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It was still before sunrise outside the café. There was still hardly a sound to be heard outside the rare passing car. Kerry climbed into her Ap50’s cockpit, closed the door and reaffixed her helmet. “Andre.”

“Yeah,” he wearily responded.

“Why aren’t you going down? It’s your turn, remember.”

“I’ve already been twice. I’m good on everything. Sam needs the sleep, anyway.”

Kerry stopped to think back on everything explained to her, along with the extras that came afterward. “As much as I feel we both need the sleep possibly more than her, I still feel sorry for her.”

“Same. Hate to admit it, but we’re used to this by now, sadly.”

“It’s not that,” she answered back with a sigh. “I realize a lot of what I’ve felt about her has come from me feeling like I need to bring her in. Like I’ve been trying to save her from something, but I don’t know what.”

Andre chuckled dryly. “Oh God, you sound like Ms. Norris.”

Wow, it’s like he read my mind. “I probably do. She did rub off a lot on us. But Andre, speaking of her…” She then hesitated before continuing with a smaller voice. “I think… all of us have an issue to deal with. Everyone had been putting Sam on a pedestal, and we ended up doing the same thing, I guess, but Sebastian… That’s her ‘bee eff’, yet we just got through looking at some messages that showed him with Ms. Norris.”

“With Ms. Norris?! What?! She’s like… forty! What the hell were you even doing earlier?”

“We had some… girl talk, then she wanted to check messages she never got to check since the Casino. A girl she said was her friend took some pictures at Jazira Station and... never mind. Look, I don’t know if the pictures were real or not, but what it makes me think is that, in all seriousness, Sam is here still not knowing what she wants anymore because she didn’t exactly act like her life was over seeing her guy like that. She doesn’t know what to do, who to trust. I can’t help but continue to pity her.”

“She looks up to you.”

She looks up to me? Kerry wasn’t expecting to hear that, making her swallow her next sentence.

Andre then continued: “I could tell she hated you something special at first, you know, back in Singapore? But ever since Dhaka, I can tell she has been taking after you quite a good bit. I think she’s been looking for a friend to trust as if she’s never made a real friend before. I have to stop and realize that sometimes. Kinda’ like myself. I was hoping Sebastian would’ve been someone I could consider the same, but that was all too short-lived as you know.”

“You really think she thinks that?”

“I had always despised the rich, but I also learned more about their type more than I ever wanted to along the way while growing up. Way back in Hargrove, no one could live without having your face all up in the stark contrast between our side and theirs daily. They don’t make friends, Kerry. They just move in whatever they call their constructs that change as their superiors change it. Be it parents, bosses, their professional circles, whoever it was over them in the pecking order...”

“Is that how all Space Nations were?”

“From what I could tell, Akkadia One was the absolute worst.” He then took in another breath in thought before continuing. “Kerry, I think you wanted her to like you equally as much, not just the other way around.”

She did open up on everything as if she deep down dd want to tell me all along. I mean, I would’ve been intimidated of myself it the shoe was on the other foot. Kerry now was feeling like she had the torch passed to her, the burden of guilt knowing she could tell Andre so much about what they knew and what was about to adversely affect their next day’s outcome once the jamming net lifted, but something held her back. She now felt this might have been similar to what Sam had felt up until that talk.

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●　● Manila-Malate District

Looking over the bay from the top of the Legapsi Towers at just over twenty stories high, Isaiah had a clear, unobstructed view of the Coast Guard headquarters building. It was still quiet, but he wasn’t there for observing any particular activity. He slowly turned around as he checked his watch, looking at a timer steadily creeping towards 0:00. He then pulled out his mobile and swiped to a screen that showed a screen loaded with various coding logs. Once the timer silently flickered 0:00, he pressed the “input” command, quickly swiping over to a different screen.

One of the local news stations was pulled up. A live segment was rolling, and Isaiah took his seat against the wall as he adjusted his earpiece to listen in. After a few minutes passed, what he wanted to see had just begun as he unmuted the channel.

“This just in,” the newswoman started. “Valenzuela, Quezon, and Parañaque have all reported the recovery of their wireless communications seemingly all at once. No one has yet to determine the source of the signal’s jamming, but officials have been quick to argue the cause being terroristic or not.”

“With major cabinet elections upcoming, the topic of the Charter Change has been thought to take a more peaceful turn as of late,” the newswoman’s partner next to her began. “But this all potentially comes crashing to a halt as former foreign affairs minister Ongoco, who retired from his last government post in 2160, was found shot and killed while staying at his youngest daughter’s house in Valenzuela just hours earlier.”

Isaiah let out a troubled sigh upon hearing the name. He always tried to keep himself from hearing the names of those victimized by the progressing of their plans.

The newsman continued on: “And although the two suspected perpetrators were shot and killed by an unidentified resident, Hexa-marked guns were found to have been used in the murder.” The scene of the crime where Sam had made her escape was then shown on-screen. Everything had been taped off by local police. “Hexa representatives were already on the scene upon our reporter’s arrival, each speaking of the wrongful accusations, stating the weapons were stolen weeks prior.”

“But with how Hexa’s Infinity Program has tried to take a turn in its involvement with local demonstration organizers, this has to come off as the worst possible timing,” the female host picked back up. “The pressure is on Hexa and how they can clear their involvement with the loss of a long-time P4C supporting member.”

The screen now panned back to the studio as the co-host added: “And with information steadily trickling in, we will continue to update the area with any major discoveries.” He then paused to accept an update to his station’s alert screen. “This just in, there were sightings of three Hexa LTAC units on foot near Highway 26 in the Valenzuela area. They have apparently been parked near the MayNet Bank and Apartment Towers since more than an hour ago. This falls outside of the normal duty hours scheduled by Infinity, and has local residents as well as police in suspicion of some sort of connection with Ongoco’s murder.”

Isaiah turned off the feed as he clicked the main button on his earpiece several times before speaking quietly: “Tamaz. Highway 26 MayNet Bank. Go.”

“-Reaper!” A distorted voice snapped in suddenly over the same channel. The distortion pattern matched the one typically used by Rex. “What is the meaning of this?!”

It showed in Isaiah’s eyes he had no time to spare for useless arguments, electing to ignore him for now as he headed for the stairwell entry.

“This is the second time you have defied orders. Don’t think there will be room for your existence if you try this again.”

“All I ever do is upgrade your plans, but you already know my history,” he huffed, shaking his head. “You can’t just turn the people nor their military against Infinity- This isn’t Bangladesh.” He then reached over to his earpiece and disconnected from the channel with another click of a button. Tyrus may be naïve but Rex has become overly arrogant and predictable, he thought as he entered the stairwell, quietly and carefully descending. I hope Tamaz got my call because this is his only window of opportunity.

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●　● Manila-Valenzuela Region

Sam burst from the exit of the internet café, trying not to lose her balance running while trying to finish zipping up her flight jacket.

As she finished climbing into the cockpit, slinging her bag under the seat, she could hear both Kerry and Andre’s LTACs already warming up their boosters. “Fill me in!” she shouted over the radio as kicked the under-seat cubby closed and reached for her helmet.

“I was going to explain the crazy shit the news just spun earlier, but forget that!” She heard Andre shout back to her as she pulled her visor down. “There’s something dropping from orbit above us right after the jamming went down!”

Sam didn’t catch the time, but through her visuals she noticed the sky had already started brightening up as sunrise approached. “Nothing on the radar, right?”

“That’s what always has me worried when this kind of thing happens!” Kerry added in over the channel as Sam started her booster warming sequence.

She then looked around, noticing there were a considerable number of apartment residents from across the way looking out over their balconies over and down at them. This was, however, the first time in her experiences that the onlookers didn’t appear menacing.

“Just hoping they didn’t turn the locals on us like last time!” Andre continued.

Sam didn’t see fear or contempt this time. She instead felt as if they were concerned more than anything. “Let’s not jump to any conclusions yet.” But then a quick flash of blue washed over her visuals, causing her to freeze up for that moment.

“This is all the work of Rex, and now Revenant is inbound on your position,” Tyrus’ now well-recognized, digitally altered voice came up just before fading right back out, all over the course of that one short moment.

Damn it, of course he would! The jamming cleared and we are now sitting fucking ducks out here in the open! Her mind raced, figuring the best way to announce their need to move and move quickly but without upsetting the others- Wait! Kerry had to have heard that! Hmm… Damn…

But it was like Kerry read her mind by how she shouted out: “Y’all! Let’s plan later and focus on getting the hell out of here! We’re wide open on their radars without jamming up!”

YES! LOVE YOU! THANK YOU, KERRY! “Right on that!”

They each aimed their noses to their immediate southeast, preparing to jump.

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Revenant’s cloaked LTAC sped down Highway 26 on an interception course, having very little traffic to fight as he closed in quickly. He then saw his three targets jump directly away from him, boosters on full blast. “They must have gotten tipped again. They’ve got to be headed for their base via field hopping. Intercept along the Tullahan River clearings.” He then had another thought before waiting for a response: “And put that search order out for Tenshi. Execute on sight.”

“Roger,” a voice answered back. “We got plenty to take care of that.”

As a few seconds passed, another voice came up on his channel: “Revenant, this is Rush reporting in, about one minute from interception point with those Hexa pilots. My crew is asking what to do with the couple of Tyrus lackeys between here and there? Are they considered a threat, yet?”

“Priority targets first,” Revenant quickly replied. “Then you take anyone out who tries to interfere regardless of their affiliation.”

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With a series of firm thuds following the landing impacts, roller-extended feet carried the Axiom and the Ap50s down a sizeable stretch of open field that led to a large highway interchange. “Flex defense minus tail!” Kerry ordered as radar updates started rolling in.

Sam eased ahead of the others, arming her shield and keeping her left control stick’s main hat switch at ready, shouting out: “HQ, we will inbound via Mindanao Avenue! Requesting an escort group dispatched for rendezvous!”

“This is dispatch control,” an operator quickly responded as Sam continued scanning the updated readouts on her map. “Sending an A unit shortly. Rendezvous point established, refer to map section C-1-3.”

They then reached the edge of the field before hitting the interchange, bursting off into the air once more. Andre then noticed something once they reached a certain altitude. “L-Trackers giving us two strong signals up near our next landing point, another pair weaker but about a kilometer out. Get weapons live!”

Sam didn’t hesitate initially to flick away the trigger safety cover as she too took note of the incoming markings on her map, but it was the familiar, brief, peculiar hum that had her rethink the command.

“Those two are mine,” Tyrus’s trademark voice spoke up.

Why isn’t the screen blue-ing out? Is it because jamming was lifted and they’re utilizing something else?”

“Their assignment is to intercept the incoming defectors from the southeast. Choose wisely which to engage.”

That means Kerry is hearing this, too, then, she thought as the hum came once more, signaling the disconnection. Damn it, maybe I should’ve clued in Andre after all- there’s no way we can stop and ask for them to help.

“Fuck, of all times! How are we going to split up?” Andre asked as their distance rapidly grew closer.

To hell with it! He wouldn’t have believed us anyway! “Blow past!” Sam shouted in response. “We can’t stop!”

“Huh!?” Andre shot back in bewilderment. “Right through cross fire?! Are you nuts- look at their angles on us!”

“No! Listen!” Kerry concurred with Sam, much to Sam’s relief. “Look at the two beyond them! They’re moving in near the rendezvous point- if we don’t secure that spot first we won’t have anyone to help us get back home!” She then cut back in, not allowing Andre time to rebut. “Sam, get that shield up on our left, I got the right!”

“Taking the bullet in case you were wrong is NOT making me feel better!” Andre snapped back, reluctantly taking the middle of the pack on their descent toward the next landing field. “And Kerry?! I sure as hell hope you didn’t forget that we don’t have our hybrids with us this time!”

He took in a deep breath, hyper focusing on the yellow cloud markings that were now clearly visible on the map. Impact with the ground led to him quickly compensating for rifle angle. It never hit him until now how much he rued the notion hybridized rifle rounds were prohibited from use in the country, considering how things had been lately. Every shot would count, and each shot might not ever be enough.

But with time elapsing as they quickly approached the end of the field, nothing but silence answered back to his fears as they roared past the enemy location markings. “Decoys to slow us down?”

“Keep moving! All this talking ain’t going to help!” Kerry barked as they lifted off once more.

So, Tyrus wasn’t lying yet again. That means the ones ahead must be working with Revenant if that’s who’s really behind us. Now to finish convincing him to get us to stop and engage once we get there. “Just make the jump!” She wanted to feel some relief, feeling like there were others who had their backs, but guilt quickly creeped in as they soared up into the air once last time. Those two might not stand a minute’s chance, but we need everything we can get.

“Engage once we land at the targeted clearing! We can’t let them move in on the rendezvous point!” She heard Kerry order as more detailed scanner data popped up on the two enemy markings. There were two more touch-and-go clearings between them, buying them some time to strategize.

“Those might not even be Kappas. Probably the older Gammas,” Sam reacted to the new details. “Judging by their location, they’re not grenade launcher equipped. Expect rifle fire.” And then the anxiousness kicked in even harder. Getting tired of always guessing! Any more details would sure be nice right about now! Why are they coming to a stand-still!? Were they ready for us?!

And just as if her prayer had been answered, that distinct sound she wanted to hear the most hummed in her earpiece before the distorted voice spoke up: “Reports say one is a war veteran known as Rush and is an expert marksman. Approach with extreme caution.”

Her stomach started tightening as Tyrus’ voice and hum quickly faded out. That wasn’t what I was hoping to hear, but shit… the timing, all the fine details coming so quick… this is why Dhaka and Bogota went as badly as they did! How did the Underground get such a complex, insanely efficient communication network up like this?!