“Mayor Maxie.” They spoke in a chilling voice.

“You again?” Maxie glared at the figure. “What do you want now?”

“The same thing as before. This is your last chance. Surrender your city to me or I will overthrow it myself and take you down.”

“My answer is still the same. I will never let you run this city. Biostance and the residents living here would be in peril if someone like you were in power.”

“I want to make this a better place, working alongside you. Why would you say that like I’m a bad guy?”

“Because I honestly don’t believe what you’re saying.”

Richard’s eyes darted as the two exchanged banters with one another. Finally, he spoke up, asking if they knew each other.

The shadowy figure glanced over and gasped. “Richard, what are you doing here?”

“Huh? How do you know my name?

The figure signed off as the computer went blank. Maxie tried turning it back on, but it appeared to be frozen. The screen acted up as metallic liquids poured out of the computer, then on the desk. Maxie and Richard backed up, their hands getting clammy. The metal liquid formed into a circular shape as it grew stubby arms, legs, and red eyes. It turned to face the mayor, making a pounce on him shortly after.

The metal insects crawled onto Maxie’s body and through his clothes. He screamed, flailing around, trying to get them off him. Authorities in suits and ties stormed into the room once their boss was in immediate danger, but Maxie warned them it was too dangerous. More metal creatures came out of the screen as they made a bee-line toward them. Richard covered his mouth as he backed up into a corner. He watched the chaos unfold as the rest of the men tried to stomp, smack, and shoot the metallic creatures away.

Richard trudged over and tried to close the laptop, but the number of metallic orbs coming out was too significant, overflowing the whole screen. They covered the entire floor and walls. Richard got up on the wheelie chair and pushed it to the nearest window. He used this opportunity to transform back into the Usukui Puru, break the windows, and escape the area.

Richard jumped down from the highest floor, and, worrying about getting hurt from the fall, broke some more windows at a lower level and swooped inside. He sprinted across the halls, shutting and locking each door he came across. Once he turned a corner, Richard bumped into someone else. After getting up, he recognized her in no time.

“Claudia, are you alright?” He asked, pulling her up from the ground.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Claudia replied, rubbing her head with one hand, with another holding an object behind her back.

“Hey, wait, what are you doing here?”

“I’m trying to collect the necessary pieces to defeat our enemies, or at least try to. What about you?”

“I’m looking for a suitcase.”

“You mean something like this?” Claudia showed off the suitcase in her hand.

“Yeah, Charlie wanted that.” Richard pointed out.

“He did?” Claudia gasped. “I thought he was dead.”

“No, your boss is alive, and in the Hope Haven Hospital.”

“Oh, thank god, I got to see him right away!”

“Yeah, we got to hurry before it’s too late!”

Richard and Claudia made a beeline toward the exit. Claudia slid down the spiral staircase using the suitcase while Richard jumped down from it. Once they got through the doors, the two gasped upon discovering the metal orbs crawling and making their way down to the ground. People that were still present in the city tried their best to outrun them while screaming in terror.

Richard and Claudia got up on some nearby vehicles. Police officers got to high ground as well, alerting other people to stay in their homes and lock their doors and windows tight. Just when things couldn’t get worse, the broadcast from the tower showed the shadowy figure again in full view, sitting on the mayor’s throne.

“Citizens of Biostance.” They started. “I will now take over this city and take care of every one of you. All illegal crimes anyone does will be deemed ‘bad people’ and will be persecuted and executed. Should you choose to follow my way, I promise to improve your lives. Isn’t that right Maxie?”

Maxie walked into view next to them, although something about him seemed off. Transparent skin, dead, emotionless eyes, and an uncanny smile. The broadcast shut off shortly after. Dead silence rang in the air.

“What was that all about?” Claudia asked.

Richard bit his thumb. Watching that person get high and mighty like that made him sick to his stomach. He hadn’t met them yet, but already hated them with every fiber of his being.

“Do you have any idea where that shadow person could be hiding?”

“In another tower, I presume?” Claudia guessed.

Fawn’s face brightened up as she sensed something. “Their presence. I can track them down if we search all around the towers!”

“Good thinking!” Richard exclaimed. He jumped off the car and followed Fawn to the city streets.

Claudia took notice and called out to him. “Hey, wait, where are you going?”

“I’m going to settle the score before they cause any more trouble!” Richard replied, determined, as he ran off.

“Oh no...” Claudia muttered to herself.

“Claudia!” Reginald yelled from a distance. He caught up with her, out of breath. “Have you seen Richard?”

“He headed out, over there!” Claudia explained, pointing toward a long tower.

“What? Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know, but we need to stop him before my sister hurts him.” She said, twiddling her fingers.

“Wait, your what?”