Chapter 11: Gathering evidence(III)

The city lights glared against the rain-soaked streets as Derek moved silently, hood up, leather jacket damp from the drizzle. Every step was calculated. Every shadow was a potential threat. He had one goal: find the copycat who had stolen his life and clear his name.

He crouched behind a dumpster, eyes scanning the alley. “There you are,” he muttered, spotting a familiar figure pacing. The copycat. Same height. Same build. Same eyes. But Derek knew the difference.

“You think you can ruin me?” Derek whispered, teeth gritted. “Not on my watch.”

The copycat—Derek’s doppelgänger—spun around. “Thunder,” he said, voice mocking. “You really think the world will believe you?”

“Not think. I know,” Derek said, stepping forward. “And I have the evidence to prove it.”

The copycat laughed. “Evidence? You have nothing. All they see is me doing what you did. I am you now.”

Derek smirked. “Funny. But identity theft doesn’t erase the truth. People lie to themselves, copycat. I’m about to remind them.”

With a sudden sprint, Derek closed the distance. Martial arts instinct took over. He ducked a punch, spun, and swept the copycat’s legs. The doppelgänger rolled, came up fast, and delivered a spinning kick. Derek blocked it, gritting his teeth.

“You’ve improved,” the copycat sneered. “But not enough.”

“Neither have you,” Derek replied, launching a series of rapid strikes. Each hit precise. Each move calculated. His training at the academy had prepared him for this—mastery of body, mind, and reflexes.

They fought through the alley, the rain turning the fight into a blur of motion. Derek ducked, rolled, and flipped, using the environment to his advantage. Trash cans flew, puddles splashed.

“Stop talking!” the copycat shouted, swinging a metal pipe. Derek jumped back.

“Talking exposes weakness,” Derek said calmly. “And you just proved mine.”

The copycat smirked and lunged. Derek sidestepped, grabbed his arm, and flipped him over. Rainwater sprayed everywhere. “One mistake,” Derek said, standing over him. “One mistake and it all falls apart.”

But the copycat wasn’t done. He pulled a gun from his coat. “Game over, Thunder.”

Derek’s eyes narrowed. “Not yet.” He rushed, disarming the gun, and twisted it away. The struggle left both panting. “Your arrogance is your downfall,” Derek said.

“You’re too confident,” the copycat hissed.

“Confidence isn’t arrogance. It’s preparation,” Derek replied, locking eyes with him.

The fight ended abruptly as sirens echoed. Derek’s phone buzzed—a message from the academy. “We’ve reviewed the case. You are no longer considered for recruitment.”

He sighed, tucking his phone away. “Figures,” he muttered. “They can’t see the truth yet. But I will.”

The copycat tried to run, but Derek tackled him. “Where do you think you’re going?” Derek demanded, pinning him down.

“Let me go!” the copycat screamed.

“Not until I have what I need,” Derek said. “Your plans, your files, everything. Then the world will see.”

They fought on the wet pavement, fists clashing, boots skidding. Derek finally pinned him against the wall, rain dripping down both their faces. “You wanted to be me,” Derek said. “Now you’ll learn what it costs.”

The copycat glared. “I didn’t steal your life. I took what you didn’t deserve!”

“You took what’s mine and what’s mine I will take back,” Derek said firmly. “Every lie, every stolen moment.”

With a swift movement, Derek disarmed him, grabbed his jacket, and ripped it to expose a hidden drive. “This,” Derek said, holding it up, “is the proof. Every transaction. Every fake identity. Every crime you blamed on me. All documented.”

The copycat’s eyes widened. “You… found it?”

“Of course,” Derek replied. “I always find the truth. And now, everyone will see.”

Derek moved quickly. He called a secure line, sending the drive to a trusted analyst. “Everything’s here,” he said. “Verify it. Start with the simplest details. Fingerprints. Time stamps. GPS logs. Check it all.”

The copycat struggled beneath him. “You won’t win. Even if you expose me, they’ll never trust you again.”

“They will,” Derek said confidently. “Truth has a way of showing itself. And when it does, lies crumble.”

The rain slowed. Derek stood, brushing water off his jacket. “Time to finish this,” he muttered, releasing the copycat, who fell to his knees, defeated and furious.

Hours later, Derek walked into the academy. The building loomed, lights casting shadows across the facade. He had been rejected once, but he wasn’t angry. Not anymore. This was about the bigger picture.

He met the principal in the empty hallway. “Derek,” the principal said, eyes wary. “We’ve reviewed your situation. The evidence… it’s complicated.”

“I know,” Derek said. “I also know that the real culprit is still out there. But I’ve got everything I need to prove it. And I don’t need your approval.”

“Even so,” the principal said, “you’re not being recruited.”

Derek nodded. “Understood. But I’m not here to be recruited. I’m here to set things right.”

The principal stared. “Right. And you believe you can do that alone?”

“I don’t believe,” Derek said. “I know.”

He left the academy, the night sky above reflecting in puddles. His steps were steady. Every strike, every move, every plan had led him here. The copycat’s reign of deception would end. And Derek would reclaim his life, one verified fact at a time.

As the city slept, Derek paused on a rooftop, looking over the lights. “This isn’t over,” he whispered. “Not until the truth is crystal clear. And when it is…” He smiled faintly. “They’ll remember why I’m called the Cold Genius.”