Chapter 16

“This is it,” he said. “The station is right at the top of these stairs.” He then added sheepishly, “Uh, sorry we destroyed your celltab. Here’s a few bucks to cover the cost.” He uncinched his bag and withdrew a short stack of dollars in varying amounts. “Here ya go.” He handed her the majority of what he held, leaving only a few dollars left in his hand. “...plus a little extra for your service.”

“Thank you,” she said, admiring the gesture. “But how about just covering the train ticket, and you can owe me?” she said with a smile.

He chuckled. “Ok, yeah, I can do that.”

She took one of the bills and tucked it into her front pocket. Giving him an awkward smile, she turned and began to climb the stairs to the station above.

A surge of freedom overcame her when she reached the first landing. She was home free. The first thing she would do is retrieve Nico from Zedd’s. Then she planned on taking a long, hot shower and scrubbing every inch of her scalp. Then she thought of relaxing on her couch with a warm cup of tea. Zedd would give her the day off. He had to. She would spend all day nestled in her apartment, comfortable, next to her best friend.

Shouting came from below, pulling her out of her comforting thoughts. It was incoherent, but resonated with anger. From the top of the tall staircase, she saw below that Jazun was flanked by two individuals, demanding that he share the money they had seen him holding. He attempted to talk them down, and walk away, but they persisted. One of them reached for Jazun’s bag. Jazun swung a swift fist and punched the man in the head, dropping him momentarily. The other jumped on Jazun’s back, trying to bring him to the ground.

Lena looked over her shoulder. The safety of the train station was but a hundred meters from where she stood. She was so close that she could even see people inside, reading screens on their celltabs, waiting for their arrival. She looked back down. Jazun’s cloak and headwrap tangled him, leaving him defenseless.

In a difficult battle of emotions, Lena quickly descended the stairs. She jumped down the flights, two stairs at a time, landing on the platforms as she hurried to his rescue.

When she left the final set of stairs, she spotted a small piece of concrete rubble on the ground and picked it up. Clenching it tight in her hand, she swung it down hard onto the back of the assailant’s head, freeing Jazun from his grasp. The man fell on the ground, holding the back of his bloodied head with his hands. The other attacker whom Jazun had hit had risen. He saw her, and charged. She staggered back.

Jazun grabbed the charging man and plunged his knee into his face. The attacker fell, rolling on the ground with blood issuing from the broken nose.

A new voice shouted from the street above. “Stop! Stay where you are!”

Lena looked upwards. A patrolling android stood atop the staircase she had just climbed down.

Jazun looked up at the source of the announcement. “Oh shit.” His mask had been torn off, and his bearded face was exposed.

“Come on!” Jazun started.

Lena stood for a second, processing the situation. Two men lay writhing on the ground before her. “No.” The word slipped from her mouth. She dropped the concrete piece from her hand, and it landed on the ground with a thud. Looking back up, the android was now quickly descending the staircase.

“COME ON!” Jazun yelled. He grabbed her by the arm and they retreated down a nearby alley. A blast of light came and struck the ground behind Lena’s feet. Sparks and flames spewed into the air. They fled between buildings, where they slinked behind immense ducts and crossed narrow catwalks above more hidden passages below.

Jazun ducked down a narrow crevice, attempting to lose their pursuer. He stopped momentarily, and pulled Lena in beside him as they flattened themselves against a wall. He listened for any sound that signalled they were still being chased. He looked at Lena.

“Train running late?” he asked quietly.

“What are we doing!?” she demanded.

“You’ve been seen with me. As far as they’re concerned, you’re a threat.”

“I was trying to protect you!” she snapped back.

“Why?”

She met him with bemusement as she fumbled for an answer.

Jazun peeked down the passage. It opened ahead to a busier street of the undercity.

“C’mon.” He emerged from the recess and she followed him, keeping a brisk, but cool pace. Jazun scanned the catwalks spanning the gap above them, looking for any sign of an ambush. Nothing. If he could make it out, he would attempt to blend in with the first conglomeration of people he saw.