Specter

Chapter 20 (Day 2): Setting The Record Straight

We last read Chapter 19, in which T.J.---one of the top members of King Ryker's court---is unceremoniously shunted off to the Ember Holding Cells.....and even thrown in the exact same cell as Doc, a known sex offender.....for the crime of daring to skip school when his teacher would make no accommodations for his learning deficiency, temporarily losing both his flintlock pistol and his giant Bengal plush toy in the process. Though T.J. and Doc initially come to blows with each other over the latter's cynicism and the former's optimism, Doc seemingly convinces T.J. that the "system" has failed him, too---just like it has with him---and that the Rusted Citadel could never truly hope to be changed, no matter how long its people worked. He states that the Citadel as a whole is ungrateful to its saviors since he and T.J. have been thrown behind bars despite all of their efforts to liberate the island, but T.J. rebuffs him, claiming in effect that the Citadel can break free of its old chains and become better, but that it can't do so with Doc's constant negativity.

Their debate is halted by the abrupt arrival of both Moody a.k.a. Specter and King Ryker, the ruler of the Rusted Citadel itself. Though Moody lets T.J. know that Ryker can't just declare T.J. to be a free child---because his teacher would more than likely file a complaint---she still resolves to get him out quickly, to which T.J. obviously agrees; after all, his imprisonment is nothing but a big, unrelated distraction in Moody's investigation into the Shattered Circle. The chapter ended with Moody and Ryker leaving T.J. and Doc's cell block while the latter two stay behind to await their second return.

This time, Moody and Ryker team up to take down T.J.'s teacher.....

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-En Route To Sliptoad's Student Academy, Rusted Citadel, Asia-

Moody, still in civilian clothes, and King Ryker, still in his black battle armor and war paint with his kanabō sheathed on his back, sat in the front two seats of Ryker's newest vehicle as the king drove down the streets of the Rusted Citadel in the direction of Sliptoad's Student Academy, the place where T.J. formerly attended school.

Shortly after the rebellion's victory and the overthrow of the Iron Kingpin, Ollie---a teleportation scientist and associate of Doc who was also on Ryker's court---bought the king a black van with tinted windows and filled it with an assortment of technology and recording equipment in the back; it effectively served as a mobile surveillance station in case any low-profile spy missions needed to be carried out. If force was required, though, Ryker almost never resorted to it, instead relying on Moody---or rather, Specter---to take care of business.

Today, though, was different. As the sun shone in the skies above the island city, and its liberated citizens walked to and fro amongst its streets, they thought nothing of the black van that was quickly rushing towards its quarry, simply continuing to go about their business as if nothing was wrong.

"Your Majesty, what's the plan?" Moody questioned Ryker. "The sooner T.J. gets out of the Ember Holding Cells, the better. This couldn't have been a worse time for law enforcement to strike."

"When we get to the Academy, stay inside the van while I go in to confront T.J.'s teacher," Ryker instructed as he planted a small recording device inside one of the slots in his armor. "Once I'm out of the vehicle, press that button to activate the chip I just put in myself."

He pointed to a red button that was on the van's front console, to which Moody nodded in understanding.

"Great. And when do I deactivate it?" she asked him.

Ryker tossed a small sphere-shaped device to Moody, which looked like it could nestle perfectly within either of her ears.

"When I tell you to," he answered summarily. "We don't have time for any more distractions, so let's make this quick. I know how much you've been through, looking into the dissenter attacks.....and like you said, this is the last thing we need right now. If I'm not out in fifteen minutes....."