Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, painting warm stripes across Angelo's bare apartment floor. Outside, Novaria hummed with its usual urban symphony – the distant rumble of traffic, the chatter of early risers. But inside, Angelo remained dead to the world, sprawled across his narrow bed like a fallen tree. His recent suspension had stripped away any urgency to greet the day, letting him sink deeper into the kind of sleep that only comes when you have nowhere to be.
The electronic shriek of his phone cut through the peaceful morning like a knife, the sound reverberating off the apartment's sparse walls. Even this assault on the senses failed to pierce Angelo's deep slumber. His chest rose and fell steadily, oblivious to the mounting crisis.
Blue materialized beside the bed in a swirl of azure smoke, his form solidifying into an exact copy of Angelo, though slightly grayer in tone. His eyes darted between the insistently ringing phone and Angelo's sleeping form with growing concern, his usual composed demeanor showing cracks of uncertainty.
"This presents quite the dilemma," Blue mused aloud. He glanced at the phone's screen, making his eyes widen. "It's the chief... Perhaps I should answer in Angelo's stead?" The words came out hesitant, unusual for someone normally so decisive.
As Blue wrestled with his choices, Red's mischievous voice echoed through their shared consciousness, dripping with gleeful anticipation. "Oh, let me take this one. It'll be absolutely hilarious!"
Blue sighed with the weariness of someone who'd dealt with Red's mischief far too many times. "I shudder to think what chaos you'd unleash," he muttered. Drawing himself up, he attempted to mimic Angelo's less formal manner. "Good morning, sir," he answered, trying to inject the right mix of respect and ease into his voice.
Chief Ramirez's gruff voice crackled through the speaker like distant thunder, heavy with suspicion. "Took you long enough to pick up, Angelo. Don't tell me you're still in bed. Has this suspension already made you soft?"
Blue could practically feel Red's delight radiating through their shared mind. Steeling himself, he responded with careful neutrality, "Not at all, sir. My apologies for the delay. I... misplaced my phone momentarily."
The chief grunted, a sound that suggested reluctant acceptance. "Alright, listen up. I've got some important matters to discuss with you."
"Of course, sir," Blue replied, treading carefully. "What seems to be the issue?"
"Well, it's been two years since you joined the force through the special training and recruitment program for promising Aurons. Now that you're 18, it means you've officially graduated," Chief Ramirez began, his tone carrying an odd mix of pride and something darker that Blue couldn't quite identify.
Blue shifted his weight. "Yes, I'm aware, sir. The graduation ceremony is still fresh in my mind. May I ask why bring this up now?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, I'm getting there," the chief chided, though his gruff voice softened slightly. "Every two years, we welcome a new generation into the program. Your group has just graduated, and after a few months of rigorous candidate selection, we're ready to usher in the next batch."
Blue's response came out awkward even to his own ears. "That's fantastic news, chief! I'm thrilled to hear it." The imitation of Angelo was about as convincing as a cat trying to bark.
Chief Ramirez paused, and Blue could almost hear his brow furrowing at the odd response. After a moment that stretched on, he continued, "Right... Well, here's where it becomes relevant to you. Starting today, you'll be guiding one of these new candidates. They'll undergo training at the station from eight AM to four PM, and then from five PM to eight PM, they'll be shadowing one of you experienced officers - in this case, you."
The news hit Blue like a physical blow. He stammered, momentarily losing his carefully maintained composure, "Is that so? I don't recall being paired with a mentor from the previous generation when we joined— I mean, when I joined," he hastily corrected.
"Yeah, we are trying a new approach," Ramirez replied. "I called to let you in on the details and another thing."
The chief's voice shifted like storm clouds gathering, taking on a deadly serious edge that made Blue's spine stiffen. "Now listen here, Angelo. This is important. While you're mentoring this new recruit, I don't want to see a hint of that 'Angel of Death' nonsense. You stick to what you were taught, understood?"
Blue hesitated for a heartbeat before replying with careful neutrality, "Absolutely, sir. I understand completely." Then, almost despite himself, he added hopefully, "Does this mean my suspension has been lifted?"
The chief's laugh carried all the warmth of a winter wind. "Nice try, kid. You're still very much suspended. Consider this mentorship part of your punishment."
"Ah, good thing you jogged my memory," Chief Ramirez added, his tone shifting to something more official, like a teacher preparing to assign homework.
"Per department protocol, before you can resume active duty, you're required to complete a refresher course. I'm sending the video link to your phone as we speak. You've got some flexibility on when to watch it - could be today, tomorrow, or even a week from now. Just make sure you've gone through it before you set foot back in this precinct, understood?"
Blue, sensing the conversation drawing to a close, replied with carefully measured relief, "Certainly, sir. I'll make sure to complete it promptly. Is there anything else you need from me?"
The chief paused, and Blue could almost hear him mentally checking boxes on some invisible list. After a moment that felt like forever, he added, "Yes, one last thing. Don't forget your rendezvous with your assigned junior officer in the town square. Kid's name is Bill. Tall fellow, got a mop of curly brown hair on his head. You can't miss him."
They exchanged final formalities before ending the call. After ending the call, Blue remained frozen in place, processing everything like a computer working through complex calculations.
He turned his gaze to Angelo's still-sleeping form, then addressed the crimson presence he could feel hovering at the edges of their shared consciousness. "I noticed you were uncharacteristically silent throughout that entire exchange."
Red's laughter rang through their shared mind like giant bells. "And ruin such prime entertainment? Not a chance. Watching you squirm was far too amusing."
An hour later, after Blue and Red had finally managed to rouse Angelo through a combination of mental prodding and increasingly creative threats, all three stood facing each other in the small living room. Their materialized forms cast triple shadows in the morning light, while Angelo's face twisted into a mask of disbelief and mounting horror.
"You agreed to WHAT?" Angelo exploded, his voice rising with each word. "How could you just accept all of that without consulting me?"
Blue met Angelo's heated gaze with his characteristic calm. "Given our current suspended status, I doubt protest would have been a prudent option. Unless, of course, your goal is outright termination from the force."
Angelo whirled on Red, frustration making his movements sharp. "And you? Why didn't you step in and stop this madness?"
Red's lips curled into that mischievous grin that always spelled trouble. "Oh, I tried. Told Blue to let me handle the call. He refused. Not my fault he's such a stick in the mud."
Angelo froze, horror flashing across his face as his imagination painted vivid pictures of the chaos that would have ensued had Red answered the chief's call. Shaking off the mental images, he let out a resigned sigh that seemed to come from his very soul.
"What's done is done, I suppose," Angelo conceded, though frustration. "So, we're expected to meet this new recruit at five PM, is that right?"
Blue nodded, his tone matter-of-fact as ever. "Indeed. And don't forget, we also need to watch that refresher course video. The chief sent a link to your phone."
Angelo dragged a hand down his face. "Of course he did... Well, that can wait for another day. I was hoping to start pursuing some leads today. We're at square one here, and I have no clue where to begin. We went to Albert's yesterday for advice, and we completely got sidetracked."
Red's voice dripped with mock disapproval. "Really Angie, I expected better from you." He shook his head.
Blue, ever the voice of reason, cut through their bickering. "We still have nearly seven hours before our appointment. That should provide ample time to formulate a starting point and perhaps even begin our investigation."
Angelo's expression hardened with determination, his jaw setting like concrete. "I think our first move should be to uncover more about our parents. That's where this all began, after all."
Red chimed in, his usual manic energy giving way to something more thoughtful - a rare sight that made both Angelo and Blue pay closer attention. "You know, come to think of it, we don't really know much about them, do we? Or was I not paying attention all this time?" He turned his gaze towards Blue, genuine curiosity replacing his usual mockery.
Blue closed his eyes, his posture shifting as he accessed their shared memories. "We were mere infants when they passed. Our home was destroyed, and we spent the majority of our childhood years in the orphanage. Those we questioned either knew very little or were unwilling to share."
"Assholes." Red cut in.
Blue ignored him "Just before we left Ashford, our former home had been demolished and the property sold to another family. I'm afraid we have precious little to work with, Red."
Angelo's brow furrowed deeper. "And they had the nerve to tell us they simply died in a lab accident." He tapped his fingers on his crossed arm "But they did own that lab, that makes them either scientist, engineers or chemists."
Red fell silent - a rarity that made the moment feel more significant. Then he suggested, his voice carrying an unusual thoughtfulness, "You know, maybe we should consider returning to Ashford. There might be someone there who knew our parents. We're adults now – I'm sure they'd be more willing to talk to us."
As the words left Red's lips, unwelcome memories of Ashford flickered through their shared consciousness like shadows on a wall. The images carried a weight of pain and discomfort, and among them, one face in particular surfaced with enough force to make Angelo wince.
Angelo shook his head violently, as if trying to physically dislodge the memories that clung like cobwebs. "I don't think that's a good idea, Red," he said, strain evident in every syllable.
Blue, ever perceptive, interjected, "Perhaps the true reason for your reluctance is that you wish to avoid encountering Har—"
"No!" Angelo cut him off with the speed of someone slamming a door, panic making his voice crack. "This has absolutely nothing to do with him. I just don't see any point in revisiting Ashford." Despite his forceful words, nervousness radiated from him like heat from a furnace.
Seizing upon a sudden realization, Angelo added hastily, "Besides, we can't possibly investigate Ashford until we're done with the new guy, we're suppose to meet him daily!" The relief in his voice made it clear that their new mentorship had become a convenient excuse.
Blue, maintaining his characteristic calm despite the obvious deflection, "Very well. Once we've fulfilled our duties with Bill, we'll request a few days' leave from the chief to investigate in Ashford."
Angelo's eyes widened in alarm like a cornered animal. "And what, we just sit on our hands regarding our parents' case until then?"
Blue responded evenly, his voice steady, "Not necessarily. We may be short on ideas at the moment, but should inspiration strike, we can set a plan in motion immediately."
Red, unable to resist the opportunity to needle Angelo, chimed in with his signature grin, "Oh, Angie, you were so close to wiggling out of it. So close."
Angelo slumped onto his worn couch, the springs protesting beneath him. "Well, I might as well get this refresher video out of the way," he muttered, reaching for his laptop like someone preparing for torture.
Red's face contorted in disgust. "Yeah, hard pass on that snooze-fest. I'm going for a walk. Who knows? Maybe I'll stumble upon another juicy lead like I did in the archives." His grin widened by the prospect. "Could be fun, eh?"
"Oh no, you don't—" Angelo started, but he might as well have tried to catch smoke with his bare hands. Red had already transformed into his crimson mist form, rushing back into Angelo's body only to re-emerge as an intangible cloud. With a wisp of red that looked almost like a wink, he slipped through the cracks in the window and vanished into the Novarian air.
Angelo's eyes flashed orange with anger, his fists clenching tight enough to whiten his knuckles. "Blue," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "Go after him. Make sure he doesn't cause any trouble. If he does..." he paused, "destroy his body."
"I heard that!" Red's voice echoed through their shared consciousness.
"Can it!" Angelo snapped back verbally.
Blue, ever composed, raised an eyebrow with eloquent skepticism. "And you?"
Angelo's eyes faded back to their normal hue as he sighed with the weariness of someone carrying a heavy load. "I'll stay here and suffer through that stupid video," he grumbled.
With a silent nod, Blue's departure mimicked Red's, leaving Angelo alone in the suddenly too-quiet apartment.
Clicking the link Chief Ramirez had sent felt like accepting a prison sentence. The video loaded to reveal a woman whose smile was so aggressively cheerful it made Angelo's teeth hurt. Her perfectly coiffed hair and pressed uniform spoke of long hours in makeup rather than actual police work.
"Hello there, officer!" she chirped, her voice carrying enough artificial enthusiasm to power a small city. "You're about to embark on an exciting journey with Luminia's finest!"
Angelo groaned, slumping deeper into his chair as if trying to physically escape the video's relentless cheer.
While Angelo endured great suffering in his apartment, across the city, grave news was making its way through the police station's corridors like a dark tide. The sound of urgent footsteps echoed off the walls as Vivian approached Chief Ramirez's office, her usual composed demeanor cracking around the edges.
Vivian's knuckles hesitated against the worn wood of the chief's door. The folder in her hand felt heavier than steel, its contents burning like ice against her palm. "Chief?" Her voice cracked on the single word. "There's been... I have an urgent report, sir."
"Come in." Ramirez's voice carried the weight of mountains, already sensing bad news in her tone.
The hinges creaked as Vivian entered, clutching her papers like a shield. "Sir," she began, each word seeming to cost her physically. "It's about Officer Diana. She..." The rest lodged in her throat, refusing to be spoken.
Ramirez's face transformed as understanding hit, his eyes widening slowly. "No..." He rose halfway from his chair, then sank back as if his legs had failed him. "Vivian, I... I know how close you two were."
"Thank you, sir." Vivian's spine straightened like a banner in strong wind, though her voice trembled. "But we need to focus on the investigation. There are... similarities to Mike's case, and differences too."
The chief's attention sharpened visibly at this. Vivian continued, forcing steel into her voice, "The slash marks are identical, sir. But where Mike showed electrical trauma, Diana's body... sustained burn damage."
Understanding flickered across Ramirez's face like lightning. "But Diana was a—"
"Fire Auron. Yes, sir." The words fell between them with crushing weight.
Ramirez pushed back from his desk, tension radiating from his shoulders. "Something's very wrong here." His expression darkened like gathering storm clouds. "Get this to Detective Mark Plare's office immediately."
"There's more, sir." Vivian's hand shook as she reached into her folder. "They left something this time." With careful movements, as if handling delicate glass, she placed a small card on his desk.
The chief's eyes widened as he stared at the simple piece of paper before him. Neither of them could have known then how much would change because of those few written words, or what darkness was truly stirring in their city.