Year 2050

  Month 3

  Rebirth City Police Headquarters

  The massive glass and steel structure of the police headquarters towered over the plaza. Citizens and officers alike streamed in and out through the reinforced glass doors.

  Lucian approached the main entrance. The security guards at the front nodded to him with familiar respect as he passed through the metal detectors without being asked to empty his pockets.

  “Young Master Meng,” one of them greeted.

  “How’s it going, Officer Iron?” Lucian replied with a smile. “Is my sister in today?”

  “Detective Meng is in. Shall I notify her you’re here?”

  “No need to bother her. I know the way.”

  Lucian moved through the interior of the headquarters. He walked between busy officers, avoiding them as they passed by quickly. The smell of coffee and pastries hung in the air.

  He navigated the corridors, offering polite nods to officers who recognized him.

  Lucian entered an open space filled with desks arranged in clusters. Near the far wall, a beautiful woman with hair and eyes the same as Lucian sat. Her hair was cut short, and she wore a tailored pantsuit. Three empty coffee cups sat on her desk, as well as a half-eaten bagel, alongside stacks of folders marked with red “CONFIDENTIAL” stamps.

  “Hey Amara, how's my dear sister doing? Working hard?” Lucian called as he approached.

  Beneath one of the large screens displaying crime statistics, sat Lucian’s sister. She slowly stared up at him with her beautiful, golden eyes.

  “Lucian. What brings you here?” She asked.

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  “Just thought I’d check in on my favorite sister,” he replied, perching on the edge of her desk.

  “I’m your only sister,” she reminded him with a small smile.

  “Well I wouldn’t be surprised if I found out father had a few hidden away.” Lucian shrugged.

  “Lucian.” Amara shook her head and sighed.

  His eyes fell on the files scattered across her workspace. “What do you have going on this time?”

  “Don’t you have school, student, not my things kind of stuff to worry about little brother?” Amara Meng said, pushing the files away from his view.

  “Come on sis, a ton of the other students in the academy help out their family, plus I have helped before.”

  “Yeah and you almost got yourself killed last time…” Amara Meng leaned back in her chair, her golden eyes narrowing with concern.

  “Look just be more careful, ok?” AmaraMeng added, her voice now held a softer tone.

  Lucian gave a nod. His eyes darted to a photo partially hidden beneath a folder—young fighters in what looked like an underground venue.

  “Fighting rings?” he asked.

  “Huh?” She looked down at the papers then back at him.

  “You figured it out from that huh...” She sighed, tapping the edge of the photos. “Yeah, some underground operations. We don’t have much intel. Fighters under twenty, but we suspect there’s human trafficking involved.”

  “I see, so—” Lucian began, but was interrupted by an officer rushing over to Amara Meng’s desk.

  “Detective Meng,” the officer said, slightly out of breath. “Dispatch just called. We might have a lead on the location. Captain wants you there for the raid.”

  Amara Meng stood immediately, grabbing her keys and gun from the desk drawer. “Tell them I’m on my way. Send the coordinates to my vehicle.”

  She turned to Lucian, squeezing his shoulder. “Gotta go. Stay out of trouble, alright?”

  Before he could respond, she was already heading for the exit, holstering her weapon as she went.

  Lucian remained at her desk, his eyes drawn back to the files she’d left scattered in her hurry. He glanced around to make sure no one was watching before sliding one of the photos closer.

  The image showed young fighters, bodies bruised and faces determined, surrounded by a crowd in what appeared to be a makeshift arena.

  Lucian activated his holo-phone and dialed a number.

  “We need to talk,” he said when the call connected. “I need your help with something. It’s about those missing kids. Meet me at the usual place in an hour?”

  He paused, listening to the voice on the other end.

  “Ok I’ll be there,”

  …