The next morning, Caden didn't wake to an alarm. He woke to sunlight. He rolled over and checked his phone.
10:00 AM.
He stretched, threw on a hoodie, and headed downstairs for breakfast. Halfway through a bowl of cereal, his phone buzzed.
Eli: Meet me in the bunk.
Caden finished eating, rinsed his bowl, and slipped outside. He moved to the backyard, lifted the hidden hatch, and descended into the underground bunker.
Eli was already at his desk, screens lit up with maps and data streams.
"Alright," Eli said without looking away from the monitors. "Here's everything we pulled from the week."
Holographic projections flickered above the desk.
"Graven Hollow's out of control. One of the major gang leaders got killed three nights ago. Now the streets are basically a warzone."
Caden crossed his arms.
"Law enforcement?"
Eli shook his head.
"Locked out. Gangs barricaded entire blocks. Police can't even enter without getting shot at."
Caden thought for a second.
"What if I go in, grab a leader, and drop him at the station? They could use him as leverage to push back in."
Eli looked up.
"…That could actually work."
He typed rapidly.
"Give me a minute. I'll find you a target."
Later that afternoon, Caden returned to the bunker fully geared up.
Eli swiveled in his chair.
"I've got one. Goes by Grim Vire. Mid-level but influential. He's holed up in a penthouse safehouse."
A building schematic appeared on screen.
"Top floor. Stairwell access. Minimal rooftop security."
Caden nodded.
"I'll get him."
As the sun dipped below the skyline, Caden suited up.
The black armored suit sealed around him. His helmet locked into place, visor dark and reflective.
He stepped into the Night Skimmer.
The compact hovercraft lifted silently from its underground bay, transforming mid-air into its streamlined combat-jet configuration.
Once clear of the neighborhood, Caden accelerated.
Thirty minutes later,
Graven Hollow.
Smoke hung over the city like a permanent storm cloud. Fires burned in alleys. Gunshots echoed in the distance.
Eli's voice crackled over comms.
"Land on the east side rooftop. Take the stairs down. You'll hit a hallway full of doors, first door on the right."
Caden touched down smoothly on a dark rooftop and slipped into the stairwell.
He paused outside the penthouse level.
Then launched a small homemade EMP charge down the corridor.
Pop.
The building went dark.
Shouting erupted inside the room.
"Power's out!"
"Grab the guns!"
Caden kicked the door open.
Night vision activated automatically in his helmet.
In seconds, he moved through the room like a shadow, disarming one man, knocking another unconscious, twisting a rifle out of someone's hands before they could aim.
Grim Vire barely had time to shout before Caden drove him into the floor and zip-tied his wrists.
"Package secured," Caden muttered.
He hauled the gang leader up the stairs—
But halfway up, the power flickered back on.
A gang member burst through a hallway door and froze.
He saw Caden clearly.
Suit. Helmet. Black armor.
For a split second, they locked eyes.
Caden didn't hesitate. He sprinted up the final steps, launched onto the roof, and tossed Grim Vire into the back compartment of the Night Skimmer.
The vehicle lifted off just as gunfire peppered the rooftop.
Mid-flight, Caden spoke into his comm.
"Someone saw me."
Eli responded quickly.
"Helmet still on?"
"Yeah. But I was in direct light. I'm supposed to be a myth there."
Eli exhaled.
"I doubt it changes much. They don't know your face. They don't know your ride."
Caden didn't reply.
He landed near the police headquarters and dragged Grim Vire to the entrance before disappearing back toward his jet.
As he lifted off,
He spotted something.
A surveillance drone hovering above the station.
"…Now I'm on camera."
Eli groaned.
"Just get out of there. As long as they don't know who you are or what you drive, you're fine."
Caden didn't feel "fine."
But he left.
Back in the bunker, the Night Skimmer lowered into its hidden bay.
Caden stepped out as Eli checked live feeds.
"They've got him," Eli said. "Police are already moving units into Graven Hollow."
He leaned back.
"This buys them time. We hit it again next Saturday."
Caden removed his helmet.
"Guess today was a win."
Eli nodded.
"See you Sunday."
"See ya."
Upstairs, the world stayed normal.