Axel wasn't entirely happy about being arrested, but there had been little choice. Saïx's orders had been very specific – weapons only if absolutely necessary, and no dark corridors where anyone from this world would see.
To make matters worse, he and Roxas had been separated, with him put into a cell by himself. There were others in the other cells nearby, usually two to a cell, but he paid them no attention. He had to think of a way to get himself out of here, not to mention Roxas too.
He couldn't sleep, not while this was still on his mind. It was late now, the lights mostly turned off, and those that were on only giving a low light. Still enough that the other inmates nearby would undoubtedly see him form a corridor as soon as they heard the accompanying sound.
From the far end of the single corridor along which all cells were arranged, there was a series of metallic clinking sounds, followed by the loud whisper, "Be quiet with those!"
Axel tried to get a better view from the bars of his cell, but couldn't see far enough down the corridor. He settled nearby to watch and listen. After a time his ears grew accustomed to the faint sounds, and he began to pick up sounds.
Faint rustles, like those clothes would make. A few more metallic clinks, and a series of hushed whispers. Then everything was drowned out as the alarm went off, alerting officers to an inmate breaking out.
Roxas's voice cut through the alarm, calling his name. It was hard to tell what the kid was calling him for, he was locked in just the same...
Unless the break out was of the other kids that he'd been chucked in with.
Officers hurried past him and down toward the far end. One paused just before he went out of Axel's sight, talking into his radio.
"We have a break out," he informed whoever was listening. "Three juvies only. No idea how they got in or out again."
After a few moments, the radio squawked a voice back again, "Was the boy picked up earlier among them?"
"Affirmative. He's gone with them."
A few more moments passed. Then, "Have an escort form up and bring me the boy's companion. I'm taking him to see Akira."
The officer visibly paled, but confirmed he understood the order all the same.
Could the boy have been Roxas? And the companion him?
He feigned sleepfulness as the officers passed back, muttering among themselves.
"Probably that kid in black-"
"Are you kidding me? He wasn't even armed."
"How else could they have gotten out?"
"So what do you think, he just created some kind of portal and whisked them off to some other land?"
"Of course not, don't speak nonsense."
"It was the kid he came in with, mark my words. That little brat's been evading us for months, slipping past us every time we get close, and now suddenly we catch him?"
"You think it's suspicious?"
"Don't any of you?"
"He has a point. Any fish that can give us the slip so often wouldn't be caught that easily."
"Maybe he just got unlucky – or we got lucky."
"I don't buy it, not with the kid's record."
"That's why I think it's the one in the black coat – we've got nothing on him. And what about his friend?"
The voices began to fade, making them too indistinct to make out.
It sounded like he was right. Roxas had escaped, but without him? He was going to have to go hunting for him... once he got out of this cell.
"You," a voice said harshly with an accompanying prod in the side. "Get up. The Governor wants to see you."
He gave a yawn, stretched, then got back to his feet again.
"No time like the present, I guess. Gonna let me out, or is he coming here?"
"Don't get full of yourself, convict."
"I haven't been convicted of anything yet."
"Don't count on that," the officer muttered harshly, unlocking the cell. Several other offices formed up behind him. "No tricks," the first warned him, then led the way back out. A number of other inmates gave him envious or contemptuous glances. No doubt both were for his apparent early release.
Once outside the police station and back in the orange light of the streetlamps, he was guided into a black car with tinted windows hiding any occupants from view. He was directed, though unlike earlier not pushed, into the middle one.
"Ah, so at last you grace me with your presence," the occupant murmured as the door was closed. He sat opposite Axel, wearing a neat suit but no adornments, no jewellery, nothing at all. "I of course know of you, mister... Axel, isn't it?"
"That's me. You're this Governor they mentioned?"
"Me? Oh, no. I'm just his personal bodyguard... among many other things. No one sees Akira without first seeing me. But I can handle most of your dealings with Akira on his behalf."
"And who're you then?"
"My name is Tamayana," he answered as the car began to move. "Now, Axel... tell me, where are you from?"
"Can't discuss it. Orders, you understand."
"Quite. But you must understand that we cannot help you if we know nothing about you. You and your young friend appear on no records, no databases – as far as we are concerned, you do not exist."
"Figures. Just like always."
"I'm sorry, I don't quite understand..."
"Never mind. Point is, I'm not from around here. That's about all I can tell you."
"I see. Then at least tell me what your business in King City is."
"Routine recon," Axel replied. It wasn't detailed, but it was about as much as he dared tell him. "Just learning the lay of the land."
"Why not just ask?"
"Orders again. Don't get involved unless necessary. You've kinda made most of that irrelevant by arresting us, but that doesn't mean I can just ignore the rest."
"Indeed. Now, about your friend..."
"Roxas. What happened to him?"
"I believe he's been taken by some of the streetgangs of children that plague our city. What they want with him is anybody's guess, but if he tells them about you, you can expect them to be sending demands your way."
"You're telling me a bunch of kids are probably holding him hostage?"
"These are not ordinary children, Axel. They are extraordinarily organized, or at least appear to be. They rebel against us because they do not fully understand why we did or are doing what we have done, without bothering to try to learn, and so anyone who comes here is a target to be used against us. We don't know what they want, but we cannot allow the city to be ruled by them. Children would only make a mess of things without the proper understanding."
"But he's still a hostage?" Axel persisted.
"Most likely, though it is probable they have led him to believe otherwise. It may become impossible to retrieve him if they tell him the same kind of lies they have others in the past. He may become... radicalised. One of them."
Surely Roxas would have better sense than that. He wouldn't get involved that easily would he? Then again, he was Sora's Nobody... and Roxas was sometimes more unpredictable than Sora had been, let alone Xion.
"Can you help me get him back?"
"But of course, Axel. You need merely work with us, and we will do everything within our power to find him and bring him back to you before they brainwash him."

Akira had turned out to be similar to Tamayana, but was shorter, thinner, and wore white instead of black. Like Tamayana though, he'd forgone affectations.
They'd discussed the situation briefly, with Akira confirming what Tamayana had told him already, then he'd given Axel a room to stay in while here in King City.
The room was a massive suite that took up most of one floor of the skyscraper that was both Akira's business and home at the same time, giving an immense view of the city. It was clear that much of the southern part of the city was ruined, apparently under the control of these streetgangs Tamayana had told him about.
They were formed mostly from youngsters, and were unusually organized – while they often appeared to have their own internal spats between them, they cooperated when it came down to it. They caused havoc in the town, thieving and stealing, often from people who didn't have much to begin with Axel was told.
Some very few of them had been persuaded to change allegiances, and the kind of things they told their new allies often just made things sound worse. These streetgangs were no good, there was no doubting it. And now Roxas was among them... and there was no telling what they'd be doing to him, or the lies they might be telling him that would make him one of them.
Many parts of the rest of the town had their sympathies both for and against the streetgangs and something they called 'the machine'. No one would talk about either in much detail.
Two days later, they were no closer to getting anything on Roxas than they had been when they'd begun. Despite not having a heart of his own, Axel was starting to get impatient and irritated. Saïx would be wondering what had befallen them and no doubt about it, but it was unlikely he'd spare anyone long enough to find out what they were doing.
Saïx proved him wrong by appearing in Axel's room.
"Still here?" he asked bluntly.
"We ran into some trouble," Axel replied laconically. "Roxas and I got arrested, then he got nicked by some streetgangs. Now I'm cleared, I'm working with them to try and find him to get him back."
"Don't take too long. Xemnas is starting to wonder what you two are up to."
"Tell him then," he shrugged. "At least then he'll understand."
"Speed things up, Axel."
"Do you see anything I can do? No? I thought not."
"Do whatever you need to. Ignore the original mission restrictions if you have to, but bring Roxas back. Xion can only cover for him for so long. We need both of them on the job."
"Yeah, alright. I get the idea. You'd better leave before anyone here discovers you."
Saïx nodded, then departed the same way he'd come. Not a moment too soon; Tamayana hurried into the room just moments later, carrying something under one arm.
"Axel!" he called, joining him. "We've got something!"
"At last. What's..." he trailed off. Tamayana had let the bundle under his arm unfold, flipping a pair of black gloves and shoes to the floor as the matching coat hung from his arm. Roxas's coat.
"We think we've got a sighting of him in not far from the University," Tamayana went on. "But we'll have to hurry if we're going to catch him. We've got some men already forming up to get there-"
"But you just need me. Leave those here and lead the way then. Let's get Roxas back."