The Industrialist

The poison bombs won the skirmish. All groundlings infiltrated a few city blocks and were immediately killed by it. The police officers used them and passed them on to those who used the hovercraft and that's how the Abominants were defeated.

After the attack and the blue mist had settled after the dead Abominants evidently defeated by the newly discovered weapon, dark large trucks filled the streets.

Men in full-body anti-radiation suits filled the scene, with their radiation-sensing apparatus and sample canisters. These canisters were used to collect organic samples.

'Experimenting Abominant flesh again,' Lance thought as these men collected on the dead remnants of these creatures.

They hauled the dead groundlings in large anti-contamination trucks. The ones with an airlock system that no air could seep out. They vacuumed the dust that came from burned flesh.

About five blocks of Steelpoint became a bloodbath. The media had not yet released the number of casualties.

Well, maybe the media won't disclose the casualties yet because they were still counting.

Lance sat on the corner, witnessing the clean-up activity of the men in suits. The battle was won over an hour, thanks to his poison bombs. He wondered about Damian. 'Did he use the poison bombs? Or maybe escaped because of the police presence.'

'Where is he?' He was worried now.

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It may have prevented some deaths. With the battle this scale, he could not even comprehend the level of destruction that the monsters had caused. Smoke came from numerous buildings and was being extinguished by fire hovercrafts that used pressurized chemicals to extinguish persisting flames.

Finally, the Media came with their vans. News One. The men and women in black suits skittled towards the wounded and exhausted police officers trying to extract information as fast as they could.

Citizens gathered to random places, trying to scoop information about the skirmish or witness the battle's aftermath.

Other citizens went looking for their lost family members or asked for information about the dead. The police were still disarrayed. Even the battle has ended, the chaos persisted.

"Jasper, talk to me." Lance said.

"Master?"

"Can you scan Damian?"

"My scans cannot capture Damian, Master. But local news had aired that the police had a man in custody."

"What's the reason?"

"Police found him using the poison bombs. They are speculating of a weapon smuggling activity as the poison bombs were not yet regulated by the Government and the Corporation."

"What precinct?"

"Precinct 13," Jasper responded.

One police officer stood above him casting a shadow on the exhausted boy.

"Kid, although you saved our lives, it is my duty to question the weapon that you used. What do you call it? The poison bombs?"

"Why?"

"The weapon is not manufactured inside Axe Central. So there is a suspicion of weapon smuggling from the Outsiders." The officer's voice was calm glazed with gratitude over his duty.

"I will explain. But only in precinct 13." Lance answered and stood up.

They went inside a transport vehicle, it's a van type, however, it was a large hovercraft that could carry 20 people inside the cabin. He had no handcuffs though but was guarded by three police officers inside the cabin.

"We haven't thanked you yet, kid." One younger officer told him. The three of them were on the barricade where Lance had helped.

Lance only nodded.

"If it isn't with your weapon, we are dead." Another officer said. The other one was rather silent.

"What will happen to me?" Lance asked.

"You will be questioned, kid. Of course, based on our protocols. But you are not under arrest. We need answers from you, kid. The head of CBD will question you."

'CBD? Customs and Border Defence?' Lance thought. Jaqi's father was the head of the said department.

His mind raced in various possibilities. One of which would help his career and known to be another inventor who invented a weapon that saved thousands of citizens during the attack. Secondly, it would be his doom and be charged with illegal weapon smuggling or manufacturing of illegal weapons unsanctioned and unregistered by the CBD.

Precinct 13 was just nearby. It was only situated in the neighboring sector of Steelpoint. Their Transportcraft decelerated, the direction of the rotors had shifted beneath their feet causing large metallic gear frictions, and powered against gravity. Slowly, they descended beside the police precinct.

"Good luck, kid." The senior officer said as he opened the door. He was led outside the craft accompanied by the two police officers behind him and walked towards the station.

"Tell me about the head of BCD. What is he like?" Lance asked the younger officer.

"Mister Chester Leric? He scares me, kid. He scares every one of us under the police department. Don't be fooled by his calm demeanor. He probably is playing with you. Observing you if you are telling the truth or not.

Some say he is a human lie detector machine."

The description was enough to know that Chester Leric was a formidable person with power. Probably, the most powerful person in the Government next to the Governor. So, his approach should be truthful. He was not the best in lying, or in creating made-up scenarios in his head that would come out to his advantage.

CBD controlled the police department, oversaw the robotic and weapon manufacturing factories, and controlled border entries through the northern and western walls. Probably, it was the only department that did not have budget constraints.

Lance was ushered inside the station. It was his second time being invited to police stations with probable violations. The first time made him insulated by certain fears that a kid his age should have when accompanied by police officers.

They proceeded inside an interrogation room where he found Damian in handcuffs. Damian smiled at him despite the bruises on his left cheek and right eye.

"What happened to you?" Lance sat down beside Damian, a table in front of them. The police officers exited the interrogation room and left them inside. The lights were bright on corners facing toward them like they were rabid animals.

"Bad luck, kid. Why aren't you in handcuffs?" Damian asked.

"Don't know. Maybe because I saved their lives. How did you get here?"

"Same as you. The use of illegal weapons."

"Let me handle the talking, Damian. I will get you out of here." Lance assured. "Let me talk to Mister Leric."

"What? The head of CBD? We are doomed, kid." Damian grunted softly as probably audio devices were implanted inside the room.

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