DISTRICT 11 HOUR BEFORE THE EXPLOSION
I was bored out of my mind, just sitting in front of the computer. I always preferred action over this glorified guard duty. I knew it was wrong to think like that—being called into action meant something serious was going down, something that wasn't supposed to happen.
Still, the room felt more like a prison than a post. The steel walls, with their sleek embossed designs and glowing blue lines, annoyed me. Everything was just too modern.
The screen in front of me showed a stretched-out map of the entire Pangi continent, overflowing with so much data it made my head ache. I missed the days when screens were small, square, and came in two colors: black and green.
I sighed, scratched my beard with my mechanical fingers, and kept staring at the green dots blinking across the blue map. Back in my day, if something urgent happened, a paper would print out with the info, and I'd have to sprint to figure it out before anything went wrong. Now, everything was easier—easier and boring.
And just as I thought that, one of the green lights turned red. I nearly jumped out of my chair.
I typed on the keyboard slowly, the old-fashioned way—completely against everything my typing course taught me—double-checking if the alert was real.
When I confirmed it was, a weary smile tugged at my lips. It meant action. And action meant tragedy.
"Robot, call the Commander," I said, lighting up a thick cigar.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Vega?" came a robotic voice from the computer. "She is currently occupied with the—"
"Just call her, you bucket of bolts! Tell her it's urgent!" I snapped.
"Ooh, an urgent call! How thrilling!" it said.
A moment later, the door slid open and in walked a tall woman, skin darker than midnight, with long, straight black hair. Her gaze was commanding, and though she was beautiful, the crow's feet beneath her eyes were visible—not that it made her any less stunning.
"Hey, Negra," I said, giving her a sloppy, half-hearted salute.
"Greetings, Vega." She strode toward me with her hands clasped behind her back, nose up, every bit the officer. A white crescent moon tattoo sat in the center of her forehead.
"Found something. Oh yeah, I did." I turned to the screen and pointed at the red light. "Next channeling. It's there."
She narrowed her eyes at the map and swiped to zoom in on the location.
"District 2."
"Sector C," I added. "Just say the word and I'm heading out."
Negra kept her gaze on the point, lost in thought. Then she looked at me and, with a knowing smile, said:
"And who else would I send but you?"
DISTRICT 2 – Hydro City – Sector C30 MINUTES BEFORE THE EXPLOSION
Getting to Sector C isn't that complicated. I just need to talk to Octavio—one of the only dealers from District 4 that still shows up around here. And, unfortunately, my loan shark.
We're meeting on the roof of some rundown house where his gang hangs out. I'm about to ask him for another favor, which basically means I'm digging myself deeper into debt with him. Just like always.
As soon as I arrive, his guys escort me through the ground floor. Everyone here wears something green. That's no coincidence.
When I reach the top, I find Octavio standing at the edge of the rooftop, scanning the sector from the ledge. I still remember how I flinched the first time I saw his legs—they're prosthetics.
I never did find out how he lost them. We always kept things strictly business. As far as I'm concerned, the missing legs are the only thing that make him seem even remotely human. A reminder that, at the end of the day, he can bleed like the rest of us.
He wears round protective goggles, a green and black cap, and a mask covering his mouth and nose, detailed in green and black. A green tactical vest leaves his arms exposed, and his cargo shorts match—green with way too many pockets.
We chat a bit. I end up explaining most of my situation, carefully leaving out anything that could really screw me over. Of course, he brings up the debt I already owe him. As usual, I tell him I'll figure out how to pay him back later.
He agrees. He always does. He knows I'll pay him back, no matter how ridiculous the interest on his favors gets. He knows I'm honest enough to do that—unlike him.
If I added up all the money I've already paid this guy just in interest, I could probably be living in a high-tier sector by now.
"But of course, my friend," he says at last, giving in. "The clock's ticking." He taps his wrist with his finger, over and over. "Tick-tock, tick-tock!"
The rush is probably because the authorization has a time limit. If I take too long, I'll get caught. Time to head out, owing one more favor to a criminal. One day I'll bring this guy down. But not today.
On my way out, one of his men hands me a paper. It's one of those permits that lets you get through inspection points.
I grab my bike and pedal toward a checkpoint nearby, show the guards my document, and get through without a hitch.
Now comes the hard part—finding that guy's house.I can't believe I'm actually doing this. Believe me when I say I'd rather deal with Octavio a thousand times over than deal with who I'm about to face.
If I'm not mistaken, it's near the edge of the sector.I turn down a few streets until I find a small white house. I lock my bike to a pole right in front of the entrance and ring the bell. My hands are sweaty.
I wait a while. With each passing second, I rethink whether this is really worth it.The answer, obviously, is no.
The door opens and out steps a tall guy with short dark hair, wearing business clothes—just missing the tie.It's exactly who I least wanted to see. My brother.
"Hey, Noren," I say, doing my best to hide how much I hate being here.
He doesn't even try to hide it.
"I don't have time for this, Kaiki." He tries to shut the door, but I catch it with my hand.
"Excuse me?! This is my house."
"And what do I care?!" I shove the door open and step inside.
Inside, the place is neat, though small. Just a kitchen connected to a tiny living room, and a door off to the side that probably leads to the bedroom.
"You know breaking and entering is a crime, right?"
"Oh, come on!" I turn to him, annoyed. "You gonna arrest your own brother now?"
"I don't have time for this, Kaiki!" He heads to the couch and starts putting on his tie. "I've got a job. My time matters. Unlike you, who just wanders around doing whatever."
"I work too!" I throw my arms out. "For myself—and for others."No reaction from him.Alright, time to poke the bear.
"Since when is pushing paper behind a desk all day considered work, Noren?"And for good measure—"Pretty sure I still make more than you."
"Sure, whatever. You win." He finishes tightening the tie around his neck. "Now get out of my house. Go kill yourself helping everyone else—just like Dad did."
Son of a bitch.Now that was a low blow.
"Dad died doing what was right!"
"Oh, wow. Good for him." He claps, slow and sarcastic. "He left three kids behind and let Mom die alone. Real heroic."
"Mom died because she got sick!" I step in closer.
He scowls and steps in too.
"She died of heartbreak, you—" He cuts himself off and backs away, adjusting his tie.Noren doesn't swear. He only does that when he loses an argument.
Dad used to say that people who can sit in silence together are meant for each other.Well, this silence says it all.
"Noren…" I start, already in apology mode. "If I'd just found a little more money back then, we could've gotten her better treatment…"
"For the King's sake, Kaiki!" He throws a punch in the air, then storms closer, face flushed red. "We spent every damn credit from the government trying to keep her alive! Your 'little extra' wouldn't have changed a thing. Wake up! In the end, we lost Dad, lost Mom, and ended up with nothing!"
Even if that's true, we still had each other.We could've done something—together. As a family.But Noren had other plans.
"And now, without Mom or Dad, you come crawling back for money?" I glance around his tidy little house, full of disdain. "Doesn't look like it's working out that great, big brother."
"Yeah, go ahead and mock me—but at least I've got stability from a real job. You know what that word means, Kaiki? Stability? If I have kids and die doing something stupid, they'll get an inheritance. Something Dad…"
"Stop talking about Dad!" I shout. "And what's this about having a kid? Poor thing's gonna starve to death with how cheap you are."
"Watch your mouth, punk!" He steps up to me, pissed, practically nose-to-nose. "I'm still your older brother!"
"Are you, though?" I whisper. I see the confusion in his eyes. "You know, I've always wondered which side of the family you got that asshole gene from."
"Shut up!"
He lunges and slams me into the wall. My backpack softens the blow a bit, but my head still smacks hard against the concrete.
I spring forward, wrapping my arms around his waist and lifting him clean off the ground. He elbows my back repeatedly as I carry him into the living room.
I throw him down with everything I've got. But of course, he doesn't take it lying down.We roll over each other, scrambling for control, until he lands a punch right to my face.
Before he can hit again, I reflexively shove his face with an open palm. He stumbles back, holding his nose.I jump to my feet and slam a fist into his face.
Noren blocks it just in time, deflecting my arm to the side. That opens me up—he pushes me back and drives a kick straight into my gut. Another punch crashes into my cheek and sends me flying.
Lucky for me, I slam into the wall and don't hit the ground.If I'd fallen now, the fight would be over.He's lethal once you're on the floor.
I'm no slouch in a fight, but going up against my brother? That's a whole different story.He taught me most of what I know.The rest I picked up on the streets.But lately… it feels like he's gotten rusty.Back in the day, he would've had my arm twisted by now.
"No more games!" I yell, charging at him.
He raises his guard and throws a punch—I sidestep it and sweep his legs out.As he stumbles, I grab him by the collar and drive him backward into the wall.
I reach behind me and pull out my baton.
He tries to react, but I choke him, pressing my forearm hard against his throat.I point the baton at his face, panting, breath ragged.
I hold him there a second longer, then finally release him and step back, still gripping the baton tightly.He nearly collapses, coughing hard.
"If… if you had just sold that thing… we could've had the money."
"Again with this?" I snap. "That baton belonged to our father!"And yeah, I know he's not wrong—metal's easy to sell around here, and it goes for a decent price.But still—"No. You're never selling this. Not unless I'm dead."
We fall back into that awful silence for a while.He catches his breath.I put the baton away.
"That's what you came here to say?" he asks, fully recovered now. "If that's all, message received."He gestures to the door. "Now get out."
"I haven't even started." I walk toward him, arms crossed. "You're going to apologize to Nara."
"What?" His voice cracks. "You came all the way here to feed me that crap?"
"It's crap to you. But not to her."
"And why exactly should I apologize, little brother?" he says mockingly. "I just told her what I think. And that opinion's not changing."
"Yeah, you're allowed to have your shitty opinion. Just don't act like a shitty person." I jab a finger into his chest. "You hurt her that day. You made her feel like garbage."
"Good," he says coldly. "And I have my views. You don't have to like them—but that's what they are. I've got nothing to be sorry for."
"Oh, but you do." I get closer, backing him up against the wall. "Let me tell you something, since you're too wrapped up in your little corporate bubble to know what's going on: Nara's sick. I'm the only one taking care of her. And you know what would do wonders for her spirit? A bit of support from her asshole brother. That'd make her day."
"Support?" He looks genuinely offended. "You want me to give her money?"
God, I want to jam this baton somewhere the sun doesn't shine.Instead, I pull out the pouch full of cash Mr. Nicolas gave me and shove it into his hand.
"You don't have to. I already handled that part. You're going to take this money, walk your bureaucratic ass to the healer's house where she's staying, knock on the door, apologize for being a piece of shit, and hand over the damn cash."
"I'm not doing that."
I punch the wall—right next to his face.
"Listen up, big brother," I growl. "She's gonna need money to stay there. I can't deliver it, because your wonderful government says I need clearance to cross into that part of the city. You have that clearance. So you deliver it. If Nara dies because you couldn't be bothered to walk across town and hand someone an envelope, I swear to God I'll smash your face in."
He looks down at the metal baton strapped to my backpack.Then, finally, meets my eyes.
"That baton's mine. I'm the oldest."
"That baton's only gonna be yours when I shove it all the way up your ass."I turn and walk to the door.
"Better hurry, brother. Wouldn't want to be late for your 'real job,' now would you?" I say, voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Go fuck yourself, Kaiki."
15 MINUTES UNTIL THE EXPLOSION