"Alright, let's be real with ourselves," Vilhelm spoke loudly, clearly, adjusting his belt. "This isn't a simple investigate and report mission, or the Director would have called for a simple journalist and some human agents. There's something in these sewers; we've seen it. While investigating, if you feel that your life is in danger, you have full authorization; shoot to kill. Is that understood?"
Before him, Lynx stood, unarmed, with four other soldiers who were quite the opposite, each sporting some sort of assault rifle- she didn't know the names of guns- and a sidearm, all sleek black metals and plastics. They were dressed, like her, in dark cargo pants and tops to match, but with bulletproof vests and flashlight-mounted helmets. Vilhelm, too, wore such a helmet, and as he spoke, he reached into the driver's door of his car, coming back and handing Lynx a vest. Once she'd put it on, he helped her into the helmet- which, helpfully, had covered plates to protect the backs of her ears, and steel mesh in the front of them, hardly hampering her ability to hear at all.
"Flashlight is on the right, click to turn it on, simple." Vilhelm muttered, then stepped back, and, after thinking a moment, he drew his firearm, proffering it to Lynx.
"Know how to shoot? Aerendyl is a great person, but I think he's babying you too hard. He threw me into a den of drug dealers after under two weeks- he's too anal about his paperwork. Take it, if you want."
Nodding, Lynx took it. "Thanks."
"Alright. Let's go, and remember," Vilhelm added, turning toward the broken service tunnel door that Lynx had burst through, those nights ago. "Stay on your guard. We're not journalists."
-
"Any news?" Aerendly leaned back at his desk, crossing one leg over the other, swallowing, holding the phone to his ear.
"Yes, sir. We've found a number of abandoned drug dens on the south coast; they show signs of being abandoned between four and five months. If I didn't know better, I'd think that the addicts are moving out of Ravenhold, or seeking rehab and leaving their addictions behind. Warehouses and hotels, sleazy gas stations and garages… all empty, with evidence scrubbed away as well as an amateur without training is apt to manage."
"I see. Thank you, Lietenant. As for the first part of your statement, if you didn't know better…"
"Yes, sir. I do know better. The issue is that we have no idea where they're moving their operations to, sir, and we've looked everywhere. As well, we've confirmed that this drug has to do with the separation of the Elevated into two groups. One of their leaders left a statement with me- said to tell you it's from, well, the Giant. Said you'd understand."
"We were business partners, once. Wanted different things in life," Aerendyl smirked, though it couldn't be seen. "Clearly. What did he say?"
"That not much is known yet but that the Elevated, as before, stands with CA in erasing these radicals. That three of the higher-ups have vanished, and are being sought after. That the issue is stemming from classism- the enemy isn't humans. It's the CA. These addicts have been reported as having stated that- and I quote, sir, these are not my views-"
"You're good. Continue."
"The militaristic grip CA holds on the world is wrong. You'll kill a demon if it benefits your narrative, and commit crimes in the name of goodness, yet we're to look up to you? Your organization is the product of a bygone war, and people should be allowed to govern themselves. We don't seek anarchy- just freedom from the men in the sky."
"I see." Aerendyl paused, thinking. "That's, wrong, though- or, maybe it isn't. There are those among us who would commit any crime in the name of profit, but… that can't be dealt with when these bastards are trying to start a civil war. Why don't we recruit these druggies," He added with a light laugh. "I want the same thing as them, if that's true."
"Yes, well…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
"Any orders, sir?"
"Aim to incapacitate, rather than kill, where you can. I would offer them rehabilitation, if they can be imprisoned and evaluated, first. CA doesn't take care of its people, and I need more people who are angry about it."
"Sir-?"
"Don't you sir me, not about that one. You know of the experiments near the airport. You know about the containment of the melody fox. You know about the attack on our capitol, after our students, and orchestrated by our staff. The Elevated may have sent them- but who owns the Elevated? Oh, right." Aerendyl hung up, and as he was setting his phone down to charge, there came a knock, at his door.
"Who is it?" He called, striding to the door.
"Delivery service- knitted scarf for a Mr. Aerendyl?" A familiar voice called, but he couldn't place it… until he opened the door to be greeted by a flash of red hair and an annoyed glare.
-
"So you see, Timio," A young man spoke nervously, groveling. "The actions of our Director- they are hurting the people. For a long time, Contracted Arms has kept the peace- even if we do have to use fear, at times, we have prevented any wars, civil or domestic, since the fall of Starria. Before that, for sixty years more."
Sitting at his desk, Timio rolled his shoulders, contemplating, looking down at the photographs before him. Not that he needed them- all in Ravenwood knew the face of the director, via the news articles he occasionally cropped up in. The Director of Ravenwood's CA trains new prodigies. Director seen rescuing the Melody Fox after she saved the city- controversy or heroic rescue?! Director of CA accused of battling his superiors in the woods. Director of CA missing during attacks on the Capitol!!
"So. You want me to… what?" Timio laughed drily, lifting tired green eyes to stare down the man who'd approached him. "Kill Aerendyl? Is that it? You cannot lie to me, I pray you remember."
"Yeah, I want you to kill him," The man admitted. "Please, though- you're one of the only people who can keep him in check. Won't you at least meet with him, and remind him of his duties?"
"My position is beneath his. Why ought I to? You can remind him."
"Please, Timio. You want to serve the people, same as him- please, just…"
"I have no reason to attack the director, nor to harass him." Timio nodded, standing forward. "You claim that I wish to protect the people- and this is true. Tell me then, have the people benefitted when you kidnap innocents because you do not recognize their species? Sedate them, take blood, stab them with drugs and worse?" He stood, now, slowly shirt straining around his chest, watching the suited man before him stagger nervously backward. "Go on. Tell me."
"N-No-"
"Right… did the people benefit," Timio continued, "-When you voted to increase the taxes on foreign goods in a country that imports much of its food, by an insane, seven percent?"
"Well no- not really-"
"Then who are you," Timio snarled, suddenly lunging forward and grabbing the man's throat, lifting him from the ground and starting to walk through the house, down the stairs. "-To lecture on me on doing my duties, and looking out for the people? Huh?!"
"I'm sorry-!!" The younger man gagged, clawing at the hand around his neck but not so much as making the skin shimmer.
"No let me ask you this," Timio continued, opening the front door and walking outside. There was no city here- just the trees, the animals, the wind, and the two of them. "Why do you suppose that your great assassin would attack a target working harder to protect the people than you ever have? I value truth, and fairness, not money and sick PERSONAL GAIN!!" He shouted, lifting the man higher now, barely allowing him to breathe. "Give me one reason not to kill you here, and now- and let me remind you that YOU, CANNOT, LIE TO ME!!" He roared by the end, a bear in man's form, spittle hitting the suited man in the air's chest.
"I'm s-sorry-!!"
"THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER!!! SPEAK!! IN THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE, WOULD IT NOT BE BETTER THAT I KILL YOU?!"
"IT WOULDN'T-!!" The politician choked out, and Timio smirked. It was spoken as a desperate lie.
"Alright." Timio smiled, dropping the man, who collapsed on his side, clutching his throat, choking. Stepping forward, Timio smiled and knelt, lifting the front end of the politician's car up and ripping the front axle out, throwing it, hard. It snapped several branches from a tree as it traveled, disappearing into the distance.
"Fly or walk back. Consider this your punishment for wasting my time, scum."
"Wait-!!" The man choked out, swallowing. "A-Aerendyl…! Has endangered the city, I sw-swear!!"
It wasn't a lie.
"How?"
"His s-stupid student, Lynx-!! There was an a-assassin in the city hunting h-her, and he kn-knew!! He relied on a c-criminal!" The politician was grinning, smug, but… truthful.
"So what? He used a criminal to save somebody and didn't let any of our men die?"
"His f-favoritism makes him look the other way!! Tomorrow, even, her name is on the roster for a search-and-kill mission against a greater demon, and she's not even qualified!" A cough. No lies. Timio thought, narrowing his eyes.
"I have a great amount of respect for the Director. He has his reasons," Timio reasoned, turning and walking back into the house, shutting the door behind him. Still, he thought, as he walked upstairs, returning to his office. Was it a crime, to alllow a student into more dangerous situations? What was Lynx's history? Perhaps she was more than qualified… there was a reason for this, surely.
I will not be so easily swayed by poor attempts to turn me against Aerendyl. I am stronger- if I were meant to be the Director, I would be.
Narrowing his eyes, Timio unlocked his computer. A few passwords later; Lynx.
Case File 3102
Member of Pempan Honor Guard, treated as a royal assassin operating within nighttime hours Assigned to hunt down the leader of Elevated after loosely-confirmed rumors of terrorist attacks being orchestrated by Elevated Human, overpowered, killed Found three days later in the snow, believing her name to be Lynx. No last name chosen Enrolled in Contracted Arms Academy (Ravenhold, north) Connected to Melody Fox somehow. Friend of the Family. Romantically entangled with the Family's youngest child. Shielded by the director on multiple occasions On track for accelerated graduation
There were two portraits. On the left, a sour-faced scowling young woman with her hair slicked back. On the right, the same woman grinning awkwardly, flashing a peace sign with two fingers. Her smile looked as though she was struggling to relieve herself, and in pain.
Nothing about that actually seemed all that concerning, but then…
Romantically entangled with the family's youngest child. That was Alice, right? The one who'd left behind the family's history of crime…
Contented, if at least for now, Timio leaned back, yawning quietly. Oh no, Aerendyl took a helpless woman under his wing and got her enrolled as a student of CA. Oh no, the woman with extrensive military background is helping with sensitive missions. It might be favoritism, but he's not endangering anybody at all.
Timio slept dreamlessly and deeply, that evening.
-
"Down here," Vilhelm raised a hand and swept around the corner. Lynx and the other soldiers followed into that guard post that she'd seen the day before- notebook still on the table, but… well, the tunnel did continue on, outside. Vilhelm himself was glancing through the notebook, thinking. "Says a run has been through here today," He sighed. "Three people, notes read that they were on the lookout for soldiers."
"Do you have an honest idea of what's going on down here?" One of the soldiers asked- a woman with dark skin, but aside from that Lynx couldn't make out any distinguishable features.
"I do." Vilhelm nodded. "As I've been working to end a number of the drug dens on the surface, I'm theorizing that the production of Angel Blood has been moved here."
"Angel blood? Is that what the golden drug is, then?" The same woman inquired, raising her chin. "Really?"
"No." Vilhelm shook his head. "We've recovered some- it's largely made from the same watered down and processed Ichor we run through our power systems, Ichorum. There's further tampering done though, including sugar, gasoline and trace amounts of demon blood. The two aren't meant to mix- and even in such small doses, it explains the intestinal bleeding that we're seeing in long term users.
"You act like it's safe to consume an angel's blood to begin with."
"It is, for an angel. You're a human, and you can drink human blood, can't you?" Vilhelm raised an eyebrow. "You may vomit after, but it won't kill you. Now come, let's continue on."
Lynx fell into step as they left the guard post and continued on down the tunnel, trusting Vilhelm to lead. One after the next, the assembled soldiers groaned, grunted or huffed in frustration, pushing through another sheet of moss as they continued on. Their flashlights swept through the dark, and Lynx listened, but try as she might, she couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary.
"Where do these tunnels ultimately go?" She thought to ask.
"To the entrance of the old city. There's only one proper entrance left, and it's banned for access, from what the schematics said. Sealed off. In theory, the only way in should be air vents that none of us can fit through. I was being honest when I told you, yesterday, that there isn't a way to access the old city, but what I'm wondering…"
"-is if the crazies that have been attacking at random might have also unsealed the old city. Wouldn't that be dangerous?"
"Not necessarily," Vilhelm shrugged, still aiming ahead as if he was about to need to magazine-dump at any moment. "I can feel you staring at me, Lynx. Something on your mind?"
"Just… surprised you're so calm, I guess? You walk with purpose," She replied as they continue.
"I'm making my mom proud. S'all that matters," He laughed drily and continued on. Lynx nodded, thoughtful, and continued on.
Another tunnel. Another, another, another…
And then-
Another guard station. This one had the remnants of a dying campfire, and the group collectively stiffened. Vilhelm snapped pictures of the notebook's pages with a small camera, and then they filed out into the hall, conntinuing on, pushing through more of that moss. As a fat swatch of the damp plant slapped Lynx's face, she remembered with horror the way Alice's face, but wrong, had loomed before her- the way she'd run, the way she'd suddenly felt unable to breathe, or to move… shaking her head, she continued on, trying to steady herself.
"Come on," One of the man gently tapped her shoulder. "Nervous?"
"First mission," Lynx offered weakly, walking.
"Fun fact to take your mind off things- the back of your ear plates aren't reinforced like the rest of your helmet," He chattered in a voice like smoke and old harp strings.
"Why? Oh, well, obvious-"
"Yep. Bullet would punch through your ear instead of running the risk of bouncing straight down into your skull. It's that or making you half deaf by covering your ears entirely."
"Perks of being a cat girl, I guess," Lynx gritted out. "Er, downsides."
"Yeah, I got it. You're gonna be alright, kid. Even if we do find something down here, ther'es nothing for us to be afriad of. I've been in the service for fifteen years as a human and haven't met anything that a well-equipped squad can't handle.
"Right," Vilhelm spoke out loudly as they reached the end of a hall, and another door, gripping the handle and yanking it inward. "I was afraid of that."
"What?" Somebody asked.
"This is the entrance to the old city. I was told it's magically-sealed off and chained. This door looks like it gets used regularly," Vilhelm muttered, sucking in a slow breath and letting it out, then taking out his personal phone. "Let me call the director and see what he wants us to do."
Ring. Ring. No answer.
"Let's just… wait a few," Vilhelm muttered, sending a text. "How are we feeling?"
"Thirsty," Somebody commented, and a small chuckle ran through the group.
"I bet you are," Vilhelm retorted, laughing. "Sorry. Sorry, inappropriate of me. Let's focus."
Minutes ticked by, though, and… nothing.
"What do you think, Vilhelm?" Somebody eventually asked. "I say we turn back, and report."
"I say we push forward," The young man countered, jaw set firmly. "My… superior officer, Aerendyl, wouldn't want us to back down. He'd want us to find answers."
"I disagree, momma's boy. I think the Director," A woman spoke, though not the inquisitve one from before, stepped forward, sticking her chin out toward Vilhelm challengingly. "-who, perhaps, you should speak of with even a touch of respect-"
"I do respect him," Vilhelm cut in coldly. "-I'm also in a position above yours for a reason. I say we continue on."
"Can we just quit?" Lynx interrupted, swallowing. "-With the low-budget cop sitcom drama, I mean. We're here to get answers. We haven't gotten any, right? We can turn back at the first sign of danger, so why shouldn't we continue?"
"Well," the man with a voice like smoke chuckled. "Nobody has been down there for hundreds of years. The caverns aren't mapped out in any place we could find quickly- and before venturing on, shouldn't we have, food? Water, emergency supplies? Just in case. No hard feelings I hope, kitty- I don't want to make you feel stupid. You're new to this job, that's all," he added kindly, chuckling.
"Hey," Alice spoke. "You shouldn't be mean to my Lynx, you know?" The white-haired succubus spoke with a laugh, and Lynx's heart plumetted through her stomach as she grabbed her firearm, turning- the soldier in the back of the pack grinned, brilliantly-blue eyes flashing, before her mouth opened wider than should have been possible, blood leaking from the corner of her mouth. "Missed you, kitty!!"
"Get back!!" Harp-voice shouted, shoving Lynx back, and the blonde staggered, watching as the others fired. Gunfire ripped, and her ears ached, but she only watched, confused, as the soldier fell, bleeding- her blood not red, nor gold, but black. A demons', alright.
"What even happened," Vilhelm snarled, kneeling, inspecting the body- it wasn't Alice's face anymore, but that of a young blonde woman when he tugged her helmet off.
"Hallucination? Or Possession?" The black woman shoved Vilhelm aside and knelt, planting her hands on the blonde's chest. Her hands began to glow, and with a metallic clink, bullets began to hit the floor around her. "Thank gods, she isn't fully dead yet."
Moments later, the woman gasped, sitting bolt upright and clutching at her chest. "What the HELL?!"
"Are you okay?" Vilhelm knelt. "I'm sorry- we shot you, you had the face of an enemy. Were you possessed, or are we unable to trust our eyes down here?"
"I-I don't know," The blonde muttered, shaking her head. "I was pushing through one of the curtains of moss, and then…" Lynx swallowed again, a sinking feeling of dread in her stomach. She remembered how as she'd stepped into the afternoon light, the day prior, moss had clung to her neck- and when she'd brushed it off, it didn't fall; it drifted back into the tunnel.
Wind wasn't blowing beyond a light breeze, was it.
"Shit…"
"Don't touch the moss with exposed skin, got it…" Vilhelm nodded, exhaling slowly.
"Hold on," The blonde huffed. "Did you just kill me?!"
"No," Vilhelm shook his head and stood, grinning lopsidedly. We healed you before your heart stopped beating. Jokes aside, I'm so sorry- reacted too quickly."
"First time being on a team," The blonde snarled, snatching her helmet back as she stood.
"Y-Yeah," Vilhelm spoke flatly, nodding.
"Really." The smoke-and-harps man spoke flatly, raising an eyebrow. "I vote we make an executive decision and leave, regardles of what Vilhelm says." He stepped away, in the direction they'd come. "Let's go. Out of here. All in favor?"
"I," The black woman spoke. "I'm not getting myself killed wrestling with something I don't understand. Leave that to a greater angel or somethin'."
"I'm out too," The blonde huffed, turning and stepping off. The other woman stepped away, as well.
"Coming, Lynx? Vilhelm?" Smoky asked gently, and Lynx glanced at the brunette.
"I'm continuing on," Vilhelm shrugged.
"Can you guys… give us a minute to talk?" Lynx asked, pleadingly, to the others. "Just like five seconds, I wanna know what's going on in his head. Er, blunt- sorry-"
"Yeah, baby cat, take a minute," Smoky nodded, waving. "Whatever is down here, we ain't staying. Talk him into leaving, I don't want any more blood on my hands."
"Right. Come on," Lynx sighed, yanking open the door to the old city and walking into the tunnel beyond with Vilhelm. Once the door had been shut, she crossed her arms. "What's going on. Aerendyl spoke highly of you, and you just… gunned down your own soldier, possibly. No investitgation, no intelligence, and I don't care if I sound terrible- you're being everything a leader shouldn't. Not minding our safety at all-"
"Lynx," Vilhelm challenged, stepping forward. "My mother is dead. My older brother wants nothing to do with me because he thinks becoming a cop means becoming a sellout-"
"Sorry, I don't give a shit about your personal issues and family drama," Lynx cut in, voice flat. "Right now you are not mommy's little baby boy- you are a leader, in charge of a squad, and responsible for their safety. You risk throwing their lives away-"
"Like you tried to throw yours away? I know all about-" Vilhelm reeled, blood spilling from his mouth, covering his jaw in horror, after Lynx backhanded him.
"Sorry. Forgot you're a human," Lynx whistled. "Anyway, shut up. I committed to a plan with people backing me up- so what's your deal? Are you using Aerendyl's trust that you won't betray him to turn into some kind of loose cannon? I'm going back. If you stay down here with that thing… you're not reaching an exit. Can I count you among the living for a few more days?"
Vilhelm inhaled slowly, still covering his mouth.
"Right. I… didn't want to bring back nothing- I didn't want to fail-"
"Look man, I'll be your friend over drinks but this is life and death- I do not give one singular ounce of a damn, about your ego. This isn't a few street thugs- this is something that can access our heads at will, shapeshift, and maybe possess. We need to leave."
"Right. Right." Vilhelm nodded, nostrils flaring. "Sorry. You uh. You go. I'm going further."
"Oh my god you idiot," Lynx sighed. "Go then. I'll tell them."
"I'm not joking Lynx."
"Then go." She nodded, opening the door and starting to step through. When she heard Vilhelm's footsteps, she grabbed her pistol, turned, and slammed the gun into the side of Vilhelm's neck- carefully, this time. He was unconscious before he even began to fall.
"We're almost back," Smoky spoke out, wincing, as he and Lynx worked together to haul Vilhelm up the stairs. The brunette looked sick, sweating, his skin a sickly shade of gray, and Lynx found herself wondering… was he using the drug? Whatever it was called… is he sick? Dying? What's going on?
As the lot of them stepped outside, Lynx waved, standing beside Vilhelm's body where it sat slumped against a wall. "You guys go on, okay? Report back, I mean. I need… I need a minute. I'll wait until Vilhelm wakes, and talk to him."
"Are you sure? We's a team, y'know." Smoky smiled, taking his helmet off now. Lynx blinked, surprised; she'd thought he was a human, but no, dark purple skin, and a pair of small horns poked through his forehead.
"I'm sure, thanks. The face that demon take… it's my lover," Lynx explained, nodding. "Please, go on ahead."
"Alright." Smoky nodded and turned, walking off with the others.
"Bye!" One called, and Lynx waved weakly, sagging down and sitting beside Vilhelm. Pulling out her phone and dialing, she called Aerendyl, breathing slowly, deeply.
"What's up?" The angel picked up. For once.
"Hey. Worried about Vilhelm. I trust your judgment, but something is wrong with him. We found another guard checkpoint and he got a bunch of pictures of… names, code names, I don't know. We also found that the old exit to the old city is unsealed, it's just a regular door. He's being… weird, though. He's irrational, angry, confused, and tried to insist that all of us should take a happy hop, skip and jump into the old city."
"Ah, well that's not very nice. He shouldn't do something so shitty with my Lynx," Aerendyl laughed. "You gonna come back, now?"
"Wait," Lynx swallowed, licking her lips, a sick feeling of dread gnawing at her gut. "What did you just say," She whispered, anxiety spiking in her chest, stomach turning over, sweat beading between her breasts, at her temple.
"I said uh…" Aerendyl whispered, and Lynx's vision swam- dark and light, mingling, like static in her eyes. "That wasn't nice… to do with My Lynx, silly," Alice's voice came through the phone.