The Zetta Sonic
Dashboards

Meanwhile, Alex is already on the final steps to freedom. He managed to take advantage of the chaos and climbed the stairs upwards. The hole above his head was open. The big man, Tiger, was waiting for him at the top accompanied by a large pack of potato chips. As soon as he saw the Zetta Sonic coming out, he kicked the drain cap to its original position, closing the exit from the drain.

“I want to say good work, but you smell terrible,” Tiger said as he waved his hand in the air.

Alex rolled his eyeballs, sure Tiger didn't see it. “If you want to wait near home, I don't need to run so far,” Alex replied. His breathing was still wheezing, between tired and tense.

Tiger sneering. “The environment of the house is quite densely populated. We must not risk involving civilians to the point of making innocent people victims. After all, this is the perfect waiting spot.”

Alex shook his head. Tiger walked to the nearest big trash can, dumping his chips wrap there. They're in a narrow alley, right behind an old shop. Most stores have closed, leaving only one mini market and a refueling station near the intersection.

“Come home!” Tiger stepped towards the white SUV car.

Alex until then still wonder why ICPA let most of their equipment and vehicles are white instead of black. In fact, the entire ICPA mission is a secret mission. Usually, the color black is more synonymous with secret agents. While the white color seems to make fun of the criminals.

In the car, Alex has switched off his combat uniform. In a state of inactivity, the uniform was no bigger than a police badge. This is one of the sophistication of ICPA equipment. Professor Otto and Jayden. The tiu uniform consists of small pieces that can somehow be quite tucked away behind a badge. Alex wears it on a belt, just like a real police badge.

[Give it to Tiger.] Jayden's voice and image appear on the screen in the center of the interior panel of the SUV.

“You wash it?” guess Alex.

[For what?] Jayden chuckles. [I'm planning some new touches for the Zetta Sonic. Things you will like.]

Hearing that, Alex could not help but a knotty smile spread across his face. The last time his operator made a rocket, he really loved the innovation. Like other practical and sophisticated ICPA equipment, the rocket is only the size of a backpack. Pretty light and sturdy. Its flying speed could not match that of an airplane, but it was more than enough to chase after a killer robot.

Speaking of killer robots, Alex still can't get his memories out of the last mission on a freighter. Especially the odd feeling that prevailed at the end of the mission. The sensation when Dragon Blood seemed to rule over him. ‘As if’ because Alex still has complete control over his body but can't explain what's really going on. Every time the memories floated, Alex spontaneously moved his shoulders, as if to repel the burden that was there.

Jayden knows that he doesn't even say anything.

[Enter the badge into the box.] The operator gives instructions, helping Alex break free from his own thoughts.

Alex also looked at. Tiger unmoving. Alex knew he had to find it himself. The first guess is usually lucky. Alex finds a small iron-plated box inside the dashboard. His view is diverted to other objects that are also in the compartment.

“What is this?”

[I don't know. I can't see.]

Alex took out a circular object like the one he was wearing. The shape is similar to Zet-Arm, but the color is metallic green. Without even a light, the bracelet glowed. There is a similar motive that was only seen when Alex moved it under dim conditions. He found a collection of hexagon motifs composed of faint green lines.

[Oh, it was there. I thought I threw it away.] Jayden was finally able to comment after Alex took him to the front of the screen.

“What prototype?” Alex asked again. “Zet-Arm?”

[No, no. Prototype uniform.]

Alex glanced at the badge that was still in his hand. He took the iron box and kept it there. “You want me to wear two bracelets at once?” Alex grunts amusedly. Since joining the ICPA, he has never let go of Zet-Arm at all. The bracelet helps each member in the Special Force to monitor the condition of his body.

“Ide professor, huh?”

[The professor said you could wear the first bracelet on the right, the other bracelet on the left. Yeah, that's ridiculous. But, that was the first uniform bracelet we made. Very neat. Even I think the way the pieces are stored is much neater than your current uniform.]

“So, what's the problem?”

[The pieces are less thick. He can still be penetrated with ordinary bullets.]

Tiger finally spoke. “Nine millimeter bullets. Sig sauer's. Shot in the chest. You're gonna die. No need to bother looking for a sniper to kill the agent behind the uniform.”

“You sacrificed his neatness for form?” guess Alex. “If you can be honest, I prefer this bracelet over Zet-Arm. The design is not its function.”

Jayden has no intention of continuing. [Back them both. I'll make you a better thing than that.]

“You intend to make a new uniform design?”

[No. Your uniform can still be used. So far I can fix it easily. I thought I'd make you another one. A surprise.]

“Weapons?” guess Alex.

[Don't do anything in vain. I told you it was a surprise. See you at headquarters.] Jayden shut down communications.

Alex keeps an iron-plated box in the compartment. He also threw a cylinder containing a printing plate into a plastic box that was on the second bench. Then, he turned to Tiger.

“You hope I'll give you an answer?” Tiger did not even glance back at the boy. His eyes kept moving forward. He drove it safely and quickly. His car broke through the slow drizzle and slippery road directly towards the overpass on the outskirts of the city.

“No. You are blind technology.”

“Very funny,” reply Tiger even though he did not laugh at all.

“You know, I didn't really like it when they made a new weapon for me.”

“Why?”

“That's human habit. They make something new to beat the others. Understand I mean? The ICPA made the Zetta Sonic when they felt the start of many powerful villains. This time too. Jayden made something of it because there was a new threat of criminals. Now, the question is, who are the villains we're dealing with?”

Tiger smiled a smile. Alex's instincts and intelligent brain never bore him. “If you want to know, try reading the latest files in ICPA.”

“What file?”

“I'm sure you have access to the ICPA database via Zet-Arm. Just look over there. You won't believe what we found.”