Rogue

Renjiro, Taro, and Emi rushed through the crowded floors of the bustling Horizon center. Workers carrying tools and blueprints barely had time to step aside as the trio pushed past, urgency etched into their faces.

“Kairro! Yumeru!” Renjiro shouted as his voice cut through the noise of machinery and conversation.

Taro cupped his hands around his mouth, joining in. “Where are you?!”

Emi scanned the vast workspaces, her eyes darting from one group of workers to another. “They’ve got to be here somewhere,” she muttered, her frustration mounting.

As they moved deeper into the center, Renjiro stopped, hearing a familiar voice calling his name. He turned to see Yumeru standing with Kairro and Kana near a workstation piled with half-finished inventions.

“There you are!” Renjiro said, with relief as he approached.

Yumeru crossed her arms, a mixture of concern and irritation on her face. “What’s going on? Why are you yelling like the building’s on fire?”

Renjiro caught his breath. “We need to leave. We’re not safe here. The Solaris Empire—”

Before he could finish, a loud tone echoed throughout the entire Horizon Centre. The hum of machinery quieted as workers froze, their eyes turning to the yellow Lumina projectors mounted on the walls.

A glowing yellow hologram of Veyra appeared as her imposing figure filled the air. Her voice reverberated throughout the entire Solaris Empire.

Citizens of the Solaris Empire,

I address you today as your Supreme Councillor, not to incite fear, but to bring clarity in a moment of uncertainty. As you may have heard, a group of recruits from the Blue Clan, who sought refuge, have fled their quarters without explanation. This act has raised many questions, and we must seek answers, not assumptions.

Among these recruits is a boy who has been the subject of extraordinary claims. It is said that he is a human—a being not of Luminarian descent—yet somehow wields Lumina energy. Such a notion defies everything we know, challenging the very fabric of our understanding. His name… is Renjiro.

Now, although this claim may seem impossible, we are a people of innovation and inquiry. The impossible has often been the threshold of our greatest discoveries. We will approach this revelation with the same diligence and logic that have built our empire.

Let us not be swayed by fear or prejudice. Let us not succumb to the easy path of division. Instead, we must stand united, guided by the principles that have made the Solaris Empire a beacon of progress.

To the citizens who have expressed concern: Know that this matter will be handled with the utmost care. We will find these recruits, uncover the truth, and ensure the safety of our people.

 Together, we will secure the future of the Solaris Empire.

The hologram vanished, leaving a stunned silence in its wake. Workers murmured, their confusion and fear spreading quickly.

Kana stepped back, her face pale as she turned toward Renjiro. “Human?”

 Before he could respond, a distant shout interrupted them. “There they are!”

The group turned to see a squad of yellow-clad soldiers approaching, their hover boots igniting as they surged forward with weapons raised.

“Run!” Renjiro shouted, as the group bolted.

The Horizon Centre unleashed mayhem as workers scrambled to get out of the way. The group darted through the crowded floors and twisting corridors, narrowly avoiding bursts of yellow Lumina fired by pursuing soldiers.

Hover boots whined as the soldiers took to the air, blasting downward with streaks of energy. Renjiro rolled to avoid a shot, the heat singing his arm as he ducked behind a support beam.

“This is bad!” Taro shouted, nearly tripping as another blast struck the ground beside him.

Emi grabbed his arm, pulling him forward. “Keep moving!”

As they rounded a corner, a shadow loomed over them. Commander Ryvok descended from above, landing with a heavy thud that shook the floor. His eyes gleamed with determination as he grabbed Renjiro by the collar, lifting him effortlessly into the air.

“You’re not getting away, kid,” Ryvok growled, his grip tightening.

“Renjiro!” Yumeru shouted, skidding to a halt.

Renjiro struggled, his hands glowing faintly with Lumina as he tried to break free, but Ryvok’s strength was formidable.

Suddenly, a sharp blast of yellow energy struck Ryvok in the side, sending him stumbling backward. He released Renjiro, who fell to the ground with a gasp.

Renjiro looked up to see Kana standing at the end of the hall, a blaster in her hand, its barrel glowing with residual energy.

“Kana?” Renjiro muttered, stunned.

Kana stepped forward, her expression firm. “Follow me!”

Ryvok steadied himself, his eyes narrowing at Kana. “Kana, what are you doing?”

Ryvok’s face twisted with anger as he lunged toward her. Before he could reach her, Renjiro sprang to his feet, infusing his fist with blue Lumina and slamming it into Ryvok’s chest. The blow sent the commander crashing into a nearby wall, leaving him momentarily stunned.

“This way!” Kana shouted, leading the group toward a large glass window.

“What are you doing?” Kairro shouted as Kana smashed the window with her blaster, shards of glass scattering to the floor.

“Jump!” Kana said, pointing to the hovering cars zipping through the air below.

Kairro’s jaw dropped as he looked down at the dizzying height. “Are you insane? Do you know how high we are?”

Kana sighed, “Listen, Blueberry, it’s either we jump, or they catch you—and trust me, you don’t want that.”

Kairro turned to her, his face flushed with annoyance. “Who are you calling a—”

Before he could finish, Kana stepped forward and delivered a swift boot-kick to his back.

“Whoa!” Kairro yelped, his arms flailing as he was launched out of the window. His scream echoed as he hurtled toward a hovering vehicle, landing with a loud thud on its roof.

The rest of the group froze in disbelief.

Kana turned to them, her hands on her hips. “Well? What are you waiting for? Move!”

Renjiro, Emi, Taro, and Yumeru exchanged panicked glances before leaping out of the window one by one. The wind roared in their ears as they landed on the roofs of various vehicles, struggling to keep their balance.

Kairro groaned, pulling himself up from where he lay sprawled across the car’s roof. “She booted me out!” he shouted as he clutched his side.

Kana landed beside him gracefully, her blaster already raised at an approaching soldier. She glanced at him with a smirk. “And you’re alive, aren’t you? You’re welcome.”

Soldiers with hover boots soared after them, firing blasts of yellow Lumina. Emi ducked as a shot whizzed past her head, gripping a railing tightly to steady herself.

Renjiro deflected a blast with a Lumina barrier, then leaped onto a larger vehicle alongside Kana. “Where are we going?” he called out.

“There’s a maintenance shaft ahead!” Kana shouted back. 

The group followed her lead, dodging and countering attacks as they jumped from car to car. The city blurred around them, the towering spires of the Solaris Empire glowing brightly against the darkening sky.

Finally, they reached the shaft Kana had mentioned. One by one, they dove into the narrow passage, sliding down its smooth walls until they landed in a dimly lit tunnel far below.

Back at the Horizon Centre, Ryvok stood amidst the wreckage of the chase, his face cut and bruised. Yellow Lumina crackled faintly around his body as he healed his wounds, his expression dark with fury.

“Commander Ryvok,” a soldier said, saluting. “The targets have escaped. We’ve lost them.”

Ryvok’s eyes narrowed. “Search every inch of this city. They can’t have gone far. I want that boy  found, no matter what it takes.”

The soldiers saluted and dispersed, leaving Ryvok to glare over the city.