AURUS PLAZA

AURUS, PRECIDIA - 7:14 AM

Nick and Elena return to the plaza where they met, stopping by a tailor shop, the young female cashier greeting Elena enthusiastically. As the two walk through the store with Nick admiring Precidia’s clothing choices, the cashier opens a door in the back leading to a dimly-lit basement filled with maps, blueprints and several other papers. Staring at a blueprint is a middle-aged woman who looks quite elderly due to stress. Her eye bags fall to her cheeks, her graying hair frizzy and going in every direction at once.

“Elena? What is it you want?” the woman says before turning her head, looking shocked.

“Hey, Miss Tina!” greets Elena as Tina remains stunned, focused on Nick.

“Who is this?” asks Tina paranoidly as Nick and Elena look at each other.

“Oh, this is Nick. He’s from Aeternum,” replies Elena as Nick waves awkwardly.

“Aeternum, huh?” exclaims Tina, her demeanor changing as she circles Nick, inspecting him uncomfortably.

“Have you gotten so sick of us that you went and found a boyfriend online?” Tina asks, taking Nick aback.

“Oh no, we’re not like th-”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” says Tina as Nick shuts up.

“Miss Tina, please be nice. He’s here to help.”

“With what?” Tina asks grumpily.

“That,” Elena says, pointing to the blueprints posted on the wall as Tina turns towards them before subsequently laughing.

“...And here I thought you were bringing me a tourist that I could extort,” Tina asks as Nick looks at Elena, horrified.

“Please stop scaring him,” Elena replies as Tina smirks.

“Alright. What exactly can you contribute?”

“I can get in-” Nick says before teleporting behind Tina, leaving a trail of electricity.

“-and get out as fast as possible,” he continues as Tina sizes him up.

“...Do you work for Eternal Drive?” Tina asks.

“If I did, I wouldn’t be here. I despise them just as much as you do,” Nick answers as Tina sighs, rolling her eyes.

“I assume Elena already filled you in.”

“Not the whole thing, just the gist of it” Elena replies.

“Huh? What did you tell him, then?” Tina asks.

“That we were going to start a fire at Eternal Drive’s new post downtown,” says Elena as Tina laughs.

“Honey, I… There’s a new plan now,” Tina replies as Elena and Nick look confused.

“We’re going to blow up their broadcast tower. No communication in Aurus means they can’t call backup when we eventually destroy the rest of their outposts,” explains Tina as Nick’s heart sinks. What did he get himself into? For much of his life he was indirectly fighting against Eternal Drive by illegally smuggling weapons to North Lavia; by going with Tina’s plan, his fight would go directly against them.

“Hold on, why wasn’t I informed of this?” Elena asks as Tina pauses momentarily.

“...I was afraid Darren might mistrust you,” Tina says, bowing her head in shame as Elena is left baffled.

“Darren? What’s he got to do with this?”

“He’s behind the whole thing,” answers Tina as Elena’s face falls. She had been deceived by Tina not only once, but twice. The initial agreement was a small-scale arson attack on Eternal Drive’s one of many outposts. However, that plan evolved into a large-scale terrorist attack involving detonating a bomb inside the Aurus Broadcast Station. Aside from plans being overhauled, Tina had kept from Elena that a man the latter wasn’t quite fond of was actually behind the entire operation.

After brief silence, Elena pulls Nick aside to contemplate about continuing the job.

“I- I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was this drastic.”

“I know, but there’s a silver lining somewhere here. If, and that’s a big if, we succeed, maybe that can light a fire in the people of South Lavia. Imagine the reaction when they find out that Aurus of all places started a rebellion?” Nick replies as Elena looks toward him.

“Wait, you’re for this?” Elena asks.

“I thought about what you said last night, and you’re right. I’m fucking tired of being told how to live. Something has to change,” Nick replies as Tina smiles.

“That’s the spirit. What’s your price, kid?”

“Five thousand,” says Nick, taking Elena aback.

“You can’t be serious.” Replies Tina, laughing at the absurd proposition as Nick stares at her determinedly.

“Oh, you really are.”

“A whole tower’s no joke, especially if I’m gonna be the one planting bombs. Besides, what do you have to lose? Either I die during the mission or we all die afterwards when they come after us. Money shouldn’t be an issue,” Nick states as Tina turns towards Elena.

“Five thousand costs more than the damn bomb.”

“I’m worth more than the bomb,” replies Nick as Tina laughs.

“You really went and did it now, Elena. Whatever, I’ll call Darren, set up a meeting here between you two,” says Tina, reaching for her phone.

“Three. I’m in it, too,” Elena corrects Tina, inspired by Nick.

“...Darren will decide that.”

TINA’S TAILORY

AURUS, PRECIDIA - 7:44 AM

“Got it. Take care, alright?” Celeste’s voice echoes through the basement as Tina holds Nick’s phone on speaker mode.

“I will. You too,” Nick replies before signalling Tina to hang up. Tina obeys and hangs up on Nick’s behalf.

“There. No mention regarding any of this,” Nick continues as Tina returns his phone. Before Tina can make a comment, the basement door slides open, with a middle-aged man, well-dressed and clean shaven cut, walks down the steps and into the room. The man briefly stares at Nick before commenting on Tina’s appearance.

“You look like shit.”

“And you don’t. Guess that speaks volumes on which one of us is taking this more seriously,” Tina replies before lighting a cigarette.

“You… you’re the Mayor of Aurus. Darren Watts,” Nick says to the man.

“What of it?” Darren asks.

“Why… why would you go against Eternal Drive?”

“I ask the questions here. Now what do you two want?”

“We volunteer for the broadcast station bombing,” Elena replies as Darren frustratedly looks back and forth to Elena and Tina.

“You told a stranger about our plans?” the mayor angrily asks, ticked off at Tina for spreading their plan.

“You want- no, you need allies, don’t you?”

“I don’t need two children greener than grass as part of my operation,” Darren replies.

“And what about you? What’s some washed-up, old man gonna do to the biggest megacorp in history?” Nick condescendingly asks as Darren approaches him.

“Did I not just say that I was the one asking questions? Who the hell do you think you are, kid?” the mayor commandingly asks, trying to invoke fear in Nick.

“Someone who’s had more encounters with death than you and the entirety of Aurus combined. You don’t scare me,” Nick replies as static visibly begins to emanate from his body. Before things can escalate any further, Elena holds Nick back and pulls him aside. Darren chuckles before talking to Tina.

“You got me a fucking demediom.”

“Two demedioms,” Elena confidently remarks as Darren sighs.

“You two might think you’re powerful because you’re half-demon freaks, but remember this: real power isn’t physical strength or the latest tech; real power is that,” Darren says, pointing to a picture of an elegant blonde man framed on Tina’s wall, labeled:

DAMON ESTREVAL

“Power is holding an entire nation in the palm of your hand. Power is commanding millions to do your bidding. Power is creating armies strong enough to topple kingdoms,” Darren continues as Nick and Elena begin to understand his point.

“Do you have any idea why we intend to carry out this demolition plan?” he asks the two demedioms.

“To try and change the status quo. To lessen Estreval’s power-”

“-and to gain some of your own by inciting a rebellion,” the two answer as Darren smugly smiles.

“Exactly.”

“That broadcast the other day- It was you, wasn’t it?” Nick asks Darren with their tension slowly fading away.

“No, but if anything it proved that there’s more rebels out there, just waiting for someone to finally take action. With the right tools one fearless man could turn into two, into five, into ten, into an entire town, an entire city, an entire nation.”

“A domino effect,” Tina explains before taking another puff.

“With that being said…” Darren says before stepping towards the two demedioms.

“Are you prepared to die for the cause?” he asks as Nick and Elena exchange glances. Nick’s eyes filled with determination; Elena’s face struck by a touch of uncertainty.

“I’ve been prepared to die ever since I was five,” Nick replies.

“If it’s for the good of Aurus, then so be it,” Elena utters with a newfound confidence as Darren smiles.

“Right. Tina informed me you were asking for five thousand?” Darren asks.

“Just the boy. Elena hasn’t said her price yet,” Tina replies as Nick quickly whispers to Elena.

“Ask for five, too.”

Elena, though unsure of Nick’s motive, complies nonetheless.

“Five thousand. Each,” she replies as Tina smirks.

“Deal.” Darren instantly replies, taking the people in the room by surprise.

“Darren? Are you sure?” Tina asks, putting out her cigarette.

“Positive. But I have one last thing to ask.”

“Lay it on us.”

“How did you two get hold of demon blood?” asks Darren.

“I don’t remember. I was born like this,” Elena answers.

“My father used to work for Eternal Drive. He’d bring samples back home and study them. Eventually gave one to me for my protection,” Nick replies.

“Protection? Was your father a wanted man?” asks Darren as Nick confidently smirks.

“You said you’d ask one last thing. Questions are over,” Nick says as Elena and Tina’s expressions quickly switch to those of worried ones. Darren approaches Nick before replying.

“It’ll be such a shame when Eternal Drive wipes that smile off your face.”

“I could say the same about you, Mr. Mayor. I wonder what happens to you and your family if you were to be reported to Eternal Drive for terrorist activities?” states Nick as he pulls out his phone, revealing that he had been recording the entire conversation.

“...Are you seriously trying to blackmail me?”

“I’m just a kid with a dead family and dying dreams. You are the mayor of Aurus with a loving family and a caring community. Who has more to lose?” replies Nick as the two men stare each other down. Elena promptly comes to realize why Nick had accepted the job so easily and why he was confident in asking for so much. Upon learning that the mayor of Aurus was behind the operation, Nick had formulated several methods of leverage ranging from threats, to blackmail, to force if the situation had come to it.

“...Fine. A deal’s a deal. You’re the ones planting the bomb, after all,” replies Darren, defeated by Nick before he had even arrived at Tina’s Tailory.

“Now if you two don’t mind, Tina and I will have a word,” Darren continues as he stares at an aloof Tina. Nick and Elena leave the shop, Nick content with his negotiation tactics while Elena overthinks about the whole ordeal.

“What? I’m a criminal, remember?” Nick says to Elena, noticing her worried face.

“Nothing, I just… You might not have anything to lose, but I do,” Elena replies, referring to Zico.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be the one carrying out the job, just be my lookout,” replies Nick, trying to ease Elena’s worries.

“It’s not the job. I’m more worried about Darren. Something about that guy really unsettles me,” Elena explains, reluctant to continue the mission.

“He’s not gonna do shit. Else this recording goes online for everyone to see,” says Nick as the two start making their way back to Elena’s home.

“And I was just bluffing back there. I do have something to lose,” he continues, referring to Neverglow as memories of the past flash back to him.

5 YEARS AGO

NEVERGLOW

LUTHERFORD, AETERNUM - 3:32 PM

“Yoohoo! Look what I have!” exclaims Luke, carrying a box inside Neverglow, with Nick and Celeste already on duty. Nick leans face first on the desk dejectedly as a Palladium documentary plays on the television. Luke places the box on a table while Celeste signals to him not to disturb Nick.

“What’s up with him?” Luke asks.

“Sam dumped him. Told him that she didn’t like losers who sold flowers,” Celeste replies as Luke devises a plan. He dials a number on his phone, going outside to continue the call. Celeste then approaches Nick, still feeling down from the rejection.

“Heeey. How ya holding up?” she asks, patting Nick on the back. Nick returns silence to her.

“Listen, I know this is a suuuper generic thing to say, but there’s a lot of fish in the sea. Seriously,” Celeste continues as Nick still remains silent.

“Y’know, there’s more things to life than people who don’t know your worth.”

“...”

“Because fuck ungrateful people, am I right?”

“...”

“She can’t see what’s right in front of her, that’s her loss!”

“...”

“...I’m not helping, am I?” Celeste asks as Nick shakes his head. Celeste sighs, unable to think of anything else to say to comfort him.

“Sorry, I’m not really good at this... But I meant everything I said,” she continues as Nick nods, signalling that he acknowledges her efforts.

“Someday, you’ll find someone who knows your worth. So don’t change yourself for some bitch who doesn’t appreciate who you are,” Celeste says, ending her very unqualified therapy session. Meanwhile, outside a drone arrives at the front door delivering a huge box of pizza. Luke takes the box inside as the drone leaves.

“Yo! Four-cheese, Nick; your favorite!” says Luke, opening the box to reveal a four-cheese pizza. Nick’s stomach growls, having skipped lunch after being rejected by Sam.

“What? Where’d you get the money for that?” asks Celeste.

“Courtesy of Zack,” replies Luke, handing Nick a slice.

“Listen man, we’re all here for you. Don’t ever forget that,” he continues in a more serious tone, grabbing a slice of his own.

“...Thank you. I love you guys,” Nick replies, the first words he had said that afternoon. Meanwhile Celeste takes a peek at the first box Luke had brought in, revealing a small polaroid camera that the four would eventually go on to use to document their journey as a newfound family.

To Be Continued…