Episode 131. Chase Through San Francisco

Story

Admiral Quihoui runs across the tribunal's grand hall. The security guards posted along the corridor remain impassive, not imagining for a second that she is fleeing the scene. As she crosses the imposing entrance doors, she plunges into the crowded street, indifferent to the risks. Without hesitation, she leaps onto a flying motorcycle passing nearby, knocking its rider aside with a practiced move, and accelerates hard. She threads through the air, deftly avoiding several vehicles in a winding path.

The term matters little to me; the urgency is elsewhere. Instinct tells me to act without delay. Together, we race down the tribunal steps and jump onto my Ducati, still faithfully waiting at its post.

I sigh as I accelerate through the streets of San Francisco, weaving through traffic. My eyes stay firmly locked on the gravcycle, flying several meters above us.

The Ducati suddenly accelerates, roaring like an awakened beast. We tear through the streets at a terrifying speed, overtaking vehicles and pedestrians in an instant. Ahead of us, Quihoui stays in front, dodging every obstacle with prodigious agility and making our pursuit harder.

The streets of San Francisco flash past at a frantic pace. Quihoui changes direction again and again, trying to lose us in narrow side streets. I grit my teeth, my hands clamped tight on the handlebars.

I swerve sharply, taking the turn with precision and narrowly avoiding a flying taxi rising right in front of us. Quihoui is still close. I can see her frantic gaze turn toward us. She knows we are on her heels.

Suddenly, Quihoui accelerates again, heading toward a crowded intersection. She forces her way through, grazing public vehicles and sowing chaos.

I glance quickly at T'Met, weighing her words. The decision is instantaneous: I trust her. With a twist of the handlebars, I veer sharply right, leaving Quihoui's trajectory.

The Ducati reacts with a monumental roar, launched at a speed I have never tested before. We literally fly above the streets of San Francisco, crossing alleys and dodging obstacles by a hair. At the intersection, I see Quihoui burst out at full speed, straight toward us. This is the crucial moment.

I take a ramp that throws us up to the height of Quihoui's gravcycle, but we miss the interception by a few centimeters. She is now heading toward the Golden Gate.

Money Penny rises without difficulty, catching up with Quihoui's gravcycle as it reaches the top of the tower. We position ourselves a few meters above her, and without warning, T'Met lets herself drop to stop her. Quihoui, however, is not so easily captured. Once at the top, she climbs off her gravcycle and opens fire on T'Met, who lands with agility beside her.

Admiral Quihoui lets herself fall into the void, disappearing in midair, suggesting she possesses an emergency transporter device. From my Ducati, I watch the scene and land beside T'Met, who seems devastated...