Chapter 2.2: Verdict of Innocence

The Think of The Unexpected

Ramirez drove the car in silence, the hum of the engine blending with the distant sounds of Tecnomas festivities. Juarez sat in the passenger seat, his thoughts clouded with unease.

"How did they escape?" he finally blurted, breaking the quiet. "We left them both in the patrol car. The woman was unconscious, and the old man was beaten to hell. She shouldn’t have been able to move, let alone escape."

Ramirez, noticing his partner’s troubled expression, chuckled and glanced at him. "Hey, at least we got one step closer to catching Rojo’s killer."

Juarez sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know, but it’s unsettling. Criminals don’t just vanish from high-tech patrol cars like ghosts."

Ramirez smirked, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Don’t forget who we’re dealing with here. Rojo’s killer—the biggest, most sadistic manipulator in the city. It’s no surprise he had some gadget up his sleeve."

Juarez took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. "I guess you’re right. When it comes to professional criminals, nothing’s ever straightforward. It’s all half-truths and smoke screens."

Ramirez let out a laugh, reaching into the glove compartment. "Like life itself, man. People always have a new face to show, a new side to expose, a new lie to tell, and a half-truth to sell."

The Atomic Drinks

Juarez chuckled, shaking his head. "Like women, right?"

Ramirez grinned, pulling out two beers. "Like damn women, man! Hahaha. Here, have a drink."

Juarez accepted the beer, popping it open as the distant crackle of fireworks lit up the sky. "There’s no better way to celebrate another Tecnomas than with Atom Corporation’s finest brew." He took a sip, savoring the taste as colorful explosions lit the horizon.

Ramirez took a swig of his own beer, whistling in approval. "You said it, partner. Nothing beats spending Tecnomas with close friends."

For a moment, the two watched the sky in silence, their camaraderie filling the void. Finally, Juarez broke the stillness. "You know, I think there’s a lot of misinformation about the Assassin in Red."

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Ramirez raised an eyebrow, taking another sip. "Oh? You mean those wild rumors? Like the one about the thousand truths? Or the idea that T.I.B. is working with him?"

Juarez nearly choked on his beer, laughing. "Yeah, that last one was insane. Who would stoop so low as to work for a killer?"

Ramirez shook his head, smirking. "Not us, that’s for damn sure. Say what you will about us, but at least we’re free men. We’re not idiots working for some psychopath."

Juarez nodded, taking another long swig. "Exactly. We’re with the police department, under the command of the great President Maximiliano Rojas."

At the mention of Rojas, Ramirez paused, his gaze lingering on the fireworks. "Now that’s the dream—to be like Rojas."

Juarez leaned back, whistling softly. "And that woman he has... Jaulia Balia... Truly, Maximiliano is the MAN among MEN."

The Atomic Thief

The two fell into silence, lost in their imaginations of Rojas’s imposing presence and omega muscles. For ten minutes, they watched the sky, each envisioning a future of glory and power.

Their trance was broken by the crackle of the radio. "Attention Unit 10, robbery in progress by members of the Double Dragon gang on an Atomic Corporation transport train. Zone 325. Please respond immediately."

Ramirez’s eyes lit up. "Looks like we’ve got a chance to make our mark again."

Juarez grinned. "One step closer to fame."

Ramirez smirked. "And women..."

Juarez laughed. "And wealth..."

Ramirez added, "And becoming the next Maximiliano Rojas."

After a brief pause, Ramirez slammed the accelerator. "Let’s go for it."

The Atomic Criminals

They sped through the city, ignoring traffic lights, sharp turns, and even a closed street in their rush to intercept the gang. As they neared the train, they spotted the gang escaping in a hover vehicle, equipped with suits radiating power—one glowing with thunder, the other with radioactive energy.

"Focus on the hover vehicle!" Ramirez shouted, drawing his anti-plasma pistol. Juarez followed suit, and the car erupted in a flurry of disintegration bolts. Objects around them vaporized from missed shots, but a few lucky hits damaged the gang members.

"Damn it, we’re losing them!" Ramirez growled, holstering his pistol. "Juarez, take the wheel. I’m going up top."

Juarez hesitated but nodded, gripping the steering wheel as Ramirez climbed onto the roof. Drawing his anti-Tesla machete, Ramirez unleashed a series of electrified slashes at the gang. Each attack was deflected by the criminal in the radiation suit, who retaliated with a sudden, glowing portal.

The gang’s vehicle vanished through the portal, which closed behind them. Ramirez stood frozen on the roof, his weapon still raised.

Juarez shouted up to him. "What the hell just happened?!"

Ramirez slid back into the car, his face a mix of frustration and disbelief. "They had a damn portal generator. We’ve lost them."

Juarez slammed his fist on the dashboard. "Great. Now what?"

Ramirez sighed, taking a swig of his beer. "We regroup, file the report, and hope Maximiliano doesn’t skin us alive."

As they turned the car back toward the station, the two sat in heavy silence. The glow of the fireworks seemed distant now, their earlier dreams of glory fading into the cold reality of their defeat. But in the back of their minds, they knew the chase wasn’t over. Double Dragon had made their move, and Ramirez and Juarez wouldn’t stop until they brought them down—or died trying.