The moon hung high in the night sky and delivered silver light to the expanse of O'Clock City. Many stars glittered like diamond pinpricks behind it, their cold fire illuminating Rod, Catra, and Oliver.
They had made it to the third level of the city and lay concealed atop an unassuming concrete building a few meters from their target. It seemed distant enough to observe any movements without the slightest chance of detection, and that was perfect.
Just like the small construction they were standing on, their immediate surroundings were a utilitarian landscape dominated by towering metal frames and the forms of large industrial warehouses.
Down on the third floor was where hands got dirty. Yet, despite the industrial nature of the district, the streets were eerily empty.
It filled Rod with satisfaction: The fewer witnesses, the better.
All three heroes huddled close against the rough surface of a small concrete wall so that no one could see them. There, they monitored the area.
If their plan unfolded as anticipated, they would soon return to Grand North with confirmation of Spellex's involvement and with a list of potential suspects.
The Gun Hero cautiously leaned upwards and peeked slightly over the wall to gaze at the entrance of the Spellex warehouse. He expected guards or perhaps a patrol… There was no one.
While he maintained the lookout, Catra scrolled through her social media feed and Oliver inspected the contents of his bag for a water bottle.
It was uneventful until the cheetah's eyes caught a feed detailing a discourse and concerning Spellex.
"Woah," she said, "People are saying that Spellex is involved with experimental brain control magic, and that all the 12 Efea king and queen councils are involved. I thought that was supposed to be illegal magic, even here."
"It is supposed to be illegal," the doctor replied casually, finding his water bottle and taking a slow sip, "I guess the 12 kings have their favorites."
Unlike them, Rod didn't respond. His instincts found it weird that not a single soul had entered or left the facility in front of them.
"Hey… so… I don't seem to be finding anyone leaving the site…" he murmured with unease.
"How about we ask Alf to analyze the area and see how many people are inside?" Oliver suggested.
Catra agreed and turned her Telyglasses on.
"Good night, Miss Catra, how may I be of assistance?" Alf's voice resonated in her ears.
"Hey Alf. Could you analyze how many people could be inside the Spellex warehouse."
"Unfortunately, I do not possess the capability for analysis at that scale; these Telyglasses can only scan small objects like boxes or desks."
Catra processed this limitation with disappointment before Rod and Oliver exchanged a questioning glance.
"What did he say?" the Gun Hero asked.
"Oh, I forgot you can't hear him. He said he doesn't 'possess the capability' to scan big buildings, only small objects."
"Remind me to smash him up when we get back…" Rod growled.
Why hadn't Alf provided functional equipment?
"Guess we're gonna have to do this without it and without your powers, Rod," Oliver stated calmly, "Remember that you generate electrical signature every time you use your magical ability."
"Come on, Oliver, I know the drill in covert ops," Rod retorted.
Catra felt a flicker of worry. It was the first time they were doing something on this scale. And thus, sharp nerves formed all around her body.
"Hey… we're gonna be alright, right?" she asked her dad, trying not to show vulnerability.
Even if she did that, Rod easily noticed. He flashed a confident grin.
"Of course. This is a walk in the park! Just trust your instincts… Actually, how about we race to the building? If I win, you have to call me 'daddy' for the next month."
His playful bravado was an attempt to remind her about the thrill of adventure…
"And if I win?" Catra responded.
"I'll try my best to not embarrass you in public."
"You and I both know you'll never be able to keep that up."
The man simply stared at her with a cheeky smile.
"Oh, what the heck, you're on!"
Hearing his daughter's conviction calmed Rod too… Even if she was inexperienced, a hard truth resonated within: If anything went wrong, he could always use his raw power to get them out as a last resort.
"Alright, we gotta move now," the Hero said.
His eyes scanned the empty landscape.
"It's one in the morning and there doesn't seem to be anyone hanging around outside."
"Okay," Oliver said, kneeling beside them and tracing a path on an invisible diagram, "We all saw the warehouse schematics and its security. You'll enter through the side window on the 5th floor and make your way down to the terminal station on ground level."
Catra looked at her glasses before speaking.
"Alf says that's a good plan. He told me that taking the ventilation shaft could also come in handy."
"We only use the shaft when there are guards or employees," Rod clarified, "Don't use it if it isn't necessary. Oliver, you'll stay out here and keep an eye out in case anyone enters or leaves. We'll keep you informed about whatever happens, okay?"
"Got it," both Catra and the doctor said.
Then, the Gun Hero and cheetah girl prepared.
"Are you ready to go?" Rod asked.
Catra looked at him with an unwavering gaze.
"You've got no powers, dad, and you don't hold a candle to me without them! Better keep up, old man!" she replied.
The girl hopped from the building's edge into the abyss below.
"Oh, it's on!" the Hero said and also jumped forward.
As they disappeared into the darkness, Oliver slowly got up from his seated position. He watched the two silent figures run through the maze of industrial obstacles, and while doing so, a smirk spread across his face.
The two of them moved so silently across the ground that their footsteps were unheard even by the birds above. The atmosphere was dense with the sounds of distant machinery and the cool night air, but neither Catra nor Rod felt anything.
The cheetah girl's face lit up with an almost childlike joy. She was effortlessly outpacing her legendary father, and every time she glanced back over her shoulder Rod met her gaze with his own smile. This race was an echo of those simpler times hunting buffalo and playing around after all.
Their movements were a synchronized ballet of calculations: effortlessly avoiding rocks, ladders, trash cans, and trucks. And even though Rod was not a beast-person, he still managed to keep pace with his daughter.
"Is this all you've got?" he smirked.
Rod pulled alongside Catra and met her surprised face. Then, her lips also curved into a challenging grin.
"Oh, you wanna get serious?! Let's get serious!"
"I truly think you should stop talking to each other with such high volume, someone might hear you," Alf's voice cut through the excitement from her telyglasses.
"Hold on a minute, Alf, I'm trying to concentrate!"
The girl increased her speed and pushed her body harder, creating even more distance between them.
"Damn, I might actually lose. Gotta mix it up," he thought.
The Gun Hero focused and subtly used his magical ability. He'd gained such control of his powers over years of practice, that he could use small and precise doses without the uncontrolled lightning. This caused him to speed up… He was back in the game.
They leaped from the hood of a parked car to the surface of a window, and finally, to the ceiling of a nearby building.
Both were drawing ever closer to the massive Spellex Warehouse, and when doing so, Catra's breath came in ragged gasps. Her lungs burned and her body generated an extreme amount of heat due to her beast-person physiology. That didn't matter though.
"There's no possible way he can keep up now," she told herself and glanced back, "I win!"
A victory cry was about to escape her lips until an unexpected touch reached her shoulder. The girl looked and found no one there.
"Hey, kiddo," Rod's calm voice whispered in her ear.
Catra's head snapped forward once more and saw him. Hovering in front of her, the man was moving at her exact speed.
At first she felt shock and disbelief… Then a large amount of indignant anger.
"HEY! YOU'RE CHEATING!" she exclaimed with exertion.
"I don't see a lightning bolt around anywhere."
Fueled by a fresh burst of competition, Catra pushed her body into overdrive and surged past Rod. They both jumped into the air, leaped the side of the warehouse, and landed on an emergency staircase.
Now the only thing left was to climb… They stared at each other for a few seconds and began to scale the staircase at the same time.
Catra leaped from level to level in agile motion while Rod did his best to keep up... They were about to tie and touch the window with their hands… only for everything to shift.
Rod's focus fell upon Catra's face and saw a joyful, unburdened smile. The same one she had before Elena died… She was truly having fun.
That's when he decided. His speed slowed down and ensured Catra was the first one to reach the window… he chose to lose.
In the span of a second, Catra's hand touched the cool glass and her legs buckled. The girl fell to her knees and her lungs burned. The race had lasted less than a few minutes, yet every fiber of her being felt as if she'd just run a marathon.
Contrary to her, the Hero made it to the window a few moments later and saw his daughter sprawled on the ground.
"You okay, kiddo?" he softly asked.
"I won… In your face!" she whispered between gasps.
A sudden flash of light cut through the darkness from the front of the building.
"Get down," Oliver's voice passed through their earpiece, "A guard is walking in front of the building."
Rod quickly dropped to his knees, listening to the distant voice of the security guard.
"Is anyone there?!" the guard asked loudly, only for his voice to echo through the extent of the lower level.
The young and naive elven guard moved his glowing hand with uncertainty.
"Did you find anything?" another guard's voice asked through his radio.
"I thought I heard movement and a few voices, but I don't see anything."
"It must be your imagination, dude. Come back so that we can finish studying for the exam. You wanna graduate, don't you?"
"Yeah, I'm on my way," the young boy responded prior to giving one last glance around and walking away.
Silence returned and Rod and Catra let out deep sighs of relief.
"That was a close one," the Gun Hero whispered after scratching his head and getting up.
"Yeah," his daughter continued, stretching her limbs, "Next time we should just focus on the mission."
"At least we had fun, right?"
"You cheated, and I still won; you must feel terrible right now," she giggled.
"Oh god… I just realized. Me giving you the win might have expanded your ego to unholy proportions."
"As if! I don't have an ego. Though I'm not letting you live this one down for a while."
They scanned the dark interior of the warehouse through the window, Rod signaled her to get ready.
It was time… The perfect moment to begin the real mission.
"Alright, poker faces," he said, generating a stun weapon, "Materialize the stun gun I gave you."
"Got it. A-19 Pistol Class Stun Gun," she responded and her interlink hummed, "Alf, tell us if you find anything suspicious around."
"Understood, Miss Catra," Alf confirmed.
"Oliver, we're entering the warehouse," Rod stated into his earpiece.
"Noted. Keep me posted."