Night patrols as Axion involved a lot of lurking around in dark corners, waiting for something interesting to happen. She always started her patrol in the same spot, the rooftop of an abandoned building overlooking the Neon Alley and the market. She perched on the edge of the roof, watching the bustling crowd below.
There were many times that she wished she could be out there, part of the crowd, enjoying the festivities. But as Axion, she couldn't. She was here to look out for trouble, and that's what she needed to focus on.
"Nope, just more people puking and shouting. Someone threw a bottle at a street performer." Axion watched as a man stumbled out of a bar, doubled over as he hurled his guts out. "Isn't the camera in my helmet enough? You can see what I'm seeing now, right? Why do you need me to report what's happening?"
There was a moment of silence as Edith yawned, muttering to herself.
"Sure, I guess." Axion leaned forward, resting her chin on her knee. She watched as a group of drunken revelers burst into hysterical laughter, doubling over and clutching their stomachs. "It's kinda boring, though. Nobody's doing anything too bad, other than being obnoxious. Just a typical night in the slums." She sighed, glancing around the area.
A woman shrieked in alarm, and Axion jumped to her feet, peering over the ledge. A trio of thugs, sporting matching blue bandanas and red sashes, had cornered a lone woman, grabbing at her suggestively. A small crowd gathered around, cheering and whistling. The woman struggled and attempted to flee, but the men held her in place.
Without hesitation, Axion launched herself over the side of the building, activating her gravitonic field midair to cushion her fall. She hit the ground running, sprinting toward the group. The crowd parted for her, startled by her sudden appearance.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" she shouted, her voice amplified by the helmet's audio processor.
The woman managed to free herself from the men's grasp and scrambled to safety. Axion skidded to a stop, assuming a defensive stance as the gang members turned their attention to her. One of the men, sporting a thick, bushy beard and wearing an eyepatch, stepped forward, sneering.
"Who da fuck're you s'pose to be?" he slurred, his breath reeking of alcohol.
The other two thugs, who seemed more sober, looked at each other uneasily. "Yo, man, is that the freak we've been hearing about?" one of them hissed. "The one who beat up that gang last week?"
"Dunno," the bearded thug growled. "Might be, but I ain't 'fraid of no damn freak!" He pulled a pistol from his waistband, taking aim at Axion's head.
"Are you stupid?! She's a fucking Super, you dumbass!" the other thug yelped.
"Shut yer mouth!" Beardie snarled, spittle flying from his lips. "I said I ain't afraid'a no damn freak!" His finger tightened on the trigger as he fired off a round.
She had more than enough time to react. With a thought, she increased her gravity field, deflecting the bullet's trajectory. It ricocheted harmlessly into the ground. Axion advanced, the gravitons swirling around her body.
Beardie kept firing wildly, the bullets all veering off-course. One of his comrades shoved him aside and raised his pistol, aiming at Axion. "Fuck it! Let's take her out, boys!" he cried, cocking the hammer back.
Before he could pull the trigger, her fist collided with the thug's cheek, sending him crashing into the ground. She spun around, delivering a powerful kick to the second gangster's gut. He crumpled to the ground, wheezing in agony.
The crowd scattered, fleeing in terror. Beardie stood frozen, his gun clattering to the ground as he backed away from her, shaking visibly. Axion grabbed the collar of his jacket, lifting him into the air with ease.
"Listen up," she whispered, her voice low and cold. "I don't want to hurt you. Go back home, get some sleep, and try to do better with yourself. But if you come back here again and harass people, I won't show you mercy."
He nodded shakily, his legs dangling in the air. With a quick shove, Axion released her hold on him, sending the gangster tumbling to the ground. He scrambled to his feet, darting away, followed by his two accomplices. The three gangsters disappeared into the shadows, their footsteps fading.
"That's better," Axion muttered, turning to the woman whom the thugs had accosted. "Are you alright?"
The woman stared back, wide-eyed, before nodding nervously. "Yeah...yes, I'm fine." She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "Thank you."
"Just stay safe, alright?" Axion replied with a thumbs-up.
The woman nodded again, backing away hesitantly before turning and fleeing. The street performer, who'd been hiding behind a post, emerged and began applauding vigorously, startling Axion. The rest of the crowd, who'd been watching from a distance, gradually approached. Before long, everyone was cheering.
Axion raised her hand and waved sheepishly. She couldn't help but grin widely underneath her helmet. The LED eyes on her visor narrowed into downturned crescent moons, imitating her expression. While she disliked the attention, it felt good to know she was appreciated.
After a moment, Edith's voice echoed through Axion's comm.
"Thanks," Axion mumbled, giving the crowd a quick wave before stepping into an alley. She sprinted down the narrow passageway, scaling a chain-link fence with ease. She flipped over the top and landed neatly on the other side.
She continued through the alleys and passages, avoiding the main thoroughfares. After a while, Edith's voice chimed in through her helmet's comm.
"No, not really," Axion responded, her gaze sweeping over the desolate streets. "It's been pretty quiet lately." She ducked under a low-hanging sign, dodging a pair of rats scampering across the pavement. "Other than those guys from earlier, nothing major."
Edith let out a weary sigh.
Axion shrugged. "I'm doing okay. Still feels kind of weird only needing a few hours of sleep a night. Can't complain, though. More time to patrol and help people."
Edith hummed in agreement.
With that, the comm link went silent, leaving Axion alone once more. She let out a long exhale, her shoulders slumping.
She wasn't tired, not physically. She did feel drained, though, and she couldn't tell if it was because of the monotony of her patrols or the emotional toll they took on her. She hadn't really considered it until now, but she'd seen a lot of terrible things throughout her life, but dealing with them as Axion left a more lasting impact.
Maybe it was because she couldn't interact with people normally anymore, not when she was dressed like a vigilante and carrying a lot of firepower. When she wasn't wearing her helmet, she was just another slum dweller trying to get by, and when she was on patrol, she wasn't a person—she was a symbol, something larger than herself.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
At least, that's what Virgil kept telling her. As frustrating as his training had been, she did appreciate his efforts to drill some sense into her. He had told her to—what was the word again?—compartmentalize; to separate the girl from the hero. In one compartment, she was Fii, and in the other, she was Axion.
Honestly, she hadn't really grasped what he meant by that yet. Maybe it would be clearer in time, but right now, she had to focus on making sure nobody got killed in front of her. While the slums might have their problems, there were a lot of good people trying to survive. But the reality was, people often had to fend for themselves.
That's where she came in.
She just hoped she wouldn't let anybody down.
----------------------------------------
After a few hours of patrolling, Axion finally stopped to rest on a fire escape, letting her feet dangle over the edge. It wasn't exactly the most comfortable seat in the world, but she wasn't planning to stay long, anyway. The wind ruffled her jacket as she sat silently, gazing over the slums.
The streets below were relatively quiet now, the crowds and noise mostly dissipating. Occasionally, she caught glimpses of other figures moving through the alleys and side streets, either returning home for the night or looking for trouble. A few stragglers lingered, likely hoping to snare a mark for the evening, but most of the ne'er-do-wells had already scuttled back to their hidey-holes.
Axion rubbed the back of her neck wearily, trying to release the tension that had accumulated in her muscles. As she stretched, her stomach grumbled loudly, reminding her that she'd skipped dinner in order to get to her patrol faster.
"I should have packed some snacks..." she murmured, her mouth watering as she imagined the savory taste of some fried synth-chicken.
A sound caught her attention, and she peered over the edge—a scuffling in the alley below. A man wearing a dirty shirt and torn jeans stumbled through the shadows, his eyes glassy and unfocused. His skin was deathly pale, and his movements were jerky and unnatural.
The man bumped into a trashcan, toppling it and spilling its contents across the ground. He staggered back, growling incoherently, waving his arms at the fallen garbage. A pair of rats scurried out, squeaking and hissing as they retreated.
Axion watched as the man's behavior grew increasingly erratic, his face twitching and contorting. He lunged at the rats, clawing at the air with his fingers curled into claws. After a moment, he slumped to the ground, groaning and babbling nonsensically.
She climbed down from her perch, landing lightly in the alleyway. The man didn't appear to notice her approach, his gaze fixed on the wall. She crouched beside him, gently prodding him with her fingertips.
Just another drug addict, looks like.
"Hey, you alright? You need any help?"
The man flinched away from her touch, his eyes darting to meet hers. He mumbled a few unintelligible syllables, drool spilling from his lips. She tried again, reaching out and gripping his shoulder.
Suddenly, he swung wildly, his fingers scraping against the smooth surface of her helmet.
"Woah!" Axion exclaimed, easily deflecting the attack. "Easy there, buddy!" She pinned his wrist to the ground and planted her knee on his midsection, effectively restraining him. "Seriously, you need to chill out—"
Her words were cut off as the man opened his mouth and tried to bite her forearm. She jerked her arm back, narrowly avoiding his jaws. He thrashed under her grip, spittle flying from his lips as he shrieked furiously.
What the hell? Was he actually trying to—?
She didn't get to finish her thought as the man suddenly convulsed and vomited, quivering uncontrollably. He let out a ragged gasp, foamy, yellow-tinged fluid dripping from his mouth. His entire body twitched, and his eyes rolled back into his skull before he went limp, collapsing against the concrete.
Axion released her hold and stood, staring down at the prone figure. She removed her glove and held her palm close to his nose, checking for any sign of breathing.
Whew...still breathing.
She pressed two fingers against the side of the man's throat, feeling for a pulse. It was weak and rapid, thumping unevenly.
Overdose? Could be.
She glanced around, noting the spilled garbage, discarded syringes, and broken glass littering the alley. She spotted a used needle and examined the tip, noting a small amount of murky liquid residue inside.
Yep. Definitely overdose. Though, his reactions didn't seem normal for a typical drug addict...
She had witnessed a bunch of overdoses in the slums, and while none had ever attacked people, the effects had been the same. The afflicted individuals were usually docile and subdued, not violent and aggressive.
This guy needs help, badly.
"Edith, you there? Just found this guy freaking out in the alley. He doesn't look good, and his body is twitching and everything..."
The comm in her helmet crackled to life.
Axion nodded, reaching out and scooping the man into her arms, cradling his convulsing body tightly against her chest. She closed her eyes, focusing on increasing the density of the gravitons surrounding them both. Then, with a leap, they shot upward, carried by an invisible force as they ascended through the air.
The man's eyelids fluttered, and for a moment, Axion thought she saw recognition in his gaze. But then it was gone, lost in another fit of convulsions.
"Hang in there!" Axion whispered as she leapt across the rooftops, racing towards the clinic. "We're almost there!"
With every leap and bound, she applied her gravitonic abilities to boost her speed. Within minutes, they'd arrived, and Axion dashed through the back door, nearly barrelling into Virgil. He stepped aside, steadying himself against the doorframe, his eyes widening in surprise. "What's wrong?!"
"Overdose. Got here as fast as I could. Is Edith ready?" Axion spoke rapidly, her voice strained as she carried the young man into the examination room.
"Nobody told me nothin' about this until you showed up." Virgil hurried over to assist her, gently taking the man from her arms and placing him on the medical bed. "Calm down, kid, let's see what the situation is."
Edith rushed over, Sheri following close behind. "Outta my way," Edith snapped, pushing past Virgil. She snatched up her scanner from the counter, waving the device over the unconscious man's body. "Dammit. I don't recognize these stimulants in his system...must be a new cocktail. Sheri, grab a dose of Naloxone. Now!"
Sheri hurried to fetch the drug, while Edith removed the man's clothing, applying a series of electrodes to his bare chest and abdomen. The heart monitor beeped frantically as the screen displayed jagged, irregular lines.
"Is he gonna be okay?" Axion asked anxiously. "What can I do to help?"
"Keep his head to the side," Edith instructed, her voice steady as she prepared the IV line. "We don't want him choking if he vomits."
Sheri returned with the injection, passing it to Edith, who immediately administered it into his arm. "This should help stabilize him, but I don't know how effective it'll be. We'll need to monitor him closely."
Axion stepped back, hovering anxiously as Sheri and Edith continued working to stabilize the patient. Virgil, who'd been watching silently, placed a firm hand on her shoulder and motioned for her to follow him outside.
She reluctantly followed, allowing the clinic doors to slide shut behind her.
"How'd you find him?" Virgil asked, his tone curt. "Where'd you find him?"
"In an alleyway. Near the intersection between Halo Avenue and 4th Street." She shifted uncomfortably, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why?"
"Which gang's territory does that overlap?"
Axion frowned, tilting her head. "Um...Near the Neon Alley so...it'd be the Neon Vipers, or the Neon Knights. Both basically compete for the area."
Virgil rubbed his chin and furrowed his brow. "What did you see or hear beforehand?"
"I was taking a break when I heard him in the alley. Thought he was just another addict. But when I went to check, he went berserk on me and then started shaking and puking. I grabbed him and came straight here. Didn't get a chance to ask any questions or find out what he was doing."
"Did he have anything on him when you brought him in?" Virgil questioned, keeping his gaze fixed on Axion. "Any belongings?"
"There's a syringe on the floor of the alley I came from. Might be a clue, I guess."
Virgil smacked Fii's helmet lightly. "It's not just a clue. It's evidence. Go grab it and bring it back here. Now."
Axion flinched at the light smack but nodded. "Okay. I'll be right back."
Axion quickly retrieved the small syringe from the alley and returned to the clinic, handing it over to Virgil. "Here it is. Do you think the Neon Vipers are up to something?" she inquired.
Virgil took the vial and studied it carefully, his brows furrowing. "Too early to say. If it's narcotics, there are only a few gangs who distribute. Most of 'em hang around the Night Market and the Neon Alley. Gonna hafta investigate this further." He turned to face her. "But you should get back on patrol. Edith's gonna take care of this kid for a bit. He needs time to recover and detox. Go finish your route and I'll update you tomorrow."
Axion hesitated, uncertain whether to argue. There was no point, and she knew it. Virgil was the detective, not her. Whatever was going on with the gangs, she doubted she could do much. Not yet, anyway.
"All right," she muttered, grudgingly agreeing. "If you find anything, will you let me know?"
Virgil cracked a rare smile. "Sure, kid. Now scram. We got work to do." He gestured towards the exit with his chin.
"Yes, sir." Axion nodded and trotted off, launching herself upwards and landing on the nearby rooftops.
As she continued her patrol, her thoughts drifted back to the man she'd found in the alley. She hoped he would be okay, that the gangs weren't pushing some new super-drug out. Even the low-grade ones caused plenty of damage, and the slums didn't need anything worse.
Virgil said he would handle the investigation. But even if she couldn't help directly, she could keep an eye out. Virgil may be experienced and tenacious, but she knew the slums better than he did, and that was something.
There was a way to find out more information.