They were now asleep, I could hear them snoring. Without my powers, of course. The couple only owned a couch, still wrapped up in plastic. I brought the whicker chair from the table in the kitchen and placed it on the carpet.

"Goodnight, Auburn."

The news reporter was female and about thirty-seven. Her assistant was a young male. His tie could have been made better, and he seemed a little nervous to be on tv.

"We're happy to inform the inhabitant of the third ring's outer district, that the suspect of the missing persons' cases has been dealt with by the proper authorities."

"The suspect had reportedly taken a drug known as Demon's Blood. This drug was first seen in Stanton, in use of the Native Races, in the Founding Wars. Authorities have yet to report on how it has gotten so far north, and into the hands of humans."

"The suspect was taken down by Auburn's twenty-third hero. We supposedly have images of this new hero?"

It showed me, still masked, on the upper right corner of the screen. The officers body cameras were probably active. I wonder which ones were on the payroll?

They kept it going as tonight seemed a busy night. The banquet would be held next week as a prelude to Donnelly and Auburn officially accepting Stanton as an equal, the week following. Stanton had been the first of the cities where different races cohabitated. The other races had, in the last three decades, taken posts within Stanton's native political circles, and even some military positions.

Hopefully when they sent those students over I wouldn't have to play a part in it. It seemed almost guaranteed something would happen with the recent increase in illegal activities.

I stopped listening after they started a sports segment. I had a lot to do tomorrow.

………………..

Most criminals weren't humans, those who were, were rare, so most crime tended to the extreme in Auburn. This was because of multiple reasons, the first being, humans had only been introduced by the thousands in this world about two hundred years ago.

The wars when we had arrived took the lives of many of the younger generations. As those who lived became older, the generational gap had only increased. Though recently the impacts had been mitigated by the portal in Donnelly's increased activity, thanks to advancements in technology, on the other side. Though the effect could still be seen. There were old people all around Auburn, most of its inhabitants were above forty.

After moving my things out of Ed's apartment I met my landlord and got settled. The home seemed too big, but vacancies were common in Auburn, so I got it for cheap. I didn't have a lot, especially after the robbery, so I'd unpack them later.

There wasn't a lot for me to do but patrol so most of my day was spent on roof tops. The weather was inconsistent recently, giving us thick winter clouds one day, and warm summer-like temperatures on others. This was why I hadn't worn my suit today and had instead chosen to keep its mask and gloves, wearing both with blue jeans and a black V-neck. I mostly monitored arguments between farmers, and the fish market a little distance from the sea. I kept radio girl on the line in case of urgent; while I was grocery shopping.

My shift ran from 9 to 10, by the end of which mental fatigue had built-up and I could use a drink.

……………………………..

They were all there. By the time I had arrived the buses had stopped running, so I had to walk over. I wouldn't use my powers off-hours, by way of self-discipline, and in this case, I actually didn't need to. Only living a few blocks away from this bar-- Reise's. This was the second ring. Used mostly for residential and consumer purposes; the adult district, in a way. Though kids were allowed in, up until eight o'clock, as theatres and gyms were in the ring too.

A loud chatter filled the place, contrasting harshly on my ears against the nearly vacant quietness of the streets. Joe met me with a wave and a beer.

"Money man! Have a beer, you're buying, anyway."

The bartender pointed to me, and I nodded and sighed.

"Oh, it's you."

The corporal who had asked for the drinks sat at the bar out of uniform. They always seemed so different when they weren't, right? Almost unnatural.

He shook my hand.

"I didn't recognize you, without the extra you."

We talked about little things, at first, and naturally moved onto Finston, and the drugs that he'd taken.

"I heard they're made with magic. If you can believe it?"