The Quiet Part

CMD Fortress sat in the middle of Forest Metropolis like a black block with blue windows. Two crayon towers and two marker towers pointed up like fingers.

Inside the training bay, Crayon Marker Doe grinned behind her teal mask.

“Big sweep!” she said.

She swung her giant marker at the blank wall. It squeaked like a sneaker on a gym floor.

No color splashed. Just plain light.

Doe blinked. “Okay. Funny.”

She tried again. Squeak. Nothing.

She popped the cap, sniffed, and frowned.

Her utility belt showed an ink gauge: FULL.

“This is broken,” she said, and thumped the marker against her palm.

“Please do not hit my cousin,” said a voice.

Her giant crayon hovered up, its red wrapper crinkling. “Captain Crayon, at your service. Also, you’re doing the loud part, not the smart part.”

Doe’s ears warmed. She pulled out her phone. An alarm flashed: CITY PATROL.

“Fine,” she muttered. “Small tests first.” She headed for the roof doors with the silent marker in her hand

The Puddle Rule

Doe shoved open the roof door. Cold air tapped her nose.

Captain Crayon, a floating red-wrapped crayon with big cartoon eyes, bobbed beside her. “Nice view. Bad problem.”

Beyond the fortress, Forest Metropolis looked like someone had washed it with dishwater. Gray mist rolled between buildings. Street signs turned dull. Tree leaves faded as it passed.

A sparrow dove close, chirping like an alarm. It dropped a soggy paper flyer onto Doe’s glove: LAKESIDE LAUNDROMAT MUSIC DAY—FREE DRY!

“Is this a joke?” Doe said.

The sparrow pecked the air, then pointed its beak toward the streets.

Small drones zipped through the mist. Each one had twin fans puffing gray.

Doe raised her giant marker. “Color blast!”

Squeeeak.

Captain Crayon fired a bright red streak. The mist swallowed it, and the red turned to ash-gray before it hit a rooftop.

Gray runoff slid down the sloped roof and spilled into a wide puddle at the edge.

Doe skidded, boots squealing, and snatched a hummingbird-shaped delivery drone out of the air just as its fans coughed another puff