(Reverence 6, 59 / 9:03AM)

  Half a day before Luke’s solo mission.

  The heavenly bck clouds swiftly floated away from the metropolis, continuing to pour bible-shattering precipitation amongst the dunes. Leaving the city roads completely saturated with water, some of the roads became creeks or shallow rivers, making most automobiles and donkey carriages stand out.

  As the citizens stomped through shallow waters just beyond the port, a train waited impatiently for the green light.

  (Doug) Out of all times it rained!

  A chubby man spoke out with a hoarse voice.

  With both palms creaking on the wooden table in front of him, Doug swayed his head back and forth while settling his eyes on the candle lights. In front of him, Betty crossed her arms over her stomach and pced her right leg over her left knee.

  Her eyes stared at a female agent with gsses, the cold gring agent had both her hands in her pockets.

  (Agent Ada) These things happen.

  (Doug) No! This allows the enemy to strike! Waiting an entire day!? Just whose side is this city on!?

  (Agent Briggs) You’re worried about one man?

  Coming out of the back door, Briggs had his right hand on top of his fedora, along with his left hand motionless to his side. His bck church shoes creaked the unique wood below his feet, his eyes took in the scenic train cart.

  Unlike the other compartments, the cart looked to resemble a fancy rich bar, with barstools nestled in front of a cocktail table. Gsses of whiskey, beer, and vodka behind the bar, it was locked and chained by a combination lock crafted in chrome. Three chandeliers all lined up at the ceiling, doing their job of shining even the darkest of corners in the room, with the middle chandelier right on top of the wooden table.

  The more Briggs walked, the more his eyes darkened. Reaching the front of the table, he stood right next to Ada.

  (Agent Briggs) Luke is the least of our worries. He’s too weak to try to stop us now.

  (Doug) I don’t trust that little weasel! None! From the way he fights, he’s too dangerous!

  (Agent Briggs) Do you think Fenix can save all of his friends? On top of toppling your entire family name?

  Briggs took off his fedora, pcing it down to his knee followed by his right eyebrow furrowing upward.

  The agent’s dark eye bags made Doug’s spine feel as if a block of ice rolled down his back, sending it to shiver and twitch. Moving his eyes elsewhere, his sausage fingers curled into his palms, his back teeth clenching shut.

  (Doug) A friend once told me a lone man is far scarier than a group of them.

  (Agent Briggs) I suppose you’re right.

  Briggs walked right in front of Doug, his height only a couple of inches shorter than the middle-aged man. His left hand remained motionless to his side, a single twitch jumped out from his right finger, his nail flustering onto his scks.

  Tilting his head up a millimeter, Doug held his breath from within his throat, keeping it locked as it moistened his vocals and esophagus.

  (Agent Briggs) Lone men can be far scarier. In fact…

  Doug’s breath coked out.

  Raising both of his hands, he held onto Brigg’s wrist, whose hand wrapped itself around his throat and neck. His fingers not putting a hint of pressure onto his airways, Doug widened his eyes, along with his teeth cttering like a beaver chewing up wood.

  Briggs could kill him right there but didn’t. Instead, Briggs pushed his hand for Doug to sit down on a simple chair, while still keeping his hand on his neck.

  (Agent Briggs) Lone men have nothing to lose. That simple fact can be testified by yours truly.

  Betty jumped up from her chair, her palms facing toward the gloomy agent who moved his eyes toward hers. Her breath was frozen in her throat, her feet glued deep into the wooden floor, followed by her beating heart pounding against her chest.

  Ada pced both her hands on Brigg’s shoulders, her fingers digging deep into his bones. In return, Briggs let go of Doug’s neck.

  (Agent Briggs) Consider yourself lucky that I’m not against you. Don’t think just because we have the same enemy doesn’t mean I should like you.

  Putting his fedora back onto the top of his head, Briggs walked back into the other compartment from where he came. His other hand nestled into his tuxedo suit’s pocket, Ada clutched her hands before hovering them over her crotch, while casting her eyes down. Following him, it left just Betty and Doug in the same bar compartment, their nostrils scrunching and wrinkling like they smelled the liquid from a garbage bag.

  Balling his fist, he smmed it onto the wooden table.

  (Doug) What does that agent think he is!? Intimidating me! He should be lucky that I’m not throwing him behind iron!

  (Betty) And that silver-haired agent is all too peaceful! Even that short woman with gsses rolls her eyes when I tell her to do something!

  (Doug) The only agent who listens is that perverted whore. The only thing she did behind my back was try to swoop my guards to join in on her all-male harem…

  Using his thighs, he pushed himself out from his seat, clearing his throat before looking toward his wife who followed his example. Raising his hand onto the top of his head, he took off his brown-ft cap, whilst raising his other hand to sway his hair that brindled with sweat.

  Pcing his cap back onto his head, he gnced down at the crinkled water on the floor, water created by his hair.

  (Doug) But they’re the best in the business, and I can’t argue with Spartan Gabriel of all people.

  ______________________________________________________________________________

  (Reverence 6, 59 / 7:45PM)

  All of them sat in the center of the train cart.

  Making a circle, everyone sat criss-cross applesauce, with their knees bent and their feet tucked underneath their bodies. Hearing the train continue to grind against the metal tracks, their eyes scanned toward both doors from the 17th and the 15th carts, as only the sound from below commenced.

  Clearing his throat, Luke pressed both his palms to the floor.

  (Luke) Alright, we should pn this out quickly. Right now, Christian and Pacifica are heading to the Marston Bridge to check on the soldiers stationed there.

  (Jack) Why there?

  (Luke) They’re going to blow the bridge, which is the only bridge that’ll lead to Huecas Minas.

  Everyone began to nod, swaying their heads up and down all the while looking at Luke with pushed-up eyes. Most of them letting their breathing loudened, they let the scorching sun bze onto their faces, leading them to squint their eyes while staring at Luke.

  Stan, raising his hand, pced his other hand on his chest.

  (Stan) And what about us?

  (Luke) We’re going to make sure the train doesn’t stop, by any means.

  (Jack) Hold on a minute?

  Jack spoke out without raising his hand, with both his knuckles pced firmly onto the floor. His voice coarse and rasped, he cleared it twice, leading the gunk and dry saliva to wallow down his throat.

  Turning his eyes to the red-haired man, Luke clutched both his hands together. Everyone else hunched their heads an inch from their original position, their ears perked to Jack’s curiosity-filled voice.

  (Jack) Do you mean we have a time limit here? Right now ‘now’?

  (Luke) Don’t worry, the Marston Bridge is pretty far from here. And also the train is going like 40 to 45 miles an hour, and the roads have a speed limit of 50. Keep in mind that Christian is probably going as fast as he can to the bridge.

  (Miles) Even if they don’t detonate the bridge, we should always prepare that it will.

  Luke noticed two stares coming from the 15th cart.

  Turning around, the door slightly opened, the handle being gripped by a pale hand. His eyes trailed to a man with blonde hair, he also wore a thin brown jacket, his boots turquoise-colored boots radiating amongst the normal colors.

  Next to him, an old teenage girl with cat ears was barely seen. Her hands barely holding onto the edge of the doorframe, Luke kept his eyes glued to the young man the same age as him.

  (Luke) Johnny? Elizabeth? You guys were in the next cart?

  (Johnny) Yeah.

  (Jack) Wait, how long have you guys been hearing us speak?

  (Johnny) Ever since Luke began talking. Practically from the beginning.

  (Luke’s thoughts) Then he saw my Khazuan roulette gamble.

  Luke spread both of his feet out wide, his palms digging deep into the metal floor beneath him. Pushing his body up, he used his calf muscles, causing them to bulge and gleam under his lean strength.

  Patting his knees, chunks of dust settled off onto the ground, leading Luke to clear his throat before extending his hand out. Raising both of his fingers up and down, it was the universal signal to let them enter, and in return, both Johnny and Elizabeth opened the door wide.

  The grinding of metal being repced with the desert howling winds, all of them twitched from the change of ambiance.

  Closing the door from behind him, he held onto Elizabeth’s hand, letting them walk through to the circle in which everyone sat.

  (Luke) Continuing off, are there any other questions before I assign what to do?

  (Jack) We pretty much have all our questions covered.

  (Miles) Says the one that had a question.

  Standing in front of everyone, Luke began rubbing his hands back and forth, mingling his sweat while blowing hot air onto his knuckles. Gulping down saliva that stuck between his enamels, it ran through his throat and down toward his stomach.

  Dropping his hands, he gazed at the door that led to the 15th compartment. Remembering hearing the howling winds coming from the door, no other sound could make that if there was…

  (Luke’s thoughts) Those winds … Can there be a gap between this cart and the next?

  Lifting his right hand to the height of his ear, he made a snapping sound with just his pointer finger and thumb. Garnering everyone's eyes, they all stared at the smirking Luke, who nodded slowly and smugly.

  (Luke) I think I got it.

  (Jack) Well then speak away dude.

  (Luke) We have to do two things; preventing anyone from using the emergency brakes and making sure the conductor doesn’t pull the normal ones.

  Miles rubbed his chin with his rge fingers, his fingertips scratching his skin which cked the simplest of facial hair. Raising his right eyebrow, a low ‘mmm’ soothed out from his rumbling throat, making Miles hunch his head an inch forward.

  All the while Luke pced both of his hands into his pockets, his eyes continuing to sink deep into Miles’.

  (Miles) That’s all?

  (Luke) And for the optional quests, how about taking two to three bags of money from their vault? Try to avoid conflict with Doug and the others as much as you guys can.

  (Sean) What?

  Sean slowly began to rise from the floor, his palms pressuring themselves onto his thighs while pushing up his eyes.

  Continuing to have his hands inside his pockets, Luke turned his warm face toward the confused Sean. Seeing his nose wrinkled, Luke lowered his head, but not his eyes.

  (Sean) You know money is the sole reason why we’re here right?

  (Luke) I know.

  (Sean) So why?

  (Luke) Because we need money, that’s what.

  Luke walked right up to the gawking Sean, standing in front of him with his hands to his sides. Pcing his hand onto Sean’s shoulder, Luke gave him a little nudge, while tilting his head to the right and pushing a smirk.

  A smirk reached the halfway point to his right ear.

  (Luke) Come on, don’t tell me you’re chickening out right now.

  (Sean) Me? Chicken?

  (Luke) Where’s that prankster spirit? The Sean that everyone is annoyed with, the Sean that raises people’s blood pressure?

  (Sean) Oh right then jackass, you’re on!

  Pushing Luke’s hand away from his shoulder, Sean balled his fist but stuck out his thumb. Lifting his hand, he then pinned his thumb directly into the center of his chest, his fingernail digging deep into his leather jacket.

  Lowering his hands onto his waist, Luke cmped them tight, as a small chuckle broke through his lips. Everyone else grinned at the dispy of Sean’s recovering spirit, some of them pced their palms over their mouths, and some of them swayed their heads back and forth.

  (Sean) You don’t have the right to call me a chicken!? I heard you ran away from many of them during The Array!

  (Luke) Yeah yeah yeah.

  (Sean) Got a rebuttal for that?

  (Luke) Nope.

  (Sean) Then I win—

  (Luke) Now for the pn.

  Ignoring the high and mighty Sean, Luke csped both of his hands together before straightening his back once more.

  Everyone, even Sean, huddled closer to the center of the circle, all of them grouped up like a football team trying to figure out their py. All of them were on the same head level, they all looked at each other with curious eyes, right up until they all stared at Luke.

  Having everyone’s eyes on him, Luke raised his right hand to scratch his cheek, scraping off small amounts of lingering gunpowder from before.

  (Luke) I was thinking of a rge force going through the main carts, while a smaller force running on top.

  (Fred) Do you mean the roof? Are you sure?

  (Luke) Yeah. I’m going to assign groups who are going through the carts and who are sneaking on the roof.

  Moving his right hand underneath his chin, his nails hovered over his skin before he pced his hand back on his knee.

  Gncing at Stan, Fred, Gary, and Diego all puckering their lips, all four of them didn’t let a meep come from their throats or mouths. Luke huffed out a loft of air from his lungs, his head tilted down for the air to graze the floor.

  (Luke) All four of you will be on the ground. I hope nothing happens to any of you.

  (Stan) No worries. Hell, I’ll gdly sell my right hand in exchange for one of their lives.

  Luke turned to look at Jenny and Loraine, who sat right beside Stan and the others. Still having her arm wrapped around Loraine’s upper back, Jenny softly looked at Luke, her eyes pushed and cheeks pushed down.

  As for Loraine, a cheeky grin pstered her face, showcasing her pearly white teeth to Luke and the world.

  (Luke) You, Loraine, and Luna are going to accompany Stan’s group. With all three of your combat abilities, and their gadgets and tactics; all of you will do fine.

  (Jenny) Understood Luke.

  (Loraine) Yessity sir!

  Luna remained silent. Balling her hands, her fingernails began to stab itself directly into her palms, leaving blood to spurt onto the floor.

  Luke, who noticed Luna’s silenced anger, lifted his right hand onto the back of his neck. Staining his pale neck with his sweat, he lowered his cheeks while moving his eyes up, his smile quivering under the intense gre she gave to the floor.

  (Luke) I know that you want to protect me, but—

  (Luna) What if that agent is here…

  (Luke) Don’t worry about me. Instead.

  Luna gnced up at the light-haired young man, seeing herself in his eyes. As well as seeing himself in her eyes, both of them couldn’t look away no matter the obstacle.

  Pushing his lips to the bottoms of his ears, he closed his eyes, as the warmth of his smiling face caused Luna to catch her breath.

  (Luke) I should worry about you sometimes, that way somebody cares whether you live or die.

  Luna broke the lock, averting her eyes as both her cheeks flushed a crimson pinkish red. Letting her hands uncurl, the blood flowing from her palms began to stall on the bottom of her hand.

  (Luna’s thoughts) F-F-Freaking Idiot!

  Moving his eyes over to Benn, along with Johnny and Elizabeth, all of them awaited with their hands clenched together. With Johnny and Elizabeth holding onto each other’s hand, Benn had his hovering over his crotch, his ears perked along with the couple.

  (Luke) I know this is going to be a rge strike force, but can the three of you accompany them as well?

  (Johnny) Wait, you want us to fight?

  (Luke) Well, I don’t think you two would be—

  (Johnny) Sign us up.

  Luke furrowed his brow.

  Lowering his hand down from his neck, he had them motionless to his thighs, his eyes widened the hearing of Johnny’s words. Tilting his head to the left, most of everybody did the same, their hands pced firmly onto either their thighs or the ground.

  (Luke’s thoughts) What?

  Johnny’s grip on Elizabeth’s hand began to tighten evermore, his fingers wrapping themselves over her small delicate knuckles. Yet still, he wasn’t strong, since Elizabeth nudged her arm to graze his while pushing both her lips to smile.

  (Johnny) Once I and Elizabeth heard your speech and resolve, something awakened inside me. A feeling that I once lost.

  Remembering the fight with The Bringer of Death, the two of them were nearly killed or injured, which led Johnny to fluster away from violence as a whole. Even during the previous train raid, he couldn’t bring himself to stand up to his father, his sister, and any of the other guards.

  But Luke single-handedly crumbled that cowardness from him.

  (Johnny) So yeah, me and her are fighting, and I don’t care what you do to my father, mother, or sister.

  (Luke) Oh uhm … okay!

  Now gncing toward the st of the group members, they all smirked or smiled at him, with Hope being the only one smiling. Leaving the rest of the men to dry smirk and chuckle, Luke followed Hope’s example, as his warm face shone onto Miles, Jack, and Sean.

  (Luke) Now for the small strike force. I’ll be leading Hope, Jack, Miles, and Sean up on the roof to reach the second and third compartments. Are you guys good with that?

  (Miles) As always.

  (Jack) Sure man.

  (Sean) Hell yeah!

  (Hope) Yes!

  Everyone then began to get up from the floor.

  All of them looked toward the door that led to the 15th cart, it also led to the gap in which Luke and the others would sneak up. Being in the front, Luke raised his right hand, his knuckles facing everyone who began taking out their weapons.

  (Luke) Good luck to all of you, and let’s kick some—-

  (Sean) Fucking ass!