Chapter 28

Three hours have passed since Adam and Axel started being interviewed by Tim. Adam glances up at the clock on the wall – 23:32 to be exact when he notices his energy depleting from exhaustion. All he is desperate to do right now is wrap this up and go home.

"Yes, I killed Mr X!" Axel reiterates to Tim for the 50th time. Those words immediately snap Adam back to reality to make him pay attention.

"It was self defence, I told you couldn't arrest him. When it came to Robot Y it almost killed us then when we defeated it he went for his gun. I had no choice but to kill him" Axel continues.

Adam can tell when Tim is doubtful and he can also tell when Axel is lying. He knows that his friend had the chance to arrest Mr X and bring him to trial but he and Blaze decided to take revenge into their own hands.

"That's a real shame you know. I was looking forward to putting that ex governor on the stand so that he could face this long list of charges" Tim responds regretfully. He then hands over a brown folder containing classified documents for Adam to inspect.

"I need to know everything about the suspected bomb you were referring to" Tim continues.

"I told you, we diverted the missile target and when the syndicate tried to take my power they failed. We've given you everything you need to know so can we now wrap this up?" Axel's response is snappy and impatient.

Tim shakes his head then turns to one of his officers "bring in Miss Fielding in for questioning, I need a statement from her now".

Adam and Axel both glance at each other each wanting to ask why this cannot wait until the morning.

A minute later Officer Ferrocio arrives holding Blaze by the arm before he forces her to sit on the chair between Adam and Axel opposite Tim. Estel also enters the room after them and stands in the background with her plastic cup of coffee observing their every move.

"Am I still under arrest then?" Blaze questions Tim unenthusiastically as she raises her cuffed wrists.

"I need a quick statement from you" he replies. Axel then reaches forward to unlock her cuffs.

"No!" Tim shouts bringing him to a halt. "I know what she is capable of, leave them on".

After a short pause, Blaze nods at Axel by her side to signal that it's ok to leave them on. He sits back on his chair and sighs whilst feeling annoyed with Tim.

"So what do you wanna know?" Blaze continues the conversation with Tim.

"I want to know where you were when that so called missile was created and what the fuck went down".

"I told you, the day after I came back to Wood Oak City Max took me to you and Chief Clark. I gave you all the information I had" she calmly answers.

Tim quietly presses the record button on his tape then replies "I want to know again. This time with all the details please".

Blaze glances down at the tape recorder then back towards Tim. "When they captured me they took me to a base way out of the city in a forested area. They had no idea I was alive when they found me but Mr X saw it as an opportunity. They had me prisoner for three months every day hooking me up to the same machine Axel destroyed in Lima." Estel and Tim's stares widen as they pay close attention when Blaze surprisingly holds up her arms underneith to reveal the circular scars between her wrists and elbows.

"How much power did they take per day?" Tim responds feeling unnerved.

"I honestly don't know. I was so out of it drugged up and pumped full of adrenalin that I couldn't tell if it was morning or night. I'm guessing some days they took more if they had force fed me but I know that every day my chi depleted."

"Who else was present at the hideout?" He questions.

Blaze: "Pretty much anyone left who worked under Mr X. Dr Dahm handled the drugs and experiments. I remember Electra Davies being there, Leon Shiva, Jet and Yasha."

"We know that Jet Price is dead but no one has seen or heard anything from Yasha in a number of months and it's possible she could still be leading the Neo Chaos group".

Blaze shakes her head "no, I think he killed her."

"What makes you say that?"

"Mr X was a monster and she was too opinionated for him" Blaze coldly replies.

"You previously mentioned that you understood they were building weapons from your power. How did you find out?" He questions.

"Every day for almost 90 days they tortured me, force fed me and drew blood…"

Tim: "I would like you to answer my question" he rudely interrupts.

She sighs and continues "After almost three months one day Mr X was in a celebratory mood. They had completed their prized weapon with my power. He put on a large banquet one night and had me dress up and attend knowing it was my birthday. At the dinner he revealed the weapon's design with the target of Wood Oak City".

"But you said you were just outside of Wood Oak, how could they have transported something of that size all the way to Lima?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" Blaze cracks as her patience starts to thin "for starters you thought he was dead when you assassinated a robot!"

Tim's tone remains serious after her comment damages his pride. "You understand that I've known you for a long time now. I know every single crime you got away with whilst you were an agent, I know who your family use to be as well as their foreign background".

"What's that got to do with anything?" She responds feeling surprised.

"You're the kind to cause mayhem to this society and I wouldn't be surprised if you consented to these bombs or were even making this shit up because frankly what you're saying really doesn't add up!"

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't report your ass!" Adam angrily responds to him.

"Careful, I'm still Commissioner here Hunter!"

"Is that a threat?" Adam stands up feeling perplexed.

"Looks like all that power shit got to his head. I'm reporting you to Chief Clark for racial misconduct". Axel replies whilst putting his arm out in front of Adam to stop him from charging forward.

"Despite what you think, my family were good people and you know what, times were hard back in England but I've never had to face as much bullshit from people as I did here. Every event, flight, airport- security were extra cautious in case I had a bomb, not to mention the remarks I got from other people. Your mother was one of those people by the way so I'm not surprised with you to be honest".

#SLAM#

Tim angrily hits the desk then rises to his feet reddened in his cheeks.

"Aguirre! Finish this off I'm taking a rain check" he storms out of the room in anger leaving the trio in front of him in disbelief.

"You certainly have a way with people don't you Fielding" Estel remarks as she proudly sits in Tim's chair.

Blaze smirks "he always hated me".

"For the record, I don't condone the things he just said to you but I am keen to wrap this up and you are still a suspect so if you don't mind, the sooner you corporate the sooner we can all go home" Estel confidently addresses her.

"Someone sounds like she desperately wants to be Commissioner here" Blaze grins.

Estel ignores her then immediately fires away with the questions.

"So the design you said Mr X revealed at the banquet, did it match the missile you said you tried to stop in Lima?"

"Yes".

"Ok, can you describe what it was like or how it was made?"

"I'm not sure. It was kinda like a 40ft war head, I know my power would have been placed at top to ignite whatever was inside it, possibly it was Rakushin but I'm not sure. I know Dr Dahm was obsessed with it but I never stuck around to find out" Blaze replies.

"So what happened, how did you escape?" Estel questions.

Blaze takes a short pause. "That night I tried to kill Mr X. I had a glass shard that I hid then when I got the chance I put through his chest. I remember thinking it's now or never, I have to kill him otherwise I will always be their prisoner. But I failed and as a punishment he drugged and raped me and ordered his men to do the same. Leon stopped them and wasn't happy with what Mr X did so he helped me escape".

"That sick bastard did that to you!?" Adam reacts with shock. "Did you know about this?" His eyes dart towards Axel.

"Just leave it man" he responds not wanting to cause any more distress. "Can we finish this interview? You got all the info you need on the bomb" Axel addresses Estel.

"I need to know how she escaped!" she snaps back.

"It's ok. I'm ok" Blaze nods and reassures him as he places his hand on top of hers.

Estel's tone then changes to a softer one as she looks Blaze in the eye "so how did Shiva help you escape?"

"After Mr X left, he arranged to have me transported elsewhere to work for Electra and her pimps. He gave me a knife then told me where to find a way out after reaching the destination. I believe it was somewhere in Metro district. So I followed his advice and fought my way back to Wood Oak".

Estel pauses whilst taking a moment to think to herself.

"What is it?" Adam asks her.

"Feroccio! I want every record we have of ships leaving Wood Oak Harbour during the last three days of April last year" she orders. "Mr X must have left and escaped to Lima whilst transporting the bomb during this time".

"So you believe me then?" Blaze replies with more enthusiasm.

"Yes. Also if Electra returns the first place she will go to is Metro District. If there is nothing left of her organisation in Lima or here, that is the only place where her business would have survived! Feroccio I want you to contact Metro's Chief. I want 24 hour access to surveillance in that city, Electra will return sooner or later then we can catch this bitch. Ladies and gentleman, I think we're done for the night!" Estel says as she stops the tape "your free to go now".

The trio cautiously stand up before they are escorted out of the building. Their attention diverts to the cells they pass through the precinct.

"I've never seen it like this before" Adam mutters under his breath as they witness two cops beating one of the prisoners in his cell.

They quietly reach the edge of the precinct where they are relieved to open the doors to the fresh night air and empty street outside. Adam takes out his cell phone to call Max.

"Hey man what happened?" Max answers.

"We need a ride home it's been a long night, can you pick us up?" he responds.

They suddenly hear a car horn from across the street with Max smiling in the drivers' seat. He had made sure that after the feds dropped him home, he picked up his car and waited for his friends at the precinct.

Their faces light up beaming with smiles as Max pulls up by the sidewalk. "Well what are you waiting for then?" He says as they open the doors to the car.

"Thanks for waiting" Axel replies.

"You didn't think I'd leave you at this dump did you? Anyway we should be at Adam's in ten minutes, Blaze where do you want me to take you?" She struggles to give him an answer when she suddenly realises that her apartment no longer exists after Red District was decimated by the bombings.

"What's mine is yours, if you want to" Axel says to her as he places his key in her hand.

"Let's go home" she smiles with hope.

The car journey back is a quiet sombre one where these four friends soak in the reality of returning back from their biggest battle, one they never imagined winning thousands of miles away. And now they are almost home.

#Phone Rings#

Tim: "Yes?"

"Are you going to tell me what's going on or do I have to send one of my boys to find out?" Electra responds over the phone.

"What do you want now? I agreed to keep this whole saga of yours including that bomb quiet but your enemies are adamant that it all existed".

"Do they have any evidence?" She quizzes.

"Nothing concrete just their word. Now I've kept my end of the bargain, I'm still waiting for yours!"

"We made you Commissioner didn't we?" she replies "Give me two days, when I return from Lima I will…"

Tim cuts her off "no! They know where your hideout is and the cops are onto you. Stay put until this blows over".

He hangs up then cautiously looks around the empty site he is standing in the middle of before glancing at his phone background with a photo of his wife and daughter.