The Reason for Saving the Girl
Thirty minutes earlier. Before Bell picked up the drumsticks. Her father, Hector Bell, was just as bewildered, everything feeling like it couldn't possibly be real. At least he pushed aside the chaos assaulting his eyes and ears, his mind fixed solely on racing home.
How long had he run? Near the neighborhood post office, he locked eyes with a Dist glowing with blue optics. Hector twisted away mid-stride and froze. Cat whiskers on its face. The very traces that hadn't washed off from meteor magic when his daughter was little. A familiar Dist.
"Oh my God… Ryan."
He'd summoned the household Dist that had filled the void left by his wife for decades, yet Hector flinched. What have I just done? He stepped back, ready to bolt if it turned dangerous.
Recognizing its called name, Ryan raised a hand and waved it side to side in an almost comically natural greeting, as if welcoming him warmly.
"– Master Hector. Welcome home."
Hector's tension melted away. As Ryan approached, it spoke in a calm, mechanical tone utterly at odds with Hector's ragged breaths.
"– Master. Something's wrong outside."
"I know that! What the hell were you doing standing around like an idiot?"
"– Detected anomaly during mail intake. Reported to police. Inquiring Aria system about Dist behavior."
"The AI probably doesn't know what's going on either. Damn it."
Why is this guy still fine? The thought flashed through his mind, but Ryan's overly businesslike speech washed away any budding relief.
"Damn it, this isn't the time. Follow me!"
Right, at least this one's still okay. Hector bolted again, and Ryan stuck close behind.
Boom—
An explosion rumbled in the distance. Hector's body stiffened. Ryan surged ahead briefly before slowing to match its master's pace. Even then, it clutched the mail without letting go, a strangely comical sight.
"– Report incomplete. Retrying."
"Ryan, try contacting Tiny Bell."
Having Ryan at his side steadied Hector. At least no Dist will harm my daughter inside the house.
"– Yes. Connecting to Bell."
Ryan's blue eyes flickered several times. Then, from the opposite direction, a crowd came screaming and fleeing. From the mart area. A zone thick with deployed Dists.
Crash—
Several Dists burst through a corner, shattering it. A short groan escaped Hector's lips.
"Gotta get home…"
He knew the way home better than anyone. The two plunged back into the streets. People and Dists tangled and scattered in the chaos.
Can we even make it? As despair slowed his steps for a moment, red eyes from inside a shop fixed straight on Hector.
Hector twisted away on instinct.
"Damn… damn it!"
He scanned around. Nothing to grab as a weapon. The shop Dist smashed shelves and charged out.
In that instant, Ryan shot past him like a blur. Mail scattered across the ground.
"– Threat detected. Fourth Law applied. Initiating human protection protocol."
Crack—crunch—
Ryan's arm whipped like lightning, caving in the enemy Dist's neck joint with a twist. Metal clanged against metal. A heavy thud echoed as it collapsed, shaking the ground.
"– Master. Are you alright? Apologies. The mail is damaged."
Who cares about that now. It doesn't seem important anymore. Hector roughly grasped the situation and let out a self-mocking laugh.
"It's fine."
It felt like the end of the world had arrived. Hector slapped his own cheeks hard with both hands to snap out of such thoughts and ran on. Ryan silently matched his speed.
"Waaah—"
A sudden cry. Just meters ahead, inside a car near the café, a little girl was sobbing. Hector narrowed his eyes. Just pass by? They were almost there. Unconsciously, he glanced at Ryan. Ryan's eyes flashed briefly.
"– Fourth Law remains in effect."
No sooner had it spoken than Ryan charged toward the car. Hector raked a hand through his hair and muttered a low curse.
"Damn it…"
The door twisted and tore off. Hector shouted.
"Ryan!"
Ryan halted and turned.
"I'll save that kid."
Through the mangled door, he met the tear-streaked girl's eyes. Her relief only made her wail louder. Hector scooped her into his arms. He felt ashamed of his earlier hesitation.
"You're way faster and stronger than me."
"– Yes, Master Hector."
The machine's reply oddly put him at ease.
"Go ahead first and save Tiny. She should be at home."
"– Order confirmed."
"You're the only one I can ask. Hurry. Oh, right—you're not human."
Ryan simply pivoted.
"– Where will Master Hector be? Please specify return point."
Hector blanked for a moment, then forced a strained smile.
"…Where…"
Chaos everywhere he looked. Where the hell do I even say?
A bullet whistled past as he pondered. Crack—zzzt— Ryan's shoulder exploded in a spray, shaking it.
Hector clutched the girl and whipped his head up. Policemen stood aiming rifles. To them, Ryan looked no different from any other Dist.
Hector grasped the situation instantly. No time for protests. He yelled at Ryan and threw himself in front of the guns.
"Go, Ryan!! It's fine! I'm okay!"
A cop lowered his aim and shouted.
"Over here! Dists are dangerous!"
Hector ran while glancing back. A blue trail cutting through red eyes. Ryan was sprinting away.
An inexplicable despair settled in his chest. His wife's words suddenly surfaced. 'This Dist might protect Tiny well from now on.' He knew better than anyone that she was one of Aria's creators. Back then, those words had hurt; now, he desperately wanted to believe them.
His own end probably wouldn't be good. All he could fervently pray for now was that Ryan would follow its final order.
"Gasp!"
Bell jolted awake inside the speeding military vehicle. What the hell happened? The drumsticks she'd been gripping were gone. Outside the window, massive blasts and flashing lights erupted. The brutal reality flooded her ears once more.
Gunfire. Agonizing screams. Before she could grow numb to them again, her own shoes—stained dark red—caught her eye first. The cardigan hastily thrown over her pajamas was filthy in spots too.
And Ryan.
Bell quickly pieced it together. After Ryan collapsed under the soldiers' gunfire, they'd tried to grab her and stuff her into the vehicle. She remembered resisting at the sight of Ryan breaking apart. Then she'd woken up here.
She touched her stiff neck. They knocked me out…?
"Awake?"
Bell startled and looked beside her. A stern-eyed middle-aged man with white hair swept back sat there. He wore black, scratched body armor, an old-model rifle across his lap.
"Uh…"
Bell bit her lip hard. This was the man behind the soldiers who'd smashed Ryan. Clearly the commander.
She instinctively pressed herself tighter against the seatback.
"Ryan wasn't a bad Dist."
Her guarded tone drew a deep sigh from the man.
"It's not safe. The Dists are out of control."
Terrified yet slightly angry, Bell shot back.
"It was protecting me! It only reacted because your guys aimed guns at it!"
"Whose side are you on in this mess?"
His sharp retort silenced her. Heavy quiet fell.
He sighed again and continued.
"I'm Jack William. Colonel in this country's army. I know your parents. Hector too."
Hearing her dad's name from the soldier softened the wariness in Bell's eyes a fraction. She still didn't understand the situation, but grasping at straws, she barely managed to speak.
"Dad… do you know what happened to Dad?"
Hector won't survive this. Jack felt powerless. He paused, then answered coldly and curtly.
"Your father should be en route to safety too."
A lie. A promise he couldn't keep. But even that eased Bell's mind a tiny bit.
"Helo ETA?"
Colonel Jack William gazed out the window. Beyond the glass, the chaotic city brimmed with all manner of noise.
"Second helo in four minutes. On schedule."
The driver reported in a tense voice.
"Never thought we'd dust off the retired Synite helos."
"All Aria-network gear's neutralized. That's all we've got."
Outside, sirens wailed piercingly. Jack frowned at the escalating disorder.
"So, which areas are designated safe zones now?"
"Six barrier cities have been set as safe zones."
Jack scoffed derisively.
"Barrier cities, huh. Think they can evac everyone there?"
"Doubt it. Fuel shortage… Advance teams are raiding fuel depots inside the barriers."
Jack gripped his rifle irritably.
"Those city mayors… All hyping the barriers as tourist spots and future bunkers."
As if they knew this was coming? How far does this go? Who the hell planned this nationwide? Jack ground his teeth.
The vehicle's air grew oppressively heavy. Rustle— Jack eyed the tense girl with hands wedged between her legs, sighed softly, and spoke.
"Bell."
"…Yes?"
She tried to play it cool, but flinched and shrank at the muzzles peeking from the soldiers' gear.
Jack quietly slung his rifle to his hip, out of her sight.
"We won't hurt you. Relax. We'll get you to safety soon."
Bell didn't reply. She glanced up at Jack briefly, then looked away.
Jack sighed deeply.
"…Sorry about your Dist. But we had no choice either. Right now, pulling you out of this mess is priority one. Just understand that much."
Even then, Bell didn't relax. Why had the military come for her out of everyone, with no explanation? Jack gave up soothing her. Time will sort it out. Like always. In numb resignation, he felt the phone in his pocket and drifted into thought.