I hadn't truly embraced my father's teachings until he'd passed away. And of course, they were all a cliché, which Tengfei often explained was destined to be the case. On the contrary, the very first lesson he'd ever taught Chon and I, was the one looping in my mind for the umpteenth time.

    'Everything we can achieve in life is on the other side of fear. So, embrace sacrifice. Be brave. Take risks and make leaps.'

    And up until now...I had embraced sacrifice.

    With my stupidity aside...I'd been brave, too and risked it all by creating and sharing my vision with the world. And you know what? With my eyes closed throughout most of it, the leaps were worth it, and for the most part, successful. On top of that, I was always worried about how everything would turn out - but never scared. In this ongoing era of climate austerity, my programs were calculated processes based on the amalgamation of democracy, innovation, and progression for the survival of our species.

    Sadly, there was a price for such impressive tropes.

    In our case, an ultimate price, which now required an impossible leap into the realm of fear, itself.

    With time against us...I twiddled my thumbs and waited eagerly for my entourage to return with my family members, as well as their friends and associates. Minutes later, I'd let out an emotional and desperate sigh of relief as the encrypted holo-door dematerialized...

    Once it did, my entourage ushered them all in, rematerialized the holo-door, then stood guard with a purpose.

    "Xen, what's going on? We were in the middle of something really important."

    Before I could finish my emergency headcount, the question and statement had come from my sweetheart of a cousin, as everyone else understandably gawped at me. "Sukes, I've had to bring you all here for your, safety..." Based on the way Cassius and mùqīn had glanced at each other, I knew that they'd shared the same realization. Theirs and Suki's Shadow Project might not resume anytime soon.

    "Our safety? But why?" Sarah then asked, shifting in front of Mikey and Chon to stare me down.

    But Chon latched onto his beloved and stroked at her forearm, all while wearing a worried look which studied me. "Sarah, ease up. Something's happened.

    "Hasn't it, xiōngdi...?"

    I couldn't answer him, nor them. At least not straight away. Instead, I'd gritted my throat, feeling for sticky dragon oil to ignite. But there was nothing. I couldn't even manage to front out my infamous game-face which had saved Chon and I on numerous occasions. To be honest, in that very moment, I'd even begun to crave my favorite crutch of old. But the hedonistic powder was not an option I could utilize. Not unless I went back on recent vows... I was on my own, and once again, my only option was to embrace shame and be forthcoming. "...Brother, yes. Something has, happened. Something, dreadful..." Each of their bodies flounced - which allowed the release of disdain - for me.

    I couldn't blame them, though.

    This was my fault...

    And respecting the fact, I revealed the problem. "Some time ago, Chon had tasked me with trying to learn why O-Kenai had assaulted Mikey back in New Japan. Well, after months of digging, I finally got the answer..."

    My brother's wingman looked at me just as worryingly as the rest of them. "Xen, we're listenin'..." he managed, despite appearing agitated now. "What did she, do to me...?"

    "...Mikey, you were, 'collateral damage'..."

    "How so?" Sarah pressed, and naturally, her quizzicality had given rise to the rise of simultaneous brows.

    "Gigantor, Mikey," I breathed, "in The White Horde that day, we'd all seen what Olaf had written out on Chon's old holopad...However, you were the only person to do so through, the iLenses covering your eyes..."

    As I alluded to O-Kenai's cleverness and resourcefulness, it was Chon who finally confirmed my points. "...Oh my Lord. Mikey. Emo sedated you so that she could hack them and access your iVision Files."

    With shame pouring from my being, I'd nodded.

    Then to make matters worse, Chon elaborated on the dilemma and deduced why I was so scared. "And so, she knows... She knows that, one day, The Coalition plans to 'relinquish O-Kenai Ashii of her power'."

    Gasps were stifled by everyone who had surrounded me. "Yes, she does," I confessed. "And to make things more complicated, today must be that day."

    "Xen, what in space are you talkin' about?" Mikey thundered. "Dude, she'll kill us all! Or sever limbs for frickin' spite."

    Then I revisited the mornings' events. There was nowhere to hide. "Unfortunately, she already has..."

    "...Xiōngdi, what do you mean...?" Chon pushed.

    "...Brother, all along, she wanted us to know that she knew. And by dawn, Olaf and members of his Presidential Band had woken to the sounds of, screams..."

    "My son - what did she do?"

    Of all people, it had to be my mother who'd asked. "Mùqīn," I sobbed, "at daybreak, s-she severed the ankles of six people over in Atomic's Freighter Sector."

    "Fuck," Chon reeled, turning away from me and running fingers through hair. "Who were they? And, are they still alive?"

    I took another deep breath. Still, no fire came. "Yes. They're alive; and five of them are women; the spouses and sisters of the guards. Lastly, the..."

    "...Lastly, 'what', Xen...?" Sarah motioned with a quizzical finger in my face.

    "...Lastly, the final victim was a three-year-old infant - her name is Dinara - Olaf's, daughter."

    It had been some time since I'd fallen from grace. But despite being deemed Mankind's savior, it was clear to me now that I could not save everyone, and that failing was just as much a part of my destiny as succeeding was. Respecting that, I shared the conclusion of the tragic terror attack. "Everyone, to reinforce her revenge, O-Kenai tied pink, decorative tags to a toe on each of the severed feet. On them, was a brief holo-message."

    "Xiōngdi. What did it say?"

    "After the mention of knobbly feet, it was an invitation for The Coalition Leaders to, 'Dance With The Devil in the Pale Moonlight'. To be specific, O-Kenai has summoned, myself. Olaf. And Emo, to her flora haven atop The Wealth Core."

    "Why has Emo been summoned?" Chon asked, just as surprised as everyone else stood with me in Stardom's panic room.

    "Because, he is the person who has been feeding us secret information. And, the person who we all agreed would replace The Pink Lady as Kingpin of The Risen Clans."

    Tears began to spill from Suki's eyes.

    Mùqīn's, too.

    Even Chon's eyes were filled. But not with tears. Instead, his were filled with a mixture of anger and disappointment which pulsed inside of his bloodshot veins. "Xen, after all this fucking time, you still haven't fucking learned. Just know that, if you go to her, you will not come back!

    "Let me go with you," he then said, changing tactic. "Maybe you'll have a fighting chance if I'm there with you?"

    Mikey and Sarah winced.

    But there was no need for their facial rebuttals.

    I did not plan on taking Chon with me. "Little brother, the time of the Double Dragon is, over. I have a more important mission for you. Stay here and mentally safeguard The Contingency - maybe even one day - The Second Solution. More than that, physically stay here for these guys. Your friends and family need you, and more than anything, you are, loved-"

    "-But Xen!-"

    "-No, Chon. Brother; little brother; this last sacrifice is for me to make. Save your bravery for a darker day. Regardless of the risk to me - I created this. And so, this impossible leap is one I go to, while trying to be completely at one with fear." Even though I'd done everything to deter Chon, my brother still tried to grab me and stop my efforts of leaving. But thankfully, Mikey and the four members of my loyal entourage acted as restraints by pulling him back with ferocity.

    On the other side of me, there was calmness and gentleness.

    Despite Chon's tugging, my mother and cousin touched at my face, possibly for the very last time.

    And I couldn't lie.

    It did take all of my being to stick to the plan and continue walking away from my family that I'd tried to protect for so long. Remembering the fact, I dematerialized the fuzzing holo-door in front of me, initiated the encryption code once outside, then met my, minder... After acknowledging the hulk of a man...we made our way for Atomic's panic room. It was there that my allies and I had planned to congregate and summarize our strategy, in order to confirm exactly 'how in orbit' we were going to get rid of the flamboyant tyrant once and for all.