Chapter 3

For the third time, Lucille emptied her stomach down the toilet. What she saw in that video shook him to the core. There was nothing that can compare to it. Even her worst nightmares didn't hold a candle against it. Her mind was already deploying coping mechanisms to help keep her rational. She tried to convince herself that it was all fake, that it was just a viral internet video birthed by special effects. However, even if that's true, why would the CEO of Doron Industries show her that unless it was true. No matter how much she denied it, there's no escaping the fact that what she saw has something to do with the project she's involved in.

After she has calmed herself, she went out of the toilet cubicle and went to wash her face at the sink. Behind her, a loud knocking can be heard. "Miss Adineatha?!! Miss Adineatha?!! Lucille!!! Please, answer me. What happened?!!" Alyssa called out. In her hurry when she went out of the meeting room, she completely forgot about Alyssa. She then wiped her face with some tissues before taking a deep breath. With her composure returned, she went out of the bathroom, staring at Alyssa with serious eyes. "Alyssa. You'll be joining this meeting now. Come with me." She said. Without giving her a chance to speak, Lucille walked immediately back to the meeting hall.

****

Hale stood there, frozen. The assailant had his knife buried all the way to the hilt in his stomach. Or so he thought. The man stared with shocked eyes at his knife that was now broken. He was expecting the squelch of Hale's flesh the moment he plunged it, the gush of his warm blood. However, all that happened was seeing his knife shatter the moment it made contact. Suddenly, Hale's hand snapped at the man's wrist, gripping it harder than a vice. He heard a crack from within followed by the man's pained whimper. He must've broken his wrist. With a sharp cold gaze, he stared straight at the man, eliciting fear from him. "Surprised?" He said in a cold tone. "Don't worry. It freaks me out sometimes too." With a swift movement, he bashed his own head against his assailant, instantly knocking him out.

He then let go of the man's wrist, letting him collapse. He then picked up his phone that the man threw earlier. The screen was cracked but it was still functioning. He quickly dialled the detective a second time. Thankfully, the detective answered the call faster. However, the voice that answered wasn't from him. "Whoever you're calling, forget about it. You're no longer seeing him." The voice said before hanging up. "Damn it!!!" He swore. Anger quickly rose within him but he tried to calm himself. "Deep breaths, Hale. Deep breaths. Do as the detective taught you." He said to himself. Once calmed, he quickly ascertained that the one who answered him was the chef of the restaurant. Thankfully, the detective didn't use his name for his contact number. He must also think that he's dead now. "Alright. I can use this. I have the element of surprise. All I need to do now is to know where he's being kept." He said. He began thinking of his next step when he saw the unconscious body of his killer. He smirked, finally knowing where to begin. "Alright, Mister Assassin. Let's get to know each other." He said as he lifted the assassin's body and carried it.

****

"Miss Adineatha. I think we made it clear that this is a confidential meeting. We ask that you send your secretary outside this room immediately." The defense secretary said to her. "Alyssa Abelina is my executive assistant. She organizes my work load. Now that I have more on my plate, I need her even more. She's also my protege so she'll learn everything that I do. If this would be a problem, then we can just leave." She stated. The three men inside the room with her shared looks, silently discussing if they should allow it. They knew that she gave a veiled threat and they knew that her being here was more important. "We'll allow it as long as she can keep quiet about this. Your reaction earlier was already proof that this can't go out in the public." Siegfried said. "Very well." Lucille agreed then turned to Alyssa. "You can keep a secret, right? Alyssa?" She asked. Alyssa who was confused of what was happening can only nod. "Then let's proceed." Lucille said then turned to Siegfried. "Let's start by you explaining what you just made me watch." She demanded.

Siegfried nodded first then began his explanation. "As you know, Doron Industries began their venture in Mana based technology twenty years ago. Unfortunately, a decade after we made that venture, all we were able to produce were tactical battle suits and melee weapons. Mana was just too unpredictable to be utilized in any form of munitions. Thankfully, those prototypes didn't go to waste. It was around that time that a law was passed in our country that protected that special members of out society; the Deviants. And with your example of recruiting Category Three Deviants, I reckoned that I follow the new norm that you established. With the help of the government, I was able to form the Deviant Response Force. It is a quasi-governmental organization that is tasked to respond to extreme situations that are too dangerous for ordinary humans. Aside from the fact that they're the only ones who can use mana infused weapons, another reason I formed this team was to give them a purpose and for the ordinary populace to see them other than as freak of natures. Also, my son is a Deviant and I feel safe for him now because of this organization."

"Now, aside from the usual rescue missions, the Deviant Response Force is also tasked for taking down their own who use their blessings in dastardly deeds. The video you saw earlier was from one of these missions. A team was sent to bring in a Category Three Deviants with alleged hypnotic powers. They got him cornered but instead of capturing him, something more horrific happened." Siegfried then paused. It was now obvious that he was also disturbed by that video. After a deep breath, he continued again. "You know of our country's fantastical history. The war that happened four thousand years ago was real. The otherworldly creatures that invaded and occupied our lands was real. The hellish place known as Oblivion is real. The heroes known as the Scions drove them away but they're now coming back."

"This is the threat that we're talking about, Lucille. And we don't have the luxury of waiting. Right now, a demon is roaming the streets of Lightspire, waiting for it's next victim. But with your help, we can finally fight back. So what's it gonna be? Are you in or out?" Siegfried finished. Lucille sat on her chair, silent. It was hard to focus to his explanation since her mind was still denying it. However, she acknowledged that he was right. With their technologies combined, they can certainly make the Deviant Response Force stronger and be able to face this new threats. "I'm in." She said. The men gave an audible sigh of relief. It just dawned on her how important she was to this project. "Now, can you tell me how are we going to combat this threat?" She asked. Siegfried smirk confidently as if he was waiting for her to ask that question. "Come with us. It's time for you to meet two of them." He said, marking the end of the meeting.

****

The hired gun began stirring from his unconscious state. His eyes fluttered a moment before opening fully. His vision, blurry at first, began to clear. A sharp pain in his head made him groan. His hand reached out to massage the part Hale head butted earlier. Once the pain subsided, he began to take in his surroundings. He appeared to be lying down on the dirty floor of an abandoned structure. He took a moment to focus his mind, trying to recall how he got here. The events prior to his current situation came back. He remembered how he stabbed Hale, only for his knife to shatter and be knocked out by his target. He looked around, checking to see if there's anyone. He then slowly sat up but a voice from behind made him pause. "Oh. You're awake." Hale said in a rather amicable tone.

Hale walked towards the hired killer, holding a makeshift ice bag in his hand. He then offered the bag to the man sitting on the floor. "Here. This should prevent it from swelling." He said. The man looked at him, unsure of what to make of this. Hale can see the suspicion in his eyes. He couldn't blame him. He was stabbed by him after all and his current behavior was odd for someone who had been a target of a hit. In the end, the man accepted the bag reluctantly and applied it on his head. "I know what you're thinking. I must be pretty stupid for not even restraining you." He said. "But that's not unnecessary. I'm a Category Two Deviant. That means I'm stronger and faster than you. So, I can just run after you and pin you down if you try to run or overpower you if you try to fight." He added. His voice was calm as he said this but that didn't make what he said less than a threat. "Besides, tying you would be very rude. So, why don't we talk like two reasonable adults? I'm not really mad at you. Like me, you're just doing your job. However, a person important to me is in danger right now and I really need your help in finding him. If you help me, I'll make sure to put in a good word about so you don't get roped in this any further. Do we have a deal?" He offered.

The man only stared at him. While Hale talked, he kept his head low. The makeshift ice bag provided enough cover so that he can't see what his eyes were looking at. While Hale was busy talking, he was actually looking for a weapon. He didn't take long in looking for since a metal pipe was lying near him. Once Hale said his offer, he extended his hand to shake his. Unfortunately, this was just a ruse. The man then threw the ice bag at Hale as a distraction. With swift movements, he grabbed the metal pipe and swung it with all his strength at Hale's head. His efforts were futile though since Hale caught the pipe with his hand. To an ordinary person, the man's swing was enough to cause a skull fracture but Hale didn't even flinch when he caught it. "You didn't listen." Hale's fist flew fast towards the man's face, knocking him unconscious again. Hale sighed. "Look at what you've done. Now, I have wait for you to wake uo again." He complained. "Just sit tight there, Sarge. I'll come for you as soon as this bastard wake up." He said to himself.