Soul Drive: Ignition

The neon sign hummed and flickered, over the rundown lobby of the "Hotel Nocturne" as Yutaka guided Hiro toward the counter, the thin man looking up at them through the iron bars. As they approached, the smell of mildew and cheap disinfectant assaulted Hiro's nose.

"Don't say a word and keep your head down," Yutaka murmured, his voice low enough so only Hiro could hear, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and removed a few small coins. Hiro watched him count the cash in awe of the small coins, since the entire country had gone digital before his birth, he had never actually seen yen before.

Once they paid up, they made their way to room 237. Hiro collapsed onto the lumpy mattress, the springs creaking under his weight. The bedspread was covered in mystery stains, but he was too exhausted to care. Their first attempt to escape the city had failed, and the anxiety of trying again ensured Hiro couldn't fall asleep no matter how much his body demanded slumber.

"Get some rest, Hiro. I'll do some more research on terrorist procedures in the city," Yutaka said, the click-clack of his laptop keys filled the silence as he worked to find a way around the city's barriers. "We will get out of the city, I promise you that much." His glasses reflected the screen’s cold light, his expression a mask of focus and determination.

"Rest," Hiro muttered, the idea of sleeping at a time like this felt next to impossible. But eventually, his eyes grew heavy and he found it was more effort to try and keep them open. In the gloom, Hiro's final conscious thought was a question wrapped in fear: Can we really escape the Japanese government?

Soon Hiro was lost in the world of his dreams, tossing and turning in his bed as they unfolded. He was stuck reliving the same nightmare he had ever since the fight at the embassy—the monstrous shadow of Diaki's alpha form Mach floated above him. Metal screeched and groaned as Diaki lurched toward him, screaming in agony with each step.

"Stop it... please," Hiro whispered as he dug through his pockets, discovering his Mach was nowhere to be found.

Then the explosion came, the alpha Mach shattering before him. Even though it was a dream, he could feel the heat on his skin, the shockwave reverberating in his bones. As the fire engulfed him, He shot up in bed, drenched in sweat.

Yutaka lay beside him, his laptop still perched on his chest. The older man's breaths were even and measured, Hiro reached over and took the computer, placing it carefully on the nightstand. Hiro slipped out of bed, he knew there was no chance of going back to sleep after that.

"I need some air," Hiro choked out to himself, wiping some sweat that still clung to his forehead. He slipped his shoes back and threw on his old blue jacket.

Tiptoeing across the room, he made his way to the door, careful not to disturb Yutaka. Tapping his pocket to make sure he had the room key, he slipped out into the hallway. "Just a walk," he promised the shadows, he knew that he would have to be back before Yutaka woke up or there would be hell to pay.

"Stay out of sight," he coached himself, he made his way down the rusted staircase to the lobby. As he glanced back toward the man behind the desk, he noted how quickly the man adverted his gaze, returning to watching the small hollow monitor on the desk.

Out in the ink-black night, Hiro's footsteps were silent on the pavement, he weaved down the street, carefully avoiding the trash and passed-out individuals that lined the street.

Hiro took a deep breath as he rounded the corner but instantly regretted it, the sour smell of old alcohol amount other things burning his lungs. His feet moved him forward but his mind was still stuck, he had killed someone, and no matter how far he walked there was no getting away from that.

"Daiki," he whispered to the vacant night, the name falling from his lips as he kicked a small pebble down the street. He couldn't stop replaying that moment—the way Diaki pleaded to die, the horrible sounds of the twisting metal.

As Hiro filled the pebble down the street, he looked up just in time to see a figure diving into the shadows. "Hey!" called out, his hand instinctively reaching for his Mach, his finger wrapping around the old phone disguise. "Show yourself or I'm calling the police," Hiro demanded

"Ok, OK" Nori hissed, as he emerged from the shadows. He held his hands in the air as if he were surrendering. "No need to call the cops, I think that would get us both in trouble, don't you?"

"Nori? What are you doing here?" Hiro asked until a thought crossed his mind. "Are you following me?"

Nori's face turned bright red at the accusation. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't going to do anything stupid," Nori admitted, adverting his gaze from Hiro.

Hiro shook his head sharply. "That's really nice of you,"

"Shut up," Nori scoffed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just don't want you pulling another stunt like the one you pulled at the embassy, being the whole self-sacrificing hero or whatever."

"I'm sorry, but I was the one who got Kimiko caught up in all this," Hiro said, the memory of Kimiko attacking the school in South Africa replaying in his head. "If anyone deserved to die at the embassy, it was me."

"God, I hate when you get all noble like that" Nori's laugh was devoid of humor. "Dying would stop the Japanese government from taking over more territory and it certainly won't help your friend."

The truth of Nori's words settled over Hiro like ash from a long-burnt fire. He was right after all, if he had died then Kimiko could have easily been killed later on and Japan would be free to use his parent's inventions as weapons of war.

"You're right," Hiro conceded, the realization coiling tight in his chest. "I've been reckless, getting myself caught, charging into fights without a plan, acting like my life doesn't matter."

"Finally you get it, this isn't just a battle. We are in a full-on war," Nori remarked dryly, adjusting the headset in his hands. "Maybe there's hope for you yet."

Hiro didn't know what to say to that, he glanced over at Nori. Everything he had said was right, Hiro felt like his life was meaningless, all that mattered was destroying the remaining Machs like his parents had wished. He never stopped to think about the consequences if he didn't make it out of a battle.

"Hey, Hiro..." Nori's voice wasn't as confident as it had been before, hesitance threading through his words. "I'm going to go back to the Japanese government. That last fight royally screwed up my Mach, they are the only ones who can fix it."

Hiro was shocked by Nori's admission, he knew the government saw Nori as a traitor and were just as eager to capture him and retrieve Mach 2. "You can't... they'll kill you. There has to be another way to fix it," Hiro said, his thoughts racing as he tried to think of an alternative. "You just told me that risking my life was stupid... but risking your life is just fine?"

Nori's eyes flickered away, he stuffed his hands deep into his pockets. He remembered trying to activate the Mach repair system, the critical error message that flashed across the display. 'Without a functioning Mach I won't be able to protect Hiro' he thought, knowing full well that Hiro would put himself in danger again to protect someone. It was Hiro's nature after all.

"Well say something?" Hiro probed, noting the way Nori looked off into the distance, clearly deep in thought.

"It is a calculated risk." Nori shrugged it off, pivoting to the problem of getting out of the city. "Just trust me when I say I have a plan. And as for you, I know a way out."

"Well wait just a minute" Hiro started but Nori shot him a look that silenced him in an instant. "Ok, what is the way out you were talking about."

"Underground roadways," Nori explained, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Built during Japan's last population boom before the war, now they are all just abandoned beneath the city. They were sealed off but if you can find an entrance, you can blow it wide open with your Mach."

Hiro suddenly remembered learning about them in history class, he wondered if Nori had been in that class too. Hiro stepped forward and hugged Nori. "Thank you," he breathed.

"Sure thing," Nori muttered, he gave Hiro a reassuring pat on the back. As Hiro pulled away, he couldn't help but notice Nori blushing, Nori couldn't help but wish their paths hadn't crossed this way—under different stars, perhaps in a different world they could have been friends or possibly more.

"Come with me," Hiro suddenly implored, his voice barely above a whisper, as he took a few steps back. "Together, we could figure out a way to fix your Mach and then we could fight the government together."

Nori's green eyes couldn't hide his conflict, but he had already made up his mind. He stepped back and shook his head. "I can't," he said, his voice steady despite his feelings. "I have to do this my way."

"Why? Why do you think your life is worth less than mine?" Hiro asked a little louder than he wanted to.

"Because it is worth less." Nori's lips pressed into a thin line, as he admitted what he had always felt. "Because you have always been fighting to make this useless world a better place. Until now all I have done is try to destroy it."

"That's not true." Hiro reached for him, though but Nori pulled back. He let his hand drop back to his side, his face filled with sadness. "You saved me, Nori, I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you."

"Go get some sleep," Nori suggested flatly. "And be sure to get out of the city by tomorrow."

Hiro knew there was no point in arguing so he turned and began his walk back to the hotel. Each step back was heavier than the last, once again he failed to truly save Nori. His mind churned with thoughts of what the Japanese Government was going to do to him, he prayed that he would see Nori again even though his mind told him he wouldn't.

Meanwhile, Nori's walk was purposeful toward his destination, he knew he would have to choose his words carefully to make it out of this alive. The military blockade loomed ahead, armed guards placed along the top of it. He raised his arms, a silent surrender to the uniformed figures who swiftly encircled him.

"Take one step closer and you will be placed under arrest," one of the soldiers announced, as he spotted Nori making his way toward them.

"That's kind of the point," Nori replied dryly, offering no resistance as they cuffed him.

Mao sat rigid at her desk, surrounded by screens aglow with intelligence reports, when the phone call pierced the hum of electronic vigilance. She listened intently to the guard's story, her expression unreadable.

"Turned himself in, you say?" Mao's fingers drummed against the cool metal surface, her thoughts racing like wildfire. "Keep him isolated. I'll interrogate him personally."

The line went dead, but the questions lingered. 'What game is Nori playing?' she thought, she had read Nori's file at least a dozen times at this point. He would never just turn himself in, she rose from her chair, no there was something more he wanted, some plan they weren't aware of.

The morning sun slanted through the barred windows of the military prison, onto the hard bed where Nori sat. Mao stepped into the hallway, her boots clicking as she walked. The armed guards flanking her were stone-faced, their hands resting near holstered weapons.

A uniformed officer led them to Nori's cell, the walls echoing with hushed whispers and the clinking of keys as they approached. They stopped before a door with reinforced glass, where Mao eyed Nori, his demeanor almost seemed bored by their arrival.

"Mr. Aoki," Mao began, her voice betraying no emotion, "Imagine my surprise when I found out you turned yourself in and surrendered your Mach. I think we both know you have ulterior motives, so I will cut right to the point. What exactly do you hope to gain from this?"

Nori unfolded himself from the bed, standing tall despite his confinement. "I want my old job back," he said, a wry smile twisting his lips.

Mao almost laughed at his request. "You want to work for us again? After you destroyed two of our Machs? You don't want to work for us, you just want the power your Mach gives you. We've noticed the damage."

"And I've noticed your desperation." His laughter was hollow. "You've only got a few Machs left. Your pilot program is still a flop if that last one was truly the best you had to offer. I've destroyed three Machs so far, imagine what I could do to the rest of Canada's supply. But none of that really matters, what matters is I know the identity of a Mach pilot you don't know." Nori finished, making sure to stare down Mao.

"Let me get this straight," Mao pressed on, her skepticism as sharp as a knife. "You're offering up the name of this Mach pilot and to take out Canada's remaining Mach pilots if we allow you to work for us again."

"It's a pretty sweet deal, isn't it?" Nori's grin broadened, as he came closer to the door.

Mao took a moment, considering the young man before her. She weighed his words, most of what he said was right on the mark. They currently had no one capable of controlling a Mach. "I suppose you will be asking for a new Mach then? given the extensive damage to Mach 2."

"You'd assume wrong," Nori replied, leaning back against the wall, casually as if discussing the weather. "I won't wear a Mach suit until my old one is fixed, it'll give me a chance to prove I mean every word."

"I can't tell if you are brilliant or the dumbest person I have ever met," Mao said with a cold edge. "But if you do allow you back, you will be under constant surveillance by another Mach pilot. Step out of line, even for a second and you will be terminated on the spot."

"Is that a threat or a promise?" Nori challenged, his posture stiffening.

"Consider it a guarantee," Mao shot back. "Masato was a fool and I am not him."

"I like you, if that is everything I think we have a deal." Nori extended his hand toward the glass. Mao gave the guard a nod and the door slid open. She placed her hand in his giving it a firm squeeze.

Before Nori could retract his arm, one of the guards jabbed a syringe into his neck—a quick, surprising sting. "What the hell?" Nori recoiled, rubbing the injection site.

"A precaution," Mao explained coolly. "A tracker. We need to ensure our assets remain within reach."

As his fingers ran along the bump of the tracker in his neck, Nori felt the weight of his decision—he may have underestimated Mao. He watched her retreating figure, her silhouette receding down the hallway, and thought how a simple repair job had just become far more complicated.