The next three days passed without incident. The A.T.T.F. had continued their search for the rest of the Ebon Shroud but to no avail. They had yet to see hide or hair of the terrorists and were growing ever more desperate with every passing day. This, however, seemed to be a concern of the police. Everyone else was relieved they would soon be free from their confinement. Any possible threat was the least of their worries.
Akin on the other hand, could not have been more stressed. When he was first assigned this position, he thought it would be an easy job. If a rag-tag team of three had managed to suppress an attack manned by no less than two hundred people and disarm two bombs, there was no way the police force could handle finding the rest of those incompetent terrorists. Yet here he was, still unable to give the police commissioner a location.
The head of the task force found himself at Lumiere's holding cell yet again. This time, Akin was looking more dishevelled than before. His shirt was untucked and stained with instant coffee and doughnut icing. His face was sweaty and grimy and his eyes were bloodshot. Lumiere on the other hand, looked like he was just back from a spa day. Had it not been for the orange jumpsuit and red uniform the two were wearing, people would think Akin was under interrogation.
"Alright Lumiere," Akin began, his usual pompous tone replaced with a tired one. "I'm going to ask you this one more time, so help me help you help me. Who is Umbra?"
The blonde-haired man stared at his nails as though he was not being talked to.
"Of the two hundred terrorists we apprehended, only two of you were proficient Revel Users," The officer continued. "Adira was hired anonymously from the UFLO, making his knowledge of the hierarchy of power in the Ebon Shroud limited, which leaves you as our possible most informed prisoner,"
"What you've said is just a bunch of shit put together to have meaning," Lumiere replied. "Me having a Revel Art does not mean I have a high position in our liberation group,"
"That's not what all the others said,"
"Again with that lie?"
"Listen!" Akin yelled as he slammed his hand on the table. "We don't need you to help us find out who Umbra is. His Revel Art has already been identified and we're running through the list of registered Sabre users. If you don't tell me what I want to know now, I'll head back to my office and have a name waiting for me already. So tell me who he is, and I'll consider lightening your prison sentence,"
Lumiere stared at the exasperated man. He let out a small laugh and leaned into his chair.
"If I'm not a registered Revel User, do you think he will be?" He asked. "Nice try officer, but get the fuck out of my face,"
Akin stormed out of the cell. The nearby officers joined him as he rushed out of the holding rooms.
"Find me Umbra and find him now!"
While turmoil brewed in the Shandel Police Department, it was yet another boring day for a certain group of security guards. They were tasked with watching the entrance to the space bridge that led to the Placeholder, but over the last six days, nothing had happened. The building was typically brimming with people from sun up to sun down, as it was one of the city's tourist attractions. Due to the lockdown, no one was coming. Sadly for the guards, the bridge was too important to leave unprotected for even a day.
One of the security guards yawned widely, prompting the other to follow suit. At first, he had enjoyed the peace and quiet the lockdown brought. Now he was just bored out of his mind. He could not wait till his shift ended so he could go back home and binge his favourite show. A new season had just been released and he was looking forward to it.
While he was lost in thoughts noticed a figure approaching them. Snapping back into reality, he squinted as he tried to take a good look at the figure. It was a man who had a hood over his face and sunglasses over the hood. Attached to his waist was a scabbard. The guards immediately went on edge. This man was the exact description of Umbra they had been given. The second guard radioed in to inform the other guards to let them know of the situation.
"Hold it!" The security guard yelled at the figure. "Don't come any closer!"
The figure continued forward, his hand on the hilt of his scabbard. The guard reached for his firearm and aimed for him. Before he could pull the trigger, the figure was right in front of him. The pommel of the figures hilt jabbed the guard's solar plexus then crashed into his jaw. As the second went in to attack, he was swept off his feet and took a grevious blow to his face.
Umbra was not sure why he had not killed the guards. He was about to kill the entire city, what was two lives lost before then. No matter how he tried to justify it in his mind, he could not being himself to do it. He would deal with the blood that will be on his hands when the time came.
Upon his entrance into the building, a holographic woman appeared and welcomed him. Decorated around the entrance were several holographic screens detailing the history of the Placeholder and what it does for the planet now. The large elevator at the other side of the room was were Umbra's attention was focused.
As he made his way towards the elevator, security guards began to swarm into the room. In an instant, the hooded man was surrounded by thirty men and counting. They all drew their weapons and took aim at Umbra.
"Surrender now and await the police's arrival!" One of the guard's yelled.
"I do not wish to harm you," Umbra said. "I will give you all the opportunity to leave this city as quickly as you can. If you refuse, you may taste the end of my blade,"
The hooded man unsheathed his hilt and manifested a blade of energy. The blade. sang as it heated the air. He took a high stance and prepared himself to fight.