"Hey. You're the ones that challenged Hendricks and Jensen right?" late into the evening, Aimee and Thomas finally made it to the academy canteen after a whole day's training and learning. But when they got their food and sat down at one of the empty tables, a sweaty, muscular tall young man approached them and asked: "You're the civilian-born students."
"Look, dude, we've just had a really long day." Thomas sighed with a bird's leg still in his hand: "So please, we'd like some quiet time if you don't mind."
"Ah, okay, how impolite of me." the tall young man bowed and apologized: "My name's Ian, from the Hellbruck House. I just finished my training today. And I just want to let you know that I'm rooting for you. And a lot of my friends are rooting for you. And if you'd like some help - sparring buddies, usable equipment, or intel, we'd like to help you. It's not fair, for them to challenge you like that. And it shows great integrity that you are willing to answer and stand your ground in a duel."
"Wow, thanks." Aimee looked at Ian right in the eyes: "Sorry, we just thought you were gonna taunt us."
"Ah, I see. I apologize if that's what you've been facing." Ian bowed again: "I guarantee you there's more people on your side than you think - but since it's a duel, it's frowned upon to directly interfere as outsiders. But I still, I want to offer you my goodwill."
"Thanks, and my apologies as well." Thomas rubbed his temples and said: "If you'd like you can join us for some late dinner."
"Thanks! But I'll just grab some and go. " Ian responded with a bright and wide smile: "I heard some students are having an amazing spar in the training ground, so I'll go and have a look. Maybe I'll learn something."
Just this moment, a plate that was floating in the air flew to the space right in front of Ian. Ian grabbed the plate and waved Aimee and Thomas goodbye: "If you feel like I could be of help to you, just come by the Hellbruck House and ask for Ian Lang."
"Thanks, we will." Aimee said.
"I think we should take the offer." when Ian left, Thomas told Aimee while chewing on a piece of bread: "It's two days away, I don't know how much we can improve - but at least we can try to gather some intel. They don't know much about us, and we don't know much about them. So a little intel can get us a long way."
"Hmm, you're not confident in our chances?" Aimee asked, slightly sarcastically.
"Well, I am not confident in OUR chances." Thomas pointed at Aimee and then himself: "You saw what Caroline and Jason could do - I don't think they'll lose to those shitheads."
"They're just teenagers. They'll grow up." Aimee said: "Remember your teenage years? I remember quite clearly having had to fish you out of fights that would get you expelled from high school and police academy several times."
"Yeah, well. What do you want me to say? I was a shithead too. " Thomas laughed and shoved a piece of steak in his mouth.
Just this moment, Aimee got a call, it was from someone marked as Detective Lee.
"Hey Lee, what's up?" Aimee put the call on speaker and asked: "Thomas is here with me, you're on speaker."
"Hello Detective Chavers, sorry to bug you at this time. But I have some questions regarding the drainer case - the feds took all of your cases. But it's been a while and looks like they're not doing anything." Detective Lee said: "And we don't have anything leftover - so I'm just calling to ask, do you happen to still have any files and documents? "
"You wanna investigate the case again?! No! That's a baaaaad idea, that's a terrible, horrible idea!" Thomas immediately voiced his objection.
"Please, at least tell me something." Detective Lee pleaded: "You know what we just found in our precinct last week? Two more bodies, all young girls that are drugged up and almost completely drained."
"Fuck. I thought they've got it covered." Aimee covered the phone and looked at Thomas.
"I'm sorry I didn't quite catch you." Detective Lee asked: "I beg your pardon?"
"Nothing, we were just wondering what the hell the feds' been up to." Aimee sighed: "But also Detective Lee, please don't pursue this case - it is very dangerous. It's some kind of underground organized gang - please, just let the feds handle it and be safe yourself. Okay?"
"... sorry, but we can't do that. " Detective Lee hesitated for a short moment: "I… I… can't really say too much. But the SJPD will be focusing a lot of its resources on this case. So, I am asking for your help, please, just give us any information you have."
Both Aimee and Thomas sighed, then Aimee said: "Please let us think about it for a bit. Detective Lee, please be careful and don't do anything rash. They are a group of dangerous criminals, and with gifts. Okay? They're a bunch of gifteds!"
Detective Lee also went silent for a short while: "... we actually had that suspicion already. But do you happen to know what kind of gift?"
"Well..." Thomas shrugged and answered: "Super speed, super strength, ability to detect scent, super endurance and night vision, the usual creepy night stalker setup."
"That sounds… like you know quite a lot. Why didn't you tell the captain any of these?"
"Bye Lee, we'll call you later." Aimee immediately hung up the phone.
"Oh my fucking god. What's with this fucking Division!" Thomas banged the table to vent his frustration: "How long has it been? I thought they're elite gifteds and wizards!"
"We should call Ms. Wong, isn't she like a liaison or something?" Aimee said: "SJPD can't handle it - they almost have no experience dealing with gifteds, not to mention dealing with blood suckers."
"Let's call her right now." Thomas started dialing on his phone.