Eizoku Kage

Early Morning 03.30am

Rucksacks hitched onto their backs. Tadashi and Daisuke set off, taking one glance back at the home they have lived in for the past six years. Tadashi is hit with a hallucination. The house’s in-front of them began to crumble, falling apart before his eyes. Screams could be heard within the homes. Silence soon settles as dust lingers on the air as red once more begins to fill the sky.

Tadashi takes a sharp breath as he suddenly feels Daisuke pulling on his arm. Blinking a few times.

Daisuke: “Don’t do that on the train. I’ll be bored to death.” his eyes met his, watching as he blinked.

“You okay?”

Tadashi: “Yeah, uh - just taking one last look” he begins to rub his eyes after saying this.

“Just tired...That’s all.

Come on”

Daisuke: “Yeah. Zero will kill us if we’re late”

In the Underground

Zero’s thumb tenderly brushes over the Tyrian crest, he glances back up at Captain Kita before leaning back against the brick wall. The overview of the trainline is underground, the bellows of wind could be heard gusting through the tunnel, the only bit of light was the flickering bulbs. It was obvious the station wasn’t used, only for the cargo exchange. The Captain and Commanders waited for the rumbling sensation of the underground for the train to approach.

Zero: “After all they’ve been through throughout the years, you’d think they would be on time.”

Captain Kita: “Is that why you gave them the incorrect time, Commander?”

Zero gives him a mischievous grin and chuckles.

Zero: “You know me well, old friend. Perhaps too well.”

Hearing heavy footsteps pattering on the surface, Zero glances in the direction. Daisuke and Tadashi stop in their tracks.

Zero: “At least you made it with time to spare” adjusting the watch on his wrist

“Hold on.” leaning forward, he pulls on the straps of Tadashi’s backpack and smiles

Zero: “I’d like to speak with you.

Not as your Commander, but as your guardian” he glances between the two.

“I’m proud that you’re the ones to change this wretched world.”

A dark shadow hangs over them just as the train rushes onto the platform. The lights continue flickering before stopping.

Captain Kita: “Do Tyranny proud, lads”

Zero nods his head as they each form the Tyrian Salute.

Tadashi and Daisuke step away from the platform and walk back out of the entrance, they come to the side port where Tyranny’s produce crates are, the train stops. The Unit from Liberty Military Police steps onto the platform and proceeds with the exchange as Commander Zero motions to the cargo requesting to see it.

Tadashi and Daisuke stare at the crate that has been designed with a latch and two large rows of corn covering the top for fresh produce and crop.

Daisuke: “After you, my fair lady…”

Tadashi: “I hate small spaces. Almost as much as I hate you.” he groans and crouches, manoeuvring to the far end of the crate as Daisuke follows behind and closes the latch.

Inside a dim light flickers, illuminating the crate. Movement is suddenly felt as the crate is lifted and lowered onto the train. With the cargo in place, the train sets off again, giving them a sense of motion. Panel focuses on their eyes.

Daisuke: “Nervous??”

Tadashi: “Nervous? Yeah. Really feeling the pressure suddenly…”

Daisuke nods, putting his hand over Tadashi’s arm and patting.

Daisuke: “Good thing I’m here. No way a scared little girl like you could destroy all those Libertarians” he teases

Tadashi: “Hey!” jabbing Daisuke’s ribs with his fingers.

Daisuke grunts out a breath of air, he snickers. But those soon give way to silence - broken only occasionally by the train’s sounds.

Daisuke: “What do you think it’ll be like in Liberty?”

Tadashi: “Well it certainly won’t be like Tyranny. Probably no green, no nature…maybe there’s nothing man-made either.. The Commander says the people there are brainwashed, and could be really powerful - all our Traits and Glitches have been taken there after all. Though there are laws preventing everyone from going wild with their powers. If everyone but us sticks to those rules…we’ll have the advantage ”

Daisuke falls silent again, leaning his head back against the crate, he closes his eyes.

Daisuke: “We need to be careful who we tell about the plan. We can’t trust every Libertarian we come across - some might try to stab us in the back.”

Tadashi: “We never underestimate them- but they better watch their back too”

Daisuke: “Don’t let your anger take over. We’ll do what we can, but not for revenge. For Justice.”

Liberty

Stepping out of the shadows a hooded figure awaits at the end of the platform as Libertarian Military Police form a line along the boundary line. The platform is featured outdoors.

The sun is already rising at the same hour as the platform clock reads 04.22am.

The lighter rumbling sensation trembles as the train pulls in. The figure makes his way towards the back of the train as the Libertarians climb on when the doors open. Starting to lift the crates out one by one. Knuckles rap against the wood of the crate as he searches for the light burn mark burnt on. Applying pressure from the outside, the crate opens.

Kai: “We need to go. Now”

Reaching in with both his hands before they could resist, he grips Tadashi and Daisuke by the shoulders, dragging them out of the crate, letting them go. Applying the same pressure against the wood, the crate begins to fill with the produce concealing their hiding place.

Tadashi: “Wait, who are you? what are you doing…!?”

Looking down the train, he squats into the corner, pressing a finger against his lips as he motions them to follow. One hand lifts, exposing the Tyrian crest in his palm, to prove who he is before they could breathe another word.

A Military Policeman walks past with a smaller crate, stepping outside the door Kai had come from as they remain hidden. Kai inches forward before beckoning them with his hand to climb off. As soon as their boots hit against concrete, he begins to run - taking one glance back to make sure they’re in tow. Darkness from the end of the platform begins to consume over their path as they stop for a moment. A flashlight begins to cascade up the shadow in their direction causing Kai to make quick movement, ducking and jumping down onto the tracks, the two follow.

Military Policeman 1: “Could've sworn I saw something… must’ve been the wind”

Pressing their backs against the wall, the three remained quiet as the flashlight cascades over but stopping at the platform edge.

Military Policeman 2: “It’s not getting any lighter out here, you hallucinating bastard. Get your ass over here!”

Footsteps descend as Tadashi and Daisuke let out a rather long inhaled breath.

Kai: “Let's get you both back.

I’m Kai, by the way” he pauses to look at them both, who were each looking rather dishevelled.

Kai: “We don’t have much time, lads, and I’m not dying here. Get a move on, or I’ll leave you behind”

Stepping back into the shadows, he leads them further down the track before climbing back up onto the end of the platform that leads into the quiet streets of Liberty.