Truancy City

by Isamu Fukui

  * * *

  Joe ran alone down the alley, thrilled by his escape. Breaking away had been so easy that he wondered why he ever took orders from Cross in the first place. It had felt unbelievably good to finally punch that kid. Joe wished he could’ve done it some more, but with that vicious harpy around he knew he couldn’t get away without getting shot. Those two deserved each other, as far as Joe was concerned.

  Not really paying attention to his surroundings, Joe was taken by surprise when the alley opened up into a square space. It was some sort of small yard between buildings that had been fenced off. A dead end. Joe swore, spun around …

  And found himself face-to-face with Takan.

  “Augh!” Joe screamed, jumping backwards.

  The Truancy’s leader took a step forward and reached for his sword. Confronted by an enemy he couldn’t beat, Joe did the only thing that came naturally. He dropped his gun and raised his hands.

  “I give up! I wanna switch sides!”

  Takan halted at the sound of Joe’s voice. His eyes narrowed.

  “I know you.”

  Joe blinked. “Eh?”

  “You’re Joe, right?” Takan said. “Yeah. Joe, the bully.”

  “Wh—what are you talking about?

  “Don’t you remember?” Takan cocked his head. “You chased me into District 19.”

  It took Joe a moment to process that. Then his jaw dropped. For the first time he looked, really looked at the boy called Takan. He saw past the grim expression and the aged face, past the trench coat and sheathed sword. He saw a scrawny boy whom he had tormented years ago, just one among his countless victims.

  “You’re that little punk, Tack!”

  Takan nodded and ran a hand through his messy brown hair.

  “Tack! It is you, I don’t believe it! Did you think changing your name was cool or something?” Joe laughed. “This is just perfect. I never got a chance to pay you back for my leg, did I?”

  Suddenly Joe found Takan’s gun pressed against his forehead. He froze. Joe had forgotten that this wasn’t a school hallway, that Takan was not a student, but actually the most dangerous Truant alive.

  “You … you always were too scared to fight me man-to-man!” Joe said, desperately looking for a way out. “You’re nothing without your gun!”

  To Joe’s surprise, Takan paused at that. Then he threw his gun aside. He drew his sword and placed that on the ground as well. Joe felt his confidence return. When it was just fists and mean words, he was a pro. He had been feared at school for a reason.

  “So Tack, how come you’re alive, anyway?” Joe asked. “I thought you died in that car accident with your little smartass sister. She here too?”

  “No,” Takan said. “No, she’s dead.”

  “Aww, that’s sad,” Joe mocked. “But I already paid her back anyway. Did she ever tell you that? Me and my buddies got her after school while you were fooling around in District 19. We tried not to leave too many bruises, so I don’t know if you noticed.”

  Joe watched for a reaction, but Takan gave him nothing.

  “Put your fists up, Joe,” Takan said. “That is, if you want to die fighting.”

  Joe swung at Takan with what he thought was impressive speed. The blow hit nothing but air. Joe barely had time to blink in surprise before Takan drove his elbow into Joe’s chest, and then snapped his forearm up to hit Joe’s face with his knuckles.

  Dazed, Joe gasped and staggered backwards. Without missing a beat, Takan kicked Joe in the groin, then grabbed his head and slammed it against one knee. Seeing stars, Joe collapsed clutching his privates.

  “You bastard,” he moaned. “You’re like that freak in District 19!”

  There was no response. Joe opened his eyes to see Takan approaching him with cool, measured steps. Only now did Takan allow his expression to change. His face was terrifying, a mask of tightly bottled fury.

  Takan kicked Joe in the ribs. Once, twice, repeatedly until bones cracked. Joe screamed.

  “What was your objective?” Takan demanded. “Tell me!”

  “We…” Joe gasped. “We were trying to k-kill you.”

  “So this is how the Student Militia handles defeat, is it?” Takan spat. “How many of you came?”

  “Four, just four of us! Three on the g-ground, one sniper too.”

  “Where are the other three?”

  “I don’t know, one of them split to draw y-you off—”

  “Was that your plan too? Or were you trying to save your own neck?”

  “Th-the others, they wanted to hide in some kind of w-warehouse,” Joe sobbed. “I thought it was a dumb idea, I … I…”

  Takan’s eyes narrowed. “So they’re going to the warehouse, huh? Funny, I was going to head there anyway before you guys showed up.”

  “Please, the one who planned the whole thing is Cross, he’s the—”

  “Shut up,” Takan said, then fished a cell phone from his pocket and began speaking into the receiver. “Aaron, send some troops to the east warehouse.” Takan paused, listening to a response. “Yeah, a few students showed up. I’m going to go head them off before they find out what we’ve been doing. Yes, I do know how dangerous the place is, but Plan B is at risk here. I’m out.”

  Takan shut his cell phone and slipped it back into his pocket. Then he looked back down at Joe. “This little class reunion was fun Joe, but it’s about time for us to say good-bye.”

  “Please, please—”

  Takan drew a bottle from his jacket and removed the cloth stuffed in its neck.

  “You know, I never thanked you for chasing me into District 19,” Takan said, crouching down. “That was the start of all this. That’s why I’m here now, leader of the Truancy. You never knew it, but you helped create me in a way. Thanks…”

  Takan poured the contents of the bottle onto Joe, soaking him with the flammable mixture. Joe sputtered, and his eyes widened as he realized what was about to happen.

  “… and good riddance.”

  Takan switched a lighter on and lightly tossed it.

  Joe ignited like a torch, his screams echoing throughout the alleys.

  7

  SECOND AND FOURTH

  “What was that?” Floe wondered, looking backwards.

  “Screaming.” Cross stepped over a broken chair that was part of a collection of debris in their way.

  “Well, yeah.” Floe pushed aside a wooden plank. “But didn’t it sound a bit like Joe?”

  “Never mind him,” Cross said. “Look, I think we’re here.”

  Indeed, the doors of the warehouse had now come into sight. It was a ramshackle building with rusted walls and holes in its roof, but it was large and could provide sanctuary. Cross and Floe paused for a moment to catch their breath. There were footsteps behind them. They looked at each other wearily.

  “Here we go again,” Cross said, raising his rifle and turning to defend the narrow passage they had just come from.

  “Hold on.” Floe reached into her pack for a firebomb, lit it, and then hurled it into the alley. It exploded, setting the debris aflame. “That’ll make them keep their distance.”

  Cross shook his head with admiration even as the shadows of the Truants came into sight. Taking cover behind a wall, he began to fire at the Truants through the flames. Within moments he was caught up again in the full rush of combat. Carefully aiming at a silhouette, Cross pulled the trigger.

  The rifle did not fire. Cross angrily tapped the magazine, drew back the charging handle, and tried again. Still nothing. He checked the rifle chamber. A bullet casing had gotten stuck. He swore and ducked lower behind the wall, heart pounding.

  “What’s wrong?” Floe shouted.

  “Rifle jammed up!” Cross pulled the handle back and began shaking his gun.

  “That’s not how you do it!” Floe scolded as bullets whizzed over their heads. “Lock the bolt back and remove the magazine. Doesn’t the Militia teach that?”

  In truth, since Edward�
��s death Cross had rarely practiced with his weapon. He could never muster up the motivation; shooting just didn’t interest him unless someone was shooting back.

  “Forget this.” Cross threw the rifle aside and drew his sidearm. He fired five shots through the flames and was rewarded with a cry of pain. The gunshots faded as the Truants seemed to reconsider their approach.

  “They’ll take another route now,” Cross said, “but every Truant in the district is going to be coming with them.”

  “Joe was a coward, but maybe he had the right idea after all,” Floe panted. “We should split up. They won’t know which way to chase us.”

  Cross nodded. “I’ll take the warehouse. You go around and take one of the other paths out of here.”

  Floe frowned. “You’re going to trap yourself in the first place they’re bound to check?”

  “That warehouse is big enough to be as good as a whole maze of alleys.” Cross gestured at the massive industrial building. “There’s got to be more than one exit. It’s probably safer than wherever you’re going.”

  “Don’t act a hero, Cross,” Floe said severely. “It doesn’t suit you.”

  Through the adrenaline and fear, Cross felt a forgotten emotion flicker inside him. It suddenly occurred to him how alone the two of them were there, in the eye of the storm.

  “Thanks for worrying.” Cross interrupted her before she could reply. “No, I mean it. About why you switched sides … if it’s because of what happened way back, we’re even now. You’ve saved me enough times. Go on, get out of here.”

  Floe opened her mouth, then shut it, a flush on her cheeks. For one mad second Cross felt like they were both children again. She hesitated, then reached into her pack and stuffed a firebomb and a lighter into Cross’ hands.

  “Take this,” she said. “It’s my last one. You’ll need it.”

  Without waiting for a response, Floe turned and ran off. Not knowing what to say, Cross watched her go. Once she was safely out of sight, he took a deep breath and stowed the bottle in his pocket.

  He was all alone again, just him and his enemies. Cross liked it better that way. He began walking towards the warehouse, firing a few shots into the flames with his pistol. There were more shouts, though Cross had no way of knowing if he had actually hit someone. Cross kicked the warehouse doors open and prepared to slip inside.

  Then a familiar voice spoke, and Cross felt his heart lurch with terror and delight.

  “Double back and go after the other one, I’ll take him myself!”

  Cross turned and stared as a dark figure leapt off some garbage cans on the other side of the flames. Its feet connected briefly with the wall of the alley, and then with tremendous force propelled it through the smoke. Instinctively, Cross fired at the dark shape until his gun was empty, only to realize a moment later that he’d been shooting at an empty brown trench coat.

  The coat’s owner landed lightly on the ground, and Cross ducked behind the warehouse door as a series of retaliatory shots flew in his direction.

  “Long time no see,” Takan called out. “You never gave me your name before. It’s Cross, isn’t it? I’ve wanted to meet you for a while now.”

  Cross slammed a new magazine into his pistol and held his breath as Takan drew closer. His heart was racing faster than ever, the blood thundering in his ears. It was just the two of them, each with no choice but to fight and no desire to do otherwise. A duel to the death with his most dangerous counterpart—Cross couldn’t have imagined a better way to go.

  “Did you plan to hide here, Cross?” Takan called. “You picked the wrong place.”

  Takan fired again, and Cross swore as dents appeared in the door. Gritting his teeth, Cross twisted his arm and fired blindly outside. No response. Cross peered out from behind the door and saw nothing but empty space. Cross hesitated for half a second. Then Takan burst from behind the other side of the door with his sword drawn.

  Cross’ reflexes were just good enough to prevent his head from being skewered, and he leapt backwards into the warehouse. Takan went for his sidearm, and Cross dived for cover behind some nearby metal barrels, exactly like the ones that Joe had earlier cleared from their path. He paused to catch his breath, and that was when Cross noticed his surroundings for the first time.

  Blue evening light streamed in through the dirty windows of the warehouse, illuminating row upon row of metal storage drums. Many of the barrels looked old and rusted. All of them looked like they had been placed here recently, for none were as worn as the building itself. For some reason he couldn’t place, they made Cross very uneasy.

  Takan’s footsteps drew closer. His heart pounding, Cross raised his pistol.

  “Are you sure you want to do that?” Takan’s voice echoed throughout the huge space. “You might hit one of these barrels.”

  Cross hesitated. “What’s in them?”

  Takan laughed. “I wish I could give you a proper answer, but I was never any good at science. Aaron tells me that it’s a mix of fuel and ammonium, or something like that. It’s a powerful explosive. One stray shot and we both die.”

  Takan halted a few feet away from Cross’ hiding place, and doubt began to eat away at Cross. He now had a perfect chance to blow himself up with Takan, fulfilling his mission and going out in a true blaze of glory. And yet he didn’t fire.

  Grunting with frustration, Cross tossed his pistol aside and drew his knife instead, leaping out to face Takan. “I’ll just take you down by hand then!”

  Takan smiled, then lifted his pistol and fired. Cross dived back behind the barrels just in time, the bullet glancing off the floor nearby.

  “Are you crazy?” Cross shouted.

  “No, Cross,” Takan said, advancing. “This is just the difference between me and you, between a student and a Truant.”

  Cross scrambled to get deeper into the warehouse, keeping his head down as he ran from barrel to barrel.

  “You’re an instrument, used to fight the Educators’ battles. They’ve got you so conditioned you don’t even know what you want.” Takan fired again, narrowly missing Cross. “Me, I’m free. I’ve got nothing to lose. For us, for the Truancy, all that matters is our cause.”

  “You are crazy!” Cross shouted. “You think you’re something great when you’re just a fanatic!”

  “Better than a coward,” Takan shot back. “You could’ve blown us both to bits, Cross. Why did you hesitate? Did the thought not occur to you? No, you were just scared of dying!”

  “Don’t pretend to know me!” Cross dashed down the aisles of drums as Takan gave pursuit.

  “Then what do you risk your life for, Cross?” Takan demanded. “Why are you here? What are you but a reflection of the ambitions of others?”

  That question, a question Cross never dared to ask himself, cut deeply. Sepp and Floe had their reasons. Even Joe, in his own selfish way, knew why he was fighting. Why was Cross fighting? Cross clutched his forehead as the image of a faceless man swept through his mind. Somehow, through his jumbled thoughts, Cross heard Takan fire again and eject the empty clip.

  Cross turned and lunged while the Truant was reloading. Taken by surprise, Takan blocked Cross’ knife with his pistol, but could not stop Cross from knocking the pistol from his grip with a second blow. Cross attempted a stab, but Takan parried it by drawing his sword.

  “Is this how you dodge the hard questions?” Takan asked. “You get so lost in your battles that you don’t even think about what you’re doing?”

  Cross recklessly lunged again. Takan swung his sword, forcing Cross to roll aside. The blade clipped his shoulder. Faced with a weapon with a much greater reach, Cross growled and began running again.

  By now they had reached the end of the warehouse, and a long ladder led up to a raised platform high above. Cross scrambled upwards with Takan close behind.

  “I can see now why we beat the Militia so easily these days,” Takan said. “You really are nothing like your predecessor.”

&nb
sp; Cross glanced down at his enemy. “How did you know who I was?”

  “Joe told me you were here before he died,” Takan replied. “And I’ve always known the name of the Student Militia’s leader.”

  Cross shook his head as he climbed. He’d figured that Joe would betray them, and he wasn’t sad at all to hear of his death. But something else was bothering him.

  “I meant back at the bar!” Cross said. “How did you know I wasn’t a Truant?”

  Takan laughed at that. “My mentor trained me to tell salt from sugar. Did you really think I couldn’t tell a student from one of my own men?”

  Cross reached the top platform and took a few steps away from the ladder as he brandished his knife. Takan darted up the last few rungs and paused. The two combatants faced each other.

  “You do have a choice, Cross,” Takan said. “I don’t enjoy killing. If you give up fighting and cooperate with us, I promise you will not be harmed.”

  “Screw you.”

  “I expected as much.” Takan sighed in resignation. “Then I’ll let you in on a secret. Do you know why we’ve been stockpiling these explosives?”

  Cross’ heart skipped a beat. “No.”

  “It’s so that we can demolish City Hall, Penance Tower, Enforcer Headquarters, among other targets within District 1,” Takan said. “This is my Plan B. I won’t wait for a long and drawn-out siege. The Educators will fall in one stroke.”

  “Impossible.” Cross shook his head. “There’s no way you can get this much past the front lines without anyone noticing.”

  “Not past the front lines,” Takan corrected. “Under them.”

  Cross froze.

  “Did you know that the subway tunnels run under almost every major landmark?” Takan asked. “Almost every line converges at District 1. We might miss the Mayoral Mansion and Student Militia Headquarters, but everything else will be wiped out.”

  “You want to rule over a dead City?”

  “Don’t be melodramatic,” Takan said. “If anything this will spare lives. Only those few Educator buildings will be destroyed, leaving us a clean slate to rebuild upon.”

  “Why are you telling me this?”