Leo turned his head, spotting several ruined buildings, a crowd that screamed while running away, and multiple large fire's taking place. BOOM. Looking upwards, he could see two Powered's fighting, sending each other far away with each clash. There was a hint of burning meat that he tried not to think about, but it only got stronger. Joannah was the first to move, dashing into the crowd. She disappeared soon after, followed by Peter, who fitted a gas mask to his outfit while cursing to himself. Isaac went back, turning siren's on, taking Leo with him. He started shaking, flinching whenever they clashed.

"You know how to use the hose?" Isaac said. It took a repeat for him to understand, but he nodded. Before he attached himself, Isaac started moving the truck, heading towards those fire's. "Please, move out of our way," he said, his voice amplified. Nobody made any effort to do so, instead heading for it now. From that point on, their trek slowed to a snail's pace, with people refusing to move, shouting words that blended into incoherent messes, before they realised that they weren't saving them. While minutes passed, Leo turned his attention to the Powered's, trying to figure out who was fighting.

"You doing okay back there?" said Isaac's voice, coming from a walkie-talkie he had forgotten was there.

"Yeah," Leo said. "I think I'm okay. Who's fighting up there?"

"Doesn't matter. Both of them can harm us, so keep an eye on them at all times. Peter, Joannah, check in."

"Still haven't spotted her," Peter said, his voice muffled by surrounding words. "Found a group that's hiding, though. They won't leave, so I figured I'd stay with them, give some company."

"If they seem like they're fine, leave them, find someone who isn't, get them to us. You know your job, so do it. Joannah, come in now." No one responded. "Joannah, if I don't get anything-"

"I'm here, just close to their fighting's all. Can't talk, I'll be back." Following her words, another figure appeared, flying towards the fight.

"There's another," Leo said, his eyes locked on them. "A third one has appeared."

"Get out of there, Joannah. Leo, get inside, and Peter, find your way towards us. We're en route to the major fire's."

"Roger. See you there."

Fighting against waves of people, he somehow found himself inside, struggling to stand. Leo was thrown down, unable to stand, and stared upwards. His ribs were hurting, his arms were aching, and his throat was dry. Placing a hand on a seat, he lifted himself, careful against bumps, and moved to the front, where Isaac drove in an empty street. Without a word, he sat in the passenger seat, where Isaac laid a hand on his shoulder. For some reason, he found himself laughing along with Isaac, who kept his eyes ahead. After a minute or two, Peter was spotted, already waiting at a fire hydrant near the fire's; Isaac parked, and they set it up with practiced movements.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

BOOM. Leo's tired eyes opened, and he peered out the windshield, finding the Powered's fighting a lot closer than before. Turning his walkie-talkie on, he said, "They're closer." Knee bouncing, he watched, waiting for something to happen.

"There's a button near the horn, one with wavy lines coloured blue. Give it a push, and we'll be out in a minute." Peter's voice was a welcome distraction, and Leo was able to find it, giving it a push.

"Done," he said.

"Three, two, one." Following his countdown, water sprayed outwards, covering everything in fifty meters; those were the public numbers, anyway. It seemed to go farther, and it hit...

"Oh no," he said, watching as a neck turned to face the truck. "Damn, damn, damn." Rushing out, Leo pulled Peter and Isaac with him, taking them to a small ridge of concrete. Keeping their heads on the ground might have saved their lives; when the truck was sent flying, it hit that small ridge, sending itself flipping just high enough to avoid smashing their heads in.

"Keep breathing," Isaac said, not moving a muscle. To his surprise, he could, but it was shaky. He hadn't stopped shaking for so long that it felt like he was incapable of anything else.

Once there was another earthquake, a voice said, "You can come out now. Murder's been dealt with."

"Took them long enough," Peter said, spitting bloody spit out of his mouth. "Thanks for the save, kid. We got that fire, for sure, y'see."

Laughter came out of Leo's mouth and wouldn't stop, infecting all three of them. Next came tears, all from Leo, who sat down with his head buried into his knees.

Footsteps approached him, boots visible from gaps, and Isaac's voice came through. "Our job isn't done yet. Come on, let's go save some lives, shall we?"

***

After half an hour of digging, cleaning, and searching for people who needed help, Joannah showed up again, receiving an earful from Isaac before she joined their effort. From there, they spent several hours before the other group joined them, having taken the less populated area. Isaac talked with who Leo assumed was the Captain alone, out of earshot. It didn't seem like they were done to Leo, but they went back once the Sun rose. Leo wasn't allowed any sleep yet, as the Captain wanted to speak with him, and neither was Joannah, who was called second.

His office was clean, filled with tons of files he tried to get a look at, but his tired brain couldn't read anything.

"That was quite an eventful day," he said once Leo sat down. "I understand if you don't want to work here anymore after that, and I also understand if you would rather leave right now than listen to me." There was a very deliberate pause before he spoke again. "But, I wanted to say thank you for saving Isaac and Peter. Despite their individual failing's, they are good people, and very appreciated."

Leo tried to speak, but his mouth failed him several times before he was able to say, "I would like to stay."

A smile bloomed on his face. "That's good. Now, you can quit anytime you want to, but I also have power to fire you. There is no questioning my decision, okay?" Consent was given through a nod. "Welcome to the First Response Unit. I am Captain Gold, and I wish you a quiet day when you next come in."