Blitz chuckled and addressed Keagan, seemingly amused by his skepticism. "You must be the Spectral Guardian, huh? Quite the peculiar name," he remarked, swiftly taking the can from Keagan's hand and popping open the lid. With a series of rapid blinks, Blitz appeared to savor the flavor of the energy drink, as if it enhanced its taste. He then returned the can to Keagan and tapped him on the shoulder.
"If you're going to drink anything, I highly recommend the Wild Berry flavor of Pulse Power. It's my personal favorite!" Blitz exclaimed, his smile exaggerated as if he were starring in a commercial. Keagan regarded him with a strange look, finding his animated demeanor rather overwhelming. Moreover, Blitz seemed oblivious to the concept of personal space. Keagan turned his attention back to the can; he was still thirsty, but Blitz's earlier invasive act of drinking from it had dampened his enthusiasm for taking a sip.
"And you're not just saying that because you're sponsored by Pulse Power?" Keagan asked rhetorically, his tone tinged with sarcasm.
"No way, bro! I'm genuinely looking out for you. Trust me, most of those other brands are just cheap imitations, loaded with chemicals you definitely don't want in your body," Blitz explained, raising his fist and waiting for Keagan to reciprocate with a fist bump. Keagan reluctantly obliged, but his initial impression of Blitz didn't sit well with him. It felt like Blitz put on a show for others, attempting to conceal his obnoxious nature, but failing to do so effectively.
"Come on, bro, let's head over to the police station and report for duty. The captain's been waiting, and trust me, you don't want to keep him waiting. I've had my fair share of his wrath," Blitz urged, firmly gripping Keagan's shoulder and propelling him forward as they entered the towering Techno Tower. Blitz glanced at Keagan, noticing his blank expression and unfamiliarity with the sprawling megastructure. He attempted to discreetly observe Keagan's reactions, but the penetrating looks did not escape Keagan's notice.
"You've never been to Neovista, have you?" Blitz inquired.
"No," Keagan replied simply.
"Well, after our patrol, stick around. I can show you around. I happen to be quite the celebrity on these streets," Blitz boasted, trying to project a sense of humility. Keagan was unimpressed; Blitz's presence had already begun to grate on his nerves, reminding him of the arrogant bullies he encountered in his past jobs. It seemed that he and Blitz were polar opposites.
As they continued their walk through the Techno Tower, Blitz frequently interrupted their progress to greet passersby, eagerly posing for pictures, often without being asked. It only made the journey more unbearable, needlessly prolonging their trek.
After a seemingly never-ending walk, they arrive at the station nestled amidst the neon-lit streets and towering skyscrapers. The building itself, a stark amalgamation of gleaming steel and concrete, exuded an aura of authority and surveillance. The entrance to the station was a fortified gateway, flanked by massive metal doors and illuminated by a flickering holographic sign that read "Metropolitan Central Precinct." As they approached, their every move was scrutinized by surveillance cameras perched atop menacing black poles, capturing every detail with a watchful eye.
Inside, the atmosphere was a stark juxtaposition of cold efficiency and simmering tension. The walls were adorned with holo screens displaying a constant stream of data, monitoring the city's vital signs, and displaying real-time crime statistics. The air hummed with the low drone of computers, the clatter of keyboards, and intermittent electronic beeps.
The central area of the station housed the nerve center, a sprawling control room brimming with banks of monitors displaying live footage from surveillance drones patrolling the cityscape. Holographic displays hovered above the desks, projecting intricate maps with blinking red dots marking crime hotspots and ongoing investigations. Keagan had never seen such sophistication before, if only his world had such advancements.
The personnel within the station were a mix of weary veterans and fresh-faced recruits, their uniforms a blend of futuristic armor and tactical gear. Blitz occasionally waved at some of them, some returning the gesture with rude snares, it seemed not everyone was accustomed to his presence and Keagan was not alone in that aspect. In one corner, a bustling briefing room buzzed with activity as detectives and officers analyzed evidence holograms, attempting to decipher the intricate patterns.
Despite the overpowering collection of technology and aggressive architecture and atmosphere of the station, a small break area offered a glimpse of humanity amidst the surroundings, with worn-out couches and a vending machine dispensing lukewarm drinks. It was here that officers would gather, exchanging anecdotes and humor as they sought solace in brief respites from their arduous duties.
They entered what appeared to be the bustling hub of offices within the police station. Blitz pulled out a piece of gum adorned with his face on the wrapper and slid it across the secretary's desk as she typed furiously on her keyboard.
"Hey, Helen! Lovely to see you again!" he exclaimed sheepishly, tapping the gum with his index finger in an attempt to capture her attention away from the bright screen. Helen shot a glance at the feeble gesture and sneered in disgust before returning to her typing.
Undeterred, Blitz continued his attempts at small talk, "Are you still mad about last Thursday? You know how hectic this hero gig gets. I was caught up in a high-speed chase, had to..."
"Would you please just shut up and report to the captain? He's been waiting in his office for 30 minutes now!" Helen bellowed, her fierce words accompanied by a glare capable of churning stomachs.
"And take that filthy piece of gum with you, Adonis!" Helen added.
"Hey! Hey! Don't call me by my real name! Only police officers are supposed to know that! And you're revealing my identity to a rookie here," Blitz protested.
"Do I look like I care? You stood me up, Adonis. I waited for you inside that hotel for three hours, looking like an idiot. And then you show up in your hero suit, just so people could recognize you. The whole time we were supposed to be on a date, you sat there signing autographs and taking pictures!" Helen retorted.
"As I told you, I was caught up in the chase. I didn't have time to go back and change," Blitz defended himself.
"Really? You can run faster than the speed of sound, yet you're always late for everything. How ironic. Now, get to reporting before you drag this poor rookie into your troubles. I hate to see someone else go down with you," Helen said as she picked up the gum and tossed it into a nearby wastebasket. Throughout the exchange, Keagan stood beside Blitz, trying to keep his distance and feeling like a third wheel in the conversation.
Blitz turned to Keagan, "Okay, let's go see the captain," he said, hurrying his pace to escape the situation quickly. They passed by several desks, and Blitz almost knocked over a stack of papers on one of them. Finally, they arrived at the door of one of the offices, clearly labeled "Captain Sanders."
"Okay, rookie, you knock on the door, and I'll do the talking," Blitz instructed, visibly nervous yet attempting to mask his unease.
"What?" Keagan asked, bewildered.
"Just knock on the door. It's your first time here, and the captain won't be mad at you for coming in late. Just say you were lost on the way here, and then I found you and helped you reach this office. The captain will understand why we're late," Blitz explained.
"You're joking, right?" Keagan asked, his tone genuinely serious. "We would've arrived 40 minutes ago if it weren't for your incessant stops every time you saw a crowd of people throwing around your merchandise."
"Hey, kid, being this well-known isn't easy. You don't understand how to handle such situations," Blitz retorted.
Keagan let out a long, heavy sigh, attempting to release the tension and irritation he was feeling at that moment. Blitz was getting on his nerves, and he was doing his best to control his anger.
"You know I can hear everything from inside here. It's not like the door is soundproof," a stern, deep voice echoed from within the office. "Both of you, get in here before you waste any more of my time."
Blitz glanced at Keagan and pointed to the doorknob with his eyebrows. Keagan looked at him with disdain as he reluctantly grabbed the cold doorknob and twisted it. The door creaked open, and they both entered the office slowly as if the floor was made of lava.
"I expect this sort of lateness from you, Blitz, but you, being late on your first day... not the best impression, is it?" the captain asked, his gaze fixed solely on Keagan.
"Hey boss, sorry were late,"
"I don't have time for this today Blitz, take the report and go report with the rest of the squad I have more pressing things to attend to. The captain said as he got up from his chair.
He was a commanding figure in his mid-fifties and exuded an air of authority and experience that came from years of dedicated service. Tall and broad-shouldered, he carried himself with a sense of purpose. His salt-and-pepper hair, neatly trimmed and receding slightly at the temples, added to the distinguished air he possessed.
The captain's face bore the marks of years spent in the field, weathered by the pressures and challenges of law enforcement. Faint lines creased his forehead. Dressed in a crisp, tailored uniform, adorned with numerous badges and commendations, the captain exuded professionalism and a dedication to duty.
Blitz's face lit up with relief, realizing that today was not going to be like any other day where he typically received a stern reprimand from the captain for not taking his job seriously enough. Seizing the opportunity, he swiftly grabbed the file from the desk and set off, pulling Keagan along with him without giving him a chance to introduce himself to the captain.
They both rushed down the station parking lot where the patrol unit he was supposed to man was waiting for him to arrive.