Static Reflections: Book 1 of The M... - Chapter 32: Chapter 32

- Nick: "The Yellow Tie"
The training was over before either Nick or Richard knew it. It was by no means an easy task, due to Nick having a lot more trouble fighting blindfolded than he did shooting the Prism Pistol. In fact, this was the phase that took the longest.
And there was quite a lot to learn. The hyena gained knowledge on hand-to-hand combat, getting on walls, stealth, and finding things while unable to see. But most of all and most difficult of all, he learned how to memorize the room he was in to navigate it better when he was blindfolded.
Richard, as always, was encouraging and understanding. As they got to the end, his demeanor changed, though. He seemed to be rather despondent and not as cheery as before. Nick tried to press for info but the raccoon wouldn't spill the information.
On the long-awaited final day of training, Nick hadn't even realized it would be the final day until Richard walked up to him at the end.
The raccoon stood there, just looking at him. "And that's it."
"Awesome. I'm so exhausted. But tomorrow—" Nick began, panting.
"There's no tomorrow," Richard said. "That's it."
"W-wait." Nick's smile disappeared. "You mean . . . I'm done training?"
Richard simply nodded.
The hyena looked around. "Are you sure? Don't you think there's something I could use improvement on? I'm still not quite perfect on the Prism Pistol."
The older animal brought a hand up and placed it on Nick's shoulder. "There's nothing left to teach you, Nicholas. You're ready for your first mission."
Nick's heart jumped in his chest. "Really?"
"Yes."
"And you're gonna accompany me on it?"
"Yes."
"And then?"
". . ." Richard didn't respond. They both knew the answer.
Come morning, Nick was already awake by the time there was a knock on his door. The hyena opened it and saw that both Richard and Victor were there.
Nick looked between them. "I guess this is it, then?"
Richard nodded. "You won't be returning to the Institute."
Nick swallowed and looked around. "Wow . . . feels like I just got here."
"Well, the good news is not much time has passed in the present, at least," Victor laughed. "But damn is this bittersweet."
Nick scratched his cheek. "What about all my stuff? My DOS and shit?"
"That's what I'm here for," Victor grinned. "I'll make sure all of your stuff gets to your new residence so you can come home to it."
The hyena sighed. "Can I just get one second to change and be alone, please?"
"Sure, sure!" Victor said, stepping back.
Nick shut the door a little harder than he wanted to, turning around and going to his uniform, which he began slipping on. He thought he'd be excited to leave, but there was a sour taste on his tongue. After all, he had gotten used to everything here, and now he was leaving it behind. He already knew what Richard would do after the first mission was over. Would they ever see each other again? Would his new partner be as patient and kind and dedicated?
Nick rubbed his face after pulling his pants on. What the hell do I feel so shitty for? I've wanted this for so long. So why? He buttoned up the shirt and slipped on the jacket, making sure the bell was on straight.
Nick put his Retrieval Tablet in his inner pocket and his Prism Pistol in its holster, which was on his hip. Not only that, but he also slid his blade into its sheath, which was against his back. The hyena put his phone into his pocket along with his solvency card and gazed around one last time at the bare room he had considered home for the previous few months. He was undoubtedly going to miss the simplicity and chatting with Flip and Victor.
Most of all, he was going to miss training with Richard every day.
Opening the door one final time, the hyena stepped out and shut it, sighing heavily. "Oh, you didn't have to shut it," Victor pointed out. "I was about to go in there."
"Shit, sorry," Nick laughed softly. "Oh. I guess this is it, then?"
"Yeah, dude. It was a pleasure waking you up almost every morning and talking about whatever," the polar bear beamed.
Nick stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him, squeezing. This was the first hug he had had in a very long time, and he relished it with everything he had. "Thanks. See you later."
"Hopefully."
Nick stepped back, and Victor nodded, disappearing into the room. The hyena looked at Richard, then, ears perking. "What's that?"
The raccoon held a yellow piece of fabric in his hand, which he unfurled and let roll down. "This is your yellow tie to show that you're on your first mission."
Nick glanced down at his scarlet tie and blinked, beginning to untie it. "Shit, okay. This is getting real."
Richard stepped forward. Nick lifted his hand to grab the tie, but the raccoon cut him off. "I'd like to put it on you if that's permitted."
Nick's hand dropped, and he got closer. "Oh, uh, yeah. Of course."
Richard brought the yellow tie behind Nick's neck and moved his long fingers to tie it, keeping his eyes trained as he worked.
The hyena gulped at the kind gesture by the raccoon. "Thanks."
Richard pulled the front knot up to finish the job. "Certainly. We should get to the Creature Hunting Sect. Iwai's waiting."
"Okay."
The entire walk, all Nick could think about was how this was the last time he would be doing anything with Richard. He was his first true friend in the Mortal Guard that he felt like he could rely on. And the hyena knew he was damaged and that the world could be cruel. He wanted to protect Richard from it. It just wasn't fair. What would the raccoon do after this? Continue to be alone? For how long? When would he be happy? And would Nick seriously miss it?
"Why so glum, Nicholas?" Richard queried as they walked along the pavement in Prostasia toward their destination. Similarly dressed animals passed them, and Nick received hoots of 'Good luck!' and 'Congrats' from quite a few of them. He just waved his hand and thanked them, blushing slightly.
Nick shook his head. "Nothing, Dick. I'm really happy to finally be doing this. I just have a lot of thoughts going on in my head right now." He didn't want to hold Richard back or force him to do something if he wasn't ready.
"You'll do incredible. We just need to go in there and get the briefing, and we can begin. It should be a simple case."
Nick looked around at the buildings around them. "And then I get to live in Prostasia proper?"
"Yeah. And I'll attend your graduation, don't worry."
And then . . . Nick sighed. "Sweet."
The two entered the Creature Hunting Sect, which had a map on the wall as soon as you walked in. By the look of it, the place seemed to be a maze.
Richard stood beside Nick as he traced his claw along the surface of the map. "He said he was in briefing room three. Ah, there it is. Come on."
Nick kept close as animals wearing green ties walked and ran past them. Each time an animal was running, Richard pulled Nick to the side, waiting for them to pass. "What are they in such a rush for?"
"There's an emergency during their case. It's not uncommon. Creatures can be very unpredictable."
Nick scratched his arm. "Shit . . ."
"You won't have to worry about that. They're going to give you a relatively easy case."
"Well, that's good. I'm definitely nervous about what it could be," the hyena told him.
"All will be well," Richard assured him, turning down a hall and then coming to a wooden door. "You won't be surprised to find that the room where we met in the Institute is a reflection of a real Briefing Room."
"Ah, I see."
The raccoon opened the door, and Iwai was inside, waiting for them with an enormous smile on his face. "Richie! Nick!"
Nick waved. "Heya."
"The yellow looks great on you," the older deer winked. "But you'll look even better with a green tie, yeah? It will match your eyes!"
Nick laughed softly. "You're definitely right about that. Gotta show off that aesthetic, yeah~?"
"Darn tootin'," Iwai agreed. "Anyway, sit, y'all. I have your case right here. And yes, Richard, there is a physical version. Nick, on your phone, there's an app where we send all the mission info. After you report to us at the end of each moon, we will update it based on the events that you relay."
The hyena sat down, his ear twitching. "Makes total sense."
Richard found his seat and crossed one leg over the other, resting his arms on the arms. "So, what are we looking at?"
Iwai cleared his throat. "Sheep family. The Wireys. Husband and wife. The wife claims that she hears strange crying late at night, and sometimes it sounds like it's right outside her door. She's already called a PI, and they did their fake investigation and then contacted us."
Nick blinked. "So, what? It's a ghost or something?"
"That's the working theory," Iwai answered, sliding the case file over.
Richard took it and opened it, flipping through the papers inside. "You mean, you don't even know?"
"We've dealt with cases like this before," Iwai explained. "Should be a simple investigation and exorcism."
The raccoon looked uncertain. "Well, alright. It sounds simple enough."
Nick spoke up, then. "Why didn't anyone tell me there's a creature that can come into my residence and kill me?"
Iwai's mouth fell open slightly. "Sorry, son?"
"Richard trained me in blindfold fighting. He also told me about the creature that can get in here."
Iwai shook his head. "I promise I would have told you, but it's Catastrophe's rules."
"Fine, I guess," Nick sneered. "And what about Richard? He's not comfortable being on the front lines."
The raccoon placed a hand on his dark arm. "Nick . . . I'll be fine. I chose this, and I'll get through it."
The hyena squinted, crossing his arms. "Okay."
Iwai just laughed. "I love your moxy, kid! We need members like that. Go knock 'em dead so I can graduate you, already!"
Nick's tail flicked. "Yeah, okay." When he pictured this meeting in his mind, he saw a lot more eagerness and excited hollering. What had come over him? Was it nerves?
Richard kept the physical file folder as he stood up. "Let's go. We need to meet the client as soon as possible. Thank you for the briefing, Iwai. We'll be seeing you soon."
"Good luck, Nick!" Iwai waved.
"Thanks!" Nick followed Richard out.
Richard found a blank wall in the station, taking out a small black box, which he opened. Inside was a translucent lock and key. The crown of the key was shaped into an 'R.' "So when using a Transmission Set, all you have to do is input the coordinates on the case file into the lock itself and then insert and turn the key. Always unlock it with the lock's face facing the wall. There's a small circle where the portal shoots from. That's how you know."
Nick raised a brow. "Still teaching, huh?"
"I'm just covering the bases." He fiddled with the dials on the bottom of the lock and then inserted the 'R' key. As he turned it, the gadget unlocked, and a green rectangular portal appeared right in front of them, illuminating their bodies in bright light. "Alright, we're about to enter the Mortal Realm. This will be your first time back out there in a while. There's no time to dawdle, though. Remember, this is a mission. Stay focused."
"Got it," Nick smiled. "My stomach feels funny. I think it's because I'm excited but terrified."
"That is an apt feeling," Richard told him, then walked forward into the portal.
Nick followed suit, and the climate change was night and day. It got a lot warmer, and there was a slight moisture in the air. It was stuffy, and that led to Nick wondering how they breathed in Prostasia. "Holy shit, it's good to be back."
Richard looked around their environment. They were both standing in some sort of abandoned building, with dust layering the floor and cobwebs sitting in almost every corner. "I wish they wouldn't give us coordinates to abandoned buildings."
"Why not?" Nick asked, kicking some rubble aside.
"Imagine if we came out of the portal right as they were demolishing the building or it collapsed in on itself or there were squatters inside."
"Oh shit, yeah . . . ." Nick winced.
"The Wireys' home is close. Follow me," Richard said, beginning his journey through the dilapidated home they were in. The younger animal trailed behind until they exited.
Nick looked up into the sky and saw the bright sun and fluffy clouds. He had to admit; he missed the view. Not only that, but they emerged into a neighborhood with a lot of greenery and trees. The hyena couldn't believe he was back in the Mortal Realm, at last.
Richard brought him to a small blue house, which had a large wooden porch protruding from its front. Two white rocking chairs sat on the porch, and flower planters hung on hooks between the wood columns.
"Are you ready, Nicholas?" Richard asked, still holding the case file.
The hyena looked at the house, nodding slowly. "Sure, I'm ready as ever to catch a ghost or something . . . ."
Richard walked up the steps, which creaked in response to his weight, then knocked on the door three times. Nick stood behind him anxiously as he looked inside the window for any movement. A few seconds later, a middle-aged female sheep shuffled into view in a white bathrobe and yellow slippers. She blinked and opened the door. "Yes? Can I help you?"
"Mrs. Wirey?" Richard smiled, maintaining his professional courtesy.
"Yes, that's me." Her eyes flicked between the two sharply dressed males.
"My name is Detective Seife, and this is my partner Detective Flynn. We're here to fix your ghost problem."