RRRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNGGGG!!!
The bell rang as classes concluded. The sun had already hugged the horizon, and the setting light cast a purple-orange glow across the school, seen through the screen-mesh windows. Claire and her classmates packed their bags, the teacher doing the same. Claire walked up to her, tugging her bag onto her shoulder, and asked,
"Ma'am, might I know where the Science Club is?"
"They're on the third floor of the opposite building," the teacher said, packing her laptop away.
"Thanks," Claire nodded.
When she got down to the courtyard bridging the two buildings, the wind was already howling, swaying every piece of dangling fabric along with it. In the beams of light, she noticed that the students hugged the shadows of the walls, stepping around every beam of light like it was a puddle .
Sighing, she proceeds to the path to the opposite building. Heads upstairs, then finally arrives on the third floor. She noticed that the hall is filled with club rooms as she spots the labels on top of the doorways. Walking, she finally finds the Science Club that she's looking for.
Peering at the sunkissed glass window at the door, she couldn't see a thing through, so she cups her hands to shade the view, she finds out that there was no one inside the room. She knocks just to make sure.
…
Several seconds later and still no response.
Observing the room from the inside, it was completely empty. She takes out a plastic card from her wallet, completely blank, but the film has certainly seen its glory days.
She wedges the card in the doorknob. Wiggling it inside, she finally feels the card latch onto something. Bending the card loosened the door's grip, this allowed her to push through with her shoulder, and gently opened the room's door.
The room was dim, with only the sunset lighting it up, however the whole place was still visible. So she locks the door behind her as the light slowly trickles down in a pace that's barely noticeable.
The room smelled like bleach and something sweeter underneath. A lab fridge hummed in the corner. Glass clinked softly on the shelves every time the wind leaned on the windows.
Claire turned the lock behind her. Click. Then she looked around: vials, flasks, beakers, all lined up and labeled. Nothing with a name she recognized.
She started pulling drawers. Pens. Gloves. Goggles. Then one that wouldn't budge, and the one under it, and the one under that.
She scoffed, whispering "ooooh~ secret stash"
No keys on the desk, none under the keyboard. She slid out her wallet card, already bent from the door, and worked it into the first slit. It took three tries before the latch gave out. Inside, a zip bag of unmarked capsules, some chalky white, some cracked down the middle.
She shut it. Her card came out with a fresh crease.
The second drawer fought her less. Rows of tiny glass vials, clear liquid, each with a cheap orange cap. Beside them, a bundle of plain syringes, still sealed. She picked one up and squinted at the label.
"Damn," she whispered. "These science chuds are juiced."
She put it back exactly where it was.
The third drawer didn't want to open. She slipped the card in and felt the resistance right away, a tight, stubborn grip, and her card slid in and stuck. She pulled. Nothing. She wiggled it. Nothing. The sunset had thinned to a dull orange line across the floor.
She planted her feet and yanked.
SNAP
The card came out in her hand, but only half of it. The other half was still in the slit.
She stared at the stub of plastic. Then she heard it, a key scraping against the lock on the door.
Claire immediately darts her eyes at her surroundings.
As the club member managed to unlock the door to open it. They opened the light and took a glimpse of the surroundings, not a single hint that they noticed someone broke in. As they closed the door, Claire peeked right behind the desk, peering at the club member. The club member quickly heads to the locked drawers, first unlocking the drawer full of pills - took a bag of it, next was the one with vials and syringes, took one pair.
And when they unlocked the last drawer, they actually had a harder time unlocking it compared to the three, upon opening they found out there were bits and pieces of plastic on the lip. They simply brushed it off to the side.
The club member pulled out a vial of Noctum with an injector already attached to it
Claire saw thing and she gasps
The club member noticed the sound, darting their head behind, they pulled out a scalpel from one of the shelves as they lay the drugs on the side. They walk around the room's desk, slowly creeping in from the front, she raises the scalpel as soon as they get behind the table.
There was no one there
"How much force does it take to knock somebody out?!"
"What?" The club member looked behind
"A lot!"
THWACK
Claire hits them with a solid roundhouse kick to the temple, knocking them out
*Same evening at Charlotte's clinic*
"So basically, an escort mission?" Poppy crossed her arms.
"You can put it zat way. Zis time you are protecting a family, with the threat of hitmen circling zeir mansion," said Charlotte.
"What put this family on the radar anyway?" asked Zephyr.
"You see, their father, Joaqin Chevalier, is currently running for mayor, and is also a close friend of mine..."
"Lemme guess, he's your friend because he's French?" Poppy scoffed.
"Partly." Charlotte tilted his head. "But to get to my point, people want him dead because he wants to abolish ze dubious casinos popping up like rats."
"I can see why they want him dead," Zephyr shrugged.
"To be fair, those casinos are why the homeless population is filling up to the brim." Poppy twisted her hand at Zephyr.
"Ahem!" Charlotte cleared his throat to recapture both their attention. "I also need to mention somezing. Does Noctum ring a bell?"
Poppy's face tensed. Charlotte glanced at her. "So you are familiar."
*Fast forward to the next morning, far from Cydonia lies a port*
"[Please keep in mind zat ze assassins are walking among you.]"
"Copy, Charlotte," Zephyr said through his earpiece.
"[Oh, one more zing. Please pray for Kremidal's release.]"
"We haven't forgotten, boss," Poppy said through hers.
Both of them finally arrived at the cruise ship, the salty Martian sea breeze tugging at their clothes. They were dressed to blend in with the wealthy: Zephyr sported a Prada leather jacket with Dior shades, while Poppy wore a Miu Miu cropped blazer over a cashmere silk virgin killer dress and space buns on her head.
"Any info on the family?" Zephyr asked.
"[Zey should be arriving in 3… 2… 1…]"
A blue electric car pulled into the port, a convoy of black cars falling in around it. Men in black suits stepped out and lined up to block the paparazzi. A woman, two children, and the man himself, Joaquin Chevalier, stepped out of the car.
"Should we get close?" Poppy asked.
"[Non. Keep a safe distance while ze basic bodyguards are still around, and spot any hitmen among zem. Remember, you are hired as discreet escorts. Only ze family should know. Nobody else!]"
In close distance, Poppy spots someone covered in clothing from head to toe, side-eyeing at the person she asks Charlotte "Char, you mentioned some hitmen are using Noctum?"
"[oui, why?]"
"I think I spotted a user, actin' like the sun's gonna fry 'em"
"[Be careful mon ami]"
The family finally climbed up the cruise ship, Zephyr and Poppy got close to them, then the rest of the civilians followed - the paparazzi was left behind. While the family was walking to their room, Zephyr and Poppy followed them. Zephyr noticed that Joaquin was using an earpiece, so he fiddled on his own to connect it to Joaquin.
"Attorney, your premium service has arrived"
Joaquin looked around him, he said with a faint French accent "I'm sorry, where are you exactly?"
Poppy said "Right behind you attorney"
Joaquin looked behind, he glanced at them with the edge of his eyes. Both of them smiled as Joaquin nodded. Then all of the sudden, Poppy spots a person in shades with a scar seen on his lips, weaving through the crowd, quickly approaching the family, Poppy spots a syringe at the man's sleeve. Her eyes sharpened, pulls out a thin knife from her blazer - the man reaches his at near Joaquin, Poppy immediately throws it the man's hand, forcing him to curl in pain, she throws another knife, this time it weaves through the crowd in near misses, even passing through a person's armpit.
SHING, the knife was struck at the assassin's ear, causing him to die, fortunately Poppy was quick enough to catch the assassin's body before it hit the deck. The crowd glances at them
She nervously chuckled "Hehe, looks like someone drank too much tequila before the cruise" the crowd still continued on. She taps her earpiece telling Zephyr "[Baby eagle, I just caught one, keep your eyes peeled on the family]"
Poppy dragged the body away from the crowd, digging through the hitman's sleeve, she found the syringe, closely looking at it she whispered "cyanide" and finally threw the body along the syringe off the ship.
While Poppy caught up to the family, Zephyr stayed inside the cruise, away from the sea view, trailing them. He whispered to himself, "Dang, this shit is escalating pretty quick." Right as the family was about to reach their room, a woman walked past him with both hands in her hip pockets. Zephyr could already see the pistols bulging in them.
He pulled out his retractable staff, still compressed, and choked her from behind. As she struggled to break free, he clamped a hand over her mouth, then decompressed the staff against her forehead, killing her in an instant, like cattle.
The family reached the room just as Zephyr hauled the body up. The mother covered the kids' eyes, while Joaquin stared, eyes wide and drooping. "Mon Dieu..."
"Get in!" Zephyr shouted.
They scrambled inside with Zephyr dragging the body behind them. The family sat frozen on the beds, the kids peeking through their mother's fingers, while Zephyr lifted the body up to the window.
"[Princess Pinky, I'm dropping a Jane Doe on your 6!]"
Poppy looked back and saw a lifeless head poking out of the window. She sprinted to catch it, glancing once down the deck to make sure nobody was watching.
She caught the body by the armpits and spun, again and again, until the momentum lifted the legs, then let go. The body went flying off the deck and down to the sea.
She giggled.
"[Yo, Pinkie, what's so funny?]"
Poppy tapped her earpiece. "You were listening to me this whole time? You're really obsessed with me, huh?"
Zephyr blushed. "[Shut up, and just get to the room. We gotta introduce ourselves to the family.]"
*A minute later*
Both of them were in the room with the family.
"So both of you are the service I've hired?" Joaquin asked.
"That's right! And we've actually stopped two attempts so far, so you guys should expect more."
One of the kids pointed at Poppy's hair. "Mommy, look! Do you think the pink girl is a fairy? 'Cause she looks like a fairy."
The wife giggled. "No, sweetie, I think..."
Poppy cut in, arms crossed. "I don't know, can you keep a secret?"
"What's a secret?" the kid asked, his finger still in his mouth.
"Oh no, I don't think I can tell you." Poppy rested her hands on her hips.
"YOU CAN! YOU CAN!" the kid shouted.
Poppy put her hand to the side of her face and whispered to the kid, "I am a fairy."
The two kids began jumping on the bed with joy, but Poppy held both of their shoulders. "Listen, I've got a special present for you once the trip is over, but I'm gonna need you to keep quiet, okay?"
"B-b-but... but Ms. Fairy, what were you doing with the other guys who were sleeping?"
Zephyr and Poppy's eyes widened. They pursed their lips and looked at each other, and Zephyr stammered, "Erm... it, uh... they wanted to go out for a swim!"
"Cool! Can we go for a swim?" the kids asked.
"NO" every adult in the room said.
*Meanwhile on the same day, at the Cydonia Hall of Justice*
Crowds rallied in front of the building, signs and boards waving above their heads as they clamored. "FREE THE PONTIFF". "HE DID NOTHING WRONG". "NO MORE SCAPEGOATS". Off to one side, a smaller knot of counter-protesters held up printouts of the Boom Radio Massacre headlines, shouting just as loud.
A cop hopped out of the transport car holding a chain and a baton. He yanked the chain and pulled Kremidal out by the wrists, the big man struggling to unfold himself from the car because of his height. He wore a full orange prison jumpsuit, the sleeves ending well above his wrists, and a muzzle strapped over his mouth.
The crowd erupted.
Camera flashes popped like gunfire. An old man from the Teeth pushed to the front, shouting Kremidal's name, and a woman hoisted her toddler onto her shoulders to see. Someone from the counter-protest hurled a half-empty cup, and it burst against the cop's shoulder instead.
"Move it!" the cop barked, jerking the chain. Now that Kremidal was cuffed and muzzled, his nerve had come back.
Kremidal didn't flinch. His eyes swept the crowd slowly, and the lines at the corners crinkled, as if he were smiling behind the muzzle. He lifted his cuffed hands an inch, a small nod to the people who'd come for him, and let himself be led up the steps.
As the transport pulled away, a blacked-out car rolled up in its place, windows tinted to match. Misty stepped out in a fancy suit and shades, and the camera flashes swung toward her, so rapid they could trigger someone's seizure. She carried a briefcase in one hand, a thick stack of files hugged to her other arm, and followed the path Kremidal had taken.
Inside the halls, Misty led the cops to the meeting room. "How much time do we have in private?"
"Thirty minutes," said the cop.
"Could you at least take his muzzle off? It's a bit unnecessary."
The cops unbuckled the leather muzzle from Kremidal's face. "Thank you, luv," he said. "But what about the cuffs?"
"Those are mandatory, sir," said the cop.
"That will be all, gentlemen," Misty said. The guards filed out, and the door clicked shut behind them.
She dropped the files on the table. "They can't let you go until your mass murder charge is lifted. As for your other cases, blyat, you've got quite the stack."
"By any chance," Kremidal said, his tone rising, "are these cases... merely accusations?"
Misty sighed. "Look, Kremmy, I'll do what I can. I know you did it, but based on the investigation results, your attacks... mmmmaybe somewhat justified."
"What are you implying?" Kremidal crossed his legs, his jaw tight, the way it had been when he agreed to her script.
"Your attack sounds a lot like a revenge story. The casino, the crossfire, an injured child." She slid a folder across the table. "Pray to your god the jury is on your side."