Heroes of The Collective Volume One : Resentment

20. Network #2 : Byting Off More Than You Can Chew Part 1

San Francisco.

"The spare room is second on the left."

"Thanks, Lucas. I'll just go and throw my bag in there now," replied Dylan, walking off in that direction.

After Dylan had fought with Mount Hogon in the boxing club, he left to go and look for Tyler. Lucas called the police to the club and by the time they had arrived, Hogon had disappeared. Tyler was found beaten in Cleston Union Park and taken to hospital, but due to the fact that Oliver Hogon was still out there and incredibly mad, Lucas arranged for Dylan to stay with him and stay low in San Francisco.

"I appreciate you putting me up Luc, but it's not necessary. Oliver will be thrown out of college and he knows that the police will be after him. I'm a big boy now, I'd have been fine."

Lucas appeared from a cupboard with some towels for his guest. "Then just give me the weekend having you here, and you can go back when I've checked in with Clestin PD." And by 'check in with', he actually meant 'hacked into their systems and checked the reports himself'.

"Okay, the weekend. And then I can get back to normal. Although I reckon a weekend in San Fran will be fun!" Dylan decided.

"You jinxed it now. It's going to be anything but fun," mumbled Lucas.


The next morning the pair were sat at the breakfast bar with the news on in the background. A buzz on the doorbell meant Lucas had to leave his toast unattended.

"Don't think about eating that- I'm coming back for it," he warned Dylan who was eyeing it up.

Lucas opened the door and there stood the familiar sight of Lieutenant Black from the SFPD. She was a well-respected officer within the department and an upstanding, generous member of the Korean community of which she belonged to. She was stood in Saturday casuals comprising of a Giants tee shirt under a blue denim jacket and black jeans. Her curled hair rested on her shoulders. But Lucas was more aware of the file she had under her arm.

"Lietenant Black. What have I done to deserve such a personal visit on a Saturday?" Lucas sarcastically asked, stepping aside as she welcomed herself in. "Please, come on in," he muttered, shutting the door.

Black walked right through to the kitchen area where Dylan started to introduce himself. "Yeah, yeah. Dylan Petersly. I know."

"Well, I don't like to assume," he grumbled under his breath.

She eyed Dylan up, noticing he was in nothing but underpants. He noticed and flashed her a flirtatious smile. "I didn't realise you were a couple," she asked directly, assuming the attire was a state of intimate familiarity between the two.

His smile quickly disappeared as he was sure to correct her, "Oh no ma'am, we're not. I'm just here for a few nights."

"Because of what happened with Oliver Hogon?"

"You know about that?"

"It's my job to know."

Lucas was laughing at Dylan's discomfort at the assumption he was romantically involved with him, and changed the subject to put him out of his annoyance. "No, he's just young and waaay too comfortable. I forget what that's like. Anyway, you bring me something?" he gestured at the file.

"Yes, I need your help on a job," she stated, before picking up Lucas' toast. It was Dylan's turn to chuckle at Lucas' annoyance. "Last night a high value cargo was intercepted and stolen from the airport depot it was unloaded into. Within minutes it was gone and without a trace. This cargo is not something that can be slipped into a purse either and walked off with. This took skill."

"Oooh, what is it? Let's guess!" toyed Dylan dryly, knowing full well already that Black was not the game playing detective.

"One of the only two remaining Maltese tigers in the world."

"I was going to guess ancient pottery," Dylan said, making a show of dropping his shoulders.

Black ignored him and continued. "The tigers were being shipped over from China where they were heading for San Francisco zoo as part of a new Wonders of the Orient exhibition. They were being shipped one at a time, with the second still in China. Now under more armed protection."

"So one of only two of these Maltese tigers goes missing within minutes of touching down, and there's no trace and no ideas at all?" Lucas clarified.

"That's literally what I have just said, yes. They were either extremely lucky, skilled, or knew how to remove all traces of themselves. Tell me, how can you do that Lucas?"

"Woah, hold on, are you asking me personally? Because go ahead, look around. You'll find no tiger here. Or are you asking for my opinion as professional to professional?"

"Well I already know you don't have the tiger," she scoffed.

"You've checked me out already?"

"It's my job to," she said matter of fact. Lucas rolled his eyes.

Lt Melissa Black and Lucas went back many years. Lucas would refrain from using the term 'friendship' to describe what it was they had, and maybe instead call it more of a professional relationship. Black was very well aware of Lucas' strengths but he hadn't always used them to keep on the right side of the law. Even though years have passed and she is acutely aware of his involvement with The Enhanced Beings Collective, she still doesn't quite trust him. She's a cop after all- there isn't many people she would say she did trust.

"What's so special about these tigers anyway? The US has more tigers than any other big cat in captivity or in households than there are in the wild. So why this one?" Lucas asked.

Dylan's eyes widened. "Hello, Tiger King. Are you sure it's not round here?" he laughed.

"The Maltese tigers are blue," Black stated, again, ignoring the still semi-nude man.

"Blue?" the boys said in unison.

"Technically by name, yes. Although they are more of a grey in colour, with black stripes and bright green eyes. Even in their native China, their existence is known only by a few."

"So you need me to dig deep and see what I can find beyond what you guys are capable of?" asked Lucas.

"Oh, we're just as much capable, thanks. But we don't have much time, and we need your speed."