Chapter 46

THE SINISTER SIGNS OVER LA

North Los Angeles, California, United States

Prepared for the battles with towering transmitters all over the city, Gen and her dragon had taken off for the mission they couldn’t put off any longer. The brainwashing due to the messages on the magitech billboards was getting more aggressive. There was still the unknown regarding the powerful virtual reality stolen from MystTech Creations. And soon, once Charlie Sloane was dealt with, Gen would have to face the enemy hiding behind the scenes—but that would come last and only once she was absolutely ready.

As Gen and Emperor soared over the sprawling expanse of Northern Los Angeles, the city unfurled beneath them like an intricate quilt. Each of the neighborhoods below was a unique patch woven together by the threads of bustling streets and winding highways. The afternoon sun cast a warm, golden glow across the landscape. Like its own brand of magitech, the fiery sun above illuminated the vibrant hues of spring that painted the gardens and parks below.

From Gen and Emperor’s vantage point high above the City of Los Angeles, the countless homes stretched out as far as the eye could see. They were a neat sea of rooftops and chimneys that seemed to go on forever. Each dwelling represented a family, all of them citizens of the city, hoping for its protection. None of them aware that the leader they placed their trust in was betraying them for greed and power. Gen’s heart swelled with a fierce protectiveness as she gazed down at the millions of lives represented below. As the people on the ground went about their daily routines, they were blissfully unaware of the sinister forces that threatened to control their very thoughts.

As Gen and Emperor flew in the blue skies, the billboards that dotted the cityscape came into sharp focus. Blinking the cool wind out of her eyes, Gen focused on the electronic displays full of light, color and powered with magitech. Their messages were no longer subtle or benign like before.

The first message Gen read sent chills down her back. In bold, menacing letters, it said, “Obedience is the path to happiness.” Another one proclaimed in big capital letters, “Question nothing, trust in Commissioner Sloane.” The communications didn’t feel like suggestions, but rather akin to a demand. The words were accompanied by an image of the Commissioner’s face, his eyes cold and calculating. His expression seemed to be part of the magitech, threatening harm if one didn’t accept the words beside him.

Gen shuddered, the implications of the messages making the hairs on her arms rise, like she was preparing to fight already. Due to Gen’s enhanced eyesight, she could see the people below with an uncanny accuracy. She spied as they moved through the streets with an air of unease. Gen wasn’t imagining their quick pace and how their steps were hurried and movements sharp. She did imagine that their eyes darted nervously about as they progressed on their paths. It was as if they could sense the invisible strings that were slowly tightening around them—all connected to the subliminal messages broadcast on the billboards all over the city.

The highways were a chaotic tangle of metal and motion. The vehicles on the road crawled along like ants in a complex colony. The honking of horns and the roar of engines drifted up to Gen’s ears high above. It was a dissonance of sound that seemed to echo the growing tension that permeated the city.

As they searched for the first transmitter, Gen’s mind raced with the weight of their mission. Somewhere out there, hidden among the towering skyscrapers and sprawling suburbs, was Charlie Sloane. He was the mastermind behind the billboards and the insidious plot to control the minds of Los Angeles’ citizens. According to Alicia, he’d be controlling the billboards from a central headquarters. Gen’s pulse quickened at the idea that this would all end when she finally faced him—bringing him down for good, exposing him for the villain that he was.

Emperor banked sharply, his keen eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of their target. Gen held on tightly, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and dread. They knew that when they located the first transmitter, they would have to act quickly, since the authorities would be hot on their heels once they discovered what they were doing. Still, Gen and Emperor had a plan and therefore, she was confident that they could do this. It would be difficult. It would be dangerous. And it would be complicated. But taking down the transmitters had to happen one way or another.

Suddenly, Emperor let out a triumphant roar, his gaze fixed on a distant hilltop. Gen followed his line of sight, her eyes widening as she spotted the radio tower that rose from the lush, green landscape like a skeletal finger pointing accusingly at the sky.

“That’s it,” Gen said, referencing in her mind the map she’d memorized that Alicia had given her.

The structure was larger than she had expected. It was also strangely unassuming. Gen found it hard to believe that the metal tower was responsible for brainwashing citizens. But then she remembered how complicated and bizarre technology of the modern world was. It couldn’t be underestimated. And it also shouldn’t be used to control the way people think. Few things were as sacred as a man’s ability to think for himself.

As they drew closer, Gen marveled at the beauty of the surroundings before them. The rolling hills were a lovely shade of green and along with the sparkling lakes, they both were a stark contrast to the ugly purpose of the tower that ruined their tranquility. The transmitter stood tall and imposing, its metal frame glinting in the sunlight like a beacon of malevolence amidst the natural splendor.

Gen’s grip tightened on Emperor’s reins. Her jaw set with determination. Her breaths became steady as she settled her nerves.

They had found their first target, but the real battle was only just beginning. With each transmitter they destroyed, they would be one step closer to unraveling the Commissioner’s web of deceit and freeing the people of Los Angeles from his grasp. However, the danger would only heighten as they progressed.

The authorities would soon be hot on their trail, trying to stop them before they ended the tyranny. And to make things more complicated, Gen didn’t want any innocent people, law enforcement or property damaged. That meant that she and Emperor had to be careful, rather than just effective. The role of a considerate vigilante was never easy or straightforward, she mused as they flew into battle. Gen shook off this worry, focusing on one thing at a time.

As dragon and rider hovered above the serene hilltop, the weight of the task ahead settled heavily upon Gen’s shoulders. She knew that the road would be long and fraught with danger, that the Commissioner’s reach extended far beyond anything she had ever faced before. But all the fears were intensified by what she now knew and also what she didn’t. Where was the virtual reality magitech that had been stolen from MystTech Creations?

It stood to reason that it was done by Charlie Sloane when he purchased the billboard technology. He had framed Gen to get her out of his way and also to set the stage for his own theft. After everything, Gen knew that the Commissioner was a ruthless crook. He’d robbed the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and tried to steal from the Federal Reserve Bank. It therefore stood to reason that he had taken the powerful virtual reality equipment, but why?

However, Gen also knew now that he had help. She’d been betrayed by one of her own, but she and Emperor couldn’t dwell on that now. They had to focus on the mission ahead. Then they’d make their enemies pay.

As Gen looked out over the city that had become her home, the people who had captured her heart, she knew that there was no turning back. She would fight with every ounce of her being to protect them, to ensure that their thoughts and dreams remained their own. With Emperor by her side, his strength and courage a constant presence in her mind, Gen felt a flicker of hope amid the gathering darkness. Together, they would find a way to triumph, to shine a light into the shadows and expose the truth for all to see.

The battle for Los Angeles had begun, and Gen was ready to meet it head-on.