In a distant galaxy, on the other side of the universe, Earth's twin planet can be found. Places have different names, and the land isn't shaped exactly the same, but no other planet in the universe comes close. What's more, we find this planet at near the same point in technological history as modern day Earth. Cars, planes, cell phones and the internet, it's all there. The people even look like us. At first glance, one would never know that it is not Earth. But it isn't, and its name is Pratta.

There is one major difference though. In this world, and everywhere else in this galaxy, a special energy floats through the air. It is toxic to life forms from outside the galaxy, but empowering to the people and creatures that live here. There is no better way to describe it than 'pure magic'. It is thanks to this energy that fantastical creatures such as fairies, dragons, and warlocks exist. It is also the most common power source for technology, much more sustainable than the fossil fuels that Earth runs on.

While there are many magical beings, the vast majority of creatures have lost this connection over the years. These non-magical creatures can still breathe the air, but they can’t harness its power beyond that. They must survive though more traditional means, more akin to their Earthly counterparts.

The dominant society on Pratta are the humans, but like life on Earth, not all people are equal. The lower class humans have lost all touch to the magical force; they work in the factories and the service industry. Then there is the middle class, most people here also can’t harness the magical power, but a few can, if only a little. The middle class run the factories and businesses where the lower class work. Then there is the upper class. Nearly everyone in the upper class can use magic to varying degrees. The upper class are the ones that own the factories and businesses and hold high level offices in the government.

Then there are the outliers: lower class citizens born with powers or middle-upper class citizens born with an abundance of power. There have even been legends about extremely powerful humans rising out of the lower class, but these stories are just that... stories; this has never been confirmed.

There are also many more sentient races. Some of these are even more powerful than the humans, but they either choose not to challenge the humans or are too few in number to do so. Some of these races include angels, demons, dragonians, elves, sprites, vampires, werewolves, gnomes, and many more. These “others” tend to live separate from humans or under the radar, even though it is common knowledge that they exist.

There are many conflicts around the world Pratta, but on its surface, this is a planet of peace. There hasn’t been a war in many centuries, and the different races have stopped arguing over territory. But one never knows when things may change...

There is no city on Pratta more diverse or larger than Astrum. It is commonly known as the business hub for the entire world. At the heart of the city, the buildings are larger and more advanced. Further from the city center, the architecture becomes more classical, in the style of whatever race lives their most.

Like most cities on Pratta, humans make up the majority of Astrum’s population. Despite this, it is still the most diverse city in the world, especially in and around the downtown district. Outside the city’s center, the neighborhoods become more divided into certain races.

Astrum is not only home to the most people in the world, but it also sees the most tourism. Creatures of all kinds come here for the nightlife, the shops, the magical parks, and in general, to see all the diverse cultures.

But as bright as the city shines, where there is light, there are also shadows. A dark underworld exists throughout this city, both figuratively and literally. A heavy police presence exists to keep things under control, but it is a constant struggle.

Still, for better or worse, there is no city more magical or exciting than Astrum in all of Pratta.

The music from the entertainment district spilled well beyond its borders, all the way to the docks where large cargo ships were still arriving. It was on one of these cargo ships that the thief came to this city. They hid inside one of the shipping containers, after paying off one of the dock workers at a previous shipyard.

Why would anyone go through all this trouble, one might ask?

Well, this thief was no run of the mill thief. They were wanted in over fifty countries. Their calling was leaving their fingerprints at the scene of their crimes. Not only did they not seem to care about wearing gloves, but they would make it a point to leave one blatant finger print in the most obvious spot possible. It didn't help though. The finger prints didn't match any on file with any law enforcement agency in the world. Their identity was a mystery.

Still, whoever they were, they were only human. On their last heist, they were robbing a museum and they set off an alarm on accident. They only barely escaped capture and were forced to flee the city with their spoils, a small but valuable bag of jewels. Hence the need for an emergency escape plan.

That was all nearly a month ago. Since then, the thief had been slowly pawning off the jewels and living comfortably under the radar here in Astrum. Of course, they hadn't stopped completely. They still lifted purses and wallets. It was just high risk heists that they were taking a break from... a small break at least.

...

It was midnight and the party was going strong. The well dressed brass band was putting their funky twist on some classical pieces, and the dance floor was alive with gold and black dresses and suits. This was the largest, most extravagant party of the century, a new year's party for the ages, The Millennial Ball! Of course, there were other parties, not only in Astrum, but all across the world too. But this was the party to be at for the rich and famous, and everyone knew it. Only the most important people in the world were invited to attend.

The party was at a private mansion, on the outskirts of the city, on top of a large hill that overlooked the peasants below. The grounds were crawling with security. Cameras were on every corner of the property and in almost every room in the mansion.

None of that mattered when the lights went out. The party was in a panic for the three minutes that it took for the backup generator to turn on. When the power came back on, jewelry, wallets, and many other small but valuable items had been stolen. That's when the panic really began to set in.

Investigators showed up less than ten minutes after getting the call. When they did, the first thing they noticed was a slideshow in the foyer. All party long, it had been rotating between pictures of similar parties in the past, professional shots of rich people having fun. Now however, it was stuck on a close up picture of a black finger print against a white background.

Zazriel tapped a finger against his chin idly, his eyes scanning the black print that was projected on the screen resting against the main foyer wall, looking for any detail that would give him a clue as to who its owner might be. Yet every time he thought of it, he could only draw blanks. If this was a criminal, as security and guests had suggested, then it was not one he was aware of. Something that spoke to the culprits caution, as he had been in this line of work for a while now, and knew almost every criminal element in Astrum there was to know, especially the newer ones. For this one to have escaped his gaze, they must have planned their heist very well.

“Curious,” he muttered, shaking his head. Continuing to gaze at the unidentifiable print, he motioned for one of the guards.

“Tell me,” he began, staring at the man from out of the corner of his eye. “Did you see any suspicious activity tonight? Either before or during the party?”

“No sir,” the man replied. “None. We did find the main breaker tampered with though, but that was after the backup generator had kicked in, and the lights came back on.”

“Yes, I know. No need to remind me,” he said curtly, waving away the man's explanation with an exasperated sigh. “I was there to examine it, after all.”

And he’d found nothing then, either. As a matter of fact, the only thing his examination revealed was the fact that the magic flowing through the box had been cut off abruptly. Which suggested the use of a disrupter of some kind. But such tools were common in the criminal underworld, especially amongst thieves, and the fact that one had been used here brought him no closer to uncovering the mastermind behind all of this.

“Yes, of course, sir,” the man said, jolting him from his thoughts. “My apologies.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Zazriel replied, turning away from the print. Stepping away from the square of projected light, he strode over to a sturdy looking woman with tan skin who was off to the side questioning a few of the guests. A small group of elegantly dressed men and women, ones reminiscent of the higher ranking angels he used to serve, albeit far more… earthly. Clearing his throat, he locked gazes with her. A subtle signal, and not one that had not gone unheeded. Crossing his arms, he watched as she divorced herself from the group before striding over to where he was.

“Well,” he asked, once she was closer. “Have you found anything?”

She shook her head, “Not yet, no, and the guests weren’t any help. How about you?”

“Nothing,” he said, peering around the room curiously. “The building’s main circuit breaker was tampered with, by a disruptor it looks like, but those are a dime a dozen on the black market.”

“Hmm. And what about the thumb print?”

Zazriel shook his head.

“I’ll check our records just to be sure, but going off of memory alone, I’ve got nothing. Whoever left that print isn’t one of the big players in town, or even one of the new bloods.”

“A foreigner then?” She prompted, raising an eyebrow.

“Maybe,” he said, nodding. “Though that doesn’t make this any easier. If anything it makes our jobs harder, as we have to widen our search to include people travelling into the city, both legally or otherwise.”

“True…”

There was a pause.

“You know there’s something that confuses me about all of this,” the woman said, hand on her hip.

“And what might that be Liel?” Zazriel asked.

“Why they would leave that behind,” Liel said, nodding towards the projection. “Especially when they’ve seemed so keen on not leaving evidence behind?”

Zazriel turned his gaze towards the print once more.
“I don’t know. Calling card perhaps?”

“Kind of a strange calling card, don’t you think?”

Zazriel chuckled. “We’ve seen stranger.”

A scream came from further inside the house, prompting Zazriel and company to investigate. The source of the sound was a plump woman who wore a black dress with gold lace. She held onto the arm of a man that matched her in many respects.

Face red with emotion, tears running down her cheeks, she kept repeating two words over and over. “My necklace! My necklace!!”

“Must have been pretty sentimental if she’s this upset over it,” he mused as he approached, Liel by his side.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” he said, taking a knee. “My name is Zaz, I’m a freelance detective investigating the theft that took place here.”

He took out a small leather card holder and opened it, showing her his badge, a shield like thing emitting a soft golden glow. Although he wasn’t technically serving alongside law enforcement, all freelancers in fields like his were required to carry a unique mana laced identifying badge on their person to avoid clients getting scammed.

“My condolences for the loss of your property, I’m sure it was very meaningful to you,” he said, his tone one of sympathy. “But did you see anything suspicious going on tonight? Anything at all?” He asked, flipping his badge closed and sliding it back into his coat pocket.

“See anything?” The woman answered, sniffing and wiping a tear. “No. I didn’t see anything, but I felt them when they touched me.” She took a deep breath. “My name is Elizabeth Warren, and I am a psychic. You have to let me help you. If I get a single hand on that thief, I can identify them. That necklace is a one of a kind, priceless artifact. It’s been in my family for fifty generations!”

“Please, there’s no need to get worked up Mrs. Warren,” Zazriel said, patting her shoulder consolingly. “We will get your property back along with everyone else’s, I promise. Now, as for your offer, I will keep on call should we get our hands on any suspects. The last thing I want is to jeopardize your safety furth-”

“Oh nonsense!” Mrs. Warren interrupted. “My way is faster.”

The large man beside Mrs. Warren finally spoke, saying, “Honey, let the man do his-”

“Oh be quiet George.” She commanded. “That necklace is worth more than anything else we own, and you know it. I’m not sitting back and doing nothing!”

Mr. Warren sighed a defeated breath, something he was clearly used to doing. He then looked to Zazriel and shrugged. “Trust me, you don’t want to argue with her.”

Mrs. Warren smiled at her husband’s comment and held on tighter to his arm. Those close enough to see the exchange shifted in awkward silence, their eyes darting back and forth between Zazriel and the married couple. Mrs. Warren’s gaze stayed locked onto Zazriel, impatiently waiting on his response.

Zazriel gave the man a knowing glance, before turning his attention to Mrs. Warren, an understanding smile spread across his face.

“Very well Mrs. Warren, we’ll do this your way,” he said, rising to his full height and motioning for a guard.

“Gather all the guests and security personnel you can find,” he said quietly. “And bring them here for Mrs. Warren to…”

He cast a brief glance at the woman.

“Examine.”

Nodding, the guard strode off as Zazriel let his gaze wander around the room, his mind lost in thought. How had the perpetrator managed to get in and out without being seen? And, furthermore, why would they leave behind a print? Most thieves wanted to be as untraceable as humanly possible, which made this one's brashness all the more perplexing.

It just didn’t make any sense.

It took fifteen minutes to make sure everyone was in the main ballroom. The only people not inside the ballroom were the guards who watched the exits. No one would be allowed in or out until all this got sorted.

There seemed to be only two moods in the room, hysteria or confusion. Just like the romantic lighting that had given way to the bright house lights, so too did the joy and festivities disappear into a distant memory.

“This is stupid.” One dignitary said to another. He wasn’t loud, but he wasn’t trying to hide his displeasure either.

“I know.” Agreed the woman he was speaking to. “But what can we do?” She looked at Mrs. Warren’s back as she said this. It was clear that Elizabeth Warren was respected, but that didn’t necessarily translate to being well liked.

Mrs. Warren cleared her throat and spoke with authority. “So where should we start detective?” While she was clearly speaking to Zazriel, her gaze was scanning the room. There was no hiding it. She was enjoying the position of power she created for herself. She looked nothing like the crying woman from only a short few minutes ago.

"With the people closest to you I'd assume," he said, looking over at her. "It's not the best method, but given the lack of proper evidence…"

He trailed off with a shrug.

“Works for me!” The woman agreed, then turned to face Zazriel. “You’re the closest at the moment, and I would rest better knowing that the investigator himself isn’t a suspect.” She held out one hand, palm to the sky. “You mind?”

“Not at all,” he said, holding out his hand. All the while wondering if it were logic or paranoia that motivated such an act.

Their hands met and sent a light shock between them, that they could both feel. The sensation only lasted a moment for Zazriel, but seemed to resonate within Mrs. Warren. Her eyes closed as she savored his angelic aura.

When her eyes opened, she couldn’t help but smile. “Well, I don’t think you could have done anything like this, now could you?” She shot him a knowing wink and turned to the person nearest to them. “Next!”

A rather short man, round in shape and exquisite in dress, strode up to the woman and held out his hand, an expression of uncertainty on his glistening face. Zazriel watched the scene with passing interest, more concerned with the other guests than the psychic readings. Mainly because he was unsure if the thief was still here or not. As illogical as that was.

“Never hurts to be careful,” he mused, letting his studious gaze sweep across the crowd.

After being cleared by the psychic woman, the portly man strode over to Zazriel. His face was red with annoyance, but he spoke calmly. “So, am I cleared to leave, investigator? I really wasn’t planning on being here this late.”

"Yes of course," Zazriel said with a slight nod as he waved to one of the guards, a sign that the man was to be allowed out of the area. "Before you go though…"

He pulled out a small card from his coat pocket.

"Here's my business card. Call the number on the back if you hear anything, and it'll put you through to me."

The man took the white square of paper and tucked it away with a slight nod. Straightening his suit, he strode over to the nearest exit and stepped out into the night.

"You know you're going to run out of cards if you keep doing that right?" Liel said, her eyebrow raised.

Zazriel shrugged.

"If we can figure out who did this, I'd say those are cards well spent," he replied, shifting his gaze back to Mrs. Warren, who was already reading another guest. A woman this time, with an almost fae-like face and porcelain skin, who was clad in a flowing emerald dress slit from the knees down to allow for greater freedom of movement.

“You’re all set, Madam Teril.” Mrs. Warren said to the woman, dismissing her to move on to the next person, the woman’s date, a man in a deep green suit. His face was also a thing of exotic beauty, framed by light brown hair, half as long as the woman’s flowing locks. His hair on the other hand, was pulled back into a ponytail, revealing the pointed ears characteristic of the woodland elves.

When the couple were both finished, they approached Zazriel. The man spoke for them both, “May we also take our leave, Mr…?” The elf held out his hand for a cordial shake.

“Zazriel,” the angel replied, taking the man's hand and giving it a brief, yet firm, shake. “Zaz for short. And yes, you may, but before you do…”

He fishes another card out of his pocket.

“Please take one of these. Just in case you hear or see anything out of the ordinary.”

The next hour passed in this same vein. One after another, each guest would visit the psychic woman, then collect a business card from Zazriel. On the way out, one of the detectives from the police department would record the guest’s full name and contact information, just in case.

“Zaz,” Leil — Zazriel’s tan partner — called out to him in a hushed voice. Beside her, stood another woman, a petite brunette with porcelain skin, contrasted by a black dress. The woman’s face was obscured by a black hat with a wide brim. If the dress didn’t fit so well and show as much skin, or if the hat had a veil, she could have passed for a morning widow. Leil had stepped aside with the woman, while Zazriel was speaking with guests.

Whatever this woman had to say must have been important, because otherwise, Leil would never interrupt. The news also seemed to be of a sensitive nature, because she didn’t say anything else. She simply waved again for him to come closer.

“What is it Leil?” he asked, moving over to the pair, casting a glance over at the pale woman as he drew near.

“This woman thinks she knows our thief.” She then nodded, signaling the woman to talk.

The woman spoke with a foriegn accent popular on the other side of the world. “This is the work of a famous thief from my country, unless it's a very good copycat. There is a fingerprint in the lobby, on the welcoming slideshow. That is their calling card. They-”

“Hun,” Leil inserted. “He knows about the thief too. Tell him the rest.”

Unfazed, the woman continued, “Well, I was just telling your partner that this whole psychic business is completely useless. The person or people behind this are already gone. They’ve only ever been caught in the act, never after the fact. And most importantly, they are expert magic users. Even if they are still here, they could fool that woman’s psychic readings easily.”

“So,” he began, crossing his arms, his head tilted to the side slightly. “Do you have a name for this thief of ours?”

“There is no name for whoever is behind this. Nobody can even agree to what he, she, or they look like. I just wanted you to know, you’re wasting your time with this looney.” The woman said, nodding at Mrs. Warren. “Now, can I go? Or do I have to get back in that line?”

Mrs. Warren was only halfway done reading the party guests. There were just too many to go any faster. The woman in black shifted her weight back and forth from foot to foot as she waited for a response.

“Of course.”

Zazriel moved to the side and gestured toward the doors.

“Before you do though,” he said, pulling out another card. “Take this. If you see anything suspicious, please do not hesitate to contact me. We need all the leads we can get.”

Val moved towards the officers and bowed. He didn’t like the fact that the officer was allowing a suspect to escape without having Mrs. Warren at least try. However, it wasn’t his place, so he announced himself.

“Greetings officers.” Calmly he smiled at them, and then he stared at the female who wanted to escape.

“I have information as to who did this.” He stated at a volume that only allowed the three of them to hear him.

“Detective,” Zazriel corrected, turning his gaze on Val. “Freelance. While me and my associate Leil are working with law enforcement on this case, we are not on their payroll. But if you have information, then I think I speak for everyone in this room when I say we’ll be glad to hear it,” he said pausing briefly, his head cocked to the side in thought. “Though I fail to see how your testimony will shed any new light on the current situation, what with the lack of substantial evidence and all.”

Val’s smile broadened as the Detective informed him of who he was. Slowly he rose from his bow and looked at the guests who looked at him for an answer.

“I see.” He paused.

“Well, according to my contract with my employer I don’t have to answer that. I was under the impression you were connected to this fine city and its people. As a Freelance Detective you don’t have the pull required to loosen my lips.” Val calmly stated as he moved to exit.

“However, that doesn’t mean that I will not work with the fine police force of this great city, in order to reveal those responsible. Remember everything needs to be done correctly and by law. If not then people would gun or magic one another down in the streets.” He explained to everyone at the party as he spun around.

“This fine detective was about to allow someone to walk out of these doors without being checked by the fabulous, Mrs. Warren.” He paused while the room took in the information he provided and flagged down security to hold the exit.

“That I did,” Zazriel said with a shrug. “But I would counter by asking you what thief worth their salt would remain at the scene of the crime long after its fulfillment.”

He glanced around the room, but his expression remained unchanged. Impassive. If the angel was displeased, he certainly wasn’t showing it.

“As for your… predicament, do what you must.”

Zazriel gestured to an older man stationed on the opposite side of the room. “The captain is right over there after all. If you are unable to speak to me on the issue, then perhaps he can be of service.”

The police force captain had been watching over the proceedings without saying much. His officers and detectives were handling the footwork. He wasn’t even supposed to be on duty today. He was supposed to be enjoying the party like everyone else, as a guest, hence the tuxedo instead of normal work attire.

He was prepared however, not having consumed anything from the party’s open bar. The likelihood of something happening at this party should have been low, what with all the security. But anytime this many high profile people were in one place, especially on such a special occasion, the possibility of a terrorist threat would always loom.

To be honest, he was glad that they were only dealing with a robbery. As far as anyone could tell, nobody had been harmed, not unless hurt pride counted.

Captain Mullins took notice when Zazriel motioned in his direction, and when he caught both him and Val looking directly at him, he decided to approach. He knew and respected Zazriel from past cases. The man always worked well with his officers and had his way with uncovering things they couldn’t.

“Are you gentlemen alright?” The tall, gray haired man said as he approached. His eye line landed somewhere in between Zazriel’s and the abnormally tall Val’s.

Val’s toothy grin faded away as the captain approached and addressed them. For the first time during the party, his face became twisted, into an unhappy frown. It was like removing color from the world.

“My apologies dear captain.” Val apologized and bowed. His facial features returned to a neutral aspect. “I’m glad you accepted my…” He paused for a moment and looked at his masters family, leaving enough pause for someone to assume it was actually he who sent out the invitations. “My Lord’s invitation.”

“The only thing I want is for everyone to be scanned by Mrs. Warren. Mainly, because it is unfair to those who have already been processed.” He continued, coming out of the bow.

“I honestly just wanted everyone to enjoy the evening.” He admitted with a sorrowful smile. “Furthermore,” Val paused and faced Zazriel. He bowed deeply once again, eyes to the floor. “I humbly apologize as my words may have been uncouth and untrue.”

The guards and staff took note of his apology and almost seemed ashamed or saddened by the action. He mentally kicked himself for using an archaic word like Lord to describe his employer. However, it didn’t show on the outside.

Zazriel processed and dismissed the man’s words with a perfunctory nod.

“If we are allowing everyone to be scanned by Mrs. Warren, then we’d best get to it,” he said, sliding his hands into his coat pockets. “There are still quite a great deal of guests here to process after all.”

“Indeed,” answered the captain, as he cast his gaze over the remaining party guests still standing in line. The portly psychic was more than halfway done, but at this rate, it would still be another twenty minutes or so. “When this line clears, assuming Mrs. Warren’s scan doesn’t reveal our thief, I would like both of you to join me and my detectives for a debriefing.”

“Until then captain, detective, and ladies.” Val bowed slightly as he looked at the others. “If you will excuse me, I have to take care of the guests.” He then excused himself and moved over to the line.

“Sure thing.” The captain responded, as Val walked away. His next words were for Zazriel, spoken out the side of his mouth. “There’s something… off about that guy…”

Val addressed those that were left in the room, head high. “Please bear with this inconvenience everyone. Our host has assured me that he will pay for any damages of lost goods. This was one of the reasons we took inventory when each of you checked in.” He tried to calm those waiting in line. Val then made his way over to a few of the guards and had them tighten security on the exits. Afterwards, he moved over to his lord’s family and made sure they were alright.

Zazriel, meanwhile, watched the proceedings impassively, his mind still preoccupied, figuring out how such an evidence free job could have been carried out.

Glass shattering, police sirens, and theft alarms of all kinds: these sounds could be found all throughout the city. It started shortly after the heist at the Millennial Ball, after the city's finest detectives had already been assembled at the isolated mansion on the hill. First it was the federal reserve bank, as well as several other banks across the city. Then it was the jewelry stores and other shops with high value items. Then, finally, all chaos broke loose.

The blaring noises only stirred the looters into action, which provided cover for rioters, which in turn, brought out the city’s tactical forces. Still, even with all their preparations, the police were severely outmatched. There were simply too many fires to put out at once, some figurative and others quite literal.

New Years Eve always carried a stigma for violence, especially the turning of a century. But the turning of a century, they should have known; they should have been ready for something like this. Sure, it didn’t happen often, but this wouldn’t be the first time in history that the turning of a millennium brought about a new age of destruction.

Now, you were either a criminal letting your vices run wild, an officer of the law in the fight of your life, or a “normal” person praying for the night to end…

Relka Tir Lohig sat upon a simple leather chair, engrossed in another book with the peaceful city skyline dotting through her large bay window. She took a small sip of her tea and rested the cup peacefully back down on the small end table. Before the woman could turn another page, the only seeable technology in the large library-like room blared to life, causing an annoyed sigh to escape from her mouth. Relka stood and placed her book on the table next to her tea.

As she walked over to the massive computer, the screen flared to life. A report was coming in from one of her cops inside the station on the higher end of the city. He spoke in hushed tones, so that the other officers couldn’t hear who he was talking to.

“Freeze Frame,” he said, using the code name she gave to keep her identity hidden. “There was a massive heist at the millennial ball tonight. Most of the city's forces have been dispatched to the area to help the investigation.”

“Has anyone been taken into custody yet? Can you give me a name?” She asked inquisitively.

“No, at this time we have no clue who committed the crime, although the only clue we have to go on is, the thief or thieves left behind a single fingerprint. We are running now, but witnesses from out of the city said that this won’t tie in to anyone in any system. As well as that riots and looting have begun to spread throughout the city shortly afterwards.”

“So what you are telling me, is not only did someone rob the millennial ball without my knowing, but the city is now embattled in civil unrest? How did I not know about this chain of events?” Her angry breath came out in clouds as she spoke. “What do I even pay you for? Get me substantial information.”

“Miss, would you like us to send some forces to your area, to help quell anything that may happen?” The cop asked, with a slight twinge of nervousness.

“Boy, my territory will face no looting or riots. Nobody is fool enough to try anything here. Hell, even your elected officials sleep here in peace, knowing that the only crimes committed here are the ones I allow. No no, get someone to take your men out of here to help quell the city. My men won’t need sleep tonight.”

“I understand Freeze Frame. Officer Diggs out.” The man hurriedly hung up the phone allowing Relka to make another call. The voice on the other end was gruff and deep.

“Ma’am?” He answered respectfully.

“Something is happening in the city, give it five minutes and the police will have left the area. I want you and your men out tonight making sure nothing happens here.”

“Anything else ma’am?”

“Yes, one more thing Goose. The millennial ball was hit, as well as a rash of other robberies around town, the timing is no coincidence. Get me names.” She said hanging up the phone. The world of literature would have to wait tonight. Relka needed information first.

No more than ten minutes later, a mob of protesters entered Relka’s neighborhood. They carried torches and banged on drums. They chanted their displeasures, knowing that the majority of the city’s politicians called this district home. They vandalized the sides of buildings and attempted to break as much property as possible. At least in a neighborhood as high profile as this one, most windows and doors were supremely secure, built out of sturdy material and protected by advanced magical wards. So while the protests were loud and unsightly, this area would still be the safest place in the city.

Vincent Feathers made sure that his people were watching the streets, it wasn’t so long ago that he owned this part of the city. Everyone here feared him as an unforgiving boss, drugs, extortion, prostitution. You name it, he ran it. But a few years ago Freeze Frame appeared.

When she came to him he had half a mind to turn her towards the streets, thinking she could walk into his business and start making demands like she owned the place.

But the more she talked, the worst things got. Somehow this ice queen knew where all the bodies, literal and figurative, were buried. He had no clue how she did it, but when she demanded the gang from him, he demanded she be killed immediately. Before anyone was able to react though, the room’s temperature dropped twenty degrees in seconds. The woman with that cold emotionless smile told him that if he killed her, his and all his gang members' dirty secrets would be released.

“Not to the police, no, I am sure you are semi-intelligent enough to own a few cops. I have it set to go to your biggest rivals. You know the ones that have been just screaming for a way to take your turf. They will know where your hideouts and stashes are, where you make your drugs. They will have the names and pictures of the biggest players in your organization to target. Now, I understand if you don’t believe me, that is why in the next twenty four hours your second-in-command will die. If he doesn’t then you have full permission to kill me, here is my address, I am sure you will have your… ruffians follow me home anyways. But once your man dies, I expect a visit from you personally within the hour after that, telling me that I will assume control of your organization.” She turned her back and walked out of the room, taking the cold with her.

Vincent might not have been the most powerful man in the underground, but he didn’t take overtly unnecessary risks. Despite every fiber of his being screaming out to kill this woman, he had to make sure she was lying. Twenty one hours later, he was standing outside the tallest building in his district. Five minutes later he was telling the woman that he was giving her his gang. That emotionless smile was once again on her face seemingly mocking him.

“What now… boss.” He had to force the words out of his mouth, he would find out how she did it, then kill the bitch and gain control back.

“Now you will tell your men that your current business ventures stop. Men like you are a plague upon this city. Sapping the life force from those around you. No more drugs, no more hookers, no more senseless killing. We are going to rebrand this section of the city. But don’t worry, Vincent, I will be counting on you and your men to keep the place safe. We are going to build an empire. We will own the police, the underground, the politicians, everyone. I will make you and your men filthy rich, in a way you could only dream of with your old ways.”

“What’s in it for you?” He asked, curiosity now getting the better of him.

“The knowledge, I want it all. I care not for money, sure I have plenty of it, but just enough to get what I want. See, when picking which territory I wanted to reform, it reminded me of a children's game I saw others play. They would sit in a circle while one kid walked around patting heads saying duck, eventually they would pat one child's head and scream goose. They would then be chased around by said child who needed to tag them before they made it back to the empty spot in the circle. You just happened to be the goose this time, and I made it back to that empty spot. Your territory is as good a spot as any to put my plan into motion, we will change the world my little Goose.”

That was a few decades ago, and she was right. His old territory was the safest in the city, everyone prospered here. There was virtually little crime, aside from what she allowed. Drugs and prostitution where a thing of the past. The only other place making more money then here was the business district. Politicians, police, even celebrities choose to live in the area. The only murders that took place here were those that broke Freeze Frames rules. The only extortion that was allowed, was information. Everyone was expected to bring any tidbit of knowledge to one of her boys and they were often rewarded with money.

Which is why Goose and his men were now trying to organize the protesters. Damage to this territory would upset the boss, who now had his undying loyalty. She would overlook the graffiti, and small damages. But Goose knew if anyone was killed, or any businesses or homes looted, it would hurt her reputation. So while his best guys were off guarding the politicians and celebrities. Others were trying to calm down the crowd, with scattered success. A lot of people knew who Freeze Frame was, and didn’t want to cross her.

Freeze Frame could see out her window to the streets below. The mobs were becoming less hostile by the minute. The very mention of her name was cooling them down. They didn’t stop their marching or shouting, but they kept it to that, a loud but peaceful protest.

That’s when her computer came to life once again, pulling her away from the window. It was Captain Mullins from the police department. He was calling from the Millennial Ball, and from the sound of his voice, she could tell that he needed her help.

Mrs. Warren’s psychic readings turned up no suspects. All of the guests had already left, and she had just finished with the last of the event staff.

She huffed. Her pale bosom rose against her black dress. “Well, I’m sorry detective.” She said as she walked over to Zazriel. “At least you know it wasn’t someone who was supposed to be here; that was everyone on the guest list and employee list.” Her eyes were red with exhaustion. “I wish you the best of luck, and please let me know if you find anything else. I simply must get my necklace back. Oh, and can I have one of those cards you’ve been handing out, if you have any left?”

Zazriel nodded, handing her a card. “Of course, and thank you for your help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to check in with the captain.”

He bowed slightly, before motioning for Liel to follow as he strode over to Mullin.

The captain stroked the side of his grey beard with one hand while his other held an all black cell phone. Once his informant answered, they could start their meeting.

To his right stood his detectives, two men and one woman, all dressed in dark business suits with badges on the front. The imposing Val stood to the captain’s left, looking relaxed yet stiff at the same time. Zazriel and Liel were the last to join the huddle, aside from the person the captain was calling.

Relka answered the captain’s video call in about three rings. She smirked coyley. She enjoyed toying with the seasoned officer. She then opened her navy blue robe, and positioned her chest a little better, making sure she was more perky. She answered the call and was excited to see more than one face on the other end.

“Captain, darling, I was just thinking of that ruggedly delicious jaw line. How is my favorite police officer on this most eventful of nights?” She asked with a mischievous laugh.

The captain maintained his composure despite Relka’s behavior. Still, she knew she was under his skin when he introduced her. “Everyone, this is Relka Tir Lohig.” He displayed his phone screen to everyone in the group. “She works with my office on big cases like these, a valuable informant to be sure.”

It was protocol to introduce her to everyone working on the case, but disclosing her full name and showing her face was going a little far. He did this, knowing full and well what he was doing, it was his way of getting back at her for making things awkward for him.

Relka glared at the captain. Names had power, knowing someone's name meant you could find them. What was worse, he gave her name away for free, he would have to pay for that later, she decided.

The captain then turned to face Val. “Now, Mr. Val, I believe you have some information to share, if you would.” He pointed the camera on the back of his phone to Val so that Relka could watch him speak, while the captain could keep an eye on her reactions.

Val’s eyes shifted to the door as it opened and smiled as he finished sorting a few papers. Mrs. Warren and her husband shut the door behind themselves. They were now alone in the large ball room, tucked away in the far back corner.

Val began, “An informant?” He mused out loud, yet under his breath. A quizzical look crossed his face. “Greetings Relka Tir Lohig.” Val bowed as he spoke the name. Was it a true name?

“Seeing as your name was revealed, it is only fair I reveal mine.” Val started with a calm look on his face.

“My name is Valathos Vykos.” As he spoke the words, they sounded strange, as if one was underwater while hearing them. There was power in how he pronounced each letter to his name. It wouldn’t come across the same way if it were recorded. The “essence” would be lost.

“Before I begin, I would like to form a contract, as this information isn’t to be shared lightly. Even so, a verbal agreement will do.” Val started as he looked over the room’s inhabitants and at the phone.

“The information I’m about to share cannot be shared between third parties. Only the people here may speak of it to one another.” He stated as he gestured to everyone in the room and stopped with his hand to the phone. “Furthermore, one cannot write or speak of the information while another person or party is listening or watching.” Val stated, casting another look around the room. The usual smile on his face was replaced with a serious look.

“Quite a lot of secrecy at play here,” Zaz remarked. “Complicating secrecy at that. This information better be worth it Val.”

“Yes, yes, I will adhere to your contract.” Relka answered through the phone. “I value having the information more than I do selling it anyways." She kept her mouth shut about the widespread riots for the moment. She gave nothing for free, and anyone could easily look out a window to see the fires all over the city.

“Fine, you have my word and and the word of everyone in my department. Right everyone?” His question was more of a command. To which, all his detectives nodded in understanding. “But I agree with Zazriel; this better be useful.”

Val looked somewhat displeased as he looked over the room. The only ones who answered the verbal contract was the one on the phone and the one holding the phone. He let out a small sigh and looked at Zazriel. “A verbal contract requires a yes or no. Either that or one’s word.” He stated, as he shifted his gaze to the officers who only nodded. “Not the word of someone else on your behalf.”

“If the information is useless then saying yes to it isn’t going to harm anyone.” He started. His eyes shifted to the evidence that had been accumulated, the papers in his hand. “But, I can guarantee that my information will shed new light on the case.”

Zazriel sighed, squeezing his eyes shut as he pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a moment to deliberate the situation. Finally, he nodded. “Alright, fine. You have my agreement and my word.”

Then, the three detectives, following a silent cue from their captain, all answered, "You have my word." and other variations of the phrase.

“Then the contract is sealed.” Val affirmed as a smile crossed his features. He then began pulling papers out of the files. The first were an assortment of pictures. He handed these pictures out one by one.

“What is the same but different?” He asked in order to see if anyone could spot the difference. Each photo contained the fingerprints left behind at different crime scenes. Each belonged to someone different and not in any database. Then, he produced a new document. It was a picture of his lord, with all his finger and thumb prints. His right thumb print was a perfect match for the one the thieves left in the foyer, on the welcoming screen. His lord’s prints wouldn’t be found on any database, because the man lived above the common masses, and he had never been arrested for a crime. He allowed the information to be digested for a few moments.

“Shifters.” Val informed them as he looked across the room. These could be anything from mages to ancient demons, depending on the information one knew.

“Well this muddies things,” Zazriel says, examining the prints. “A lot.”

“That would explain why my people have been unable to gather any information on those behind the attacks.” Relka said in a pondering tone. “I will have to pull some volumes here, see if I can find any information on Shifters. Though I am unsure if I will find much.”

Val was silent while they rolled the information around. It seemed they believed him. However, he wasn’t someone to leave room for doubt and broke the silence.

“How do I know they are shifters?” He asked the room. “What evidence do I have other than my word? To be honest, I wasn’t sure until tonight, or more sure that is.” He clarified with a wave of his hand as if dismissing something.

“Evidence…” He paused. “Each fingerprint was manufactured. Each one was clear, near perfect. During a heist, it is possible to rub against something, but the chance of every single one being perfect?” He paused again. “I believe that it is a group who has been acting since ancient times. It is possible that they are making a statement, that each of these people aren’t as safe as they may think. Either that or each is a target or possible target. Have any of them died recently?” Val asked everyone in the room because he didn’t have much information on these people.

“Not that I know of,” Zazriel remarked, rubbing his chin. “But I’ve not looked into any deaths recently, so I’m just as in the dark on that as anyone else here.”

"Nothing like this has ever been pulled in this city, I would have known about it. So for once my information on the heist is limited. I would not allow something of this scale to happen. It disturbs the balance of power within the city. And since Mrs. Warren is there, I assume she has properly vetted those in attendance. But do we know if anyone who was there left before the actual robbery took place?" Relka said to her large computer screen while searching through her immense volumes.

“From what I could tell, everyone at the party was an invited guest.” Val said as he mulled over her question. “Everyone after the robbery took place that is...”

Captain Mullin cleared his throat. “I’m sorry,” Something was weighing heavily on his mind. He couldn’t wait any longer. “How long have you been looking into all this? And how did you get these pictures, when none of these other heists happened in this city?”

A look of surprise and hurt crossed Val's face. “Captain, anything that could harm my employer is information worth gathering. I have been collecting information related to this for some time.” Val informed the captain vaguely. His eyes settled on the phone the captain was holding. Val presumed that Captain Mullin wouldn’t ask Relka the same question and tried to point that out with his glance.

“Honestly, I only have trustful data specific to my employer. Everything else I looked up online.” Val admitted, as he moved around the circular table they were all gathered around, positioning himself beside the captain. He then opened the laptop he had set on the table before their meeting began. It looked strange, the way he handled the keyboard. Some would call it chicken fingers, as he used only his index fingers.
“The main reason I believe they are shifters is because they can see in the dark. Yes, this could have been done with technology or another source of magic, but...”

With a definitive keystroke, he started a video. It was security footage from the party, starting right when the lights went out. The camera went into different spectrums, adjusting itself, first infrared, then night vision. It showed a few nimble figures as they moved throughout the party and stole from the guests. It also showed Val moving to intercept one of the figures. Both Val’s and the mystery person’s eyes glowed in the dark. It wasn’t something that could be seen through normal means, Either the camera lense or some software being used created the effect. Val then did a sweeping motion as if to say, “Nothing to see here, go play elsewhere.” The figure didn’t seem to press Val and quickly backed away. Moments later, the figures were gone; the lights came back on, and the video stopped.

Relka watched the footage on her large screen very closely. Something was nagging her about it, which raised quite a few questions. She reached down and grabbed her glass of wine, as she did so her robe slipped off one of her shoulders exposing even more pale blue skin.

“Mr. Val, this video doesn’t prove anything about shifters. In fact this raises more issues than solves them. To start, the eyes can be enhanced by magic, and if so we suddenly find ourselves looking more towards the higher class. Because as most of us know, magic users hardly ever come from the lower or middle caste. That’s not to say they don’t, but statistically speaking, we need to start there. Also, I know the security of that building, there are only regular cameras installed. So why during this particular party do they suddenly have different spectrums? Lastly, and most likely the most important question, you had the chance to actually grab a suspect, but instead waved them off. Why didn’t you capture it? You were close enough, and by your eyes could have easily tracked the thief down.” She took a drink from her glass and placed it back down.

Val’s eyes made a micromovement when her shirt shifted revealing her skin. Relka was pointing out informational holes or ones she thought she knew. His face twitched into a frown and then into a grin. After that, he started to laugh.

“You wanted me to apprehend a criminal?” Val questioned. “While it is possible I could have, my priorities were to protect the young ladies.” He informed those within the room as his laugh finally ended. “Could I do this if I were wrestling with some hooligan?” He asked the room.

He went on before anyone could answer. “The reason the cameras were changed was because of me. I had it done a week before the party. Your information there is clearly outdated. Furthermore, I had personal cameras on each of my helping hands.”

“I…” He paused thinking, as he looked over the room. He wasted no time, moving to sit in his original chair. “I’m not like I once was.” He stated with a dejected sigh as he sat down in the chair, and it looked like something was crawling under his skin. However, it only happened for a second.

“The reason I know they are shifters is because of a gut feeling.” He informed the room as he entwined the fingers of both hands. Everyone could see that he was fidgeting now. It didn’t take long for his leg to start pumping up and down where he sat.

"You realize there are many ways to apprehend someone without harming others?" Zaz remarked, making a silent note of the shifting under his skin. "That aside however, I'd like to know more about this 'gut feeling' of yours. Surely you see it's not the most concrete of evidence?"

“Indeed,” Captain Mullin agreed. “Gut feeling? Definitely suspicious. Plus, both you and the other person in the video had similar eyes. Almost makes one think you have some sort of connection to them. Clearly, you’re holding something back. So what is it?”

Val’s leg stopped bouncing up and down at the captain’s question. It wasn’t like the motion stopped to the point where he was relaxed. It was more like someone pressed pause on him. He didn’t breathe or look around.

“Well, seeing as you’ve all already made a deal with the devil. I suppose I can tell you why I have a gut feeling.” His skin started crawling again, more obvious this time. Slowly his body shrank, and he started to slouch. His hair lost it’s vibrance and became silvered. Some of the skin on his body stretched and wrinkled. While other parts filled with fat and started to sag. When the transformation was finished the clothing looked entirely too big. Val pulled out some glasses and placed them over his now almost colorless eyes.

“As-” Val was interrupted by his teeth falling out of his mouth. He swiped them all up, looking at them as if it were nothing. After that, he consumed the teeth, leaving himself toothless. “As the saying goes. Seeing is believing.” Val said with a grandmotherly loved filled voice. It sounded strange without teeth but the words were understandable.

Zazriel watched the transformation impassively and with arms crossed. Once it was finished, he silently examined the new figure sitting before him. “So you’re a shifter,” he said, tilting his head to the side. “Makes sense. Doesn’t exactly help us get any closer to finding out who’s responsible for all of this though. Specifically, I mean.”

Relka was a bit more stunned than Zaz seemed, but she hid it well. The actual proof of a shifter could have massive implications on the world structure. People would become a lot less trusting of friends and allies, never knowing if it was a shifter in disguise. Relka’s brain was working overtime at this new information, and her goals shifted ever so slightly. If she could get to those other shifters, maybe she could convince them to join with her. It could expand her network globally. With their help, she might be able to start wars, or end them, depending on her mood. But for now she had to play nice, until they found the other ones.

“So what exactly are the extent of your abilities?” Her voice remained even, being able to stay cool was a beautiful trait to have. “Is there anything you can’t become? Is there a time limit for the form you take? Also I would like to point out that, being a shifter yourself makes you look even more suspect. An inside man, which could be why you dismissed the other instead of subdued.”

“Yes,” Captain Mullin chimed in, “it is very suspect indeed. What kind of magic allows you to shapeshift like this? I assume you could sense these thieves were using the same kind of magic, which would explain the ‘gut feeling’.”

An inside job? The captain mused, considering Relka’s words. Yes, that could be the case, but then, why cooperate in the first place? He could have just as easily not said anything and they would be shit out of luck. Unless... was this a stalling tactic? Val sure did like to take his time getting to the point…

All three radios, carried on the hips of his three detectives, made a beep in unison, followed by a man’s voice. It was Captain Mullin’s second in command. “Attention all officers, we have 901 on our hands. Everyone must report back to their home office for further instructions. I repeat, all active personnel, return to home base.”

The three detectives' eyes shot wide with worry. They looked to their captain for confirmation. “You heard the man,” Mullin answered sternly. “I’ll continue things here.”

They nodded in understanding and started for the door. Mullin called out, before they got too far. “Garut,” All three turned around, but it was clear Mullin was speaking to the stalkier of the two men. “Keep me posted.” The rough detective nodded, and then they were out the door.

“Okay, Mr. Val.” The detective said, returning his gaze to the now elderly woman sitting before him, a new look of determination in his eyes. “Apparently, there are riots on the streets, and we have no more time for long winded speeches. Cut to the chase if you would.”

Val sat in his new form while the others spoke. His eyes were filled with an ageless wisdom as a toothless smile crossed his face. His smile became brighter as he shifted back to his “normal” form.

“You all seem to have the same misunderstanding.” Val pointed out as he lifted his hand. “I said I would tell you who or what was behind this. I have no more information than you do at this point.” He admitted as he looked at each person in the room. “I’m not willing to give information about shifters freely.” He stated flatly at Relka.

He paused, then continued. “As of today, I’m relieved of my contract with my employer. Currently you cannot touch me without evidence. Everything we spoke of in this room cannot be shared. This extends to all of you. If one of you says anything, then all are bound to the repercussions of the contract.” Val stated as he stood up. “I don’t need you all getting in my way when I search for my lost kin.” Val gathered all the information he had. Papers, files, and the laptop.

“For next time, be sure to know which repercussions are attached to the contract. For all you know it could be death.” Val informed them with a smile. “But don’t worry. I made the repercussions a mind wipe. It will take effect after this meeting is over.” He informed them as he left the room.

“It is over.” They could hear him through the opened door.

Zazriel shook his head. “I knew giving our word like that would come back to bite us in the ass,” he muttered, glancing over at Liel, who he knew must have been thinking the same. The whole situation was fucked, as what should have been a relatively simple case had turned into them being stuck between a rock and a hard place, as Val went off doing gods knew what in the search of his beloved kin.

Sighing, he turned away from the door Val had exited through and back to the rest of their little group. “So,” he said to the room at large. “What do we do now?”

Relka stared at the computer, a sly smile spread across her face. Poor little shifter, so worried that people would blab about shifters. Her fingers worked over the keys in front of her, realizing the large loophole of his so-called contract immediately. Sure she wasn't able to talk about the shifters with others, or pursue them to join her ranks at this moment. But after tonight they would be fair play, when everything calmed down she could begin moving the pieces how she wanted. She pulled out her own device and muted herself on the captain's line so he couldn't hear anything.

"Goose darling, how is everything on the streets?" She asked.

"Peace and quiet ma'am, though the fringes of your territory as expected is touch and go. Most people avoid the area all together, we are even arranging transport for the politicians to City Hall to better get a hold of everything."

"As expected of you, now tomorrow we need to discuss our future, I have big plans Goose, and a work around has already been implemented. But I will need your help reminding me. I will explain more later, back to protecting the area." Relka said as she pushed stop on the recording she was taking from the unknowing captain's cell. She wasn't allowed to write things down, but the shifter never said she couldn't record the conversation. Once her memory of shifters were wiped her end of the contract would be null and void. Goose would then get her to rewatch the video and her plans could move forward. She unmuted the captains line once more.

"What is our next plan, besides quelling the civil unrest? They will strike again here; I am sure. Maybe even a higher motive we have yet to see?" She asked the room.

“Yes, well…” The captain began to answer, his eyes still focused on the door Val had exited. “There is a whole police department and military guard unit that can monitor the riots. Those were planned for, given the occasion and all. I think we need to keep working this heist angle. It may or may not be connected with the riots, but that it isn’t the focus right now.”

When Captain Mullin finally took his eyes off the front door, he noticed the phone still in his hand and realized that Relka still couldn’t see him. So he switched to the front camera and set the phone down on the table, leaning it back against a vase of roses and stepping away.

Mullin cleared his throat and continued in a hushed voice. “Relka, would you be so kind as to keep an eye on our butler friend’s movements. You have permission to use every public security camera in the city, and we can get you warrants for any privately held cameras you deem helpful. And of course, you can use your own tactics… so long as you don’t do anything too illegal of course. As the man said, his contract covered everything he told us, meaning anything you find out about him and these ‘shifters’ from here out shouldn’t be covered by the ‘repercussions".”

“As for you, Mr. Zazriel,” The captain crossed his arms, making himself more comfortable. “Can you and your partner work with Relka here, be her private detectives if you will and follow Mr. Val? She’s a lot more valuable behind her desk, hooked into the city’s grid, and I need to keep an eye on these riots. I can even set up a few sloppier details on Mr. Val to throw him off your scent if you think he’s on to you. A good start would be to figure out the source to his magic. I don’t get the impression he personally had anything to do with tonight’s heists, but his ‘lost kin’ might not be as innocent.”

“Thoughts?” the captain finished, opening the floor up to ideas. His presence remained hardened, with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed.

"None at all," Zazriel said, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Relka had just shot a carefully worded message to Goose, having him ask about the video everyday until she actually forgot and could remind herself and set her plans in motion. As soon as she finished she listened to the captains plans and began running her programs and algorithms to locate the shifter.

"Captain, you may want to know that the commercial district is facing the heaviest riot at the moment. My people can't help you right now, but I can reach out to more, unsightly, people and ask for their help. I am sure that the Fey Mafia can help your men. And if need be I can pay them for you, I just ask for the prisoner records since they are stored in-house and I don't have any in there yet." She said innocently, playfully batting her eyelashes at the captain hoping to get under his skin once more.

The captain rolled his eyes. “No, no Fey Mafia. Just work with Zazriel here, as I asked please. We need more information… something I’m sure you understand.”

The night sky, while usually distorted from the city lights and smog, looked especially ominous on this night. Smoke billowed from burning buildings below, completely blocking out any stars and the full moon. Instead, the clouds glowed a deep red, a reflection of the flames below.

On the ground, sirens could be heard in all directions, as well as shattering glass, gunshots, and screams. Rioters of all kinds stormed the streets: humans, dark elves, and all sorts of creatures of the night. What they all had in common, they were the city's poor, the forgotten, the ones who lived in the slums.

It was as if hell had risen out of the planet's core itself. In fact, the demons below were already on the rise. They could smell the souls above being corrupted, a buffet of the most wonderful kind.

A few of them were already on the surface, those who lived there in secret, possessing humans or other non-magical animals, or simply those who lived in the shadows. With these riots, they no longer had to hide their bloodlust. They could run amok and no one would even notice. They knew, in a matter of hours, their brethren would be joining them. Entire hoards of demons would be joining them.

----

As Valathos exited the building, he took in a deep breath. His eyes moved to the smoke filled sky, the city of fire. His legs carried him swiftly to a beat up vehicle, parked on the side of the imposing mansion. A smile crossed his face as he went to open the trunk of the vehicle. Metal scraping metal could be heard as he put the key into the keyhole.

There was a loud pop as the trunk kicked open. He looked at his watch, then started to undress down to his underwear. Under the light in the parking lot, scars could be seen all over his lanky, almost nude form. He folded his clothing and placed them neatly into a bag, a motion that said he had done this many times. After he set the bag into the trunk, he pulled out some new blue jeans, a pair of black socks, a grey t-shirt, an over the head blue hoodie, and some work boots. Another glance at his watch seemed to put a pep in his step, as he quickly walked to the front of the car. He opened the creaking door, tossed his clothing into the passenger side, and climbed into the driver seat.

There he sat for a moment, taking a measured breath. Then, he grabbed his phone and made what looked like ten phone calls. When his calls were completed, he went to put the keys in the ignition only to recall that he left them in the trunks’ keyhole. A smile crossed his face as he got out to close the trunk, retrieving his keys in the same motion. Quick and precise movements were all that could be seen as he got back in the car and shut the door.

He pulled the seat belt across his chest and tried to start the vehicle. It didn’t turn over the first time, so he pumped the gas pedal twice and tried again. The sound of a coughing old man with lung issues slowly faded as the car came to life.

As he drove, he obeyed the laws of the road to the letter. Ten short minutes later, he arrived in a parking lot, where more than a few moving trucks and semi trucks with trailers waited for him. As he got out of the vehicle, he started to get dressed. First, his pants came on: left leg while skipping on his right and vice versa. Then, he pulled on his grey shirt, while shifting his shoes and sweater between hands.

Some of the forty something people standing outside their vehicles started to laugh. He laughed with them, and as he pulled over his hoodie, he talked with them. He casually gave them directions, as if nothing was strange about what he was doing.

He then tossed his shoes to the ground as everyone pulled out their phones, per his orders. Each of them had Foofle maps open and were entering the addresses that Val gave them. He used his socks to dust off his right foot, then put on the sock and the shoe. While he did this, someone moved over to help him balance. A minute later he had both boots on his feet.

They spoke light heartedly for a few more minutes, before they all started getting into their trucks, one by one. Five minutes later, the last truck pulled away. Val followed behind closely in his car. The truck he was following was part of the caravan headed into the center of the city, where the biggest riots were taking place.

---

Relka sat at her large computer, simultaneously helping organize riot control in the worst areas of the city, while keeping an eye on the mysterious Val. The taped conversation still sitting where she left it. How was she going to get her hands on a shifter? She had been scratching her brain on this for a while. At the same time, she kept her eyes on her computer screens, freely switching through the city’s cameras.

Shooting quick messages to Zaz to keep him updated, she debated leading him astray, but her damn reputation preceded her. She knew the Captain would know right away she betrayed them. She would have to play this closely.

Zazriel pulled out his phone as he and Liel left the mansion, checking the recent messages from Relka as he went, before shutting the screen off and sliding it back into his pocket. He looked up to see Liel hopping into the driver's side of their car. Her door slammed shut, and he followed suit, clambering into the passenger’s seat. They were off and on their way in a matter of seconds, Zazriel giving her directions.

The ride was quiet, aside from the occasional explosion of fire. The carnage outside the car window was getting worse by the minute, but that wasn’t the mission. They had a mystery to solve.

“What do you think?” Liel asked as she rounded a corner, narrowly avoiding running someone over. “This Val guy obviously knows more than he’s letting on, but is this really the best way to spend our effort? Is this really worth it?”

“It’s the only choice we’ve got as far as I can see,” Zazriel said with a shrug. “It isn’t as though we can go to the authorities and bring up the issue with them. You heard the contract just as clearly as I, agreed to it too. And I’ll be damned if that shape changing bastard thinks he can just give all of us the slip. His kin and their problems affect us and this city just as much as they do him.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Liel agreed, not taking her eyes off the road. She remained quiet the rest of the drive, keeping her focus on the chaos in the streets.

It took some time, but they did catch up to the butler, Val. At least, they caught up to the car he’d last been seen driving. It parked close behind a large truck that it had been following, the contents of said truck a mystery.

“So what do you think we do next?” Liel asked as she pulled to stop. Two blocks away, they could make out the tall shape of Mr. Val, stepping out of his car. “I don’t think we should get any closer or get out of the car, not yet at least. What do you think?”

“We definitely don’t want to be seen,” Zazriel said, watching Val through narrowed eyes. “We’ll stay here until he’s out of sight, then we’ll start to tail him. Oh and don’t forget…”

He opened the central compartment and patted the holsters lying within. “Just in case.”
---

Val’s caravan stopped in the heart of the city, near a massive park that would normally be green in the summer. Of course, this time of year, the park would be barren for winter. If only that was the case, because this night, the trees were on fire.

The largest truck placed itself closest to the park and opened up from the side to reveal a stage. As the truck opened dramatically, Val entered through a back door. When the stage was set, he simply stood there, calm, looking at his phone. He was watching a live map of the city, waiting for his other trucks to get into position.

When all the red dots had turned green, he put his phone back into his pocket and looked up to the large crowd that gathered round. Many of them stood there, mouths aghast, deciding what to think of this strange site. Others began to shout profanities. They were in the mood to riot. They didn’t care about the sideshow.

“Everyone, please give me a few minutes of your time!” He pleaded to the restless mob, speaking through the lone microphone, the only other object on stage with him.

Across the city, the other trucks opened up to form similar stages. Except on these stages, there wasn’t a person, not in the flesh at least. Instead, holograms of Val repeated his speech. At first, there was some interference, as the holograms flickered, but this issue cleared up as he spoke.

“I’m sure you are all thinking that I’m a rich spoiled person who doesn’t know the pain, fear, and anger. You believe that people like you, like us, cannot be heard. A few years ago I had nothing, I had lost my wife and child because of the strong, the wealthy. I’m here to be the voice for those they wish to remain silent!” Val stated as he tried to hold back his tears. Sadly he could not and one drop came free. He wiped the tear away and cleared his throat to stop his wavering voice.

“Together we will find a way to work with you and your families to help you all feel secure and safe! There will be no need to hide no matter which race you are! We at Omnicore, welcome all! We will become an omni racial family, closer to kin than anyone! With this, we will be able to speak and have our voices heard! This is the way we will change the world! We will make great strides from within the system! This is the only way to get them to listen!” He stated as he pointed to the corporation buildings.

“Stand united with me and I will lead you to a better tomorrow and a stable future! Please put away your doubt and fear. Your hatred and blind rage. Come and partake of the food we have prepared just for you! Shower, get new clothing, become one with us!” Val waved a hand, and the sides to all the other semi trucks lit up to reveal the Omnicore logo, and each truck had a special label beside the logo, such as a piece of bread or a five pointed star.

Beside the trucks, people were waiting with contracts and other papers that needed to be filled out. The forms asked for medical history, types of food eaten, what they would like to do if given the opportunity. They also asked for current income, current investments, current... almost everything, and an NDA.

“Please read over these contracts as they will assist us in assisting you! You may do so while eating, and if you need someone to help you understand the questions, we have people for that!” Val finished as he moved down to where the food was. He washed his hands and started to help hand out food.

His hologram copies all across the city also went to do the same thing, however as they moved off the stage, his image vanished. Other workers were there to hand out the food. However, TVs mounted on the sides of all the trucks showed him at the main one, as he handed out plate after plate.

While there were many people in line for food or curiously looking through the papers Val’s men had to offer, others were content to go back to rioting.

…

Relka swore under her breath. Val had pulled this into the public eye. It was a masterful stroke really, taking the poor and the weak and forming them into a makeshift army. He could, in theory, make the city a war zone. These people have had to fight for their lives to eat, to make money, to just survive. Those at the top have never had to do that. Everything was handed to them.

Relka had experienced both lives. She came from nothing, no better than a common street rat. She clawed her way to the position she was in now. Building her wealth of knowledge had been grueling. She was a hundred and fifty before she came to power. She had hoped that her reputation to help the slums would offer her some protection, but she also knew some people would only see her as a person of power.

These thoughts drifted on her mind while she watched Val help service the poor masses. She hadn’t reported his exact location yet, but Zazeriel made it to Vals before they moved off anyways. He might be there now if he was lucky, but Relka decided it would be best to keep her mouth shut for the time being. She was determined to come out of this thing on top. So maybe it was time to play both sides of this little game that Val started.

She sent a message to Goose, having him send a couple of his best spies to infiltrate this Omnicore. They would gather information for her on their locations, numbers, those in charge, anything that would help her learn more. One was to also try and make contact with Val himself, to give him Relkas’ direct line so they could discuss a possible alliance, She was the most knowledgeable woman in the city after all. She could make his life easier or harder, if she wanted.

…

Zazriel walked along the concrete path, running the length of the park, nose wrinkling slightly at the acrid stench of smoke as it wafted off the burning trees. He drummed his fingers against the holster strapped to his waist as he looked about in search of their elusive shifter friend before finally finding him, though not in the way he had expected. Val stood in the center of a stage protruding from the side of a truck, his only companion a single microphone and a rather sizeable crowd of onlookers. Curiosity piqued, Zaz stalked forward to merge with the group just as Val began to speak.

Zazriel stood there for a bit, listening with a critical ear. Sure the words were ones of unity and goodwill, but he'd been walking this world a very long time, and knew bullshit when heard it. This wasn't just an extension of good grace on Val's part, not when you considered the current circumstances. No, he'd chosen tonight in particular to announce his cause, a night in which people's emotions were already stirred up by the riots and looting. He managed to get his message out to a good chunk of the city as well, at least if those screens were anything to go by.

The only question was why. From everything he'd witnessed, both in the meeting and during their pursuit, nothing had indicated that this was his end goal for the night. If anything it had seemed like he was going to meet someone in secret, not pull a stunt like this. Was he trying to build a makeshift army to keep people off his back while he dealt with his kin? Collect information? Something else entirely?

Just what are you up to Val…?

Val continued helping those who wanted help, handing out one plate of food after another, despite those that went back to rioting. Just as he had people helping him hand out papers and food, he had others specifically to guard against threats. They were to use non-lethal weapons and tactical gear. They were nearly as well equipped as the police force and equally as trained. Still, the struggle to stop the violence and the fires was quite challenging.

That’s when a man and woman emerged from a white van, with the five pointed star symbol on its side, next to the Omnicore logo. The woman wore a full, hooded robe that covered most of her body. While the man wore only a speedo to cover his man bits, revealing an extremely muscular body. He looked like he could compete for mister universe and win.

The man yelled as he moved towards the fires, a gleeful smile on his face.“Ah! it seems like it is time for us to show off our training!”

“Indeed.” The female stated stoically, as she walked toward a large group of rioters.

The man reached the fires before the woman reached the crowd. He smiled as he lifted his hands, and the fires simply died out. Not the closest fire but all the fires in the immediate area. His muscles started to bulge as he fell to one knee and then the other. Soon he was sitting in a meditative posture. He was focusing on reaching more fires in the surrounding city blocks.

Meanwhile, the female reached the crowd, and someone noticed her approach. Without hesitation, the rioter rushed toward her, with a devilish grin. He aimed to crack down on her with a heavy elbow. Unflinching, she moved under and into his swing. She stood strong as his elbow hit her shoulder and dislocated under its own force. It was as if he struck a brick wall.

“Stand down or continue to break yourself.” She calmly stated, inches from his face. He was screaming loudly in pain, but managed to hear her words. Something clicked in the man’s brain, and he suddenly lost all will to fight. After stifling his screams, he moved toward the vehicles to accept their charity, like a dog with its tail tucked.

“Everyone here!” She yelled at the rest of the rioters. “Please cease your destructive activities!” Her voice was loud yet somehow calm, given the situation.

She then lowered her hood to reveal her face. Many people in the crowd instantly recognized her. She used to be something of a mother figure for the poor in this district. She disappeared months ago. Everyone wondered where she had gone. Some thought that she died. Half the crowd stepped back, while the other half rushed her, brandishing all sorts of melee weapons. Apparently, they had resented her leaving them.

It was strange, yet captivating to watch her fight. She was as fluid as water as she dodged the mob’s attacks and then became ridgid like ice when she countered. This lasted for about a minute, before she closed her eyes and sighed.

“If you will not stop, then you must be punished.” She said coldly as she swept her hand once through the air. As she did, they all stopped, gasping for breath. Then, one by one, they started to fall, until the fight was over. She had pulled nearly all the air out of the area, turning it into a vacuum of sorts.

The rioters that didn’t choose to fight, the ones that retreated to safety, they pointed out someone amongst the rioters that laid unconscious on the ground. This person was dressed like one of them, but he was definitely not a part of their original group. In fact, none of them had ever seen the person before.

Val’s eyes widened in surprise as he too noticed the person on the ground. He was a good distance away, still handing out food when the fight took place, but he had been keeping an eye on things.

The one on the ground was definitely someone he once knew… a shifter.

The woman, hardly phased from her battle, strode toward the muscular man sitting on the ground. She laughed at him slightly.

He let out a sigh as he looked up to her.“A little help, please?” He asked, referring to the fires still burning in buildings down the street.

“Can’t do it alone, little boy?” She asked with a smile, as she held out her hand.

“You know I’m not as precise as you.” He admitted as he grabbed her hand and stood up. At this point his body was covered in sweat.

They stood in silence for a moment, both focusing, one hand in the other’s. As they did, ice started to form over the remaining fires. Slowly, the ice melted and the chilled water began to put out their flames.

Once all the fires they could see were out, the woman directed the smoke to go up into the air, instead of covering the area. By this point, they both were sweating. She grimaced as they let go of each other’s hands and headed back to the picnic tables next to the food trucks.

Val had moved around from behind the food serving station and met the two magical warriors, just before they reached the tables. “Please eat.” Val said as he directed to the food he had waiting for them.

Once the man and women were sat, Val made a quick but smooth path to the unconscious rioters. He picked up the one he recognized as a shifter by the thin man’s shirt collar and dragged him to a table in the park, a good distance away from others. He then pulled something out and waved it under the nose of the shifter, waking it from its slumber.

“Now then, tell me who sent you?” Val questioned flatly only to make the unknown shifter scoff, sleepily. He didn’t speak, only sat there looking at Val. Valathos couldn’t reveal who he was but smiled, as he took a small microphone out of his pants pocket.

“Look at how terrified this person is!” He stated, as cameramen in the area turned to focus on him and the shifter. He looked like a normal everyday guy but something was off. His eyes seemed bigger than normal, his mouth as well.

“He is so afraid, that he feels that he cannot show who he truly is in public!” Val continued. If there were others like him in the other groups, surely they would have been seeing this broadcast.

“Even though he looks like this and is different!” He skipped a beat to turn his head and acknowledge the shifter directly. “We welcome you! No longer will you be alone! No longer will you be led astray by those in power, who have no foresight! You will be part of a grand family who will accept you for who you are, not for what you can do!”

Val placed his hand on the shifter’s shoulder. It was a gentle and loving placement. Like one a father gives his son. “Everyone is welcome to join our family!” He then finished on a softer tone. “All you need to do is take the opportunity.”

Val placed the microphone back in his pocket, removed his hand from the young man’s shoulder, and sat next to him with legs crossed and a relaxed posture. Even seated next to the shifter, he was much taller. He gazed down at the young man with kind eyes.
The camera operators stayed on this sight for a few more moments, until they realized the spectacle had ended. And so, they panned back to the crowds of people, standing in line for free food.

---

Miles away, in the comfort of her own home, Relka pondered the situation. She was flying through information from the people she had infiltrated this new organization. It was only their first night, so she anticipated to get very little, but she could still send instructions and gather what little bit she could. She had to figure out this group's true intentions. This facade, most likely, only held up outside the inner circle.

Alas, Val was so deep in the crowd her messenger couldn’t get to him at this time. Hopefully before he left, they would reach him, or maybe one of the two impressive mages knew something? She couldn’t be sure… and she didn’t like not being sure.

She then pressed a button to her direct line to Zazriel, which would activate his phone and give an alert, as long as it was on. It seemed to work, as there was no error message, but there was no answer. “Zaz, what’s the plan? The captain needs an update.” she asked warily.

All she got was silence. She immediately began searching the cameras near where he was last seen… no luck. So she widened her search, and there was still no sign of him.
Slightly worried, slightly annoyed, she grabbed her phone and sent a message to the captain to alert him of the newest development.

What the hell was going on in her damn city? And where did Zaz get off too?