Sinner Born: Part 2
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The Party, Month of Pluvia, Day Septem
Black Stone: District Three, 2:26 PM
Fero stood off to the side, speaking with a cop, with Talia dragged along because, "I need cause." Everyone else surveyed the city from their elevated vantage point.
Ago: "How is it that even up here, with fresh air, I can still smell acid? My nose is burning. District Three clearly has gotten worse since the last time I was here."
Dalia: "Is it really that bad?"
Ago raised an eyebrow just as Ardea stepped in.
Ardea: "We can smell what people feel before they know why. I can see why District Three is all greedborn."
Dalia: "I know that, okay, not that, I was just curious."
By then, Fero and Talia returned.
Fero: "I got back on the force just to take Talia here home. This allows us to enter the city."
Talia: "Except I won't be going home."
Ago tilted his head.
Ago: "What, we can just walk in?"
Fero flicked his tail, but when he realized only half the group understood wrathborn tail language, he stopped and spoke aloud.
Fero: "It isn't a military operation. It's the police cracking down on gang violence. People are supposed to stay inside, but it only becomes a problem if someone actively interferes with police work. Avoid my compatriots and the gangs, and we're clear."
Servo relaxed slightly.
Servo: "I hope we can get through this without combat. I can still feel where a tunnel thug hit me with a plank of wood."
Fero nodded.
Fero: "We just need to get to my boss. He'll give us access to the building."
Talia took a sharp head turn towards Fero.
Talia: "Whoa, hold on. We can just go there. Zev and I can just lead everyone there."
Fero: "If we want the police not to ask questions, we need a proper escort, hand-picked by the police chief."
Zev scowled and shook his head.
Zev: "Silver man. Just call it in or something."
Fero: "I tried. I need to be there in person."
Talia sighed.
Talia: "Okay, look. Every second we don't scavenge that building complex is another second we might be losing evidence. Especially since the explosion there is probably why the police are here. And if this conspiracy has a politician as an unwilling patsy, who's to say the police aren't on the take? No offense."
Fero: "None taken. But I doubt the police here are being bribed. Giving an officer normal-sounding orders is usually enough for a cover-up. Tell someone to secure an area, they don't need to know why."
Talia grabbed her head, shook it, then looked back at Fero.
Talia: "Yes, okay, but we can't delay. And I'm not dealing with any cops unless you're there."
Fero: "I'm not sure I can handle my fellow officers without the chief giving me proper backup."
Fero remained calm, while Talia grew increasingly flustered.
Talia: "Is it a guarantee that he'll help?"
Fero: "Uh, technically no. However, he will give me any information I need related to this."
Talia took a breath and spoke more evenly.
Talia: "We have to get to the base as fast as possible, and I want you there. We can't do anything without a cop, and I definitely don't want to deal with the police myself."
Fero rubbed his chin, thinking. Everyone watched him in silence. After a few seconds, he nodded.
Fero: "You make a valid point."
Talia exhaled in relief.
Fero: "I'll go with you to the Red Man base, but my boss needs to be informed. Otherwise, I'll be in serious trouble. So here's the deal. I need someone to deliver a message to the chief while I go to the base."
Ago raised his hand.
Ago: "Some officers used to be regulars at my gym. I might recognize a few. I'll go."
Zev: "How do you own a gym? Aren't you seventeen?"
Ago: "I needed an adult co-owner, but he used his priority privilege to shut the whole thing down when something better came along."
Ardea stepped forward.
Ardea: "The gangs are attacking police lines. I'll go with you as backup."
Dalia's drone returned, slipping neatly back into her wrist computer as she spoke.
Dalia: "I know tech. It's best if I go with Fero and Talia."
Servo raised his hand slightly.
Servo: "I'll go with the infiltration team."
Zev: "Same."
Talia: "Actually, as the second-oldest person here, you should go with group two. Besides, four people is already too many for sneaking in."
Zev looked concerned.
Zev: "Uh, are you sure? It's my job to protect you."
Talia: "Like I said, I need you to be the adult for those two wrathborn."
Zev hesitated, then nodded.
Zev: "Understood."
-
Ago, Zev, and Ardea, Month of Pluvia, Day Septem
Black Stone: District Three, 2:35 PM
The locations and plans were established. Rally points were set, and in the worst-case scenario, a fallback to the safe house.
Zev: "Does Fero have to report who uses that safe house?"
He pocketed the message.
Ago: "I don't know. Why do you ask?"
The trio climbed onto a high road where police and gangs were scarce.
Zev: "I just don't want my name on any police document."
They passed a police car with several officers watching a road ramp. The officers turned sharply, almost in panic, then quickly relaxed as the trio passed, proof of how tense the situation had become.
Ago: "Okay?"
Silence followed, though that was likely because they were jogging.
They approached another police detail guarding a ramp when Ago and Ardea suddenly stopped. The three wrathborn police officers also turned down the road, their feline eyes scanning for the slightest movement.
Zev: "Hey, why did you two stop?" He sounded oblivious.
A flashbang clattered onto the road and detonated with a heightened boom. Even Ago and Ardea, farther away, dropped to their knees. Zev was dazed, but not incapacitated. He looked at his allies, both in pain and struggling to stand, just as six goons climbed onto the raised roadway wielding knives, chains, and clubs.
Their attention was fixed on the police officers. Zev didn't wait.
He snapped his spear open and moved to intercept.
One greedborn thug went down immediately. Zev spun the spear to keep the enemy group's focus, then jabbed forward, sending another attacker crashing to the ground, clutching his stomach. When the remaining thugs realized what was happening, Zev was already spinning the spear defensively again.
They surrounded him.
The group lacked discipline, attacking out of rhythm. Zev dropped another before the blows finally landed. A bat cracked across his arm. A plank of wood glanced off his head. A chain smashed into his leg.
Zev fell. The gang delivered one last kick before turning back to the stunned police officers, who were already starting to recover.
Ago managed to grab one of the attackers. He snarled, teeth bared, fur soaked with sweat and tears.
Ago: "I'll end you!"
He hammered the man with punches as the remaining thugs tried to regroup. One glanced at Zev and froze, confusion flickering across his face.
Thug: "Zev? The Wolf of Black Stone? You're supposed to be on our side."
Zev: "You're being sacrificed for rich scumbags. Sit down and think for once!"
Insults flew. Someone shouted, "Traitor!" Several thugs fled, though not all escaped the pursuing police. One officer had to physically pull Ago off the man he was beating.
Officer: "Enough. You won."
Ago took a breath, then bristled as he looked at the officer. They locked eyes. The officer's tail flicked, and Ago crossed his arms.
Ago: "You got something to say?"
Zev, completely missing the unspoken exchange, laughed it off.
Zev: "You meddling kids need to go home and leave this to the police, blah, blah, blah."
This time, Zev noticed the officer trying to form a response before settling for a disapproving look and dragging the cuffed thug away. Zev turned back to his companions.
Zev: "Was it something I said?"
Ardea: "Wrathborn biology leaves us permanently close to slipping into madness."
Zev: "No way, the Madness of Wrath is real?"
They resumed jogging.
Ardea: "It is best to think before issuing a challenge."
Zev: "A simple yes would have worked."
Ago had calmed now, his anger replaced with disbelief.
Ago: "What in the silvered hell? How do you not know common facts about half the world's population?"
Zev: "I stick to District Three. Don't really get the opportunity to hang out with you big fuzzballs."
Ago gave a playful shake of his head. They turned off a ramp. No police here, but farther ahead, the road was choked with an absolute swarm of police cars.
Ago slowed, then stopped.
Zev and Ardea halted, glancing at each other before noticing Ago standing stiffly, barely able to move.
Ardea: "Something ails you?"
Ago patted himself, then lifted his coat. A dark blood splotch had spread across his fur.
Ago: "Oh shoot. When did that happen? That street thug... I'll drown him in molten silver."
He sat down, clutching the wound.
Zev, concerned: "You going to make it?"
Ago: "Give me a minute. I'll either bleed out or be able to walk." He sighed. "Either way, I'm out of combat."
Zev nodded, watching as Ardea knelt beside Ago. Ago shifted to give her access. Zev remained confused, once again missing the silent wrathborn exchange. Ardea examined the wound as Ago moved his hand aside.
Ardea: "Shallow lateral stab. No vitals hit. Bleeding isn't pulsing. You'll live, but you're done fighting."
After a minute, Ago pushed himself upright. The trio started moving again, until Ago and Ardea froze simultaneously.
-
Fero, Servo, Dalia, Talia, Month of Pluvia, Day Septem
Black Stone: District Three, 2:35 PM
Once the plans were set, Group One headed into the heart of District Three.
Talia: "Can't you send your drone ahead or something?"
Dalia: "District Three is a no-zone. Even if I could find the right signal fields to launch it, it'd probably get slapped down by gangs or cops."
Gunshots rang out, and Dalia and Talia ducked instinctively.
Servo: "Nowhere near us."
Fero: "Five shooters, I think."
Talia frowned.
Talia: "Could be ricochets and stuff."
Fero: "Easy mistake to make. But if we focus on what's around us, we can pinpoint individual sounds even inside a cacophony."
Servo grimaced.
Servo: "The real problem is the smell. It's like everything's been painted in poop."
Talia: "Yeah. I don't remember it being this bad." She paused. "Actually, I do. Gangs used to smear nasty stuff around whenever they thought a wrathborn patrol was coming."
Servo: "That's new then."
They rounded a corner and halted when Fero raised a hand, pointing down another street.
Fero: "Oops. We've got company."
The group ducked behind a broken-down car missing three of its wheels.
Talia: "Can't we just move down the alley?"
Servo: "We're surrounded."
From the alley came ruffians smashing and vandalizing whatever they could reach. Ahead, a uniformed group of thugs advanced, red bandanas and shirts bright against tattooed profanity. It didn't take long for the Red Man gang members to spot movement and drift closer to the abandoned vehicles.
Dalia and Talia stepped out, acting casual, trying to cross the street as if they belonged there.
Two gunshots cracked through the air. Both women dropped instantly. Talia rolled into cover, while Dalia froze, looking around in confusion.
Dalia: "Wait, what?"
More gunfire followed. Servo lunged in front of her, taking two rounds square in the chest. His armor rang loudly with each impact even beneath his sweatshirt. He grabbed Dalia and dragged her into cover.
Behind a wall, they had a brief second to reorient.
Dalia: "Sorry. Everything went crazy." Her nerves were rattled, but she was already steadying herself.
Servo: "Don't worry about it." His expression betrayed the pain he was trying to hide.
Talia: "No Holy Light with us today." She gestured toward Fero. "He's all alone."
Servo watched as Fero slipped in ear protection and followed suit. Fero fired five controlled shots. That was enough to scatter the first group.
Dalia: "Wow. Don't shoot civilians in front of cops."
Talia rolled her eyes. Then, the three started to move out, but voices rose from the second group of thugs.
Thug 1: "It's a cop."
Thug 2: "Kill him."
Fero let out a heavy, irritated sigh.
-
Ago, Zev, and Ardea, Month of Pluvia, Day Septem
Black Stone: District Three, 2:52 PM
The main squad of policemen suddenly came under siege. It began with shouts of panic. The officers had about six seconds to dive for cover before the battle cries of gang members rang out. Multiple gangs, somehow cooperating, launched a coordinated tactical assault.
Ardea: "Heads up. They're coming at us too."
Ago turned toward the thunder of footsteps echoing from a nearby building.
Ago: "I should've known better."
Moments later, five figures poured out of an apartment entrance. All wore Red Man colors except one.
Barak: "Well, well, well. Isn't the Light himself looking conspiratorial today?"
He gestured lazily to his goons.
Barak: "Don't delay. Go."
The thugs moved immediately.
Ago: "I'm going to need a very good explanation from you."
Barak smirked.
Barak: "I'm a bit behind the curve. My friend's house exploded when I was supposed to be there backing him up and..." He glanced down. "You're wounded. Knife wound?"
Zev: "Wow. He's sharp."
The greedborn smiled with visible pride.
Barak: "You think that's impressive? I'm actually pretty good at reading wrathborn unspoken language. Not the scent part, but close enough." He waved it off. "But never mind how incredible I am. Ago, why are you here with the second coming of the Wolf? Are you two following me?"
Zev: "The only explosion lately was at the Red Man base. Quit being slimy, mister."
Only then did Zev realize Talia was gone. Assuming she was still nearby, he carefully avoided tipping his hand.
Ago: "What's with the wolf title?"
Zev: "History lesson later."
Ardea had circled behind Barak, silently drawing her knife. Her movement was too fast. Zev's eyes snapped toward her. She saw it. Barak saw it.
He spun with startling speed, catching Ardea's wrist even as she lunged from above. Zev unclasped his spear and thrust forward, but Barak's free hand shot out and caught the shaft mid-strike.
Zev: "And he's fast."
Barak's spade tail flicked, equal parts stress and excitement.
Barak: "I'm going to need the two of you to step back."
They eased their pressure. Barak released them, and Zev and Ardea retreated to Ago's side.
Barak: "Ago, my former friend, stay out of this."
Ago tried to put on a brave face, but the wound was making him a bit stiff.
Ago: "I'm just looking for the regular kind of trouble. Nothing to do with you. Still, you went back to the Red Man?"
Barak laughed.
Barak: "Those ghouls? I'm only here because I've got blood debts to pay. I'm on a fast track in Mixed Martial Arts. I even landed an interview once. 'The greedborn who can beat wrathborn.' I'm not unique, sure, but my record spoke for itself. I just need these drug-riddled idiots off my back."
Ago tilted his head, confused.
Ago: "That's... a lot I didn't know about you. Why didn't you ever tell me?"
Barak: "Because it was just a dream. Until now."
Ago growled softly while Ardea and Zev continued scanning for openings.
Barak: "Excuse me. My presence here is no longer required."
The long ears of the two wrathborn twitched. Zev glanced toward the street and saw the police had already beaten the gangs back. Even the Red Man thugs with Barak were being shoved into patrol cars.
Barak gave a small bow and walked away, the remaining chaos no longer held interest to him. Ambulances rolled in under police escort as the trio resumed their course toward the main police intersection.
-
Fero, Servo, Dalia, Talia, Month of Pluvia, Day Septem
Black Stone: District Three, 3:00 PM
Servo slammed his shovel into another thug as the group pushed through the streets.
Dalia: "Why are there so many of them out?"
Fero: "Because they're fighting seriously this time." He grimaced. "Makes me feel worse knowing I dragged civilians into a warzone."
Talia moved ahead and peeked around the corner.
Talia: "And there it is."
The others stopped lingering and moved up. Talia pointed at a brick factory-like building, half of it smashed and torn away. Unlike the surrounding structures, this one still looked well maintained, or it had until half its walls were gone.
Fero scanned the area, ears twisting, eyes darting, tail stiff. Dalia tapped at her wrist computer and blinked as a signal icon appeared.
Dalia: "That's nuts. There's actually an internet signal here."
Broken glass crunched under Talia's boots as she stepped forward, eyes fixed on the building. Servo pulled his hood up as the air grew colder. He sniffed, then glanced skyward as clouds swallowed the last of the blue.
Servo: "Rain tonight."
Fero: "Let me take point, Talia."
She slowed, letting him lead them toward the torn-open section of the structure. The two wrathborn picked up voices inside well before Dalia and Talia could, and soon enough, the others caught fragments of conversation too.
Fero: "Police being here is worse than fighting gangs."
Servo: "I'm having trouble making out what they're saying."
Talia, lightly joking: "Will they recognize the perpetrator returning to the scene of the crime?"
Fero's tail lashed once.
Fero: "Best not joke about that. They already know we're here."
As they rounded the breach, two officers stepped into view.
Fero: "Vexo. Regno. You two stuck with guard duty again?"
Vexo, a blonde-furred wrathborn male with an unusually lithe build, shrugged.
Vexo: "I'm not even mad this time. It's basically a meme now."
Regno, another wrathborn, had light red fur, almost pink, with white hair.
Regno: "Thirty-six open slots, and we roll the same post four times in a row." His tone shifted. "But we do need to talk about why you're here."
Both spoke warmly, but their postures edged toward accusatory.
Fero: "Didn't you get the call? Maybe it didn't get passed down. I'm back on duty, trying to get this woman home."
Talia flashed a wide grin and waved.
Fero kept moving forward, already starting to improvise excuses, but it only prompted Vexo and Regno to head toward the officer in charge. He gave quick, minimal instructions to the others.
Servo nodded. Dalia grinned fiendishly. Both peeled off, drawing as little attention as possible.
Talia: "What happens now?"
Fero: "Depends who's in charge."
Heavy footsteps announced a wrathborn with dark brown fur and black hair. Tendo approached with a crooked grin.
Tendo: "Thought you had the day off. Smell of blood too tempting?"
Fero: "Just passing through. My friend Talia, uh-"
His speech shifted noticeably as he weighed every word. Wrathborn senses were unforgiving, and lies were rarely tolerated.
Talia: "I've got a nasty habit of going wherever I please. Fero's just helping me out."
Tendo smiled and nodded, but his tone flipped instantly.
Tendo: "Yeah, yeah. Cute. Now get out."
Fero: "We're not trampling a crime scene."
Tendo: "Who said this is a crime scene?" He scoffed. "Public Safety Emergency Declaration. Bi-yearly sweep of District Three to knock power out of the gangs. My orders is to secure this site. Which means you two don't belong here." He paused. "Wait. Weren't there more of you?"
A sudden crash rang out as Dalia clumsily landed on a pile of sheet metal.
Dalia: "Oops."
She giggled, pulling a paper bag from a cracked desk drawer. A fifth of the money was scorched, but the rest was intact. That's right, she thought. Watch one hand, miss the other.
Tendo turned back to Fero, clearly annoyed.
Tendo: "Out."
Fero kept his muscles loose, his posture relaxed, masking the tension. Somehow, neither Tendo nor anyone following his lead had caught Servo's scent. Fero strained his hearing. Nothing. The ladder's silence was almost impressive.
Tendo inhaled deeply. Now they knew his scent, which made Fero sweat a little.
Tendo: "That other guy better be gone too."
Fero: "Already smells like he is." He backed away slowly, buying Servo time. "How'd you end up leading this squad? You don't have the training."
Tendo: "I've got something better. Experience."
Fero's tail flicked once.
Fero: "That depends on the skill. You've never demonstrated much policing ability while I've been employed. So how'd you land this?"
Tendo: "Stick around five more minutes and you'd find out. Now move."
Fero raised his hands and turned, Talia following close. An officer confiscated the money from Dalia, who put on an exaggerated pout before falling back in line. Fero led them along the far side of the building, scenting the air.
Dalia: "They could've at least let me keep the money."
Talia: "That cash is going to disappear. Mark my words."
Fero stopped, ears twitching as he glanced at a window.
Fero: "And there he is."
Servo slipped out lazily, then quickly rejoined them.
Servo: "Time to go. Time to go."
Everyone agreed without argument, and they left the area behind.
-
Ago, Zev, and Ardea, Month of Pluvia, Day Septem
Black Stone: District Three, 3:00 PM
Ago laughed alongside a police officer as they approached a makeshift building that had been set up quickly and professionally.
Ago: "It gets better, Pugno. Then he says, 'No. No, no, no. That's a warzone.'"
Pugno snickered.
Pugno: "Yep. That's our Fero. You're lucky. Out of every cop here, he's probably the only one who'd work with you guys."
Ago: "I mean, you would too, right?"
Pugno hesitated.
Pugno: "I'm not sure I'd risk my job like that. This was my dream." He sighed. "But... if you needed a party fill, I might be convinced. For a friend, of course."
Ago: "Yeah. You and Servo are exactly like that."
Pugno's tail wagged happily.
Pugno: "I'll get you that meeting. Just hang on a minute."
Ago nodded. Once the officer disappeared inside, the others spoke up.
Zev: "So what was that about?"
Ago: "What else? Ran into a friend. He always wanted to be a cop. Glad he got the job he wanted."
Zev: "Ugh. Who dreams of being a dog of the state?"
Ardea: "What Zev meant to say is, how do you know him?"
Ago waved a hand and smiled.
Ago: "Three years ago, Servo, Pugno, and I, along with four others, formed a little vigilante group to deal with thugs near our original game club. Peanut Butter and Jelly Gaming."
Ardea tilted her head.
Ardea: "Right. You mentioned a game club before."
Ago: "That was the second one. The original was near District Three, and thugs would cross over to commit crimes there to avoid gang wars. The seven of us protected the streets for a while. Then we realized we'd messed with the wrong gang, so we took the fight straight to their base. District Three lost its most powerful gang overnight. The Crystal Skulls."
Zev stared at Ago, eyes wide.
Zev: "By the One God. That was you? Silver Chains! Too bad it didn't really help the community long-term."
Ago sighed.
Ago: "Yeah. We retired our juvenile team, and half a month later found out we couldn't afford the the rent to keep the game room open anymore."
The door opened.
Ago: "Story later. Quest now."
Zev handed Ago the message.
Zev: "I'm going to wait outside the police perimeter."
Ago: "Alright. Your call."
He took the message and headed inside with Ardea.
Pugno raised an eyebrow but didn't comment as Zev walked away.
Inside, the building had been converted into a modest, apartment-like space borrowed by the police. Equipment lined the walls. At a desk near the back sat the police chief, now wearing a vest.
Vinco: "I am Vinco Honorare, Police Chief of Black Stone and prime heir to the Honorare tribe. Be swift with the time given."
Ago handed over Fero's message. Vinco skimmed it, then slammed it onto the desk.
Vinco: "He crossed a line."
Ago and Ardea sensed the chief's agitation. Flustered. Embarrassed. Not nearly as severe as his tone suggested.
Vinco: "So. What do you want from me?"
Ago: "Uh... we need access to the building that exploded today."
Vinco rubbed his chin, thinking, then shook his head.
Vinco: "I'm under extremely tight orders. My authority is limited in this operation and I cannot do that."
Ardea: "That doesn't make sense."
Vinco gestured toward a stack of papers.
Vinco: "Governor Eitan Sovel declared a Lesser State of Emergency under the Public Safety Emergency Declaration. We're coordinating with multiple departments and government agencies. My oversight extends only to my officers, not territory control."
Ago: "Silver hell. Then what can you do to help us?"
Vinco: "A police escort, at most. I can ensure Fero doesn't appear in any reports, nor anyone directly tied to him, including you two. I can also try to get patrol units to his location and extract him."
Ardea: "You know where he is."
Vinco smiled faintly.
Vinco: "Someone reported him being somewhere he shouldn't. If you know where he's headed, I can send cars."
-
Fero, Servo, Dalia, Talia, Month of Pluvia, Day Septem
Black Stone: District Three, 3:19 PM
The four were making good time when a flaming car suddenly spiraled toward them. The sound of police and gang gunfire echoed nearby, close enough to feel but still out of sight.
Fero and Dalia veered left, while Servo and Talia vaulted a fence to the right. The car slammed into the street as thugs and officers began spilling in from surrounding alleys. Servo heard Fero hustling Dalia out of danger and decided to do the same, sprinting through a small playground wedged between two apartment buildings.
Talia: "Hey, what about the other two?"
Servo: "Not while gunshots are going off."
They burst through a gate on the far side and leaped into another street.
Servo: "Let's move up and see if we can reconnect from the next block."
They had only gone a few steps when an officer came up behind them. A familiar voice called out.
Vexo: "Ah. You two."
Servo raised an eyebrow as Talia let out a breath of relief.
Talia: "Don't worry, officer. We're staying clear of the shootouts. Though... shouldn't you be guarding that building?"
Servo: "I thought we were being followed."
Vexo waved it off.
Vexo: "I felt it was my police duty to inform all four of you about several cleared routes. Thought I'd help guide you out."
Talia looked confused. Servo did not.
Servo: "What are you really here for?"
Vexo's expression hardened.
Vexo: "You're from House Custodia, aren't you?"
Servo: "There it is. Tribal politics."
Talia: "What's going on?"
Vexo drew his handgun, though he only raised it halfway.
Vexo: "Your bloodline burned down a whole block and put fifteen of my siblings in the hospital. You freaks think you can just walk into Black Stone and take over? This is Hortulanus territory. We built this city."
Talia: "Technically, Black Stone was built three hundred and fifty years ago. Before wrathborn even existed. Servo, what is he talking about?"
Servo never took his eyes off Vexo Hortulanus.
Servo: "Every House reports to a tribal overlord. Of the five tribes here, Hortulanus and Custodia have been fighting over the same land for generations."
He cleared his throat.
Servo: "But I'm not part of the Grand Custodia House. My family is a splinter House."
Vexo frowned.
Vexo: "Your tribe can still call on you."
Servo: "We're cut off."
Vexo blinked, stammered slightly, then refocused. He holstered his weapon and sighed.
Vexo: "Well... then I'm sorry."
Talia: "You were really going to throw away your job over family drama?"
Vexo: "The tribes have pull. I wouldn't lose my position." He shook his head. "Forget this happened. Let me actually escort you to the nearest secured street. It shouldn't be too much longer the police back out anyway."
They accepted, and Vexo led them along the road. Talia leaned toward Servo.
Talia: "Seriously. What was that all about?"
Servo: "Wrathborn families are large. Our homes sprawl, so we form territorial circles. A House is usually around three hundred members. A circle of Houses forms a Tribe. Tribal conflicts... happen."
Talia's eyes widened.
Talia: "And I thought gangs had serious personal connections."
Soon enough, Vexo pointed them in the right direction and peeled away. Fero and Dalia were already waiting. After brief exchanges, they prepared to leave.
Fero: "I got news from the radio, looks like my captain couldn't get us access to the building, but he is sending an escort to get us out. Since we've got a moment, what did you two find?"
Dalia: "I pulled multiple orders tied to the Reclamation Engine and their destinations. Major cities."
Servo leaned against a wall.
Servo: "Once I started moving around, I realized the building used to be the Crystal Skulls' headquarters. I knew the layout."
Fero: "Care to explain that to the rest of the class?"
Servo explained the vigilante group he and Ago had once been part of before continuing.
Servo: "That building used to be Barak's gym. Barak's a local, or was these days. He owned it before the gangs forced his cooperation. We formed a temporary alliance, hit the place hard, and wiped out the Crystal Skulls."
Talia: "I don't remember a gym. But now I know what happened to the Crystal Skulls. Nice work."
Servo flicked his tail, satisfied.
Servo: "I also knew where they'd hide the sensitive stuff. A room the police haven't found yet." He reached into his pouch and pulled out a stack of papers. "Headcounts, shifts, injury logs. The Red Man gang was being used as supplemental labor."
Dalia snapped her fingers.
Dalia: "So they're sneaking around the Reclamation Engine, outsourcing production to gangs instead of handling it themselves. Still, the resources involved..." She frowned. "There has to be a money trail and a supply trail. Have the police been tracking what's entering District Three?"
Fero: "We try. New entry points keep popping up. We recently uncovered a small port just outside District Three. Smugglers love it. I'll check what we've intercepted tomorrow."
Not long after, the police escort arrived and picked them up, bringing the party's time in District Three to a close.
-
The Party, Month of Pluvia, Day Septem
Black Stone: District Three, 5:35 PM
Everyone sat slumped in Fero's safe house, exhaustion hanging thick in the air. Conversation was sparse until Servo checked his watch.
Servo: "Alright, people. How goes the conspiracy?"
Fero pushed himself to his feet.
Fero: "I'll start the meeting."
He adjusted his outfit, collecting his thoughts.
Fero: "Vinco Honorare, my boss, couldn't get us any information from the building. The governor is coordinating directly with the police and effectively blocking any investigation. Officially, it's locked down." He exhaled. "That said, we managed to recover some evidence. Not enough to build a real case yet, but enough to start connecting dots."
Dalia stood next.
Dalia: "From the warehouses to District Three, our conspirators have been constructing the Reclamation Engine, or were close to finishing one. They had gangs in District Three producing additional units." She paused. "Until their facility went boom."
She sat back down as Fero cleared his throat.
Fero: "Which leaves us with two big questions. Where the resources are coming from, and where the money's flowing."
Dalia didn't stand this time.
Dalia: "Already answered. The money, at least."
Fero blinked.
Fero: "That was fast."
Dalia tapped at her wrist computer and smirked.
Dalia: "It's all legitimate. Clean paperwork, registered transfers, proper filings. Everything is listed as charitable donations. That's common in District Three. A lot of groups genuinely help the area." She leaned forward. "The problem is no one scrutinizes every donation. We can't always see how the money is distributed, only that it's been spent."
She glanced around the room.
Dalia: "I cross-referenced Servo's documents with public charity disclosures. That's how I found who's paying the gangs."
The group leaned in.
Dalia: "Project Inheritance."
Silence followed. Most of them exchanged confused looks, except for Talia and Zev.
Talia: "They're back?"
Zev: "Didn't your grandfather shut them down?"
Talia frowned.
Talia: "If they're backed by the governor now, it makes sense they'd resurface."
Dalia tilted her head.
Dalia: "Sounds like there's some personal history here."
Zev: "Some?"
Talia: "My grandfather worked for Project Inheritance three years ago. Turns out they had... significant moral issues. He shut down one of their branches with what he called 'a bunch of hooligans.'"
Dalia laughed softly.
Dalia: "Tomer's your grandfather, right?"
Talia sighed.
Talia: "I knew where this was going. Yes."
Dalia: "Figures. I had my own vendetta against Project Inheritance. I teamed up with others who uncovered their real purpose. Tomer was our seventh member. He played a major role in collapsing one of their facilities."
Fero gestured for clarification.
Fero: "And what is their real purpose?"
Dalia's tone sharpened.
Dalia: "Around 80 AC, when wrathborn integration into society began normalizing, there was a massive backlash. Four major corporations formed an alliance to secure greedborn dominance in positions of power."
She sat upright and continued.
Dalia: "The corporations were Blue Light Technologies, Sinnerborn Industries, Motot Me'elohim, and Cyberpunx Data."
Ardea inhaled sharply, making Dalia pause.
Ardea: "Sorry. I think I just found some new motivation to be here."
Dalia nodded slowly and continued.
Dalia: "Their proxy organization was Project Sinnerborn, later restructured into Project Inheritance. Blue Light has since withdrawn, but the rest remained." She folded her arms. "Their goal has always been to elevate greedborn above wrathborn across every sector of society."
Ago leaned forward.
Ago: "If the original Reclamation Campaign was about preventing greedborn extinction, what's the goal now? It's been a hundred and fifty years."
Dalia shrugged.
Dalia: "What little data I found suggests they believe another extinction is coming. No specifics. Just the conviction that the greedborn species is approaching its end."
Fero grimaced.
Fero: "Then we need to figure out what the Reclamation Engine actually does. Fast. Before they hurt a lot of people." He looked to Ardea. "What about the meeting with the Out of Ideas CEO?"
Ardea nodded.
Ardea: "Six days from now. Tredecim. Ten in the morning."
Servo cracked a grin.
Servo: "Six days? Plenty of time to level up."
Fero chuckled faintly.
Fero: "If you can all make it, we'll meet there. Unless we need to reconvene sooner?"
No one answered.
Fero took that as a cue to end the meeting. One by one, they gathered their things and headed home, the weight of what they'd uncovered settling in.
-
End of Part 2.
