After fifteen minutes, Jaxon exited the office with a blank face, but his aura said he was not okay.
He headed straight for his office pod cubicle, collecting his things, then to the dormitory condos to pack his bags.
Although no one knew what was said, Jaxon's attitude told anyone and everyone that it was nothing good. This caused others to steer clear of his path or horoscope.
They all met an hour later at the boarding dock stations.
They set out from Markship City on the Retron Moon City planet. Upon boarding the mothership, everyone went to their own stations.
It would take fifteen hours to travel, as Scrapper Moon was on the opposite side of Domination, requiring a circuitous route around the main world.
On the way, Santiago carefully reviewed everything, watching all camera angles from drones and mechs.
"Someone bring me coffee!" he called, leaning back in his seat and turning on his reading lens.
"Got it, Lieutenant!" Yi Chen called, footsteps echoing as he disappeared into the distance.
Santiago remained focused on his work, meticulous as ever. He organized piles, took notes every few seconds, rewinding, pausing, zooming, and clearing out areas of photos to get a clear view of his target.
Officer Yi Chen returned with coffee and a small plate of light treats.
Clink.
He softly placed the mug and plate at the corner of the table, careful not to disturb Santiago. He even picked up crumpled paper around him and quietly made his exit.
Santiago paused his writing, noticing Yi Chen's courtesy.
"Thank you, Officer Yi," he said softly, his rich, deep voice carrying.
Yi Chen stopped, eyes wide with surprise. "Whoa." He rarely received acknowledgment during cases. Santiago's attention was usually solely on the mission.
Yi Chen chuckled and bowed before exiting.
Santiago, noticing gaps in the information, contacted Scrapper Moon's scrapyard higher-ups. He requested every single person who checked in at Section D, all checkpoint scan logs, and all interview footage. He planned to re-interview everyone himself.
"Whatever you need, please help yourself," the higher-ups replied.
He received the footage and began reviewing the videos one by one.
"Mm, you can't hide from me," he muttered, leaning forward with a holo-scribble pen in his mouth. He paused a clip showing Loadon cutting off droids, drones, and mechs. Loadon jumped for a moment, then Santiago noticed something strange.
Loadon turned to look directly at Santiago, eyes glowing purple and red.
It wasn't the fact that the mech stared—it was the impossibility. Santiago had watched the footage several times; the mech had never turned before. Now it seemed to be watching him.
He spilled his coffee, distracted.
"Ah!—Clink!—Thud!"
He grabbed napkins, dabbing the stain. A housekeeping drone flew overhead, cleaning the spill. The coffee still burned his chest and hand, bright red from the heat.
Sigh.
A nurse droid appeared.
"Hello. I am Nurse Droid 2.34-1. I have come to care for the injured patient."
"Get out. I refuse treatment. I don't need a nurse."
"Patient needs treatment."
"No. I refuse treatment—get out." Santiago backed away, but the droid advanced.
"Patient has slight first-degree burns. Please hold while I administer first aid."
"I said no tre—hiss ah! Ow!!"
The droid sprayed rubbing alcohol and slapped on cartoon Band-Aids, knocking the air out of him.
"I have treated the patient. Please give a five-star rating. Goodbye."
"Like hell I would ev—"
The droid paused, then tossed a lollipop at Santiago's face.
"Shit—ow!! What the hell?!" he shouted, holding his eye.
"I have now healed the patient and will take my leave now. Have a nice day."
He really hated those scrapped defective machines.
Thud! He kicked the table in frustration, then called out.
"Dom Dammit! Someone grab me a new shirt and coffee!"
"Coming right away, Lieutenant!" Yi Chen's voice echoed as he prepared fresh supplies.
He didn't have to wait long.
Jaxon brought a new, crisp white shirt, neatly folded.
"Lieutenant, your shirt?" he said, deep tone.
Jaxon's voice woke Santiago from his daze, thinking about the video of the mech—probably now completely destroyed or impossible to access.
"Mm, thank you, Officer Kingsley," Santiago replied, changing quickly. He pulled off his shirt, six-pack flexing with each movement, and quickly put on the new one.
Jaxon kept his posture stiff, straight as a board. He saluted, sarcastically.
"Certainly, my pleasure, Lieutenant."
Santiago ignored him, returning to work.
Shit, he didn't want to be here himself. He was supposed to be on vacation, heading back to the main world, but instead was called on this petty mission to apprehend some new awakened kid—ain't it just his luck?
The last thing he needed was one of his subordinates holding resentment toward him, making the job more tedious.
He would rather treat him like air than acknowledge his temper tantrum. Unlike the man-child in front of him, he was a real man and could complain in silence.
Santiago jumped back into his work, not caring that Jaxon was drilling a glare into his side.
Jaxon's jaw clenched, fists white with tension. He had wanted to lead this mission. He hated to be dismissed, and if it wasn't for Santiago being personally picked behind their backs, he would have been the lead.
He had worked for a promotion, and this was his one-way ticket.
Yi Chen approached with more coffee and snacks.
"I've got your coffee refill, Lieutenant, and I brought you some more snacks," the distant voice of Yi Chen echoed as he approached.
He gently set the coffee next to Santiago's empty plate of treats, replaced the empty plate with a filled one, grabbed the empty cup, wiped the area, straightened everything, and then dragged Jaxon away with a smile.
Before leaving, he bowed and saluted the Lieutenant. Once back upstairs, Yi Chen's playful demeanor vanished, replaced with a blank stare at Jaxon.
"What's the matter with you? Did we not already discuss this before boarding?"
Jaxon yanked his arm free. "Don't touch me."
Jaxon glared, Yi Chen's eyes narrowing.
"Like hell if I want to touch you, but don't change the subject. What's your problem?"
Jaxon rolled his eyes. "Ugh. Bite me, pleasure droid Yi. Only a static brain like yours I'd gladly give away to an outsider who hasn't pulled dead hours and long missions for promotions!"
He slammed his fist on the table. The holo-screen rattled.
"Just to work under some new hotshot who thinks his higher rank, gift, and lower radiation levels let him humiliate me!" Jaxon pointed to his chest.
"He is treating me like some housekeeping drone! How dare he—and how dare you?!" He leaned forward, eyes blazing.
"I won't kiss ass. I know I belong anywhere. I'll move anyone in my way. Nothing can stop me."
Yi Chen clenched his fists.
"I've bled, sweated, and sacrificed for all these years… just to be stooped like this! And you're okay with it because you're Yi Chen, the good guy who makes way for others. That's the difference between me and you." He pointed at Yi Chen's nose.
"You should watch your words," Yi Chen ground out through clenched teeth.
He stopped pacing, leaning back with a sharp glare.
"What about you? From what I've seen, you've only reached this level by kissing ass, attending dinners, smiling, and always agreeing with sergeants. Lieutenant, you're higher up! You're just a tool of someone with no personality. Easy. In your terms, you're like tofu—easy to fold and bend."
Jaxon smirked, turning his back to Yi Chen, sitting down, and focusing on his work.
Yi Chen's fury built, Comostia sparks flaring.
"You dare call me that? Without knowing my suffering? That curse still stains me forever—you have no idea!"
Jaxon smirked, narrowing his eyes but held his ground.
Yi Chen's fists clenched, body trembling with rage. Sparks of Comostia energy danced around him.
"You think just because you're a C-rank, you can lord over me?!" Yi Chen hissed.
"You're out of your league, Yi. Know your place," Jaxon said smoothly, eyes cold, posture unyielding.
Yi Chen stepped closer, hands twitching. His empathy gift reacted, scanning Jaxon's intent, feelings, and hidden strengths.
Before the tension could snap further, a presence filled the room—a deep, commanding psychic weight.
"Officers."
Santiago stepped into the doorway, B-rank Lieutenant, aura rolling off him in an almost tangible wave.
Both Yi Chen and Jaxon froze mid-motion, gifts flaring instinctively. Their arguments, postures, even breaths hesitated under his presence.
"I don't care what you two were arguing about," he said. "This panel is damaged because of your little spat. The mission does not include destroying equipment. Unnecessary disturbances, petty rivalries, and fights are not tolerated."
He gestured to the dented panel. "That damage is coming out of your paychecks. You will fill out the accident report, the personal squabble paperwork, and explain to the Captain why this fight even happened."
The mental pressure he radiated made the room feel heavy, Comostia energy itself dampened by his control.
Yi Chen's mouth went dry. Jaxon's hands twitched, but both were frozen in disbelief.
Santiago stepped back. "Now, clean this up, and then get back to work. If I catch either of you acting like children again, there will be consequences far beyond paperwork."
He gave a sharp glance to each, letting his presence linger, then left.
Both officers stayed still for a long moment. The hum of their gifts quieted, Comostia energy settling around them as adrenaline ebbed.
Yi Chen exhaled sharply. "We… we're going to be stuck with all of this paperwork, aren't we?"
Jaxon only grunted, eyes fixed on the panel, calculating the easiest way to survive the fallout.
The room was quiet except for the faint hum of residual Comostia energy. Both officers understood that their petty rivalry had been thoroughly—and decisively—shut down.
And the mission still waited, looming over them like a reminder that their personal egos came second to the work.
For the next thirteen hours, Jaxon and Yi Chen worked alongside him, cross-referencing every frame, every log.
The hunt had already begun, precise, meticulous, and silent.
Nothing would escape their attention.
The rogue mech, the girl, the empty memories—it was all leading to one conclusion:
Something—or someone—beyond all known parameters had walked the scrapyard of Scrapper Moon.
And now, the TGCDG had set their sights on it.
— To be continued —