6. P R O D I G A L : Redemption

CHAPTER VI

DAY FORTY-SEVEN

The Jinshu District was alive with activity that night. It served as the Xishuangbanna equivalent to every other haven's city-based district and featured futuristic architecture that evoked thoughts of science fiction films.

Tián, Xiao Lang, Addison, and a very annoyed Kipzie crouched atop a building overlooking a street, waiting patiently.

"I thought this was a patrol," Kipzie sniffed, pawing at the building's roof. "One usually moves to and fro during a patrol."

"We usually do. But there's trouble nearby," Tián informed him. "My eyes are glowing, see? That means a crime is in progress."

"So why don't we jump into action, like you self-proclaimed heroes are so prone to doing?" Kipzie snapped.

"Because we can't see the crime yet," Tián replied, annoyed. "Whatever's going on, it's being done in shadows. That's why we're searching."

Kipzie rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath before scanning the ground below with his cybernetic eyes. Then he pointed with his tail, saying in a heavily sarcastic tone, "There. That alley. Some ruffians are on the move with crates that look downright nefarious."

"I like you," Xiao Lang remarked. "We should bring you with us more often."

"Absolutely not," Kipzie growled.

"Is it go-time, then?" Addison asked, stepping up to the edge of the roof. He was dressed in white Xirxine-issued light armor that looked like it was made of plastic but was actually made of a material derived from Nengyuan's scales. His helmet had tactical night-vision goggles placed over the eye area that enhanced his vision and gave him a somewhat disturbing appearance.

Tián grinned, her bird-shaped helmet forming over her head. "Yes. It's go-time."

With that, they leapt into action.

-

Addison landed first, flooring one of the masked goons not carrying a crate. The others turned in surprise, momentarily startled by his appearance.

Addison reacted before they could, lashing out a hand that transformed into tentacles. The black growths wrapped around a crate and ripped it out of two of the criminals' hands, pulling it back to Addison.

Addison tore open the crate and narrowed his eyes at the guns and grenades inside before looking up at the criminals. "I don't think so," he said in a modified voice before whipping them into the air with his tentacles.

Tián and Xiao Lang caught three of them in midair while the others were blasted back down to Earth by Kipzie, who was perched on the edge of a fire escape.

"Ha! That was easy!" Xiao Lang exclaimed.

Then those that had been blasted to the ground got to their feet, as did the one Addison had landed on. They began grunting in a strange monkeylike manner.

"Oof." Xiao Lang winced. "Spoke too soon, didn't I?"

The three criminals in the Protectors' grasp wrenched themselves away and landed solidly on their feet—and knuckles. They screeched angrily, some advancing toward Addison while the others scaled the sides of the buildings that formed the alley in an attempt to reach Tián and Xiao Lang.

"They're monkeys!" Addison exclaimed, backing up a few steps.

"Well, aren't you clever!" Kipzie spat, blasting the approaching creatures. They each covered their face with one arm before continuing their advance. "Mercy! They withstood my lasers!" Kipzie cried, stumbling back in terror.