Author's Notes: I know, I know, I just kinda stuck Atlas in there near the end, and I didn't say anything about him before, but you gotta admit, it's better than sticking in some kind of original character of my own than someone you already know! Right?

Chapter 10. Fallen Senses

** Halo's POV **

Atlas and I had been on the lift for about ten minutes before we finally reached the gate to Upper-level Metropolis.

"Where are we going?" I asked him as he fixed his cap and the gun strapped around his torso and on his back.

"Well, it depends, really. If you want to do something about Rock then we have to go find Parth and Shmi."

"What do you mean by 'do something about Rock'?"

"That's what I mean. We could take him captive and interrogate him about the tape, we could hold him to lure the Duke in to talk to him, or find out where your other friends are." He looked at me out the corner of his eye. "What do you want me to do?"

I hesitated, thinking, then answered, "I guess take him captive and interrogate him, then use him as a ransom for Red. But don't hurt him okay?"

"I'll try, but if he's hurt it'll be his own fault." I didn't say anything after that so he continued. "He'll probably be alone so two or three people will suffice. We need to find Parth and Shmi."

We stepped off the lift and I followed him down the sidewalk. Rock apparently knew something about this 'throne' but what was its secret? What use was it to Red? Why did he program it for a female? Did he mean its use to be for a human or a robot?

I was snapped out of my thoughts, however, when Atlas stopped and I bumped into him from behind.

"Why'd you stop?"

Atlas didn't answer. He was looking down an alley to his left. I followed him gaze to see two figures walking through the dark gloom of the alleyway. I could just barely make them out as two men and they apparently knew Atlas because he turned, smiling, to them and said, "We were just about to go looking for you!"

I recognized one of them as Parth. The other must have been Shmi.

"Can you fellas do us a favor?"

"Anything for you." Parth was directing this at me. I never really liked Parth. His manner could be rather repugnant at times. And he wasn't the most attractive of men. But then again, neither was Shmi, and both looked like they could use a trim and shave.

With some help from me Atlas explained my rather desperate situation and with a quick agreement from them he told them to split up and search Back-Alley, all twelve of them, and if they found Rock take him to Back-Alley VII's restaurant. When they both had gone I turned back to Atlas.

"What are you going to do?"

"WE-" he emphasized 'we'. "-are going to search Upper-level Metropolis for Rock." I nodded my agreement to cooperate and we continued walking. We hadn't actually explained to Shmi and Parth the real reason why we wanted Rock taken captive but they seemed quite eager to do it. I supposed Rock was more infamous around Metropolis than I thought.

** 3rd POV **

Rock had been wondering around Back-Alley XII for quite a while. He knew why and he suddenly had this awful feeling in his stomach, like he had eaten a ton of lead, every time he thought about it.

First off, he was disobeying his father. Second, he felt as though her were betraying Halo for some reason, even though he had abandoned his search for Kenna and Fern, and he felt like he was sort of betraying himself . . . Had he grown soft?!

Surely not . . . But then again, he had stopped his search because Kenna and Fern were Halo's friends and he wouldn't really want to hurt her. He had disobeyed his father's orders to make her happy. But then again, why would he have started following his father's orders in the first place (A/N: talk about mood swings)? But he had a code, as a Marduk, and if he was helping Halo that would be like helping robots because she was a supporter. Marduks' duties were to destroy robots, and if helping Halo meant helping robots then surely he wouldn't be fit to be called his father's son? a Marduk, let alone the leader?

But where were all these thoughts coming from?! How could he think, let alone act, to disobey Duke Red? It was out of the question! He would have to continue his search, no matter how reluctant he was. He was loyal to his Marduks, Metropolis, and the Duke. He would have to.

Stepping from the dull and dimly lit entrance of the twelfth Back-Alley, he came out into the city, Upper-level Metropolis. He would have gone farther beyond the arch that led into the Back-Alley but as soon as he stepped forward he was knocked forcefully back into the stone wall.

**

Halo looked over at the door. He was in there with Atlas and the others, but she had only a faint clue of what was going on in there. She knew she should be in there interrogating him herself, but Atlas had kept her out for her safety, but they both knew very well that at this point he was virtually harmless.

She walked the short distance to the door and sat on her knees, leaning her head in the press her ear against the door. She heard a noise sounding oddly enough like flesh-on-flesh. She knew now that someone had gotten back-handed.

The thumping of Atlas's boots could then be heard as they neared the door. Halo rushed to sit in the chair next to the door so she wouldn't look suspicious. Atlas looked at her and beckoned her inside. He forces Parth and Shmi outside before shutting and then locking the door. Atlas leaned against the wall by the door so watch as Halo began to circle Rock, inspecting him. He was sitting in a wooden chair with his hands tied behind him, Halo stopped in front of him. She reached inside one of her many pockets and pulled out the recorder.

"Rock, I want you to answer some questions for me," she said to him softly. He was looking down at the floor, his head bowed, so Halo got on her knees to peer into his eyes. "Rock, didn't you go to the Zigguraut to find Duke Red and confront him about President Boone?"

Rock gave a small nod. Halo closed her eyes and sighed. She stood and put the recorder on the ground then pressed the 'play' button.

"-probably already told her friends, I want them quiet as ell. I don't care of your methods, just get rid of them. Lock them up, kill them, do whatever you can as long as they stay quiet."

"Yes, sir, but-"

"On second though . . ." Red was walking away. "Take them all captive. i would like to speak with that annoying girl personally. I believe she may just be the key to Harbin's own un-doing." Red then chuckled.

But, sir-"

"What?"

"The throne, sir."

"What about the throne?" Rock was hesitant before replying.

"For whatever reason you did President Boone in, why no be seated at the throne? Wouldn't it be easier?"

"Rock, my poor boy, you don't even know why this is happening, so you should worry not where I am places. I didn not create the throne to be used by me. In fact, I did not create the throne to be used by a male. Now, Rock, I want you to go and catch the little mice for me."

"Yes, sir."

Halo turned off the recorder. There was more after that, her footsteps and panting, Rock shouting after her, from when she forgot to turn it off until she remembered in the elevator, but that was all useless. She stopped and rewound it.

"Rock . . . I know you're loyal to the Duke but you gotta tell me, what the 'throne'?" The room was silent for a moment. "Rock, I need to know this."

"Why don't you ask my father?" he said with a sneer. Halo stepped back and allowed Atlas to back-hand him again.

"Answer the question."

"I don't really know what the throne is. My father created it for his own purpose, something he never explained to me. All I know is it can be used to activate the weapon that was built on top of the Zigguraut but I honestly don't know why."

"What weapon?"

"I don't know. I've only ever heard catches of conversation here and there-"

"I don't believe him," Atlas said, walking behind him. "He's not telling us something, he's hiding something."

"Be patient, Atlas. Rock, why is the throne only accessibly to females?" Rock finally looked up, tearing his gaze from the floor.

"I don't know. I always ask myself why my father not just take the throne and he said it wasn't created for him, even though he built it, or designed it, or whatever."

"What is Duke Red planning?"

"Dunno, but considering, he's probably cleaning the city of the filth that infests it-"

Atlas sent another had across Rock's cheek.

"Sensitive, are you?" Rock sneered.

"No, but you won't talk that way of Halo. You know damn well of her work and you and I both know what you meant by that."

"Oh, yeah, I forgot, the massacre was stopped before all the worthless supporters were killed-"

"Stopped by you, no less!" Halo shouted abruptly. "I would thank you but I think the urge to shoot you is overpowering that thought!"

Rock turned pale but said nothing. Halo turned, closed her eyes, and took a big breath.

"Atlas, we're done here. Tell Parth and Shmi to guard the door, he doesn't get untied and they don't go in without a weapon and without locking the door. No one but them is allowed in."

They left and Atlas informed Parth and Shmi as Halo left the secluded building. She had been waiting outside when Atlas finally came back.

"You left this, I think you might need it," said Atlas, giving her the recorder she had left on the ground at Rock's feet.

"I should have asked him where Fern and Kenna are," she said quietly.

"Actually considering where he was going when Shmi found him I don't think he found them."

"I don't think he felt how he acted back there, but we can't really be sure, can we?"

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind. Let's just go find Fern and Kenna, okay?"

"Whatever." Atlas adjusted his gun across his back then fixed his cap again.

"Atlas, if you don't like robots then why are you helping me?"

Atlas looked at her for a minute. "Well, like I said before, I don't like Red, despite the fact that he doesn't like robots either, but at least you're trying to help both sides instead of resulting in the war. I guess it's too late for that, though . . . And I think you're starting to grow on me."

"Halo blushed slightly and smiled faintly. She hadn't known Atlas for long but when they had first met it was when Halo had barged in on Atlas's meeting with a couple of buddies. Halo still didn't know what the meeting was about and she didn't have the nerve to ask him. She felt it wasn't important.

"We're going to find Duke Red, right?" asked Halo as they walked.

"Yeah. We gotta tell him about Rock."

"But do you think he'll bite the bait?"

"He probably knew you were in the Zigguraut listening in on his conversation. He probably thinks you'll ask Rock questions. He'll wanna take Rock back before he spills confidential or classified information about the Zigguraut or his plans."

"But if we tell him we already interrogated Rock and know what he's up to he won't want Rock back."

"We'll say he was unconscious when we left and he had better give us information before we go and beat it out of his loyal little puppet . . . Simple threat."

"He's probably got Marduks at the manor or Zigguraut or wherever he is. If we threaten him then he might get us as well."

"Don't worry about that. I'll deal with them if there are any. We just need to get some new information and maybe we can prevent this all from happening . . . Or what we think could happen."

"But what about Fern and Kenna?"

"Oh, right, well . . . I'm sure they're all right where they are. We've just had a change of plans. We'll go find them later."

"Halo sighed. Thy would go and check the manor first. When they arrived that same repulsive-mannered maid admitted them and led the way to what appeared to be some sort of office.

"I'll fetch Duke Red. Sit down, but don't touch anything." She said this rather snottishly. When she closed the door Atlas took a seat in one of the two chairs in front of the desk while Halo walked around behind the desk to look at things on the shelves behind it. The pictures all depicted a blonde woman, blonde girl, or a slightly younger Duke Red. Some showed just the girl, just the woman, both, the girl and Red, the woman and Red, but all of them had either blonde and none depicted Rock.

"That's my daughter," said a voice. Halo turned and saw Duke Red closing the door behind himself. Halo had picked up a picture of the young child and had been peering at it closely when Red had come in. Halo put it back and sat down. So did he.

"I noticed there are none of Rock?" Halo asked. Red didn't answer.

"May I ask what business have you here?"

"We need to talk about your son, sir," Atlas said sternly, almost in a loathing-like way.

** Halo's POV **

"It wasn't that bad, was it?"

"Halo, come off it. We didn't find out anything new and we just decided to give Rock back to him."

"Well, we already know quite a good bit to try and pick apart our little mystery, right?"

"I suppose so, but . . . I dunno."

"Atlas, why are you still here?"

"You want me to leave?" Atlas seemed slightly hurt and puzzled.

"No, not really, I just thought you would have left by now because you already did what I asked you to."

Atlas's cheeks turned red and he turned and continued to walk.

"Answer me!" Halo pleaded, running to catch up.

"I have my reasons," he said firmly. Halo decided to let it drop and said nothing more on the matter.

"So where are we going now?"

"I suppose we could go and find Fern and Kenna, if you wanted." Halo nodded and looked down at the ground. They supposed Rock hadn't found them yet when Shmi found him, so they were probably around Back-Alley VII still. Or at least, Halo hoped they were. They might have gone off to look for Karen and the boys, but she couldn't be sure. Maybe Karen had contacted them some how or gone to seek shelter.

Halo sighed as they entered the arch that was the entrance into Back-Alley and Atlas began to call their names. Halo sort of weekly joined in, but at least they got a reply. There was a loud crash of metal and tin as trash cans went crashing to the ground. Halo turned swiftly and had her gun pointing; she hadn't even realized she had whipped it out of her coat pocket.

Atlas laid a hand on her shoulder, indicating for her not to fire. She watched him walk by, toward the fallen trash cans. He approached them slowly and had taken his rifle gun from around his back and had it tucked under his armpit, ready to fire. He kicked a can out of the way and something large but black with the shadows that engulfed it went flying toward the arch. The figure reached the light and Halo caught a glimpse of the red shirt and the black symbol: Rock.

What had happened? How had he gotten out? Atlas and Halo hadn't even informed Shmi and Parth to release him yet. Atlas and Halo began to fire at Rock, even though he was supposed to be freed they hadn't given the order. They didn't hit him but Atlas knicked the wooden door just beside his hand. It probably gave him splinters, still not much damage.

"Damn it," Atlas swore as Rock began to run into the swarms of civilians in Upper-level. He had gotten away. "He probably went to the gate."

"But the gate leads to every Zone. How will we know which one he's gone to?"

"We'll just have to take a look around, then, won't we?"

Author's Notes: It's short, but it works. I really am sorry about just abruptly putting Atlas in, but to tell you the truth it's not so abrupt ^_~ Review and read on!