A Taste For Chicken

Trick Fraud - Part 3

Hawks landed in a darkened alley, the sun barely reaching through the passage. The atmosphere was tense, the aftermath of a recent crime still palpable in the air. Broken crates and scattered debris littered the ground, and the faint scent of smoke lingered. Hawks folded his wings, his gaze scanning the area as he spotted Morpho waiting for him near a cluster of empty containers.

Morpho’s gossamer wings fluttered softly as he waved to Hawks, catching the weak light just enough to make his wings glitter. Wearing that bright yellow costume made him stand out normally, but in the dark alley it looked even brighter. His expression was calm, almost serene, as Hawks approached.

“Hawks,” Morpho greeted with a nod, “I’m glad you’re here. I think this robbery might be connected to your investigation with Trick Fraud.”

Hawks raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “How so?”

Morpho gestured to the containers behind him. “Take a look at these," he said, "They were emptied during the heist, but it’s not just about what was taken—it’s about the packing materials. I believe they’re from the same facility as the ones you found at the docks.”

Hawks stepped closer, examining the remnants left behind. His keen eyes noted the similarities—the same kind of protective wrap and cushioning, all too familiar from his earlier encounter on the docks. “You’re right,” Hawks said, nodding in agreement, “These materials match up. Trick Fraud must be after something specific, and he’s checking these crates specifically to get it.”

Morpho’s wings fluttered slightly, a subtle sign of his own thoughts churning. “There’s more,” he added, “The thugs I encountered here—they weren’t just common criminals. They were hired by Dr. Hawthorne as well.”

Hawks turned to Morpho, a hint of surprise on his face. “How do you know that?” he asked.

Morpho’s expression remained calm, but there was a certain intensity in his sparklingly purple eyes. “My quirk,” he began, “allows me to use the dust from my wings to put people under a sort of hypnosis. It’s not something I use lightly, but in this case, I deemed it was necessary. I questioned one of the thugs before turning him over to the police. He confessed everything.”

Hawks absorbed the information, his mind racing to connect the dots. “Dr. Hawthorne… If she's involved directly, this could be bigger than just Trick Fraud stealing tech from her," he said aloud, "There might be a larger operation at play.”

Morpho nodded in agreement. “It seems that way. Hawthorne already has quite the reputation for dealing in illegal tech and black-market goods," he said, "If Trick Fraud is working with her—or for her—we need to figure out what their endgame could be.”

Hawks frowned, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on him. “We can’t let this slip through our fingers,” he said, his tone determined, “If they’re planning something big, we need to stop them before it’s too late.”

Morpho’s wings fluttered once more, almost reassuringly. “Agreed. I’ll continue to gather information on my end. We’ll figure this out together.”

Hawks nodded, his mind already racing ahead to the next steps, “Awesome thanks, Morpho. We’re going to need all the help we can get to bring these guys down.”

Hawks soared through the sky, the city below blending into a shimmering mosaic. His mind was still on the conversation he’d had with Morpho. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, but there were still too many gaps. As he neared Nest, the familiar sight of the agency building brought a sense of focus back to him.

He landed smoothly at the entrance to Nest, his wings folding back as he spotted Halcyon waiting for him. She was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed, and a look of mild impatience on her face. Beside her, a folder rested on a bench, no doubt containing more information from Perplex.