Chapter 65

Lloyd POV

As we approached the police station, memories of my pervious visit flooded my mind. It had been a rather comical scene, watching the bewildered officers attempting to apprehend me. Now, however, I was entering as a helpful ally, assisting a fellow student. I couldn't help but wonder how they differ this time. Surely, they wouldn't recognize me as the same troublemaker from before.

Liam confidently opened the door, and we were greeted by a chorus of friendly greetings from the officers stationed there. I observed them with a hint of amusement as Liam led the way to his father's office. Once we arrived, Liam knocked on the door, patiently awaiting a response.

"Come in," a voice commanded.

As we stepped into the office, the Police Commissioner's attention was momentarily diverted from his work on the small sailor boat that sat on his desk. The boat seemed unremarkable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it was evident that he had been meticulously painting it for weeks or even months.

The Police Commissioner glanced up from his painting, his expression shifting to mild irritation as he recognized me. "Lloyd Garmadon, causing trouble again?" he asked with a resigned tone.

I offered him a disarming smile. "No sir, I've put those days behind me," I reassured him.

Memories flooded back of the times he'd had to intervene when I got into trouble as a reckless youth in my past life. Despite his stern lectures, he'd always made sure to collect me safely and drop me off at Darkly's School for Bad Boys. It was odd to think back on those moments now, I was grateful for his concern back then, especially when no one else seemed to care. I was glad to see him doing well.

Liam observed me with a curious expression, clearly wondering about my connection to his father. I simply offered him a reassuring smile before addressing simple before addressing the Police Commissioner.

"Anyway, I've been assisting your son with his internship because I believe I can contribute to solving this case," I explained, extending my hand in a gesture of cooperation. "I'd like access to some security footage."

The Police Commissioner regarded me with a disapproving look. "And what makes you think security footage will be of any use?" he inquired skeptically.

"I have a hunch that the kidnapper might be visible in it," I replied confidently, though I knew it was a long shot.

"There's little point in that," the Police Commissioner countered. "It's all if the criminal vanishes into thin air. One moment the kids are there, and the next they're gone."

"I know that very well," I admitted somberly, recalling the frustration of Liam trying to solve a case where the perpetrator seemed to vanish without a trace. "That's likely why Liam hasn't made much headway. How do you stop something when you can't even find it?"

Reflecting on my past experiences, I realized that I had known who the culprit was for some time now. It was a regret I carried from my past life, a missed opportunity to intervene. Back then, consumed by thoughts of revenge against Noah and his friends for humiliating me, I had overlooked the larger threat. It wasn't until later, though news reported, that I learned of the devastating aftermath of her actions. The sense of disgust I felt was palpable, knowing that if I had acted sooner, perhaps those innocent children would still be alive.

I pushed aside the weight of guilt lingering in my mind. Dwelling on the past wasn't my style. With determination, I met the gaze of the Police Commissioner.

"I know someone who could help with that," I declared, resolved to take action. "I just need access to the security footage so my friend can assist us in identifying the perpetrator behind the kidnappings."

The Police Commissioner mulled over my request, his expression reflecting deep consideration. His tired eyes shifted to his son, who looked won out from the relentless pursuit of leads. After a moment of contemplation, the Police Commissioner relented.

"Fine, Garmadon," he concluded, joltting a note hastily on a scrap of paper. "Help my son solve this case."

Accepting the note with a grin, I nodded firmly. "Of course, sir. I won't let you down."

Liam accepted the paper from my outstretched hand, his eyes scanning its contents before he turned to depart. With a brief nod to the Police Commissioner, I trailed after Liam as he approached a woman seated at a nearby computer. She glanced over the note, then directed her attention to me, handing over a flash drive without a word. I accepted it with a grin, knowing that I had more in mind than just aiding in the case.

Grabbing Liam's arm, I beamed at him eagerly. "Let me take you to a friend of mine."

…

Walking through the desolate subway tunnels, I felt a sense of nostalgia wash over me. It has been ages since I last set foot in this place. Despite its dilapidated state, there was a strange comfort in revisiting old haunts. I was eager to reunite with my friends, mend past wounds, and make amends for my failures as a leader in my previous life. However, I knew they likely had no recollection of those events.

Liam's voice broke through my reverie, drawing my attention. He appeared uneasy, his gaze darting nervously to the various homeless individuals and thugs scattered throughout the subway. It was clear that being the son of the Police Commissioner came with its own set of anxieties. Nevertheless, I couldn't help but find amusement in his cautious demeanor.

"Why are we in a place like this?" Liam inquired, his tone betraying his apprehension.

I turned to him with a reassuring smile. "My friend lives here," I explained. "Don't worry too much, he's a good guy."

Liam regarded me with a skeptical expression but ultimately remembered that he sought my assistance in this matter. He silenced his doubts and simply nodded in acquiescence. Returning my attention to the subway, I approached a nondescript brick wall and rapped on it three times. To Liam's evident surprise, the wall swung open, revealing a hidden entrance. Ignoring his astonished expression, I pulled him inside.

Passing by members of the Outcasts, I made my way to a door with faint light seeping from beneath it. I knocked, and a voice from within inquired, "May I know who this is?"

"It's your leader, Eugene," I responded confidently. "I need your help with something."

Without hesitation, the door swung open, revealing Eugene, Stitchface, and Jacob within. I strode into the room, pulling Liam along with me, and took in the array of screens that filled the space. The setup reminded me of the lair of the deceased leader of the Order of Assassins, and I couldn't help but feel nostalgia. Without missing a beat, I handed the flash drive to Eugene.

"Watch this," I instructed, "and slow it down until we can see the kidnapper."

Eugene promptly connected the flash drive to the computer, and footage of approximately 37 surveillance feeds capturing the moments when the children vanished appeared on the screens. It was just as the Police Commissioner had described: the kids simply disappeared without a trace. Eugene's finger began to emit a soft, blue glow as he deftly manipulated the keyboard. Soon, every screen in the room bathed in the same ethereal hue.

"That's technokinesis," I explained to Liam. "He'll slow the video footage down until we can identify the kidnapper."

Jacob and Stitchface turned their attention to Liam, curiosity evident in their expressions as they wondered about the newcomer I had brought along.

"Is he another recruit?" Jacob inquired respectfully.

I grinned at him, appreciating Jacob's unwavering loyalty. He had always been by my side, even in our final moments when Noah and his friends had brought about our demise. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for the kind-hearted soul who had met such an unfortunate end.

"What's his ability?" Stitchface scribbled on a piece of paper.

"This is Liam, ability Super Intelligence, the son of the Police Commissioner," I clarified. "I'm assisting him with a case for his internship. We're trying to find and rescue the children who've gone missing over the past two weeks."

Liam shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of Jacob and Stitchface's stares. I turned back to Eugene, who appeared to be wrapping up his work. Rolling his wheelchair over to me, he delivered his report.

"I've done as you asked, and it looks like you've found the kidnapper you were searching for," Eugene announced.

Liam and I peered at the screen, and there it was: a massive, armored creature with rugged scales, horn-like protrusions on its head, and glowing eyes. My unease grew as I studied the image.

"What in the world is that thing?" Liam asked, his voice tingled with concern. "And why is it kidnapping children?"

I regarded the creature from the screen before responding, "That is a Terrastryke. It's a swift and dangerous beast capable of burrowing underground."

Liam's worry deepened. "How do we catch something like that?"

"It's simple," I replied, turning to Liam with determination. "We just need to lure it out into the open, and then it's a matter of capturing it."

Turning to my three comrades, I expressed my gratitude, "Thank you for your assistance, guys."

"Of course, anything for you, leader," Jacob replied, while Stitchface nodded in agreement.

"I hope this case goes well, leader," Eugene added.

I smiled at the trio, exuding confidence, "Of course it will. After all, it's me handling this case."

As Liam and I exited the dimly lit room, some members of the Outcasts noticed us but didn't recognize me. Their ignorance didn't bother me; I had more pressing matters at hand. Once we were clear of the hideout, Liam finally spoke up.

"I'm going to have to arrest you, Lloyd," he stated solemnly.

I frowned at him, perplexed. "For what crime exactly?"

"There is an entire organization that the city doesn't even know about," Liam retorted, his anger evident. "And you're their leader."

"I don't recall owning an organization being a crime," I replied, my annoyance palpable. "We haven't done anything wrong. I helped you uncover the kidnapper behind the children's disappearances." I jabbed a finger into his chest. "If it weren't for me, you'd still be at the library with no leads whatsoever."

Liam seemed taken aback by my comment, realizing that I was nothing like my twin, Noah. He appeared ready to respond, but I didn't give me the chance.

"Even though your ability is Super Intelligence, you're pretty dumb," I said bluntly, feeling it was necessary to drive my point home. "I don't know if your ability only works when you activate it or if it's on 24/7, but you need to work on utilizing it effectively."

With that, I turned on my heel and began striding towards the entrance of the abandoned subway, Liam trailing behind me. After a moment, he finally spoke up.

"How are we going to make the Terrastryke show itself?" he inquired.

"That's easy," I replied confidently. "All we need is bait. And I have the perfect person for the job."