SCENE 2

Koda took a deep breath, eyes closed, losing himself in his meditation.

The train was a great place for it: the soft seats, the still air, the pleasant hum of the vehicle as it glided over the monorail. One might forget they were entering one of the nation’s busiest and most bustling cities.

“Whoa, cool!” Mav shouted from across the car. “I can see everyone gathering in Glen Park! Must be for the festival. That’s a lot of people!” Footsteps thundered until a body rushed to the seat conjoined with Koda’s.

“And that’s the Central Arena! Think there’s gonna be a Challenger today? Will we have time to watch a match?”

Koda had lied. He could never lose himself to meditation whenever Mav was around.

And Mav was always around.

“Our train home doesn’t leave until tomorrow morning,” Koda said, abandoning the meditation. “If there’s a match, we should have time to see it.”

Mav beamed, the childlike expression clashing with his otherwise professional physique: sleek black hair tied into a tight bun, spotless Peace Keeper uniform of black and white worn tidily, and dark eyes folded in the corner which could have been imposing had they not twinkled like a puppy eager for a walk. Most citizens would probably feel more at-ease if their Peace Keepers didn’t act in such a manic manner. Mav, however, was brilliant at many things. Reigning himself in was not among them.

Not like it mattered. They were the only two in the car.

“But there’s something I’d like to check into, first,” Koda said.

“This again?” Mav said. “Why’s it matter if the train’s empty? People have probably commuted to Linick already for the festival. Just gives us more room to stretch.”

Which was exactly what he’d said two hours ago when they’d boarded the train. But humanity was hardly known to plan ahead. Regardless of how many early-comers there were to the festival, plenty of civilians would commute into the city the day of the celebration.

So why were they alone?

The city skyline gave way to a darkened tunnel, which itself gave way to their terminal. Koda’s suspicions expanded as the doors opened. Stepping onto the platform, the terminal was practically barren. Only a few commuters were about, and even they made a headlong stride toward their destination.

Mav, however, found something more pressing to concern himself with.

“Flames above,” Mav said, grabbing Koda’s shoulder and pulling him in. “That woman’s walking her cat!”

Indeed, a young woman sped down the terminal, leash in hand. On the opposing end was a small tabby. Before Koda could hold him back, Mav rushed toward the woman, pleading to pet the cat. The woman allowed him, glancing about as the cat rubbed against Mav’s shins. She looked distraught, but didn’t want to refuse a Peace Keeper.

“You know, Sgt. Allen told us to not abuse our power,” Koda said as he reached Mav.

“How is petting a cat an abuse of power?” Mav said.

“What’s going on, ma’am?” Koda asked the woman. “Where’s everyone?”

She had an incredulous look, then glanced down at Koda’s own uniform – identical to Mav’s, only made from thinner material – as if to remind herself to be respectful, given whom she was talking to.

“Have you not seen the news?” she asked.

“Just got debriefed from training,” Koda said. “We were forbidden all access to the outside world until about two o’clock this morning. If we weren’t rushing to a train, we were sleeping.”

“Oh, so sorry, Wondrous Keeper,” she said. “I shouldn’t have questioned.”

Mav, picking up on her troubled tone, ceased petting the cat and stood tall. “Is there something wrong?”

The woman gave a hurried nod. “Kidnappings. Over twenty of them in the last week alone. All of them close to the station.”

“That’s a lot in such a short time,” Koda said.

“More go missing every day,” she said. “If it weren’t absolutely necessary, I’d be at home right now.”

“And the cat?”

The woman looked offended. “For emotional support!”

Oh, the illogic of humanity. Massive kidnappings occur, so bring a cat to work. And these were the kinds of people Mav wanted to protect?

“What are the police doing?” Mav asked. “How about Linick’s guild?”

“Police are too busy with the Thanksgiving to the Flame-bearers Festival,” the woman said. “And Sacred Skies has taken out some contracts, but they haven’t been any help.”

Mav gave Koda a look, one he was all too familiar with.

“I’ll make some calls,” Koda said.

“We’ll escort you to a safe place, ma’am,” Mav said, giving her a warm smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll deal with this.”