New Breed

5th District Police

“We were the only police at that battle.” Sparrow twiddled his thumbs in the passenger seat. “The call went out over the radio. Where were the other officers?”

Howels didn’t move his eyes from the road. “I don’t know.”

“Where are we going?” Sparrow’s voice was so soft, he was barely audible over the engine of the car.

Howels licked his lips. “We are going back to St. Anthony.”

“They weren’t a part of the battle. The New Breed only attacked Vidua.” Sparrow sipped his coffee. “All of the BioPets involved were from District 2 or were the Type 5s.”

Greg Howels inhaled for a moment. “There is something not adding up about the way the police are handling deaths. The most suspicious are the St. Anthony police.”

“How? Aren’t all of the stations suspicious? They didn’t show up to protect and serve.” Sparrow compressed his mouth. He turned, with arms crossed, to stare out the window.

The inner corner of Howels eyebrows rose. He peeked at Sparrow in short intervals. “There’s something not right with how the police are conducing themselves. We will figure it out.” Howels’s words were steady. “If they are corrupt, then we will drag them into the public’s eye.”

After a long drive, Howels pulled in to the 5th District Police Station. The station looked brand new and was packed with top of the line police vehicles. BioPets patrolled the parking lot.

“It looks like our police station.” Sparrow stared through the windshield.

Howels frowned and opened his door. “It shouldn’t.” He pulled the handle of the passenger door. “It’s great that a police station in the third ring is getting supplies but the other two districts in this ring are falling apart.”

“If the center didn’t horde all the materials, then the outer rings would have more.” Amelia marched past the detectives.

“Ms. Curta.” Howels tipped his head.

“Amelia.” Sparrow pushed forward to shake her hand. “We haven’t seen you in a few days. You heard about the attack in Vidua?”

She dipped her head and allowed her hair to fall forward. “I did. It was an awful occurrence. We sent the New Breed to Lab 01 for study.”

“So, BioPet Industries doesn’t know what triggered the attack?” Howels’s long legs made it difficult for him the slow his pace to match the other two. “I had hoped that they could see the logs from the New Breed.”

Amelia bit her lip. “It appears that the New Breed’s memories have been erased.” She walked next to Sparrow. “But they must be linked, that was an organized attack.”

Sparrow’s eyebrows rose. “You saw the attack and the New Breed attack patterns?”

“Not first hand. Well, not up-close. I was sent to intervene.” Amelia shrugged her athletic shoulders and faced a palm upward. “BattleCat went to join the fight.”

Howels nodded. “ We saw many Type 1s in the midst of the fighting. Your new ones were there, too.”

“That’s what I took to the First District.” Amelia stared forward. “I took what we have made of the Type 5 BioPets.”

Howels looked over his shoulder. “They fought as well as the Type 1s.”

“I thought so, as well.” Amelia narrowed her eyes. It was not easy to trust Howels. He always seemed to be looking for any secret a person was withholding. “They are closely based off the Type 1s. With time and adaption, the Type 5s will be strong enough to fend off the New Breed from the city edges.”

“Amelia.” Sparrow turned to her with a thoughtful expression. “You seem taller and more toned.”

Amelia scoffed. “I’m not taller. And yes, I am more well toned.”

“You’re taller. Isn’t she taller?”

Howels looked over his shoulder again. “You’re both short.” He held the door for his two companions. “There was another BioPet at the battle in Vidua.” His voice was low so only the three of them could hear. “Your Type 6 Prototype was fighting as well.”

“I sent the Type 6.” Amelia locked eyes with the tall detective. “I thought the BioPets could use all the help they could get.”

He let his eyes drift to the ceiling. “I guess you made the right choice. But it was still illegal.” Howels scorned Amelia. “Don't do it again, or I will have to report it.”

“Why were you two the only police to show up?” Amelia didn’t bat an eye.

“That’s what we came here to find out.” Howels growled.

Sparrow watched the two with his eyebrows half raised. “Why here, Howels?”

“It’s the closest District with the most resources.” Howels broke his eye lock with Amelia. “Strange that they have so many police and funds, but could send any aid.”

A thin, tall man walked over to the trio. “Can I help you?”

“Yes.” Howels showed his fellow officer his badge. “I’m Detective Howels.” He motioned to Sparrow. “This is my partner, Detective Sparrow. And our associate and informant, Amelia Curta.” He didn’t even look at Amelia.

The man studied each of their faces. “Why are you here?”

“There was an attack last night.” Howels had leaned back in surprise. He tucked his badge away. “You didn’t hear that hundreds of New Breed attacked the First District?”

“I heard.” The man used a monotone voice. “What does that have to do with us?”

Howels squared his jaw and furrowed his brow. “You’re the police. You didn’t show up.”

“It’s BioPet Industries’ job to protect citizens from New Breed.” He scoffed and crossed his arms.

“Sir, you didn’t tell us your name.” Sparrow interjected. “It’s impolite.”

The tall, thin man glared down at Sparrow. “Srt. Hartend. It’s also impolite to interrupt, Pipsqueak.”

“Srt. Hartend.” Howels slid between Sparrow and the Srt. “You didn’t even have medical aid sent to the battle. But we can go on and on.” Howels waved a hand. “Obviously you didn’t think it was any of your concern if the citizens on the border were in mortal danger.”

Srt. Hartend’s eyes widened and his chest expanded. “You are out of line.”

“We’re missing documents.” It was Amelia’s turn to interrupt. “BioPet Industries received word that the police reports and investigations were closed for each of our employee deaths in the last two years.”

“What is your point?”

Amelia arched her head back. “We don’t have any documentation proving these statements. Can I get a copy of the reports?”

Srt. Hartend sneered down at her. “I don’t have the police reports from other Districts.”

“What about the deaths from here?” Howels moved closer to the Sergeant. “I cannot find the files for Justin Turkin or Mia Summers in the Police DataBase.”

“I’ll have to look.” Srt. Hartend withdrew from the group. “I don’t recall those names.” He stepped away for a moment and returned with a thin folder. “These are all the cases pertaining to victims who are deceased.”

Howels flipped through the folder. “They’re not in here.”

“What?” Srt. Hartfield’s eyebrows shot up.

Howels showed him the file. “The two victims I just mentioned. They are not in this folder.”

“You’re sure they’re dead? And they died in St. Anthony?”

“Yes,” Howels gave a stiff nod. “We just visited Lad 23 where the two worked and one died at.”

Srt. Hartend brushed the pages of the file. “I don’t see them in here. Well, we can look around and see if they were mislocated.”

“Is that how you operate?” Howels glared at the Sergeant.

Hartend’s eyes widened. “Are you accusing me of something?”

“Negligence. Not performing all duties you have taken an oath to perform.” Sparrow snipped at Hartend with eyes glowing. “You left innocent people without protection. You lose important paperwork on murder victims. Yes, I am accusing you.”

Srt. Hartend slammed a foot down. “Enough, little boy. These are simple mistakes and delegations of responsibility,” he spat. “We ruled those ‘murders’ as accidents. I will get you the documents as soon as they are located.”

The Sergeant stood over Sparrow menacingly. “Don’t you even accuse me of not performing my sworn duty. If you ever say anything along those lines again you will regret it.”

“Threats?” Howels pushed an arm between Sparrow and Hartend. “So you run your borough with lost documents and threats when your character is questioned.” He lowered the corner of one brow and lifted the corner of one lip. “You could try being more morally sound and more competent.”

Hartend’s chest heaved while he squared his shoulders. “Are you trying to start a fight with me?”

“No,” Howels didn't budge. “I am trying to do my job correctly. You should try it sometime.” He turned on his heel and swept Sparrow to the door. “Let us know if you find those mysterious vanishing documents.”

Amelia marched ahead of the two men. “Something is going on with the police.” She shot a look back at the two detectives following her. “Whatever these deaths are, they are murders.” She pointed a well manicure nail at them. “The police are involved. Or they don’t know how to investigate.”

“They’re corrupt or they don’t care.” Howels corrected. “Either way, Sparrow and I are looking in to it.”

She straightened up and measured the detectives. “You are the only police I see doing actual police work.”

“We know.” Sparrow sighed.

“We need someone inside the company to make sure there isn’t corruption in there.” Howels placed a knuckle to his chin. “Just to see if the police are getting the wrong information or are being paid to stay out of it.”

Amelia glared. “You want me to help you investigate? Fine.” She turned to watch the cars on the street. “You suspect BioPet Industries?”

“I suspect the police and your company.” Howels opened the car door for Sparrow. “Who do you think is behind it?”

Amelia bit her lip. “The police are involved or aren’t involved enough. I hope there isn’t someone in the company that is a part of this. But I can’t be sure until I look closer.”

“You would destroy your own company to get the truth?” Howels slid behind the wheel.

“You would take down the full police force?” Amelia shot the question back.

Howels drummed on the wheel. “If they’re all corrupt.”

“I feel the same about the company.” Amelia stared at the sky while she muttered this testament.