Genesis End

By Spinning Demon (Topman) and Gauntlet (Shadowman)

Chapter Ten - Coming Up Empty

It was late, and any avenues worth exploring would have to wait for the waking world. We were returning to the briefing room, Ha'Khael in tow, where he would be escorted to a safehouse by Gemini Man after the meeting was over.

"Will I ever escape my poor reputation?" The young-looking mage smiled shyly as we left the morgue on foot. Ha'Khael couldn't teleport into RPD Headquarters, of course, but even if he could we didn't really want him out of our sight for long.

"It's for your protection as much as ours," Shadow retorted. "We pulled enough strings just to get you clearance to help us investigate, or else you wouldn't even be coming to this meeting. Until then, you can't give us any information on what this soul-stealer might be, or what his agenda is?"

He shook his head. "No, not without more information. It's not like anything I've encountered before."

"Do you think us idiots?" Gemini laughed. "Demons have bartered in human souls for centuries!"

"Heh, oh yes, we have, but the rules are very strict," Ha'Khael said. "Staking claim on a soul is one matter. But actually taking the soul is another thing entirely. No being of the Lower Planes can take a soul before its time. Nor even those of the Higher Planes. Not unless..." He trailed off, lost in thought, then shook his head and continued. "Of course, just because we beings of 'Heaven' and 'Hell' are prohibited from removing the souls of the living doesn't mean that such a feat could not be done. It is possible that there is someone out there not bound by our laws who has discovered a way."

"Why?" Shadow asked. "Is there anything to gain from it?"

"Of course. There's a reason why the Faustian Bargain is a trope of your literature. Souls are quite the commodity. Many of the more potent and malevolent demon races would promise much to obtain them."

"Then you think someone's killing people to sell their souls?" I asked. "Some kind of black market deal?"

"I could attempt to inquire upon some old acquaintances of mine," Ha'Khael suggested, "but it is not something to be done lightly and not something I would advise. I am not too well-liked in those circles."

"It sounds as if you aren't trusted by anyone these days, demon," Gemini scoffed.

"Yes, well, there are other things I would like to look into before taking such drastic measures. The locations where the victims died, photos of how the bodies were found, these could possibly provide me with a less... confrontational means to get some answers."

"Fine," Shadow sighed, "we'll make the arrangements. I'm not sure how much leeway it'll buy you, but we'll do our best."

"Just remember your oath, demon," Gemini warned as he pushed open the doors to Headquarters, head still turned to face Ha'Khael at all times. "Do not attempt any of your old tricks, or you will regret it."

Ha'Khael held a hand to his chest. "Perish the thought," he said with a smile.

****

We milled about while waiting anxiously for the return of our infiltration expedition. And I swore, I caught some very suspicious looks from some of my fellow RPD officers. I guess rumours about me had already begun to spread. As if there was anyone in the building who hadn't been co-opted by someone at some point. Who hadn't been taken by Wily and used for some wackjob purpose? Shouldn't they know not to throw stones in glass Robot Police Stations? Okay, I'll admit, most of these guys are new versions of old models. But the Sterling Sentinels - comprised of robots Wily once used to frame Dr. Light - were also taken over by Middleman just a few years ago. I did not deserve getting the stink eye from Tornado Man.

We got an alert of an incoming teleport with a Mech identification code and assembled in our briefing room. Hard shot me an angry glance - like he was never mind-warped by Mesmerman! - and the others simply looked tired. Shadow had wheeled in a large board with various pictures and notes scribbled onto it and stood in front of it. It was an old fashioned whiteboard, which Crorq had gleefully left the pricetag on and insisted we didn't remove. What a jerk. Did he still hold a two-decade grudge from those times we kicked his ass before any of us joined the RPD? Or was he like this to Cossack's Creations or World's Strongest too?

Shadow held a dry-erase marker at the ready to take copious notes. "So, how did your clandestine invasion of emerGEnesis go?"

"We came up drier than a snitch in a speakeasy!" the sheriff scowled as he simulated a spit. At least I hope he simulated it. Sometimes I worried he took this western thing too far.

"Seriously?" our esteemed leader asked in exasperation. "You couldn't get through their security? Because we had a hell of a lot riding on this. And I don't think it's something we can risk again."

"Oh, we got through," Snake growled, "despite the cyber security being much tighter than it should be for a company with nothing to hide."

"And the actual security as well," replied Needle Gal, "The doors were a cinch thanks to Mags, but getting past the guards took more finesse than I'm usually used to. I actually had to get pretty creative a couple of times."

Shadow paused a moment. "You didn't do anything that could lead them back to us, did you?" Needlegal gave him a level look, as if not to imply she's an idiot. Shadow coughed and moved on. "So they'll think it was just some kind of break-in then... good. But if you got through, then what happened? Are they not responsible for creating KADE after all?"

"That's what's bizarre about this," Snake said. "They're not responsible for anything at all. emerGEnesis doesn't actually do anything."

"What do you mean they don't do anything?" I asked. "They're a multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical company!"

"One which doesn't produce pharmaceuticals," Snake replied. "Their database is basically a hollow shell. They had some front-end data for show but it was mostly nonsense - payroll to people who don't exist, invoices to companies that I've never heard of - but when you dig deeper into their protected systems there's nothing there! No encrypted data, no classified documents... certainly no secret viruses. Even a well-reputed company should still have sensitive data under lock and key. But this was just... empty."

“Pardon the layman,” Ha'Khael cut in, “but wouldn't the many guards on staff alone prove counter to your point?”

Snake Man blinked more times in that moment than I've seen him do since I met him. “I'm sorry, who the hell is this?”

“He's assisting with the investigation,” Shadow sighed, “and as annoying as he's been so far it pains me to say he's right.” He took in a deep breath. "Look, there's no way to put this delicately, but maybe you hit a tripwire or something and the information got purged or cloaked or something. I know you've abandoned sniping and call yourself a hacker now, but it sounds like you just got outsmarted."

Snake huffed. "It's been 15 years since I was a sniper! I've had more than time enough to dedicate myself to infiltrating-"

Shadow shook his head. "I was wrong to send you guys in commando style. You butchered the mission and their security is going to be even tighter after tonight. We don't get another shot of doing this without the red tape." He rubbed his eyes, looking fully frustrated. "We'll have to get a warrant through Crorq. Maybe we'll catch a break and they'll report the attack, we can leverage that into a proper investigation."

Snake Man opened his mouth again as if to argue further, but Spark Chan put a hand on his arm and gave him a look. He sputtered angrily, but settled down.

"I hope you've made better progress than we did," said Needlegal dryly. Evidently she didn't expect much. I guess depending on how you look at things, she might've been right.

Ha'Khael explained his theory on how the victims were being killed. By the looks on some of the other Mech's faces they seemed disinclined to believe the story.

"Sounds like hogwash to me," Mags sneered.

"Yes, I think so too," Snake muttered bitterly. "If you can't trust my expertise how can you possibly listen to some demonic stranger? Besides, humans can't even seem to agree whether souls exist, let alone whether they can be stolen."

"Souls have power," Gemini refuted, "or at least the belief that they do does. If demons believe in them and are willing to grant favour to those who barter with them, then whether they exist or not is moot during such an exchange. Ha'Khael seems to think that could be their motive." Snake and Magnet both scoffed at the idea and turned to look at each other. The sheriff grinned while Snake just rolled his eyes. Apparently he wasn't in a joking mood after being told he'd botched the mission.

"I don't know if we should just take his advice blindly on this." Hard pointed out, speaking about Ha'Khael as if he wasn't even in the room. "I don't like what I'm hearing about him. And we're taking a hell of a lot of this on his word."

"We don't have much choice," Shadow commented. He gave a small shrug. "I'm not inclined to trust him at all, but if Gemini's information on him is correct - and it probably is given that we even found his hideaway - then he's bound by his word. And he says he isn't going to betray us." Hard Man frowned, clearly unconvinced.

"I'm your only lead right now anyway," the demon said, beaming from ear to ear.

"Could it be Holzenbein behind all this?" Needle Gal asked, "He is into creepy magic. I could easily see him doing something like this." Gemini's face reddened with anger at Holzenbein's name being mentioned. He hadn't liked learning the man was still alive after what he had done with Casper and his friendly friends. I, of course, thought he was crazy.

"I doubt it," Spark Chan commented, "he's still stuck in intensive care. Could he steal someone's soul without ever leaving his room?”

“It's not likely,” Ha'Khael replied. “A soul is a very tenuous thing. I'd doubt that any spell could be powerful enough to take it from a distance."

"Then what about Xellos?" Snake asked, "He's always been a thorn in our side. Now that he's back he might go after souls."

"You didn't see him after the battle with Holzenbein. He's done. I don't know if he's still alive, but if he is we won't be seeing him again." Gemini was frowning. He seemed conflicted about that. I had to admit, I was too. As annoying as Xellos had been there was a time when he seemed almost like a friend. One of those annoying friends who'd borrow your stuff and never give it back, but funny and likeable enough all the same. Definitely more than I could say about our new Hard Man at the moment.

"Come on, guys, they can't be the only two magic users in the entire world," Shadow commented, "I doubt it's either of them. There's no way to follow up on Xellos, but I guess Magnet can spare some time to check up on Holzenbein. Just check the security footage and see if he left his room during the time of the killings, simple enough."

"Y'all might want someone else to check those tapes," Magnet drawled. "I ain't known for being too good with goin' near those kinds of devices, could well wipe the footage."

Shadow grumbled. "Ugh. Of course. Spark, you think YOU could check it out then?"

"Um, sure, no problem," she said timidly.

"Any OTHER suspects we need to cross of our list while we're at it?" our leader said, a little snappily.

"What about Mesmerman?" Everyone turned to look at me.

Magnet frowned. "Sorry, Top, never met the fella but even I think that's reaching a bit."

I was exasperated. "Is it? He's made up of evil energy, so who knows what kind of powers he could get by making deals with demons? And he's a nutjob who gets off on pain. And we know he's around and messing with my head! Even if he isn't behind all of this, he's definitely up to something, so let's just track him down and put an end to this."

The team was quiet for a few moments.

"Oh, come on! It always works out this way. It's him!"

Spark Chan shook her head. "Hunny, I know you're confused and upset right now, but you need to know, it's not hi-"

"-his location we need to worry about," Shadow cut her off, shooting her a look that I wouldn't have wanted to be on the receiving end of. He turned to me and I could tell I wasn't going to like what he was about to say. "We already have the Sentinels looking for Mesmerman as best they can. The station's been on the alert. Since everyone's already looking for him, our energy would be best served looking for answers elsewhere while keeping you safe."

Shadow was dead wrong, and I wanted to tell him so. What kind of plan was that? Why worry about the limbs when you could cut the problem off at its head? A sweeping look around the room told me that I wasn't alone in thinking this meeting had gone pretty badly. Snake was still seething; Mags was eyeing the ninja up and down like the latter was a rattlesnake ready to pounce; Spark just shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, like she wanted to say something more but wouldn't risk it. The only one who looked like they were having any fun at all was Ha'Khael, looking gleefully at each of our sour faces in turn.

The meeting didn't last very long afterwards. Nobody really wanted to be the next one to get gunned down for saying the wrong thing. Gemini went with Ha'Khael to escort him to a safe location for the night. The rest of us headed to our rooms not knowing what we would do the following day. If Crorq was in a good mood, maybe our overbearing chief would let us follow up on the increasingly suspicious activities of emerGEnesis. Otherwise we would have only Ha'Khael to rely on giving us any momentum in tomorrow's investigations. The only thing we actually got settled that night was that Ha'Khael would get clearance to look at some of the victims of the KADE virus, to see if they were also missing their souls. After all, Gemini had thought something was missing from them too. Maybe it was all connected... somehow.

I took my time heading to my room, moving slower than I had in a long while, wanting to enjoy the few seconds I could have alone. I'd hoped it would be Mags keeping watch tonight, since at least he might be able to cheer me up and get my mind off of things for a little while. Instead our shadowy leader stepped through the door after me.

"Here to tuck me in, boss?"

Shadow Man did not seem amused.

"Is that what we have to do, Top? Treat you like a baby?"

I gave a start. "What?"

"You know how serious this could be. And yet you can't seem to hold yourself in check. Do I have to lock you in here? Do I have to get you a crib, and a diaper, and a pacifier?"

He didn't really expect me to answer, did he?

"You're giving me a look right now. But you were ready to kill someone, Top. It's time for you to stop clowning around and take this seriously."

My heart sank. I was taking it seriously, and nobody else could see that. Every time I mentioned Mesmerman they looked at me like I was crazy. I wondered if he could be influencing them somehow, creating doubt in their minds to avoid detection. I didn't know how I could find out, though. Unless the best strategy was to play along, to make them think I was buying into his deceptions.

“You're right, boss. I'll give more of an effort.”

“Good,” he said with a sigh. “Because tomorrow Hard's going to be the one looking after you. You need to work out this petty squabble going on between you two. I just don't have time for it right now.”

For the rest of my waking minutes, I thought about being stuck with Hard Man, and tried to come up with what the hell I would even say to him. The silence was deafening.