Rise of Kings and Queens

Chapter 43

LILLIAN DANTI PROVIDES SHELTER FOR THE PEOPLE OF HAITI AFTER ATTACKS

By L.M.Taurus

6/9/0029 UWC

12 hours after headline

"This is unbelievable," said Luka as he looked out the window at all of the protesters gathered. "We should tell them Brodie Noble is the Agent of Dependency. Maybe they'll back off if they knew."

Standing next to him were Yelena, Arlo, Ji-hun and Esme.

"The problem is that the media has been legitimizing him," said Yelena. "They even have details of that night's fight. They think Dependency attacked them."

"To be fair, Mercy Kallstrom shot him in the shoulder," said Ji-hun.

"To make it look like they're not working together."

"I don't even know how the media is even getting this information," said Ji-hun. "I didn't see anyone out there."

"Those reporters are sneaky bastards," said Arlo. "She was probably hiding in some bush or something."

"She?" said Esme.

"L.M.Taurus is a woman. She's the one who's been writing the articles about Brodie Noble."

"How do you even know that? I thought you didn't read the newspaper."

"I don't read those papers, but I've had a couple of run-ins with the writer."

"What's her name?" asked Yelena.

"Lois Taurus. Why do you care?"

"Just curious."

"Why don't we tell them who Brodie Noble is?" asked Luka.

"We technically have no proof at the moment," said Esme. "Brodie is denying any involvement with Dependency and now add on to the fact the media is portraying him as a victim, there's a chance we're going to end up looking like the bad guys."

"Are you saying we might have to release him?" asked Luka.

"As of right now, no, but I guess it's a possibility," said Esme.

"But Luan and Cairo witnessed him wearing the Agent of Dependency armor."

"Our word versus his," said Esme. "Brodie has powerful friends. If we don't get new evidence soon, we might have to let him go."

"This is unbelievable," said Luka. "You're telling me he got all those people killed and now he might get away with it."

"He won't get away with it," said Esme. "Once Celeste returns, I'm sure she'll have plenty of evidence to bring him down."

"I hope she returns soon."

"We all do," said Arlo.

****

Luka sat on his bed, deep in thought and squeezing a stress ball. His mind was on Julia. The good times they had and then the betrayal. He gripped the stress ball so tightly that his fingernails went through the ball and into the palm of his hand.

There was a knock on the door and Luka loosened his grip on the ball. "It's open."

Ruby opened the door and entered. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine," said Luka as he tossed the ball at the wall and it bounced back and he caught it. He continued this process. "I'm just thinking."

Ruby sat next to him. "What are you thinking about?"