The hydraulic press of the garbage truck shrieked, a mechanical beast groaning in the early morning silence of the River City alley. Ethan Avery stood frozen, his hand still vibrating from the proximity of the steel blade that had almost claimed his arm. His knuckles were raw, blood dripping from his palm, but he didn't care. He held the velvet box like it contained the beating heart of a god.He tore the fabric lining of the box away with his teeth, his fingernails clawing until a tiny, translucent sliver of hardware clicked against his ring finger. The micro-chip. It wasn’t a diamond. It wasn’t a precious stone. It was the only thing in the world that mattered. "Hey! Are you deaf, buddy? I said beat it!" one of the garbage men yelled, stepping down from the rear step of the truck. He paused when he saw the blood-slicked, designer-clad lunatic standing amidst the reeking refuse. "Jesus, kid, you look like you were put through a blender."Ethan didn't blink. He felt the cold iron of