"Suffocating heat washed over Rocke, so intense he had trouble breathing. Yet, his legs remained rooted in place as he gazed at what remained of one of the world's greatest, mightiest cities. His brain had trouble comprehending what his eyes were showing him. It just seemed too impossible.
While he'd believed the Sovereign would unleash His just judgment on Vladus, Rocke supposed a part of him still doubted. The reality was beyond anything he'd ever expected. It further astonished him that, while lava washed across the city like a cleansing tide, it just stopped at the city edge, inches away from where they'd crashed their motorcycle. It was like, since they'd left Vladus, the molten liquid had no interest in them.
Airships, helicopters, and anything airborne just burst into flames before crashing in a smoldering heap. Once the Sovereign began His judgment, nothing would survive in the city. Any attempt to escape His wrath was useless. Even a familiar police helicopter met a fiery end as it tried weaving across the air, like it was dodging fireballs only it could see.
"I…" Shiisaa remained just as frozen, eyes wide. Words truly failed her, for what words could describe this?
Rocke gasped as before he could stop him an officer lost all reason and dove into lava like a man possessed. It extinguished him instantly, ending him without a sound. Others just collapsed, any interest in their captives forgotten.
"Thus ends the great Vladus," Maple said, her tone somber. Fire reflected in her eyes as she watched her God's judgment. "It is truly terrible in every sense of the word. The poor fools, if only they'd listened."
Nitao only nodded, his head downcast. In complete silence, he retrieved the cuff keys from an officer's pocket and freed himself. The officer didn't even notice; his eyes devoid of any life. The Konquellian freed Rocke and Maple next.
Vladus's demise would change everything. It was the center of UOP commerce and its political head. Prime Minister Luciest might have died too. This might spell a death blow to the entire country. And what about Vanderfall's invasion plans?
"Dear Sovereign." Rocke froze in place as a sudden realization struck him. His father was dead. This was an undeniable truth he sensed down to his bones. Unexpected tears stung his eyes. While he'd often despised his dad, he was still his father. He loved him, despite how badly he'd treated his son. Now he was gone forever.
"Come here." Maple hugged Rocke. He sobbed onto her shoulder, happy to be a buffer for his raw grief.
Much to Rocke's surprise, Nitao joined in, his hug strong and kind. "It's okay, brother. Cry."
While the Konquellian sometimes had trouble articulating his meaning, words failed where actions shone. Rocke gripped them both like a man drowning. It made him realize how much he'd grown to depend on them both, how they'd both become his family. How strange, yet wonderful. It reminded him that he wasn't alone.
"Thank you," Rocke said, hiccupping. The deep weight hadn't lifted. The burden seemed lighter. "What now?"
"We move forward," Maple said, patting Rocke's hands. "No looking back." Nitao smiled and nodded.
"Yeah," Rocke gave a weak nod. "Where to?" And how would they even get there? The nearest city was dozens of miles away.
"Hagion," Maple replied. "I imagine Kallane and the others are waiting for us there."
The newly made Ottomon refugee city sounded like a good choice. "But how are you sure Kallane survived?"
"I know," Maple replied, her eyes twinkling. It must be her motherly instinct. "And we have plenty of transport." She gestured to the still-running police cars.
"What about them?" Rocke gestured to the stunned police officers. They weren't in a good way. They couldn't cope with the shock of Vladus' ruin.
"We bring them along," Like a mother guiding a lost child, Maple helped them each into the rear seat of the police vehicles. That'd keep them from causing trouble if they regained their senses.
A slight smile grew on Rocke's lips. Despite hating the UOP and everything it stood for, Maple remained kind.
After securing Shiisaa and the other officers, Rocke jumped into the driver's seat of a cop car. The controls seemed simple enough, and he activated the auto-drive system and directed it toward Hagion. The others followed him in the other police vehicles as they took the main road.
"Goodbye, Vladus." But Rocke didn't look into his rear-view mirror at the city. Maple was right. He needed to look forward. He wiped away tears, his tattered heart still aching. "And goodbye… father. I love you. Always will."
///
"Should we keep going?" Rocke asked with some apprehension.
A group of metal buildings were approaching in the distance, but that wasn't his cause for concern. The tanks scattered across the town's border were.
"We approach. It'll be okay. I don't think they're enemies, Rocke," Maple replied over the police transponder.
"Yeah, but what are Vanderfall forces doing in Hagion?" Rocke asked aloud. "And how will they respond when we approach in Vladus police cars?" He supposed they probably wouldn't open fire, but they'd ask awkward questions.
"They must be using the town as a headquarters," While the deputy had regained some of her former self, Shiisaa had spoken little during the trip.
"It makes sense." No doubt Vladus's destruction put a halt to their invasion plans. They needed somewhere to plan while their superiors worked out their next move.
Hagion was about as shabby as Rocke had suspected. Most of its buildings were constructed from sheets of metal or random pieces of lumber. Considering its hasty construction for the exiled Ottomon population, it wasn't surprising. Still, life found a way. Despite their dire circumstances, the people here thrived, making the best of a bad situation. Rocke even saw an old-fashioned outdoor market. Seeing children laughing and playing outside lightened the weight on Rocke's heavy heart.
Military transports were scattered across the town. The logo of a fox announced them as part of the Vanderfall military. Troops wearing their logo were milling about, many holding weapons. They didn't seem like military occupiers, though; more like peacekeepers.
One trooper approached as three Vladus police cars parked outside the town, though he kept his weapon lowered. He seemed more curious than threatening, especially when Maple pulled down her hood to reveal her Ottomon tattoos.
"Are you survivors from Vladus?" The soldier raised an eyebrow at the sullen police officers in the back seats. "With quite the story to tell, I imagine. Wait here. I'll call my superior."
"What should we even tell them, Maple?" They were escaped criminals, after all.
"The truth," Maple replied. "It'll sort itself out."
"I suppose." Would Vanderfall even care about some escaped criminals? Part of Rocke really hoped Jafia was still alive. She would easily vouch for them.
"You must be the infamous Rocke Ralss?" a man with a thick, bristly mustache in a crisp military uniform said as he approached. As Rocke exited the car, the man extended a hand and shook it warmly.
"Yes, you know me?" Rocke asked. His other friends joined him outside.
"Of course," the military man said. "You're the freedom fighter who's been fighting for the rights of the Ottomon people. The people of Hagion have done nothing but sing your praises. The name's Karkaf Jenrus, general of the Vanderfall army."
"Have they?" Rocke said, somewhat self-consciously. Had he really become that famous? Some Ottomon considered him the chosen warrior of the Sovereign, but Rocke never realized they praised him this much.
"I heard they arrested you, but I see you've escaped." General Jenrus gave Rocke a sly smile as he peeked over at the imprisoned police officers.
"Something like that. It's a long story," Rocke said, sighing. "What about them?"
"Good question." General Jenrus rubbed his chin. "But don't worry, we'll just lock them up for now. With the entire UOP in shambles, everything's up in the air right now."
That wasn't an exaggeration. They'd heard hundreds of conflicting reports on the news. Many thought Prime Minister Luciest dead. A man named Martkin Vence had taken leadership until they had more answers. Rocke wondered if the UOP could even survive. About 75 percent of the country's major political leaders had died in Vladus's destruction.
"Okay, just be easy on them," Rocke said, his voice soft. "They've been through a lot. They saw their entire home city destroyed." The terrible sight of that poor officer silently ending himself echoed through his mind unbidden.
"We will," the general said, not unkindly. "You were there when the event happened? I've gotten so many conflicting reports. Some even claim they saw a winged figure."
"Oh?" Rocke said, astonished. A winged figure, like in the ancient stories? Did such things exist? "I'll tell you what I can."
"Wonderful." General Jenrus motioned to his soldiers to apprehend the captive police officers. Shiisaa and her fellow officers didn't resist as soldiers took them away. "The higher-ups are still working out our next step. So, we're sitting on our hands right now. As you can imagine, Vladus's destruction has changed their plans."
"I can imagine." Rocke hesitated. "Have you heard anything from someone named Jafia? She, uh, works for you. I'm not sure if she escaped before Vladus' destruction."
"Jafia?" The general smiled. "She's the reason I knew you'd be along shortly. This way."
And there she was as Rocke entered the makeshift shelter that Vanderfall were using as a command center. His ex bolted to her feet as soon as she spotted him and embraced him in an enormous hug.
"Jafia, you're alive," Rocke said, a weight lifted from his heart. "How did you escape? Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I've had an ordeal, but I'm fine." An awkward pause hung between them. Rocke wasn't sure how to proceed. While overjoyed to reunite with her, Rocke hadn't forgotten his ex was a Vanderfall spy. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't overlook that.
"I…" Before Jafia could finish, someone charged into the command center.
"Rocke!"
Before Rocke even registered what happened, Kallane's lips touched his, and she kissed him hard. Then she hugged him tight, like he'd float away if she let go.
"Uh." Rocke gapped, lost for words. While he'd known Kallane cared about him, he hadn't realized she liked him that much. Still, he held her tight, relieved she was okay. "I'm fine, Kallane. I'm fine."
"Thank the Sovereign." Finally, Kallane released him, tears of joy dripping down her face. "And Mom, thank goodness you're safe too!" She shared a hug with her mother next. It was a tender moment as Maple stroked her daughter's hair.
"Quite the family reunion." A familiar voice spoke, and Rocke boggled as Police Chief Halkken entered.
"What are you doing here?" Rocke said, utterly baffled.
"Rocke, dear." Kallane suddenly grabbed his arm and pulled him close. She wasn't so pleased to see the police chief. "It's a long story. He kind of tagged along as we escaped Vladus."
Kallane sighed. "It was Jafia's idea."
"Hmph. I couldn't just leave him to die," Jafia replied.
"Your luck is astonishing. Providence must be watching over you." Halkken beamed at Rocke, but he seemed different. The police chief had lost his usual exuberance. He seemed more somber now, pain hiding behind his eyes. "It's odd finding refuge in an enemy camp. I'm surprised you haven't thrown me in chains."
"Don't worry. I have no intention of starting a fight," General Jenrus said. "I've sent some of my troops to help with search and rescue, but… I fear there isn't anything we can save. Vladus is hot. We dare not even enter the city. Even flying over it is too dangerous." Other rescue efforts had also been stymied.
"Yeah," The police chief nodded, his tone somber. His expression turned distant. "Rocke, you were right. We should have listened to you and Matthias Daliven. We brought this upon ourselves. I swore an oath to uphold the law, but I hated what my people did to the Demons, and… No, I suppose that's no excuse. Whatever it takes, I'm making up for my mistakes."
"The Sovereign believes all are capable of redemption. You only need to seek it and ask for forgiveness," Maple said, her tone serious.
"Yeah, I just wish…" Halkken trailed off before shaking his head. "Move forward. That's all I can do. General, your men took away my dear Shiisaa. I hope your men will treat her with due respect. After this tragedy, our people should be friends, not enemies. I'd rather put our bad blood behind us."
"Agreed," General Jenrus scratched the back of his neck. "I only hope the rest of my kinsmen will agree. Still, what crazy business. Divine retribution by a wrathful god? I don't know what to believe anymore."
The group broke into a philosophical discussion, but Rocke wandered away. He decided he needed some alone time. Besides, he wanted to see the town he'd inadvertently created.
The more he wandered the small town, the more he became impressed by the Ottomon people's resilience. In this barren wilderness, they'd made life flourish. He'd even seen patches of land being tilled to grow crops. Rocke wondered what Hagion would be like decades later.
Much to his delight, Rocke found some non-Ottomon people dwelling in the town. They greeted him warmly.
"I have to say, I'm amazed anyone escaped that place alive. They say you left minutes before the disaster struck?" The survivor, Jamison, said.
"Something like that," Rocke gave a weak smile. "What brings you here?"
"Well, I heard that old man's warning about Vladus's destruction, and it struck a chord with me." The joy sapped from the survivor's face. "I got my parents out, but no one else believed me. They thought I was crazy. Or too busy not caring about anything."
"Yeah," Rocke shared his fellow countryman's grief. No one had believed his warnings either, to their peril.
"So, I came here. Thought I might do some good for the Ottomon. How our politicians treated them was shameful."
"Yeah, I hope to fix that too." Strangely, the so-called Demons had become his people.
"Here's to working together." Jamison shook Rocke's hand heartily. They were survivors of Vladus, and that tragedy had bonded them.
Rocke spoke with the other survivors. Some had taken Matthias's warning to heart; others were just lucky. One couple had been driving home when the disaster struck. The Vanderfall forces had brought them here until they found better accommodations. They still seemed shell-shocked, unsurprisingly considering they'd seen Vladus go up in literal flames before their eyes.
"Did we cause this?" the husband said as he gripped his wife's hand tight. "I thought it was unfair how they shoved all those people out. And then everything…"
"We have to make things right. Rebuild Vladus into something better. Something we can be proud of." It was a good goal. Matthias would have approved. Jamison enthusiastically agreed with him.
After a lot of handshaking, condolences, and encouraging words, Rocke found himself alone again. He'd wandered to the edge of town. He stared out into the wilderness, lost in his thoughts. Someone sidled up to him.
"Rocke, you're a good leader," Jafia said. "You gave those people hope and a purpose."
"You watched all that?"
"I enjoy watching people. I'm good at it." A silence hung between them before Jafia spoke again. "I need to tell you something."
"I already know. Chief Halkken told me about it. You're a Vanderfall spy."
"I figured." Jafia breathed out a long sigh. "And it's true. I came to Vladus to help destabilize the political system before the invasion. A waste of effort in retrospect."
"Did we even have anything?" Rocke said, getting to the point.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. I like you a lot, Rocke, but those conversations with the Vladus survivors showed me how different our worlds are. I'm a murderer, Rocke. There's no way around that. I've killed people in cold blood. But you, you're a builder, a healer. The world needs more people like you than me, Rocke."
Rocke nodded. "I suppose I always felt a certain distance between us. You had your secrets."
"Are you mad at me? I swear I wasn't using you. I enjoyed our time together."
Rocke considered this before responding. "I suppose I'm not. But can it work between us?"
"It shouldn't. You should be with Kallane. If you haven't noticed, she's crazy about you."
"Yeah." Rocke still tasted her on his lips. It differed greatly from how Jafia had kissed him. He found that he rather liked it. Rocke admired the Ottomon woman. He flushed as Jafia shot him a knowing smile. "Are you sure you're okay with it?"
"Not really. But you deserve better than me." Jafia walked away from Rocke. He frowned. Was there guilt in her eyes? Was there some other secret she wasn't telling him?
But Rocke didn't press the issue. "Have a good life, Jafia. Despite everything, I still consider you a friend."
"Thanks." Then she disappeared into a nearby alley.
Rocke's heart ached, but a simple truth struck him. He'd likely never see Jafia again. It was her way. He knew this down to his core. He only prayed she'd live a good life.
"Goodbye Jafia."