Chapter 26 - Closing Act, Part 1

The entire mine beneath the Dry Vein was experiencing a rush of activity as the members of Scinter's Mark and Radiant Ring prepared for the coming raid. The smugglers moved goods toward the far end of the mine, preparing to have them shipped elsewhere in the event of a worst-case scenario. Lucia and the members of Radiant Ring went through battle plans for taking out shock troopers and police nonlethally. Throughout the mine, Percy had multiple duplicates looking over the work being done and conveying messages between the groups.

For their part in the plan, Azel and Mead worked on setting the stage for the greater show. They practiced using their powers in unison, their halos both glowing bright as Mead filled large areas of the mine with a low layer of smoke and Azel created illusory scenes in those various areas. Following Percy's suggestion, Azel also worked on shifting his attention between the scenes he created, cycling from the first to last ones multiple times.

"The illusions are all looking stable, Azel, good work!" The Percy working with him and Mead said.

Azel opened his eyes as he turned his attention to Percy. "Oh, really? Good to know, thanks!"

"Ah, there was a bit of a flicker there…"

"Okay, I guess I have to stay focused to keep them all up at once…"

"Right, the last thing you want while splitting your attention like that is to get distracted. And Mead," Percy said, turning to her, "you're doing great keeping all of the sections covered. I'm impressed that you've been able to control your power so well!"

Mead smiled. "Thanks, it's all for the plan, after all! And anything that helps Azel is something I just have to do right!"

Azel gave Mead a smile. "Thanks, I appreciate it. Honestly, imagine what I'd have to do if our powers didn't work so well together. There would probably have to be ropes laid out all over the mine. Spirits, that would be such a mess to have to deal with!"

Mead laughed, and her halo glowed even brighter as the smoke started to rise. With a gasp, she quickly focused on her power again, causing the smoke to return to its original height.

"Okay, so there's something I guess I need to look out for!"

Percy chuckled. "Well, I think the two of you have everything figured out. How about you take a break? You can join up with the others and see how they're handling their parts."

Azel nodded, deactivating his power. "Sounds good, I've been wanting to see just what they had planned anyway!"

Azel smiled and took Mead's hand as she deactivated her own power. Walking together, the two of them headed for the part of the mine Lucia and the Radiant Ring members were in. After a span of walking, they arrived to see the others sitting together talking with each other.

"So, I was thinking…" Niccolo started, pausing as he saw Azel and Mead enter. "Ah, there you are! Percy mentioned you'd be coming."

"Yeah, we've pretty much figured out how we're going to be doing everything. How's everything been going on your end?"

"Quite well," Felicia said with a nod. "We've already got the costumes figured out, and now we're discussing how we'll be handling the shock troopers."

"Costumes? Yeah, I guess that would make sense…"

Mead turned to Azel. "Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that! Nadine's been working on costumes for everyone to wear!"

"Better that everyone who hasn't been revealed to the CCA stay that way, after all," Nadine spoke up. "In fact, Azel, the way your power works got me thinking, and I came up with something special for you to wear tonight! It should be waiting for you backstage in the Mirage!"

"Oh, I figured I'd just be wearing the robe from that other show…"

"Even better, love! You can wear the new costume under the robe! It's more of a functional outfit, anyway. Trust me, you'll love it when you see it!"

"Yeah, functional's a good word fer it! Don't wanna spoil tha surprise too much, but I gave 'Dine some nice shit ta go with it! Hopefully, it'll give ya a real edge if ya need ta fight off any troopers yerself!" Fen said with a smile. "Ah, by tha way, here!"

Fen activated his power and floated a wooden shortsword over to Azel, who let it rest in his hands.

"Somethin' a little bigger ta defend yerself with! Wood this time, 'cause we all know what happened tha last time ya used a live blade on a guy!"

"Oh, yeah! Feels like a lifetime ago that he did that," Lucia said. "I'm just glad it healed all right."

"That was the fight you two had, right?" Nico asked. "Right before Azel joined the Ring?"

"Yep, an' I even got a great scar from it! But no need ta worry about that this time! Just use what I taught ya, plus whatever tricks ya got, an' ya can take on some troopers yerself, no problem!"

"Ah, thanks, but about that…"

"Azel's going to need full concentration to keep all his illusions up," Percy spoke up. "The new costume and sword are nice last resort things, but he and Mead'll need someone to help take care of any troopers that get too close to them."

"Ah, shit, well in that case, how 'bout Lucia? We've been practicin' fer a while now, an' I bet by now she's good enough ta take a few shock troopers on all on her own!"

"Aw, Fen, thanks!" She nuzzled him, then turned to Azel and Mead. "Don't worry. I won't let you down!"

Mead smiled. "Glad to have your help, Lucia! So, now that we're all taken care of, I guess you all just have to figure out your plans for dealing with the troopers!"

"That's already mostly taken care of, to be honest." Niccolo said. "My family and I have our own battle plan, and between Fen's combat skills and Nadine's raw ability using her power, I think all that remains is actually doing it when the time comes."

"Speaking of that," Percy spoke up again, "It's almost time. I've been guiding guests down into the Mirage as we've been speaking, so everyone will need to get to their positions soon."

"Guests… that's right, it's got to look like a proper show after all… But it's still more innocents drawn into the line of fire…"

"Not to worry, Azel. They'll be well taken care of. We've been planning for this, remember?"

"Ah, right. Well, in that case," Azel said, straightening out, "I think that's everything figured out! Now, Barlow, the police, and the CCA are going to be expecting a show, so let's give them one they won't forget!"

Everyone in the group gave a cheer, then started heading to their positions. Azel and Mead shared a quick hug and kiss before going their separate ways. As Azel made his way to the Mirage, he steeled himself for the coming show.

Barlow and his friends in the CCA are going to be coming at us with everything they've got… All we're doing is protecting ourselves and the innocents before getting out… If they want blood, we'll show them just how much of it is already on their hands…

Everything's been leading up to this… For them, it's kill or be killed… But for us?

It's all just another act…

—

Barlow frowned as he and the other CRPD officers saw the knossus-drawn Combat Deployment Groundcar come to a halt on the side of Central Ruskol's main street. Only moments after stopping, the groundcar's rear doors opened up, pouring CCA shock troopers into the street. They immediately gathered around the alleyways that would serve as points of ingress for the coming raid.

"Isn't this a little much?" He asked the driver mounted atop the knossus. "I mean, sure, we don't know what sort of firepower they've got in there, but I was hoping we'd get something a little more… subtle."

"With respect, Lieutenant," the driver replied as he dismounted the massive pack animal, "this is standard procedure for powers use infractions. And given the connections that Atrox apparently has to Scinter's Mark, seems to me like we'll be needing as much firepower as we can bring."

Barlow looked around the main street. Bystanders gaped as they saw the groundcar and shock troopers, and those that weren't left staring started moving faster, avoiding eye contact with any of the CCA's law enforcement officers.

Spirits… This is already a mess, and we haven't even got to the Dry Vein yet…

As Barlow thought, Detective Banks walked up to speak with the driver. "Hey, you know there's innocents in there, right? Those girls, Santoro and Luxmyn, not to mention all the people in the Dry Vein that don't know about the Mirage! What's this going to look like to them?"

The driver gave Banks a flat stare. "The CCA has deemed Santoro and Luxmyn compromised by your power user, but if it makes you feel better, they're to be captured alive if possible. As for the civilians in the Dry Vein, they should be fine as long as they stay out of our way."

"If possible… What the actual hell…" Banks muttered.

"And besides that, I'm not sure why you're so concerned with this operation. Not to diminish your contributions, but this isn't really police work anymore. The CCA will take things from here."

Holt stepped forward hearing this. "W-wait, what? After everything we've done to put this raid together, you're just leaving us out of it?"

"Standard procedure, ma'am. Leave capturing the power user to us. You've done your part."

"The hell we have! This is our district, our home! Our job isn't over until Atrox is captured! After all the work we did investigating…"

Barlow put a hand on Holt's shoulder. "At ease, Officer. Like it or not, the CCA outranks us. It's not worth arguing about."

"I… Yes, sir. I understand…"

The groundcar driver simply nodded and headed to speak with the rest of his squad. Once he left, Holt sagged in disappointment. Banks shook his head.

"Bastards… Not even giving us a say…"

"It is what it is, Mar. With not only a power user, but also the Marks involved, the CCA's going to insist the shock troopers- ahem, Safety Troopers, are the only ones who should put their lives on the line here."

"And what about the civilians? The troopers aren't exactly a one size fits all solution, Jay! And from what I learned from the Hall of Records…"

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Holt spoke up. "The Luxmyns were worried about their daughter too. At least if we could go in we could make sure those girls were okay…"

Barlow sighed. "Look, you two. I don't like it any more than you do, but this is above us now. If the CCA doesn't want us involved, there's not much we can do without getting in trouble ourselves…"

"I guess it's better for us to just shut up and let the troopers handle it…" Banks grumbled. He turned to Barlow with a faint smile on his face. "Well, at least it's not all bad. You at least seem more like yourself, Jay!"

"Yeah, Eira helped me think through some of the stuff I was going through this week, really put things in perspective. And besides that, I've been waiting all week for this day to come. Hopefully, we, well, the troopers anyway, will be able to finally bring Hazel Atrox to justice!"

"Whoever's doing it, it's one more power user off the streets, right?"

"Exactly. Can't get too down about that."

Holt looked up. "Oh, yeah, Eira was also the one who got us that informant on the inside! That was, um, Laurent, right?"

"Yeah. With his help, the troopers should have no trouble getting into the Mirage and capturing Atrox in the middle of his show!"

As Barlow spoke, he turned to look over at their informant, Petru Laurent, who was currently explaining a drawn map of the mine shaft's layout to the CRPD officers and shock troopers who were surrounding him. Eira stood nearby, listening to the pub owner intently.

"To think that someone like him was stuck working for them this whole time… All the more reason Atrox and his friends in the Marks need to be taken down…"

"You think we should go talk with him before the raid? Let him know the… less than great news?"

"Ugh, another thing to add to the list of complaints about the CCA… Even after the guy stuck his neck out to help, too! Spirits, they should just let him have his freedom after this!"

"Easy there, Officer Holt. Like it or not, Laurent's an asset to the CCA now; not much else I can do about it. Still, Mar's right. He ought to know…"

With another sigh, Barlow gathered Banks and Holt with him to join up with the group around Laurent. As they approached, Eira went up to give her husband a hug, and Laurent smiled at the group.

"Ah, Lieutenant Barlow! We were just going through the plan for the raid! So, did you have any word about the amnesty?"

Barlow nodded slowly. "Well, about that… The CCA's agreed to it, but they'll be needing you to provide some more intelligence on the Marks before they let you out of their custody. I'm sorry I couldn't get you a better deal…"

Laurent frowned slightly, then shrugged. "I guess it figures, not every day that someone has info on a smuggling ring to share, after all. Still, I'm glad that I even managed to get a chance like this!"

He looked over at Eira, who gave him a warm smile.

"That wife of yours though… You found a real winner in her. Once all this is done, you make sure to treat her to something nice!"

"Right. Eira, my love, you deserve so much more than I can give you for this. Is there anything you would want to start out with?"

"Well, darling, I'm just happy that I could help out. But now that you mention it, we haven't had a proper date night in a while. Maybe we could…"

"Of course, my love. Whatever and wherever you want."

Barlow lifted Eira up, and the two of them embraced and shared a kiss. Banks and Holt smiled at the sight.

"All right, Jay! And way to go, Eira, getting Mr. Laurent's help with all this!"

"And all while just being a civilian, too! Kind of makes me jealous…"

Banks gave Holt a smile. "Hey, Ciella, you did some damn good work too! I mean, you're the one who figured out at least half of what we needed to know about the Dry Vein!"

"Ah, yeah, I guess I did! And, thanks for believing in me, Detective. I probably wouldn't have even tried if it wasn't for you!"

"Hey, we all need a push every so often, right? I just thought…"

"Lieutenant Barlow! We've got the comms ready!"

One of the other officers came running up, cutting Banks's sentence off. Barlow let Eira down from their hug before turning to face him.

"What's that now, Officer? The comms are ready?"

The officer nodded. "Got the setup ready in the friend roller over there! You can watch and listen in as the troopers are raiding the Mirage!"

"Really? That's good to hear, Officer! We'll head over right away!"

Banks shook his head. "Friend roller… Spirits, I didn't know anyone actually took that name for combat groundcars seriously…"

"It is kind of a silly name," Holt said, "but I guess branding is what it is…"

"Um, technically," one of the troopers spoke up, "the comms link is so we can report in from the mine, and also so we can keep using Laurent as a source of intel while we're in there. I guess you could use it to watch, but it's for the raid first and foremost."

"Ah, right. We'll keep that in mind." Barlow said.

"Better than nothing, right?" Laurent said. "Might as well head over together, since they'll be needing me too."

The group of CRPD officers, Eira, and Laurent, started making their way over to the groundcar, escorted by a few of the troopers stationed for comms duty. As they approached, Barlow went through everything in his head once more.

So, this is what it's all been leading up to… All our hard work these past few weeks, all so the shock troopers can take all the credit for it. Well, if they can bring Atrox in, I guess that won't be so bad…

As Barlow thought, the group arrived at the groundcar and headed in one by one, starting with the shock troopers and Laurent. Barlow, Banks, Holt, and Eira followed shortly after, finding themselves in a surprisingly spacious interior. One of the racks of seats for the troopers had been removed, and in its place there was a simple AV setup consisting of a presentation-sized data-scroll, a pair of speakers, and a microphone. The data-scroll showed the video input from one of the troopers outside, who was peering down the alleyway closest to the groundcar.

Won't be too long now… Just have to wait and see how the shock troopers handle Atrox…

—

On a signal from their commanding officer, the shock troopers began the raid. The impersonal, armored defense force poured through the narrow alleyways, paying little heed to the chill of the wind running through their ranks as they made their approach.

In a short time, they arrived at the Dry Vein, and started securing the building's perimeter. With little warning, the troopers started filing into the pub, to the shock of the civilian dreamkeepers seated within. Many of them quickly put their hands up in terror, which turned to confusion as the troopers passed them by and headed for the door which led to the mine shaft turned cellar.

The initial wave started making its way into the cellar, with more troopers following behind. Following the path Laurent pointed out to them, the troopers eventually arrived at the wooden facade that separated the Mirage Bar from the rest of the mine.

Strange, Barlow thought as he stared at the data-scroll. I'd have expected there to be someone guarding the entrance…

A quick infrared scan with the lead trooper's FullScan HUD goggles revealed a number of heat signatures moving around within the bar, but none where the stage was supposed to be.

Atrox is a reptile after all, not surprising that he wouldn't show up on the infrared scan… But to have a crowd like this… Spirits, just how many people are actually listening to this guy?

Armed with their STR1 Lance rifles, a group of the troopers began using the door-busters mounted on them to apply a barrage of concussive force to the heavy sealed door. In time, the door came crashing down, and Atrox's voice could be heard as the troopers marched in.

"…The CCA insists that powers are… Oh, speaking of, look who decided to join us tonight!"

Barlow could hardly believe he was seeing the same Atrox he remembered from several weeks ago. Where the young man he bumped into on the street was timid and yielding, the Atrox he saw on stage spoke loudly and carried himself with confidence. He was wearing a white robe with gold accents, the Serapean one as Barlow recalled, and a bright red halo glowed over his head.

"Hazel Atrox!" The lead shock trooper shouted. "This is Central City Authority! Put your hands behind your head and step down from the stage! We have the building surrounded, there's nowhere to…"

The trooper paused as Atrox put his hands behind his head and laughed.

"Straight to arresting me, then? This is just what I've been talking about, everyone! There's nothing morally untoward here, we're all just here for a night of fun! I use a harmless power to show you lovely people a good time, everyone leaves happy! And yet, we get no sympathy from the CCA at all! Hell, they can't even get my name right!"

"Y-your name?" The trooper asked, taken aback.

"Azel Atrox, just a simple performer! No violence, no corrupting the innocent, and no 'H!' Honestly, did you people even bother to do your research at all?"

A few of the bolder audience members laughed, the springers pointed at them doing little to dissuade them.

Atrox continued, emboldened even further by the crowd. "And on top of all that, you're here in full riot gear, breaking down doors and terrifying the innocents back up in the pub, all to break up the equivalent of a noisy party! Did you expect this to turn into a firefight or something?

The lead shock trooper looked around at the audience, who was cheering Atrox on.

"Atrox!" He roared. "This is your last warning! If you don't step down from the stage right now…"

You'll what? Shoot me? Go right ahead, it's not like I can do anything back!"

The trooper leveled his rifle at the rogue power user and fired. To everyone's surprise, the bullet phased harmlessly through Atrox's head and tore through the curtains behind him. Other troopers began to fire at the power user as well, getting only the same ineffectual results. Atrox laughed at the display, and the audience followed suit.

"The CCA's shock troopers, everybody! That's how they do things! Shoot first, diplomacy never! As if I could actually fight back though! My power doesn't even work like that!"

"W-what the hell are you!?" One of the troopers asked.

"What am I, you ask? Well, I assure you, I'm one of the least dangerous power users out there, better suited for the stage of entertainment than for the stage of battle. I can create illusions, summon sights and sounds to stun the senses, but never actually harm.

Atrox's halo glowed brighter as he spoke, and multicolored sparks began to circle him.

As Barlow watched on, he froze as he made a connection in his mind. Illusions… Atrox's power is the same as the one in that flashback…

"With this power, I plan to show you just how cruel your methods are! If the CCA wants to rule by terror, I'll just have to show you the very fear you inspire in the people you claim to protect!"

"But this has all just been talk, a preamble before the real show. I think a real demonstration of what I mean is at hand: The mine shaft's a pretty big place, just try and find the real me in here! But be careful, on your way, you just might see truths about yourselves that you never wanted to admit!

"Oh, and Lieutenant Barlow," Atrox said, staring directly at the lead trooper, "I hope you're seeing all of this! Wouldn't want you to miss out on the show I planned for you, after all!"

Barlow stirred as he heard Atrox call him out by name. Around him, Banks, Holt, and Eira turned to look at his reaction.

"Wait, this whole show of his, it's for… Jay…?"

"Atrox… He was expecting the Lieutenant to see all this?"

"James… Darling…"

Barlow glowered at the power user on the screen. Atrox, that sneaky bastard… All of this was for me? Spirits, I think we played right into his hands…

Well, if he wants me to watch, he's got my full attention…

Barlow focused his eyes on the data-scroll. Back in the Mirage Bar, the audience and the shock troopers went quiet. Atrox's halo flared, and the bar was covered in darkness.