The Zetta Sonic
Release

Cody can't believe Alex's coming on nights like this. The boy was glued to his position, more precisely at the end of the emergency exit of the large building where the ICPA prison was located underneath.

“Hei!” Alex tried to say hello cheerfully.

Cody speechless. It took him a while to finally run up to Alex. His confused face turned cheerful quickly. He ran so fast across the marble floor at Alex's entrance. He arrived panting in front of Alex. “This is not a dream, ‘kan? Right, ‘kan?”

“Yup.”

“I think you've forgotten me.”

“Almost...” Alex smiles knot. “Just kidding. I told you ‘kan that ICPA has a lot of affairs and regulations. They need a little time to set everything up.”

Cody couldn't smile any wider. “Thank you very much, Alex. I'm gonna change. Really am. All that theft, all that joke. I'm gonna quit. I'll make an apology letter to Willy if I need to.”

Alex frowned, “On the apology letter, I thought it better not.”

Replace Cody frowning. “Wait. Do you guys have a specific plan... for... me?”.

“Explain by road.”

Cody ran around following Alex and the big guy he just knew his name a few minutes ago. Both are fast but steady. While he was like a child who was afraid of slipping on the damp streets.

Alex once looked up at the starless sky. Cloudy. Chilly. The smell indicates the rain is coming soon. If there will be explosions and fire, it might be good for the sky to bring rain. But, of course, it would be better if there were no bombs at all.

When entering the car, Cody found the backpack lying in the middle seat. He saw that it was nothing but clothes. The clothes were similar to the ones he had dressed when in action some time ago. Hooded jacket, pants, sweatshirt, also black mask.

The mask is the most unique. The mask was originally just a thin square metal object. When opened, it has two sections that open to the right and left. It looks exactly like a paper. There was no rope, only a green line at the top. The color gets brighter every time it is exposed to light. When brought close to the face, the mask develops. Cody only realized that the mask was arranged by rectangular pieces that moved to adjust the contours of his face.

“What is this!?” Cody screamed in panic. He thought the mask would cut off the oxygen supply to his body, but he didn't.

“Welcome to ICPA!” Alex looked back while throwing a smile. Cody glared at him for a while then started to circulate a glance. The child must have begun to realize that ICPA technology is not only sophisticated but also comfortable.

“What do you want from me? Looking for that bomb?”

“Tap.” Alex glanced at the clock in the middle of the car panel. In fact, it's past midnight and there have been no reports of bombs exploding.

“You must be kidding. What can I do compared to you? You have a complete system. I don't have anything. Even my insects are—“

“There behind,” says Alex, cut off Cody's greeting.

Cody still did not understand completely. He looked into the back seat. Because it was dark, he still could not see anything there. Cody was back in the bag. There, he found another small box. He can guess what it is. When he opened it, he found the contact lenses he used to wear to control the insects.

The contact lens was still well and comfortably attached to his face. Shortly after, the control panel was activated. This time, he could see his soldiers at the back. They are marked like sand spots. Cody looked again. He could see them stacked in boxes through his system.

[Alex.] Jayden's voice interjected from the car panel. [I have a new job for you.]

[Not yet. But I found something more interesting. We found the factory.]

“What factory?” Alex asked even though he had a little guess. In fact, that guess is true.

[You remember the video Caitlin gave you? We found the location.]

Tiger whistling. “Tonight looks like it will be quite long. What about Caitlin? Are you going to send him there too, Jayden?”

[Negative. Nadira prefers it here. Wake up with us if we find a real bomb. Nadira wants you to check there first. I'll send you the location to make it easier.]

“Do you think the Baron will put a bomb in there too?” ask Alex. “He's pretty hard on his men. He also did not care to throw away some of his personal property. Is it possible he'll put a bomb in his own factory?”

[Why not? We don't know him as well as Caitlin.] Jayden chuckles. The reason was obvious, Caitlin was still one room with him. [Be careful. Cody and you should watch each other.]

Cody only blinked when he heard the conversation just flashed in front of him. After the male voice on the screen panel did not continue and silence returned, and he managed to remove the mask on his face, Cody just asked again. “Someone wants to explain what it was just?”

Tiger replied in a pretty ambiguous answer. “Consider, we'll hunt monsters. Monster named Baron.”

Alex added on. “Baron was the one who put bombs all over the city. Some time before, there was a video leaked to us. It seems like he is developing a dangerous liquid. Probably poison. Jayden, my operator, found out where the video was taken.”

“Dan, are we going there? I thought you guys were gonna take me home.”

Tiger spontaneously laughed. “Sorry, kid. I just drove Alex home. It was also under the absolute orders of a continent-level ICPA leader.” From the rearview mirror, Tiger could see the child behind it shrieking.

Cody said softly. “You want me to fight?”

“I'll fight,” says Alex. “You take care of me enough. Don'worry. Do as you do in theft. Stay invisible and you will be safe.”

“Looks it won't be easy.”

“Dan, it would be easier without your help, Cody. That's why we released you.” Alex turned, looking at the face of his interlocutor. “This is your best chance. You can use Bug technology to do good.”

Cody was silent for a moment, not daring to react.

Tiger laughed again. “After the case is over, we will take you home. The ICPA will prepare a good story. You don't have to bother putting together a lie. Think of it like a secret agent game. You ready?”

Cody was still silent. Shortly after, he nodded at Alex. After that, he could even throw questions. “What does Baron really want? A vendetta? The money? He seems to be rich enough.”

It's not an easy question for Alex. “Baron and I have a pretty bad history. In fact, not very well. Bottom line, he wants to prove he's better than me.”

“Planting bombs is obviously worse than taking my toys in school.”

Alex laughed. “Good. Now we're officially friends, Cody.”