A few weeks had passed since the meeting with the dean. It was Saturday now. Aaron had on a pair of black cargo shorts and running shoes instead of his slacks and work boots; Zane wore the same thing. Sara sat with them outside a small coffee shop. They were talking and drinking coffee together.
A group of kids walked up to them. "You guys go to the academy, right?" A little girl asked.
"Mhm." Sara nodded smiling at her.
"That's so cool." Two of the boys said. "When I'm older, I'm going into the academy."
"It's a lot of fun." Zane told them. "I love getting to go out on raids."
"Did you catch any bad guys?"
"Tons." He responded.
Aaron's duel disk beeped. "What is it?" Sara asked. She looked at the kids. "Can you guys go, please?" They nodded their heads running off.
"Email." Aaron said opening it. "I have a Duel Runner test tonight."
"I thought you were off Duel Runners." Zane said.
"This time is different." Aaron said growing serious. "Are you guys coming to watch?"
Sara and Zane nodded their heads. "I'm going out on a raid at midnight, but it shouldn't interfere." Zane said looking at his duel disk. "If I do well on this one, I get a stripe." He pointed to his empty sleeve.
"We should probably head back." Sara said looking at the time on her duel disk.
"Someone stop that thief!" A shopkeeper shouted. A man ran by with a bag in his arms.
"Let's go." Sara started running after the thief with Zane and Aaron following behind her. Zane ran ahead and jumped tackling him to the ground.
"It was only a few loaves of bread." He growled.
"Crime is crime." Sara said pushing a button on her duel disk; handcuffs materialized on the thief's hands.
"We caught a thief robbing a bakery. Sending our location now." Aaron typed something on his duel disk. "Sector Security should be here in a few minutes to grab him."
"Look at that. He duels." Zane pulled a deck from the man's pocket. "I think he's heading for the Facility."
"Please, not the facility!" The man was on the brink of tears.
"It's out of our hands." Zane looked through the deck. "You'll be fine in the Facility, if you play your cards right."
The shopkeeper ran up to the group. "You junior security kids sure know what you're doing."
"Thank you, sir." Sara responded. "If you don't mind waiting, Sector Security would probably like to talk to you when they arrive."
"No problem at all. Thank you for your help."
Sector Security soon arrived with a car. The man was screaming while an officer shoved him inside. Zane handed over the deck to the other officer. "We'll give your instructors a good word for your efforts today. You kids will make fine additions to Sector Security."
"Thank you." Sara responded for the group. "If you'll excuse us, we need to get back to the academy." The officers got into their car and drove off while they started to walk back to the academy.
"Is the Facility that bad?" Zane asked.
"We won't have to find out." Sara said. "It's for Commons who break the law and anyone who fights the system."
…
It was early at night. Aaron stood in a closed garage. "This is the Duel Runner." One of the instructors said pulling the sheet off it. "We built it to your specifications, but we did put in a faster engine."
The Duel Runner was built on one wheel; the seat rested above it. The body of the Duel Runner was small and compact. There was a small compartment on the back meant to hold a helmet and a few other items. On top of it were lights. The Sector Security logo was on the front and on the side. Counterweights built into it kept it balanced.
"This works." Aaron said looking at it in awe.
"Good, because you have an audience tonight." The instructor said crossing their arms. "Get ready and get on it.
Aaron nodded his head grabbing a helmet off the rack. He put it on followed by his sport sunglasses. He got on the Duel Runner and put his duel disk in the slot. He grabbed the handles and revved the engine. "Open the garage." The instructor nodded their head.
Aaron arrived at the starting line and looked at the crowd before returning to the course.
"He's riding half a Duel Runner!" Someone in the stands shouted laughing at him.
"That's new." Zane said sitting next to Sara. He had on a long sleeve shirt and a military style vest. "You think he'll pass?"
"He might. That Duel Runner looks like something he would ask for."
Aaron watched the light turn green. He sped up and accelerated down the straight path. The first turn came up. Aaron took it sharply earning gasps from the crowd.
"He made it." Zane said shocked.
"I made it." Aaron smiled to himself continuing along the course increasing speed. He maneuvered through the obstacles on the course with ease. The bike took turns sharply and moved faster than standard Duel Runners. He parked at the finish line and removed his helmet.
The students who watched were cheering for him. His instructor gave him the thumbs up making marks on their clipboard.
Zane and Sara ran down from the stands to congratulate him. "Finally passed." Sara smiled crossing her arms.
"Nice Duel Runner." Zane said looking it over.
"It's custom." Aaron said grabbing his duel disk and putting it back on his arm.
One of the instructors ran over. "Aaron, there's a phone call waiting for you in the garage. Bring the Duel Runner with you."
"Guys, I have to get going."
"So do I." Zane said looking at the time on his duel disk.
"See you later." Sara said waving at Aaron.
He gave her a nod before wheeling his bike into the garage. It shut itself as he walked inside.
"That was money well spent." A voice said from a monitor.
Aaron turned to it. "Director Roget!" He immediately tightened up saluting.
"At ease." He said waving his hand. Aaron put his hand down. "You have done very well for yourself on that course. Based on your past record, I was expecting you to merely pass. Never would I have thought that you would excel."
"Thank you, sir."
"According to your file, your dueling is decent, grades as well. I'm not one to normally offer this, but how would you feel about going on a Duel Chase?"
"Are you sure?"
"No need to be doubting yourself just yet. The reason I'm asking you to do this is because of that news reporter, Melissa Trail. She says that her fans are craving some spice in their programming. Allowing junior chasers to participate has given her pleasing results. Will you do it?"
"Yes, sir." Aaron responded immediately.
"Excellent. I will make the arrangements." He ended the call. In his other hand was a chess piece, a pawn. "Another pawn moves into place." He smiled setting it on the board.
…
"You ready to go?" An officer put on a gas mask. He looked at Zane.
"All set." Zane put on a mask and grabbed a nightstick from a crate.
"Okay." The team leader stepped up in front of the group. "We are infiltrating a small shop that has been reported to be selling stolen cards. Our job is to arrest the criminals involved. I also have to announce that we have a junior officer with us tonight." He pointed to Zane. "Let's try to set a good example. Move out!" He pointed to a van. Zane got into the back with four other officers.
"You done this before, rookie?" One of them asked.
Zane nodded his head. "If I do this one right, I'm earning a stripe."
"Just listen to us and you'll get that stripe." Zane nodded his head as the van started to move.
…
People sorted cards into bins; their white gloves prevented marks on the cards. A canister rolled into the room and started emitting tear gas.
"Move in!" Someone shouted. Zane ran into the room with the other officers and started putting handcuffs on everyone in the room.
Someone ran at him from behind with a knife. He quickly turned around and tripped them with his nightstick. He hit them once before putting handcuffs on them. "Nice one, rookie." One of the officers commented.
"Something I learned in training." Zane said putting away the nightstick.
They took the people they arrested and put them in a prisoner transport van that had arrived soon after the arrests. They walked back into the building to collect the stolen cards.
"Here's your reward." A guard looked into one of the bins and tossed him a card.
He looked at the Raigeki in his hand. "This is evidence. We're not supposed to take it." Zane walked over and put the card in one of the bins. "Let's get these back to headquarters."
The other officers paused and looked at him. "Take the card. We all took one. No one's going to miss a few cards."
"No." Zane said putting the bin down.
One of the officers shoved him. "Don't be that guy. Just take the card."
Another walked over. "If you want a good report and that stripe, you'll take the card." He picked the card up from the bin and held it up to Zane.
"Fine." He took the card from him and put it in his pocket.
"Good job, kid." The other officers started to pick up bins of cards and carry them outside. Zane sighed carrying a crate outside.
Later that night…
Zane walked into his dorm room and took off his vest. He flicked on the lights. "Aaron, I need to talk to you."
"What is it?" He asked stretching out in his bed.
"The raid tonight, they made me take a card." Zane pulled it out of his pocket. Aaron jumped from the top bunk and landed next to Zane. He looked at the card briefly. "What do I do?"
"Just turn it in on Monday. Now, go get a shower. You smell like tear gas and it makes me want to cry." Aaron climbed back into the top bunk and closed his eyes.
Just turn it in. Zane thought to himself. Just turn it in.