Episode 1/24
The Mischievous Five
Episode 1: "The Case of the Missing Boy" (Part 1 of 2)
Birmingham, England. One year after the War of Brotxonde.
---
Rain hammered the rusted rooftops of Birmingham.
The once-busy city had become a maze of bombed buildings, collapsed factories, and streets divided by barricades made from abandoned buses and piles of rubble. Smoke drifted through the air, mixing with the ever-present worldwide fog that hid the horizon beyond the city.
An old 1970s radio crackled inside a ruined warehouse.
> "...Fuel shortages continue across the Border Zones... citizens are advised not to travel after dark..."
Dean Bert leaned over the radio before giving it a playful tap.
"Come on... don't die on me now..."
The radio suddenly became crystal clear.
"...and remember, if you see suspicious activity—"
Dean grinned.
"There we go!"
Lucy Murphy looked up from a table covered in paper maps.
"You fixed it?"
Dean shrugged proudly.
"I threatened it."
Mina Sonie didn't even look up from repairing the team's analogue field radio.
"You hit it."
"I prefer 'firm encouragement.'"
Robert Luciono quietly stirred a pot of vegetable stew over a small stove.
Doggo sat beside him, staring intently at the pot.
Robert looked down.
"...No."
Doggo tilted his head.
"...No."
Doggo slowly lifted one enormous paw onto Robert's knee.
Dean laughed.
"He's negotiating."
Robert sighed.
"...Still no."
Doggo gave the saddest puppy eyes imaginable.
Robert lasted exactly four seconds.
"...Fine."
He quietly dropped a small piece of cooked carrot into Doggo's mouth.
Doggo wagged his tail triumphantly.
Lucy smiled.
"You spoil him."
Robert simply returned to cooking.
---
A loud knock echoed through the warehouse.
Everyone froze.
Doggo immediately stood.
His ears pricked forward.
He gave one low growl.
Lucy nodded.
"Dean."
Dean quietly approached the reinforced door.
"Password?"
A nervous voice answered.
"...I-I don't know any password..."
Lucy frowned.
"Open it."
Dean slowly unlocked the door.
Standing outside was a tired woman in worn clothing.
She looked terrified.
She clutched a small photograph tightly in shaking hands.
Lucy immediately recognised that expression.
Someone had lost family.
Lucy gently invited her inside.
---
Several minutes later...
The woman sat with a warm mug of tea while Robert silently offered fresh bread.
"My name's Sarah..."
She placed the photograph on the table.
It showed a smiling boy.
About ten years old.
"My son..."
Her voice cracked.
"His name's Oliver."
Dean sat beside her.
"When did he disappear?"
"Three days ago."
Lucy leaned forward.
"Tell us everything."
Sarah nodded.
"He went to the market to trade vegetables..."
"He never came home."
"They say..."
She swallowed.
"They say the Street Rat Gang took him."
Silence filled the warehouse.
Even Dean stopped smiling.
Mina quietly folded her arms.
Lucy asked gently,
"Why haven't you gone to the authorities?"
Sarah laughed bitterly.
"What authorities?"
Nobody answered.
Because everyone knew she was right.
---
Lucy spread a map across the table.
"Where was he last seen?"
Sarah pointed to the Inner City Market.
"Here."
Mina immediately noticed something.
"That's Street Rat territory."
Dean frowned.
"They usually steal fuel..."
"...not children."
Lucy looked at Robert.
"What do you think?"
Robert quietly answered.
"...Something's changed."
Doggo suddenly walked over to the photograph.
He sniffed it carefully.
Then gave a single bark.
Lucy smiled slightly.
"You think you can find him?"
Doggo barked again.
Dean grinned.
"That's a yes."
---
As Sarah prepared to leave, she hesitated.
"I..."
"I don't have any money."
Lucy shook her head.
"We're not doing this for money."
Sarah stared.
"...Then why?"
Lucy looked out across the ruined city.
"Because someone should."
Sarah quietly began crying.
Not from fear this time.
From relief.
---
That evening...
The rain had finally stopped.
The five stood outside their warehouse.
Lucy unfolded the city map.
"Our first lead is the market."
She looked around at her friends.
"No unnecessary risks."
Dean saluted dramatically.
"Aye aye, boss."
Mina slung her toolkit over one shoulder.
"I'm checking every vehicle in that district."
Robert quietly adjusted his white mask.
Doggo stood beside him.
Alert.
Waiting.
Lucy smiled.
"Let's bring Oliver home."
The five disappeared into Birmingham's dark streets.
Far above them...
From the rooftop of a ruined office building...
A figure in a long black coat lowered an old pair of binoculars.
They had watched the entire meeting.
Without a word, they turned.
And vanished into the fog.
To Be Continued... (Episode 2: The Case of the Missing Boy – Part 2)
