The Zetta Sonic
Away Slip

‘I'm proud of you.’

Those words were still clearly ringing in Alex's ears. His father was in his time of need, his father praised him, even his father called to ask him how he was doing. The thing Alex wanted to happen so smoothly as if he didn't have to fight to get it.

Alex tapped his finger on the table. His heart feels strange. Good things happen to him but not to the world. Alex feels like he is flying and can see the world better than ever. The world is in chaos. All continents, countries, cities, even on the streets. Crime lurks. Different shape. Pickpockets, robbers, even monsters. He wouldn't trust monsters if he wasn't involved with the ICPA.

Zetta Sonic is needed. Each continent has its own way. Nadira has Zetta Sonic and his father has his own tricks. With the revelation of the identity of Roban aka Baron, an international criminal who makes Regis and Sinde fret, Nadira and Mark will intersect.

You know, Alex clenched a hand.

He should have realized. As his father said he heard when his consciousness was thinning in Kloster. In their work, it is hard to find a coincidence.

Baron has always been Caitlin's main supporter. There was no way the man would let his fiancee face off against the criminals. The baron played it all. ICPA is also another criminal. He's messing with Alex's mission. Tell the robot to deliberately make Bompeii's backpack explode to kill him. It was a huge success. His master, Baron, not only succeeded in eliminating Bompeii but also the city's docks along with several ICPA agents and dozens of residents.

Then, something else came to his mind. Solved a message with an automatic destroyer that he found first infiltrated the father's system.

Alex glanced at Rover under his feet. The dog huddled comfortably underneath, not understanding the tension of the master. Alex missed him. He misses his room, his dog, and his various facilities. More than that, he misses his activities using a large sailing computer with a twinkle on the symbol of a bee. Alex has reactivated Killer Bee.

Reopening the files he had previously downloaded from the father's system. He checked the internet and security, then realized that there was an attempt to steal data there. However, Jayden managed to secure everything. Then, someone — means, Baron — is looking for another way to screw up. He spread a variety of random messages. Sending it to other ICPA agencies even the criminals. Again, Jayden foiled most. The rest escaped without the recipient being hired.

Alex is aware that has received one who escaped as well.

“Sial! I should have known! Baron attempted to thwart the Dragon Blood project early on knowing it would be dangerous for Caitlin.”

[Fast right!] Jayden's voice is heard as his image appears on the upper right edge. [Is that why you hacked into the ICPA system, again, Alex?]

“Baron must be happy to realize his sweetheart is safe when I get Dragon Blood. Then, he realized that Caitlin was actually hurt by the reality. So, he wants revenge. He asked Caitlin to resign. Then, secretly execute his plan again to destroy ICPA.”

[I hate to say it, but he's smart. He's been committing these crimes since he was a young man. A few dozen years. Some say he killed his own twin brother. However, everyone who lived with him as a child is no longer in this world. By accident? Thought not.]

“Since severalteen years?”

[Why surprised? You are also a dozen years old.]

Alex sighs. He dropped his head on his arm. “Maniac. Psychopath. I don't know what else fits him. It was like he could control this world.”

[No, no!] Jayden fast. [The scope of his crimes, so far, is only the continent of Sinde and a small part of Regis. He does not control this world. As long as there was an ICPA, there were places he could not touch. Like, your house.]

Alex frowning.

[Your place is under the protection of ICPA Regis and Sinde is also a creepy horse robot. You're not scared of him, ‘kan?] Jayden grinning.

“What? Of course not!” Alex shakes. He straightened his shoulders, throwing away all his unrest. “We'll catch him. He would not run away after making such a mess. Too many lives have been lost because of it.”

[The question is.] Jayden left the sentence hanging.

[How do I do? He knows ICPA well through Caitlin.  Technology, facilities, headquarters locations, weapons. A bunch. We need another trick. Something he wouldn't predict. Maybe ask for help from your opponent?] Jayden was hesitant at the idea he had just floated.

“You mean, the villains?”

Jayden shrugged his shoulders. [Using criminals to fight criminals can sometimes be effective. Like when the ICPA recruited me.] When he saw Alex opening his mouth to ask, Jadyen immediately added. [Don't ask, I don't want to talk about it.] Then he came back to the original topic. [Unfortunately, we can't completely trust them.]

“Really? I think I know someone who can help. New criminals, new technology. Someone who will make Baron surprised.”

Jayden paused for a moment and rubbed his face. [Nadira won't like this.]

“Trust me, he will like.”

The prison was still as Alex remembered it. Even though he was looking at it from the screen, everything looked the same. Thick walls of metal, glass panels, long chairs, as well as criminals. His schoolmate, Cody, doesn't look dangerous. He doesn't fit in there at all. He looks frail. Her eyes were swollen, her hair was disheveled. Alex doesn't want to guess how many hours he sleeps in a day.

“Why are you here? Trying to flout me?” Cody raised next to his eyebrows. The boy sat in a long chair with no intention of getting close to the glass.

“We need to talk.”

“No. I want to talk to my family. I wanted to talk to my lawyer, but it didn't work out. I wonder what the cops are doing here. Or ICPA.” Cody's voice began to tremble. “A-A— I'm a minor! Why is no one looking for me? Do they think I'm dead?”

Cody talked so much that Alex didn't get to talk. The boy looked scared. Alex sees him as the owner of a toy that Willy often teases. For a moment, Alex questions whether the ICPA made the right decision by locking Cody up like the other criminals.

“I— It— That's just theft. A— I— I mean, my family can replace it,” Cody started whining.

“It wasn't just theft. Your theft method is too sophisticated to ignore.”

“They've taken everything from me.” Cody is awake. He limped towards the glass wall where Alex's screen was. “I'm not a criminal. I didn't mean to be evil. I— It— It's just a game. Please, let me talk to my family. Please.” Cody slumped to the floor and sobbed.

Alex fell silent. He understood how hard it was to not be able to talk to his own family.

“Please,” said Cody again with a vibrating voice. “Au— I— I will not me— do it again. Ku— Please— let me meet my family. Please..”

Alex took a deep breath before speaking. “Cody, I am indeed here to help both of us.”

“A— What— What do you mean?”

“Cody Kane, you know me as Alexander Hill, your schoolmate. But the world is not. The world knows me as Zetta Sonic. I'm offering you a once in a lifetime opportunity. Help me catch a criminal named Baron and all your crimes will be forgiven. What's your answer, Bug?”