Vargas tapped a button on his sleek communicator, the blue holographic interface shimmering as it projected Nera's face. He quickly briefed her on the rogue Null he'd encountered, describing the girl's appearance and the situation.
"Are you sure you'll be okay handling this alone?" Nera asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I'll be fine," Vargas reassured her. "She's a novice. Her ability is strong, but it's uncontrolled. I can handle it. I'll be out tomorrow tracking her down."
Nera hesitated but nodded. "Alright, just be careful. If things get out of hand, call for backup."
"Will do. Goodnight, Nera," Vargas said with a soft smile.
"Goodnight, boss."
Vargas shut off the communicator, the hologram flickering out. With a deep sigh, he walked toward his bed, ready to finally get some rest.
Before heading to bed, Vargas stood in front of his closet, staring at his wardrobe. Rows of neatly organized suits, coats, and tactical gear filled the space, all meticulously arranged by color and style. He reached for a comfortable pair of sleepwear, which, in contrast to his usual serious and formal outfits, was quite silly.
"Well, it's not like anyone's going to see me," he muttered to himself, pulling out the absurd pajama set.
The pajamas were a soft blue, covered in tiny, floating spaceships and stars that glowed in the dark. The oversized pants had little rocket ships zooming across them, and the top had a cartoonish astronaut giving a thumbs-up.
It was a gift from his protege before his promotion to full-time Investigator. A practical joke among themselves.
With a chuckle, Vargas quickly stripped out of his formal wear, tossing the jacket on a nearby chair and kicking off his boots. He struggled for a moment trying to get the pajama pants over his feet, hopping on one leg, nearly tripping over his discarded clothes in the process.
"Smooth, real smooth," he muttered sarcastically, finally getting the pants on and sliding into the equally goofy top. He gave himself a once-over in the mirror, shaking his head at how ridiculous he looked. "Deadliest investigator in the galaxy... in rocket ship pajamas. Perfect."
He couldn't help but laugh at his own reflection, feeling the tension from the day ease a bit.
Now comfortably dressed, and with a smirk still lingering on his face, Vargas headed over to the bed.
The bed was an impressive piece of futuristic technology, designed for optimal comfort and relaxation. It was sleek and minimalistic, floating just above the floor thanks to an advanced levitation system.
The frame emitted a soft, ambient glow, customizable to any color or brightness level based on the user's mood.
Vargas preferred a dim, blue hue, calming and reminiscent of a quiet night sky.
As he approached, the bed adjusted itself automatically to his preferred settings. The surface was made of a smart-memory material that conformed to his body shape, offering perfect support no matter how he lay down.
It could sense his muscle tension and temperature, adjusting its firmness and cooling capabilities to help him rest more efficiently.
A soft hum filled the room as the bed activated its built-in relaxation features. Gentle pulses of electromagnetic energy flowed through the mattress, designed to soothe muscles and promote deeper sleep.
Overhead, a holographic canopy displayed constellations and shifting nebulas, giving the illusion of sleeping under the stars, though Vargas often turned it off in favor of complete darkness.
He lay down, the bed enveloping him in weightless comfort. A soft sound, like a distant lullaby, played in the background, engineered to sync with his heartbeat and slow his breathing. Vargas sighed, feeling his body relax fully as the technology did its work.
Vargas woke up to the soft hum of his bed's alarm system, which gently vibrated under him, a much less jarring way to start the day than any traditional alarm. He stretched, his spaceship pajamas glowing faintly in the dim light of his room. After a moment, he threw off the covers, stood up, and yawned, ready to begin his day.
First, the morning routine: brushing his teeth and taking a long, refreshing shower. The shower system automatically adjusted the water temperature to his preference and even played soft ambient music—Vargas had set it to something reminiscent of a gentle stream on a forest planet. Once clean, he dressed in his usual attire, this time opting for something casual but functional, considering the day's tasks ahead.
He then moved to the kitchen area and prepared himself a cup of coffee. The machine worked fast, a luxury when dealing with intergalactic investigations, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the room. Taking a sip, he let the warmth wash over him before setting the cup down and finding a quiet spot in his quarters to meditate.
Vargas crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and let his breathing slow, focusing on the flow of aera, within and around him. As he meditated, his aura gently flared out, its violet-black hue blending with the air around him. Meditation was essential, allowing Awakeners like Vargas to speed up the rate of aera absorption from the atmosphere and recover what had been drained. With each passing moment, he felt his strength slowly replenishing, his connection to the aera in the air growing stronger.
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After 30 minutes, Vargas opened his eyes, feeling more centered and ready for the day. He uncrossed his legs and walked over to his desk, where his laptop waited. Opening it, he checked his inbox for any updates. As he scrolled through the usual reports and Bureau updates, one email caught his eye. It was from the delivery service: the package he had ordered yesterday— the Null-inhibitor collar—had already arrived.
Vargas couldn't help but smile at the speed. "That was fast," he muttered, amused at how efficiently the system worked.
Vargas slid into his inquisitor gear and armor, the pieces fitting together seamlessly. The sleek, dark plating gleamed under the artificial light of his quarters, each part designed for both protection and intimidation.
His long coat draped over the armor, completing the look that marked him unmistakably as an investigator.
As he fastened the final pieces, his Helix Repeater slipped into its holster, and a faint hum emanated from the power system built into the suit. He checked his gear one last time and headed out.
Stepping into the bustling city streets, Vargas raised his hand to flag down a taxi. Within seconds, a sleek, hovering vehicle pulled up beside him, its metallic surface reflecting the vibrant lights of the futuristic skyline. The driver, a middle-aged man in a crisp uniform, scrambled out of the car the moment he noticed who was flagging him down.
"Sir, Inquisitor, please," the driver stammered as he rushed to open the door. "An honor to serve you."
"Investigator! Not Inquisitor", Vargas corrected, with a hint of annoyance.
"Ah apologizes sir", the driver murmured, before pointing to the interior of the car. "Please, I wish to serve you".
Vargas gave him a nod of acknowledgment, stepping into the floating taxi. Investigators held a certain prestige across the galaxy, and on nearly every human-settled planet, they commanded respect. Their role as enforcers, protectors, and keepers of order meant their presence carried weight, and Vargas, while not one to flaunt his status, knew how it worked to his advantage.
The taxi's interior was clean and comfortable, with soft lighting and a faint hum from the anti-grav engines. As the door slid shut, the driver hurried back to his seat and sped off, the city's tall buildings zooming past in a blur of neon lights and sleek metallic architecture.
"Where to, Investigator?" the driver asked, his voice steady but still carrying an air of deference.
"Just take me to the merchant hub," Vargas responded casually, keeping his gaze on the streets outside. He wasn't in a hurry, but he had work to do, and the sooner he picked up the Null-inhibitor collar, the sooner he could track down the rogue girl.
The taxi glided effortlessly through the traffic, a stream of flying vehicles and neon advertisements reflecting off the windows as the bustling city below continued its endless hum of activity.
The taxi arrived at the merchant hub, a vast complex of gleaming storefronts and automated kiosks, each offering an array of futuristic technology and goods. As Vargas stepped out, the driver tipped his hat slightly, knowing better than to expect a tip from an investigator—respect was currency enough. Vargas gave him a small nod and moved toward the package retrieval center.
Within moments, he approached the counter where an assistant recognized his ID and slid a sleek black package out from a compartment. Vargas quickly grabbed it and walked to a quieter corner of the bustling hub to open it.
Tearing through the security seals, Vargas pried open the box, revealing the Null-inhibitor collar inside. It was a simple but sturdy-looking device, dark gray with a smooth, metallic finish. There was a tag attached, its holographic display lighting up as he picked it up.
"Null-Inhibitor Collar: Manufactured for controlling and nullifying the abilities of Nulls. Operate with caution. To activate, place around the subject's neck, and secure the latch. The collar will automatically adjust to the subject's size. The device will inhibit the Null field within a radius of two meters, rendering the subject's field inactive. Warning: Do not tamper with inhibitor settings."
Vargas inspected it, turning the collar over in his hands. It was well-built, with a small control panel on the side, though it didn't require much interaction. The device was largely automatic, designed for quick deployment and simplicity, given the unpredictable nature of Nulls.
Satisfied, Vargas tucked the collar into a compartment on his belt. His thoughts turned to the rogue girl he had encountered the night before. She was a novice, but still dangerous in her own way. With the collar now in his possession, he felt more prepared for the next encounter.
He stood, scanning the area around him one last time before heading out, ready to track down the girl.
Vargas stepped out of the merchant hub and into the bright, bustling streets of the city. The sun was high, and the glimmer of floating vehicles reflected light off the tall skyscrapers. As he activated his armor's inbuilt comms and GPS, he began methodically working his way through the streets, determined to find the girl.
His first stop was the street cleaners' central depot, where he assumed the girl might have been based on her uniform. He flashed his Inquisitor credentials to the workers there, asking questions.
"Hey, I'm looking for a runaway girl. Wore one of your uniforms. Filthy, nervous. Seen anyone like that?"
"Ah you must be talking about Emilie…Yea she clocked in yesterday for work, but she didn't show up today at all, not even an excuse. Was looking to let her go, nice girl and all, but it was always so creepy and dark with her around", the manager responded recalling from his memories.
"She have any family around?", Vargas continued to question.
"Nah not that I know of. Even if she did, wouldn't be surprised if they left or something. Something was not right with that girl I tell ya", the manager rubbed his temples.
With a frown, Vargas left and began moving faster, channeling his magic to enhance his physical abilities. His senses sharpened, muscles tense as he felt the aera flowing through him. He sped through the alleyways and across rooftops, hopping effortlessly from ledges, sprinting through the more crowded areas of the city with inhuman agility. He wasn't moving at the speed of a Praetorian, but just enough to cover the city.
He questioned people wherever he went: street vendors, pedestrians, beggars. He even entered the seedier areas of the city, where danger lurked in every corner and where people were generally wary of outsiders. The rundown buildings and dark alleyways were filled with unsavory characters, but no one had seen the girl. Or at least no one was talking.
Hours passed, and his frustration grew. The girl had vanished, seemingly into thin air. It was as if she had never existed. He cursed under his breath, worrying that she had been captured by enemies—perhaps even worse than that, by someone who knew what she was.
He ran his hand through his hair as he leapt to the top of a dilapidated building in the slums, scanning the city below him.
His mind raced. The girl was a Null, and while she was young and untrained, her ability to drain aera made her a high-value target. There were always people in the underworld willing to pay top dollar for someone like her, either to exploit her powers or to silence her before she became a threat.
As the day dragged on, Vargas' anxiety began to spike. His mind flickered with darker possibilities—what if she had been captured by someone looking to weaponize her Null abilities? What if she was already gone? His fists clenched in frustration, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"Think, Vargas," he muttered, focusing. "Where else could she be?"
He pushed himself harder, dashing through the city like a shadow, a blur of dark armor and determination. Yet no matter where he looked, he found nothing.