Valiant

"The Duke"

  Shane hastily walked out the front door and made the trek to his car swiping his hand across its side. The car door clicked softly before opening and swinging out. Shane slid into the car and pulled the door closed, the wheel unhinged from the dash and extended to meet his hands. Shane slid his foot back which spurred the car to life as it rolled back into the street. Shane straightened the wheel and slid his foot forward which propelled the car down the road. The road moved like a river as the car sped down it, Shane breathed in deeply before pressing a finger to his ear hearing the familiar hum as the device turned on.

"Gavin, where are you now?"

"In the lift, on my way down"

"Good...I'll meet you outside the lobby"

"Alright I'll be there soon"

"Hey. Why not wait outside in the first place?" Gavin prodded suddenly.

"I fail to see how this is a relevant question"

"Just a question"

"I don't have time for your questionnaire Gavin, be ready when I get there...we have a very small window of time here"

"Got it"

Shane clicked off the receiver and leaned back into his seat sighing bitterly. "I'm the one who drives the car..." Shane spat hatefully. The car weaved haphazardly through traffic as it soon turned in front of a staggeringly tall office complex. Shane brought the car to a stop in front of the building and waited.

The building stretched up to a dizzying height, it had long glass windows that ran up to the top before meeting the sun where it shimmered like molten metal. This, like most things, made Shane anxious so he refrained from looking any longer and simply stared at the front doors and waited.

The elevator quickly descended floors as Gavin wiped the blood from his boots and strapped his pistol back to his leg before pulling his pants over the weapon. He wiped his hands off on the back of his pants and rubbed a few blood splatters from his jacket.

The elevator opened to reveal a lobby of somber looking people. Gavin quickly walked through the lobby and out the door. The sun had begun to set as Gavin stepped out, the fleeting sun cast long irregular shadows on the buildings as it slowly slid down the sky. A large blimp floated gently in the distance as it slowly swam through the sky, Gavin shook himself from his sudden stupor and looked for Shanes car.

Shane rolled down his window at the press of a small button and waved for Gavin worriedly. Boots splashed through a small puddle before stepping into Shanes car, Shane sighed irritably before setting the car into motion again and down the road.

Shane rolled his shoulders awkwardly,

"Job done?"

"Job done," Gavin replied dolefully.

Shane stared at the road for a moment,

"What you are doing is helping people Gavin, feel proud."

"Yes...I really helped Delltori and Matthew" Gavin said coldly.

"You know exactly what I meant Gavin don't twist my words."

"Have you ever killed someone?"

"No, But if it was necessary I would."

"What makes this necessary Shane?" Gavin replied darkly.

Shane took a sharp breath in,

"Delltori cut an entire planet off Gavin...Can you ascertain no evil from that?"

"He seemed confused...Like he had no idea what I was talking about"

"It was just a ploy Gavin, Anything he said in there was a lie, Now just...I don't want to hear about it"

Gavin wrung his hands nervously as the car cruised down the stretch of road. The wheels hummed softly as they sped along the pavement lulling Gavin's mind as he stared plaintively out the window. After a moment of digging Gavin brought the name Ivory Lane from his memory and was able to connect it to the road, He'd been here before but couldn't remember when. Tall buildings passed by in a blur as the car continued its journey before slowing at an intersection.

Gavin waited as he hummed quietly to himself, the light soon turned green but the car held still. Gavin turned and looked over to Shane who was staring at a small display pad on his lap, all color had drained from his face and he shook heavily.

"You alright man?" Gavin asked worriedly turning in his seat.

Shane seemed to swallow air as he turned to Gavin,

"The alarm got through"

"And? We're a good mile or so ahead of the-"

"They sent a Duke after us..."

Gavin's stomach lurched harshly then dropped. Gavin made a small noise before speaking again,

"...which one...?"

"Cayne Doriyan" Shane choked despairingly.

A car horn blared and an angry man yelled as he passed.

"Can't be far now..." Gavin whispered more to himself than to Shane.

The car was silent for a long moment, "Well, I won't just sit here and make an easy target!" Shane yelled. Gavin flinched and pulled his pistol from its holster, Gavin was pressed into his seat as the cars wheels squealed throwing the car forward at a sickening speed. "How will running help us!?" Gavin yelled pulling his seatbelt over himself. "Dukes don't drive, they're fast on their feet, though...but we'll give him a chase in this!" Shane barked, a noticeable unsteadiness to his words. Gavin tried desperately to search for an idea to get himself out this situation, the only plan he could conjure was to disappear entirely.

Buildings sped past dizzyingly as Shane swerved past traffic and careened through red lights. Shanes' knuckles were stark white and he sweated heavily, having to wipe it from his eyes, as he focused on avoiding cars. A loud bang from behind the car seemed to physically shatter the mounting tension and the back window. A large hole appeared in the dash between Gavin and Shane. Gavins' numbed brain quickly put the puzzles pieces together and ducked in his seat. Shane blanched and seemed to dry-heave before trying vainly to drive more erratically.

Gavin peered in the rearview mirror to see a man grinding along the edge of a building, his shoes emitting a small shower of sparks along the way. The man leaped from his building to the next gaining speed as he crouched lower. He wore a thin brown tail coat with fine details, under it, two weapon holsters were fitted snugly to his chest along with two others strapped to his upper thighs. The man reached into his coat and withdrew two gold-trimmed revolvers which he twirled curtly. A smile flickered across his angled face as the wind seemed to ignore his neck-length black hair, his curls only fluttering lightly despite his high speed. Seeing this had the effect of a firm punch in the stomach to Gavin who now gripped his gun tightly in hand and sunk into his seat.

Two more gunshots sounded, resonating in Gavin's chest, the car bounced as the back two wheels popped. Shane gripped the steering wheel and veered away from a small white car before fish-tailing on the road. Gavin pressed himself firmly into the seat as the car spun halfway around and flipped harshly. Shanes' head slammed loudly into the window and his body went limp. Gavin felt the car go into a second roll as his vision waned, Gavin was vaguely aware of the car stopping before noticing he was hanging upside down.

"Evening" A voice phonated from all directions.

Gavin sighed softly before falling suddenly away from palpable thought.