Chapter 14: In a safer place.
Paris, 11 p.m.
After an hour's journey, the bus with the Ayano group on board arrived in Paris, capital of Europia and fifth most populous city in Europe with its 2,229,621 inhabitants. One of the first things the swordswoman noticed was a large pyramid-shaped building that stood out in the sky.
"What is it?" She asked, amazed.
The others looked at her as if she had gone mad.
"But where have you lived on Pluto so far?" Sophie asked.
"Ayano ... Did you really not see anything beyond the ghetto where we were forced to live?" Yukiya asked in turn.
"Just answer my question!"
"That is the great pyramid of Paris, the palace wanted by Leila to reside there. It is the largest building in the world, as well as the most monitored." Explained the scientist.
"Why build such a building?"
"Leila had no intention of residing in the Elysée, home of the old republican government. She wanted a new building, suitable to represent the new European order established by her."
"Tell me about that building. I need all the information I can if I want to move freely."
"The pyramid is immense. The side atrium houses the empress' private zoo, contains animal species from all over the EU. The roof is made up of an immense stained glass window. Ah, there is also a balcony on the facade of the building, from where Leila harps the people gathered in the courtyard, thousands of people can gather there. "
"What about security measures?"
"Around the pyramid there is an electrified fence. Both around it and inside there are armed soldiers and surveillance cameras, on each floor. The rebels have tried several times to assault her but have been massacred."
"It's not a problem, I can get around the defenses thanks to my invisibility."
"Don't be reckless ... Just one mistake, one single mistake, and you're dead."
"I know."
"For this we need a plan. A good plan."
"Miss Randall!" The driver called.
"What is it, Kate?"
"There is a girl who gestures for us to stop."
"Pull straight, we have no time to waste!" Ayano intervened.
"Hey ... Kate is an employee of mine, she just answers me!" Sophie warned her.
"Oh, sorry doctor!"
Sophie looked at her nervously, then turned to the driver:
"Stop, and let's see what she wants."
"Ok ..."
Kate pressed on the brake and, when the vehicle had stopped, opened the doors and turned to a girl with short red hair and light purple eyes:
"What do you want?" She asked.
"Excuse the trouble, miss! But I need a ride!"
"To go where?"
"At my house, I'm terribly late."
"I understand. Well, you have to go on foot, miss ... We are fully booked here."
"Won't you want to leave me on foot in this dark? Risk of having bad encounters!"
"Your problem, not mine."
"Come on, don't be rude! I'm just asking you for a ride home!"
"I apologize if I have not been clear, or if my words may have confused you. I don't want you to misunderstand me, so I'll tell you again. Go away!"
"Kate ..."
"What is it, Sophie?"
"Around the bus ..."
Surprised, the girl looked ahead and saw two shady figures standing in the middle of the road holding her with their submachine guns. Others were placed on the sides and behind the vehicle.
"I told you to go straight ..." Ayano exclaimed furiously.
"Keep your hands up! And don't make false moves!" The redhead ordered them.
The bus passengers, including Kate, obeyed.
The stranger got on board and carefully scrutinized the various faces that stared at her with a mixture of hatred, contempt and fear. At one point she exclaimed:
"Look who you see… Sophie Randall, the Hamburg butcher! We made bingo!"
"Now I no longer work for Leila, I joined the resistance!" Said the scientist.
"And do you expect me to believe you?"
"I can confirm that." Ayano said, standing up.
"Who are you?"
"Ayano Kosaka, I'm a Japanese."
"I'm Yukiya Naruse, as above."
"Ayano ... Of course! Your mother told me about you! I am Jean Rowe, a former British knight, now affiliated with the Revolutionary Brigades."
"Nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine ... Lower your weapons, boys! They are friends! "Jean stated.
Everyone obeyed.
"I guess you're here to see Oscar Hammel, right?"
"Quite right."
"I'll take you straight to him. Get off the bus and follow us."
Although hesitant, the quartet obeyed.
After a quarter of an hour's walk, Ayano's group, escorted by the rebels, arrived in view of a casino, whose sign was written:
ROQUETTE CASINO
It was a three-story white building. Once them enter the entrance, them will find yourself in a fast and crowded environment. Smartly dressed people played slot machines or roulette. As she looked around the amazed Ayano she was hit by a woman with long blond hair and nlue eyes, who was wearing a black suit.
"Sorry , " The woman asked.
"For nothing" Replied the swordswoman.
The blonde woman looked at her from head to toe, then said:
"You're an Eleven, right?"
"Japanese".
"What's your name?"
"Yuriko."
The woman thought for a few moments, then said:
"When the coincidence is said ..."
"What do you mean?"
"That I'm here at the casino with two friends, one of whom is called Yuriko. Here they are." She explained, pointing to a Japanese woman with long purple hair and eyes of the same color who wore a bright red evening dress, which highlighted her prosperous forms; next to her stood a blonde with long straight hair, blue eyes and lipstick on her lips, wearing a black evening dress.
"Ah, how careless! My name is Vladilena Balalaika, I come from Moscow."
"Nice to meet you."
"My pleasure."
"Ayano! Do you want to move? We don't have all the time! Jean scolded her, dragging her away.
As we dragged Ayano she took one last look at the Japanese woman in the red dress. She was beautiful, and certainly wealthy if she could afford to go to such a place. She must have been a tourist or the wife of some diplomat because the eleven residents of Europe were ghettoized and barely able to get by. Some resorted to thefts, others to prostitution. Once reunited with the rest of the group (who had prudently hidden their weapons) Ayano was driven to a secluded corner, where there was a poster depicting Empress Leila with the background of the european flag. Jean pushed it aside, revealing a hidden button she pressed. After a few seconds, a section of the floor opens, revealing a staircase that descends downwards.
"Let's move." The redhead urged them.
Going downstairs they found themselves in a room with a floor and metal walls, where various people roamed. At the bottom of it was an elevator.
"We'll get there faster using that." Explained their guide.
"Hi, Jean! Who are these? "Asked a girl with long red hair tied in a tail and green eyes.
"Hi to you, Malty ... They are here to see Oscar."
The redhead looked at them suspiciously, then asked:
"Isn't that Sophie Randall, Leila's henchman?"
"Now stay with us, so you can trust her."
At those words Malty was darkened.
"The last time I trusted someone, I lost my younger sister, killed by Leila's soldiers!"
"This time you can, I guarantee for her." Ayano intervened.
"I don't know you, little girl ... And the guarantee of a stranger, even if Japanese, is worth as much as the garbage."
"Then let me guarantee it."
Everyone turned and saw a boy with short blue hair and eyes of the same color.
"Akito ..." Malty called him.
"Follow me, I'll take you to him." He invited them.
"Do I have to come too?"
"Exactly, Jean. He wants to see you."
Once in the elevator Akito hit the button to reach the fourth floor (which was also the last one).
"Please, don't turn to Oscar unless he speaks to you first, avoid looking directly. I've been clear?"
"Very clear."
Sophie replied, preceding Ayano.
Upon reaching their destination, the sextet crossed a corridor until it stopped in front of a white metal door. Then Akito knocked.
"Come in!" Said a voice.
The boy entered, closely followed by his accomplice and the quartet. Oscar Hammel, a young man with short gray hair and green eyes who wore an officer uniform and a pair of glasses, was seated at a desk. To his right was a shelf with some books; to his left was a hanger; behind him, hung on the wall, was a portrait. Initially the man was fumbling with a PC, then he looked up and gave a benevolent smile to the new arrivals.
"Jean ... Akito ... Who are our guests?"
"They are…"
"I am Ayano Kosaka, he is Yukiya Naruse; we were affiliated with Klaus Warwick's cell. Sophie and Kate should already know them." The swordswoman intervened, earning a glance from Akito.
"I understand…"
He laced his fingers together and stared at the new arrivals.
"Let's start with you, Sophie… Until yesterday you were a loyal follower of Leila, now I find you lined up on our side. What convinced you to change barricade?"
"I simply realized that I was supporting a ruthless and bloodthirsty tyranny that had plagiarized my mind. Now I am back to myself, and I want to contribute to its end."
"I see ... Ayano, I've heard of you. You relied on the European army first in Amsterdam and then in Hamburg ... And you also killed General Smilas. Someone like you would be of great help to the people. "
"My goal is to kill Leila, the rest is not about me at all." The girl said.
"We will never defeat Leila without the support of the people of the Europia." Said the bespectacled man.
"And how will we get their support?"
"By unmasking Leila, revealing her abject nature behind the propaganda."
"How?"
"By spreading the evidence I have accumulated over the years via the Internet, thanks also to spies infiltrated in court environments. As soon as the citizens realize how rotten and corrupt her government is, they will rise up en masse."
"And if people fight with us, a new leader will replace Leila."
Oscar stared at her severely.
"This nation must be ruled by the people!"
"Of course ..." She replied.
"When are you planning to start?" Yukiya intervened.
"Tomorrow afternoon."
"Not before?"
"At noon Leila will give a live television speech. We have to understand what her intentions are. "
"I am a professional hacker, I could be useful to you."
"You're enlisted, boy."
"Thank you, sir."
"As long as the Pandora's Box operation has not been implemented, you will stay here."
"What exactly does it consist of?"
"Simple, Madame Sophie ... Once the people rise, we will assault the pyramid and put an end to tyranny."
"I want to be the one to kill her!"
"Have patience, Ayano. You can do it tomorrow."
"But how can you be sure that people will stay with us?"
"Already now the discontent is quite high…. Europe is an erupting volcano, a powder keg ready to explode. It will be enough to throw a sulfur in it to cause the explosion. "
"What is the cause of this discontent?"
"Corruption, racism, repression of dissent ... Are you enough? By now many citizens, in their hearts, hate the empress. She has lost support from the masses."
"I see ... By the way, could you tell us about our rooms? It's late, and I'd like to sleep."
"Gladly ... Akito, accompany our guests to their respective rooms."
"Yes, sir."
The boy left the room, followed closely by Ayano's group.
Back in the corridor Akito led the upstairs quartet, which housed the dormitories.
"You will sleep there. Please don't disturb our affiliates." He warned them.
"Count on it." Kate replied.
"So see you tomorrow. Good night."
"Good night."
Upon entering the front door, they saw 100 beds arranged in rows of 4 each. They were all occupied by boys and girls, both European and Japanese; everyone was asleep.
"Let's find our beds, and be careful not to make any noise." Sophie said softly.
"Here they are!" Kate exclaimed, pointing to four empty ones.
"So good night and try to sleep well. Tomorrow will be a very long day ... "
The four of them settled in their places, after which they fell asleep.