New York, Queens

New B.L.U. Facilities

14:47

Right after school had ended for the day, Aaron wasted no time visiting the brand new B.L.U. facilities that were rebuilt right after the fire incident. As the teenager walked up to the enormous building, he looked up in awe clutching his schoolbag that was thrown over his left shoulder. "What is your business here, young man?" A security guard standing on the double automatic sliding doors enquired blocking his way.

"I've got some business with Isaac Steinn, sir." Aaron casually replied as he showed the guard a blue matte card with the letters B.L.U. written on it in a bold white color.

The guard took the card from the young man's hands and after checking it over a small terminal that blinked a faint green color, he nodded politely, making way for the high school student with a simple "This way."

After Aaron bypassed the security check, he walked confidently to the big elevator in the center of the building and pushed the button with the letter C on it. As he waited for his transportation to arrive on the ground floor, he glanced around.

I can't believe they actually built all this in just a short time... Technology sure is awesome.

He thought to himself as he took a good long look around the ground floor, which seemed more like a reception area. A big reception stand was right next to the entrance, with a polite young woman as the receptionist, as lounge furniture was scattered all across the rest of the room. Soon, the elevator arrived and in stepped the young man, pushing the button for the highest floor possible. "Why does he have to be so high up every time..?" Aaron complained as he hung his head, before turning around to appreciate the views that the glassy construction style of the building offered, even from the elevator. He was already so high up that he could almost see his school but before he had the chance to admire more of the suburban scenery the elevator came to a halt and the doors slid open almost soundlessly.

The teenager stepped out from the elevator and casually walked up to the end of the hallway, as he knocked on the door in front of him. "It's me Mr. Steinn." Aaron spoke up as he gripped the doorknob and opened the door.

"Hey don't come in like that, weirdo!" Steinn spoke while he was bent over a piece of machinery with a screwdriver in hand and a pair of goggles strapped around his eyes.

"You told me to come here right after school so I did. And I even knocked before entering so I don't see anything weird about that." The high school student explained with a dry voice as he walked to the office and grabbed a piece of candy from a vase before slumping down on a nearby couch.

"I see you're full of energy today. That's youth for ya." Steinn said as he retreated the goggles to his neck and walked to his office.

"It's some sort of personal problem..." Aaron replied while mindlessly reminding himself of what has been bothering him the whole time.

I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO ASK OLIVIA OUT AGAIN AFTER THE INCIDENT THIS MORNING! MAN, I'M SO STUPID!

Aaron screamed internally as he ruffled his own hair in frustration.

"Again that's youth for ya..." The scientist commented after a light chuckle. "Anyway, the reason I told you to come here consists of two parts. Firstly, we'll need to run some tests on you so I can optimize your gear, teleportation gear included of course. Secondly, a certain individual wants to speak with you, so I want you meeting with them right after the tests." Steinn explained as he took a hold of his graphic white coffee cup with Einstein's face printed on it and took a long sip.

"And who exactly is that "certain individual"?" The young man asked as he removed the wrap from around the candy and tossed it in his mouth.

"The Police Chief Lois Monroe."

"-Wait what?!" cried Aaron who almost chocked with the red candy floating about his mouth. "What does she want with me?!" The teenager continued as he stood up in a state of panic. "Don't tell me she found out about my real identity and now she wants to blackmail me?!" Aaron paced around the room.

"No, you idiot! Calm down for once!" Steinn spoke irritated as he shook his head. "Agent Rodriguez arranged this meeting. It appears she wants to work together with you. And when I say you, I'm not talking about Aaron Beckett. I'm talking about Wraith." The man explained sternly.

"She wants to work with me?"

"Yeah, something like that. She'll tell you more about the details when you actually meet her. Now let's get those tests in while I fill you in."

"Okay then." Aaron simply replied as he stood up and followed Dr. Steinn.

New York, Queens

Near Queens' 1st Police Department

17:13

Steinn's examinations took more time than I thought they would... Still though I feel a little bit of anxious concerning this meeting... I mean it's the police chief for crying out loud! What if it's a trap to get me arrested?

Aaron hung his head while sitting in the edge of a roof, overlooking the police building, of course in his full Wraith attire.

Still the fact that they told me the chief isn't interested in my identity is a tad bit reassuring. Well I should meet her and see...

"At the top floor the central window will be unlocked, huh...?" Aaron repeated the words Steinn had said to him earlier, as he got up and stretched.

It appears this meeting will be a secret from the rest of the police force... That sounds fairly reasonable. I mean I can't be officially acknowledged by the local authorities just yet. In fact I don't think I ever will, which of course I can get behind. A teenager with a skin tight leather suit and superpowers running around the city and taking law in his own hands doesn't exactly sound heroic to the government. In fact, I'm more like a criminal to them than anything. Oh well, at least the public loves me...

The teenager shrugs before jumping off and almost flying to his destination, which is the building across from the open window he detected. With one quick movement he launches himself to the wall, and with the help of his hooks he slides inside the room, landing neatly on his feet.

"Hello there..." A female, but battle-hardened voice speaks. "...Wraith." The police chief continues.

Aaron quickly turns around to greet her, as he is met with a woman in her late 30s or early 40s, with short black shoulder length hair, fair skin and a pair of hazel eyes. She is sat in a big office chair behind her desk, wearing a black leather jacket with the police chief badge on its right side and a red button down shirt underneath. To top off the look she's sporting a blue pair of jeans and a pair of black leather boots.

This must be her...

Aaron thinks to himself as he straightens up and clears his throat. "Uhm, hello..." The teenager addresses the chief somewhat dumbfounded.

"I am Lois Monroe, chief of the police. I think you've already been informed as to why you're here."

"Yes, I have actually."

"Then let's cut straight to the chase." The police chief announces as she leans forward.

"I need your help in catching Crane." She voices sternly while maintaining eye contact with Aaron. "He has been causing trouble for more time than I can remember but now he has crossed the line. You saw what he was planning in that warehouse, didn't you?" Chief Monroe asked with that same look in her eye.

"Yeah, I did. Human experimentation. Turning his people into mutant soldiers to fight for him..." Aaron replied while clenching his fist in frustration. After all, protecting this city's people had already become a part of his daily life. And a justice-friendly teenager like him couldn't help but feel for the ones caught in the crossfire by Crane's schemes.

"So can I count on you?"

Suddenly before he even realized, a familiar face came to mind.

Sarah...

It was none other than Crane's own daughter, who seemed completely unaware of her father's wrongdoing. He couldn't help think that if he accepted the offer given to him by the police chief, he would most definitely have to assist the police in arresting her father and considering what he did, his sentence wouldn't be a light one. That meant Sarah, had to live the rest of her life away from her father. But still, he couldn't abandon all those innocent people that would eventually get hurt because of him. As Aaron he was unsure, but as Wraith there was only one right choice. "You can count on me, ma'am." He voiced sternly.

"That's good to hear." The chief relaxed back on her seat almost immediately. "And don't call me ma'am. I'm not that old." She continued trying to lighten the mood.

Aaron chuckled before replying "Then what should I call you?"

"Just call me Chief Monroe or just plain Lois it doesn't really matter." She said while taking out some files from one of her desk's drawer.

"Now let's get to it Wraith. Do you happen to know anything about Crane, except what he's planning to do?" Lois asked while lightly tapping the desk with the files she's holding.

"Well he's an underground mafia boss..." Aaron voiced somewhat unsure of himself.

"Anything else?"

"I'm not quite sure..."

"Okay then, take a seat." She motioned to one of the chairs opposite to each other positioned in front of her desk.

Have I been standing awkwardly like that all the time...? I didn't even notice...

Aaron quickly sat down before shaking his head, as if to drive his unnecessary thoughts away.

"Steven Crane. A tall man with a strong build, in mid 40s. He has been working underground for some time now, primarily loaning out money to people in need, and then making them pay it back with an insane amount of interest..." That was the part where Aaron's cogs inside his head started turning and he remembered a certain conversation he happened to overhear.

He said something along the lines of "Did you get the money from these idiots, Miguel?" huh? And he also mentioned a name... The Wilsons was it? That must be what the chief is talking about... Wait! The Wilsons?

Aaron's mind quickly leaped to the events of this morning remembering the surname of that one kid he almost got into a fight with.

Nah it can't be, right? There are too many Wilsons in this city, let alone New York.

He somewhat reassured himself ridding him of his paranoid thoughts, as he shifted his attention back to Lois, who was glaring at him disapprovingly.

"I didn't tell you to sit down just to start daydreaming you know..." She voiced sternly and Aaron quickly straightened up.

"I'm sorry ma'am!" He exclaimed as Lois snapped a couple of pencils with her hands.

She didn't snap one! She snapped two!!

"I mean Chief Monroe! I'm sorry Chief Monroe!" Wraith apologized again as the middle-aged woman chuckled for a brief moment and then turned serious again.

"Now I'm gonna repeat that, and you better listen." Said Lois while Aaron gulped and saluted like a soldier.

Man she is scary...

"...He reportedly has a spouse named Claire Middleton, and a daughter that goes by the same name as her mother..."

She knows about Sarah then... She's the police chief after all what was I expecting?

"...We were trying to get a hold of him for quite some time now but he has slipping right through our grasp for the most part. But recently, he has been getting suspiciously dangerous... It appears after the radiation incident, his wife fell into a comatose state, and that appears to be what triggered his reckless behavior... No matter what he aims to use that research for we must stop him. I've been trying to gather evidence that prove his guilty of everything he's done, and thanks to your work at that warehouse we managed to get a hold of useful information."

"Then you've got enough evidence to call for an arrest?"

"Not quite. We'll more concrete stuff if we're to arrest him... That's where you come in. I need you to keep an eye on him, see if you can record anything he says that might prove his guilt... and of course if his goons are up to no good, you're free to stop them."

"Okay I think I got it."

"Great. I have already given my contact information to your higher ups and have already received yours, so we'll be in touch." Lois explains as he gets up and opens the window behind her.

"Glad to be working with you, Wraith. I don't think I have to tell you but if word of our secret meeting gets out, I will lose my job, so you better keep quiet about it..." She flashes a smile before Aaron walks up to the opened window.

"I know... and likewise Chief Monroe." He voices before leaping outside.

That Wraith... He appears to be just a kid... I wonder how he got into that position... The chief thought to herself as she sat back on her office chair.