General Cain loosened up, and brushed the madman off. “Anyway, this is good, very good. Executing the next phase of the plan should be that much easier now,” he said calmly.
“Yeah, it looks that way. But man, that hot ass Eva Young reporter chick. Did she get under your skin, or what?” Daav said, a jeering grin spreading across his face.
“That doesn’t matter,” Cain replied. “AI, please contact Agent Bloodfall.”
“Right away, Contacting Agent Bloodfall now. Call connected,” the AI responded.
“How may I be of service?” Bloodfall asked.
“Agent, round up anything you can find on Eva Young of Q1 News Media,” Cain commanded.
“Right away, sir. Uh, sir?” Bloodfall said.
“What?” Cain asked.
“Our systems just finished creating a digital composite of what we believe the intruder of the clone farm may look like. Sending it over to your holo-feed now,” Agent Bloodfall said. The composite generated on Cain’s holo-projector shortly afterward.
“Excellent work, agent. You are dismissed,” Cain said.
Agent Bloodfall disconnected the call.
“My, my, you sure are one for a grudge, Vlad,” Stein said with a joyful smile. Lt. Daav felt his skin crawl as he cringed internally, looking at the madman, Dr. Stein. His ability to mask his true intentions bothered Daav.
“Poor Eva. And this guy too,” Daav said pointing to the composite. Despite the CSSA’s limited information on Caiden, they used what they had to create some semblance of his facial features.
“So, what’s next now, Vlad?” Stein asked.
“Phase Three. Capture,” Cain said coldly.
CHAPTER 33
---usr/systems/server-x/BARE FANGS, MARTIAL LAW---
A week had passed since the assassination. The city was still in mourning. Caiden, hadn’t returned to Home-base in Darkside since then, and there was no communication between himself and the twins. He was back in his room at Vantz’s place in BlackLight, locked in a staring contest with the blank ceiling. He had taken time off to re-evaluate his situation, his decisions, and surprisingly, the twins’ earnest plea for him to leave with them for Rune Village.
It’s not that I don’t want to leave, but would I really be escaping anything? I dunno. This is so depressing! he thought to himself. In the past week, he had gone on several dates with Yvora, each time more thrilling than the last. The chemistry was undeniable. Caiden had even attended one of Yvora’s concerts, with exclusive VIP backstage pass access. His body instantly released endorphins at the sheer thought of her, every muscle loosened. His chest became light, and his lungs filled with air before he exhaled the last of the stress that weighed him down, even if it was only for a short period of time.
He sunk back into his bed, and fell asleep. It wasn’t very long before Vantz knocked on his door.
“Caide!” Vantz yelled as he burst into Caiden’s room.
“Vantz, what the hell, man?” Caiden jumped up, shocked from the commotion.
“Dude, turn on the news! What the fuck is going on?” Vantz yelled.
Caiden turned the TV on to the news channel to find that General Vladimir Cain had taken control of all the broadcast airwaves across the entire nation, issuing an emergency address. He noticed in the upper right-hand corner of the frame was a facial composite.
“This, my people, is who we are looking for! This is the man behind the assassination of our dear friend, Ren Krong. If anyone has any information on this person, report to us immediately! We need to bring him in for questioning! Don’t you want to avenge your leader? Come join us this evening at seven thirty p.m. at our training grounds base in West Andromeda. These unfortunate series of events have given us a unique opportunity to come together and work side-by-side to re-establish justice! That will be all!” General Cain announced on the broadcast before it returned to the regularly scheduled news program. “In other news, Q1 News reporter, Eva Young, has gone missing.”
Vantz turned off the TV. “Caide, I hate asking this, and maybe my eyes are fucking with me, but is it me, or did that composite picture look kinda like you?” Vantz cautiously asked.
“What the hell is going on?” Caiden asked as he sat on the edge of his bed.
“Caide, I know this is crazy of me to ask you, and I really feel like an asshole for having to ask this, but please, please tell me that wasn’t you. You didn’t do this right?” Vantz asked nervously.
“Vantz, are you fucking serious? Why in the world would I, of all people, do something like that? You know me way better than that,” Caiden said.
“Phew! Okay, this is good. I know. I’m sorry dude, but I had to ask just to be sure. So if you didn’t do this, then who?”
“I dunno man! One thing is for sure; I didn’t do this! But I’m gonna find out who did,” Caiden said with conviction.
“How?” Vantz asked.
“How else?” Caiden said suggestively.
“Wait! No, dude. You’re gonna hack the feds? Isn’t that just a little too dangerous!? Like, they can lock you up for life! You know that, right?” Vantz asked.
“Then I guess I have seven more lives to go, then,” Caiden replied.
“Man, you’re nuts!’ Vantz said.
***
Meanwhile, at the furthermost western border of Neon District in the Borough of Andromeda, the twins were huddled together in a cheap hotel room of the Cardale Inn. Nami was sobbing. “I can’t believe this!” Nami said, wrought with emotion. They, too, had tuned into the emergency broadcast.
No, Caiden wouldn’t do this. I know he wouldn’t!” Hitomi said, attempting to remain strong, but her
