Myles considers diving to rescue him, but upon observing the fury in the attacker’s eyes, he quickly reasons and makes a strategic decision. He realizes that the chances of actually saving Alek are practically nonexistent. He steps to the edge of the platform and counts the enemy’s steps, just as he learned in hand-to-hand combat classes. On the final step taken by the young man who had just potentially taken the life of his journey companion, Myles launches into a vertical flight as fast as he can, knowing it may be dangerous. The strategy works, and the young man—made of metal—throws himself into the 320-foot drop.

  Myles quickly realizes he still has enough energy at this altitude, so he dives after the boy, as fast as possible, grabs him by the ribs, and notices he doesn't have the strength to lift him—only to soften the fall, which happens. The young man rises from inside the dumpster where he landed, frustrated, and shouts, after spitting a piece of a fruit peel:

  "— Damn it! You can fly?!"

  "— Who are you, and why are you attacking us?" Myles responds.

  "— You're part of the team that destroyed our colony in the Far South. I saw the same symbol on your jacket that those bastards wore when they turned our homes to ashes."

  "— Oh, don’t be na?ve. I’ve never been to the Far South. I hadn’t even visited this part of the city before. Anyone can buy what suits them, my friend. The desert night is cold, you know? Now, tell me—who are you?" Myles insists.

  "— My name is Leon Neekí! I’m trapped on this planet. Due to genetic mixtures, I ended up in this form. The village where I lived with my family was destroyed—everyone and everything I knew, gone. I promised to avenge them... I found no trace or record of that team—until I saw your jacket. So when I saw you, I didn’t think twice."

  Leon, now calmer, stands up from the garbage, dusts off his clothes, and bears a mix of frustration and remorse on his face. His eyes are not normal—they are liquid silver mirrors, impossible to read. When Myles looks into them, he has the strange feeling that Leon has suffered far more than anyone ever should.

  "— I’m sorry for you. My name is Myles Rabbit. I’m a bastard from Rhakotis, freed by an elder and sent on a mission. Maybe they can give you more information about the symbol." Myles says, containing a mix of frustration, anger, concern, and fear, making an effort to be sympathetic and hopeful, breaking Jenson's recommendation and hoping his judgment—that Leon is just a confused and vengeance-thirsty good kid—is right.

  "— Alright then, where to?" Leon suddenly brightens.

  "— The address is Lodging 23D / North-Central."

  "— Let’s find Alek, the guy you punched, first…" Myles says, hiding the tears welling up. "...or what’s left of him," he whispers loud enough for only himself can hear.

  Leon closes his eyes and presses his lips together, clearly regretful, as he finishes cleaning the trash off his clothes.

  "See you up there," Myles says as he lifts off, heading toward the platform where the conflict occurred, searching floor by floor, desperately hoping Alek survived the fall. Meanwhile, Leon rushes to take the elevator.

  When Myles reaches Platform 12/10, the holographic banner still flickers erratically, slightly tilted in its frame, and a small crowd has gathered, shocked by Myles’ flying ability. They look at him as if he’s carrying a deadly, contagious disease, parting the way as he rushes through them in search of any signs of Alek.

  Within about fourty seconds, the small crowd becomes a full-blown one. Myles, still surrounded by a bubble of awe, hears the elevator chime nearby and prepares to ask Leon about Alek—thinking it’s him coming out. To his surprise, it’s a clearly shaken Alek who emerges, walking quickly toward him and grabbing his wrist. As they head toward the elevator, Alek says:

  "— What the hell just happened? Who was that guy? For a moment I didn’t... Phew! You’re okay! What happened to that wannabe villain?"

  Alek is clearly in shock, his voice and body trembling.

  "— You..." Myles hesitates, relieved and admiring. "— You’re alive and okay! How did you manage that?" he asks as they step into the elevator, held open by a curious onlooker whom Alek pushes aside upon seeing Leon approaching them—seemingly fleeing both Leon and the approaching officers.

  "— No! Wait for him!" Myles yells, stopping the door as he notices the slightly loose bandages around Alek’s neck.

  "— What do you mean? You saw what he did! He tried to kill us! That guy is crazy! He must be with our enemies, Myles! Are you out of your mind, kid?!" protests the bandaged Alek, allowing Leon to enter very reluctantly.

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  "— I confused you two, I’m sorry," Leon replies, panting, leaning against the elevator wall as Myles frantically presses the button for the ground floor—again and again.

  "— You almost killed me, you bastard!" Alek snarls, launching himself at Leon with full force, grabbing him by the collar, fist raised.

  "— Hey! Hey! It was a mistake! I already apologized! Besides, you’re alive and well. You made it, didn’t you?" Leon says apologetically. His hands up, then adds, intrigued: "Wait, how did you survive, anyway?"

  "— Stop it, both of you! Alek, this is Leon—he’s a Stainless Walker. He wants to help us. He thought we were with G.E.I.T., that’s why he attacked. Leon, he has every right to be angry—we don’t know you, and you nearly killed him with a punch on his face. Now ENOUGH!" commands Myles, the youngest and shortest of the three.

  Alek punches the wall next to Leon’s face, cracking the elevator’s acrylic panel just before the doors open on the ground floor. Luckily—or perhaps through some twist of fate—the elevator chime doesn’t work on this floor, allowing the boys to slip behind the guards facing the main entrance. Officers are spread throughout the station like bloodhounds. Every second counts. If spotted, they won’t get a second chance.

  They exit through a side door and, trying to remain anonymous, Alek and Myles cover their faces while watching the guards’ movements. Leon, more focused on direction, informs:

  "— We’re at the corner of 14/H and 29/D. Our destination is left and six blocks ahead."

  "— Alright, let’s move—fast, before they see us," Myles whispers, feeling like a junior leader.

  The three sneak through the surrounding streets, evading guards whose numbers thin as they get farther from the station. Leon takes the opportunity to recount in detail what happened in his village—how his people and family were wiped out. He tries to connect with the boys, opening up and seeking understanding, if only to feel less… alone. Myles listens with interest, but Alek remains stoic and cold, no matter how tragic Leon’s tale.

  Leon describes the underhanded tactics the T?ten troops used to infiltrate his community and how they lied to and manipulated his people. He tells of the cryogenic weapons used to weaken and destroy the Stainless Walkers, and how he witnessed the cold-blooded execution of their community leader—and his father torn to pieces before his unblinking eyes. Genetic traits may have stolen his tears, but not the grief and thirst for vengeance in his expression.

  "— And your mother?" Myles asks, hopefully.

  "— She fled with my younger brother to be hunted by troops while I was still a captive. When I finally escaped, I went after them... only to find their shattered remains on the glacier," Leon recounts, clearly in pain from the memory.

  The remaining two blocks pass in silence.

  "— Street 23/D, Lodging – North Central. Let’s look for Mr. Nishida’s unit," Alek finally says—his first words since the station.

  "— This way!" Alek guides them through a dark alley filled with people lying on the ground, begging for credits and food. They cross intersections and emerge back onto the street in front of a blue-and-gold building with a sign reading Kushika.

  "— This is where we’re going," Alek says, relieved.

  They approach the guard in the booth:

  "— We’re here to see Mr. Endo Nishida. We’re from Techpile. Access code 00264," Alek states.

  "— Mr. Endo Nishida from room 38601?" replies the guard—a humanoid with boar-like features, bald, fat, and with his light-green shirt buttons on the brink of popping.

  "— Precisely," Alek smiles through his bandages.

  "— Iris scan here, boys—one at a time," the guard commands. Licking his thumb from an oily liquid that also greases his lower face.

  They allow their eyes to be scanned, hear the confirming beeps, and...

  "— You may go up. Sixth elevator to the right—and BE CAREFUL! You're being monitored! Don’t forget!" the guard warns as they pass through the turnstiles and into the glass doors.

  When they reach the hallway to the elevators, the one they need arrives—and oddly, only one person is inside. He rushes out, shoving both Alek and Myles. For a moment, Myles thinks he sees the stranger’s eyes glow blue—but it’s too quick to be sure.

  "— Ouch," Myles complains.

  "— He pushed us, I know—but did it hurt that much, crybaby?" Alek mocks.

  "— No, man—it felt like a static shock. Damn!" Myles says, checking his arm, where a small red mark is forming.

  "— Do you… do you guys feel that?" Leon asks, sniffing like a dog trying to pick up a scent.

  "— Yeah, that perfume is pretty nice. Must be someone super vain," Myles comments, mocking with a pleased expression.

  Grrrrrrr — Myles’ stomach growls as they reach the 38th floor of the Kushika building.

  "— Wow, that was massive!" Alek says, more relaxed. They all laugh so hard they clutch their bellies.

  "— Yeah, man—I’m starving. I haven’t seen food in ages," Myles replies, wiping tears from laughter as the elevator doors open.

  Right in front of the elevator is another door, labeled:

  38601