CHAPTER 1
The sky was gray and gloomy, and an odd silence reigned over the city. People were living their normal days until a massive dark energy cloud appeared in the sky.
The first figure to glide down: Aurelios. A hero with a golden cape, powerful and epic. His eyes glowed with energy, muscles tense, scanning the city's dangers with a serious and confident gaze.
"Chaos is under my control," he said to himself, the weight of his words almost frightening.
But things changed quickly. An explosion echoed from the street, and another hero appeared beside him: Snarkle. In his purple-green crazy costume, with exploding toy weapons and a sharp sense of humor, he rushed into the scene.
"Look, great hero! The city's burning, but don't worry, I'm here. I may have smashed a few buildings… but all for the greater good, I promise!"
Aurelios frowned. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely… and also a dangerous example of madness!" said Snarkle, tossing a criminal into the air and slamming him to the ground.
At that moment, a burst of speed from the sky: Veltrix. Super fast, aggressive, and a bit rebellious. With a single glance, he sprinted toward the explosion, intercepting fleeing robots, yet making things even more chaotic.
"I'll stop the blast. You… keep messing around as usual," said Veltrix, and in the blink of an eye, he was at the other end.
Amid escaping criminals, giant robots, and the energy cloud, the trio created unbelievable chaos. Snarkle constantly teased the epic but serious Aurelios:
"Whoa, check that look! People are scared, you're serious, I'm having fun. Great teamwork, huh?"
Finally, the massive chaos cloud was about to explode over the city. Veltrix dove into the cloud at super speed, Aurelios intervened with a wave of energy, and Snarkle hurled a giant toy ball into the cloud. The explosion was prevented. The city was saved, though a few buildings and criminals were still damaged.
Aurelios frowned. "Sometimes… there's no need to be this chaotic."
Snarkle grinned. "Can there ever be laughter without chaos?"
Veltrix disappeared into the air. "But in the end, we won, didn't we? The city is still standing… mostly."
They headed toward the base.
The base's door closed like an almost inwardly folding void, far from the neon chaos outside. Security lights flickered with a monotonous hum; inside, a steel coffee machine ticked quietly. This was their refuge: stinking carpets, armor racks in need of repair, and on the wall, next to a first aid kit, a tiny, worn poster of the city they once saved.
Aurelios, his cape still uncollected, armor slightly smoking, remained serious, shoulders tense. No genetic code told him a hero needed rest. Immediately upon entering, he quietly approached the tea machine; poured a cup, and sipped in silence as if this was the only valid ritual to calm the world.
Veltrix burst in at striking speed, stopping just short of a wall; catching his breath, he still flicked a bit of lingering energy. "Blast record: zero civilian casualties. Building loss: three. Streetlamp loss: one. Laughter index: abnormally high thanks to Snarkle." His voice was tired yet slightly mocking.
Snarkle immediately rolled into the reconnaissance chair, pulling a small toy from his pants pocket, examining it with a satisfied, dangerous grin playful yet a little broken. "They told me, 'Be careful, people might die.' I said, 'Perfect, great material for humor.'" He let out a dark chuckle, then froze because the line between joke and reality was sometimes thinner than even Snarkle could predict.
Aurelios put his cup down on the table. "You joke, but this isn't a joke. A few civilians were trapped in that building." His voice wavered between the usual seriousness and a hint of guilt. "You… cross the line, Snarkle."
Snarkle shrugged. "The line? I forgot; I think it went into the washing machine. Besides, people often enjoy dramatic moments. Look, I collected a few dramatic moments for tonight. A couple tragic, two funny, one… ruined thanks to a very tasty cat." His eyes darkened suddenly. "The cat is fine. The cat stood tall. That's what mattered to me."
Veltrix slammed his arm on the table; the sound echoed like a small thunderclap. "Don't turn this into a series, Snarkle. Our job is to protect people's lives. You think this is a type of stand-up show, but in real life… it's different." His words were short, each syllable carrying a kind of cold, precise anger.
Aurelios took a deep breath. "Veltrix is right. Your… jokes need a sense of order. We intervene in people's worst moments. If it doesn't make them better, then what are we fighting for?" His eyes landed on the old city map on the roof edge; full of holes and burn marks a silent list of their failures.
Snarkle forced the mischief off his face, and a brief silence settled. "Sometimes I think," he said softly, "maybe I just do this to forget myself. How many normal people would look at me and say, 'Friend, you found the right path'? Not many. I'm not deceiving anyone; it just… works but what you're saying is true too." A humble confession hung in the air with a single sentence.
Veltrix grimaced but softened. "Everyone has a reason, Snarkle. Mine… mine is to get everyone to a safe place as quickly as possible. Speed, control, and… a bit of impatience." His smile was fake, the lines in his eyes real. "But your humor always works, whether we want it to or not."
Aurelios lifted his cup, sipping tea, and looked at his two friends. "We are different. We use different methods for the same goal. This… can sometimes cause mistakes. What matters is acknowledging the mistake and fixing it." His voice was soft but determined. "Tomorrow, I will visit hospitals. I'll make a list. We need to see them."
Snarkle's eyes widened. "You… will visit? That's so serious… Respect. Advice: let's bring a pack of funny cards too, morale boost." His smile was light, but the darkness lingered.
Veltrix paused for a moment, then stood, zipping his jacket. "I'll plan a patrol too. Better barriers, faster evacuation routes. If you're distributing morale at the hospital, I'll make sure… there's less damage in the field." His tone was clear; full of promises of action.
Aurelios got up from the table. He neatly hung his cape and looked at the two. "This team has one rule: results. Humor or speed doesn't matter but the results must protect people. Snarkle, if you cross the line, I'll stop you. But first, I'll negotiate: instead of a comedy show, you'll prepare a 'morale pack.' No clown noses; only real needs." A faint smile appeared in his eyes serious yet just, the smile of a leader.
Snarkle rummaged through a bag, caught on something, and pulled out a package filled with small children's drawings. "Okay, fine. But I'll keep one for emergency headaches." His voice was mocking but his eyes softened slightly.
Veltrix headed for the door, paused, and looked back. "Tomorrow we go again. We'll be better." He leapt outside; the light at the door flickered slightly as he passed.
Aurelios took Snarkle's drawing package, examined it for a moment, then opened it as if deciding something. Inside were simple drawings huge smiling faces, small hero figures. A smile, but this time more genuine. "I'll take this to the hospital." He said. "If you want, you can come with me."
Snarkle raised an eyebrow; then nodded, laughing. "Okay, but I'll pin one on your cape. Hope it suits you." His laugh was pure for a moment, revealing the person behind the dark humor.
Aurelios zipped his jacket, firm yet calm ready to command and protect. "Tomorrow morning," he said. "And Snarkle… this time, use your jokes deliberately. If it saves lives, then your humor has meaning."
Snarkle nodded. "Understood, commander. But if someone's too serious, I'll come and add some color." His tone was still sharp, but less deadly.
The base quieted again. The coffee machine ticked, the poster on the wall swayed gently. Outside, the city was still fragile, but inside, three different methods and three spirits united by the same goal existed. Many wounds would heal, some would remain permanent; no one could escape that. But at least until morning, the night was a bit quieter.
Yet this silence was filled with constant sparks of small chaos in the minds of the three heroes inside. Snarkle spun in his chair, lightly kicking the coffee cup on the table; it flew across, creating a small "coffee storm."
"Look, this is just rehearsal," said Snarkle, pretending to be serious, but eyes laughing. "If anyone falls here, minimum blood, maximum aesthetics! Very dramatic, but very funny. I promise, Veltrix… no major disaster. Mostly."
Veltrix clenched his teeth to avoid laughing. "Mostly? Snarkle, what you call 'mostly' could be a disaster for injured civilians. One more minute like this, and I'll give you a base duty: cleaning and distributing morale packs. Both at once physical and psychological punishment."
Aurelios put his cup down, eyes still serious. "There are limits, Snarkle. Your humor can make things easier, but mistakes… can be permanent. Remember, sometimes a laugh… can end in death."
Snarkle laughed, standing, swinging a colorful toy grenade in his hand. "Oh my god! Death with laughter? Brilliant concept! I think we can make a presentation: 'Dark humor and chaos: the fine line between laughter and death.'"
Veltrix leaned over the cup, giving Snarkle a sharp look. "A presentation? Your humor must be planned, Snarkle. Otherwise, I'll ruin it from start to finish. Also, be thankful the cup hasn't broken yet."
Snarkle shrugged, pulling a small package from the table; inside were drawings and colorful notes. "Okay, morale pack. But if I don't add a bit of drama… it's boring. People love drama, you know. With one drawing, they can smile and cry at the same time. I call it 'psychological laughter.'"
Aurelios took a deep breath, eyes fixed on the map. "Veltrix is right. Snarkle, your humor can work, but there's a real limit. Now… let's quietly end this night. Tomorrow morning, we'll visit the hospital and see real results. But tonight… just silence and small chaos, enough."
Snarkle paused, then chuckled lightly. "Silence? Eh, okay… but I can't forget my tiny chaos sparks. People always love drama, right? I'm just speeding it up. So… a bit more color, a bit more blood… but fun, of course!"
Veltrix rolled his eyes. "What you call fun often means 'painful' for others. But… I admit it works. Quiet for tonight, fine. But morning… things start again."
Aurelios lifted his cup again, sipping quietly. "There… some silence. But even silence doesn't bring peace. Snarkle's dark humor and Veltrix's seriousness… together, always one step past chaos. But maybe, just maybe, tonight… a bit calmer."
Snarkle muttered in his chair: "Calm? Oh my god! But I promise, without killing anyone, I'll create at least one laugh. Laughter heals… or at least entertains!"
And the base survived another night filled with the quiet yet dangerous dark humor trio. Outside, the city remained fragile, but inside, amidst sparks of small chaos, laughter and serious faces stood together. The night was slightly quieter, but laughter still echoed from afar.