Chapter 1
Chapter 1
“Authorities report another overdose on the latest booster drug by Shaw labs. The victim was found yesterday evening with high levels of G3 in their blood. This marks the sixth victim in just over two years.”
Two men sat in an office listening to the broadcast as they thumbed through papers. “You’re right Devon, these deaths are absolutely a patterned event.” The man ran his hand through his messy black hair as he leaned back.
Devon leaned back in his office chair scratching his peppered beard, staring out the window as the steady hum of the city barely filtered through the thick, icy glass. The desk was cluttered with files and reports, which no longer held his attention. The TV continued droning on about the new body that had been found, but something felt wrong to him.
Devon started. “We’ve checked the supply lines and vendor reports and there isn’t a single dose missing.” His brow furrowed as he leaned forward, report in hand. “None of the victims have a history of even using, until their bodies are found and the blood tests come back.” He waved his hand and an image of the most recent victim appeared beside the desk in a shimmer of light.
Name: Kayden Whitmore
Age: 17
Height: 5’8
Weight 146 Lbs.
Ability: telekinesis
Ability score: novice
‘The Kayden Whitmore memorial service will be held in three days at his mothers house. His family asks that anyone who felt wronged by Kayden’s crimes contact them directly so the service can remain in remembrance of their son and brother.’
He continued. “I understand a 17 year old novice using a booster, but what doesn’t make sense is where did he get it and why was he missing for six months until now?”
The first man handed over a new set of papers. “He never needed them to pickpocket before, is there something I’m missing here?” The image of the boy faded, replaced with a new image, Darius Shaw.
“It’s got to be Shaw, Kegan.” He ground his teeth together before starting again. “Or maybe someone working for him. All of the official reports come directly from them, I’m sure they wouldn’t have an issue falsifying some numbers, make it look like nothing is missing on their end.”
Devon turned up the TV volume. “The only question I’m worried about though” He paused, walking to the window, looking out at the city streets. “Why would they be involved in something like this?”
Kegan let out a sigh rubbing his eyes. “Are they helping a supplier get more drugs onto the streets? Running some kind of paid tester program?”
He pursed his lips reading through some employee profiles for Shaw Labs.
“Maybe someone thinks they deserve more, trying to make an extra buck on the side?”
The men paused as the anchor introduced Darius Shaw. He strode up confidently to the podium in front of his building, carrying his statement.
“I’d like to offer my condolences to the Whitmore family, in this trying time. I know this must be difficult for all of you.” Shaw paused to look around the crowd, his concerned expression was calculated to please, but his eyes remained cold . Just enough sympathy to seem genuine, but never enough to truly commit to grief.
“In the wake of recent events I’d like to also announce that we have agreed to share any information the Lights End officials request to aid the investigation. . First and foremost, I want to reiterate, our latest boosters are proven to be non addictive and remain the safest option for anybody trying to get a little extra push in their daily and work activities.
However, we continue to encourage their use in moderation. Any drug taken to excess has side effects, sometimes these are fatal as we’ve unfortunately seen today..”
Shaw shifted to face the Whitmore family. “Your family will be in the thoughts of all of us at Shaw Labs, and I would like to offer counseling to help you and your family after this tragedy.”
Devon switched the TV off and let the image of Darius Shaw fade away, shaking his head, then pulled out a new file labeled ‘Missing Person.’ “Well, now that we know Whitmore was a victim, I think I know who the next one is going to be.” He tossed a file across to Kegan.
Name: Melody Mare
Age: 16
Height: 5’4
Weight: 101 Lbs.
Ability: Super strength
Ability score: Competent
“This girl is different, her ability is physical as opposed to mental, she is advanced for her age.” He paused waiting for Kegan to get caught up in the file. “Her parents disappeared a couple of years ago, lived in the bad part of town, worked as a debt collector.”
Kegan flipped back to the start of the file. “Well I can see she spent time in juvenile detention for property damage and assault plus other minor charges.”
He paused, looking up briefly. “No history of using boosters, just like the others. The only thing in her medical record is that she did make it in for her initial injection to get her ability.” Kegan flipped through the files slower this time. “No history of post serum follow up though.”
Devon waved a hand creating a new image of the girl, paired with one of Kayden. “She went missing four months ago to the day, and he disappeared four months before the last one.” Another wave of his hand, a third image of another missing teen. “That’s the pattern for the last two years, every four months, six bodies, and one missing person.”
Kegan eyed the line of illusions. “So you think she might still be alive?”
Devon snatched the file back then grabbed his coat and gloves, walking into the main room of the building, Kegan followed behind. “Not only do I think it’s possible, I think we have sixty days to find her.” He tucked the file into Kegan’s desk. “I’m taking over the ground work on this one. I need you to review possible connections between her and the others.”
Kegan sat back at his desk. “Understood, I‘ll re-interview the witnesses, in case they have extra details. But Devon,” He rubbed his face with one hand. “I’m not sure how people will feel about helping bring their debt collector back to town though.”
Devon finished getting his warmer layers on. “I’m sure they wouldn’t be too keen on it so I’m going to slip into a few places to get their security footage. I won’t need to talk to the witnesses again, at least not for a while.”
Kegan laughed, shaking his head. “You do realize that’s breaking and entering regardless of you being invisible right? Have you ever heard of a warrant?”
Devon waved. “If it was possible for us to get a warrant I’d consider it.” He paused, holding his hat. “The world doesn’t want to know that we’re here and warrants are for the guys that exist.” Kegan started organizing the files in order now.
“So if I slip in and out with a bit of footage to help find this girl, what’s the harm? Besides, if she is not connected with the booster overdoses it’s not like it’ll be our problem, the police would have to figure that out on their own.”
Devon’s body shimmered and began to fade, the colors draining from him until all that remained was a faint outline, rippling like a mirage.
He spoke up. “I’ll be back tomorrow, don’t wait up for me.” around them half a dozen workers sifted through files and cases and then Devon was gone.
After a few moments waiting by the exit Devon found the perfect time to move. He slipped out, shutting the door quickly.
The wind nipped at his face as he slipped through the streets. Everything was still, like a painting of a freshly frozen city, as if the storm had washed away any trace of life.
He started south, taking care to place an illusion over each footprint in the snow so it appeared untouched, leaving no trace.
The illusions would hold for now as long as he kept a clear view. If his earlier prints got distorted it wouldn’t help anybody attempting to follow him.
The air was usually cold but this time of year was especially brutal because of how far north Dominion was in the world. The storm that had blown through the city the previous day made most of the residents flee to their homes.
It was common enough that the fresh snow and ice was not a hindrance to Devon’s journey since he was so used to traveling in these conditions. He enjoyed the peace these storms provided; so few people prepared for them, that nights like this felt like the city belonged to him.
It took half an hour for him to confirm nobody followed him, before he broke away to his planned path, making his way to the slums, and the first shop of the night.
It was late enough that none of the places he planned on visiting would have anybody on shift to get in his way. Pulling the footage was his plan, avoiding any employees or patrons was the bonus for working at this hour.
The task would be easy enough since the girl worked either in the slums or close enough so that the owners either couldn’t or wouldn’t pay for the newer software.
The technopaths that worked with him were always delayed on making code breakers for the newer software; but for this excursion he had already researched the shops. His old code breaker would still get the job done.
He preferred it this way. The technopaths were odd, they talked to their machines and almost treated them more like people than actual people.
Devon preferred a cleaner approach.
He took time assessing the front of the shop, it was closed; looked like it hadn’t opened all day based on how the ice covered the door.
He had given up on trying to figure out why someone would choose not to open for a whole day, it wasn’t like Dominion was getting any more affordable
Taking out his portable heater, with only a day’s ice, it should be short work melting around the hinges and the lock.
He focused on the lock first and then set the heater on the hinges while he picked the lock. Something he made into a game seeing which would happen first.
He usually won with the lock picked first. However, this was a new brand of lock so this time it was much closer, but he still won.
With the ice melted off the hinge and the door unlocked Devon made sure the coast was clear as he cracked the door just enough to slip in, and quietly shut the door.
In seconds he was in front of the alarm, placing his code breaker over it and entered the pin before the police were notified.
Satisfied with his work disabling the alarm he made his way into the main office and logged into the security systems and filtered through to the days before the girl, Melody Mare, had gone missing. He fast-forwarded through the footage until he saw that distinct, dark, ocean blue hair.
Sections of her waiting in the store front, talking to people on the street, even a clip of her running back up the street she had walked down earlier that day, not running away from something, there were no panicked movements, no covert glances, just running.
Devon saved the footage he thought relevant to his mobile drive. Giving him the first piece of the puzzle; he pulled out his map and confirmed the route to his next stop.
He made his way through town, repeating the process at each stop, gathering more footage. Sometimes the girl was by herself, others she was with what appeared to be friends or acquaintances, others maybe clients or victims, it was hard to tell without the audio. He sped through the downloads, refusing to dwell on what he didn’t have.
A few hours had passed and Devon had gone through six stores all spaced apart capturing a record of the girl’s final day before she went missing. “She certainly ran the streets well for her age. Even if she was working for other people the level of confidence in everything she’s doing is admirable.” He muttered quietly, talking to himself was a habit he did only when alone.
He paused, thinking; why would someone with Melody’s skill work low level jobs like these. Her confidence and skill were both well beyond her age, effortless movement, throwing dumpsters and broken doors. Easily brushing off hits from others with weapons, or for some poor fools their bare hands.
But what stood out the most was she wasn’t wearing a coat or jacket. He had some high level enforcers as professional contacts. They all dressed the same and when he had questioned them about it each of them gave the same answer, their strength had made them more resistant to not only physical pain, but also the effects of the bitter cold of Lights End.
After a few hours ensuring he had enough to piece together a timeline on that day Devon decided to head back to the office to save everything he’d collected.
As he completed the last download, he checked the time, just after four am, he started to pack up. Having just one drive wouldn’t work, he could make one copy for him and Kegan could have the original. He’d be better at lining up the times to trace her path anyway.
After logging out of that last computer he cleaned up anything he touched trying to smear any dust and restack any items in the way they were before he had arrived.
As he prepared to leave, he heard the click as a door opened. Devon hid quickly. His mind raced.. ‘Of course.’ He thought to himself.
The store shouldn’t open for another couple of hours so the owner was here for something else. That wasn’t his problem though, not today.
A voice, sounding like it was a middle aged man, called out from down the hall.
“Hello?”
Devon crouched, invisible but starting to fade back into existence, the strain of using his ability for hours had taken its toll. He became visible while he waited for the man to get closer, not wanting to miss his opportunity.
The footsteps were slow and quiet coming up the hallway but the man was making sure to announce himself.
“Hello? I know you’re there, I can see the alarms been disabled.”
Devon, still refused to move, held his breath as the man moved closer making himself invisible at the last moment, he laid on the floor. A moment later the man stepped into the room and peered around with his flashlight in hand. The room appeared empty, only some bags on the opposite end of the room.
The man made his way to the bags moving them to check for intruders. As he crossed the halfway point Devon slowly stood up, holding his breath not wanting to give himself away. As the man moved the bags Devon used the rustling sounds they made to escape.
He snuck down the hall silently, going as fast as he dared . At the door he conjured an illusion of a dog pushing the door open as he snuck out, sending the illusion in the opposite direction and around a corner.
Few people were out but all their eyes followed the escaped dog so Devon could make it further up the street himself until he felt comfortable turning a corner and dropping his invisibility.
