Chapter 14

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"Now that we've settled that, I want to explain what I'm up to." Leon began to talk while Zane listened intently. "I told you that the Outbreaks are increasing..." Leon handed him a tablet.

"What's that?" Zane studied the list on it.

"A list of minor Outbreaks and Corrutin-spikes in our areas over the last few months." Lucia explained to him.

Zane scrolled through the over 100 entries in disbelief. He didn't have time to read every entry, but the sheer volume worried him.

"And those are just the ones we've tracked ourselves. We don't know how it is in other zones." Leon walked back to the window. "But we don't have the resources to take care of the Teikoku and the Akuryuma. I'm afraid if this continues, we'll soon be faced with another, far worse problem." He turned to Zane.

"A Third Outbreak..." Zane recalled the Outbreak in Halsion and swallowed nervously.

"Exactly, you see what I'm getting at... It's not certain that there will be a Third Outbreak, but I don't want to risk it."

Zane looked down at the list again as Leon continued. "I want to get to the root of the problem. However, we have too few men and the war ties up many of our resources. So we only have a few who can take care of it." Leon said and turned to Zane. "And that's where you come in. I'm putting together a squad to find the source of these Outbreaks and I'd like to have you join me, Zane."

Zane looked at Leon wide-eyed. How should he do that? He hardly had any combat experience and he had no idea about gathering information. "I'm honored, but shouldn't we ask for assistance from Shelter and the other parties?" Zane prompted.

"That's a good objection and we assume that the other parties and groups around Shelter already have similar plans." Leon explained.

"Then why don't they work together? The Aku are a threat to all of us."

"You're absolutely right Zane, but... we don't know what the others plan to do with this knowledge. It is not unreasonable that someone could come up with the idea of ​​using this knowledge as a weapon. Knowledge is power, as the saying goes."

"So Shelter doesn't share information..." Zane summed up. "Is it possible that…"

"Exactly. Perhaps a group has already discovered the origin and is now using it as a weapon. That could also be the reason why the Shelter troops arrived so late." Leon explained to him.

Zane clenched his fist angrily. Using Akuryuma as weapons? Was someone to blame for the Outbreak in Halsion?

"It's just a theory but a possible explanation for the sharp increase in smaller Outbreaks in recent months," added Lucia.

"Shelter and the other groups are doing their best, but even their troops are limited. People are getting restless...", Leon looked over at the city.

"As with the other parties, our news department is trying everything to calm the population. But with increasing frequency, it's almost impossible to keep it a secret from the population." Lucia sighed. "All we can do is damage control."

"Of course, you have to...", Leon began but was interrupted by Zane.

"When do we start?"

"You're in?" Leon asked and Zane nodded. "You want to look for your sister, right?"

"I want to find out what happened back then." Zane recalled that night. "I'm doing it for Zero and everyone else too... I promised him I'd end this war. If I can stop the Outbreaks, that's a first step."

Leon smiled. "I can't promise you'll find what you're looking for. Finding someone on Nykara is like looking for a needle in a haystack, but I can set some gears in motion for you." Leon shook Zane's hand. "Welcome to the Containment Unit!"

Resolutely, Zane took Leon's hand. "Thanks!" He grinned.

The two stood at the window and looked across at the city.

"As I'm sure you know, this is all top secret, you mustn't tell anyone about it."

"Of course." Zane nodded.

"For now, you'll be assigned to a regular Tactical Mage team here in the city. You can gain some experience there since there is always enough work here." Leon laughed. "I'm still in the process of sorting out everything I need to do and looking for possible candidates for the group, if you can think of anyone, feel free to tell me."

"Thanks, I will." Zane replied. Leon nodded and went back to his desk.

Leon stretched. "Okay, that's it for now. Lucia will send you the papers then." He watched Zane staring out at the city. "Do you have any other questions?"

"Oh, sorry I was distracted by the view."

"It's a beautiful city, isn't it?"

"Yes." Zane looked back at it. "Everything seems so peaceful."

"After what you've experienced, I can imagine that. But like everywhere, it also has its dark sides. Nevertheless, I want to protect it and the people in it." He looked out at the city. Zane just nodded as he noticed the light in the distance.

"What's that pillar of light back there?"

"It's one of the Architect's constructions. One of the few that still seems to be working."

"One of the six? I've only seen them in pictures until now..."

"It's one of the reasons the city is thriving."

"What do you mean?"

"Because of the construction we're rarely attacked. Orbital bombardment is also ruled out, since no one knows how the artifact would react if hit. There are rumors that it happened to one of the others and the defense mechanism kicked in." Leon explained.

"The Architect..." Zane looked over at the beam of light.

"The church also has a location nearby, you should go and check it out."

"I will! Zero and..." Zane trailed off. "How is he?"

"You mean Zero? That's right, you couldn't visit him because of the quarantine." Leon reached for the tablet. He tapped on it while Zane waited nervously.

"Apart from the coma and his arm, the wounds all seem to be taken care of so far. The Corrutin levels are also in the low levels, there is no sign of infection." Leon read the report. "He's out of the woods." Leon nodded to Zane.

"Phew, I'm relieved. We assumed the worst as we hadn't heard anything since we got here." Zane was pleased and clenched his hands.

"Once he wakes up, he can probably be released soon. We'll just have to see if we can organize something for his arm."

"Thank you, General Pearce! I owe you so much!" Zane replied gratefully. Zane didn't know much about medicine. He had only heard smaller details from Zero over and over, but the medical possibilities impressed him.

"Didn't we agree that you call me by my first name?" Leon laughed.

"Right." Zane scratched his head, laughing. "But… what is this Corrutin everyone is talking about?"

"You don't know?" Lucia asked.

"I skipped the lessons where we were taught about the Akuryuma...I...I didn't want to deal with it." Zane shrugged.

"Oh..." Leon nodded understandingly and Lucia also seemed to show some understanding.

"The Pandera said something about it, but it all happened so fast..."

"Lucia, would you mind?"

"Of course." Lucia turned to her tablet and the window darkened again and a presentation appeared. "I'll be brief." She began to explain. "Corrutin is the substance found in the blood of the Akuryuma and Infected. It is an extremely powerful mutagen. It makes up the majority of the Akuryuma's blood, so it's commonly referred to simply as their blood." Lucia pointed to various images in the presentation. "With Infected, this value is less than 50%. Corrutin is highly contagious, which is why your friend is in quarantine."

"Does it mean that..." Zane began to take in the situation.

"Don't worry Zane, Zero's Corrutin levels are below 20%. Despite the fact that he took a full load. He was lucky." Leon tried to calm Zane down.

"And what about the other 20%?"

"Corrutin degrades over time. Your friend should be out of danger." Added Lucia.

"OK." Zane sighed nervously but was clearly relieved.

"You should be able to visit him soon." Lucia smiled at him.

It was late when Zane took the Citytrain back. The high-speed magnetic train ran quietly and it didn't feel like being on a train.

Zane mentally reviewed the day's events. I will join the Tactical Mages. He rejoiced.

While Zane was still thinking, a man was limping around near the front of the carriage. He was swaying and breathing heavily. His dirty mechanic's clothes were torn in a few places. He had pulled his cap down over his face when he suddenly stopped.

Next to him, a group of teens sat on a bench and laughed.

"Ew… what kind of person is that?" One of the girls whispered audibly to the girl next to her.

"Just some bum...", she replied.

The man swallowed, saliva running down the corners of his mouth and dripping onto the floor. Suddenly he seemed to lose his balance and grabbed onto the bench.

"Hey dude! Go away!" One of the two boys in the group tried to drive the man away, who was beginning to scare the girls.

The man began panting as he caught a glimpse of the first girl out of the corner of his eye. He kept getting closer to the girl who was trying to gain distance as the boy tried again to drive the man away.

"Hey man, are you def?" He pushed the man aside. He turned to the boy and opened his mouth.

Panicked screams filled the carriage, snapping Zane out of his thoughts. People pushed past him as he tried to understand the reason for the panic. He had heard no explosion or shot. From behind he could hear the security guards riding on each train. They tried to get past people to get to the bottom of things. But they seemed far away, so Zane himself rushed forward in the opposite direction of the fleeing crowd to check what was happening.

After a few meters, Zane saw the source of the panic. An elderly factory worker stood with a group of teens who were huddled in their seats, one of the boys' bloodied arm in his mouth.

The girls cried out in panic and the other boy in the group looked at his friend in shock.

"LET GO!" Yelled the boy whose arm seemed to be stuck in the man's mouth.

An Infected? Zane ran to the group and punched the man in the stomach, who let go of the boy and jumped backward as if revitalized.

His hat fell to the ground, revealing his face. Red eyes stared at Zane as the man hissed, blood pouring from his mouth. Zane began to swallow, fear just about to take hold of him again as the screams of the teens pulled him back.

"Get out!" Zane snapped at them, who immediately ran past him in a panic.

"Thank you, man!" The second boy thanked him before disappearing into the next carriage.

I mustn't be afraid. If I fail now, he'll attack more people! Zane tried to spur himself on. I can do it!

It was only one and it wasn't disfigured like the other Infected he'd seen in Halsion.

Suddenly the man jumped at him. With a mighty leap, it flew through the air, fangs flashing in its gaping mouth.

"Fangs?" Zane wondered, ducking under the man who fell to the ground behind him.

The man lunged at Zane again, his hand ready to grab him. Zane dodged to the side and activated the spell he had prepared.

In the next moment, a pillar of ice appeared where the man landed or rather should have landed. Just before the spell could reach and lock the man in, he jumped backward. The man flinched and, as if seeing Zane as a threat, ran the other way to get out of the carriage.

"Stay here!" Zane followed him. He's too fast, and that can't be a normal person. Zane fled as he felt the train slow.

"Next stop...", the automatic announcement began when a voice interrupted it. "There was an incident, the train will be stopped. Please keep calm. The security forces are already on the tracks."

Damn it! If he keeps running, he'll disappear into the crowd. Zane cast an ice spell at the man who kept running. The ice stake hit him in the shoulder, causing him to fall.

He was unhurt, but an icy patch had formed on his shoulder. Meanwhile, Zane fired off a new spell, freezing the passage to the next carriage. The man glared at Zane angrily as the train suddenly began to slow down.

Zane and the man both lost their balance for just a moment. Zane quickly recovered, the man, however, fell against a bench and braced himself as the train came to a halt.

With a hiss, the car door that was right next to the man opened.

"Damn!" Zane attempted to cast a spell as the man was already storming out the door.

Zane ran after him when he was stopped abruptly.

"Stop!" Someone yelled at him. Blinded by the bright lights, his eyes took a moment to adjust. Several police officers stood in front of him, pointing their pistols and rifles at him and the man. The man, on the other hand, didn't seem to have stopped. In fact, by the time Zane could see anything again, the man was gone. With one leap he jumped over the police officers, who opened fire on him, before jumping up a gallery. On and on until he was gone.

"Shit!" Zane wanted to follow him when he was stopped again.

"Hey you! Stop! Hands over your head!" One of the cops yelled at him and Zane raised his hands.

"Follow him and tell the mages!" Zane heard someone shout from back.

The train station was cordoned off, and policemen and soldiers were standing along with the entire platform. The police officers took everyone's personal details and examined them for possible injuries or the like while the train slowly emptied.

Zane's PDA was also scanned and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the boy the man had bitten. He was very pale and paramedics took care of him immediately. Beside him stood the friend who seemed to see Zane in the distance and nodded his thanks.

A smile spread across Zane's face and he also nodded when the policeman spoke to him.

"You are a magician?" The policeman asked him.

"Yes." Zane replied.

"You're new here, aren't you?" The officer looked through the report on his PDA.

"Yes. I got here three days ago." Zane replied nervously as suddenly the group of teenagers came over to thank Zane.

"Thank you for helping us."

"No problem. I'm glad you're alright." Zane countered as the cop looked back and forth between them.

"Did you do that?" The cop looked at Zane. "OK, I'll have to ask you to come to the station with me."

Zane followed the officer past the civilians and soldiers. The situation seemed to have calmed down a bit.

It was already dark. The square in front of the station was filled with the blue flashing lights of the police vehicles and between the illuminated high-rise buildings one of Nykara's moons could be seen in the sky. A barricade was set up in the distance, around which onlookers had gathered when an armored truck pulled up.

The truck pulled up just behind a police car and two people got out.

"Hello officer." One of the two greeted the police officer whom Zane was following.

"Ah, the Misters Magicians are finally showing up." The policeman replied a bit snippy.

"Sorry, we're late." The magician answered without further elaboration. "What's the situation?" He continued to ask as some police officers approached.

"We have an injured person, but he is already being treated," reported a police officer who was there. "The perpetrator is still on the run."

"I see, and what about that one?" The mage pointed to Zane.

"He's a witness." The cop explained, and Zane nodded. "He probably fought with the suspect. I was going to take him to the police station to take his statement."

"Not necessary, we'll take care of that. I'll send you the report then." The magician waved him off.

"As you wish..." the policeman accepted somewhat reluctantly.

"Do we already know what it is?"

"From what the passengers said, we suspect it's a vampire." Reported the second officer.

"As if we didn't have enough to do already." The other magician, who had been silent up until now, was wailing.

"All right, we'll take over from here." The magician began. "I want all the information we have. Have a look at the train station and check if you can find anything." He turned to the second magician, who nodded and turned to the truck.

With a flick of his wrist, more men stepped out of the truck and followed the magician into the station while the first magician stayed with Zane.

"OK, now to you." The magician looked at Zane with a serious look.

The magician took Zane to the truck, where Zane told him what had happened when the second magician waved to the first and he rushed over to him. Zane couldn't understand what the two were talking about to each other, but there seemed to be a problem.

Zane walked back to his apartment along the road. He was drained. The day didn't go as he thought it would. First the meeting with Leon and then an incident with a vampire.

The magician had dismissed Zane shortly after he had returned, but the Citytrain was not running from that station, for the time being, so Zane had decided to walk to clear his head a bit. However, the walk turned out to be longer than he had expected. Lost, it took him over an hour to reach the next station where he boarded that morning.

Messages were broadcast on the promenade. A report of the incident on the train was included. An image of the man with a warning was shown. Zane caught the news for a brief moment as he turned toward the street where his apartment was.

Mentally exhausted, Zane dragged himself to his apartment. As he passed Asagi and Carol's door, he heard Aki talking. She is still there? He smiled. Zane was about to open his door when suddenly the door to Asagi and Carol's apartment swung open.

"Hey Zane." Someone greeted him.

"Hey Nathan. How are you?" Zane greeted him.

"You should come over."

"You sure?" He hesitated.

"Of course!" Aki pushed past Nathan and ruffled his hair. "Eat with us!"

"Stop that Aki." Nathan complained while she used his head for support.

"OK. I'd love to!" Zane came over to Asagi and Carol's apartment.

"Hey Zane!" Another familiar voice greeted him as he entered the living room. Tyler sat with Asagi on a sofa that took up most of the living room. Carol sat hugging her legs in the corner of the sofa.

"Hey Tyler." Zane greeted back and greeted the others as well.

"Did you get a room at the Bibliotheca Nathan?" Zane asked.

"Exactly, they had already prepared my room because I would have come in a few days anyway." Nathan reported when Aki came back from the kitchen.

"Dig in!" She put the steaming pre-made meals on the table, on which some snacks and various bottles were already distributed, while the television was running in the background. It reminded Zane of the days back at the bar.

"So, how was your appointment with the general?" Aki sat down on the floor.

"It wasn't what I expected..." Zane began to talk as everyone began to eat. Asagi handed Carol a bowl, which she took listlessly.

"Leon is great." Zane said.

"Leon?" wondered Tyler, who was downing a beer. "Are you already on such good terms?"

"In a way..." Zane scratched his head.

"What was it about?" Nathan asked.

"He asked me if I..." Zane began to explain. "...want to join the Tactical Mages."

"For real? That's great Zane!" Asagi was happy for him. "That's what you wanted to do!"

The others congratulated him too. "Congratulations!" Even Tyler, who was obviously under the influence of alcohol, patted him on the shoulder.

"Thanks..." Zane blushed a little, only Carol stayed silent and poked around in her bowl.

"Then we'll soon be colleagues." Aki said with pride. "Feel free to ask me if you have any questions."

"Thank you, Aki."

"Which unit are you with?" Aki asked further.

"I do not know that yet. They were going to report back once everything was settled." Zane replied and the group nodded.

"What else did you discuss? Did the general have any information about the Outbreak?" Nathan asked.

"Nothing specific..." Zane replied, knowing he knew more than he was letting on. "Only theories, I think..." he scratches his head.

Meanwhile, Tyler opened another beer and Nathan looked at him. "Haven't you had enough?"

"He told me about Zero's condition..." Zane continued.

Silence fell immediately and only the whispering of the television could be heard. Tyler put the beer he was about to drink on the table. Everyone looked at Zane expectantly as Carol, who had been sitting impassively in the corner, asked:

"You know more about Zero?" She blurted out.

"Yes." Zane nodded and began to talk. "Zero is fine. He is out of danger."

These words alone seemed to lift a heavy veil off everyone.

Zane began to share what he had heard from Leon about the Corrutin, the coma and that Zero would soon be released from quarantine.

Carol tilted her head, not seeming to understand some of the explanations.

"So he's in a coma..." Tyler took a sip of his beer.

"Does that mean we can visit him soon?" Carol asked.

"Exactly." Asagi nodded and Carol started to smile.

"Then we'll get something home-cooked from Zero again." Carol was happy.

"Yes." Asagi nodded in agreement.

"Hey, is there anything wrong with my food?" Aki complained, laughing.

"Well, it's pre-made..." Nathan looked across the table.

"Exactly!" Carol also confirmed.

"I seem to remember that a certain person always ate pre-made meals and fast food herself and was then reprimanded by Zero." Aki countered and Carol seemed struck by lightning.

Everyone started laughing.

"Now he just has to wake up." Tyler added.

"What have you been up to, Tyler?" Zane asked.

"Me?" Tyler put his beer on the table. "Paperwork... lots of paperwork..." Tyler looked straight ahead, remembering his days. "I had to fill out papers, write reports, and show up for various examinations all the time." Tyler put it in quotes.

"Don't you like doing that so much." Aki laughed and everyone agreed.

"Very funny...", he took a sip.

"What was it about?" Asagi asked.

"It was about the Outbreak, the battle and how an Infected came on board..."

The mood changed again, only Aki didn't seem to be up to date.

"Sora... Deadra..." Carol murmured in dismay.

"Did you find out anything?" Zane asked Tyler.

"No, I didn't really have the chance and I was told that it wasn't my responsibility and that it would be taken care of."

"Ahh...", Zane replied, disappointed.

"I also asked around at the academy. But I didn't come to any conclusion either." Nathan added.

"Didn't you ask Leon?" Tyler asked, taking a sip.

"I hadn't even thought of that... We talked about them briefly, but he didn't elaborate further..." Zane admitted his negligence. He wanted to make sure they were okay before Zero woke up.

"What have you been doing all this time?" Tyler almost seemed to be complaining, but his glazed eyes showed he was dead tired.

"Yeah, you were really late." Nathan added.

"We wanted to eat without you." Aki laughed.

"Sorry about that. I got into an accident."

"An accident?" Asagi worried.

"Yes, on the Citytrain."

"Oh, that's what they reported on the news." Aki pointed to the TV.

"What happened?" Nathan asked.

"They just said that there was an incident on the news." Aki said.

"There was this guy..." Zane started to talk. "He attacked people. When I tried to stop him, we ended up fighting."

"You fought him?" Aki looked at Zane confused.

"Bit unfair, isn't it?" remarked Tyler. "A magician against a guy."

"He was incredibly fast and dodged my attacks, then when the train came to a stop he fled." Zane explained further. "I found out later that it must have been a vampire."

"A vampire?" Everyone startled.

"Here in the Citytrain?" Aki asked nervously.

"Yeah, maybe five stops on the way here." Zane replied and Aki seemed to be lost in thought.

"And then?" Carol also asked.

"When he was gone, they went looking for him. The whole station was cordoned off until a group of Tactical Mages showed up and questioned me."

"You had a fun day..." Tyler said.

"I'm glad nothing happened to you." Asagi said relieved.

"Yeah." Zane nodded, only seeming to grasp his situation now.

"Sounds like a hard day." Aki laughed a little. "But once you joined the Tactical Mages, you'll have that every day."

"Yes, Leon already hinted at something like that." Zane grinned.

The evening went on. The news that Zero was healthy seemed to have lightened the mood that had seemed to hang over everyone since their arrival.