Night Patrol

The next afternoon everyone gathered in Mr. Pipp's office. There were still only two chairs across from him, which Milo and Codea took. Rather than just getting another chair, R.C. sat on the ground with his legs crossed like a child.

He yawned out of boredom.

"Are we actually going to get some action today or am I just kicking these two's asses again?"

"Hold on a moment R.C., you'll see in a moment." Pipp replied.

A large screen came down from the ceiling. A map of Popolis was displayed on it. Pipp touched an area with his hand, the map zoomed into that part. He drew a red circle around it with his finger.

"This is the general area you guys will be patrolling tonight."

The area circled was roughly within the same radius of where R.C. nearly died the night before.

"Are we going as a team or are we splitting?" Codea asked.

R.C. arrogantly cut in.

"I think I can handle this myself. I say we split up."

"Isn't that how you nearly got yourself killed just days ago?" She responded.

"I have a gun now. That won't happen again."

"I'm happy you're feeling confident, R.C., but I think it would be more effective that you all stay together." Pipp replied.

"I guess if I have too. What about you, old man, are you coming too?"

"I'll be staying here providing support to you guys. I'll be monitoring the street cameras in the area and navigating you. If things go bad, I'll send backup."

R.C. got up eagerly.

"female with poor attitude and Milo let's get moving. I got debts that need to be paid off.”

R.C. impatiently started leaving the room. Milo followed closely behind. Codea let out a huff and shook her head before proceeding to follow the two.

Pipp called out as they left.

"Be careful you guys... And try not to make a huge scene."

...

That night, the three loaded up Milo's van with their gear. They then headed towards the Eastern edge of the city.

For roughly two hours, they drove up and down each and every street within the area. It was a very quiet night. There were very few people out.

Pipp spoke to them over the radio in the van.

"any activity yet?"

"No it's been pretty quiet, I'm thinking we should try another appro-" Codea was cut off by R.C.

"Can you mark all the vending machines around here?"

"Sure if that's what you want." Pipp responded.

A few seconds later red dots appeared on the van's GPS. The dots marked all the vending machines nearby.

"You know, it's rude to interrupt people when they’re talking… Anyways, why do you want to know the vending machine locations?" Codea said.

"When I first got attacked by that C.A.N., it was consuming the cans inside a vending machine. They are programmed to eat soda cans, so I'd say we can assume it would be attracted to vending machines, which are full of cans."

"I hate to admit it, but that's actually a decent idea." Codea agreed.

They drove around some more, this time they scoped out all the vending machines they came across. For the most part there was nothing out of the ordinary, until they got to a particular area.

R.C. right away spotted a machine that was completely torn open. The three concluded that they definitely picked up on the trail of something. As they inspected more machines nearby, it was the same thing, they were all busted apart.

Soon they got near a vending machine near a relatively tall crumbling abandoned parking building. Just like the other vending machines this one was destroyed too, this time though they all heard a loud screeching noise.

The noise appeared to have come from one of the upper levels of a parking building.

Milo pointed and signed to his sister. It appeared he saw something move through one of the openings above them.

They all went back to the van for a moment.

R.C. spoke over the radio to Pipp.

"Hey old man, I think we found something. We’re pretty sure something's in this abandoned parking garage."

"Alright you three, but be careful. If anything happens let me know. I'll send help." He replied.

With that R.C., Milo, and Codea grabbed their weapons from the back of the van and proceeded into the building.