A/N: Shoutout to my beta, Ravenshell!

Chapter 55

Taking a sip of my green tea, I watch the stout blind cook stir-fry vegetables before expertly dividing them amongst patrons sitting at the barstools. This quaint little noodle shop is our meeting place; they serve pretty decent miso chicken soup at least. I'm new to this case and even newer to this sector. I've always been drawn to the peculiar, the abnormal. Regular police forces always overlooked the paranormal even when the natural evidence didn't add up. Justice was never truly served. Working under the Earth Protection Force, I get a chance to dig deeper; find the truth behind the cases that local police are too scared to acknowledge. The bell jingles from the top of the entrance door as I stir a spoon in my soup. I tap my cell phone. It reads: 7:00pm. Right on time as always.

"Director Bishop. Glad you could make it."

"I have more pressing matters that need attending, please be brief in your case summary, Agent Sage." His terse monotone voice and dark shades hide any sign of genuine interest in my progress, but I pretend it doesn't grate under my skin.

"As you know there have been high levels of detection of mutagen within the Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Chinatown districts." His dark shades make it difficult to tell if he's listening to me but I continue anyway. "We found a lead. Gary Lawson. By day, a community college science teacher; by night a mutagenic chemist. We found traces of mutagen radiation in his basement along with a pretty extensive lab."

Bishop leans forward, arms resting on the table between us. "Excellent. We'll analyze the confiscated mutagen at the base. Good job agent."

I mask my nervousness with serious demeanor as I clear my throat. "Actually, the chemical samples we found weren't pure mutagen. According to forensics, it contains traces of mutagen but its basis is a drug commonly used to flush out toxins from individuals exposed to radiation. We also found blood of an animal samples in the basement."

"What kind of animal?"

"We're not sure." He arches a brow as I continue. "The DNA is spliced, mostly reptilian."

"What does Lawson have to say about all this?"

"The suspect is missing. My team is still investigating his whereabouts since his disappearance. He wasn't very social, no relatives nearby; the only person that seemed to know him personably was a coworker, Kirby O'Neil. He's a bit skittish and little—"

"Kirby O'Neil... he's one of the scientists who went missing a year ago."

"Yes. We've been tagging him a few days now." I decide it's best not to mention that we lost him in a crowd today when he spotted one of our guys following him.

"Hm. O'Neil goes missing a year ago and returns only for his colleague to go missing. Keep tabs on O'Neil. He knows something. Get a search warrant."

"Right." It shouldn't be too hard to come up with a probable cause for a search. O'Neil admitted to nerding out with Lawson about science stuff and that's enough of a probable cause for me.

"I expect a thorough report on your findings by the end of the week, Agent..."

"Sage." I try to hide my frustration at his forgetfulness. I don't work twice as hard as the guys in this agency to be treated like some nameless rookie.

"Right." He strokes his chin. "You're new to the agency."

"Yes, but not to law enforcement and defense."

"This case could be a huge breakthrough in our Kraang crackdown." He adjusts his shades before pushing away from the table. "It could also be the difference between a probationary agent and special agent." The unspoken connection between this case and a promotion don't go unnoticed. I live for this kind of work. I'll solve this case and keep our civilians safe.

"Understood, sir."

"Good." With a brisk nod, he leaves in the same hurried manner he arrived. I've got work to do.

A/N: Short chapter, but more is on the way. This was just a little glimpse at the opposition's POV. Thanks for reading! Be sure to leave a review! I love hearing from you guys.

See you next chapter!

Poetique