30. A Way Out

Haruka and Kazuki looked around. The door led to the other end of the alley where they entered and they saw no movement. They swiftly and silently returned to Kazuki's motorcycle. Haruka said:
- "Well, we don't have our weapons, this is a bummer."
- "Don't worry, I'm prepared for that." - Kazuki opened a secret compartment below the driver's seat. On it there were rations, bottled water, a 9mm pistol and a sawed off American style shotgun." - they drank a bit of the water, and Haruka got the shotgun saying:
- "You were thinking of me when you got that shotgun, weren't you?"
- "Maybe I was" - he replied flustered, getting the pistol. They got their helmets and rode away.

Kazuki rode slowly and silently, not to draw any attention. Despite that, it took a minute for three riders wearing all black clothes on navy blue motorcycles to appear behind them.
- "Kaa-chan, we have company."
- "Well, let's go" - Kazuki accelerated and rode away. The three riders did the same and followed him.

Kazuki rode on the streets and alternated rights and lefts at each intersection he got into. The three riders continued followed him. A sound was heard on their right. Then on their left. Haruka looked back and the riders were shooting at them with pistols. Kazuki accelerated and zigzagged to avoid the shots, then took two sharp rights.

The two agents entered on a busy street, filled with cars, all of the same model, a quasi-cube shaped small model created by Nouveau's Head. The three riders followed them, but stopped shooting. Kazuki got the opportunity to navigate between the cars and to change lanes trying to shake off the riders. Little by little, Kazuki started to put some distance between them, who were dragging while manoeuvring around the cars. Haruka touched his arm twice with the shotgun. Then Kazuki took a sharp turn right.

The riders turned right following him. A loud sound surprised them. A powerful shot destroyed the front tire of one of the riders, who was sent flying. The other two looked up and saw Kazuki's motorcycle and Haruka turned towards them, holding the handle with her left hand and flipping a shot gun with her right hand. They went closer to the side walk and avoided Haruka's next shot, who again flipped the shotgun.

One rider started shooting with his pistol, while the other accelerated. Kazuki zigzagged to avoid the pistol shots, and immediately after, Haruka shot him down. He lost control and was stopped by a wall.

Now however, the final rider was really close to them. He got his pistol, but Haruka shot first. He quickly swayed to the side. Haruka flipped her shotgun and shot again. Again he swayed. She flipped the shotgun and used her elbow to touch Kazuki. He swayed to side and avoided the rider's two following shots. Then Kazuki used his elbow to touch Haruka. She held firmly to the handles and Kazuki braked firmly. The rider kept going straight. Kazuki quickly accelerated again. The rider was braking when Kazuki passed on his side releasing a powerful fire stream with his right hand. After they passed, Haruka shot him down. Kazuki rode away at full speed.

They rode for a few minutes, before slowing down on a more isolated area. They lifted their visors, and Haruka said:
- "More agents may come." - she paused - "we may need to live on the run. Do you have any ideas?"
- "Yes, I do." Kazuki looked around and at the signs. - "Give me five minutes and we can talk and decide."
- "Alright" - Kazuki rode for a minute and entered on a highway. As they continued, Haruka whispered:
- "The people on the outside looked from rebels to government, and from government to rebels, and from rebels to government again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.”
- "What is it?"
- "Nothing, just a quote from a book, Ranch of Creatures I guess, never mind" - they went on for a few minutes before stopping in the layby. They were surrounded by trees, alone and in front of them were the mists of the brume.

- "Alright. What is your idea?"
- "Well, I know about a skerry. It is the city of Shizuoka. It is a few hours away, completely isolated from the Head. It is a place where we could be safe from the government and live our lives on our own terms."
- "Hm. And how can we reach it? After this tough day we can face no more than one Spectre. And on a trip of many hours, we would face many."
- "Well, we have the pendant from Sato Gomi, remember? It is a risk we can take."
- "Yes" - Haruka had her hand on her chin - "It might be possible with the pendant."
- "But the key thing is the following, Haruka." - he gazed into her eyes - "we are now criminals. We went through crazy things today. I don't want to live my life running, so I will take my chance here. I understand it is a great risk and that our relationship is on an odd spot. So, it is your call if you will take this risk and come with me or if this is the moment we part and go our separate ways" - he sighed - "it is your call." - she thought for a minute before saying:
- "Tell me, Kaa-chan, what do you want?" - he was going to reply, but she interrupted him - "I understand you will try to reach the skerry, My question is, do you want me to go with you?"
- "Well, I can't make this decision for you."
- "Kaa-chan" - she looked deep inside his eyes - "You won't make my decision, I just asked what you want. Tell me the truth. For once and for all. Do you want me to come with you? Even after all that happened and all I've done?" - Kazuki thought. He thought a lot. He did not want to talk about this so assertively, but she put him on the spot. He remembered her treason, her lack of trust and the way Eisubel forced her to speak. But then Kazuki remembered. His childhood with Haruka, their laughs, their missions. He remembered saving her from Eisubel and she saving him from the Hachimorph. And he remembered their kiss, their embrace and their closeness. Their choices. His heart. Her heart. His heart. Her heart. Their hearts.
- "Yes, Haruka. I won't force you, but all I want is that you come with me. And that we face this challenge as we have faced all the others. Together." - she looked down:
- "Then Kaa-chan" - she paused - "I will" - she lifted her head with a radiant smile looking at him - "I will come with you and stay by your side. Always."
- "Really?"
- "Yes"
- "Then let's go!" - he paused - "but first" - Kazuki picked up the necklace into his pocket. He put the necklace with the two blue fish tied by gold on Haruka's neck, gently. - "it looks amazing on you." - she smiled and said:
- "Let's go then!" - with that, they put their helmets back on and rode straight into the brume.

***

At the end of that day, the General called Colonel Husky via NCID on his office:
- "So, Colonel, correct me if I am wrong. Your report says that Pisces 1 and 2 have escaped, that Virgo 8 has deleted lots of relevant data from our systems and that the assault on the rebels was a bloodbath in which the Hachimorph was killed and Eisubel, one of the most dangerous rebels escaped. Is that really it?"
- "Yes" - Husky gulped - "this is right, General."
- "It seems they have surpassed your abilities. Our ex-agents and the rebels. I have only one option. You are demoted, effective immediately."
- "But sir, I can solve thi..."
- "No more talk, Major Husky. You are now going to remain stationery at our northern base. You will command any defence operations there." - Husky gulped and frowned and preferred to talk more:
- "But sir, nothing happens there. It is useless work."
- "Yes, that will be appropriate for you." - Husky simply looked down and replied:
- "Yes sir."
- "Dismissed." - the now Major Husky turned off the NCID, got his things and left NUMO's Tokyo office, to never return.

After that, the General called one of his agents:
- "Hello, Leo 3."
- "Hello, sir."
- "Leo 3, you are now assigned the rank of Colonel, you will be known as Colonel Tigris. You are are assigned command of NUMO's Tokyo office, effective immediately. Your main objective is to proceed with the Zodiac Project. For the time being, no need to pursue Pisces 1 and 2. They will either die far away or they will end up returning to us. It is better to invest in our other, more valuable assets."
- "Alright. Thank you for the promotion, sir."
- "I expect great things from you, Colonel Tigris. Dismissed."