“Hey! Wake up, jackass!”
While being yelled at was never particularly fun, it wasn’t the overly gruff officer’s voice that startled Kaden. No, it was the jarred clang of the officer’s nightstick against the thick metal bars of the courier’s prison cell. Though that though on its own took several seconds for the boy to process.
It didn’t take long for him to figure out where he was. Sadly, it had actually not been the first time he had spent a night in jail since his ascension from the ranks of “minor.” Despite his limited familiarity with the setting, though, he had no idea why or how he had ended up there in the first place. His mind raced to recall anything that might help him to that end.
The last thing he remembered was… being in the middle of Central City. He had been with Belle Hibiki. There was a big fight, Kaden had tired himself out, and then… a sigh escaped his lips as Kaden shook his head. He had been in a crater made by Hibiki after he had transformed. Apparently turning into massive, monstrous monkeys was just something that Saiyans did. Live and learn.
While Kaden would have preferred to spend a few more minutes mentally collecting himself, the officer on the other side of cell wasn’t interested in waiting around. Wincing as the man barked more orders at him, Kaden slowly pulled himself off of the small cot he had been laying on and walked to the cell door. Reaching his hands through a break in the bars, Kaden waited for the officer to hand cuff him before stepping back and waiting for the door to swing open.
Ordering him to get a move on, the officer directed Kaden down a series of hallways and out of the police precinct. As he exited the building, Kaden recognized it as the same one he had visited during the terrorist attack on Central City’s mayor. It almost disgusted the courier that he had put himself in harm’s way to help out, given the situation he found himself in. Though, the truly disgusting thing is that, if he could go back in time, he’d do the exact same thing.
The police officer, Kaden didn’t even care to try and get the man’s name, pushed Kaden into the back of a squad car and they were off. The courier was actually glad to get some time to sit and think. Taking stock of his person, he could see that he was obviously still wearing the same clothing. His jacket was covered in dirt, mud, and soot, while his shirt and pants were spotted with his own blood. The wounds that he had suffered, though, had mostly healed and, as he moved his head, he could feel the itch of stubble rubbing against his neck.
“Hey,” Kaden called to the officer sitting in front of him. “How long was I locked up?”
It didn’t surprise Kaden at all that he had completely passed out. He and Belle had fought through a trio of super-powered psychos, all of whom were stronger than either Kaden of Belle, and managed to come out on top. Even then, instead of having a chance to call it a night and go home, Kaden had been forced to work with the people that been trying to kill him only moments prior to stop Belle’s Oosaru onslaught.
Normally that would have required Kaden to push himself to the absolute limit. Unfortunately for the ragged courier, he had needed to do that just to overcome an opponent named Wave. Kaden had fought Belle on nothing but fumes… and borderline psychosis.
“You’ve been out for three days. Now shut up.”
Fair enough, the courier thought to himself. All-in-all, though, things had worked out relatively well. Given the number of times Kaden could have lost his life, coming away with a couple cuts and a few days rest was not too shabby at all.
The car ride ended rather abruptly. Kaden had been taken to a courthouse. It was a disturbing familiar sight. In that same courthouse, Kaden had met Belle, broken a handful of laws leaving it, and basically been accused of being a terrorist. Not just any terrorist, but one of the terrorists who had gone guns-blazing into an elementary school and taken a classroom full of kids hostage. Kaden was definitely not okay with being put on the same level as filth like that.
Being escorted into courthouse was uneventful, though Kaden was both amused and frustrated at the sight that greeted him. Apparently it had been four days since the last time the courier had stood on that very spot. Norman Attkerson faced him once more, though this time he did not look like he was enjoying the false sense of authority that came from sitting in a judge’s chair. Instead, the man looked as though he had been awake for the past four days. Understandable, really, given the situation Central City was still in.
“Kaden,” the man said. His voice was monotone and rather lifeless. “I hope you know why you’re here.”
“Because you have no one else to blame something on?” the courier guessed. Kaden plastered a fake smile across his face.
“Not a good time for jokes, son,” Norman said. At least the last time Kaden had been ‘debriefed’ by Norman he had had a sense of humor. “Several city blocks were reduced to rubble and, thanks to that little device around your ankle, we can prove you were there when it happened.”
There was a long silence as Norman simply stared at Kaden. After a couple of second staring back, though, Kaden obliged his wandering mind and craned his neck around to get a good look at the courthouse. It was actually a very impressive room. One of those big, elaborate courtrooms that were always shown on TV, but almost rarely ever used in the actual world.
“Well?” Norman prompted the courier. His voice was growing increasingly edgy.
“Well what?” Kaden replied, making a point to keep his eyes averted from the man.
“Well what do you have to say for yourself?!” Norman slammed an open palm on the desk in front of him in anger.
It took a great deal of effort for Kaden not to smile at the man. Poor Norman was so flustered that it almost wasn’t fair. Sweat beaded along his forehead, his eyes were dark and his foot was tapping erratically. The man was frayed and exhausted. It didn’t take any amount of real insight to figure that out.
“Yes, I was there. I was actually trying to stop it, though I doubt you’re going to believe me,” Kaden shrugged and turned his attention away from Norman once more.
“Describe what happened.”
“Well,” Kaden began. He was actually pleased that Attkerson had dropped any pretense of politeness. “I was with Belle Hibiki. He also helped stop a terrorist attack on Central City and I was helping him track down something that was stolen from him. Unfortunately, there was a full moon out, and Belle is at least part Saiyan. I’m sure you can do the math.”
“So you’re claiming that Hibiki transformed, started destroying what’s left of the city and that you decided to step up and stop him?”
“It’s not like I was just being altruistic,” Kaden replied with a shake of his head. “I was worried about Belle killing people, but like I said, I was with him. I’m lucky I lived through the night.”
There was a long, awkward silence as Kaden watched Norman lean back in his chair and take a deep, slow breath. Before speaking, it seemed like Attkerson needed a minute to compose himself. Kaden could sympathize with how utterly exhausted – defeated might have been a more accurate descriptor – the man looked.
“Alright,” he finally said.
“Alright?” Kaden repeated.
“Yes. Alright. A giant monkey stomps around the city. There are going to be plenty of witnesses to something like that. More than one of them said a man matching your description stopped the monster with some kind of… glowing spear? An arrow, maybe?”
“Something like that, yeah,” Kaden confirmed. “What about all the other stuff? Me being a terrorist? Helping Juliet steal a bunch of weapons?”
“Ah.” Norman nodded, though his expression hardened as he did. It turned out that was what he had been composing himself for. “We owe you an apology, as it turns out. We looked into your claim of being whisked away to some rooftop. Several people in the adjacent buildings witnessed part or all of the fight.”
“So… what? I’m, like, free to go?”
“Indeed you are. The monitoring device around your ankle has already been deactivated. You’re free to go.”
And indeed Kaden was. To the courier’s great amusement, he ended up waltzing out of the courthouse like nothing had happened. It was more than Kaden could have hoped for. In addition to letting him off the proverbial hook, Norman had informed him that his truck, with all of his belongings, had been moved to a nearby hotel where he would have access to a room for up to a week. Apparently it was supposed to be a combination thank you/apology for the false accusations and helping Central City.
Sadly, the hotel was the most run-down establishment the courier had ever seen. Fortunately, Kaden knew that beggars couldn’t be choosers. He had basically no money, no job, no real place of residence, and all of his worldly possessions were still crammed into the back of his beat up old truck.
Showering and changing were the first things on Kaden’s to-do list. The nap he had been taking for the past several days left him feeling more than refreshed. The next on Kaden’s list was to get his stuff out of his truck. While he wasn’t interested in staying in that room for any prolonged period of time, that was infinitely better than just leaving it in his truck. As he was unloading things, though, he found a peculiar envelope tucked into the driver’s sun visor of his truck.
Kaden it read. Spectacular acts are worthy of spectacular rewards. Someone willing to risk their life should not be condemned to such squalor. With your selfless defense of Central City and its inhabitants as a guiding beacon of inspiration I have chosen to reward you in kind. I have prepared accommodations much more suited to someone of your caliber. Please present this invitation and the enclosed chip to any Capsule Corp. I hope you enjoy the reward you have worked so hard for.
Sincerely,
Damon Duke
“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Kaden said to the invitation. A stupid grin was plastered across his face as he read through it one more time.
He would be the first to admit that he had never really been the luckiest guy around. It looked like putting up with that was starting to pay off, though. Maybe it was karma or maybe it was just a random act of generosity. Whatever the case, Kaden was more than happy to take Damon up on his offer. It seemed only fair that someone in the city he had helped repay a little bit of his kindness. Without wasting another minute, Kaden hopped in his truck and headed off to Capsule Corp as quickly as possible.
---
“Woah…” was all the courier could say as he stepped out of the teleporter. He had never imagined that Mr. Duke would reward him so handsomely. “Looks like my luck’s starting to turn around.”
While being yelled at was never particularly fun, it wasn’t the overly gruff officer’s voice that startled Kaden. No, it was the jarred clang of the officer’s nightstick against the thick metal bars of the courier’s prison cell. Though that though on its own took several seconds for the boy to process.
It didn’t take long for him to figure out where he was. Sadly, it had actually not been the first time he had spent a night in jail since his ascension from the ranks of “minor.” Despite his limited familiarity with the setting, though, he had no idea why or how he had ended up there in the first place. His mind raced to recall anything that might help him to that end.
The last thing he remembered was… being in the middle of Central City. He had been with Belle Hibiki. There was a big fight, Kaden had tired himself out, and then… a sigh escaped his lips as Kaden shook his head. He had been in a crater made by Hibiki after he had transformed. Apparently turning into massive, monstrous monkeys was just something that Saiyans did. Live and learn.
While Kaden would have preferred to spend a few more minutes mentally collecting himself, the officer on the other side of cell wasn’t interested in waiting around. Wincing as the man barked more orders at him, Kaden slowly pulled himself off of the small cot he had been laying on and walked to the cell door. Reaching his hands through a break in the bars, Kaden waited for the officer to hand cuff him before stepping back and waiting for the door to swing open.
Ordering him to get a move on, the officer directed Kaden down a series of hallways and out of the police precinct. As he exited the building, Kaden recognized it as the same one he had visited during the terrorist attack on Central City’s mayor. It almost disgusted the courier that he had put himself in harm’s way to help out, given the situation he found himself in. Though, the truly disgusting thing is that, if he could go back in time, he’d do the exact same thing.
The police officer, Kaden didn’t even care to try and get the man’s name, pushed Kaden into the back of a squad car and they were off. The courier was actually glad to get some time to sit and think. Taking stock of his person, he could see that he was obviously still wearing the same clothing. His jacket was covered in dirt, mud, and soot, while his shirt and pants were spotted with his own blood. The wounds that he had suffered, though, had mostly healed and, as he moved his head, he could feel the itch of stubble rubbing against his neck.
“Hey,” Kaden called to the officer sitting in front of him. “How long was I locked up?”
It didn’t surprise Kaden at all that he had completely passed out. He and Belle had fought through a trio of super-powered psychos, all of whom were stronger than either Kaden of Belle, and managed to come out on top. Even then, instead of having a chance to call it a night and go home, Kaden had been forced to work with the people that been trying to kill him only moments prior to stop Belle’s Oosaru onslaught.
Normally that would have required Kaden to push himself to the absolute limit. Unfortunately for the ragged courier, he had needed to do that just to overcome an opponent named Wave. Kaden had fought Belle on nothing but fumes… and borderline psychosis.
“You’ve been out for three days. Now shut up.”
Fair enough, the courier thought to himself. All-in-all, though, things had worked out relatively well. Given the number of times Kaden could have lost his life, coming away with a couple cuts and a few days rest was not too shabby at all.
The car ride ended rather abruptly. Kaden had been taken to a courthouse. It was a disturbing familiar sight. In that same courthouse, Kaden had met Belle, broken a handful of laws leaving it, and basically been accused of being a terrorist. Not just any terrorist, but one of the terrorists who had gone guns-blazing into an elementary school and taken a classroom full of kids hostage. Kaden was definitely not okay with being put on the same level as filth like that.
Being escorted into courthouse was uneventful, though Kaden was both amused and frustrated at the sight that greeted him. Apparently it had been four days since the last time the courier had stood on that very spot. Norman Attkerson faced him once more, though this time he did not look like he was enjoying the false sense of authority that came from sitting in a judge’s chair. Instead, the man looked as though he had been awake for the past four days. Understandable, really, given the situation Central City was still in.
“Kaden,” the man said. His voice was monotone and rather lifeless. “I hope you know why you’re here.”
“Because you have no one else to blame something on?” the courier guessed. Kaden plastered a fake smile across his face.
“Not a good time for jokes, son,” Norman said. At least the last time Kaden had been ‘debriefed’ by Norman he had had a sense of humor. “Several city blocks were reduced to rubble and, thanks to that little device around your ankle, we can prove you were there when it happened.”
There was a long silence as Norman simply stared at Kaden. After a couple of second staring back, though, Kaden obliged his wandering mind and craned his neck around to get a good look at the courthouse. It was actually a very impressive room. One of those big, elaborate courtrooms that were always shown on TV, but almost rarely ever used in the actual world.
“Well?” Norman prompted the courier. His voice was growing increasingly edgy.
“Well what?” Kaden replied, making a point to keep his eyes averted from the man.
“Well what do you have to say for yourself?!” Norman slammed an open palm on the desk in front of him in anger.
It took a great deal of effort for Kaden not to smile at the man. Poor Norman was so flustered that it almost wasn’t fair. Sweat beaded along his forehead, his eyes were dark and his foot was tapping erratically. The man was frayed and exhausted. It didn’t take any amount of real insight to figure that out.
“Yes, I was there. I was actually trying to stop it, though I doubt you’re going to believe me,” Kaden shrugged and turned his attention away from Norman once more.
“Describe what happened.”
“Well,” Kaden began. He was actually pleased that Attkerson had dropped any pretense of politeness. “I was with Belle Hibiki. He also helped stop a terrorist attack on Central City and I was helping him track down something that was stolen from him. Unfortunately, there was a full moon out, and Belle is at least part Saiyan. I’m sure you can do the math.”
“So you’re claiming that Hibiki transformed, started destroying what’s left of the city and that you decided to step up and stop him?”
“It’s not like I was just being altruistic,” Kaden replied with a shake of his head. “I was worried about Belle killing people, but like I said, I was with him. I’m lucky I lived through the night.”
There was a long, awkward silence as Kaden watched Norman lean back in his chair and take a deep, slow breath. Before speaking, it seemed like Attkerson needed a minute to compose himself. Kaden could sympathize with how utterly exhausted – defeated might have been a more accurate descriptor – the man looked.
“Alright,” he finally said.
“Alright?” Kaden repeated.
“Yes. Alright. A giant monkey stomps around the city. There are going to be plenty of witnesses to something like that. More than one of them said a man matching your description stopped the monster with some kind of… glowing spear? An arrow, maybe?”
“Something like that, yeah,” Kaden confirmed. “What about all the other stuff? Me being a terrorist? Helping Juliet steal a bunch of weapons?”
“Ah.” Norman nodded, though his expression hardened as he did. It turned out that was what he had been composing himself for. “We owe you an apology, as it turns out. We looked into your claim of being whisked away to some rooftop. Several people in the adjacent buildings witnessed part or all of the fight.”
“So… what? I’m, like, free to go?”
“Indeed you are. The monitoring device around your ankle has already been deactivated. You’re free to go.”
And indeed Kaden was. To the courier’s great amusement, he ended up waltzing out of the courthouse like nothing had happened. It was more than Kaden could have hoped for. In addition to letting him off the proverbial hook, Norman had informed him that his truck, with all of his belongings, had been moved to a nearby hotel where he would have access to a room for up to a week. Apparently it was supposed to be a combination thank you/apology for the false accusations and helping Central City.
Sadly, the hotel was the most run-down establishment the courier had ever seen. Fortunately, Kaden knew that beggars couldn’t be choosers. He had basically no money, no job, no real place of residence, and all of his worldly possessions were still crammed into the back of his beat up old truck.
Showering and changing were the first things on Kaden’s to-do list. The nap he had been taking for the past several days left him feeling more than refreshed. The next on Kaden’s list was to get his stuff out of his truck. While he wasn’t interested in staying in that room for any prolonged period of time, that was infinitely better than just leaving it in his truck. As he was unloading things, though, he found a peculiar envelope tucked into the driver’s sun visor of his truck.
Kaden it read. Spectacular acts are worthy of spectacular rewards. Someone willing to risk their life should not be condemned to such squalor. With your selfless defense of Central City and its inhabitants as a guiding beacon of inspiration I have chosen to reward you in kind. I have prepared accommodations much more suited to someone of your caliber. Please present this invitation and the enclosed chip to any Capsule Corp. I hope you enjoy the reward you have worked so hard for.
Sincerely,
Damon Duke
“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Kaden said to the invitation. A stupid grin was plastered across his face as he read through it one more time.
He would be the first to admit that he had never really been the luckiest guy around. It looked like putting up with that was starting to pay off, though. Maybe it was karma or maybe it was just a random act of generosity. Whatever the case, Kaden was more than happy to take Damon up on his offer. It seemed only fair that someone in the city he had helped repay a little bit of his kindness. Without wasting another minute, Kaden hopped in his truck and headed off to Capsule Corp as quickly as possible.
---
“Woah…” was all the courier could say as he stepped out of the teleporter. He had never imagined that Mr. Duke would reward him so handsomely. “Looks like my luck’s starting to turn around.”
![[Image: Kaden2.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v403/Nezumi16/Sigs/Kaden2.jpg)
"It's on my brain, driving me insane. It's on my mind, all of
the time, and if it left... I would be fine."