The World Of Steam

46

Karzen walked through the war-torn city, searching for any tiny signs of salvation. Anything would help. Any human life, any broken weapons that could be mended, even a war machine that could be repaired. The republicans surely would not miss one of their weapons of mass destruction going missing. Everything that Karzen did was for the good of the kingdom. He was loyal to the kingdom, but not the king. This war had to be won at all costs and he needed all of the firepower possible. They had faced The Riot, The Battle Of London, The Coup, The Civil War, The Battle Of The Zeppelin, The Infiltration Of The Tank and had finally been led to their final destination. They were entering the seventh and final phase of the fight. The Last Battle had begun. If the fray fell even slightly into Knox's favour, then humanity was doomed and would live a life of fear and tyranny. That was not the way. The people had been through way too much already. Their dead psychopathic king had given them decades worth of pain and trauma that was almost impossible to erase. But the death of their king had given them strength to get through their troubles, finally realising that in numbers, nothing could stop them. The civil war may have torn them apart, but maybe, just maybe, there was a small sliver of hope that they would unite once more, finally realising that the war was pointless. Karzen had to stop Knox from forming a dictatorship ten times worse than the king's. It was time to head to the lighter side. Karzen looked around at the ruined buildings, at the crumbling monuments. Charred houses beyond repair still let out black smoke into the air. He looked at the heart of London in the distance. The Palace of Westminster smoked like a giant bonfire from its broken towers. Westminster Abbey just opposite was a blackened, crumbling heap with no chance of renovation. Cars laid destroyed and littered around the roads. The apocalypse had come sooner than everyone had thought. Karzen walked further onwards, showing no signs of giving up. He turned his head, suddenly hearing a quiet sobbing. He crept his way towards the sound and entered an abandoned corner shop. There were torn crisp packets all over the floor and it seemed that someone had gotten hold of a cake. Shipments from other countries were vital in the survival of the population. But now that there was a war on, everything was cut off. Everyone had to survive with what they had. Karzen entered an aisle and looked down at the crying person, curled up against the wall. An almost empty wine bottle sat next to them. Jennix snapped her head to him, eyes riddled with fear. He held his hands out, showing her that he was of no threat. "Shh, shh." He consoled her in a soothing voice. "It's alright. Everything's all right. It's me, Karzen."

Jennix stood up shakily and trudged over to him. She was a spectacle of a broken woman, the war finally causing her mind to snap. Her hair was messy and long since needed a comb. She suddenly began smacking her hands down onto his suit, squealing. Karzen stood in place, letting her dispel her stress and rage. She stopped some seconds later and looked at him, grabbing the lapels of his coat. "I cannot do this anymore." She told him, eyes brimming with tears. "You need to do something about Knox."

"Don't worry, I will make him pay for everything that he has done to us. I promise you that. Come, let me take you back to Lennox." He held his hand out to her and she took it, letting him lead the way.

Karzen entered the organisation with Jennix. Seeing me, she ran over to me and we both embraced one another. After a moment, I pulled myself away from her and caressed her hair.

"I thought I lost you." I told her. "You were stupid and foolish for doing that."

She chuckled at my joke. "I'm fine."

"Where is the cure?"

"Knox has it." Jennix told me, her smile instantly disappearing. Karzen looked over to me.

"We'll have to infiltrate The Council Of Gold's base. It will not be easy and casualties are to be expected."

"Agreed." I replied. Suddenly, we heard the cocking of guns. Karzen instantly spun round to face the threat.

"Hold your fire!" He ordered. I looked at the one-eyed man that stood in place, not seeming at all threatened by the number of guns pointed at his face. The soldiers lowered their weapons and went back to their posts, immediately carrying out the order.

"Xavix." I simply said. Xavix nodded to me.

"Lennox." He greeted me back. Karzen looked at us both and then back to me.

"You two know each other?"

"Long story." I looked over to Xavix. "Why didn't you release me?"

"It was too much of a risk." He replied. "Who knows what would have happened if I was caught? But, we are together now."

I turned my head to Karzen. "We were both police officers, years ago, and he was my partner. There was a shootout and Xavix was shot in the eye. I thought that he died, so I left him behind. I couldn't live with the guilt, so I left the force and became a private detective. Too much bureaucracy."

"I forgive you. Besides, I would have done the same."

I chuckled.

"I now know why Knox wants the cure so badly." Jennix said.

"And why is that?" Karzen asked.

"He is going to sell it off to the highest bidder. He said that he wants to retire at forty years old. Plus, he started this entire war to...stem the flow of overpopulation and do wonders to the economy."

"Does he think that he's some sort of spy villain?"

"Pretty much."

"Wait. That would mean that he is going to try by any means to protect the cure. This...complicates things a bit."