Saavi perched on the edge of a building, watching the warehouse through diamond-shaped, glowing eyes. The only windows were the strips of glass on either side of the pointed roof. Graffiti covered most of the metal shutters on the front side of the building, as well as the single door to the right. The Eastside ports were far away, meaning the streets around the warehouse were mostly deserted.

The perfect hideout.

“Yes, Astra?” the Commissioner said, over the phone. A new one she had bought just for this occasion.

“Astraea.”

“Astraea. We have confirmation that Jun Bloom is currently inside that warehouse.”

Saavi got to her feet, “I’ll smash through the roof and-”

“Remember, you are working with me. And so, in turn, you are working with the police.”

She sighed, “And?”

“And we don’t think he’ll be any trouble. Not for you, anyway. Take that door to the right. He should be just inside. If he tries to run, you’re allowed to pin him down, but no more than that.”

You’re allowed to pin him down? Who’s going to stop me if I decide to break one of his arms? Or just end him right there? Saavi thought bitterly, but she left her vantage point from the building all the same. She activated the propulsors before she hit the ground, slowing her fall. “Entering the warehouse now.” she said.

“Good luck. Reinforcements are here if you need them.”

Saavi hung up and stuffed her phone in its little pouch. Seriously, she needed to get a mic outfitted in the helmet.

She approached the doors, taking a deep breath. Jun Bloom. A monster who had taken not only the lives of her parents, but many, many more.

You bastard, here I come.

She pressed both hands against the metal warehouse door and activated the propulsors. The metal bent backwards. She kicked the door down and burst into the warehouse, then darted down the corridor and into the openness of the main storage room.

The lights came on instantly.

Armed soldiers stood on the mezzanine that went all around the warehouse, their weapons pointed at her. Commissioner Lawson blocked her path, holding a weapon she had never seen before - something big and clunky, hastily put together. It made a buzzing noise as the cylinder inside started to spin.

“I’m sorry, Astraea.”

Piece of shit.

Multiple wires shot out of the barrel of the gun just as Saavi leapt into the air. Officers fired all around her, a few bullets ricocheting off her suit. She should have headed for the roof, escaped through the glass. But she had a score to settle with the Commissioner.

She punched an officer in the face, taking his gun to fire at the ground, hitting a few of the others in the feet. She moved through them - her elbow smashed into someone’s nose, spraying blood everywhere, she tossed someone else off the mezzanine. He landed on his back, groaning. She made quick work of the others while they stood still, in shock. The Commissioner watched her from below. She pounced at him, but he pointed the gun at her and fired-

He sidestepped, but the wires had caught her.

The barrel of the gun crackled with electricity. She could feel the tingling sensation all over her body, but it wasn’t enough to stop her. A makeshift taser-gun? That had been his plan?

And then the suit started to heat up. All over her, the outer and lower layers of the suit became very, very hot. Burning hot. She tried to pull the wires off, but they sent a nasty shock running through her body. She dropped to her knees. There was no other option-

“Release,” she whispered. The suit opened up, and she fell out of it, wearing her black jumpsuit. Luckily, the helmet wasn’t attached to the main armour, as well as the gloves and shoes. The Commissioner grabbed her by the wrist and swiftly handcuffed her to one of the mezzanine’s support pillars. She felt the stretch in her shoulder.

He walked towards the suit and tapped it with his foot. The capacitors had been overloaded, and the suit had shut down, going dark and locking up. She could say the command word to reboot it, but what then? There was no way she could use it like this.

“What are you going to do? Send me to jail?”

“I’m afraid so,” the Commissioner said, pulling his phone from his pocket. “unfortunately, you brutalised all my men, so-”

“They deserved it.” Saavi spat, glaring at the bodies around the warehouse. Some squirmed, while others lay still.

“They were simply following orders. My orders.” he glanced towards the suit, “The most important thing right now is to-”

He was cut off by his phone ringing in his hand. He paused a moment, then answered the phone call, stretching his right arm. The one made of metal.

“Hello?” he said, turning his back to her, “What do you want?” She couldn’t make out the voice on the other end. The Commissioner shook his head, “If you think there’s the slightest chance, I’ll-” he glanced over his shoulder, where one of the officers was leaning against the wall, gun in his hands. For a moment, the Commissioner went pale. Then his eyes steeled over, and he grit his teeth, “Okay. I understand.” He hung up.

The officer pointed his gun at the Commissioner, gesturing towards the door. The Commissioner started walking, the officer limping behind him.

“Who was that on the phone?” she yelled, but no one took any notice, “Who was it? Tell me!”

The Commissioner gave her a stern glance and left the room. Saavi pulled on the handcuffs, her heart beating so hard she could feel it in her head. Aarav would know something was wrong. He would notice that the suit had been deactivated. But what could he do? Call the police?

Edam had been right. Such an obvious trap, but she hadn’t listened. And now she was going to pay the price.