Though not used to the city yet, Sora kept a cautious lookout as they passed through, taking in the city, finding landmarks to navigate by, and generally making a pest of himself whenever he found something to ask about.

So far along the way they'd left Chinatown, a part of the town that reminded him of the Land of Dragons, through several run-down looking blocks of apartments, and into what seemed to be a commercial heart of the city.

Around a massive central mall there were warehouses, stores for large merchandise, heavy machinery and other similar things for hire, showrooms – if it could be sold, there was something selling it either inside or out.

Naturally with such a thorough collection of services, the whole place was swarming even at this early hour with people. Some few security guards could be spotted among the throng, but there were too few of them to be of any use except as a signpost.

"They don't bother us so much outside here," Tommy told him. "It's too busy for their liking. Once we get inside the mall or any of the other places around here though, we always have to watch ourselves."

"Not even those security guards," Sora asked, gesturing to one.

"Those rent a cops?" Tommy snorted derisively. "Just forget about them. They're not on our level by a long shot."

"Neither are the normal coppers," Sparky added. "But they're even worse. Their sole purpose is to stand there and look stupid."

"A hat rack could do that," Sora replied critically. "Probably better than they can too."

"I was wrong about you, Shade," Tommy called back over the crowd. He kept hold of Sora's hand, Sparky trailing behind on Sora's own, so they didn't get separated. "I thought it'd be longer before you started to sound like us, but that kind of remark makes you sound like you've been one of us for longer."

"Maybe I'm just picking up on Roxas," he shrugged. "Sometimes he does shine through a bit."

"Shoulda heard what he told one Corporate Security guy," Sparky laughed. "We heard it from Calix later on, the two looked like someone had just slapped them in the face he told us."

"Alright, Focus people," Tommy told them, pulling them into the marginally quieter bustle of the mall complex. Massive would have been an understatement. An arched dome tiled triangles of glass over the entire area, displaying the murky weather outside at a distance far enough away that the only sound of it was coming from the throng outside.

There were three floors immediately visible, and through the neatly arranged squares of stores it was possible to see that further in there were at least six, if not more. Music may have been playing, or adverts blared out, but the noise of so many people and stores drowned it out entirely.

The floor may once have been made of bright white tiles, but the thousands of feet that passed through had left them a dull grey, chipped and worn away to expose whatever black foundation material was underneath. Only around the ornate fountains at every junction did it start to return to the white it may once have been.

"Been a while since I was here last," Sparky breathed, absently running a hand through his shocked-looking hair.

"Like I said, focus," Tommy told him. "Keep your mind on the task at hand. We want to reach the Lo-Max clothing store. Fourth floor, eastern side of the mall. Try not to get separated."

"But boss..." Sparky trailed off, looking almost longingly toward an electronics store.

"If you want something, you pay for it yourself," Tommy told him bluntly. "I'm not getting the rest of us in trouble over something pointless again."

Sparky sighed, but tore himself away to follow after Sora and Tommy.

"Does he do that often?" Sora asked Tommy.

"He came from an old Mech gang," Tommy explained. "We were good friends before, so when they disbanded he joined me. Mech's in general are hard to pull away from any kind of tech. Give them a box or two of spare parts and two hours, and they'll build you something useful out of it." He laughed then went on, "Of course, most of those things are usually unreliable and more often than not held together with duct tape alone, but you'd be amazed at what they can knock up sometimes. Focus, Sparky!" he threw back over his shoulder as they passed another store.

"Not interested in that one anyway," Sparky called back. "It's one of those stores," he said distastefully.

"Those stores?" Sora wondered aloud.

Tommy glanced in momentarily before flicking back to the crowd in front. Sora noticed his eyes never seemed to stop moving, as if he was trying to see everything.

"Cybernetics," he replied shortly. "They were originally designed to be better than prosthetics for people who'd lost limbs. Capable of perfectly mimicking the real thing. Except some money-hungry ass decided to expand and improve on the business. Now you can get some of the most ridiculous things in those places. The Alliance won't touch them without a very good reason though. My mentor when I first got involved was very clear on that."

"What set the Alliance against them?"

"Two things. Well, three depending on who you ask," Sparky corrected himself. "One, they're gross. Sticking bits of technology in your body, it's not right. Two, the adults are all over them, so naturally we don't want any part of it. And three, anyone what gets even the smallest thing stuck in – legally, anyway – has to be registered and tracked."

"Oh. That would kinda be a pain, wouldn't it?"

"Ven had another reason to dislike them," Tommy added darkly. "He went out of his way to make sure the Alliance never went near them without an exceptional reason. He was well known for it."

"Your mentor?" Sora asked.

Tommy nodded, "His real name was Rocky, or so he told us. He looked identical to your Nobody, which was why I chose to give him the name Rocky. Honouring the memory of my late mentor, in a way. He did the name proud."

"What happened to him?"

"Ven? I never found out. He just disappeared one day. Rumour has it his parents caught up with him – they were the main reason he was so forcefully against cybernetics in all their many forms. He used to go on a rant every now and then about them, and if even half of what he said is true, no one can blame him. We go up here," he added absently, taking them up an escalator.

"I saw some elevators back there," Sora pointed out.

"Never use 'em," Sparky told him. "You never know what'll be waiting for you when the doors open, and they're monitored anyway. Open invitations to handing yourself over."

"I guess that makes sense. It's a kinda nervous life like this, isn't it?"

"Fun though," Sparky replied. "Watch out – I spot zombies, two of the clock.," he added. Both of them looked over to see. They stuck out easily, being the only people around dressed in suits, apparently in conversation with each other. They stood in such a way that each of them could see behind the one opposite, leaving no angle unseen.

"Lawyers," Tommy spat. "You can tell, they have ties on. I preferred it when they still fought with briefcases and paper."

"It doesn't look like they've spotted us yet," Sora murmured, as though he could be heard by them through the people that were between them, coming in and out of the three stores nearby. He noticed the lawyers were carefully avoided though.

"Emphasis on yet," Tommy muttered darkly, looking surreptitiously around. "And there's no other way we can go from here except to the elevators. They'd notice if we suddenly headed back down again."

"Need a hand?" a voice said from below. A dark, tousle haired boy wearing a red shirt and jeans was grinning up at them. "I can get 'em outta your way. For a fee, naturally."

"Calix," Tommy said reprovingly.

"I'm kidding ya," Calix laughed. "Leave it to me. I'll have 'em off your task in no time."

"Be careful," Tommy called after him. Calix turned, smirked, winked, then was lost in the crowds. "We wait here," Tommy told the rest of them, stepping clear of the escalator, watching the lawyers.

Sora heard what happened next clearly.

"So, ya think you're all big now you've been let outta the courtroom, d'ya?" Calix's voice came to them. The four lawyers broke off their conversation, looking around more carefully now. It was hard to see through the crowds, but Calix must have found somewhere among them to hide. "I don't reckon you're any better now than ya were before," he went on. "You're just a bunch of pen-pushers that slipped out from behind their desks. Down here, ya morons," he added. Two of the lawyers were suddenly jerked downwards, apparently by their ties. The other two turned at the startled outcry one of them made, then looked down. "Catch me if you can," Calix taunted them smugly, then Sora spotted him through the crowds as he made a run for it.

"Stop him!" one of the lawyers called out as he ran after him.

"Don't let him get away!" another added. The remaining two looked at each other, shrugged, then pursued without a word.

"Will he be alright? Calix I mean." Sora said.

"He'll be fine," Tommy chuckled. "I've never once known him to get caught yet. Lets get moving again. Whisper is probably waiting for us by now."


Elsewhere in King City, there were minds plotting. Or at least one mind, anyway. The others were bringing him information as always. He sat waiting, out of place among the neatly suited agents in his white. Not a single adornment or piece of jewellery on him, just simple white clothing. There weren't even any pockets on them.

Another agent entered the conference room.

"What did you learn?" he asked the newcomer.

"They're quite attached to a boy they call Sora, sir," the agent replied, taking a seat opposite him. "I provided the fiction that we have him receiving medical attention, though they persisted in wanting to see him. I was able to dissuade them though."

"What else?" he prompted.

"They call their craft a 'Gummi Ship'. I contacted your bodyguard on Crystal Palace for some details of it before it was shot down. The materials used to construct it are completely alien to us, sir. Apparently even they aren't aware of the mechanics of it."

"Inconvenient," he murmured. "Can it be utilized?"

"Sir, we don't even know how to repair it yet, let alone how it works. There are some few displays in there, but they don't respond to us. Whoever made that ship took pains to make it difficult to figure out."

"Perhaps this Sora will know. Bring him to me."

"We don't know what happened to him when their ship crashed. He wasn't with them when we arrived."

He sat in silence thinking for a few moments before he answered.

"The so-called Alliance probably has him then. Find him. Find Sora and bring him to me. Make sure he is aware that he has nothing to fear from me. He need merely cooperate with us, and we will find his cause and appeal to it... while it suits us to."

"You're going through with this then?" a voice came from a speaker inlaid into the table before him.

"You hold reservations, Tamayana?" he queried the voice.

"This craft and the people with it are the first the Crystal Palace project has ever picked up. Who knows how many others could be following?"

"But perhaps he is only one. Even so, from your report of their combat abilities, I hardly think we have any concern. However," he looked up to the agent who had brought him the news. "You will return to these two creatures and find their purpose here. Persist until you have discovered the truth behind it without a doubt."

"And me?" Tamayana's voice crackled through the speaker. "I'll continue to monitor the readings Crystal Palace gives me Akira, but if there's more of them..."

"Patience, old friend," Akira replied with a smile. "My instincts tell me these three are alone. And if they are alone, there will be none to follow them. They may yet hold the key to ridding myself of that accursed Oracle."