Contents
VI. Determinism — Reina
Overview
Reina attends Congressman Charlie Baek-Maeda’s Maryland rally while Callum departs on a Forum/Nova errand. An assassin kills Baek-Maeda, triggering chaos. Police move to seize Reina as her naturalist power erupts, tearing open the ground and restraining an officer while a young oak is shot. Reina is bloodied and overpowered.
Summary
Reina, operating without Callum while he pursues a Forum/Nova errand, visits Charlie Baek-Maeda’s reelection event to observe and quietly bolster morale. In oppressive, unseasonal heat, she reflects on the hope Baek-Maeda’s family projects and on unresolved tensions with Callum and Parisa.
As Baek-Maeda finishes playing with the band and begins speaking, a sudden disturbance ripples through the crowd. Shots are fired; Baek-Maeda collapses onstage, bleeding. Reina’s instinctive burst of power heaves roots from the ground, sowing panic. She searches for the baby, Nora, as chaos engulfs the park.
Two police officers seize Reina amid the stampede. She fights back, but one locks her in a chokehold. Desperate, she calls for help; the earth answers, splitting open and weaving vines that restrain an officer. Another officer aims at the teenage oak reaching for Reina and fires, while dirt and ash blind her.
Gaining a moment of clarity, Reina lunges to stop the officer from shooting again. He counters with a brutal elbow that breaks her nose. Dizzy and bloodied, Reina collapses as the scene remains in pandemonium—Baek-Maeda dead, the oak wounded, and her magic exposed under hostile scrutiny.
Who Appears
- Reina MoriNaturalist protagonist; attends Baek-Maeda’s rally, unleashes earth-magic during the shooting, battles police, and is injured.
- Charlie Baek-MaedaCharismatic politician; takes the stage at his rally and is assassinated by gunfire.
- Police officer (primary)Attempts to seize Reina; is restrained by vines as the ground opens beneath him.
- Police officer (partner)Applies a chokehold to Reina; later aims and shoots at the teenage oak; breaks Reina’s nose.
- Jenni Baek-MaedaCharlie’s wife; holds baby Nora during the rally as the shooting erupts.
- Nora Baek-MaedaCharlie and Jenni’s infant daughter; clutches flowers before the shooting; focal point of Reina’s concern.
- Callum NovaLeaves for an “empire” errand tied to the Forum/Nova probe; absent during the attack.
- Teenage oak treeAnthropomorphized by Reina’s magic; reaches to help her and is shot by police.