The Locket of Hope

“You can do this bro.”

The words were spoken in a dark silhouette. Alex and Holden were crouched in a storm drain underneath the city – water trickling down the walls.

Once again Holden repeated “You can do this” as he handed Alex a heart-shaped locket. After a brief embrace Alex took the locket – draped it around his neck – and climbed the rungs leading to the city above.

As Alex made his way through the decrepit city – the sights, smells and imagery reminded him of a time long ago... before things got so BAD. Spotlights ran to and fro – Alex cautious to avoid them. Recorded messages from the Corporation blared from speakers – reminding anyone listening of the curfew in effect.

Some of the buildings had actual sand dunes running up the sides. Yet Alex continues forward – climbing the sand dunes when he had to. Surprisingly this brought Alex's mind back to a time before the Corporation took over – back to a time and place where Alex spent many of his summers with his family at the beach. Hampton Beach – back in New Hampshire. So long ago. Before things changed. Alex continues onward.

Now we meet the Chaser. His name is Adriel. He's a career Corpo. Official title CJE – “Corporate Judge and Executioner”. Only thing he's ever been good at.

He's locked into Alex and is determined to stop him. The Corporation runs this city... and he'll be damned if he's gonna let things change. After all – the Corporation has been good to him.

After confirming his mission with his superiors – Adriel gathers his sub-agents and quietly says “Let's go”. They head out with tracking data and begin to hunt Alex.

Now we switch back to Alex as he swings across the pipes in the buildings basements – slowly making his way towards the Corporate HQ inside the Municipal Police Building. Anything to avoid being seen. Outside we see and hear the commotion – search lights... robo-copters... dogs viciously barking in the heat of the night. All looking for Alex.

Some time passes. Now we see Alex jumping from building to building. Traversing the roofs was definitely quicker – but he was also more exposed. Alex tried to pick up the pace as the laser bots started chasing him. Eventually one of the lasers shot from the bots found its mark – leaving a deep scar on Alex's arm. “Trumppence Lindy and Graham!” Alex exclaimed (at some point in time this apparently became the default – although incorrect – replacement for the blasphemous exclamation that was 'Jesus Mary and Joseph')

More time passes – more shots fired. But our hero nevertheless continues on towards the Municipal Police Bureau. After losing the laser bots Alex climbed down from the roof. As he nears the plaza he grabs the locket and utters to himself : “We got this.”

As he approaches the entrance to the MPB – hobbling because his arms and legs were pretty much shot up – blood trickling along his extremities – Adriel steps from behind a pillar holding a pulse rifle. “So so close. Almost a shame.” Then he shoots Alex in the heart.

Alex falls over – the locket clutched tightly in his closed hand. His dead body on the ground – Adriel kicks the locket out of Alex's hand. The locket opens to show an old picture of Alex and his mom – on Hampton Beach. A happy childhood it seems... now long gone.

Adriel frowns. And – although dead – Alex's lips almost seem to form a smile.

Across town Holden reveals himself from the darkness of the night as he approaches a Remote Access Terminal. One of the few left working in this hell-hole of a city. And even THAT took the Resistance months to get back online.

As he approaches the terminal he removes his own heart-shaped locket. This locket – when opened – reveals not a picture or a memory... but a cleverly disguised digital key.

He inserts it into the terminal.

From one end of the city to the other – the spotlights shut down. The robots shut down. The propaganda is silenced. The city is – at least for now – free.

The last scene of this little allegory shows Adriel whispering “Oh... no...” - as thousands of tenants – suddenly free from the Corporate shackles - stream out from the buildings and descend upon him.