"Claude... it's time to wake up now..."

  Mei shook Claude's shoulder gently as he slowly regained consciousness. He sat up from the table, Mei was sat beside him.

  "Claude... We should go to the armoury... I don't want Michael shouting at me for distracting you..."

  Mei stood up and quietly walked towards the door, Claude followed her.

  The two walked down the corridor and out of the building through the main reception.

  They walked down the path and towards the armoury, Mei remained silent as she walked next to Claude for the whole journey. They arrived at a large metal door.

  Claude pushed the door gently and it slid open with a screech. Inside was a large room with metal walls and hooks that held all manner of equipment. Boxes lined the floors in the room's corners, each filled with armbands similar to the one Ranger Ranger wore.

  Claire and Michael were already inside the room, Mei guided Claude towards the back of the room where they were all gathered, Michael looked towards them both.

  "This mission is time sensitive, we didn't have time for a proper briefing, Ghost shall explain the details as we prepare and set off. Here, take this, it'll help keep your powers in check." He tossed one of the arm bands to Claude.

  "We call them Limiters, every hero is required to wear one when on mission. They don't just serve as beacons of hope to civilians but also serve a practical purpose as well. It's a fact that the human body cannot handle superpowers, it's why our Awakenings cause so much strain, the Limiter allows us to use our powers to their fullest safely, I don't know the exact science behind it however the Human Enhancement Institute developed them to allow us full use of our powers as normal without any strain on our bodies as a result."

  Mei handed Claude a bronze shield insignia. "Put this on your Limiter... it'll let everyone know what rank you are... it should just slot into place in the middle..."

  Mei demonstrated by slotting a bronze shield of her own into her own Limiter. Claude copied her and slotted the insignia into the middle of his Limiter and put it on.

  Mei walked towards a counter with a cage around it at one edge of the room, she took a card from her pocket and placed it onto a scanner in the corner.

  The cage rattled and a pistol slid out of a gap in the cage and onto the counter, Mei picked it up and put her card away.

  "What's that for Mei?" Claude looked at her. "Oh this... it's to keep me safe... my power isn't very good in direct combat... just in case things go wrong... I have this to defend myself with..." Mei yawned.

  At the end of the room Michael and Claire had put on their own Limiters, both had silver insignias placed into theirs.

  A feint static noise echoed through Claude's head. he tapped his earlobe, as did everyone else in the room, a familiar voice echoed through his mind.

  "Heya, it's time for your mission briefing, so Regent Squadron, you gotta go investigate a reported break in at the Arhke City Bank, the suspects are likely still there, all are reported to be armed, this was an anonymous commission, I'll set up a voice link now, hang on... okie dokes we're done. For Claude's sake I'll explain what I just did, basically I linked communication between the four of you, you should now be able to speak to one another via the link, since it uses your mind to speak, Captain Regent should be able to speak with you now too, good luck Regent Squadron, Ghost out!"

  A familiar sleepy voice echoed at the back of Claude's mind. "Feels weird doesn't it... you'll get used to it soon... it was strange for all of us too the first time..." Mei looked at Claude.

  Another voice came through "We should begin moving, we don't have a lot of time on this mission, we can discuss how things work further once we return." Michael began walking with Claire a short distance behind him. Mei walked ahead and waved to Claude to follow her.

  Once outside the Hero Organisation HQ, Regent Squadron moved towards the street of their destination.

  As they got close the streets grew crowded, civilians began to gather and watch the group.

  The voices and cheers of civilians rung out through the street. "It's Regent, if she's been called out then we'll all be safe!"

  Claire ignored them and kept walking towards her destination.

  Mei looked at Claude. "The public get really excited by heroes... only higher ranked ones though... heroes like us don't make a name for ourselves until we get a higher rank... Claire is treated like some kind of saviour... because she has the name Regent... it's a lot of pressure..."

  They reached a large, cube shaped building, it looked more like a fortress than a bank. The words "Arhke City Bank" were plastered on the front in large letters.

  Ghost contacted the group once again. "It's Ghost, As most of you know, Arhke City Bank isn't your traditional bank like the ones you'd see in the old world, since Arhke uses cryptocurrency we have no need for banks, this is a huge database, a data-bank if you will, it houses citizen records and other sensitive information, I'm the only one in the city with unrestricted access, I was going to disable the security system for you but it seems to already be down, be careful Regent Squadron."

  "The bank belongs to the Mirage Corporation, the huge electronics company responsible for all of Arhke's power, electronic devices, internet access, broadcasting, news and entertainment... I'm sensing hostiles inside the building, all armed with automatic weapons, they're all wearing some kind of emblem, a white bird of some sort? See what you can find out, I'll do a check on my end too."

  As they entered the bank, the security guards were strangely absent, there were loud noises everywhere as the metal walls were shook and wires were strewn across the floor, inside the main room was a series of servers lining the walls along with electronic terminals connecting to each, twelve men dressed in black with white raven emblems on their backs walked around the place, they pulled out servers and broke things.

  An unfamiliar voice spoke up in Claude's mind, it carried a certain authority, a commanding and calm voice.

  "Regent Squadron, use formation B, Claude, avoid using your power, we don't know what it is but given the magnitude of your Awakening, I don't want you to accidentally kill anybody, that's an order."

  Mei and Michael nodded "Yes Claire..." Mei walked away quietly and disappeared behind a pillar, she looked like she wasn't paying attention or taking things seriously. "Yes Miss Regent." Michael nodded and stood beside Claire, he got into a fighting stance.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Claire waved her hand in a circle and a strong and intense gust of wind blocked the exits to the bank. The men noticed and pointed their guns towards Claire and Michael. Claire lifted her hand in the air sharply and quickly, a segment of the floor rose up in a pillar of stone which trapped two of the men and blocked the others' firing lines.

  She then drew her hand back and pushed it forwards in a wave motion, this caused a torrent of water to knock the men over, disarming them. Claire nodded to Michael who took off running towards the men.

  He knocked out those who were down using his fists, he took them down with a round kick. "Michael, you clean up here, Claude come with me, we'll search the area."

  Michael nodded and dragged the men together for Arhke Police to deal with when they arrived. Claire and Claude searched the terminals and the rest of the room for information.

  "Regent Squadron, It's Ghost, I looked into the emblem these men are wearing, it belongs to an old street gang called Pale Raven, we apprehended their leader a few years back, the gang disappeared pretty much over night after that, it seems that they've installed a new leader, after monitoring mobile phone communications, it looks to be one Elijah Reid, he's got an extensive criminal history and is considered heavily dangerous, if you encounter him make sure he doesn't escape."

  Michael's voice abruptly echoed through the voice link "Sorry to interrupt you Ghost. Miss Regent, you need to come and see this, we have a problem."

  Claire nodded "Understood, we're heading to your location now."

  As they reached Michael's location, a man wearing a tailcoat with the Pale Raven emblem on the back was stood several feet away from Michael, he had a hostage, a young girl with long black hair and bright red eyes.

  "Good afternoon heroes, name's Reid, I'm the leader of this little crew here. This girl is insurance, to make sure you don't try anything stupid that could prove unhealthy for her. You'll let me and my men leave I trust? Unless you want to see my power demonstrated on this bystander."

  Claude spoke up "Your gang has been gone for several years, why are you back now?"

  "That's a good question, I'll answer it with this, the gang has hit some good fortune recently, as such I decided it was time for us to return to centre stage." he placed a hand on the girl's neck. "If I touch another object with my other hand, it'll swap the materials in my two hands, replacing her neck with the wall or whatever, which will surely kill her, as long as I'm conscious that power will take effect, the three of you had best stay where you are."

  He turned to leave and suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, a whisper in his ear "Goodnight..." He passed out and fell unconscious, Mei was stood behind him, she yawned.

  "Target neutralised..."

  Mei took the girl's hand and took her to the group. "Claude... you watch her... we'll handle the next part..." Claude nodded and began calming down the shaken girl.

  Claire approached the unconscious Reid, she slowly balled her hand into a fist, as if crushing air, ice formed around his arms and legs, immobilising him.

  "Mei, if you would." Claire looked at Mei. Mei nodded and tapped Reid on his shoulder "Good morning..." His eyes snapped open and he struggled against the ice.

  "So, this is how you plan to get me huh? well played heroes, I suppose I shouldn't have taken you lightly."

  Michael approached him and lifted him up by his shirt collar. "Talk Reid." Reid chuckled. "As if I'd tell you anything, the Hero Organisation doesn't kill, worst case scenario you'll break a few of my bones or something." Michael let go of him and pointed at Claire. "Do you know who that is? That's Captain Regent, somebody of her station would get away with murder, now talk!"

  Reid smiled at them. "The famous Claire Regent, I see, well I know better than to throw my life away pointlessly, and I'm not too attached to my benefactor so I suppose I'll talk."

  The group gathered around Reid.

  "Here's what I know, my crew were contacted recently by an unknown group, how they found us is a mystery to me, they promised us a resurgence of Pale Raven, in return we were to run a little errand for them, they offered us a lot of money to steal sensitive information from this place, the names of government officials, heroes, and information about the city, stuff like that, in return they offered us what they called "A place on the board". It seemed incredibly suspicious at first, they told us they'd be in touch at a later date, that was about a week ago."

  "A few days ago I was contacted by somebody listed as "Bishop of Control", their words weren't trustworthy at all, yet true to their word, it happened all the same. They said that when we arrived at this bank the guards and security system would already have been dealt with, they were right, they even said they'd prepare a hostage, and that girl was hidden behind one of the servers. Their group seems to be themed around a chessboard, they all seemed to answer to one they called "Queen of Freedom" I don't know any of their identities or motives, just that they kept addressing me as a "Pawn" and said if I get promoted I'll have a place in the "new world". They also instructed me that their "Saviour" has been corrupted by the Hero Organisation, and that I am to bring them their saviour, they said it's somebody on your little squadron."

  Michael spoke up "We'll take you into custody where we'll see whether you're telling us the truth, we'll also check your mobile device for these contacts."

  Reid smiled. "I don't think that's going to happen, you see, they aren't quite done with me just yet, it was nice meeting you Regent Squadron, shame I couldn't be a better host."

  Suddenly the ceiling tiles began to fall, a series of creaks rung out, dozens of mannequin-like dolls began to drop from the ceiling and landed with a crash, they shakily rose to their stubbed feet, they wobbled and jolted to the side as their wooden joints pushed them forwards.

  "Ghost, what are these things?" Claude stood in the corner to protect the girl by keeping her behind him.

  Ghost's voice came through very panicked "I... I don't know, I can't get a proper read on them, they're neither human nor monster, they don't have souls but I'm reading some kind of power from them. Don't hesitate to destroy them, they aren't alive, good luck Regent Squadron."

  The creatures wobbled towards the group, Claire clicked her fingers and a bolt of lightning struck the closest one, with a loud crack it fell apart and crashed to the ground. "They go down easily enough." Michael rushed at them, he knocked five of them over.

  Several of the mysterious mannequins were dressed in security guard uniforms, their fragile bodies struggled to maintain balance as they wobbled around on shaky wooden legs.

  More kept coming, the group was quickly overwhelmed and separated.

  Claire and Michael fought through them, more and more fell to the ground, the more battered ones started to leak a dark crimson from their bodies, they bled human blood.

  "Ghost, what is this? They're bleeding."

  Ghost took several seconds to respond. "Huh! Oh sorry, they're bleeding?... hmmm... I've noticed a large spike in power in the area, it started around the time these things, let's call them dolls, first became active, heroes usually give off a small amount of energy due to their powers, the Limiters prevent the energy from becoming too strong, Another power was used, not any of yours or Reid's, a different one, used just before the dolls dropped down from the ceiling, it's still active even now, the source has left the building and is getting further awa- wait... what!?" Ghost suddenly cut off.

  "Ghost? What's the status Ghost?"

  In the confusion a single gunshot was heard, after a minute or so the dolls all stopped moving and fell to the ground, they reverted to simple lifeless dolls. Mei was sat against a pillar, her gun in hand as of the dolls fell to the ground, blood seeped from a bullet hole in it's faceless head.

  Mei was panting and sighed, "It's... over...?" she scrambled to her feet and rushed to Claire and Michael. "When the dolls came... I hid... Ghost cut off... then they found my hiding place... but now they're suddenly lifeless... they bleed real blood... but my powers don't work on them... they aren't alive or sentient..."

  Claire nodded and placed her hands on Mei's shoulders to steady her.

  Michael looked around. "Where's Claude?"

  A crackle rung out and Ghost's voice was heard once again "Sorry about that, I had to check something, I can't connect two mental feeds at once so it cancelled this one, Claude randomly cut off a little while ago, I tried to contact him but there was no response, I've accessed building security, Elijah Reid is gone too, taken away by those dolls, Claude and the girl were taken during the confusion as well... Listen, I know this isn't ideal but please come back to HQ, we'll decide what to do from there... I'll see you all soon, I'll leave this mental link open for a little while."

  Claire nodded "Understood, Regent Squadron, withdraw back to HQ... We'll figure things out once we return."

  Michael nodded but Mei shook her head and frantically started looking around.

  "No... there has to be a clue somewhere here... we need Claude... he's important... You know that too Claire... we have to find him right now!..."

  Claire grabbed Mei's arm to stop her.

  "Mei, Claude is gone, the enemy likely has more traps awaiting us, if we charge after him recklessly we'll put ourselves in danger, the safest option is to withdraw, we knew it was possible this happened, most heroes don't survive their first mission, the odds are below thirty percent, I promise that I'll help you when we get back."

  Mei's resistance dropped and she nodded slowly "Okay... I understand... let's go back... sorry..."