[center][h1] A Challenger Approaches [/h1]
[h2] Act 1.2: Grim Tidings [/h2][/center]

Her radio picked up on what was happening before she did, as Serene's head was down, checking her phone for any texts. The sudden static as the explosion in the city disrupted radio waves made her head snap up, seeing the aftermath on the distant horizon. A foot slammed on the brakes, as her hands twisted the wheel, the truck skidding as it came to an abrupt stop, nearly throwing her forward, but not as much as if she'd hit something. Now off the highway a tad, to let other cars pass, she stared in abject horror at the rising cloud. She quickly searched through the radio channels for the local news, only to freeze at the news.

[i]"An explosion in the city? Mayor might be gone...weird chemical rain. What the hell..."[/i] Knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel with one hand, both feet now off the pedals, as she tried to process this. Had her father somehow foreseen this? Was this why he'd spoken of the winds calling? Had he known a clairvoyant who warned him? She had to assume there was a reason he'd never come to the city to himself. Had her grandmother known something she hadn't? Her hand left the wheel, unlocking the door, pushing it open, leaving the truck idling, as she engaged the parking break with her other hand, using one of the two then to undo her seatbelt, and she climbed out. Booted feet landed on the asphalt, her hand going up to shade her eyes, as she looked towards the source. She was dimly aware of others stopping to look at the chaos, babies crying in cars nearby, but for her, it was shocking. Serene only kept staring as the cloud began to fall, and then climbed back in, hearing nothing new on the news. Just a warning for people to be careful.

She made a choice. She'd come this far, there was no going back. She hadn't come this far, only to turn back, only to retreat from the dangers ahead, to make her father proud. Taking in a breath, she let it out. [i]"Alright, let's rock and roll."[/i] She pulled her phone up, and sent a text to her Grandmother, knowing the other was currently probably out and not using her phone, but just telling her that there had been a possible terror attack in the city, and that she was fine, but heading into the city. She knew she'd get an earful over the phone later, given how unhappy the elder Light had been at the thought of her going in the first place. But the time for action was now. The city would likely need heroes more than ever, and she was going to be one of them. She buckled up again, but kept the radio to the news, incase she heard more, and with a heavy heart, and a chip on her shoulder, she pressed the gas in, the white truck beginning to move again, accelerating as she pulled back onto the highway that led to the city, having already taken the exit off from the prior highway. She'd be there soon, and then, she'd figure out what niche she could fill as a magitech user...

...If only she knew she wasn't magical. Oh well, that'd be a trip for another time.