Static chapter 6

(*Insert dramatic music here* I'm early! And on a roll! This is my longest piece ever you know. Not this chapter, but Static. It will be done! Hopefully by summer! :D)

It was later the same week that he ran into Tori and Asterisk out for a walk. Tori looked painfully bored while Asterisk was rolling in the grass happily.

“‘Lo,” said Tori passively, “Mom has been wanting to go out more and more lately. I think you’re to blame, possibly for talking to her a little while back. She’s starting to think that she had hope... At least that’s what I can tell. I don’t speak dog.”

Tori gave Ezra a sort of look like he was a strange animal she had never seen before. It then sunk in to him that this was her way of asking him to ask Asterisk why she was acting odd.

“Don’t worry. I can hear you speak. In fact, I think I can hear you think. I get those two mixed up. It’s quite the bother, you know. Being a genius. I only wish she could hear me. Who ever heard of a girl who can’t even speak to her own mother?”
Once again, it seemed to Ezra that Asterisk was going off about whatever crossed her mind. Probably being stuck as a dog had something to do with it.
“I’m actually in a pretty good mood today. I think you will prove pretty useful to us at the IG- if the IG still counts as an organization. Hey, did you know you smell funny?”
“Okay, whatever,” Ezra petted Asterisk on the head. He turned to Tori, “Asterisk says that she thinks that I might be able to help the IG.”
“Do you mind not calling mom by her first name? It’s kind of weird. And are you sure she told you you’re useful? I thought she told you you smelled funny.” Tori said nonchalantly.
“Hey! If you know what she’s saying, why’d you ask me to translate?”
“Because I can. Now would you get going already? I have to keep moving around so the guards can’t find mom.” Tori turned around and started walking away, but Ezra grabbed her sleeve.
“Wait. Why do the guards want to capture your mother so badly? What exactly are the guards?”
“I expect you’ll find out if you keep us here any longer! Honestly, do you mind leaving already?” Tori said, freeing her sleeve from Ezra’s grasp.
“Just answer me already!” Ezra said, louder then he originally planned. It was more like a yell.
“I’m not going to tell you if you yell! Just go already! I have to protect mom!” Yelled Tori angrily.
Asterisk barked just then, a happy sort of bark. Nothing was in sight, but in the distance the clang of metal on pavement announced the arrival of the guards. Tori was struck with a sort of a deer-in-the-headlights expression, one of fear and panic. Ezra was stunned for a shorter time then Tori, primarily because he was unsure of how to face the situation. Tori seemed to greatly fear the guard, but to Ezra they were just the commonplace guards of The Hub; strange but not terrifying.
It went without a word that they should flee, but it took a bit to get Asterisk moving (As she had decided to roll in the gravel) and and a bit before Tori was fully back to her senses. By the time they were actually running, the shiny helmets of the guard were visible. Though they did not move very fast, they seemed to have plenty of stamina. And though Tori and Ezra seemed to be making gain at first, they were both feeling tired after five minutes of being pursued, they started to notice the guards making gains.
It was Tori’s idea to hide and rest. One main problem was that the guards were near enough that they could see anywhere they hid. They decided it would be best to take a chance by cutting through a narrow alley and just hoping that the guards would get stuck with their bulky armor. Their plan didn’t get very far, however, because when they exited the alley the guards were on the other side. The steel suited guards couldn’t reach Tori and Ezra if they stayed in the center of the alley. They decided to stay put here for a while and hope the guards lost interest over time. But Asterisk seemed to have different ideas. She suddenly tugged on her leash hard enough that it broke off her collar. Then, to the shocked eyes of Tori, she lept directly in front of one of the guards. The guard picked her up gently, and all of the guards then turned around and marched off.
And quietly in the distance, Ezra could hear Asterisk speak.
“Contact... Contact shall be made.”