian looked down and remembered she had them removed, then breathed a sigh of relief.

With head still spinning, she looked behind to find that the kingpin's limo plowed into the row houses, unable to turn. The vehicle's tail was jutting from the hole in the wall. Bricks began to fall as the cybernetic horror slammed into the edges of the gap as he emerged from the car, roaring with rage.

Panicked, Adrian tried to turn over the car. It clicked and whined. The engine cylinders were flooded and needed time to empty of fuel.

The kingpin closed on Adrian's car, only a few steps away.

 

[machinedhearts]

With the world still spinning from the collision, Adrian threw open her door and staggered from the car. The kingpin was marching closer, his charred flesh mostly gone, the transparent shell around his vital organs fully exposed. Adrian stumbled upright, still out of breath, and squared off with the cybernetic horror.

"Oh. I see the little chick found inspiration from the pigeon. Very interesting." The kingpin stopped in his tracks and cackled.

Adrian grumbled; his booming voice pounded in her aching head. "What's your deal with him? Why do you want him so bad?"

The kingpin folded his metal arms and hissed a muffled laugh. "Isn't it obvious? I mean, it's not every day that you meet a dude with wings."

He was clearly lying. There was more to this story than what he was letting on.

"It's not. And I don't think you'd go through all this trouble if it were just merely curiosity." Adrian began to regain her balance and the world's spin slowed to a stop.

"Don't be so naïve, girl. When you rise to where I am, everything around becomes boring, plain."

"And what level is that? Last I heard, you were a corpo lapdog." Adrian pointed behind her, to the District 1 plate looming in the far distant sky.

"That's horseshit!" The cybernetic horror boomed with anger, his voice cracking from the immense volume. "I am Rheodex Khan, lord of everything beyond the walls of this backwater little town." He stomped his foot forward. "I run this place. The corpos dance when I tell them to."

A smirk formed on Adrian's face. She was right over the target. With hands folded behind her back, she paced away from the vehicle. Khan began to track her movement. He was falling into Adrian's trap, to get him far away from the car so she could make a clean getaway.

"That's… not what I heard." Adrian's voice was laced with a flippant tone. Then, she got an idea as the words fell from her lips. Perhaps she could squeeze out some information while distracting him. "I heard from a certain—well no sense hiding it, La Monahan? I know you know him. He told me that you were just another pawn."

Adrian motioned towards Khan's implants. "And this whole setup? Paid for by them. They told me you're no different than a street thug." She sauntered away, gaining distance from both the kingpin and her car, hoping Khan would follow.

"That worm is nothing more than an expensive junk peddler." The kingpin's voice filled with rage. "And another worthless blood dealer. I'd crush his skull in a heartbeat."

A blood dealer. Adrian heard that term before in passing. She always assumed it was slang for modders who needed underground blood transfusions to get their operations done. But why would the richest people in the entire world need underground blood transfusions? She needed to bluff, dig deeper.

"Then so are you. You're his little pet." Adrian flicked her fingers ostentatiously, to goad him.

"I have no need to feed that little pet mascot of theirs. I have no need to hunt children. They already cower at my sight, I want to struggle, to hunt something greater than me." Khan's voice grew possessed.

The car sat long enough. If it was going to start, it was now or never. Adrian just needed to buy enough time to get it started and moving.

"You couldn't even take down my boy there." Adrian pointed at her car and by proxy, the angel. "Had to hide behind the cops to save you. Aim lower, tubby." Adrian beat her chest then splayed her arms and grit her teeth.

Khan clenched his fists and the valves on his body burst out a cloud of pink, bloody mist with a high-pitched squeal. Leaning forward, the cybernetic horror stomped into a lumbering charge toward Adrian. His feet caused the burnt-out husks of the abandoned vehicles which lined the road to vibrate with each pounding step.

Spinning toward the abandoned vehicle to her left, she leaped up onto the trunk. "Come on you pile of obsolete scrap metal, come at me!"

Khan rushed straight toward Adrian, his arms clenched in front of his chest and shoulders pointed straight at her. Just before colliding with the vehicle, Adrian launched herself into the air, up over him. With kicking legs, she landed hard on the pavement and rolled. She groaned; her whole body still ached from the collision.

The abandoned vehicle upon which she stood was torn to pieces when the cybernetic horror impacted. The whine of shearing metal which dragged along the brick road and cobble sidewalk rang out. The mangled husk bore into the street and blasted Adrian's eardrums with a sharp whine. Shuddering at the sight, Adrian was glad the kingpin was not fast enough to get a hold of her.

With a twist of her hips and thrust of her shoulders, Adrian threw herself to her feet and after a few steps, dove into her car. Twisting the key to start the engine, the car starter clicked and fell quiet. The engine didn't turn over.

"Shit! Just start, dammit!" Adrian shouted at the steering wheel and continued to crank the car.

After slamming into the building beyond the abandoned vehicle, Khan recovered from his reckless charge and stumbled back onto the street with a wild, furious cry. As he reoriented himself, the cybernetic horror spotted Adrian trying to start her crashed vehicle. He raised his hand, getting ready to launch it like a missile at her car. From his wrist, spikes burst out and began to spin as it charged.

Adrian punched the steering wheel, honking the horn. The noise jolted a spark of inspiration, and she reached down to ensure the ignition switches were engaged. They all got bumped to the off position during the crash. Fixing the problem, she cranked the engine, and it turned over with a throaty roar. She dropped the clutch and shut her door.

The moment her car burst into motion; the kingpin's fist rocketed from his arm. It whirred past the back window and slammed into an abandoned vehicle husk, launching it into the row houses adjacent.

Convinced there was no way for Khan to catch up, she stuck her head out her window. "Asshole!" Adrian shouted and produced a middle finger toward the kingpin, angry that he caused her to mess up her car.

As she pulled away, Adrian swore she heard a vibrant belly laugh emanating from behind. Looking in the rear-view mirror, the cybernetic horror loitered on the street, slowly retracting his chain-linked projectile fist. She breathed a sigh of relief seeing him concede the chase.

Still not entirely certain that she wasn't going to still be pursued to the hotel, Adrian took a long, winding path to her destination. As she drove, fighting against the pull on the steering wheel, hopefully not a bent axel, the rest of District 9 looked like Khan also plowed through each of the buildings she encountered. Many of the brick row houses were burnt out, or abandoned and windowless. She wondered how people could live like this. Adrian knew that people endured even outside the wall, in the outskirts, but perhaps there was a dissonance with the undead lingering. There was a reason that things were bad out there. But how was it so here, in Nocturine City? Why were things like this?

Finally, after a long, nightmarish tour of District 9, Adrian found herself at a dark and decrepit hotel near the open border of District 13. It was gated with spiked iron fences, a strangely well-manicured lawn, and hedges trimmed so precisely that it had to be done by automation. If it wasn't for the lichen and overgrown ivy that dotted the otherwise quaint three-story structure, Adrian might have mistaken it for someplace far more upscale.

As she pulled up to the gate and reached for the call button on the old-style radio box, before she could fully extend her arm, a buzz radiated, and the gateway gave way. Adrian hesitated for a moment, looking over the otherwise nondescript, ancient speaker system. Then she took stock of her surroundings as the entryway opened. The sense that this was going south filled her gut. Maybe coming here was a mistake.

Adrian reached over and placed her two fingers on the angel's neck. His pulse was weak and growing weaker. She had no choice but to keep pressing forward. Easing the car into motion, her thoughts wandered, trying to come up with a good excuse as to why a bleeding angel was being marched through the lobby. And not only that, but how do you treat an angel for a gunshot wound?

This was going wrong in so many different ways, but Adrian had no choice but to press forward. It's not like a hospital would have any meaningful way to treat him either. And not only that, but the moment they set foot in the place, the cops would be all over them. She was stuck having to play surgeon on top of figuring out how to get him up to a room sight unseen.

As Adrian pulled around the curvy path to the front door and awning, she spotted the two helicopters from earlier. Things were going from bad to worse, and she needed to get inside quickly. After pulling under the entryway canopy, she jumped out and rushed to get inside. But the front door was locked. With a frantic knock, she called out, hoping there was someone coming to open up.

"Hello? Is anyone there?"

Then, Adrian felt the cold steel of a gun barrel against her neck and the sound of a hammer being cocked.

 

[machinedhearts]

Adrian raised her arms, the gun barrel jabbed against her neck. Exhausted and spent from the crash, fear settled in. She was out of options and had little fight left in her.

"Turn around." The throaty and baritone artificial voice of her assailant boomed.

On her heels, Adrian rotated slowly. In front of her was an armored soldier. His wide helmet stretched far down to his shoulders. From his gas mask ran a tube down to a box attached to his chest rig. The assailant was wearing more than just a plate carrier, he had a full suit of black lamellar scale. The gold light strip of his armor illuminated the awning.

"Identify yourself." The armored assailant's voice box blasted.

As Adrian readied to speak, the two helicopters that were trailing her landed on the grounds just beyond the awning. A flood of soldiers poured out; guns drawn. Adrian's heart sank.

"I'm—" Adrian began but hesitated.

The assailant spun to face the helicopters and brought his rifle to a low-ready. A tall, lithe sniper stepped onto the grass and approached. In a skin-tight black leather suit, she had a long golden helmet, a single piece of polymer that reached from the top of her head, just in front of the ponytail that ran all the way down her back. The helmet stopped near her chin, curved like the beak of an eagle. Her high-caliber rifle was almost as long as she was tall. Adrian wondered how she could even haul such a massive cannon around like it was some lightweight carbine.

"That will be all, Tank." She called out to Adrian's assailant with unyielding authority.

The heavily armored soldier raised his arm in salute then disappeared into the sea of gunmen swarming the lawn. Her voice was familiar. Adrian looked around, seeing all of the illuminated golden strips on the soldiers' body armor hustling around the courtyard jostled her memory. Adrian recalled the church on the outskirts so long ago.

"You're a pain in the ass to get a hold of." The sniper spoke with a playful tone as a seam formed in her mask and it split apart to reveal her face.

It was Acara, leader of the Order of the Fallen Star mercenary outfit. They'd met not long ago.

Adrian put her hands down and let off a sigh in relief. "I had a hot date, what can I say?" She looked over to the car and watched as a dozen mercenaries surrounded it. Then she deflated, realizing what was going on. "You're here to scrape my job, aren't you?"

With a deep belly laugh, Acara turned to look at her mercenaries and stared at them bringing up a stretcher, then shook her head. "Not exactly. You and I, we're on the same team."

"I must warn you, he's not exactly a ray of sunshine. He's got a lot to answer for as it is." Adrian pressed the trunk button on her car key to open the hatch.

Acara looked down at her feet with a solemn, disappointed expression suddenly plastered on her face. "So do I. Likely more."

Surprised by the dour attitude, Adrian sized up the mercenary leader with concern, wondering why she suddenly went from jovial to sad in the blink of an eye. With hesitation, Adrian turned her attention back to the scene at the rear of her busted-up car. As many mercenaries as would fit in the open hatch, the group of medics yanked and tugged at the angel's unconscious body without much effect. They pulled with all of their might but couldn't budge him even an inch. They yelled at others lingering around the helicopter for a pry bar. Adrian panicked, worried they would tear up the insides of her vehicle trying to get him out. Bursting into a sprint, she wondered why the mercenaries were having so much trouble.

Acara watched, but turned away, and with a mournful expression, retracted her mask to hide her face.

In a dash, trying to beat the crowbar wielding mercenary to her car, Adrian closed on the group of soldiers huddled around.

"What's going on here?" Adrian shouted.

"He won't budge. This guy weighs a ton. We have to pry him out," the medic insisted.

"Horseshit, I put him in here myself. Back up." Adrian threw her hands out to shoo them away.

The mercenaries looked at each other. Adrian sensed confusion radiating from behind their balaclavas.

"I said back up! You're not messing up my car." Adrian glanced at the missing window of the crushed passenger-side door. "…any more than it already is."

Reluctantly, the mercs shook their heads at each other and made way for Adrian to get into the rear of the vehicle. With one knee on the floor, she reached in and started to slide the angel out with a gentle tug.

"Bring the stretcher." Adrian called out with a disappointed, frustrated tone. What was wrong with these guys?

With one hand on the side grip, Adrian slid the angel onto the stretcher. The medics helped keep the angel level as they extracted him from the car. The moment the angel was away from the hatch, Adrian looked around at the group.

"See? What was so hard about that?" Adrian held her hands out in query.

The moment her grip eased and left the stretcher, it dropped to the ground. The mercenaries lost grip and the angel landed hard. Adrian jumped in shock.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" She screamed at the soldiers.

No matter how hard all the mercenaries tried to lift the angel, it was like he was magnetically pinned to the ground. They couldn't even get the pry bar under the stretcher. Adrian looked down in awe, unable to comprehend what just happened. With a careful squat, she reached down for the grip on her side of the stretcher.

The moment her hand touched the polymer, the mercenaries all almost fell backwards as their strength threw it up in the air. Adrian nearly lost grip as it rose over her head. With a panicked grasp, she wrapped both hands around the handle and clenched.

"Where are we going?" Adrian harshly demanded, wanting to get the angel off this stretcher before they killed him.

"Around back, service entrance." A medic pointed past the front door.

As the group marched behind Acara, she shook her head and chuckled. "The more things change, the more they stay the same. All this time and still the need for melodrama…"

As Adrian and the medics rounded the corner, she spotted the mercenary leader parting her mask and staring at them with grave concern.

They rushed down two flights of stairs and into a thick concrete bunker which led down a steep ramp to an underground tunnel. Adrian wanted to complain about the lack of an elevator, not expecting a 'service entrance' to be a descent into the bowels of the land but there were larger concerns.

Finally, the ramp ended, and the group began walking down a dark concrete corridor. Only the mercenaries' golden hue filled the wide concrete space. At the very far end, a vibrant white light shined, the distant exit. As the group got closer, Adrian began to hear a faint choral chant echoing out.

Adrian's aching body tired from the jog as they emerged from the passageway into a massive underground cathedral. It was at least as big as the hotel perimeter itself. It had high arched ceilings and upon them, ancient elaborate paintings, held up by giant gold adorned stone pillars. Stained glass windows were illuminated by hanging candelabras, and on the other side showed nothing but darkness. Wooden pews lined both sides of a crimson carpet which led up to a marble altar afar. Choral music filled the space.

Adrian looked around, shocked at her surroundings. "This place definitely isn't registered, that's for sure."

As the group closed on the altar, the choir fell silent. Adrian searched for signs of who was singing and from where, but spotted no indication there was anyone but the medical group in the cathedral. They came to a stop and the medics aligned the stretcher with the altar, both the same length: long enough to fit the angel upon.

"Place him." The medic commanded Adrian.

Scooping up the angel, she carried him in her arms toward the altar. Sensing that this whole debacle was finally coming to a close, she placed the angel, wings splayed over the edge, upon the marble slab in the middle of the raised platform. A sense of calm washed over her, and she backed away.

Then a bright light ignited from outside the cathedral, the stained glass blasting the room with immense illumination. The choral voices raised to a crescendo, changing from an operatic sustain to a panicked shrill. Adrian cowered at the chaotic noise that beset her.

"What's happening?" Adrian shivered from the cacophony assaulting her ears.

Acara appeared from the tunnel, removing her helmet, and placing it with her rifle against the rearmost pew before approaching the altar. "He's dying."

 

[machinedhearts]

As Acara slid her hand upon the angel's head, the wild cries of the omnipresent chorus quieted once more. From the stained glass, the light faded, darkness returned outside the cathedral walls. The mercenary leader's face fought back signs of mourning as she stroked his long hair. Adrian got the sense they knew each other somehow, but refrained from asking as Acara beckoned the medics to tend to the angel's wounds.

A woeful whisper in the back of Adrian's head said to walk away. Her job was done, mission complete. But she grimaced and dismissed the callous sentiment. Besides, what would she do, go back home and the corpos would just forget what happened? Adrian was no doubt a person of interest in connection with the myriad of things that went wrong over the past day. Thinking back to what the old man said in the park, the corpos were on the hunt for her. She had no choice but to stick around.

"What do you need me to do?" Adrian folded her hands in front of her.

The mercenary leader continued to preen the angel, no longer able to hold back a sorrowful expression. "Go upstairs and get some rest. I have some calls to make."

Adrian turned to look down the hallway when a bell rang out from the cathedral's narthex. A portion of stone wall separated and revealed an elevator carriage, from which well-adorned clergy rushed out and toward the altar. Behind the group now rushing toward Adrian, the old man from the park, Vincent, stood next to the elevator and beckoned her.

Stepping aside and letting the priests run past, Adrian watched as they swarmed Acara and the angel, exerting wild tones in a language Adrian couldn't understand. The mercenary leader towered over them, and despite her sorrow, attempted to calm the clergy and give reassurance. The momentary serenity brought on by the quietness of the chorus was dashed by the panic of the priests. With nothing meaningful she could do here, Adrian retreated to Vincent who was still by the elevator.

"You work fast." Vincent forced a smile and ushered her onto the lift.

Acara's expression haunted Adrian. There was more to this situation than just a simple catch and release. What was all of this? Why is the leader of the most reclusive, most feared mercenary outfit in all of Nocturine City all torn up over what should just be another mark?

Vincent cleared his throat, breaking the long silence. "I take it that hulk back at the park wasn't much issue."

With a stifled gasp, the noise broke Adrian's concentration. "I—" She took a deep breath to calm her manic mind. "I think he was in over his head."

With a belly laugh, the old man nodded. "So he was."

An awkward quiet between them permeated the space. Adrian had at least a dozen questions, and knew if she approached it wrong, he'd give some bullshit answer and she'd be left even more in the dark about this situation. She glanced at him for a moment, trying to get a sense of his disposition. But the sharp-dressed old man was calm and cool.

Adrian decided to try the naïve and dumb route. "So that's the guy. The one that fell out of the sky?"

Vincent stared at her for a moment, then raised his eyebrows and blinked. "The very same, yes."

Adrian opened her mouth ready to speak and the elevator came to a slow, approaching the ground floor.

"And, that lady, who was she? The tall one." Adrian emphasized curiosity in her voice.

The lift came to a stop and the doors began to part. Vincent gave another impartial smile and looked at her as he stepped off the elevator and hesitated to speak.

"…just a hedge. You weren't the only one we hired for a job of such importance."

Horseshit answer. Adrian stifled her fury at how tightlipped this whole thing was. She was up to her neck between the corpos, the gangs, and whatever else had their panties in a twist over the angel. Answers needed to surface, and now. Who knows what awaited her next.

"She seemed quite torn up about the whole thing. I would have expected a mercenary outfit to have a bit more decorum." Adrian let slip a goading undertone in her voice, mixed with a nonchalant delivery.

Stepping from the elevator, the lobby was like going back in time at least a hundred years. Mother of pearl crown moldings above a carefully selected embossed hardwood paneled walls. The air wafted with rich mahogany and undertones of lavender. A grand piano in the far corner awaited a quartet with a harp next to it. To her right was a giant stone fireplace, unlit and no chance it was up to code with how exposed it was to the room. Above it, a grand oil painting of an old military officer standing in regalia and holding a regimented poise.

No sign of anything digital anywhere. No advertisements. Absent of neon anything. This place was a time capsule and seemed oddly familiar to Adrian. Somewhere she might have been in her childhood. Strangely, it set her at ease.

"This way, please." Vincent held out an open palm indicating toward the front desk.

Adrian continued to observe the elaborate embossing on the ceiling, then the ancient golden chandelier in the center of the room. She wondered how this place hadn't been pillaged yet by the neighbors. Then the curiosity of how such a place stayed open. The neighborhood wasn't exactly their kind of clientele and wouldn't attract the types of guests that would want to be around such an environment either.

They approached the desk and an attendant appeared from the back room. A classy albeit antiquated attire. She wore a navy-blue blazer with a ruffle white button-down shirt. Underneath the jacket, a skirt that matched her blazer and reached beyond her knees. A far cry from the in-your-face sex appeal that Adrian expected from your typical skimpy hotel attendant uniform, but it commanded a level of dignity that she appreciated.

Vincent cleared his throat. "She'll be staying in the presidential suite tonight."

The attendant stuttered. "B—but my lady is staying in—"

The old man grunted and shook his head. Adrian gave him a squinted side-eye, angry at the clandestine double-speak he subtly demanded. She didn't appreciate it this deep into things.

The attendant gasped and nodded. "I—I mean that room is uh… occupied." She looked down and flipped through a ringed notebook. "W—we have an executive suite available."

Adrian decided to play along, hoping for some goodwill toward honesty. "I'll take it."

Vincent spoke in unison with her. "She'll take it."

With a confused hesitance, the attendant looked to Adrian, then to Vincent. She turned around to the board lined with rows of keys. Reaching up and stretching on the tips of her toes, she snagged the only key available from near the very top of the board, just below a lone empty hook. Adrian noticed the board had an outline of the entire hotel. And it seemed to be half empty, judging by the missing keys amid the rows.

The attendant turned around and readied to relinquish the key. Adrian held her hand out at the same time as Vincent. Bemused, the attendant looked at the old man. He relented with agitation and Adrian accepted the key. With a smile flashed to the attendant, Adrian looked at Vincent. Tension radiated from the old man.

"This way." Vincent let off with frustration, turned, and made for the elevator.

As they both stepped onto the lift, Adrian couldn't contain her irritation anymore. "You owe me an explanation."

The old man sighed. "Is that so? What is owed, and to what does it pertain?"

"I'm not getting hung out to dry. What's going on here?" Adrian began to ramble with fury as the elevator ascended. "What is their relationship, why is the leader of the Order of the Fallen Star so broken up over a supposed client? How did you manage to bury an entire cathedral hundreds of feet beneath the ground?" She threw out her hands, losing control of her senses, utterly confused by everything. "How has any of this not been discovered by the consortium yet?"

Vincent pinched the bridge of his nose and nodded, holding his hand out in a bid to ease Adrian. "You're right. I owe you an explanation."

"Thank you," Adrian blurted.

With a deep breath to calm himself as the elevator doors opened, Vincent ushered her from the lift.

Ahead of them was a short hall—white embossed walls, golden candelabras, and a marble floor. A lone hardwood door awaited them.

"Look, I just got in, not long before you. Let me explain everything over a meal." Vincent took his hat off, attempting to show a bit of respect. "Get settled, cleaned up. You have my word that I'll explain everything." He sounded exhausted.

Adrian looked him over and sensed authenticity in his words. It seemed she wasn't the only one that had a rough trip here.

Her anger subsided, and she nodded in acceptance. "I could use a bite to eat myself."

Vincent turned back toward the elevator. "I'll be along to come get you."

Adrian slipped the brass key into the door and with a resonant click from the archaic deadbolt, unlocked the door. The heavy hardwood gave way and she stepped into an equally magnificent room. She was amazed, letting the door slip shut. The hardwood walls wide and ceilings high, made Adrian feel microscopic against the backdrop of her surroundings. She had her own fireplace. The chairs, despite being ancient, were adorned with gold and had silk cushions. That's when she realized this was just an atrium. There was more to this place.

Before she could go explore, a firm knock rang out. She let off a chuckle and shook her head.

"Did you forget something Vinc—"

Before her a man loomed in a royal blue cloak and a long hood obscured most of his face. A wild energy radiated from him as a strong gale rushed in from the windows behind her afar.

"Adrianna Solus." He spoke flatly and raised his hand toward her.

 

[machinedhearts]

Adrian panicked, seeing the blue-hooded stranger reach toward her. Then she looked down and realized he was holding a small piece of paper with handwriting on it and a red wax seal. The stranger displayed it with a gloved hand. With her nerves easing, she looked closer at the piece of paper.

"Lex Dekker. I am here by Lady Acara's orders," the stranger spoke flatly.

With a discerning gaze, Adrian poured over his features. Lex looked like he got launched out of a cannon and tumbled through a second-hand costume store. A royal blue hooded cloak with gold embroidery, beneath that was a rough linen tunic, brown leather gloves, dark linen pants, and auburn jack boots. Despite the genuineness in his light green eyes, Adrian had doubts that he didn't rob the local theater in order to complete this get-up.

"Okay. And?" Adrian squinted at him, suspicious.

"I have been instructed by the lady to escort you until your duties have been completed."

Adrian cocked her eyebrow, confused. "What duties are these?"

Swiftly, Lex retreated his hand and returned the paper under his cloak. "That's well above my paygrade. I am but a simple guardian."

"So you're here to do whatever I say?" Adrian asked with tinges of amusement in her voice.

"Within reason," he let off an anticipatory sigh.

"Good. Get lost." Adrian slammed the door in his face.

With haste, she latched the lock and swiped the security chain over the door. Then pressing her back against it, she let off an exhausted groan. As she stood there and decompressed, letting the quiet around her seep into her mind, a chill rushed across her skin. Adrian stepped out of the atrium, and found the wall of windows ahead of her, all opened. Pure white drapes danced in the breeze. Not wanting to catch a cold from the sudden chill, she began closing and latching the windows shut.

Outside was a view of the port district in the distance. Somehow the typical rancid smell of the bay didn't reach the hotel. The scents of lavender and linen wafted. Perhaps it was just a potent fragrance they used to cover up the putrid stench of the surroundings. Closing everything, Adrian turned to take in the common area, also well-decorated. Then a lack entered Adrian's gut. She had no toiletries nor change of clothes. The thought of taking a shower and then getting back into dirty clothes skeeved her out.

A knock on the door rattled her from thought.

"I said go away!" Adrian puffed her chest and shouted, wanting nothing to do with Lex.

"Delivery, ma'am." A delicate, feminine voice called out.

Adrian deflated and after walking over to the door, opened it with a mild embarrassment. The front desk attendant was before her, holding a cardboard box.

"Delivery, per the request of Dr. Barone." The attendant spoke around the huge container in her arms. Vincent sent something up.

"I can take it." Adrian held out her arms and beckoned with both hands.

"It's no trouble. Allow me."

Adrian stepped aside and held the door open, letting her in. Then, with suspicion, lingered to search for Lex. She assumed he was just going to loiter. But the hallway was empty. Letting the door close on its own, Adrian turned and followed the attendant inside.

The attendant already had the common area closet opened and was hanging clothing on the rail. It was an elegant charcoal dress, with lace adornments and pearls.

Adrian dipped her brow in bewilderment. "Is the old man coming onto me?"

After hanging the dress, the attendant spun on her heels and clasped her hands together. "I don't believe so, ma'am. Dinner is formal, as always."

Feeling like a dunce, Adrian recoiled at the words and shut her mouth. She needed to change the subject.

Adrian cleared her throat. "Did you happen to see a strange guy hanging out in front of my door by any chance?"

Already turned to continue unpacking the box, the attendant shook her head while pulling out a small wooden container. "No ma'am. I was alone." She spoke flat and formally, then approached and held it out in offering.

Adrian received it and opened the elaborate case, which looked to be carved from a single block of wood with brass hinges. Another priceless antique passed around as a simple banal offering. Within were toiletries, some of them contraband, especially the perfume bottles. If she found a buyer for it on the black market, some of these items would pay her rent for the next several years.

Then Adrian realized she needed to tip the attendant. Before she could even reach into her pocket, the attendant already had the door open and was leaving. Blinking in confusion, Adrian found it strange she didn't want any sort of compensation for her effort.

"Are the rumors true?" The attendant lingered in the open door. "Has the Son of Stars returned?"

Adrian's hand hovered over her jacket pocket. "You mean the angel?"

The attendant nodded; a hopeful expression painted across her face. Thinking about what Acara said back in the cathedral, about how he was dying, Adrian squelched the idea of repeating it upon seeing the innocent expectation in the attendant's eyes.

"He is, yes." Adrian feigned an optimistic tone.

With a sigh of relief, the attendant's air of decorum evaporated, and her prim posture fell to a reassured slouch. "Finally, some good news. All hope isn't lost." She regained her composure with a gasp. "Excuse me. Good day." The attendant carefully latched the door shut.

Adrian blinked in confusion at the attendant's response, then turned and stared at the dress hanging in the open closet. It was time to suit up and get some answers. In the massive bathroom, she found a ghoulish reflection staring back. She was covered in blood, grease, dirt, and who knows what else. Divesting herself from her putrid attire, she stepped into the long-needed shower.

After, she found the dress strangely had a perfect fit. As she was contemplating how to put her hair together, the phone rang. An archaic landline which rang with a physical bell. Adrian answered, it was the attendant.

"My apologies for the disturbance ma'am, but Dr. Barone is awaiting you in the lobby."

Adrian thanked her and hung up. She didn't have much time to put together an elaborate hairdo, so after pulling her raven hair into a ponytail, she hoped it could be called good enough. In a panic, she almost forgot about her belongings in the pocket of her jacket.

Looking around for somewhere apt to hide it, Adrian found a small matching purse sitting on the couch. She was impressed, the old man thought of everything. Stuffing her belongings in, she stepped outside, locked the door, and onto the elevator at the end of the hall.

Descending to the lobby, Adrian stepped out to hear a familiar tune playing on the piano. It was an old marching song that her father used to hum her to sleep. At least, that's what she remembered of her father's explanation. On the piano it was just as calming, albeit a bit more emotionally charged.

Vincent stood from sitting on one of the couches. He looked far less run-down than when they first met. And in the same kind of business attire but changed for a dark navy over the light brown that he wore before. He approached and gave Adrian a gentlemanly nod.

"What a relief to see it fits." The old man gave a strained smile.

Adrian looked down and nodded. "A perfect fit, how did you know?"

"A lucky guess, I suppose. My daughter's."

"Oh, well I'll take extra care not to mess it up. I wouldn't want her to get mad at you." Adrian grinned coyly.

Vincent pursed his lips in restraint as a sudden painful expression etched upon his face. With a nod, he looked away. "I appreciate it." He clasped his hands and looked toward the piano. "I have someone I want you to meet. I've invited him to join us for dinner tonight."

The piano trailed off as Vincent spoke.

"He's someone I think you should get to know sooner than later." The old man beckoned to the pianist.

From behind the grand piano, Lex stood up. He was dressed in a tuxedo, something Adrian hadn't seen in a long while. She swallowed hard and clenched her teeth in frustration.

"He's taken the good fight to the dogs up on the plate and is well-decorated in turn."

Lex walked over with a serious and accusatory expression on his face, locked onto Adrian.

"May I present to you Lex Dekker, commander of the Second Arcanii detachment, and Scholar-Adept-In-Waiting." Vincent held a hand indicating towards Lex.

Lex held his hand out with a smug, satisfied look on his face.

 

[machinedhearts]

Adrian sat at the dinner table, baffled by her surroundings. When she heard formal, she thought of men in penguin suits and women in… well, what she was wearing, a gown. But every corner of the vast underground dining room was filled with formal military uniforms of all colors of regalia, most of which Adrian didn't recognize. It was like a military ball. Somehow Adrian found a way to stand out, even when following the rules. Lex and Vincent sat there and chatted amongst themselves, completely cutting Adrian out of the conversation. Getting a read on her environment, she spotted a trio of royal blue hooded men conversing at the far end of the room.

During a lull in the discussion, Adrian leaned toward Lex. "Are those friends of yours?" She motioned toward the blue hoods.

Lex sized her up for a moment then canted his head to look at what Adrian pointed toward.

"Something like that. Acquaintances." He took a sip of wine and turned back to Vincent and continued the conversation.

Adrian gritted her teeth and fought to keep her composure. She wasn't here to listen to them blab about whatever politics bothered them that day. Answers, she was here for them. And maybe a bit of food, she was starving. But nothing else, just business.

"Adrianna caught a good glimpse of him in the flesh, I hear." Lex leaned back in his chair, a sly smirk on his face. "Closer than any one of us could ever dream."

Somehow this guy figured out how to get under Adrian's skin and writhe his wicked tendrils around. Agitated, she shuffled in her seat.

"Yeah, it was a real blast." Her voice was thick with sarcasm. "Why don't you go see him for yourself? It's not like he's far."

The provocative smile on his face waned and he sat straight up. "It's simple. It's a place I'm forbidden. They'd have me killed on the spot, excommunicated."

"But Vincent here, can?" Adrian cocked an eyebrow, suspicious about the situation.

Clearing his throat, the old man shuffled in his seat. "That—that was extenuating circumstances." Vincent struggled to find his words.

Adrian nodded her head with exaggeration, finding irony in the whole situation. "So instead of corpos running around as the chosen few, we have the secluded clergy picking themselves as the elites. Fantastic work."

Lex scoffed and shook his head. "As if an outsider could understand even a portion of what our mission is, or why we're here." He flicked his parted blond hair and looked away.

"You're right, I don't understand. Why don't you help me out here." Adrian leaned forward and gritted her teeth, unable to hold back rage. "Every step I've taken so far has casted me deeper into a pit of utter confusion."

Lex took a deep breath and spread apart his hands resting on the table as to subtly shrug. "Ask away."

"What the hell is all this?" Adrian waved her hand in front of her. "This secret society that apparently was waiting for this guy to drop out of the sky. What is this lone angel going to do that will suddenly fix everything?"

"Perhaps we should—" Vincent leaned forward to interject and Lex held his hand out to quiet him.

Lex leaned forward and hushed his voice. "Nothing. He's a symbol for what's to come. That it's finally open season on the Queen of Sin." Rage tinged his voice, and his eye twitched.

The Queen of Sin. That was a new one. She'd never heard of anyone that went by that name. Adrian pinched the bridge of her nose; regret filled her for ever having started this conversation.

"Alright, you got me. I didn't study for the test. Who's this 'Queen of Sin'?" Adrian straightened her posture.

Lex sat back and let out a harsh exhale to steady his emotions. "The avatar of evil, she who comes to bring forth pain and suffering untold so to rule with absolute dominion and end all that lives."

Folding her hands on the table, Adrian cleared her throat in an attempt to bring levity in the wake of that bombshell. "I see why I haven't heard of her. A bit too long for a billboard, she should work on tightening up the tagline."

She wanted to quip about how the angel only being a symbolic figure would make him a fine ornament for the hood of her car. But considering how he handled himself with the gangers and the kingpin, Adrian was nowhere near facetious enough to speak out against those displays. If he was just a symbol of a greater calling, then this woman was overwhelmingly dangerous. Something didn't add up.

"So, the angel stands no shot of taking her out?" Adrian folded her arms and leered at Lex. "I highly doubt that."

Lex sat up and his angry expression eased, surprised by her vote of confidence. "I—well…"

"My area of expertise." Vincent leaned toward the table. "Legend says that when the Queen of Sin emerges from her corrupted cocoon to unleash evil upon the world, the harbinger of the Heavenly Legion will descend and beckon forth the Old Ones to once again drive away she of life's bane."

Adrian's stomach gurgled and a sudden realization struck her. "You're waging a holy war against the Cresica Consortium, aren't you?"

Lex threw his hands up in frustration. "She didn't hear a word you spoke." He turned to Vincent.

"No, I did. I get it now." Adrian nodded with confidence. "The goofy outfits, and the whole antique thing, which I love by the way—this aesthetic needs to come back with a vengeance. But this whole… thing." She gestured to the room broadly. "It all makes sense now. You're waging a guerilla war against the consortium in the name of your god. Or gods, I'm not really sure yet."

As Lex let out a defeated sigh and started to open his mouth, the trio of royal blue cloaks emerged from the corner of the room and loomed over Adrian.

"Goofy outfits, you say." The raspy voice of the cloak closest to Adrian was charged with the rage of being insulted.

Lex turned away and chewed on his tongue in frustration. "Adeptus Silas, good evening. Didn't expect the First to be on station as well." Speaking with jovial tone, he turned and looked at the cloak towering over the seated Adrian.

"Of course, a bottom-of-the-barrel arcanus such as yourself wouldn't know the comings and goings of his own people." Silas's voice was laced with venom though he remained locked onto Adrian. "But it is me who is the real fool for expecting you to have a bit more dignity than to entertain interlopers in this sacred place."

Silas bent down and got in Adrian's face. "And you. Allow me to be the first to extend the warmest of welcomes to an esteemed guest. It is quite a rarity these days. I don't know from what machinated hellhole you crawled out from under but let me offer my deepest gratitude for your joining us tonight. Now get out."

Adrian blinked in confusion at the overwhelming hostility emanating from the strange-clothed man. Apparently blue cloaks are sacrosanct. As she opened her mouth to speak, Vincent placed a firm hand on her arm to quiet her and gave a subtle shake of the head.

With an angry groan, Lex stood and straightened his chest, squaring up with Silas. "That's not how it's going down. Back off."

Silas stood up straight and let off a bellowing cackle before mocking Lex's words. "I find it adorable that we let just any rube put on the cloak these days." He then turned his chin up in defiance. "But my dear apprentice, it is… as you say… how it will go down." The adeptus grinned. "As if you had anything to say about it."

"She is under the protection of the Lady herself. And on the Lady's honor, no harm will find her." Lex's serious tone as he pointed at Adrian caught her off guard.

The adeptus rolled his eyes. "Yes, that's all well-and-good but the world is a dangerous place. It was unwise of the Lady to risk impinging her honor for a life so fragile." He sized up Lex. "Besides, if this were true, why would the Lady depend on the likes of you? I wouldn't count on you to find snow in a blizzard."

Lex gritted his teeth in fury and leaned into Silas. "Maybe it's because she knew I wasn't some craven adeptus coasting on his minute fame to save him from doing dirty work."

Vincent snatched Adrian up by the arm. "Time to go." He spoke with imperativeness as he yanked her from being seated and toward the exit.

Around them, the other tables cleared out as well. Lex and Silas were chest-to-chest and all but growling at each other.

"You forgot the first rule of combat, arcanus." Silas hissed. "Strike first or be first struck."

A sudden chill filled the air as he raised his hand over his head. A vortex of frost encircled around him and in the blink of an eye, a crystalline blade formed in his clenched fist.

Adrian gasped in horror at the sight of the weapon materializing from thin air, and the adeptus ready to strike down Lex.

 

[machinedhearts]

Adrian froze in mid-stride, shocked by what was happening only a few steps away. With a conjured glacier sword cocked over his head, Silas readied to cut down Lex. The omnipresent chorus filled the room, nearly deafening Adrian. Then the adeptus's eyes glowed magenta and his companions evaporated in a puff of smoke. As she stopped, unable to look away, Vincent tugged her arm harder.

"You don't want to be anywhere near this, let's get out of here." He shouted.

Lex rushed forward and jabbed his hand under Silas's arm, preventing the strike. As he latched on, Silas punched Lex in the face and launched him backwards. Adrian gasped in concern as Lex slid over a dining table, hurling all of the dinnerware across the floor, falling on his head. Then the adeptus turned and brandished his sword at Adrian from afar, a frosty mist poured from its jagged handguard.

"Die, for the betterment of this world." Silas hollered, his eyes frenzied.

With a sweep of his free arm, he summoned a cyan circle in front of his chest, about as tall as he was and twice as wide. It had many twisting, gnarled glyphs in each smaller circle oriented symmetrically on the cardinal axes. The symbols glowed brighter than the translucent outer shapes. The room grew darker, and the circle began to scintillate. Vincent's jaw dropped in shock and his grip on Adrian's arm eased.

Winding up, the adeptus flung his sword arm up and launched the blade over his head. The ice sword burst into dozens of razer-sharp shards hovering in a semicircle over Silas. Then each frosty tip aligned, directed at Adrian. With a devious grin, the adeptus dropped his hand. Vincent shoved Adrian aside and launched himself between her and the homing ice shards. The sudden heroism took her by surprise, as much as the arcane evocations.

"The Queen of Sin will fall. And you with her, you weak-willed coward." Vincent shouted at Silas.

The adeptus smiled with insanity. The cyan circle burst and dissipated. Then the old man braced as the icy daggers took flight.

"Bardocucullus!" Lex's voice boomed over the quieting chorus.

Like a wave rising from the horizon and crashing upon the shore, a shadow coalesced from the corners of the room into a chaotic, twisting sheet and dove down upon Lex, who was recovering from the attack. It swept around him like a cyclone and yanked his presence into the vortex. Then like a bolt of lightning, the shadow surged forth into the path of Silas's ice darts. As it struck the ground, the shadow unraveled and Lex emerged in his royal blue cloak and linen outfit, changed from his formal attire in the blink of an eye.

With the flick of his cape, Lex summoned a gale that swept across the room. Tables and chairs soared, silverware and plates smashed against the wall. Adrian panicked, covering her head as debris crashed all around. The darts exploded from the wind pressure and the particles were swept away in the gale.

Silas cackled. "Parlor tricks! I'm insulted you'd dare try and bring me down to your level.

After adjusting his gloves, Lex flicked his wrist and the winds stopped in a heartbeat. "I wouldn't waste the effort to dispose of vermin like you."

"I'm crushed. Though I can't help but feel the same. Excuse me, if you will, that I show you something new I've learned." Silas cast off his cloak. As he did, his black sleeveless vest revealed deep scars etched into his shoulders. "I have to admit, it took some practice."

From his hip, the fallen adeptus produced a dagger and carved a symbol deep into his arm, much like what showed on the cyan circle he summoned earlier. For a moment, blood poured from his wound, but it then quickly seeped back into Silas's body. Lex's face washed over with shock.

"Bardo, get her out of here." Lex tossed his cloak off and it darted into the shadows.

From the darkness near the ceiling, the cloak reappeared, fell, and wrapped around Adrian.

A snappy voice called out to Adrian all around her. "This ain't no time for layin' around. We gotta get going!" It was the cloak speaking to her.

As an orb of purple fire rose from the fallen adeptus's wounds, the world around Adrian faded. It felt like she leaped into a warm pool but didn't feel wet. Instinctually, she closed her eyes and held her breath, afraid she would drown. But the longer she held it, the deeper she fell into this body of water. She clenched tight onto the cloak, desperate not to pass out. Panic set in as her lungs burned from not breathing. With no other choice, her body forced her to exhale. Shortly after, as consciousness began to fade, she inhaled.

The sickly-sweet smell of death filled her nostrils and her eyes darted open. She was floating on the surface of an endless ocean, a faint purple void extended in every direction. The water was flat, calm.

"Boy golly, I thought we were gonners there," Bardo said.

Adrian thrashed to keep her head above water. Her dress was soaked and began to pull her down. The cloak clung to her despite abandoning any attempt to keep it held close. She began to tire.

"You look like you're having some trouble there."

"Yes. Help." Adrian managed to sputter as she struggled to keep her face from underwater.

"I thought after that nap you took; you'd have more energy than that. Well, just stand up."

Adrian wanted to curse at the stupid thing but had neither the energy nor the breath to spare.

"Here, like this," Bardo proclaimed.

An ethereal force swept her up by the hips and plopped her feet first, upon the surface of the water. It felt like she was walking on dry sand, despite feeling the small ripples, that were caused by her motion, smack against her ankles. She bit her tongue, and the pain confirmed she wasn't dreaming, or dead.

"What is this place?" Adrian looked around.

"It's where dreams come from. And nightmares too. Oh, and where life begins and ends."

"Did I die?" Adrian spoke with panic.

"No, no, I don't think you're dead. You'd know it, that's for sure. It's not a fun ride."

Adrian felt a shiver run down her spine and she pulled the cloak tight around her body. "Then how did we end up here?"

"That's a good question. I don't know. Usually, I whip through here in a moment. It's how I get from place to place in the real world."

Behind Adrian, a golden light ignited and lit the sky. Fearful, she turned, expecting some hell spawn to descend upon her. But in the distance, a lone figure sat upon a small bluff. A force then shoved Adrian from behind and she stumbled forward.

"Whoa, whoa, alright we'll go over there then." Bardo spoke with surprise.

"That wasn't me." Adrian insisted.

Like a leaf on the wind, Bardo whisked them upwards, and they soared toward the glowing figure. It felt similar to before, like she was floating through water. In less than a minute, they closed on the small bluff and the figure. As they got closer, Adrian better saw the shape of the figure's silhouette. It was the angel. The cloak careened toward the bluff but as they closed, a force pushed them and they bounced like a ball off a trampoline, landing at the foot of the cliff.

The sphere of light over the angel blinded. Adrian held her hand up over her face to blunt the pain of what was effectively staring at the sun. But she needed to know if it was him, even a momentary glimpse would satisfy her curiosity. Unable to make any details of the angel, and pain besieging her ocular nerves, she relented.

"Is it you?" Adrian called out. She knew it was a foolish attempt. If it really was him, the angel wouldn't be able to understand what she was saying.

"It is I." The angel's baritone voice boomed, echoing out through the nothingness all around. His accent was thick.

"If that is true, then you know who I am, don't you?"

The angel leapt from his perch upon the bluff and slammed into the water. The wave created caused Adrian to stumble back. Unable to keep her footing on the chaotic surface, she tripped and fell backwards. The angel walked forward, and as he did, the golden light upon the bluff dimmed. And she could make out his features clearly in the violet glow of the void above. It was him.

"I know. You who claims not to be my daughter."

Adrian wanted to argue, to set the record straight. But being in this strange place, with such an unpredictable character made her uneasy and she relented.

The angel shifted on his feet. "If you aren't, then how are you here?"

"How are you here, are you dying?" Adrian goaded.

"No. I am dead." The angel spoke matter-of-factly.