Chapter 433: Heroes Of Nexus

The square outside Nexus’s civic hall had survived the calamity, although its fountain was cracked and emergency vehicles occupied one entrance. People had already filled it. Rescued residents stood beside bandaged Hunters, Church healers, transit workers, and volunteers. Flowers surrounded a memorial board bearing the names of people still missing.

Kai stopped at the edge of the crowd. "I thought Gabriel said this would be a small gathering."

Sera examined the rows of people stretching toward the fountain. "Perhaps he underestimated how many people wanted to thank you."

Kai glanced toward the stage. "I was hoping to stand somewhere in the back."

"Then you shouldn’t have helped save an entire city," Sera replied, straightening the collar of his jacket. "Try looking pleased. You’re making it seem like the ancient monster was less frightening than a public ceremony."

Kai smiled. "The monster didn’t ask me to give a speech."

Aren approached with Lily, carrying structural reports. The sealed Aegis container from Shelter Six remained in secure storage, awaiting examination.

Lily glanced at the crowd. "I told you he would look for an escape route." Aren grinned. "I’ve already identified three."

...

Near the front benches, a transit driver was trying to get the attention of a young Mythal Hunter. The Hunter looked confused until the man pointed to a faded burn mark on his sleeve.

The driver stepped closer. "You were at the northern evacuation road," he said. "You held the barrier while I got the passengers off my bus."

The Hunter blinked. "That was your bus?"

The driver nodded. "Yes, and we got everyone out because you stayed there. My daughter was among the passengers." He clasped the Hunter’s hand. "I wanted to find you before today ended."

The young Hunter looked embarrassed. "I was following orders, sir."

The driver squeezed his hand. "Then your orders saved my daughter."

Nearby residents applauded as the Hunter’s friends pushed him forward to accept the thanks. Kai watched with satisfaction. "That’s the kind of recognition I was hoping to see."

Across the square, Raze was discovering a less comfortable form of popularity. His former trainee stood before him with several teammates.

The young man straightened. "Sir, our captain approved another joint training session," he announced. "We were hoping you could lead it."

Raze looked down at the cracked shoulder plate of his armor. "I haven’t even repaired this yet."

Another Hunter leaned forward eagerly. "We can wait until tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Raze repeated.

A third Hunter stepped forward. "Could we also practice the formation you used against the central entity? The way you redirected its attack was incredible."

Raze sighed as Kai approached. "You know, most people ask for a day off after surviving something like that," he told them.

The young Hunter replied earnestly. "We already had our day off, sir."

Sera hid a laugh while Kai patted Raze’s undamaged shoulder.

Kai grinned. "Congratulations," he said. "You’ve become an inspiration."

Raze narrowed his eyes. "I’m going to make you attend those sessions."

"I’ll send you a very supportive message from somewhere comfortable," Kai replied.

...

A bell sounded, and Gabriel stepped onto the stage in simple ceremonial robes, his tired eyes betraying long hours with the medical teams.

Gabriel surveyed the gathering. "Thank you for coming," he began. "I know many of you have returned directly from rescue work, and others must leave before this gathering ends. We will not keep you longer than necessary."

The square quieted as Gabriel glanced toward the memorial board.

Gabriel spoke gently. "Nexus has suffered losses that no speech can undo. There are families still waiting for news and neighborhoods that will need months of work. We have gathered today because, even during that suffering, thousands of people refused to abandon one another."

He invited the transit crews forward first. Daniel, the worker who had thanked Kai outside the underground station, looked startled when his colleagues nudged him toward the stage. Gabriel acknowledged the workers who kept passengers together after the power failed, then thanked the medical staff who had continued treating patients by emergency light.

When Mira’s rescue teams were called, Dalia and Nia from Shelter Six stepped forward with two volunteers. Nia relaxed when a boy in the audience waved at her.

Mira accepted the applause briefly, then checked her communicator. "I’m sorry, Archbishop. A search team has reached another damaged block. I need to go."

Gabriel nodded warmly. "Then go where you’re needed. Your work is the reason we’re standing here."

The audience applauded as Mira hurried away, making room for her. Gabriel also thanked Elden’s team, still working remotely in Mythal, for maintaining the isolated channels.

...

A senior representative of the Nexus Hunter Association took Gabriel’s place. Deputy Director Corvin was a stern man whose expression suggested that he would rather be reviewing damage reports.

Corvin looked across the square. "I’ll speak plainly," he said. "When the situation deteriorated, I was concerned about placing visiting Hunters into operations alongside our own teams. Different procedures and unfamiliar commanders can make a disaster worse."

Several Association officers exchanged glances as Corvin continued. "I was wrong to underestimate what Mythal’s people could contribute. Their teams defended evacuation routes, disabled dangerous connections, and worked with our Hunters instead of competing with them. Our records confirm that their intervention was decisive."

He turned toward Kai. "The Nexus Hunter Association formally recognizes Mythal’s contribution to our defense."

An aide brought forward a framed commendation bearing the Association’s seal. When Corvin placed it in Kai’s hands, the square erupted in applause.

Kai studied the document. One of Nexus’s established institutions had put its judgment on record.

Corvin lowered his voice. "I also owe you a personal apology for my doubts."

Kai shook his hand. "You were protecting your city. Next time, let’s make sure our teams know one another before the emergency begins."

Corvin’s expression softened. "That’s exactly what I intend to propose."

A man near the fountain raised his voice. "What about those ancient towers? Are we supposed to trust anyone studying them after what happened?"

The applause faded. Several people nodded, while others looked toward the damaged skyline.

Kai faced him. "No one should ask you to trust an unexplained machine. The central network is isolated, and future research will need safeguards and independent oversight."

Lily stepped forward. "We’ve marked the unstable systems. None should be reconnected to city utilities."

Corvin nodded. "The Association will support restrictions until those sites can be evaluated safely."

The man remained troubled, but lowered his hand as other residents began discussing the restrictions among themselves.

...

Gabriel returned with representatives from the city emergency council. Rather than announce a permanent political arrangement, they presented a provisional cooperation agreement: shared emergency communication channels, joint rescue training, mutual assistance when requested, and supervised exchange of ancient-site hazard reports.

Kai signed for Mythal, Corvin for the Association, and Gabriel and the council representative added their endorsements. Rescue coordinators could use the provisions immediately, pending further review.

Before the representatives stepped away, a dispatcher brought Corvin a request from Mira’s team. A medical convoy needed an escort through a Hunter-controlled district. Corvin approved it and pointed toward the newly signed document. "Use the joint channel. Mythal’s escorts can move with ours."

The dispatcher hurried away, and Kai watched their agreement begin doing useful work.

A Nexus officer approached Kai afterward. "My unit was skeptical about outside command. Yesterday, one of your Hunters kept our medical convoy moving after our route collapsed. I’d like our next drill to be with your people."

Kai smiled. "Speak to Raze. He’s apparently taking bookings."

Raze gave him a betrayed look. Even Corvin laughed.

Gabriel offered Kai the microphone. "Would you say a few words?"

Kai looked toward Sera, who raised her eyebrows. He took the microphone and faced the crowd.

"I’m grateful for this," Kai said, lifting the commendation slightly. "But I want you to remember something. When the central structure was collapsing, I couldn’t have stopped it by myself. My friends held the enemy back, found the right connections, and kept the route open. Across Nexus, people I’d never met were doing the same thing for strangers."

He glanced toward the transit workers and rescue volunteers. "Some of you went into damaged buildings without knowing whether you’d come out. Others stayed with injured people when leaving would have been easier. That’s why so many families have someone to welcome home today."

The applause began slowly, then spread across the square. A woman near the front wiped her eyes. Several Hunters raised their hands toward the rescue workers, and the young Mythal Hunter who had saved the bus passengers looked down with a shy smile.

Kai returned the microphone before Gabriel could persuade him to continue.

...

As the gathering dispersed, Sera found Kai beside the fountain, carefully placing the commendation inside its protective case.

Sera nodded toward the case. "You handled that well," she said. "And you didn’t even try to escape halfway through."

"I considered it," Kai admitted. "But apparently my friends know every exit."

Sera slipped her hand into his. "Good. Then perhaps you’ll stop trying to disappear whenever people want to appreciate you."

Kai turned toward her. "Was that the real reason you kept me on the stage?"

Sera’s expression turned playful. "Partly," she answered. "The other reason is that we’ve spent almost every waking hour saving other people, and I think I’ve been remarkably patient."

Kai smiled. "Should I be worried?"

Sera tilted her head. "Only if you’ve forgotten how to spend an afternoon without fighting something." She tightened her fingers around his. "Tomorrow, I’m claiming some of your time for myself. No meetings, no ancient ruins, and no emergency calls unless someone genuinely needs us."

Kai looked at her for a moment, then smiled more warmly. "That sounds better than another award ceremony."

Sera laughed. "Excellent. Then it’s a date, and for once, I’m choosing where we go."

Kai looked at the sky, anticipating something that wouldn’t require Starbreaker.