BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

Alexander peered through his binoculars, perched high atop a skyscraper overlooking Caelora.

Flying cars buzzed by, searchlights sweeping the city below as the manhunt for Erik intensified.

But Alexander just grinned, enjoying the view as the clueless authorities scoured the streets.

Little did they know the man they sought had already changed his face, blending seamlessly into the crowds.

And Erik wasn't alone - he had an army of clones ready to aid him, 31 brothers scattered throughout the city in various disguises.

Though Alexander could not see them from his vantage point atop the skyscraper, he knew they were around, searching for the Blackguards.

They were Erik's eyes and ears, scattered throughout the streets.

As a flying patrol car passed disturbingly close, Alexander ducked down, pressing himself flat against the room's wall.

He didn't dare use his binoculars now - the glint of lenses would give him away. But he didn't need them to picture the scene below.

He had memorized the area earlier, identifying choke points, defensible positions, potential traps - anything that could prove useful to Erik.

Soon the patrol car moved on, fading into the distance. Alexander raised his head, peering over the window once more.

On the ground, the blockade was a hive of frenzied activity as mercenaries and police searched the crowd for any sign of Erik.

They manhandled the young men, throwing them against walls to frisk them, ignoring their protests.

One officer wrenched a man's arms behind his back, making him cry out in pain as they interrogated him. Another mercenary shoved a boy to the pavement, kicking him as he tried to crawl away.

Panic was spreading through the penned-in citizens, their fear palpable. Some screamed and sobbed as heavy boots and rifle butts struck them.

"These guys are shameless..." Alexander said in disgust.

Suddenly, he noticed some movement behind the cluster of mercenaries and police.

While gripping his binoculars, Alexander peered at the buildings behind the blockade. "What's happening back there?"

After a few moments, he saw a large figure emerge from a doorway, clad entirely in black.

The man wore a black helmet with dark visors, obscuring his face.

His frame, though, was massive, with broad shoulders and a barrel chest.

He moved with surprising grace for his size, slipping through the occupied mercenaries who parted to make him move and with faces of reverence.

"Bingo!"

***

As Quakestrike made his way towards the barricade, his heavy black boots created a loud crunching sound with every step as they trampled over shattered glass and scattered debris.

The mercenaries were dwarfed by the immense figure of the Blackguard, who wore a suit of dark armor that seemed to consume every bit of light in its surroundings. A long energy rifle was slung over his massive shoulder.

The mercenary captain stood at attention, back rigid. His uniform was coated in a fine layer of dust from the rubble, and his face glistened with sweat.

"Any progress on locating Erik Romano?" Quakestrike asked. He tilted his helmet down towards the captain. His voice was a low, mechanical rumble from within the black helmet.

"No, sir." The captain stood up straighter and looking at Quakestrike's opaque visor. He shook his head. "My men have searched everywhere in this sector, top to bottom. But no sign of Romano yet."

The captain gestured around them at the rubble and burning fires, his shoulders slumping in disappointment.

Quakestrike crossed his arms, the servos in his armor whirring. "I expected as much. Romano is far too cunning to be caught so easily."

The captain nodded. "We'll keep at it, sir," he said, balling one hand into a fist. "But we will leave no stone unturned until we find him."

Quakestrike pointed one thick, armored finger at the captain. "See that you do. Romano is a priority. Consider him extremely dangerous."

"We'll get him, sir. You have my word." The captain saluted Quakestrike, holding his fist to his chest as a sign of respect.

Quakestrike gave a slight nod, then turned and strode away, his cloak swirling around him.

The captain shouted orders for his men to continue the search as Quakestrike disappeared into the smoke-filled streets.

<Motherfucker... > Quakestrike shook his head as he strode away from the captain. <This guy is making me waste a lot of time. >

He clenched his fist in frustration. The servos in his armor whirred from the pressure. <Romano is still out there somewhere... >

Quakestrike's thoughts wandered back to the intense battle that had taken place at the mansion. Romano's strength caught him off guard.

<How the hell did he get more than two brain crystal powers? > Quakestrike wondered.

<That should be impossible... > He had seen nothing like Romano's abilities before.

Quakestrike was eager to capture Erik and interrogate him. He needed to understand the source of the man's uncanny strength. What was his secret?

The number of questions posed exceeded the amount of answers provided. Quakestrike hastened his pace, causing his cloak to billow behind him.

Without warning, a beeping noise came from his helmet communicator, alerting him to an incoming call. Quakestrike, with a swift motion, pressed the side of his helmet to answer the call.

"Report," came the stern voice of Momentum, leader of the Blackguard squad, tasked with capturing Erik.

"No sign of the target yet," Quakestrike said. "The search continues."

"Be on high alert," Momentum warned. "Alone, you are no match for Romano."

The insinuation made Quakestrike's hackles rise, yet he couldn't ignore the fact that it held a certain amount of truth. Quakestrike was considered a genius when he was younger, and it couldn't be different to enter the black guards.

People respected and feared Quakestrike because of his link to the organization.

Never had he lost a duel, except to his fellow Blackguards.

He was unaccustomed to defeat, but savored it for the first time against a kid at least ten years younger than him.

Erik had proven unpredictable and powerful. If Quakestrike faced him alone again, the outcome was certain and he would die. He would need to be cautious and stick to the squad's plan.

"I will be ready when we find him," Quakestrike assured Momentum. Failure was not an option with the higher-ups demanding results. They had to get Erik and learn his secret.