Signals in the Dark

The Calm Before the Storm

The night air was crisp as Remond walked home from Sid's workshop. The conversation with Innes still played in his mind. The carnival had felt like a moment of normalcy—one he didn't realize he needed. But now, reality was setting in again.

Sid had intercepted something big. The Axiom Syndicate was planning something, and if the radio call was any indication, it was happening soon.

As he stepped into his quiet apartment, he exhaled. His mother had gone back to their hometown for a while, leaving him alone. At first, he thought he'd enjoy the solitude, but now the silence was too loud.

He grabbed his phone and hesitated before typing out a message:

[Remond: Thanks for tonight.]

A moment later, the reply came.

[Innes: Anytime. Don't forget, you don't have to do everything alone.]

Remond smiled slightly. Maybe, just maybe, he didn't.

---

Sid's Discovery

The next morning, Sid was already buried in his work. The distorted call he intercepted was still playing in loops on his computer. He adjusted the frequencies, trying to extract any more details.

Finally, something clicked. A series of background noises—too faint for a normal ear to pick up. But Sid wasn't normal.

He quickly cross-referenced the sound.

Train horns. Industrial clanking. A distinct reverberation.

He narrowed it down to a location.

The old railway docks.

Sid's fingers flew across the keyboard as he tapped into underground networks, searching for any activity near that area. It didn't take long before something popped up.

A shipment was scheduled to arrive tonight. The sender? Unknown. The receiver? Also unknown.

Sid leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Got you."

He grabbed his phone and called Remond.

---

Preparing for the Hunt

Remond arrived at Sid's apartment later that evening, where Hayato was already waiting. This time, the meeting felt different. There was tension in the air—anticipation.

Sid wasted no time. "I found where they're moving whatever it is they were talking about. An abandoned railway dock outside the city."

Hayato crossed his arms. "What's the plan?"

Sid adjusted his glasses. "There's going to be a shipment tonight. If we want to catch them in the act, this is our best shot."

Remond cracked his knuckles. "Then let's go."

Sid smirked. "Not so fast, big guy. You're not going in empty-handed."

He turned to his workbench and grabbed something. A sleek pair of gloves with reinforced padding and metallic joints.

"I made these for you," Sid explained. "They're designed to channel your energy flow better. Should make Mod 2nd more efficient."

Remond took them, flexing his fingers. They felt sturdy but flexible.

"Thanks, Sid."

Sid grinned. "Don't mention it. Now go crack some skulls."

---

Into the Shadows

They arrived at the railway docks under the cover of darkness. The place was abandoned, rusted tracks stretching into the night. But near the main warehouse, there was movement.

A group of men—Axiom Syndicate, without a doubt. Armed, alert, and surrounding a large shipping container.

Hayato crouched on a rooftop, his sharp eyes analyzing the situation. "There are at least ten of them. Possibly more inside."

Remond rolled his shoulders. "Guess we're not sneaking in."

Hayato smirked. "I wasn't planning to."

The two of them moved swiftly, positioning themselves. Sid stayed behind, monitoring from his laptop.

"Alright, boys," Sid's voice came through their earpieces. "Let's make some noise."

---

The Raid Begins

Hayato struck first. He moved like a shadow, appearing behind one of the guards and knocking him out with a precise strike. Before the others could react, Remond charged in.

With his upgraded gloves, his punches hit harder. He slammed his fist into the ground, releasing stored kinetic energy in a shockwave that sent two men flying.

The warehouse erupted into chaos.

Axiom's men scrambled for their weapons, but Hayato and Remond were faster. Hayato weaved through them with deadly precision, disarming and taking them down one by one.

Remond, on the other hand, was a force of nature. His attacks were explosive, his movements sharp. He was finally starting to master his abilities.

One of the guards tried to radio for backup.

Sid's voice crackled into their earpieces. "Not happening, buddy. I just jammed their frequencies."

Remond grinned. "Nice."

Within minutes, most of the guards were either unconscious or fleeing.

Only one remained.

A tall man in a black trench coat, standing by the shipping container. He wasn't running. He was waiting.

"Impressive," the man said. His voice was eerily calm. "You must be the ones interfering with our work."

Remond clenched his fists. "Who are you?"

The man smirked. "Someone who knows when to retreat."

With that, he tapped his wrist. A hidden mechanism in the container activated, and before Remond or Hayato could react—

The container exploded.

A blinding flash, followed by a wave of force that sent both of them flying back.

By the time the dust settled, the man was gone.

And whatever had been inside that container… was destroyed.

---

Aftermath

Back at Sid's workshop, the mood was tense.

They had stopped the shipment, but they had no idea what was inside. And worse—the Axiom Syndicate now knew they were being targeted.

Sid sighed, rubbing his temples. "This just got a whole lot messier."

Remond exhaled. "Then we keep pushing."

Hayato nodded. "Next time, we catch one of them alive."

Sid smirked. "Now you're thinking like a strategist."