Hiro gritted his teeth as he strained against the thick restraints binding him to the hospital bed. The worn leather dug into his wrists, chafing his skin. He finally released his strained muscles with an exasperated sigh, realizing there was no point in struggling. His dark eyes scanned the dingy room, trying to figure out where exactly he was being held. Boarded-up windows and a suspiciously barricaded emergency exit left gave him a clue - the writing was English with no sign of kanji.

  "Damn it, Nori," Hiro muttered under his breath. "If you get caught you could start another war." He knew his captor's actions were driven by fear, a desperate attempt to avoid killing him. But this half-baked plan could blow up in Nori's face at any moment. It was only a matter of time before someone tracked them down.

  Hiro hoped for a miracle but knew he couldn't rely on one. The next time Nori came to change his bandages, he would have to try to make a move. Nori wouldn't expect him to lash out, the shock might buy enough time for Hiro to get down the hall. The only flaw was Nori would still have a Mach and all the heat-seeking capabilities that came with it.

  ---

  Miles away, the sleek private jet descended towards an unregulated and dingy airstrip on the outskirts of Detroit. The crumbling city loomed before them, a desolate wasteland still festering with radiation. Classified as a level 4 zone, the area was deemed uninhabitable due to the fluctuating level of radiation.

  As the plane taxied to a stop, Naomi turned to the rag-tag team she had assembled. "Keep these radiation monitors on at all times," she dug the small devices out of her pocket. "And avoid anyone claiming they can help you. People here are not known for their hospitality."

  Nodding towards Hector, Naomi asked, "What can we actually expect on the ground?"

  Hector cleared his throat and everyone's eyes locked on him. "Officially, the city is abandoned, save for a few people desperate for anything that resembles shelter. But unofficially, there's a thriving underground network that doesn't take kindly to outsiders."

  Naomi and Ai exchanged concerned glances, while Masumi shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Maybe it would be best if Ai and I stayed back, we trained like you are," Masumi reasoned, looking out the window at the city.

  Naomi shot her a look. "We have just over twenty-four hours to find Nori and Hiro before Japan sends in their Machs. We need all hands on deck."

  Masumi nodded solemnly and she continued to fidget with the hem of her shirt. As they disembarked the plane, each one of them knew the clock was ticking. The airstrip was uneven and cracked, the fence surrounding the strip rusted and bent, and the vast city seemed endless.

  "Follow me," Naomi instructed leading them toward an old hanger close to the gate.

  The rusted metal door of the warehouse creaked open, revealing a dusty, black sedan. Naomi strode towards it, her heels echoing against the concrete floor. "Our ride," she announced, sliding into the driver's seat.

  As the group piled in, Naomi had Hector enter the city hall address into the GPS, with a hum the car sputtered to life, driving itself toward their destination. The silence of the ride was broken only by the occasional crackle of the radiation monitor.

  After a few minutes, the car pulled into the overgrown parking lot. "We need to split up," Naomi said, stepping out of the vehicle. "I don't think Nori would go underground, it would be too risky for him. He is paranoid and currently in survival mode. So, if you find him, call for backup. Do not engage, he will kill you."

  Masumi swallowed hard but the other seemed ready to go, before she knew it, she was alone in the lot. Ai had already wandered up the deserted street, her footsteps echoing off the crumbling walls. Suddenly, her radiation monitor let out a shrill beep, and she doubled back as quickly as she could, slipping into a shop and slamming the door behind her.

  "Well, well, what do we have here?" the shopkeeper asked, eyeing Ai suspiciously. "Thought the government banned all immigration."

  Ai forced a smile, trying to remember any English phrases she learned in school. "Just passing through," she said with a small nod, making her way over to withered vegetables. She failed to notice Nori, who stood in the next aisle, his face hidden beneath a low-pulled hat.

  ---

  An hour earlier, Nori had been pacing the floor of the old warehouse. His stomach growled, a reminder of the dwindling food supplies. With a sigh, he glanced towards the room where Hiro was being kept, still bound to the hospital bed.

  "Will you ever understand what I am willing to do for you?" Nori wondered, his heart heavy with guilt. "How I am trying to save you."

  Tucking his Mach safely into his jacket pocket, Nori pulled a hat low over his face and slipped out into the streets. He made his way to the only shop where the food was semi-edible, his eyes scanning the shelves for canned goods.

  As he reached for a can of beans, Nori heard a familiar voice. Peering around the shelf, he saw her. There, chatting with the shopkeeper, the girl from the greenhouse attack and the police station bombing.

  "They must have tracked me here before the lead blocked my tracker," Nori realized, his hand reaching to where the tracker was placed. This was unexpected but he could improvise. This could actually be a good thing, he thought.

  Slipping out of the shop unnoticed, Nori disappeared down a backally toward the manufacturing district. He could feel the weight of his Mach in his pocket but he didn't need to use it. The way that girl looked at Hiro at the greenhouse, he knew that feeling all too well... he could use that.

  Nori burst through the door of the warehouse, momentarily forgetting his own hunger. He strode down the hallway, his footsteps echoing off the steel walls, and flung open the door to Hiro's room.

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  Hiro looked up, startled by the sudden intrusion. "What's going on, Nori?"

  "Where's your phone?" Nori asked, making his way over to Hiro's bedside.

  "My phone? It's back in Japan," Hiro replied, confusion etched on his face. "Why do you need it?"

  Nori scowled, this was an annoying setback. He began to pace the room, trying to come up with a plan B.

  Hiro watched him, realization dawning. "Someone is here looking for us, aren't they? Who is it, Nori? Is it the government? Someone I know?"

  Nori remained silent, his eyes fixed on the floor.

  "Nori, listen to me," Hiro said, his voice steady. "Let me go. If you do, I promise I'll help get you out of this. Nobody has to get hurt."

  But Nori shook his head, turning on his heel and striding out of the room. He made his way to the monitors, scanning the screens for any sign that he wasn't followed. Satisfied that no one was onto him, he sank into his chair and started searching through the old wooden desk.

  He knew it was in one of the drawers, and when his finger finally grazed the holodeck, a smile stretched across his face. He looked up the wanted poster of Ai, studying her face, committing her last name to memory. Then, he scoured the internet, searching for any trace of her socials.

  Finally, he found it. Ai's Lockd'n profile was visible to the public. Nori's fingers flew over the holodeck, creating a fake account in Hiro's name. He paused only a moment, deciding on what message would get her attention, then typed a single word: "Help!"

  Sinking back into the chair, Nori hit send, watching as the message got marked as sent. The trap was set, and now all he had to do was wait for Ai to take the bait.

  ---

  Ai's heart raced as she stared at the message on her slab, the word "help" searing itself into her mind. The street around her faded away, the eerie silence of the abandoned city replaced by the pounding of her heartbeat. Could it really be Hiro? Did he somehow escape? Was he trying to communicate with her?

  She hesitated, her gut told her something was off. Hiro would have said more, he would have at least told her where he was. But then again maybe Hiro had no clue where he was. He could be alone and in danger. She had to take the chance.

  "Where are you?" she typed, her hands shaking. "What happened?"

  The seconds ticked by, each one an eternity. Finally, the reply came. "Nori kidnapped me," Hiro wrote. "He's keeping me somewhere, it's not Japan. He forgot to lock the door. I don't know where I am, but I need your help. Please, Ai. You're my only hope."

  Tears pricked at the corners of Ai's eyes. She wanted to believe it was true, that Hiro was really reaching out to her. "He took you to Detroit. I'm here looking for you," she typed. "Send me a location tag. Stay hidden until I get there."

  Another pause, longer this time. Then, a map appeared on her screen, a blinking dot marking a location just a few blocks away. "Hurry," Hiro wrote. "Nori's still out there, looking for me. I don't have much time."

  "I'm on my way," Ai replied, feeling her throat dry out. "Stay safe. I'll be there soon."

  She glanced around, taking in the deserted street, weeds poking up through the ashvault. She knew she needed to let the other know. She just hoped they were close by, she sent a quick message to the rest of the group, sharing Hiro's location. "Hiro got out," she wrote. "Meet me there."

  Then, she took off running, ignoring the buzzing of her pocket. She had to get to Hiro before it was too late.

  The crumbling house loomed before her, a burned shell of a once-proud home. Ai approached cautiously, the eery silence settling over her. "Hiro?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you here?"

  Silence. The home's front door creaked in the wind as she inched closer. Ai stepped inside, the floorboards threatening to snap beneath her feet. She strained her ears, listening for any sign of Hiro's presence.

  A faint scuffling sound caught her attention, coming from somewhere below. The basement. Ai followed the hall looking for the door. She had to be careful. If Nori was still out there, searching for Hiro, she couldn't risk leading him straight to their location.

  She crept down the stairs, her slab held out before her like a shield. The beam of light didn't help much, making every shape seem sinister. But as she traced over the basement she caught something. Hunched beneath an old workbench, was a figure. Hiro?

  Ai moved closer, trying to get a better look. But as she drew near, she realized her mistake. It wasn't Hiro at all, but a dummy, propped up to look like a person.

  Fear gripped her heart as she spun around, but it was too late. Nori was waiting for her, his eyes locked on her. Ai opened her mouth to scream, but before she could make a sound, Nori's fist connected with her jaw, and the world went black.

  ---

  Ai's head throbbed as consciousness slowly crept back into her mind. She blinked, trying to focus on her surroundings. The room was dusty and cold, the glow of numerous monitors was the only source of light. She tried to rub her eyes but something held her wrists to the chair, the rough rope digging into her skin.

  "Glad to see you're awake," Nori's voice cut through the silence, making her jump. He sat nearby, his eyes fixed on her, a smirk playing on his lips.

  Ai glared at him, she tried to sound commanding despite the fear coursing through her veins. "Where's Hiro?"

  Nori chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "I don't think Hiro is who you should be worried about right now, don't you think?" Nori got up and crouched next to her, "I have some questions for you. Let's start with who else is here with you?"

  "No one," Ai lied, keeping a straight face. "I came alone."

  "You tracked a device that only can be viewed by government personnel in another country? Then you charter a plane to a no-fly zone? You expect me to believe that?" Nori scoffed, pointing to one of the monitors. "I left a camera at the house where I caught you. It seems you might have been followed."

  Ai's heart sank as she watched Hector, Naomi, and Masumi arriving outside the home, their eyes scanning the barren property. She cursed herself for not being more careful.

  Nori leaned forward, his eyes boring into hers. "I knew Naomi would come looking for me, but I don't know the other two. Care to enlighten me?"

  Ai looked away, not wanting to give Nori anything until she was sure Hiro was ok. "I won't tell you anything."

  "Not even if I show you, Hiro?" Nori countered, his voice smooth as silk. "I promise I won't hurt anyone. I just want them to leave."

  Ai glanced back at Nori and then to the monitors. She sighed, she had to know if Hiro was still alive. "The guy around our age is Hector. He's... a friend. And the girl is Masumi, another friend."

  Nori smiled, satisfied with her answer. "Thank you, Ai. Now, I'll hold up my end of the bargain,"

  He grabbed the back of her chair, dragging it toward the door. Ai winced at the sound of the chair legs scraping against the floor during the trip down the hallway. They stopped before a door, and Nori pushed it open, revealing the makeshift hospital room.

  There, on a lumpy bed, lay Hiro. His eyes widened in shock as Nori dragged Ai to his bedside. "Ai? Why are you here?"

  "That is an excellent question, Hiro," Nori announced, a twisted smile on his face. "Unfortunately I have to take care of something, but Ai will fill you in."

  With that, he turned and left the room, leaving Ai and Hiro alone. Nori strode down the hallway, reaching into a dented filing cabinet to retrieve the tracking device that had once been embedded in his arm. He exited the building, crossing the street to another destroyed property.

  Wedging the door open, he placed the device on a pressure pad, his fingers working carefully to reactivate it. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the carefully placed C4 explosives. He was glad he had taken precautions when he arrived. He turned and headed back to the warehouse, thanking Naomi for being so predictable, this was going to be easy.