Battle At The Eo:N Terminal

The group arrived at the office.

Johe was irritated. “What’s so urgent?!”

Tackle questioned. “This is strange…”

Shinku’s sharp eyes darted around the building, catching the suspicious glances of a few officers. I don’t care who’s watching, he thought. I’ll find him. Warning or not.

“Hey, Shinku!” Bontly shouted, his disheveled appearance and damaged arm catching their attention.

Johe waved him down. “Hey, bozo! Where have you been?! Leaving us to handle cases on our own like this?!”

Bontly smirked. “I was starting to think you’d forgotten about us.”

Tackle’s eyes widened as she took in Shinku’s battered state. “Your arm! What happened!?”

“Don’t worry about my arm!” Shinku barked intensely. “I need all of you to help me now. Binar is responsible for killing Kirria!”

Bontly straightened. “Oh.”

Johe shouted. “What? How can you make such a claim?!”

Tackle gasped.

Shinku urged. “He’s the one circulating the drugs in the district. He’s the reason so many hybrids have died! During my investigation, I ran into the Human Killers! They told me Binar is smuggling 5,000 pounds of viruses to District 3. He’s en route to the Eon Bullet Terminal right now!”

Bontly interjected. “The Human Killers… they’re real?”

Tackle nodded. “Okay, Shinku, what’s the plan?”

Johe hesitated. “Wait. You’re telling us to fight our own supervisor? Without concrete evidence? I’m not risking my job for this!”

Shinku replied. “Johe, I said I’d let you know if I ever needed your help. That time is now.”

Johe sighed. “If this backfires, you owe me big time.”

The team moved quickly, piling onto Johe’s motorcycle. They sped through the neon-lit streets, the city blurring past them. Shinku sat in silence, his focus unyielding.

The group arrived at the Eon Bullet Terminal, a breathtaking hub of modern architecture surrounded by gleaming skyscrapers. Bontly stopped to admire the grand arched entrance, a masterpiece of intricate ironwork and glowing glass panels. The LED lights embedded in the glass pulsed with soft patterns, displaying arrival and departure times in a futuristic yet elegant fashion.

“Wow,” Bontly murmured, taking in the vertical gardens climbing the adjacent buildings, their greenery contrasting against the metallic surroundings.

Tackle slapped him on the back. “Snap out of it! We don’t have time for sightseeing!”

Inside the station, Shinku led the team through the sea of people, his eyes scanning for any sign of Binar or suspicious activity. He has to be here, Shinku thought, I can’t let him escape.

Tackle glanced at the holographic schedule above the platform and shouted, “The departure to District 3 is in two minutes!”

Shinku shouted. “Dammit! We need to intercept Binar before the viruses are transported!” Without hesitation, he leapt down the grand staircase, landing heavily on his damaged arm.

“Shinku!” Tackle yelled. “Stop throwing yourself around—you’re already damaged!”

“We don’t have time!” Shinku pushed himself up, even as oil dripped from his arm, leaving a trail on the synthetic stone floors. He kept running, ignoring the sharp pangs of pain shooting through his body.

The station was magnificent—a blend of old-world charm and modern innovation. Stone-like synthetic materials mimicked classic brick and limestone. They entered the grand hall, a cavernous space with a vaulted ceiling made of translucent panels that allowed natural light to cascade through. A massive clock hung centrally above the main concourse, ticking down as if mocking their urgency.

The wide platforms stretched out before them, sparsely populated with commuters. Above each platform, holographic signs displayed real-time schedules and boarding information. People turned to stare as the officers stormed through, their urgency palpable.

“There he is!” Shinku shouted, his eyes locking on Binar.

Binar stood near the train, calmly loading bags onto a carriage. He was speaking to the train operator.

“Once you arrive in District 3, another officer will pick these up from you. Understood?” Binar said.

“Yes, Officer,” the operator nodded.

“That’s the last bag,” Binar stepped back. The operator began the departure sequence.

“Departure in 3…” the operator’s voice echoed.

Shinku’s voice cut through the station. “BINAR!”

Binar froze, his eyes widening as he turned toward Shinku.

An aura of blue data emanated from Shinku’s damaged body as he advanced, unrelenting.

“2…”

Binar’s expression hardened. He looked up and gestured with his hand, signaling something above him.

“1…”

The operator pressed a button, and the bullet train zoomed off, leaving behind a gust of energy that had commuters shielding their faces.

“Look out!” Johe shouted as two figures dropped from the ceiling of the station, landing with a thud in front of the group.

The first, Gork, lunged at Bontly, throwing a massive punch. Bontly caught the fist with his palm, grunting from the sheer force. “Johe,” he said, “he wasn’t lying!”

The second figure, Epongi, somersaulted through the air, targeting Tackle with a flying kick. Tackle raised her forearm, intercepting the attack. “Epongi!” she shouted, recognizing the opponent.

Binar turned to face Shinku.

Shinku’s face twisted with fury as he prepared his program. “You’re not getting away, Binar!”

Binar leapt to his left, agile, landing on the wall and clinging to it.

Tackle, fending off Epongi, shouted, “Shinku! Your arm! Do you need backup?!”

“I’ll be fine!” Shinku replied, his voice resolute. “You guys handle your battles!”

Binar slid his helmet over his head just as Shinku fired an EMP web in his direction. The web shot through the air, crackling with electrical energy, heading straight for Binar as the station descended into chaos.

Binar glowed as he activated his data, leaping into the air and smashing through the ceiling of the terminal, ascending to the surface.

Shinku didn’t hesitate to follow. His body ached, and oil dripped from his damaged arm, but his determination pushed him forward. He sprinted through the open plaza, weaving past towering holographic advertisements that flickered with vibrant colors.

Shinku’s thoughts raced. I can’t aimlessly fire my EMPs. My data reserves are already strained, and I can’t risk injuring civilians.

Ahead, Binar turned slightly, his voice calm but taunting. “Orbit must’ve done a number on you already. I’m impressed you’re still standing.”

Shinku leapt over a low obstacle, his movements sharp despite his injuries.

Binar glanced toward a stunning building with a curved, futuristic structure. Without breaking stride, he began scaling its walls. “They told you not to pursue me, Shinku,” Binar called over his shoulder. “And yet, here you are. Now we fight. But not here—I must lead you away.”

Shinku thought. So that’s his plan. He’s trying to draw me away from the crowds. Determined, he followed Binar, his mind calculating the next move.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted below the plaza.

Tackle and Epongi clashed in a flurry of movement. Epongi’s data surged around him, emanating a turquoise glow. Their strikes echoed in the terminal as they engaged in a brutal hand-to-hand exchange. Tackle blocked a spinning kick with her forearm and countered with a rapid jab.

“You’re quick,” she muttered, as they moved up the stairs and out of the terminal.

Epongi smirked. “And you’re tougher than I expected.” He leapt backward, forcing Tackle to give chase.

Johe and Bontly faced off against Gork. His build was a stark contrast to his surprisingly agile movements. Gork sneered and suddenly leapt backward, moving toward a large loading area filled with towering cargo containers and magnetic cranes outside the terminal.

Johe grinned, baton at the ready. “I’ve never fought someone like you before! The closer I get, the uglier you get!”

Gork snarled, clearly annoyed by the taunt.

Bontly struggled to keep pace, his mechanical arm clicking audibly as he ran. “I’m sorry, Johe! I’m not as fast as you! When I use my arm, I have to wait for it to reattach!”

Johe glanced back. “It’s fine, Bont. Just don’t fall behind!”

As they approached the loading area, Gork grabbed a massive cargo container, effortlessly lifting it as he flipped backward off another container. With a roar, he hurled it toward Johe.

Johe’s eyes widened. “Bont!”

Without hesitation, Bontly detached his mechanical arm and caught the container mid-air, crushing it into debris. “Got it!”

Johe gave him a quick nod. “Thanks, Bont!”

Gork, now climbing a crane, glanced down with a smirk. “Let’s see if you can keep up.”

Johe growled, leaping after him. Swinging his baton in a wide arc, slicing through the crane with precision. The structure groaned as it began to collapse, sending Gork falling.

For the first time, Gork’s expression wavered with slight nervousness. His data flared around him as technological bird-like wings extended from his back. With a powerful flap, he steadied himself and soared away.

“Grab the falling crane pieces!” Johe shouted.

Bontly nodded. “On it!” He used his reattached arm to catch and crush the debris before it could hit the ground.

Johe didn’t miss a beat. He jumped onto Bontly’s back, gripping tightly as he began swinging from nearby buildings, his powerful arm acting as a grappling hook. “Let’s stay on his trail!”

“Gotcha!” Bontly said, as they chased after Gork’s shadow.