Students filled the breezeways of Seacrest High, catching up on gossip and weekend exploits before the late bell heralded the start of another academic grind.

On the adjacent sports field, members of the track team circled for their usual morning laps. Ribald jokes and competition spurred many to test personal speed records despite stiff limbs and lingering weariness. Devon kept an easy pace alongside fleet-footed teammate Thomas, whose braying laughter carried over the crunch of their steady footfalls.

"Bumboclaat man! Tell mi again why you never invite mi to that sick riverside fete?" Thomas exclaimed with mock indignation before adding slyly, "Unless...a certain Chinese hottie occupies the VIP spot beside yuh these days?"

Devon scowled, avoiding his teammate’s prying gaze. "Mei is just a schoolmate. We friends but nothing major," he muttered, hoping his dismissiveness sounded convincing.

Thomas's grin only widened impishly. "Suh yuh claiming no attraction between yuh two then? Yuh know StarBoy like me have them bedroom eyes — and me not lying, me peep the chemistry!"

Before Devon could retort, Thomas took off across the worn grass; cackling and yelling, “No sah! Yuh secret safe with me bredren!”

Devon sped up, trying unsuccessfully to catch the slippery athlete amidst the chuckles of onlooking teammates. He shook his head in frustration but couldn’t suppress the heat creeping into his cheeks. There was no avoiding the locker room whispers sure to erupt about his blossoming friendship with the attractive transfer student. Dodging assumptions wouldn’t be easy, particularly with a nosy rival like Thomas ever ready to stoke speculation for amusement’s sake.

Later as Devon crossed the shaded Student Union portico enroute to History class, he spotted Mei and her Brazilian friend, Gabriela chatting animatedly atop the sun-dappled steps. Gabriela waved cheerily upon seeing him while Mei greeted Devon with an enthusiastic hug.

"So wonderful running into you! That riverside barbecue bash was too much fun," Mei gushed pleasantly. “Your family truly know how to party in style!”

Devon grinned bashfully, awkwardly shifting the textbooks tucked under one arm. “Yeah man, when the Johnson clan link up, things always get lively. Glad you enjoyed yourself, Jade."

Gabriela nudged her friend playfully. “Ooh ‘Jade’ is it now? No more formalities, hmm? You two looked so cute dancing together too!” She had seen a short clip of their riverside grooving.

Devon cleared his throat and rubbed his neck self-consciously. “We were just having fun like everyone else. Don’t start reading too much into it nuh.” He peered around trying to glimpse the wall clock above the SU entrance. “Anyway, I should get going before first bell or else Mr. Dawkins will lecture my ear off...”

"Oh let's all walk together!" Mei suggested brightly, tugging his elbow. "I have Biology in the SA building next. We can talk more about..." Her words trailed off and her gaze narrowed sharply. Devon followed her sightline to see Tanya further down the open corridor chatting with two girls from her Netball team.

Tanya’s stylish puff shimmered like dark chrome under sunlight coming through the walkway’s glass canopy. She wore an olive romper that accentuated her athletic curves and onyx calf-high boots. Devon started to wave when she turned towards them but caught himself as her full lips twisted subtly seeing his arm still linked with Mei’s delicate grip. Without even a cursory nod, Tanya said something amusing to her friends and disappeared laughing around the corner in a swish of tresses.

Mei wrinkled her brow in confusion. “That was rather cold. Do you and Tanya have some quarrel?”

Devon sighed heavily while gently extracting himself from Mei’s delicate fingers. “It’s complicated. But don’t worry about it.” He kneaded his temple wearily. “Anyway, I really should get going. See you girls later.” Devon hurried off, fervently hoping the twinge churning his insides didn’t manifest visibly for all to see.

***

Hours later, afternoon sun drenched Portland parish in amber hues as students streamed from Seacrest High ready to indulge school’s end freedom. Devon lingered near the admin office steps searching for any glimpse of the avoiding Tanya among the flow of chatterbox teens. He wondered if her venomous look earlier was due to seeing him with Mei Wen or just lingering emotions after the awkward dance misunderstanding Saturday night.

Finally he spotted Tanya’s distinctive braids rounding the far corner of Mr. Harrison’s office, her usual trio of gossiping girlfriends in tow. Devon rushed over, gently pulling her arm before she could react.

“Excuse me ladies but we have urgent business,” he offered briskly before Tanya could object. Her friends traded knowing smirks before sashaying off, leaving Tanya glaring up at him indignantly; her lush lips pursed in a way that would seem cute if she didn’t so clearly want to cuss him out. Devon almost smiled despite himself.

“I don’t have time for this Devon,” she muttered irritably, folding both arms under breasts now prominently defined by her figure hugging blouse. Devon swallowed, trying not to ogle. “I have drama club stuff to handle so whatever yuh want it better be important.”

Devon released her elbow awkwardly. “Sorry for the grab up but yeah...” He lowered his voice to barely above a whisper. “I have new updates on that special courier thing we talked about. Turns out is some pretty sick business so I figure we best turn over the intel I gathered before bad things escalate.”

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Tanya’s gaze softened somewhat hearing the seriousness edging his tone. She adjusted her messenger bag thoughtfully. “How bad yuh think we talking? Like, threat level ten or what?”

“More like level thirty if these monsters have them kinda ratings.” Devon replied grimly. He hastily summarized his recent undercover interactions — the manipulative arena fights, encrypted Red Neon control tech, connections between Killz, deranged scientist Vargas and other sinister players. He conveniently left out the unexpected intimacy parts though.

As Tanya listened intently, her irritation shifted to rising concern. “Yuh sure have gotten yuhself tangled up deep inna real vipers nest,” she uttered finally. Her fox ears twitched beneath the stylish headwrap barely masking them. “We best get this intel to the Power Crimes Unit pronto. I’ll escort yuh there myself.”

“Good idea, yeah let’s move right now before things escalate more.” Devon agreed, relieved by her initiative.

The pair rounded the corner in tandem, slowing their brisk pace at the unexpected sight of several armoured JPCU vehicles parked just off-campus. Squads of Coco Power officers were congregating near the idling transports while a handful of low-ranking heroes clustered conferring with Principal Harrison. Students eyed the gathering curiously, already ginning up speculative theories.

"Think this might be that crackdown squad Sarge Moss proposed at the last Omega Task Force meeting?" Devon ventured in an undertone as they strode briskly past the barricade of heroes and squad cars. "Special unit targeting Neon Punkster suppliers or something?"

Tanya's eyes narrowed warily. "Could be related, yeah. All the more reason we deliver your intel to the Power Crime authorities fast in case things getting stirred up already."

“You’re right.”

Soon, the pair slipped into a secluded ally where they swiftly transformed into their incognito guises — Devon as electric dreadlocked hero The Blur; Tanya tapping her Coco Power cells to morph gracefully into the three-tailed vulpine swashbuckler, Cocoa Fox!

Now masked and costumed, the duo slipped through Portland's bustling streets while The Blur elaborated some more on his recent undercover interactions. Cocoa Fox listened intently despite the din of city life, her concern deepening over this web of influential figures exploiting instability across Jamaica through trafficking of the highly unstable neon substance ‘Loki-7’.

"The deeper yuh delve playing super spy, the more yuh putting yuhself at risk, Blur," Cocoa Fox countered pointedly as they continued towards the main police precinct. "Getting tangled up with deadly sharks, Jamaica crime lords and them nutty mad scientists..." She trailed off shaking her graceful head, ivory braids swishing gently.

"No choice when the lives of countless innocents at stake, Cocoa," The Blur countered solemnly as their destination loomed ahead. "If exposing this nasty Loki-7 scheme saves even one more youth from ending up mutated as some mindless monster puppet, then the danger is worth facing."

Cocoa Fox eyed him pensively a moment before nodding. However personally inexperienced or reluctant this untested hero seemed initially, his courage and sense of duty were proving true indeed.

The heroes eventually arrived at the bustling station teeming with uniformed officers and spandex-clad crime fighters coming and going variously. A broad wall display listed today's notable incidents and dispatched teams including a Major Flood Rescue near Durant Bay plus Pacific Pirates Apprehended off southern coast.

Cocoa Fox steered them past the busy lobby towards a set of sliding doors marked ‘Hero Lounge – Authorized Access Only’. This special annex housed an Intel Gathering Hub for registered heroes to interface with Omega Task Force databases, submit field reports, or request mission briefings from senior ADC officers.

Upon entering the sleek lounge, Cocoa Fox approached the crescent desk where a youthful officer sporting curly blue dreadlocks glanced up from several holographic displays orbiting his workstation.

"Top of the evening, Heroes. Welcome to the NexGen Lounge. I am ADC Robertson. How can I assist?" the desk officer inquired cordially. His relaxed tone clashed with the claw-tipped gauntlets adorning both forearms, hinting at more lethal capacities beneath the friendly facade.

"Greetings," Cocoa Fox replied. "My partner and I need to deliver time-sensitive intel regarding the recent surge in violent outbursts by mutated civilians across Portland parish. We believe a deeper conspiracy connects these 'Neon Punksters' ravaging communities after dark."

ADC Robertson's cheerful demeanour shifted to focused attentiveness indicating this was no trivial report. "I see. That particular matter is Priority Omega status given the human experimentation and advanced bioweapon implications. Please wait here a moment."

His dreadlocks rippled subtly before a security door hissed open, allowing the heroes access deeper inside. "Report to Briefing Room 4C and provide full disclosure to Detective Colmbs. He is running lead on the narcotic response and containment initiatives relating to corrupted Coco victims across vulnerable townships."

"Will do, bless up," The Blur acknowledged before leading Cocoa Fox towards the awaiting chamber. However mere steps later, his wrist communicator pinged urgently. "Cho backside…” he hissed.

“What is it?” Tanya raised one questioning eyebrow as Devon gave her a pained look.

“Priority message from Killz," The Blur muttered under his breath. "Apparently some runner in his crew got nabbed earlier by some heroes. Now he wants me to deliver a suspicious package urgently to some customer.” The Blur showed Cocoa Fox the coordinates.

Cocoa Fox sighed heavily while radiating concern. “This Don clearly testing yuh reliability since that intense loyalty stunt he pulled last week inna the forest. But going anywhere near that address alone after all you already exposed could be walking straight into a potential trap.”

The Blur nodded gravely. “Yeah man, massive risk still. But with these surprise raid squads hitting streets plus Killz growing paranoid about spies and snitches amongst his crew, refusing his summons could blow my cover completely.” He clenched his fists resolutely. “Might be now or never to uncover the whereabouts of the ringleaders pushing this madness from the shadows...”

Cocoa Fox eyed him pensively for a long moment, then finally dipped her graceful head. “Alright, yeah. Just try to make the delivery run quick then report back, nuh? Signal me the moment anything seem suspicious and I'll provide backup!” She grasped his shoulder firmly. “Most importantly, no unnecessary risks to get yuhself captured or killed fool!”

The Blur gave a curt nod, resolve hardening his rugged features. Then in a sudden blur of static, he vanished through the sliding doors.

Cocoa Fox crossed her arms with a frustrated huff that sent ivory braids rippling. If that impulsive youth ended up hurt running these dangerous streets alone, she would cuff his stubborn ears back herself!

Sharpening her focus, the svelte heroine proceeded towards the Intel Briefing Room. She had to uphold her end now by delivering The Blur’s crucial intel to the Powers Division investigators. Perhaps these authorities could utilize their covert surveillance capabilities to ensure her partner’s reckless infiltration gamble didn’t backfire fatally.

As the brushed steel door slid open, Cocoa Fox straightened, ready to fully disclose their collected evidence exposing the root of Portland's communal chaos — the Red Neon rings utilizing encrypted signals for remote puppeteering of violently unstable Coco-drug mutations the people had taken to calling ‘Neon Punksters’.