Chapter Two, Wood and steel

Hyde City was a dark settlement on the coast of a small sea. Even during the waking hours the sunlight rarely brightened the ground, thanks to the maritime climate that ensured near total cloud cover. Hyde City was not a particularly wealthy area but those in charge where determined to show travellers an impressive city that rose into the sky. This resulted the city looking like a collective of tree trunks consisting wood and steel. On the ground level was a network of channels where markets were held selling food and basic materials. This technological void meant that people used to the leisurely ways of more advanced lands would tend to spend their time at the top of the taller buildings where a more capitalist economic system existed. The costs of locating in such a place were minimal and thus secondary industry made up the majority of development where investors looking to spend little and make much in return would buy, build and start recruiting. Crime in Hyde City was to be expected.

Friday nights at the Joanne's Night Bar tended to be busy and productive. There was direct competition with another bar on the opposite side of the street that was equally as appealing to customers and so people gathered in the area flipping coins for which bar they should go to. As the later hours of the night seeped in and the majority of customers seeped out an important person came to the street. This person wore gleaming black armour that was polished so well that it caught the eye of every individual passing by. The armour happened to be Omni-Pol armour, the special sort, expensive and exclusive. The person wore no helmet though and the occasional gust of wind swept his black hair forward over his face, something his was not fond of. This person was Diviant, Draco Diviant Deathblade, a rogue law enforcer and a supposed hit with the ladies.

"Hey there," he said to a passer by. "I'm looking for a bar called."

He paused for a second, took out a note from his pocket and then continued.

"It's called the 'Dead Hinge' night bar"

The person pointed to a brightly lit building opposite Joanne's bar. Diviant thanked them and walked up to it. As he came close he wondered to himself if this really was the right place. He'd expected somewhere a little more modern and clean. Before he entered he put on a denim jacket he'd been carrying under his left arm, just so he didn't stand out as much. He walked in, approached the bar and asked for a beer. As he paid the bartender he also took the opportunity to ask a question.

"I don't suppose you know a Lyra?"

"I may do, or at least maybe I did."

Diviant knew this way of speaking too well and resolved the situation by offering the man 200 credits.

"She's gone away for a while. She was working with the boss on renovating some apartments for tourists, figured we could get a second income from renting out properties. Lyra was sorting out the ownership detail I think. Anyway, if you're looking to talk to her you might be out of luck; she's gone out hunting north from here."

"She went out alone?"

"Yea, something about not wanting to lose a part of her life she values. Might be something to do with her past profession. I heard she was an adventurer."

Diviant by now was confident he was on the fright track. After weeks of searching it was gratifying to have some sign that she'd be near.

"She was," he said.

"Well, if you do want to find her speak to the guards at the north-east entrance to the city. She was last seen there, they might be able to give you a heading. And here, take this."

The bartender reached far under the bar desk and handed Diviant a small blue notebook.

"She left this, said if anyone came for her then they should have it. Take this advice; the creatures in the forest where she went are nasty but easily kept at bay if you know how. The pollutants from the cities' industry have meant that the entire ecosystem is contaminated and burn easy. If you want to avoid a fight, take a fire source with you.

"Thanks" murmured Diviant, staring at the notebook, his mind somewhere else. He left the bar and stashed the pad in his pocket, having not looked inside. It was then he came across three men. They came from the bar opposite, making a noise as they crossed. They were obviously looking for a fight. One stepped forward up close to Diviant, towering over him by a foot in height.

"We don't like Omni-Pol scum here." Sneered the rogue. "You're a long way from home, no backup here"

The others caught on and revealed weapons. One with a meter long metal pole and the other with a knife. The leader just stood arms crossed, try to intimidate Diviant. He knew this was only going to end one way.

"Two things. One, I'm no police unit and two, I don't need backup"

In a flash, a fist smashed into the front man pushing him backwards but not over. The pole-wielding rogue lunged at him but Diviant lurched back. Noticing a loose railing to the side of him, Draco tore the metal bar from the rails. Moments later, the rogue was at the ground with a broken right arm and a concussion. As the other rogue approached Diviant bristling the knife, Diviant threw the rail at him and drew a pair of Class A enforcer pistols from holsters on his back. He then shot a round of rubber bullets at the rogue's torso and legs, leaving the man moaning and flipping about on the steel floor. Suddenly, the remaining rogue drew a pistol himself. Diviant saw this and took to fleeing into the dense crowd that has formed around the fight scene. He wasn't about to take the risk of a close quarters gunfight in a populated area. Pushing through the mass of people he then broke free of the crowd and headed towards a lift where people were boarding to return to the ground surface. As he reached the doors he heard gunshots behind him and threw himself into a roll, grazing his sides on the closing lift doors. He slowly stood up and turned to face the man from behind bulletproof glass. The man pointed at him glaring for a moment, then turned back into the crowd as the lift began it's decent down to the surface.