“Pizza.” Inyun had been twirling in her seat for a while. The air in the room was heavy, and she’d been wondering just how to lighten the mood. “You can’t go wrong with pizza. We should just have a pizza party!” Nyx smiles, “I dunno, Inyun. Everyone’s pretty down in the dumps right now. We lost some really good people back there.” He sighs heavily. It had only been a few days since the Lodestone Breakout, as it’s being called. Nine dead, effectively making it eighteen given that their twins are now in the Curie, and about a dozen are recuperating in the hospital.

“I know, I know. And I’m saying pizza is the way to go. I mean, come on, who doesn’t like pizza?” she asks rhetorically. She pouts, pleading Nyx with her eyes, even pulling on her hair as she puts her hands together and pushes up her cheeks; her signature puppy face. He could never win against her like that, and she knew it. Nyx squirmed in his chair, closing his eyes and looking away, but the image was already seared into his head, and shutting his eyes only made it come to the forefront of his mind. It was only a matter of time, and Inyun knew that all too well.

A hand suddenly grabs Inyun’s shoulder, and she squeals in surprise. “What are you trying to make Nyx do this time, Yunnie?” Nyx opens one eye to take a peek, and sees Emily having a firm grip on a sheepishly smiling Inyun who had already changed from her pleading interlaced-fingers gesture, to an apologetic hands-in-prayer pose. He breathes a sigh of relief. “No worries, Em. She’s just suggesting we get pizza for the entire precinct,” he says. “Throw a pizza party. You know, to lift everyone’s spirits up.” “Oh, you don’t say?” she smiles gently at Inyun with her head tilted slightly to the side, her eyebrows raised questioningly. But to Inyun, it must’ve seemed rather threatening.

“I think,” begins Emily, “that’s a wonderful idea, dear.” A smile breaks through Inyun’s nervous face. She clasps Emily’s hand in gratitude. Her beaming face juxtaposed to Nyx’s surprised look was a rare sight to behold considering these two were often of one mind when it came to their antics. “Don’t worry, Nyx. It’s on me,” Emily winks. “Wü, dear! I’m heading out for a bit,” she calls out to her partner. “…Yeah…ok…” came the typical croaky response.

Still holding on to Inyun’s hands, Emily continues, “Aaaand, while we’re at it, we might as well drop by your school,” she smiles brightly. Inyun’s jaw drops, “Wait..but there’s no school toda-” “Yes, there is!” Emily says, cutting her off. “You’re not going to get me with that trick again!” Inyun quickly turns to Nyx for help. But he’d already raised his hands in submission. “Come along now, Yunnie. We’ll have some pizza first and then I’ll see you to school.” Inyun reluctantly follows along as Emily slowly tows her to the exit. “Honestly, I find it funny how you’re so close to the force yet such a rebel. Really wish you’d…” Emily’s voice trails off as she escorts Inyun who tries to sort out her mixed feelings of being able to get pizza, but at the cost of having to go to school.

“Ever so spritely, isn’t she?” came Morgan’s voice, chuckling. He’d been watching from the coffee room and was making his way back. “Heh. Yeah,” admits Nyx. “She should keep acting like a kid while she still can,” he sighs. “Given the current state of things, and how the Mafia’s activities have been picking up lately, I’d really prefer if she stayed away from the precinct though.” Morgan pats his shoulder. “But telling her that would only make her want to come even more.” This time, Nyx chuckled. “Yeah, I know.” He picks up a folder from the pile on his desk and starts flipping through it.

“What have you got there?” asks Morgan. “Missing person’s case. Got it a couple months ago, but I just can’t seem to progress. Thought I’d start again from scratch. Just need something a little light after what’s happened, y’know?” Morgan nods his head in agreement. “Yeah, I get you. You know…” he starts, but then something in the case file catches his eye. “Sorry, could you turn back?” Nyx looks up at him for a bit, then flips the page back. “This one?”

Morgan briefly reads through the person’s profile before slowly opening his mouth, muttering, “…Yeah…,” under his breath. His eyes widen. “Sorry, Nyx. Could you let me handle this case? I think it might be tied to another case I’m handling.” Nyx closes the file. “You know you’ll have to run it through the Captain first, dude,” he says, turning to face Morgan. “But if you can do that, it’s yours,” he says, handing over the file, grinning without questioning any further. “Thanks, man.” Morgan pats Nyx on the shoulder as he turns to leave. He’s grateful that Nyx is always reliable.

Rushing back to his desk, he hands the file over to Mr. Sharp and sits down in front of him. “We have to find him,” says Morgan, staring intently at Mr. Sharp as he peruses the profile. “This was reported about two months ago, but given his position, I’d say he’s definitely targeted as well.” Mr. Sharp narrows his eyes. “I’m aware of this fellow. But given his reclusive nature, it’s not surprising for him to go missing for long periods of time.” Morgan leans in, “Yeah, but never too long from his own workplace, apparently. His co-workers were the ones who reported it. And the most interesting of all is-” “He’s the lead researcher at Electrowave Labs,” Mr. Sharp finishes off the thought, closing the file shut.

“I’ll talk to the Captain and have the necessary paperwork done,” begins Mr. Sharp. “Investigate all his residences. Get Jack to sweep the city for any that we might have missed.” “On it!” says Morgan as he gets up to leave. “Grab Nyx!” shouts Mr. Sharp just as Morgan passes by Nyx’s desk, who looks around bewildered, hands in the air, too used to getting reprimanded for many of his shenanigans the minute his name gets called out. Morgan doubles back, grabs him, “I’ll explain on the way,” and drags the still confused Nyx along.