It was 4:30 in the morning, yet I was already wide awake. Soft pop music blared from the speakers inside of the Fitness Center as I ran on the treadmill. My skin gleamed with sweat as I started to speed up, nearing a blistering 5:04 minute pace.
"C'mon Rei. One, last, push!" I muttered in between breaths as I slowly closed in on my mileage goal. My legs were sore to the point of numbness, but I was too close to my goal to give up now. Through my foggy vision, I watched as the number on the dashboard ticked up onto 15.
"Mileage Complete. Workout is now over. Congratulations."
The automated voice remarked from the treadmill's console as I started to slow down to a walking pace. After walking for a few moments to cool down my legs, I stepped off the treadmill and placed my hands on her head to catch my breath.
"Phew, I'm finally getting used to this routine." I picked up my water bottle and hastily drank as my eyes tiredly glazed through the room around me. My eyes passed through the whole room before my gaze doubled-back towards the TV where I saw a headline that caught my attention:
"Decade-old crime syndicate finally unrooted?"
A female anchor for the New Ragnarian Daily sat at her desk, waiting for her lines to be displayed so she could start her newscast. Her beautiful, creamy brown skin entranced any viewer to keep on watching, and her rose colored lip gloss only further emphasized her mesmerizing beauty. Suddenly, a white glare reflected off of her eyes, and the anchor clasped her hands together as she prepared to speak.
"The fire in the 5th Ring has finally been put out after raging for approximately 3 hours. First responders on the scene state that inside the buildings ravaged by the fire, they found remnants of what appeared to be the base of operations for the gang known as Sliver. Known far and wide for their efforts to create chaos and havoc in New Ragna, it seems that their reign of terror may be at an end. Inside of the ruined building, a total of forty corpses have been identified at the scene with other illegal contraband that have since been seized by government officials. Medical experts are now present there to determine whether or not the corpses present match the names listed on the Most-Wanted list. We will provide you with further details as soon as we receive them so stay with us during our coverage."
I chuckled at the TV as the channel then switched to another story. I found the story to be quite interesting, but not because the crime syndicate was eliminated.
'Obadiah was probably there earlier.'
As I gathered my belongings and left the fitness center, an idea popped in my head. I had no time to do this yesterday because of Welcome Week activities I had no choice but to attend, but since classes didn't start until 10:00 I had some time on my hands to do something I wanted to do when I arrived.
'Maybe he could help me with my case.' I wondered.
I went back to the dorms to take a quick shower and left the school in haste. While the academy itself was the reason I was here, I wanted to at least explore the vast city of New Ragna once.
This little trip of mine was the perfect excuse to do that.
***
As I wandered through the 1st Ring of New Ragna, I couldn't help but feel like a fish out of water. The constant incoherent noises that came from all around me, the flashing lights from trains and hover-cars traveling along the roadway, even the constant stream of people walking to the left and right of me was a new sight to see. This kind of environment was a far cry from the calm and peaceful life I had gotten so used to in Japan.
Being in such a congested area bothered me, but alas it was just something I would need to get used to.
"Ah, I'm here."
I stopped walking and looked up to see the words on the building's sign,
"The New Ragna Department of Public Safety."
Inside this 500 acre building, lay the strongest and most adept augmenters in the entire city. Augmenters that, like my uncle, contributed to the safety and well-being of the citizens of New Ragna. This place was probably one of the most secure places on the planet, the Augmentation Institute being a close 2nd. No other place in the world had this many high-ranked Augmenters in one area.
Since this building was still considered a professional environment despite its employee's all wearing clothing of their choice, I suddenly wondered if what I was wearing was appropriate enough. I mean, I was wearing a white blouse and some ripped jeans: not too unprofessional, but something I wouldn't dare to wear to a job interview either.
I silently cursed at myself for my incompetence. I was going to be in the presence some of the highest ranking Augmenters on the planet, yet I chose to wear a simple t-shirt and jeans.
'Well, no turning back now.'
I took a deep breath in and adjusted my blouse.
'Remember Rei, give off a good first impression.'
I walked up to the doorway, and with a fake smile plastered on my face, twisted the silver handle and opened up the large bronze door.
The lobby of the building was very prim and proper—something that I had not expected. I had expected the lobby to look like the typical police department lobby I had seen on TV, but it was far from that. The walls were painted a milky ivory, and the windows were colored a bold brown reminiscent of a pine tree's trunk. Golden lamps also sat attached towards the top of the walls that brought a vibrant auburn light into the already beautiful room.
Growing up, since I was sheltered in the Sato home to hone my skills since birth, I ended up having a lot more free time than I thought. With that free time I'd aimless roam the hallways and occasionally read a book or magazine, but one of the more enjoyable things I'd do was spy on the guards on their break. Almost every single time at 19:00, a cop drama would be airing on the TV in the break room. Though it was forbidden for me to watch something so 'vulgar' as my parents called it, I'd hide in the hallway and peak my head in to watch. Of course after a couple minutes of watching I'd get caught, but those days were so carefree that being caught was one of my biggest worries.
Oh, to be young and naïve again.
In front of me laid a small bronze booth that sat in the middle of the room and that had 2 large metal poles on each side of it, most likely virantium scanners. Sitting inside of the booth, a woman in her 20s with porcelain skin and sea green eyes was spinning around a pen before she glanced up.
"Ah, hello and welcome to the New Ragna Department of Public Safety," she beamed. She then placed down the pen and reached for a calendar located on the far side of the desk.
"Let's see," she flipped through the pages, clicking her tongue. "Do you have an appointment or a report to file?"
"Oh do I need one of those?" I asked.
The woman stopped flipping.
"Yes?" she said with a questioning tone. "Is there any other reason why'd you be here?"
"Um, I'm here to visit my uncle."
"Oh, and who may that be?" her voice had a hint of suspicion.
"Iaamu Sato." I replied matter-of-factly.
"That ole' geezer? Well I can call him...." she paused for a second before realization dawned on her face.
"Y-you said Isamu?" the woman seemed confused as she slowly reached for a nearby sheet of paper.
"Yeah, is there anything wrong with that?"
Before the woman could reply, a figure appeared behind her.
"Who are you calling 'Old Geezer', Amanda." A deep masculine voice questioned?
The man was a light-skinned Japanese man in his early 20s. He had short, wavy black hair that was parted slightly; he wore an oversized black button-up shirt that had graphics of white flowers, black joggers, and white blazers that were so worn out they were on the verge of tearing apart.
Rei didn't even need to ask who it was; she already knew.
"Hey Uncle."