Riley relaxed in his chair, allowing his thoughts to flow between work and reflection.
The flickering lights above him drew his attention, moving in hues like a living, breathing pulse, and for a few period, he let his mind follow the beautiful dance.
"Ah, the Technicolor lights of this evening," he mumbled to himself, his fingers swirling lazily in the air.
"Another case closed, and yet here I am, retiring back into seclusion. The time to refuel has arrived. To be one with myself once more."
He twisted in his chair, smiling quietly to himself as it slid over the floor before coming to a smooth rest in the center of the room.
Riley considered the weight of genius. A weight I will happily bear.
"It is with a heavy heart," he continued, his voice gentle and mournful, "that I must leave this station. My radiance was too much for them to handle. Do they admire me so or is envy at play? He halted staring at the walls for answers, but none came. "The game of life is 50/50? Our chief knows that I cannot be replaced. Furthermore, others in this department will never reach my standards. The heights I soar too. "My wisdom."
He angled back with a dramatic flair to his gestures, his fingers dancing through the air as if conducting a symphony. "To bear the burden of such grandeur...to be a genius. It's truly a sight to behold. A journey few achieve."
"Why must this intense weight bother me?" His speech hushed, the once cheery tone turning serious. "My beloved, Matilda. My head is a place of madness... and my heart? "What to do?"
He verged forward slightly, his eyes glistening.
"Familiarity breeds contentment if I continue on this road as a contractor for the Police Department?" Elevating myself to the next level enlightenment could be intriguing. A new locale, more money in my pocketbook, and better opportunities for growth. I can stay here and become a legend, helping those in need to until my days are done?
Maybe a technology company? A bank investigator? "Am I wasting my time here?" He paused. "Maybe... Perhaps I should ask for a raise? "After all, my work is not cheap."
As he sat in contemplation, his thoughts spun and whirled in his own mind.
But before he could delve more into his monologue, a voice interrupted his reverie.
"Riley!"
Frozen in time Riley took a moment to ascertain his surroundings. Looking up Chief Sanders stern figure was in the door way unmoving and the edge of amusement.
"Ah, fearless leader," Riley proclaimed as he jumped off his chair, leaping two feet in the air and landing with perfect poise just beneath the wheels. He almost lost his balance but regained his composure instantly. "You caught me in the midst of my grand lamentations."
Sanderson stood there, her expression firm as usually. A slight smiled graced her face in the midst of Riley's lamentations. "You should see a shrink." There are robots that could help your better than most counselors these days. A machine could do wonders for your mental health."
"Most people think I'm mad," Riely hissed grinning. "My thought process keeps me from being torn asunder by this world."
Stepping into the room Sanders shook her head fighting a smile. With folder in hand she tilted her head toward the ground. "You don't think I listen..I've heard you call our department a waste of space." Raising an eyebrow she pointed toward one of the office chairs.
Riley calmed his voice and obeyed with a flourish of his usual candor. "As my fearless leader you wound me deeply, but your presence lifts my spirits." He sunk into the chair. "You honor me."
Chief Sanderson rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of warmth in her gaze as she grabbed another chair a blue-and-purple one and pulled it closer. She took a seat across from him, leaning back with her long legs crossed.
"What am I going to do with you," her lips twitched. "I'm a bit tired," Sanderson moaned leaning her head back.
Tapping his fingers on the armrest Riley leaned forward intrigued. "What's on your mind? Is the uncle in custody?"
Sanderson nodded. "One of our detectives brought him in recently."
"Home sounds good about now." A playful smiled graced his face as he stood up making his way toward the door.
Sanderson voice a mix of amusement and impatience glared at Riley. "Sit back down please!"
Riley tried to keep his composure as he slid back into his seat like a child coming off a sugar high.
"Riley, get a grip," Sanderson hissed, her tone sharpening.
Riley leaned forward, his hands clasped in front of him in a prayer-like posture. "What ups, Chief. What's on your mind?"
Sanderson huffed, leaning back in her chair. "The fires keep coming. There is a divide between humans, deviants, and robots. Murders are on the rise and property damage isn't far behind. With our budget being cut this year we don't have enough officers to patrol. To top it all off some trust fund kid got hurt doay"
Riley raised his left eyebrow. "A rich kid? Is that the kid of the pizza chain CEO?"
Sanders cross her legs slowly. "He came in this evening to complain. His name is Deshawn."
Riley grinned. "Sounds like a good time. Where are those details?"
Sanderson handed the file from her lap to Riley.
In a moment's notice, Riley flipped it open, his eyes scanning the two names and photos Sanderson complied. "While I heard about this, I didn't catch the broadcast."
"I've got you covered." Sander pulled a remote from her pocket and pressed a green button. A holographic screen manifested in front of them. "This is what was shown on the news tonight, and trust me, this has started a wildfire. Three robberies and four assaults on humans. Two robots transporting over $20,000 in cash were targeted by deviants. It's like everyone human, deviant, or robots just going after each other. This is madness."
Riley leaned closer to the screen, his eyes narrowing as the footage began to roll. "So, there's our golden boy," he mouthed, pointing to Derek's face on the projection. "He seems a bit aloof."
"Take a look at this," Sanderson replied, pressing a button that fast forward to a subway cart. The video zoomed in on Derek, just as he was confronting Deshawn on a subway platform earlier that morning.
Riley squinted at the footage. "Not a very big guy, huh? And yet, he moves fast way too fast for someone his size."
Sanderson nodded. "That's exactly it. Watch closely."
Riley leaned forward, watching with keen attention. "He doesn't look that muscular, but damn, he's quick. Almost martial-arts quick, but more... feral. Aggressive, out of control. It's like he's not even thinking, just reacting."
"I thought the same thing," Sanderson quipped, a glint of satisfaction dancing at the tip of her tongue. "You're quite on the uptake. Look at this. Deshawn, comes at Derek with his larger frame. As we both know that is a common street technique to overcome someone with force."
Riley's eyes widened as the footage continued to play. "See how he pushes back? It's like he doesn't want to fight, but then, as soon as Deshawn comes forward, there's this instant shift. It's like he's not even thinking anymore. Those reflexes are cat like in nature."
"Right," Sanderson said, smiling for the first time. "Something about that doesn't sit right with me. Speed isn't the only thing at play, his strikes are precise. Derek took him Deshawn down in seconds."
Riley let a go a smirk. "So we have a young man with cat like reflexes. Take a look at the shoulder dislocation…brutal. His eyes traced the footage a few times rewinding to take in every one of Derek's movements. "Deshawn's father being a big deal is coming after Derek for justice?"
Sanderson swallowed, taking a moment to think. "While this look like a personal grudge I'm worried that this will add fuel to the fire. Derek could have set off a chain reaction causing an increase in deviant activity."
The possible outcomes layered in Riley's head. This is going to be a problem if deviants try to take over. "This man Derek has power that is unknown to him. Based on his action he is in a reactive state. More of a flight or fight response based on his facial expressions. What happens when he realizes control of his abilities?"
"That's a possibility I don't want to think about. Sanderson voiced hushed to a whisper. "We need to find him before that happens."
Riley stood up pointing this finger to ceiling. "Don't worry chief there is a game afoot and I'm ready for the chase."