[T A S K] : who's watching
A giant tear could be seen through the hole in the sector 7 Azzuri warehouse.
Something massive crawled through.
12 feet of twisted limbs, and multiple eyes arranged in spirals across it's deformed head.
"It's an Aberrant." Screamed one of the thugs. The class of Variants just above the lowest level Echoes.
They scattered like flies, heading toward the exit.
"Thomas we've got runners." Calvin's voice crackled through the comms but only static crackled back. "Thomas." He didn't need to say anything more it was clear Thomas wasn't available right now.
You could almost see the worry through Calvin's helmet. They came here to rescue hostages, they instead stumbled on an illegal operation and now a wanted high level rouge toppler just walked in and did something Calvin had never seen before.
He made a Rift, the most destructive force in their world happen just by pushing a button.
The Abberant dropped onto the floor. the sound of it's imapct echoing through the warehouse like thunder.
It's roar sent the approaching thugs flying and those that didn't were mauled by the procedding rampage.
It lunged at Josephine next.
She didn't even fidget, just shot her eyes and strechted her hands out.
The Abberant's charge was halted when it crashed ferociously into what seemed to be an invisible wall.
Josephine's golden gaze stared the variant down on the other side. The sun kissed glow of the mark on the visible part of her chest contrasting it's dark jaggered skin.
Her crest allowed her to manipulate light and this particularly technique solidified it, keeping her foes at bay.
Luna was next to act. The pull of the white coloured nun habit seams on her regular sized boobs offered no resistance to the lifting of her moon staff.
Reciprocating her motion, the Aberrant at the same time took flight and hovered uwillingly, several meters above the ground.
Calvin wasted no time.
with a flick of his rest, every piece of metal In the warehouse ripped free—bars, pipes and tools, surrounding it like a storm.
The creature thrashed but to no avail, Calvin compressed the metal into a makeshift prison.
Luna raised her staff even higher, the metal prison rising swiftly through the hole in the roof into the midnight sky.
Josephine already held an arrow in her hands, and a Light-bow had formed at its helm.
She charged and fired skyward through the tiny hole Calvin made in the metal.
Nothing happened at first then a few seconds later.
Boom—
An explosion ensued and the Aberrant screeched, but it was clear that would not be enough.
Calvin folded his palm into a fist, The metal prison reformed into dozens of sharp projectiles that pierced the creature from all angles.
The next screech was a dying one and the disappearance of the red forcefield indicated the creature had been defeated.
An aberrant would have needed no less than 8 mid-level topplers to defeat it in a battle spanning several minutes.
Yet the trinity managed this feat In 47 seconds. The credit was down to their coordination as a team rather than their power level.
They couldn't celebrate just yet, they still needed to ask Montez how he did this..
But when they looked, he was already gone. they rushed outside only to find their comrades from the golden chalice in a near death state. All three of them.
Felix lay against the warehouse wall, his tactical vest torn open. His liver—his liver—was visible through the gaping wound in his abdomen, glistening wetly in the streetlights.
Thomas was a few feet away, intestines spilling across concrete.
Maria's chest had been caved in,most likely from impact. Her ribs were jutting in.
Calvin dropped to his knees right next to Felix who seemed to still be conscious "We need to get you—"
"Not... enough time." Felix's words came out in gasps, his pneuma keeping him conscious despite injuries that should have killed him instantly. "Montez... the seventh seal..... You need to step them."
Felix pneuma Went out like a candle, his hand limp.
Josephine stood frozen, staring at the bodies. "I told them to stay outside. I said they'd be safer securing the perimeter, and now they're—"
Her voice cracked.
Luna placed a hand on her shoulder. "You did what you thought was best. Their deaths are not your burden to carry."
"But—"
"Grief is reasonable, Self-blame not so much." Luna's white eyes held no judegement. "We can only honor them by continuing the mission."
Huey slipped through the unlocked St. Mercy hospital window, movements silent despite his exhaustion.
Atticus Cross lay motionless in the bed, eyes open but clearly not in use.
He pulled down his mask. "Hey, Dad."
A ruined pink bakery box was set on the table. "Remember I told you I was gonna get start working at Vie's the last time I stopped by. I did, even made a pie to celebrate. But..." He looked at the crushed dessert. "Some assholes who kidnapped me ate it."
Huey suddenly clenched his fist. "I know what you'd say, could have saved that kid but I waited and watched him die instead. That was wrong. " He exhaled slowly.
"You'd be right. But I don't regret it. Letting that boy die so I could learn about the serum, so I could get a step closer to finding out what it was really happened to you"
The heart monitor beeped steadily.
"So I can finally help you, I mean it's my fault you're here in the first place...., I'd do anything to see you—"
"You know what let's just forget about all of that."
"Is there anything good on?"
Huey put on the Tv, the broadcast drew his attention.
"—breaking news: the Golden Chalice guild raided an illegal operation in Sector 7 tonight. Unfortunately three operatives were killed in the line of duty. Authorities recovered samples of an illegal substance whose origin and purpose are still unknown. They also found symbols matching those from the St. Helena massacre eight months ago on the bodies of some of the dead offenders."
The screen showed the seven-lined symbol.
Huey's eyes narrowed. "Jazz. Cross-reference that sunstance with the one we got, and this symbol with.... "
"Already running analysis. Multiple matches."
Footsteps could be heard in the hallway. It was the nurse.
But when she came in
only an open window and the Vie's Pie box were left behind.
The Trinity knelt before Sister Jewel, still covered in Rift residue and their friends blood.
Jewel's hands trembled as she looked at the photos. Felix, Thomas and Maria.
Three of her most loyal and hardworking operatives, reduced to meat.
"I'm the only one to blame for this" she whispered. "I should have verified the intel more carefully. I should have sent more support, I should have—"
"Sister—" Josephine started.
"No." Jewel's voice was firm despite the tears streaming down her face. "They trusted me. Their families trusted me. And I failed them."
She closed her eyes and clasped her hands. "They'll have full honors and a proper burial. Their names inscribed with the martyrs."
Calvin spoke quietly. "Montez. The rift, being in the warehouse at that point. I just don't get how the mission could have gone so badly."
Jewel spread out more documents. "I had operatives check the warehouse in Sector 9. They found nothing."
"So someone fed us false intel," Josephine said. "Set us up to chase the wrong target."
"Or the right target, but not for missing persons." Jewel touched the symbol photograph. "These disappearances, the blue substance, Montez. it's all connected, we just don't know how yet."
Huey stood outside the dorm entrance, exhausted, his uniform having already replaced the blue reaper's coat.
He tried sneaking in But—
Mr. Luigi blocked the gateway. "Curfew was midnight Cross"
"I know, I'm sorry, there was—"
"No, no excuses. You pigs always find something to try and compensate for you incompetense and I'm having none of that this morning."
The look on Huey's face had changed now, and he looked like he was about to snap.
"Yo, Luigi!"
Calvin jogged up, still in his expensive suit, holding his briefcase and flashing that charming grin despite looking dead on his feet.
"Mr. Esposito, you know better than to be past curfew."
"Yeah, my bad. Had a mock trial run extra late today. Look here's a signed file from Sister Jewel who's handling my intern ship. You know the Magister of The Golden Chalice."
Calvin sighted his roommate. And he didn't seem to happy.
This forced Calvin to stop and interceed for Huey.
"I suppose if it was university work, then it's fine—"
"And this little prick was my briefcase boy, but I asked him to run on ahead. Isn't that so Huey??". Calvin being 6'2 was easily able to wrap his large hand span around Huey and drag him closer.
"Briefcase boy?" Huey spotted Calvin a look of uncertainty but the look Calvin gave him back seemed to say I'm giving you a chance here. "I mean yeah I am"
In the elevator, they stood in silence.
"Where were you really?" Huey asked quietly.
"You're the guy who wakes up on the ceiling every morning and you really wanna go there with me"
They looked at each other.
"Let's not ask questions we don't want answered," Calvin said.
"Deal."
Huey collapsed onto his bed and embraced its warmth knowing he'd soon levitate off it.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown number and one attached image.
The photo loaded slowly.....
It was the blue reaper In the warehouse surrounded bodies.
Below it
"We need to talk, I'll communicate the time and place. You better show."
Huey stared at the ceiling.
"Jazz. Trace it, and narrow it down to students at Virelia. Specifically those caught on surveillance camera's entering the school an hour and 10 minutes after our operation last night ."
"Tracing....."
"Hold on, Let me guess"
He closed his eyes for a second.
"Alessia Cardoso" said Jazz and Huey in Unison.
Looking across the room at Calvin who was already snoring.