Location: Echelon Prime, Earth – Time: 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM
The dinner with James and his family ended warmly. Hero Xender thanked them for their hospitality, offering James a gentle head pat and a rare smile. As they said their goodbyes, the city lights shimmered against the night sky. The streets were quieter now, the hum of urban life softened to a background whisper.
Hero, still in his plain Vanguard uniform, decided to go for a late-night walk. He wandered without destination, hands behind his back, observing the city under moonlight. The path eventually brought him in front of Echelon District Police Headquarters.
He stopped.
The building stood silent under layered shields, its glowing insignia rotating slowly in a hover-projection. Without hesitation, Hero entered.
Inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately. Officers behind desks stiffened. A few tried to act normal, but his mere presence disrupted the room's balance. A junior officer approached, attempting a polite smile.
"Can I help you, sir?"
Hero looked around the room, then said calmly, "Where is your chief inspector?"
There was an awkward pause. Then a senior officer, irritated and unaware of who Hero truly was, approached with casual disrespect.
"You don't walk in here asking questions like that. Identification, now."
Hero didn't flinch. "I asked for your chief inspector."
The senior officer scoffed. "You think wearing a black uniform gives you command here? We've dealt with enough self-important Vanguard wannabes."
Silence fell. Every officer in the room turned.
The temperature seemed to drop. Hero's eyes locked onto the man, and within seconds, the senior officer fell to his knees—not because of violence, but something deeper. A presence. A crushing sense of judgment.
Hero walked past him without a word.
Minutes later, Hero stepped out of the building, leaving behind stunned silence and fear.
As he made his way back to Hotel Continental, he activated his internal comm.
"Tomorrow. Police Academy. Inspection."
The command was simple—but enough to trigger a chain of alarms across EarthGov.
Inside the Earth Directorate Tower, Director Cyrah Inox received the report.
"He visited the station? Alone?"
The agent nodded. "They disrespected him. He didn't retaliate—but he's scheduled an inspection."
Inox exhaled sharply, fingers trembling over her comms unit.
She contacted the Chief of Police immediately.
"Listen to me carefully," Inox said, her voice low. "If Hero Xender speaks tomorrow, every word he says becomes law. Not a suggestion, not a report—law. Like a god among mortals, his judgment carries absolute authority. I won't be able to protect you or your department. You understand me?"
The line went quiet.
"Yes, Director."
"Then prepare. And pray."
As the night deepened, the city held its breath again. Tomorrow, judgment would walk the academy halls.
And Earth would listen.