Chapter 10 (Post 'Expose Augustine')

Seattle was free. Delsin pulled the pink-haired Conduit beside him into a one-armed hug, grinning.

"We did it. We actually did it." Eugene clapped him on the shoulder.

"Could not have done it without you guys, either." He kissed the top of Fetch's head.

"Yeah yeah yeah, enough with the sappy shit, Smokes." She swatted at him.

"You like it." Sticking his tongue out, he laughed. He could see the whole of the city from the top of what once was Augustine's fortress. The concrete and wires and bars that had encircled it were gone, all had fallen away. Same went for the roadblocks and concrete spires keeping the citizens held back. Construction crews were working on the bridges, people were partying in the streets with the police and the Space Needle was lit up in white, pink and blue. The colors of the Conduits that had fought for them.

The nation was just now learning about what Augustine had done, how she'd locked up and tortured the Conduits, painted them as worse than they really were, what had really happened in Seattle, and it seemed like people were beginning to understand. It wasn't like Seattle, obviously, they hadn't seen it firsthand, and so they were still frightened, at least enough to keep Curdun Cay closed under the command of the remaining DUPs, and yeah, the Senate was debating ending the DUP and freeing the Conduits, but Eugene knew firsthand just how slow to act the Congress could be.

Fetch spoke up. "When do we take on the Cay, D?"

"I'm ready when you are, Laser-show." He smiled at her.

"Tomorrow?" She tilted her head.

"Works for me. You in, Teen Angel?" He looked over at Eugene.

"No thanks, guys. I'm gonna stay here. Somebody's gotta help protect these people." He looked out over the rooftops.

"We'll be back before too long, I think. Shouldn't take much to free them, I mean, Augustine WAS the DUP, and every free Conduit is a potential new power for me. She always wondered how much I could hold. I want to find out." He said, putting his hands into his pockets.

"I just hope it doesn't scare people again, D." Fetch furrowed her brow.

"I know what you mean. We'll have to do what we did here, just, ya know, in a smaller space." He put his hands together.

"I'm too claustrophobic for that, Smokes." Smirking, she raised an eyebrow.

"Not what I meant!" Delsin burst out laughing.

"You guys are disgusting." Eugene grimaced.

"Hey man, you've got your own girl, you don't need to watch us." He shot back.

"Actually, I haven't seen her since the attack on Augustine, I probably should…" Stepping back towards the edge of the roof, Eugene shrugged sheepishly, then jumped, flying away in his angel's guise.

Delsin shook his head. "God I wish I could do that."

"Guess it's just not in the cores, D." She bit her lip to keep from laughing.

He laughed. "This is why I hate working with girls."

"You like me." She punched his arm.

"Yeah, I do." He kissed her.

Pulling back, she spoke. "So, we still have tonight before we leave for Curdun Cay…" Fetch looked out in the direction of Olaf's.

"Race you?" Delsin leaned forward.

"You're on." She took off, a beam of neon.

"Shit! Not fair!" He ran off after her, two neon streaks blurring down the side of the once-fortress together, and the people of Seattle pointed and cheered.

The End

Author's Note: That's all she wrote, folks! (Or he, as it were.) Maybe I'll do an evil karma version, or a sequel, but I don't know and don't want to promise anything. Thanks for reading, please review, and I hope you enjoyed it!

Update: Those of you who wanted more get their wish! (Those who wanted less, sorry to disappoint.) Well, kind of. Not really. Anyway, today, I started work on what will (hopefully) be a series of short chapter stories and one-shots, done in a similar manner to this story, and taking place all over the timelines of Delsin and Fetch. Look for it on here within the next few days!