Avatara

Jazz thought of the explanations that they would have to give to the police, including his own excuse. It would be difficult to justify how they got injured and how one of the most important buildings in London caught fire. They would be blamed and then probably jailed. At least Pixel, Qwerty and Byte would go to a young offenders institute. He decided to himself that he would take most of the flack and try to have Grace's sentence shortened.

No doubt there would be some kind of cover up from all this though. The common people cannot be allowed to know about these things; the clandestine operations of their government and the complicated nefarious networks that existed in the underbelly of society.

The car turned out to be a hybrid design vehicle of an SUV and pickup style. It stopped to a screeching halt in front of them on the road. The 'gull-wing' car doors lifted upwards to open

"Get in," said a voice to them from within the car, but they could not see anyone.

"It's Snow Globe," said Pixel, while the others paused. "Let's get in." She rushed forward to get in the car and the others followed. Jazz and Grace were helped in by the others. They had no choice. It was either that or face extremely uncomfortable questions from the police that evening.

Snow Globe was indeed on a screen inside the car but there was no human driver of the vehicle. There were only adjustable seats in two rows on either side of the car. Snow Globe sat at a desk, and there was no clarification of where he was in the world, as he gave his words of reassurance. But one would guess Japan. The car immediately zoomed off once they were all comfortably seated.

"The fact that my men are absent suggests that they have made a noble sacrifice for your survival. Their passing is not in vain and their families will not go uncared for.

"It appears that the necessary deed has been done although with significant collateral damage. I will take you all to a secret location tonight where you can rest and recover from your toils. Thank you for your hard work. The scourge of Knightmare-Grimm has ended and the age of Byzantium has begun."

But Grace's demeanour suddenly changed and she drew a new lease of energy becoming extremely irate.

"What of Yi?" she raged at Snow Globe on the screen. She seethed with a voice that growled and took off her seatbelt to face him better. The anger and pain in her eyes was unlike anything Jazz had seen before. She looked like she could kill someone and a feeling of trepidation went through him. He wanted to calm her down. He wanted to say something but he did not feel safe to do so.

"He's dead because of you," she continued. "The other children here are just children and you use them, you despicable old man. For what!? Byzantium? That will be corrupted just like Avatara and will be even worse as people become addicted to it. You're just as bad as Knightmare-Grimm, Snow Globe. All you old men in ivory towers are. You just want to control the lives of others, to fulfill your needs of power.

"You, you, you deserve to…"

And then she fainted. Grace fell down off her seat. Jazz rushed to pick her up.

Pixel looked at Snow Globe to say something but he did not say a word.

"Take us to a hospital Suno jii-san," she said firmly, with a tear running from her left eye.

"Ok," said Snow Globe, in a monotone.

He redirected the car's GPS towards Royal London Hospital and the sleek, silver-grey, self-driving, SUV/pick-up truck hybrid roared through the City of London streets.