The four companions were borne out of the theatre ahead of a tide of screaming civilians. The gunmen must have given up their attempts to block the exits when it became clear that Aiden had slipped the net. Lights flashed in the sky and sirens wailed as airborne ambulance units spiraled in towards the opera house, lights and sirens blaring.  Sayeeda led them through an alley and across several broad streets. Things seemed surprisingly peaceful so close to the scene of a life and death shootout.

Suddenly all of the holo screens went black. A moment later they lit again all showing the image of a distinguished looking man in his later years. The man was dressed in a sober business suit and some sort of ceremonial sash of office. Behind him was Aiden’s brother *BLANK*, the latter dressed in a somber uniform of military cut. The words ‘emergency broadcast’ blinked below them in violet lettering.

“What is senator Gaius doing using the emergency address system?” Aiden asked, clearly puzzled “and why is Alexander with him?”

“Citizens,” the distinguished man began, his voice somber and controlled. Traffic on the street began to slow as eyes turned towards the unusually uniform broadcast.

“It is with a heavy heart I come before you. Our King *BLANK* has been murdered.” A shocked gasp went through the citizens, audible even over the wails of the wounded and the clangor of sirens.

“This heinous act appears at this stage to have been hatched at the highest orders of government. An hour ago the constabulary attempted to detain Prince Aiden for questioning. He, and his foreign associates killed several officers and fled. Any citizens with information regarding the whereabout of these individuals should contact the constabulary at once. Prince Blank and several other nobles have offered troops from their household guards as levies during this crisis.”

The screens blanked for another moment and then dissolved into a dozen different variations of ‘Breaking News!’

“Well shit.”
[@POOHEAD189]