Knock-knock-knock

"Yes?"

The policeman's mustache bristled as he spoke. "Ma'am, we've had several reports of escaping NEXT tonight. I understand you are the owner of a dangerous specimen?"

"Well, yes, but my husband keeps him very well restrained." The woman was clearly dressed for a night on the town; all she was missing was a pair of opera glasses.

"Would you mind if we took a look?" The policeman gestured to himself and his partner.

She hesitated, then took stock of the panorama behind them. Smoke rose from two separate buildings, curling up into the skies of Sternbild. Sirens wailed all over the city, and no one was walking the streets. She adjusted a perfectly curled lock of hair, then called over her shoulder, "Charles! There are men here from the police."

"The police? What do they want?"

"They want to see the NEXT."

The man who exited the hallway was sallow and scowling, like a fat vulture in a tuxedo. "Is this about all those explosions and whatnot? I assure you, none of those came from my property."

"Sir, I understand, but it's my job to check on all the high-level NEXT to make sure they're kept properly restrained."

The man's brow furrowed, but he opened the door. "Hurry up, hurry up. We've got a show to catch. If you make us late, I'll have your badge."

"Hmm," the policeman said as they were led inside, "what kind of security do you have on the house itself? Some people only have containment fields and such around the NEXT cage itself."

"Oh, no need to worry about that, Officer," the woman put in, trotting along behind her husband in high-heeled shoes. "Our system is state of the art. Charles put it in as soon as it hit the market, isn't that right, darling? Brand new Brooks two-thousand. As soon as the code wire is tripped from any room in the house, the-"

"Quiet, Cici. No one wants to hear you chatter."

The woman fell silent, never losing her vapid half-smile.

They led the policemen down a long carpeted hallway. Each of the rooms they passed was luxuriously appointed, from crown molding to polished hardwood floors, and plush furniture in the middle.

"Here it is. We keep it in a converted walk-in freezer," Charles explained. "It's really more of a conversation piece than anything. Not like you hang a Monet in the kitchen, is it?"

The policeman stared at the metal box. "Open it."

Charles gave him a long penetrating look. Then, slowly, he took out his keys and unlocked the heavy door. "There's a jamming signal in this room, so that it can't receive messages. Apparently it used to be something of an idealist."

Ivan had to strain to keep the policeman's face where it was supposed to be when the door swung open. The box was bare inside, except for a bound figure and two metal bowls-dog bowls, Ivan saw, one filled with water, the other empty. The contrast between the four sitting rooms, three parlors, and even bathrooms that they'd passed on their way in could not have been more extreme. Ivan clenched his hand, hearing the knuckles pop, trying to keep focus. Confidence, that's the key, Kotetsu had told him. Believe in the character, and in yourself, Edward always said.

How can I believe in a character like this?

The other policeman took his cue, stepping into the box. "Interesting," he remarked. "I see you're keeping him in Arestium chains, not just the collar."

"It saves on insurance," the woman said, boredom flavoring her tone.

Kotetsu bent down, checking Keith's pulse. "Pulse is slow," he said, keeping his voice casual. "You keep him drugged?"

"Of course. Is this inspection going to be much longer?"

"Just a couple moments, ma'am. Ah, here's your problem."

"Problem?"

Kotetsu tapped the O-ring where the Arestium chain attached to Keith's collar was fixed to the floor. "This loop is made of regular metal, not Arestium."

"So? It still can't use any powers."

Kotetsu nodded. "True. But I can."