She turned to Sergeant Mack. "Process them. Get their injuries treated and put them in lockup."
To his credit, the sergeant didn't hesitate despite the visible unease on his face. "Right away, Agent." Turning to his squad, he bellowed orders. "All right, you got your orders, ladies. Let's get these suspects processed."
The Denizens' expressions slowly changed from haughty calm to mounting horror as they were freed from their shackles only to be cuffed again by the stony-faced RCE unit. The crowds burst into wild applause and cheering as the Denizens were led into an armored transport.
Ronnie motioned to Sergeant Mack. "I'm coming with."
"You sure, Ronnie? Heard about how the last transport went down. That was just some lowlife perp. This bust is a hundred times more volatile. Could get messy."
"All the more reason for an extra set of eyes. I need roving drones with high alert threat scanners. Keep a sharp lookout for any rooftop movement. I'm not losing anyone this time. And I'm not giving up this bust."
Mack nodded. "Like you say, Agent."
She opened the door and jumped into the passenger seat of the transport. The driver gave her a thumbs up. His voice crackled over the datcom.
"Got drones in the air and eyes on the rooftops. You give us the green light, Agent."
"Let's do it, then."
She glanced behind, were a narrow window allowed a view of the captive Denizens. Huddled together under the watchful eyes of armored RCE guardsmen, they didn't look regal or extraordinary at all. They were just people dressed in peculiar robes, disheveled and pitiful. Having realized their bluff was called, they broke down like any other suspect. Ulysses had his face in his hands. Electra glanced up, meeting Ronnie's gaze. Mortification and hatred glimmered in her eyes, but she looked away first.
The pilot waved a hand. "Got a priority call coming in. Patching it through."
Commissioner Miller's angry voice buzzed over the com. "Agent Banks, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Bringing in some suspects, sir."
He made a strangled sound. "I'm watching you on the news, Agent. Those so-called suspects are Denizens of Haven Core."
"I'm aware of that, sir."
"Then you're aware that we have no authority to arrest them. They handle their own cases. You're not about to bring HSSC down on my neck. I'm ordering you to release them."
She whirled her finger at the pilot, indicating take-off. "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't hear you. Must be some interference."
"You're not using that flimsy excuse on me. I know the lines are good. I'm not taking the heat for this. You let those Denizens go. That's an order!"
"You're breaking up, sir. I'll see you at the precinct."
"Agent. You'll lose your shield for this. Do you hear me? You'll be the one in a cell!"
She cut the call off, glancing outside the window. The transport propelled upward, thrusters expelling clouds of vapor as they took the vehicle upward. The crowds lit up from the glow, cheering as the transport gained speed, maneuvering through the tangle of crisscrossed structures.
The pilot glanced at her. "Sure about this, Agent? Commish sounded pretty steamed."
She took a deep breath, suddenly itching for a vape despite quitting years ago. "Surer than I've been in a long time."
Several hours later, she dropped her floater down on a drive in the Districts. The rising sun cast sharp rays between the buildings, nearly blinding her. Exiting the vehicle, she strode toward a dilapidated brownstone building. The door admitted her automatically. The interior was staged like a place for sale or rent. Clean and tidy, but without personality and unused in appearance. She strode up to the master bedroom. Taking a deep breath, she entered.
A body of a man lay on the bed, shrouded by clean white linen. The bed itself was a medical capsule, sealing the body inside. The man's head was emaciated, bones jutting against the parchment skin. Tubes protruded from his mouth and the veins of his bony arms. A cap was snugly fitted over his head, overlaid with blinking sensors. The only sound was the hissing of the air system as it fed oxygen to his body.
A large shape moved in the corner. Electric blue eyes glowed from the shadows of a metallic face.
"Sorry I let you down, Ronnie," Isaac said.
"You didn't." She pulled a chair from the wall, dragged it beside him and sat down. Exhaling a long breath, she released the tension she'd been holding all night.
"I got the call. Heard Dens were involved. I… just froze, Ronnie. Got flashbacks of that night. The truck, the blinding light. The pain… it wasn't just a memory. It was like living it all over again. Imagine that. In this body…" He glanced down at himself. "I felt pain. It should be impossible."
She placed a warm hand over his smooth, cold metal one. "So you came here."
"Yeah. Wanted to see myself. My real self. They hooked my brain up to the machine. Allowed me to remotely operate this robotic body. But I'm not alive anymore. I'm… a zombie. An abomination, like the other officers call me when they think I can't hear them."
"Don't say that."
"A man should be able to admit the truth. What they did was a warning. A lesson from the Dens not to interfere with their business."
"We don't know that."
"You know it just like I do. And tonight, you went and did it again."
She dropped her head. "I didn't have a choice. You didn't know what they did, Isaac."
"I heard everything over the wire. They're monsters. Always were."
For a moment they didn't say anything. The oxygen system continued, the noises almost melodic as it fed life into a deadened body.
"I'm glad you were there," Isaac said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean it. You're one of the only ones with the guts to do something. It had to be you. You've sacrificed so much because of those bastards."
"Me? You're the one who paid the price. If anyone's made a sacrifice, it's you."
He shook his head. "I got pegged because I didn't stay alert like you told me. Let my guard down. It wasn't your fault, Ronnie. You gotta get past it."
"I… don't know how to get past it."
"I know. And you're suffering because of it. Distancing yourself from everyone. It's not healthy."
"I don't want to put anyone else in the crosshairs because they made the mistake of getting close to me. I've lost more partners than any Agent currently active. At some point, I have to take a look in the mirror and realize the fault is mine."
"You kick ass because no one else will. Don't ever be sorry for that." His polymorphic lips curved into a stiff smile. "I take it the Commissioner wasn't your biggest fan tonight."
She managed a weak laugh. "Nope. The press was too much in his face to do anything about it by the time we got to the precinct. He was still in the headlights when I booked the Dens."
"How long do you think we'll hold them before someone from HC shows up?"
"I don't know. Not long, I'd guess. This is a stain on the Haven's reputation. Someone will come for them, if only to clean up the mess. I don't really know if arresting them will even matter. All I'm doing is painting a target on my back."
"I don't think they're going to focus on you this time."
"No? Why not?"
"Because you weren't the person that took down those Dens."
She slowly nodded. "I've been thinking about that."
"I know you have."
"I'm just wondering if this is connected to the hit on the warehouse in the Grindbox District."
"Don't forget about the attack on the toughs in the alley."
She stared at him. "You really think it's all connected? Some random person goes from jumping thugs to attacking gang-controlled weapon caches, then decides to graduate to taking down corrupt Dens?" She shook her head. "That sounds a bit much."