"They're pretty insistent, Mister Carter," Commissioner Barry Jordan said, as he fidgeted in his seat.

"I don't care, Commissioner. After they ignored our pleas for help last weekend, I refuse to simply bend over because they want to accuse one of this city's heroes of a simple breaking and entering where no one was harmed."

"It wasn't a simple breaking and entering," said Officer Michael Self from his seat next to Jordan, his hands folded in his lap, as he stared right at me, cool as ice. "And, we all know it's not just an accusation. Bush43 most certainly broke into the Lawrence and Sun building."

"Are you willing to return those drugs, Officer Self?" I asked, as I leaned back in my seat. "Because that is exactly what they're going to demand we do if we decide to follow their rules on this."

"There are laws..." Jordan started to say.

"There are obligations, Commissioner Jordan," I said, leaning forward quick. "And, the federal government failed to follow through on them for our people. Bush43 procured items necessary for us to properly contain the people responsible. I seriously doubt the Mayor is about to hand over one of this city's heroes for doing what needed to be done."

"There are more reasonable ways to go about getting things," Jordan continued to protest.

"We have tried those more reasonable ways," I said. "Every attempt we have made to even begin to engage the government in any sort of dialogue has been ignored. We cannot allow them to ignore us into submission. The people of this city deserve better than that."

"The problem here is Mayor Romanov," said Self very matter of factly.

"Mayor Romanov is doing everything he can to make sure this city has what it needs."

"Erlend Romanov's presence as mayor is doing more harm to this city than anything else," said Self. "And, as long as he remains in office, this city will continue to suffer."

"There is nothing keeping them here, Officer Self" said a new voice to the conversation, as we all looked to Erlend Romanov, walking from where he appeared near the door to my office and toward my desk. "Nor is there anything keeping the Australian government from coming down here and removing me. They have made no efforts to contact me to even address their own desires, whether to ask me to leave or start playing by their rules.

"And, speaking of rules," said Romanov, as he rounded my desk and stood next to me, crossing his arms and staring right at Officer Self. "Am I to understand that you are using illicit means to purchase equipment for the police department?"

Commissioner Jordan nearly fell out of his seat in his effort to quickly turn to look at Self.

"The police need supplies that you are not willing to give them, your honor," said Self without batting an eye.

"I am not willing to give them because they are not necessary."

"We needed those drugs..."

"And, you got them, did you not?"

"No thanks to you," Self said. "And through illicit means as well."

"You will not receive that shipment," said Romanov, then looking to the Commissioner. "I expect you to deal with Officer Self on this matter, Barry."

Jordan's mouth opened and shut a few times, as he was still trying to figure get his bearings, so I took the opportunity to speak up.

"The police will get that shipment as ordered," I said, as I stared at my desk, avoiding everyone's eyes. "Or, I will tell every press outlet in this city of your blocking it."

"To what end?" asked Romanov with a hint of humor in his voice.

"We have taken the high road over the last couple weeks, Erlend," I said, as I pushed myself to my feet and turned to Romanov. "Increased cooperation with the police, holding the federal government's feet to the fire for failing to do the bare minimum to meet the people's needs, and now you want to prevent the police from getting the necessary equipment in order for them to do their jobs?

"They need guns, they need ammo, they need cuffs, they need the bare minimum to at least appear to be an effective deterrent to crime.

"There is nothing in that shipment that puts your control over this city at risk, Erlend." I looked to Self. "Am I correct?"

Self hesitated, swallowed hard, and then nodded, staring at me the whole time like he was trying to figure out my angle.

"So, let it happen," I said as I looked back to Erlend. "If you don't let it happen, I can guarantee you will see such a mass exodus out of this city it won't be funny. People, businesses, you'll be mayor of a ghost town, and there's very little you can do to achieve your Utopia or whatever it is you're trying to do here."

Erlend Romanov stood staring at me for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Are you finished?" he asked.

"That shipment will arrive, and I can guarantee that at least half of this city's science heroes will be there to make sure that it does so safely.

"And, no moves will be made against Officer Self," I said, turning back to Jordan. "Just because he has done more to ensure the stability of the department than its current leadership does not mean you need to show him who's boss. If you do decide to follow through with 'dealing with' Officer Self, I will make you life a living hell, Commissioner Jordan."

"Jeffery," said Erlend Romanov.

"What?!" I demanded, as my head whipped around to look at him.

"You're fired."

"Thank fucking God!" I shouted, throwing my hands into the air and rearing my head back as I did so. "I thought I was never going to get off this goddamn train before it wrecked."

I stormed from around my desk and headed for the door.

"Jeffery."

I stopped and spun around to look to Romanov, as he pulled his hand from a drawer in my desk.

"You might want to take this with you."

And, he smiled, as he held my mask up for all to see.

I shrugged off my suit coat, as I started back across the office, letting it fall to the floor as un-did my cuffs and rolled up my sleeves.

One hand snatched the mask from Romanov's, as the other loosened my tie and undid the top button of my shirt.

"Is this how you want to do it?" I asked, staring right into his eyes, as I tugged the mask over my head.

Romanov just kept smiling.

"Fine then."

That goddamn smile was a perfect bulls-eye for my punch that sent him stumbling back just enough to give me room to charge into him.

The window to my office exploded, as we went through. I landed one punch into his face, then another, before he twisted and pushed off, his hand coming out of his pocket with just what I thought he would, and wings tore from his back, leaving him hovering, as I tore into the pavement hard.

I was quick to my feet, ignoring the pain in my body, ignoring the screech of tires, as cars stopped to avoid me, avoid the hole I had left in the road, ignoring the people stopping to gawk, looking for Romanov.

I found Anna Romanova instead.

"What exactly are you trying to prove here, Jeffery?" she said, as she walked toward me, no wings, no sword, just a cigarette dangling from her lips, one hand clenched tight around just what I didn't want it to be.

"I will not just sit back and watch this city die, Anna," I said, as I planted my feet and balled up my fists.

Then, there was a sword, growing from the scarab, forming, as she continued to walk toward me.

"You want to kill this place, Anna?" I said, as I noticed a crowd forming, the press spilling out of City Hall, the world now ready to watch. "Fine, but you'll have to kill me first."

I should have expected it. I should have been ready for it. But, after all of these heroic bouts with posturing and monologues, I guess I thought Romanova would take her time.

But, no, her sword was in my gut quicker than I could say "ouch."

Why must all of my last stands happen on the steps of City Hall?

"You cannot save anyone if you can not save yourself, Jeffery," she said next to my ear, as my body started to register the fact that it had been skewered.

She leaned back and pulled the sword out, my body moving forward with the jerk. I stumbled, as she turned and walked away, my hands groping at my stomach, my hands trying to hold me together.

"Is that the best you've got?" I said, as I tried to keep my balance.

She turned around, just as I lost it and fell to my knees, catching myself with one hand, so I didn't go face first into the street.

Romanova stepped back toward me and brought the sword under my chin and lifted my head up to look her in the eyes. To see her smile.

I moved quick, considering I had a hole in my stomach, one arm knocking the sword out of the way, while I pushed off the ground and into her, tackling her and ending up on top. I held down her sword wielding arm with one hand while I punched in her face with the other. I got three hits in before her free hand was around my neck, and I was flung through the air and into the side of a parked car.

I slid down into a sitting position, starting to laugh, as Anna Romanova got to her feet. She looked to me, as she ran the back of her hand under her nose and came away with blood.

"The world is watching, Anna," I said, as darkness threatened my vision, threatened my thoughts.

I caught myself, as I started to fall sideways, bracing myself with one hand while the other held my gut. It was a struggle, but soon my legs responded, and I started to get to my feet, while Romanova just stood there and watched.

"Are you willing to vilify yourself in front of everyone, Anna?" I asked, as I braced myself against the car.

"The Australian government will look quite favorably on your being reprimanded," said Romanova with a smile.

Shit. She was right.

"I'm your best fucking hope, Anna," I said, as I tried to step away from the car, step toward her. My legs held briefly. "You can't beat the Imperial Magistrate."

"And, you can?"

I fell to my knees and wobbled, held the rest of me upright.

Anna Romanova stepped toward me, sword out, pointing right at my neck.

"Do you fear death, Jeffery?" she asked, her smile gone, eyes narrowed.

I tried to respond, but my body wouldn't let me, my voice a croak, as pain wracked my body.

Then, the earth shook under my knees, and the air behind Romanova split.

The Siege Engine had returned to Pacific City.

Romanova tried to spin and bring her sword around, but it was already moving, bringing the back of its hand across her upper body and tossing her aside. She didn't hit the ground, wings suddenly out and keeping her aloft. The Engine reached out for me, but I fell back to avoid its grasp, as Romanova came at it with a yell.

It moved just enough to dodge her sword but not the rest of her, the two colliding and tumbling into the street. I tried to move, but a hand on my shoulder held me still.

"Close your eyes," I heard, and I instinctively listened.

Or, I just passed out.