"For someone ranked so high, she's a special kind of stupid, isn't she?"

For the umpteenth time that night, Shon fought to snap at Rale's snide words. He paced back and forth, spinning his Peacekeeper gun in his right hand. His other shoulder still throbbed from where one of the creatures had slammed him against the wall during their fight to get to the control room, but at least they were safe – for now.

"You know she'd do anything for her sister."

"That's why I said she's stupid." Rale studied the video. The quality was poor, as with all the cameras situated around this Area. The extremities were fuzzy and the colour was almost black and white given the dimness of the arena, but they could make out Ari and Kena, the scientist, talking. There was no audio; not surprisingly, the technology was too subpar to provide any sound, never mind anything three-dimensional.

"You have this agenda against her for being a high-achiever, but Ari is kind and has never abused her power. She's not like Cryo and Lira. She's never flaunted her status."

"And yet she acts like one, still. You've heard her talk. She's so stupid she doesn't realise she's condescending and offending everyone else around her."

"Even then she goes out of her way to do all this. She knows there are Peacekeepers and Investigators on the case and she still takes herself into this danger."

"She's odd, all right. I don't know why she doesn't abuse her rank. I know I would if I were in her shoes."

Shon shot him an alarmed look. Rale snorted at him.

"Oh, don't act all righteous and holier-than-thou! You know you would, too, if you could!"

"I wouldn't. Why did you think I became a Peacekeeper? We've got powers in our own ways. We're basically the law. Someone has to look out for those who aren't better off in credits and in abilities, and I want to be that."

"Check you out, Mr. Hero."

Shon scowled. "The system isn't fair, I know. It shouldn't be that academic achievement and talents are all that matters. People are unique and some fare better under less stressful circumstances. Bakers, machine maintainers, and street cleaners are valuable in their own ways. Weak abilities can become strong under the right situations."

"Yeah, tell Administration that."

"I have. I'm trying to change the justice system and provide evidence to Administration to change their laws and reward criteria. I want to make this city a fair place. It's not easy becoming a Peacekeeper, you know? The constant physical training is hard. The exams require thinking outside the box and we have to take them annually to maintain our competency. What have you done despite all your sarcastic remarks?"

"I reveal what they don't want revealed," said Shon, pushing his thick glasses up his nose, leaning back in his creaky chair, and resting the back of his head against his hands. He propped his gangly legs on the table in front of him. "There's always a dark secret that makes someone weak. You just need to find it. The stronger they are, the juicier the details. And once you expose it, that person becomes vulnerable and won't be so cocky about throwing their powers about. That's a good deed for everyone as far as I'm concerned."

Shon frowned. "So you're blackmailing them."

"No, not blackmailing. That involves something for me to gain in return for not revealing that secret. I reveal it anyway. They usually have it coming."

"You hold a new power over them and abuse it. How does that make you better than them?"

"I never said I was better than them. If the game needs to be played dirty, I'm all up for it. You don't see me crying."

"And what do you have on Ari?"

Rale smirked and tapped his nose. "Wouldn't you like to know, lover boy?"

Shon flushed to the root of his hair and stopped pacing. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh don't play the ignorant, Mr. Peacekeeper. Everyone knows you patrol Area Seven but I know you never mark Ari when she breaks the rules and uses her ability outside of training and exams. You always turn a blind eye, or when someone else files a report against her that report goes missing. Funny that. You want a fair March City and yet you're okay with favourable treatment towards the girl you like? Isn't that kind of hypocritical?"

"It's not like that."

Rale's grin spread across his cheeks. He spun on the chair and leaned forward, resting his chin on interlaced fingers, his elbows on his knees.

"Really? Tell me more."

"This has nothing to do with you," Shon said stiffly, turning away. "We're here to help Ari get Mina out and that's it."

"You are. She promised me a scoop. There's something seriously fishy going on and I think Administration has its hands deep in it, and I want in."

"You get what you want, too. So you don't need to know."

"So you can tell me. Come on, it's hardly going to be more ground-breaking than illegal human experimentation and ability extraction under Adminstration's very nose. I won't publish it. It won't sell me much, anyway. I promise."

Shon swallowed. He'd never told anyone this. He crossed his arms, avoiding Rale's interested gaze.

"I do like her – not that she'd ever realise."

Rale snorted. "Unrequited love. How cheesy."

Shon blushed again. "And I like watching her jump. You've probably never seen it, but it really is so graceful. Her ability to transform energy almost effortlessly and convert loads that would overwhelm even ten generators is amazing. Her leaps are beautiful... and I don't want that to stop. I'm happy just watching her. Watching her prowess is what motivates me to work hard."

"Except she doesn't even work, never mind working hard."

"No, but it motivates me and that's all that matters, as far as I'm aware. She's not hurting anyone when she uses her ability. As far as I'm concerned, she can do it as long as it pleases her."

"But the law states it's illegal to utilise one's abilities outside of training and exams."

Shon bit his lip. "Yes, but the laws can be... questionable."

"That we can agree on, my friend." Rale spun back and watched, sighing when he realised the two were still talking. "Wish something would happen already. So that's why you're here in this madness, then – to make sure she makes it out and carries on doing that prance?"

"Jump. Yes, and she's my friend. If it means she can carry on being happy, I can be happy, too."

Rale wrinkled his nose. "You fancy yourself quite the martyr, you know?" He spotted movement and leaned forward. "Is that Mina? Ari's sister?"

Shon stepped forward, squinting at the black and white screen. Two girls clutched each other, walking along the corridor towards the arena where Ari and Kena were. One of them had long dark hair and a pinched little face.

"Yes, that's her. I don't know who the other girl is, though. I think I might have seen her in one of the missing people reports."

"Well, this will be interesting."

"If Ari can get Mina, then we need an escape route for them, fast."

"Hold your gun, Peacekeeper." Shon placed the flat of his hand on the machine. It beeped at him. Several windows flashed up and disappeared in rapid succession on the next screen. A map of the area popped up. Rale scanned it with a critical eye. "If my guesses are right, they'll take this route—" He traced a finger to a floodgate room. "—and there will be another minor control room with an escape ladder leading up to the ground. That has an electrically sealed door... I can probably make it open if we get there in time."

"You lead the way. Let's go."

"Let me just lock down the rest of the chambers holding Kena's monsters. Hang on..." Rale communicated with the beeping machine, his brow furrowed. Shon peered at the screen, spinning his gun. He stopped. His stomach flipped. Ari had taken a small vial from Kena and gulped it – and then collapsed.

"Ari!"

Rale looked up and focused on his task again. At last, he removed his hand.

"Well, she really is a special kind of stupid."

Kena knelt beside Ari and fiddled with her arm. Ari fought her back. Kena struggled with her but eventually gave up and stepped back into the shadows. Rale frowned.

"Her remote key won't work. Kena's next stop is probably here. Let's get out of here and meet Mina and Ari at that floodgate."

"Ari—!"

"She'll be fine. She's fancy and powerful and all that."

Shon threw a worried look behind him but followed Rale out of the room.

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