# New to the Field (Chapter 2, Act 1, Book 2)

Author: KitKaramak
Tags: Action, Character Development, Clone, Fantasy, Fox, Kitsune, Plot Development, Sci-Fi, Series, Story Progression, Story Series, Succubus, Superheroes, Supernatural, Vampire

#2 of Twilight of the Gods Book3

Kalen Kincade.
(Model: Ralf Baumgarten)
(Copyright © 2011 Lukas Sowada; DeviantArt, Used for non-profit Entertainment Purposes only)

New to the Field

_October 1, 9:22pm PST  
Old Oakland, California_

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; **Kalen Kincade leapt from the roof of the third story building.** &nbsp; The ground rushed up to meet him.&nbsp; He held the sniper rifle up, above his head, in his left hand.&nbsp; His right hand moved between his knees as he dropped into a crouch on the sidewalk.&nbsp; Dust waft up beneath his feet.&nbsp;

&nbsp; He dashed out across Jefferson Street, sprinting towards the two boys at the park.&nbsp; He hurdled over a homeless person, towards the group.&nbsp; At a full run, he lifted the rifle upwards and pointed it towards one of the mercenaries.&nbsp; At a glance, their blurry image came into view - he fired the weapon.&nbsp; The round missed the mercenary, but struck another directly behind the first.&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Whoa, stop!" shouted Evan.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Kalen came skidding to a halt, weapon lifted towards another mercenary.&nbsp; Some of them kept their weapons pointed towards Evan and Johann.&nbsp; The rest of them pointed their guns back at Kalen, in a standoff.&nbsp; Johann Foster lowered to one knee, hissing softly in pain.

&nbsp; "No one needs to be shooting anyone," Evan announced in a clear tone.&nbsp; "Killing isn't the answer.&nbsp; There's been too much of that."&nbsp; He scooted his right foot back and nudged Johann's hip. "Sorry, man.&nbsp; That's my bad for not stopping it in time."

&nbsp; "That's the vampire," one of the mercenaries exclaimed in an excited whisper.&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Seriously?" another one asked in a soft tone.&nbsp; "Their side has vampires, too?"

&nbsp; "Shut up, all of you," said the squad leader.&nbsp; He paused then added, "There are three of you freaks.&nbsp; There are ten of us.&nbsp; I'd say that's about even, considering what you people can do.&nbsp; Now, why the hell are you three out here?&nbsp; We came after the doctor.&nbsp; Somehow, you people let him get away.&nbsp; He's a priority target.&nbsp; Tell us where he went and we can all walk away from this peacefully."

&nbsp; "Fuck that," said one of the mercenaries.&nbsp; "That bloodsucker just shot Dunham, and he's got Harper's rifle, meaning that guy is probably dead, too."

&nbsp; "Hey!" Evan said in a scolding voice.&nbsp; "No need to talk like that.&nbsp; We're all civilized adults, here.&nbsp; Geeze.&nbsp; Seriously."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "The doctor is getting away while we stand around," said one of the men to the squad leader.&nbsp;

&nbsp; "He's long gone, thanks to me.&nbsp; You've missed your opportunity to slay one supernatural," said Kalen.&nbsp; "You'll just have to settle for the three of us."

&nbsp; The leader's eyes cut from the boys back to Kalen, but he kept his head otherwise still.&nbsp; The ski mask stuck to his top lip as he spoke.&nbsp; "The one we were hunting... Where is he?&nbsp; I assure you that he was not going to be killed."

&nbsp; "So?" Evan snapped. "You guys are done.&nbsp; Pack it up. Put the guns down.&nbsp; We're going to turn you over to the cops."

&nbsp; "That's not an option," said Kalen. "That only keeps them off the street for a few hours, young man."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Then what are our options?" asked Evan.

&nbsp; Kalen smirked at the surrounding mercenaries.&nbsp; He lowered the barrel of his sniper rifle, so that it pointed towards the ground.&nbsp; "They're the ones holding weapons. They just don't know how effective those guns will be on us.&nbsp; That's why they haven't fired them yet."

&nbsp; "I beg to differ." Johann stood up, slowly, then rolled up his torn, bloody sleeve.&nbsp; He spit on his palm then rubbed the blood away from his arm, showing the squad leader that the mark was gone.&nbsp; "I was shot two weeks ago.&nbsp; And you know what I learned?&nbsp; I can manipulate the wound on the molecular level.&nbsp; Now, what's so important about that man you were hunting?"

&nbsp; The squad leader lifted his pistol a bit more and pointed it at Johann's forehead. "You won't heal the next one, kid."

&nbsp; Evan put his hands down and turned around to face the man that was going toe-to-toe with Johann.&nbsp; "Okay, pal.&nbsp; I've had enough of this."&nbsp; Evan tensed up.&nbsp; Every weapon in the area, including the sniper rifle held by Kalen, turned to glass.&nbsp;

&nbsp; The vampire glanced down at the gun then threw it on the ground.&nbsp; It shattered.&nbsp; The fragments turned to sand on the pavement.&nbsp; He looked down at the little white dunes of silica then back up at the surprised mercenary group.&nbsp; Kalen shook his head and removed his blazer and silk tie.&nbsp; He walked over to a nearby bench and laid them over the backrest.&nbsp; "Very well.&nbsp; No guns, no problem."

&nbsp; "No," Evan said.&nbsp; "No&nbsp;_fighting_.&nbsp; At all.&nbsp; For any of you.&nbsp; Why are you after that other man?" he asked, directing his last question to the squad leader.&nbsp; "What's special about him?"

&nbsp; The mercenaries remained silent.&nbsp; Kalen cleared his throat and said, "He has a precognitive ability. &nbsp;Seers are the only supernaturals that have proven impossible to capture."

&nbsp; "Where's my sniper, leech?"

&nbsp; Kalen pointed to another mercenary and smiled. "Like the guy over there&nbsp;_just_&nbsp;said... I had his rifle, so he's obviously dead.&nbsp; I just fed.&nbsp; For those of you who have gone against my kind... you can shoot me all you want. I'll burn off a full feed on healing, then the rest of you will replenish whatever else I'll need.&nbsp; Oh, and I know just how to bite to make it painfully debilitating."

&nbsp; "That's it," said one of the men.&nbsp; He turned to Kalen and lunged with a combat knife.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Kincade reached for the man's wrist and guided the blade brazenly into himself, then watched the mercenary's eyes.&nbsp;

&nbsp; The attacker blinked in confusion.&nbsp; He glanced down at where his knife went into Kalen's body.&nbsp; His eyes lifted. "Don't you even feel that, freak?"

&nbsp; "It tickles," Kalen lied, keeping a stoic expression.&nbsp; "Here, let me return the favor."&nbsp; Before anyone could so much as bat a lash, Kalen brought his hands up and snapped the man's neck.&nbsp; "Over seventy pounds of pressure, when a victim isn't resisting, makes this one of Hollywood's favorite ways of taking people down."

&nbsp; The man lay on the ground, eyes open.&nbsp; His lips quivered, unable to breath.&nbsp; He blinked rapidly and his skin began to turn an ashen color in the illumination of a lamppost.&nbsp; Kalen looked back up, but no one moved.&nbsp; "As you can see, Hollywood lied.&nbsp; Death is not instantaneous.&nbsp; He's unable to breathe."&nbsp; The mercenary lay there, with very little chest movement.&nbsp; His eyes flitted about awkwardly, in a panic.&nbsp; He pursed his lips together as if to try and say, 'please' but couldn't speak.&nbsp; Kalen withdrew the knife from himself then twirled the blade about, so that it faced outwards in his grip.&nbsp; "Next?"

&nbsp; "No,&nbsp;_please_!" Evan held his hands outstretched.&nbsp; "Just stop.&nbsp; You're not impressing us.&nbsp; You're scaring these people."

&nbsp; "Scaring?!" Kalen exclaimed with an incredulous expression.

&nbsp; "Yes!" Evan replied with a similar tone. "Someone convinced them that we're a threat to humanity or something.&nbsp; So that's why they're following their orders unquestioningly.&nbsp; Yes, it's wrong that they vehemently attacked our kind out of the blue last month.&nbsp; But they've seen how easily a supernatural person can kill - so it makes them feel like they're right.&nbsp; They think they're acting on an offensive defense.&nbsp; You're proving them right."

&nbsp; Kalen stared at Evan for a moment.&nbsp; "Before tonight, I thought you two boys were doing this as a joke.&nbsp; Like some sort of game, pretending to be 'superheroes.'&nbsp; Perhaps I've misjudged you, young man.&nbsp; But they attacked first.&nbsp; And with so few of us left, they're engaged to see this through to the end.&nbsp; And because the end of the Esoteric Community is plainly visible at this point... my only remaining option is to kill them all until one side stands victorious."&nbsp; Kalen paused, turned to the squad leader and said, "And we both know your arrest won't go beyond processing.&nbsp; So that isn't an option, either."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Fine." Eric tensed his forearms.&nbsp; Glass from the weapons turned to sand then reformed back into glass, creating knee-high shackles for each mercenary.&nbsp; "Now.&nbsp; None of them can run away.&nbsp; Johann?"

&nbsp; "Let's unmask all our villains."&nbsp; The two boys removed the masks of the entire squad.&nbsp; They both pulled their cellphones out then took pictures of each man's face.&nbsp; When they finished, they touched their phones together, sending each the pictures that the other took, so they had the complete collection.&nbsp; Evan turned his phone about and began to type on it with his thumbs.&nbsp; He put it into his pocket then lifted his forearm and used the Bluetooth watch adaptor to email the pictures to himself.&nbsp; "Now.&nbsp; These guys are all exposed.&nbsp; From now on, I'm going to document all of them and capture or take down as many hunting parties as I can find.&nbsp; Then, if I die, the pictures get automatically forwarded to several major media outlets.&nbsp; And the world finds out about what they've done.&nbsp; Now..." He turned back to Johann and asked, "What's the plan?"

&nbsp; Foster rubbed his arm where he'd healed the bullet wound and muscular tissue.&nbsp; "God this itches... Uhm... I say we go find the doctor guy, and make sure he's okay."&nbsp; Johann glanced at Kalen. "Uhm... you should come with us.&nbsp; That way these guys don't tempt you as being easy targets."&nbsp;

&nbsp; Evan turned to the leader.&nbsp; "Those new glass boots are made from ballistic resistant glass.&nbsp; You're going to have to be cut out of those.&nbsp; But I'm not a monster, you got it?"&nbsp; Evan glanced up at a nearby billboard, advertising late-night pizza delivery then he lifted his forearm again and used his large wristwatch to make a phone call.&nbsp;

&nbsp; A moment later, a pizza delivery operator answered the line.&nbsp; "Yeah, I'm at Lafayette Square across from 1010 Jefferson Street.&nbsp; I need two cheese pizzas."&nbsp; He walked away from the group and recited his credit card number.&nbsp; After hanging up, he announced, "I feed my prisoners."&nbsp; The young man grinned then said, "Okay, Johann... the doctor may have been part of that surgeon's convention they're having not far from here.&nbsp; We should start asking around."&nbsp;

&nbsp; Kalen stared at the boys for a moment then sighed.&nbsp; "Cybil J. Powalski." He gestured in a dismissing fashion towards the looming Marriott in the distance.&nbsp; "Just make sure he's alright.&nbsp; I'll go with you to the convention center; I need to pick up my car from that area.&nbsp; But I won't go with you to speak to the seer.&nbsp; I need to get back to my home and start packing things for the move.&nbsp; Do yourselves a favor, boys... don't stick with this line of work.&nbsp; It will only draw attention to yourselves."&nbsp;

&nbsp; The vampire began to walk away.&nbsp; He paused at the roadside, glanced over his shoulders and said, "Oh, and good work, boys.&nbsp; Despite your myopic approach to handling the genocidal hunting parties who have decimated entire sects, and murdered thousands... I have to admit I'm impressed by your humility and humanitarian fighting effort."&nbsp; He crossed Jefferson Street and headed back towards the convention center. &nbsp;

&nbsp; Johann and Evan hurried after him, headed up 10th&nbsp;street to the George Scotlan Memorial Convention Center.

X

* * *

X

_Meanwhile...  
Just across the bay..._

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; **"I don't go by 'Methos' anymore.** &nbsp;You can call me Lance Patterson, now.&nbsp; How can we help one another, my dear?" He stepped from the driver side of a black 'licorice' colored Elio Motors first generation three-wheel car.&nbsp; He tilted his head, meeting the gaze of USPRI Agent Samantha Summers, then popped the trunk.

&nbsp; Summers took his bag of groceries from the back of the car and headed up the steps to his home.&nbsp; She let herself inside and carried the bag to his kitchen, pausing briefly to glare at several holes in the living room floor.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Surprised but not one to show it, Lance followed her into the house and closed the front door.&nbsp; "I'm fully capable of doing that myself."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Just sit down and relax.&nbsp; I want to get a handle on you before we talk," she called from the kitchen, adding, "And don't you dare make a gender joke."

&nbsp; "I wouldn't think of it."&nbsp; He settled down and picked up his iPad.&nbsp; Moments later, he watched her emerge from the kitchen.&nbsp; Lance put the tablet down. "So... how can I help you, Agent Summers?"

&nbsp; Again, Samantha gazed down at the body-sized holes in the wood flooring. "You're the math genius?"

&nbsp; "Is that what your files tell you?" he asked the woman.

&nbsp; She looked back up at the man who appeared in his early thirties and said, "According to what I saw in your file, you talked theory with Isaac Newton and Gottfried Liebniz.&nbsp; Soon after, they were arguing about who invented Calculus first."

&nbsp; "Perhaps.&nbsp; That would suggest I was old, Agent Summers.&nbsp; And if I did talk about theory with them, I certainly wouldn't have gone too deeply into infinitesimal calculus, because it was something that mankind needed to explore on its own.&nbsp; You see, it is not very good to drag someone through a door; it's better to show them 'said door' and let them walk through on their own.&nbsp; If you force things on people, and they capitulate, it makes them closed minded.&nbsp; But mathematicians are logical-minded people.&nbsp; For them, you need only to postulate that a door exists at a place in time, and they will find their way to the correct address, up the walk, and through the door without anyone else to hold their hand.&nbsp; Provided they are either motivated... or open-minded enough... to work out the equation."

&nbsp; "I see.&nbsp; Would you like to 'posit a theory' on why I'm here?"

&nbsp; Lance grinned.&nbsp; "You've been trained as an USPRI agent," he said, pronouncing the acronym like, 'osprey.'&nbsp; "They're no longer needed because the geneticist, Aris Falcon, recruited a paramilitary force comprised of local police, soldiers of fortune, and concerned members of local government military.&nbsp; He attacked everyone on nearly the same night.&nbsp; The Esoteric Community is assumed to have fallen.&nbsp; And, so, USPRI is now unnecessary.&nbsp; That frees up black budget money.&nbsp; Sadly, now that you've learned how to do your job... your job no longer exists.&nbsp; So you're freelancing."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Like you said, mathematicians are logic-minded people.&nbsp; I was on an assignment a few weeks ago.&nbsp; A man lost his abilities.&nbsp; Four other supernaturals lost their abilities when they came in contact with him, but he didn't pass it on to his children.&nbsp; I can't help but be curious about how his kids can be immune.&nbsp; Now it seems that he's no longer contagious.&nbsp; While I was in town, conducting my investigation, there were mass gatherings of your kind."

&nbsp; "Go on, young lady."

&nbsp; Summers folded her arms and paced in Lance's living room, mindful of the holes in the floor.&nbsp; "I know these holes came from an attack against you by one of Falcon's people.&nbsp; I find it surprising that you decided to maintain you current residence."&nbsp; She began walking around the holes, examining them.&nbsp; "Anyhow... My team leader was an USPRI veteran.&nbsp; He'd been with the agency since its inception in 2011.&nbsp; We decided to follow the supernaturals to their gathering.&nbsp; Then a paramilitary force attacked."

&nbsp; "Yes. Falcon's goons.&nbsp; They are highly coordinated and they know how to contain the damage they cause, making Volunteer 606 look like amateurs."

&nbsp; Samantha frowned.&nbsp; "You mean the fire department that hunts supernaturals for so-called 'religious purposes,' yes?&nbsp; Newsflash, they&nbsp;_are_&nbsp;amateurs.&nbsp; They corner foes and use fire; they have a prayer session and call it a 'religious victory.'&nbsp; They're dangerous radicals, and they're responsible for burning down entire city blocks with their arson strikes.&nbsp; That's as 'amateur' as you can get. &nbsp;I've arrested several of them over the last six months."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "But they are motivated and achieve results.&nbsp; So... What brings you here, Agent Summers?"

&nbsp; "I'm not an agent anymore.&nbsp; My department was closed.&nbsp; The Government didn't want my knowledge of supernatural people to wind up in the wrong hands.&nbsp; So they barred me from rehire with the Government for eight years, which cheapens the credibility of anything I would ever try telling the press."

&nbsp; "How... does one do such?"

&nbsp; "They manipulated my finances to show that I have poor credit, and that I've filed for bankruptcy.&nbsp; I know of one agent that was committed to a psych ward, because the loss of his job made him so angry that he wrote a book about everything he saw.&nbsp; The book deal was canceled due to 'reasons of national security' before it ever got published.&nbsp; Then one day he was picked up and taken to a mental institute.&nbsp; I've been lying low and doing what I do best... investigating.&nbsp; The problem is, I was still a probationary agent.&nbsp; And now I'm financially ruined."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Very well, what brings you to me?"&nbsp;

&nbsp; "If I can prove that the Government was involved with the attacks on esoteric people..." Samantha trailed off with a frown.

&nbsp; "You're begging for trouble," Lance said.&nbsp; "The thing is, we're not really evil.&nbsp; And quite a few of us did survive."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Yes... one girl rescued me from a rapist.&nbsp; I didn't realize it at the time - I was still in shock.&nbsp; But I think I've seen a file on her now that the traumatic moment is over.&nbsp; Young, blond hair, skirt... very confident with the rapist.&nbsp; I realize that not all supernatural people are bad.&nbsp; I need to stop this nonsense from going any further.&nbsp; There are still people left in the world that need to be protected."

&nbsp; "I know the girl you mentioned.&nbsp; If you want to continue your investigation... you will need a logistical coordinator to feed you intelligence.&nbsp; Is that why you came to me?"

&nbsp; "I need answers.&nbsp; You're intelligent and you've been around for a long time."

&nbsp; "You... could say that," Lance replied with a smirk. "How old do you think I am?"

&nbsp; "You were somehow involved in an incident at the Great Library, during the time of Jesus."

&nbsp; "My dear girl, I arranged the burning of the Great Library of Alexandria because it housed a collection of scrolls that were uncovered about an age forgotten by time.&nbsp; An age that needed to&nbsp;_stay_&nbsp;forgotten.&nbsp; You see, there were a handful of people wishing to return to that time, and I could not allow it.&nbsp; I never met Jesus, but he helped the one your files will call 'Isaac,' my dear."

&nbsp; She eyed him for a moment then said, "I heard another rumor that you perfected the Pythagorean theorem.&nbsp; What happened with that?"

&nbsp; "I perfected a theory in Babylon that involved hypotenuse, through means of algebra and geometry.&nbsp; Transcripts of my work remained in Babylon.&nbsp; Many years afterwards, I visited the Greek scholar upon which the equation was later named, while he was still fairly young, traveling through Egypt.&nbsp; A few years after that, I began hearing rumors of a supernatural Greek man named Pythagoras.&nbsp; Turns out he was just confident in his abilities and very charismatic.&nbsp; To the point that he had followers.&nbsp; I went back to speak with him again.&nbsp; I learned that he moved to Italy.&nbsp; He was a good mathematician, but a better Philosopher.&nbsp; He turned his love of numbers into a philosophical religion... it became so popular that ignorant mundane people attacked Pythagoras' followers, and burned their meeting places to the ground.&nbsp; A lot of things attributed to him were invented by his followers, in his name.&nbsp; I've answered your question - what are you trying to prove?"

&nbsp; "It proves you're old.&nbsp; But it doesn't validate the legitimacy of such advanced age.&nbsp; So I'm still curious.&nbsp; Now, when you say Babylon... you're talking over a thousand years&nbsp;_before_&nbsp;Christ?"

&nbsp; "If it pleases you to think so."

&nbsp; She scrunched her nose a bit and leered at him.&nbsp; "Are you the oldest?"

&nbsp; "No.&nbsp; Second oldest, provided these raids don't catch up with the one you still call 'Isaac.'&nbsp; What about you, young lady?&nbsp; Now that you're unemployed and bankrupt... what are your plans?"

&nbsp; "I'll get money where I can, and when I'm able.&nbsp; From that point, I will continue my investigations.&nbsp; It's what I know how to do."

&nbsp; Lance folded his arms and leaned back in his favorite reading chair.&nbsp; "I'll tell you what... I don't want any more of us to die.&nbsp; I will employ you to continue your investigation.&nbsp; You will report your findings to me and only me."&nbsp;

&nbsp; She paused with a pensive expression.&nbsp; Samantha fidgeted for a moment, considering her options. "Where do I start?"

&nbsp; Lance reached for a notepad and wrote on the page.&nbsp; He scribbled in the corner then threw the pen into the trash and reached for another one on his end table.&nbsp; He wrote down an address and said, "There's a young woman named Nichole Parker.&nbsp; She's the sister of the man whose powers abruptly disappeared.&nbsp; Follow her - she's investigating the mercenaries employed by Aris Falcon.&nbsp; Do&nbsp;_not_&nbsp;interfere.&nbsp; Even if she's attacked.&nbsp; Your primary objectives are the same as before USPRI was shut down.&nbsp; You investigate in stealth, and you stop any supernatural that has a flagrant disregard for keeping their abilities somewhat secret.&nbsp; If they blow up cars or destroy property in front of a crowd, then you need to stop them at all costs.&nbsp; I will cover your expenses, and provide you with an allowance of money.&nbsp; But you report only to me."

&nbsp; "I understand."

&nbsp; "One more thing." He opened a small drawer in his end table.&nbsp; "You know those new contact lenses that let you see a heads up display?"

&nbsp; "Contact HUDs have been around for couple of years now, Mister Patterson."

&nbsp; "Yes, but these are new_er_.&nbsp; The old ones used a translucent battery strip around the outer edge of the contact lens.&nbsp; And the thickness sometimes irritated the user.&nbsp; However, there's a new model not yet released to the consumer market."

&nbsp; "Oh?&nbsp; Test market technology?"

&nbsp; "Something like that."

&nbsp; "So how do these new ones work?"

&nbsp; Lance grinned a bit.&nbsp; "The new model draws charge off the contact of your body.&nbsp; Consider the electricity that your body puts out; that is how capacitive screens determine where you're touching on a glass surface.&nbsp; These lenses charge off of that low-level field put out by your body.&nbsp; So long as they're in your eyes, they will stay active.&nbsp; Every few hours, you need to put eye drops in.&nbsp; That helps equalize the two types of charge used to power them.&nbsp; One is positive; the other is electron charge.&nbsp; The contacts absorb the drops to create the chemical interaction.&nbsp; They also help with wearing the lenses for long periods."

&nbsp; "Seriously, they don't have a battery strip around the edge?&nbsp; That's what annoyed me about the ones already on the market."

&nbsp; He offered a nod in reply.&nbsp; "Quite so.&nbsp; The new design makes them thinner&nbsp;_and_&nbsp;more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.&nbsp; I want you to wear this pair.&nbsp; I can help you by sending information to your phone.&nbsp; Your body is both the battery and the antenna to pair them to your phone."&nbsp;

&nbsp; She took the small-hinged jewelry box and opened it.&nbsp; Within was a small container for contact lenses, and a rather small plastic bottle of eye drops.&nbsp; "So working for you has perks?&nbsp; Well, thanks, Q-Branch.&nbsp; They only come in 'clear' huh?"

&nbsp; Lance folded his arms.&nbsp; "They have emitters on each side of the lens.&nbsp; There is an application for your phone to make the forward-facing layer turn different colors, but it may reduce the crispness of the inside of the lens, which displays your HUD.&nbsp; There's also an application to minutely alter the viscosity inside the lens, itself."

&nbsp; "Um... What will that do?"

&nbsp; He smiled a bit.&nbsp; "Just a fraction of a change inside the lens will allow them to become a different eye prescription, for different users.&nbsp; It has a side benefit of allowing you to turn them into low-level binoculars.&nbsp; Don't expect to be able to see indiscernible details at great distance... it simply enhances microprint, or, perhaps, to increase the clarity of objects at a distance... or perhaps it can benefit aiming accuracy.&nbsp; However, it has to be controlled by a phone, or a Bluetooth control panel, or something akin to a Google Glass headband.&nbsp; I'll text you a link to where you have to download the interface application.&nbsp; It's a third party app; you'll need to change your phone's settings to accept third party software."&nbsp;

&nbsp; Samantha stared at him in wonder.&nbsp; After a moment, she nodded.&nbsp; In a soft tone, she said, "Uh, sure.&nbsp; Yeah.&nbsp; I'll click the box in the settings menu - I know what you mean.&nbsp; But... seriously, these things can change color, increase visual acuity,&nbsp;_and_&nbsp;give me a heads up display?&nbsp; All without needing to be charged?"&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Don't lose the eyedrops.&nbsp; That's part of how they're charged."

&nbsp; "Still.&nbsp; That's amazing." Samantha pocketed the box. "Text me with the apps and the instructions on how to pair them."

&nbsp; "Don't lose the lenses.&nbsp; They're quite new and difficult to replace.&nbsp; I apologize about the drops, however.&nbsp; Battery technology is far behind where it should be in my opinion.&nbsp; The lenses should be able to run off body heat, without eye drops; perhaps that will be the next model.&nbsp; LG came out with technology to have a Lithium-Ion battery so flexible that you could use it to tie your shoes... and that was in 2012.&nbsp; Around the same time, the University of Wisconsin invented a shoe that creates ten watts of power simply by walking, and it could have kept the lace-battery charged.&nbsp; You would have unlimited power to charge your phone over a decade ago if you had the right friends in high places.&nbsp; The technology of the human race is quite advanced, but corporations sit on it until they feel they can make money. &nbsp;It's pathetic that optical disc media still exists. &nbsp;Our convenience is never considered, only the profit margin, Agent Summers."&nbsp;

&nbsp; She grimaced at the way the man groused about tech, completely indifferent to the subject. &nbsp;"The agency has been dissolved.&nbsp; I'm just... Samantha, now."

&nbsp; Lance grinned.&nbsp; "You're&nbsp;_my_&nbsp;agent, young lady.&nbsp; And you have the highest need-to-know security clearance. &nbsp;Everything we discuss stays between&nbsp;_us_. &nbsp;Understood?&nbsp; And I won't be at liberty to discuss or explain everything up front.&nbsp; Giving you some measure of plausible deniability is for your own safety, but eventually I will share everything when the timing is right.&nbsp; Are we clear?"

&nbsp; "Understood."&nbsp; She paused then offered a slight smile.&nbsp; "How can you drive that little tricycle out there?"

&nbsp; "It's gas efficient.&nbsp; It's inexpensive.&nbsp; It's fun to drive and... are you judging me on my car?"

&nbsp; She offered a mysterious smile then held her hand out.&nbsp; "I'll need a method of transportation across San Francisco."

&nbsp; "Oh."&nbsp; Patterson frowned. "Quite right." &nbsp;

&nbsp; "Let me guess, I have to bring it back with a full tank, right?&nbsp; No worries, I can handle eight gallons."

&nbsp; He furrowed his left brow.&nbsp; "It's already full.&nbsp; And at over eighty miles to the gallon, I don't plan to worry about such until next week."

&nbsp; "Oh.&nbsp; Well then.&nbsp; I'll still need the keys."

&nbsp; Lance opened the drawer of his end table again.&nbsp; He withdrew a pair of keys and tossed them to her with a shrug.&nbsp; "Ferrari 330 America.&nbsp; Be careful with it, young lady.&nbsp; Not many were made... and one was buried in Texas with its owner.&nbsp; My point is, it's difficult to get parts.&nbsp; And, please, don't scratch the '56 250GT Coupe Corsa in the adjacent bay.&nbsp; They're very close together; be careful opening the car's door."

&nbsp; "I..." She looked down at the keys in her hands.&nbsp; "Why?"

&nbsp; "Because I like Ferrari.&nbsp; I'm trying to get my hands on the 575 GTZ belonging to Yoshiyuki Hayashi."

&nbsp; "Uhm... I have no idea who or what that is, or what you're talking about.&nbsp; What I mean to ask is, why not just give me the little trike out front?&nbsp; You're giving me the keys to a nearly irreplaceable car instead of one that costs less than ten grand?&nbsp; I don't get it.&nbsp; How does this make mathematical sense?"

&nbsp; "I'm going to be traveling.&nbsp; I'm taking the Elio.&nbsp; Almost seven hundred miles to a tank.&nbsp; It doesn't take a mathematician to know gas costs too much.&nbsp; Also, the little key on the ring in your hand... that fits the Master lock on the rolling door on the back of this building, where the Ferrari is kept. &nbsp;Don't drive it like a sports car.&nbsp; It was designed to be classy, not sporty."&nbsp; He nodded towards the door with a grin.&nbsp; "Don't engage for any reason.&nbsp; This is an information-only mission.&nbsp; Don't even say hello to her."&nbsp;

&nbsp; She looked up from the keys.&nbsp; "Understood."&nbsp; She left through the front door with a giddy sort of smile.&nbsp;

X

* * *

X

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; **Evan glanced back at Johann** &nbsp;then towards the doctor.&nbsp; He offered a weak smile then glanced back at the little odd-shaped electric meter.&nbsp; "It's a what?"

&nbsp; Cybil chuckled. "An E-meter.&nbsp; I amuse myself to collect pseudoscience medicinal artifacts.&nbsp; As a doctor, I like to understand fringe science as much as I understand real science and medicine."

&nbsp; Evan's eyes moved to the label that read, 'Mark Super Seven Quantum.' It had a meter on the right and a digital clock on the top left with various dials.&nbsp; He turned it over in his hands where a label noted that the device's Silver Certification was '3DEC08,' and its expiration date was in 2010.&nbsp; "Uhm... what's it do?&nbsp; And how does an electric meter expire?"

&nbsp; "The device, by itself, is useless.&nbsp; Scientologists will tell you that it's only useful in the hands of a trained professional." Cybil grinned.&nbsp; "I just got it today.&nbsp; That's why I was down in Old Oakland, earlier.&nbsp; And don't worry; your acquaintance will have no problems retrieving his car.&nbsp; I left a crude 'thank you' note in it."&nbsp;

&nbsp; Evan put the E-meter on a table and turned back to the rest of the hotel room.&nbsp; "We're, uh, not going to bother you.&nbsp; We just wanted to make sure you were alright."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "I am quite well, thank you.&nbsp; I'm more concerned about the two of you."

&nbsp; Johann frowned. "What, uh... what about us?"

&nbsp; Cybil folded his arms then sat down on the hotel bed.&nbsp; "I can't see your future beyond the beginning of next year.&nbsp; I can assure you that I do not see your deaths.&nbsp; But I can't see your futures, either.&nbsp; Both of you are supposed to live long lives, I simply cannot visualize it.&nbsp; And that... well, that is pretty weird.&nbsp; But, I'm a surgeon.&nbsp; The fact I could 'see' anything at all... that's considered a pseudoscience.&nbsp; And regarding my typical accuracy, I have to acknowledge that it's apparently a very&nbsp;_real_&nbsp;science.&nbsp; So I collect little trinkets, artifacts, and such - like the one on the table - because I like to amuse myself with the thought that other fringe sciences might also be real.&nbsp; What if Hubbard was right? Who knows?&nbsp; At any rate, gentlemen, I can assure you that I cannot foresee anything that would cause your deaths in the immediate months ahead.&nbsp; So, please... go forth and be heroes if that is what you gentlemen wish to do.&nbsp; Do so with gusto."

&nbsp; Johann bit his lip, looked at Evan, then back at the surgeon.&nbsp; "No offense but you have a funny accent with certain vowels."

&nbsp; Evan slugged Johann in the arm, but Cybil only laughed. &nbsp;"I was born in Dundalk, Maryland.&nbsp; I was homeschooled until I was eleven years old, so I picked up my grandfather's strange Baltimore accent.&nbsp; Of course, now that I'm a doctor, I have a nice home in Timonium, hon." He pronounced the word, 'Tih-moan-yum.' "Half the state makes fun of this dialect.&nbsp; Hardly anyone still uses it.&nbsp; Thank you for stopping by.&nbsp; I'm going to head to the lounge before bed.&nbsp; Take care, boys.&nbsp; Have a safe trip back to San Francisco.&nbsp; Evan... stop trying to beat yellow lights.&nbsp; They're not for racing; they're for preparing to stop.&nbsp; Your little old BMW needs a new transmission.&nbsp; I would start driving it less often, except when you really need to, else it won't last to the end of the year.&nbsp; Johann, your old boss was a liar.&nbsp; Don't be upset about the fire last month.&nbsp; Things will get better for both of you.&nbsp; Also, there is a beautiful naked woman needing your rescue."&nbsp;

&nbsp; Cybil walked to the hotel room door, opened it for them, and followed them out into the hallway.&nbsp; "Goodnight, boys.&nbsp; Continue your quest for those arrogant hunters.&nbsp; They'll lead you to the fox and the demon.&nbsp; Don't worry, they're both your allies."&nbsp; He cut his gaze to Evan and added, "Brush up on your Japanese Anime.&nbsp; You don't want to come off as&nbsp;_too_&nbsp;culturally ignorant, after all."&nbsp; Cybil walked down the hallway and pointed at the elevator. "Wrong floor, but good timing."&nbsp;

&nbsp; The elevator door opened right on cue.&nbsp; A woman and a small child were standing on it.&nbsp; She told the boy, "No, honey.&nbsp; This wasn't our floor.&nbsp; That's why you shouldn't push the buttons for floors unless you know it's where we have to go."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Sorry, mommy," he replied.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Cybil stepped onto the elevator before the doors could re-close.&nbsp; "Ah! Thank you, my young sir," he said to the child.&nbsp; "You saved me from having to call for the elevator.&nbsp; I bet you must be able to see the future to know I would be standing here, didn't you?" The elevator doors shut.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Evan and Johann looked at one another, as if in confusion.&nbsp; "Well... he's good with kids."

&nbsp; "I think I might already know 'the demon' he mentioned.&nbsp; Her name is Karla.&nbsp; But ...a fox?"

&nbsp; "Anime?" Evan added. "I'm pretty sure it's a safe bet to say that the mythological kitsune isn't real."

&nbsp; "We just saw our first vampire tonight," Johann reminded.&nbsp; There was blood on his collar.&nbsp; Plus he took a knife to the gut and was really fast killing that guy.&nbsp; At this rate, I'm almost ready to believe just about anything."

&nbsp; "Yeah, true," Evan said.&nbsp; "But... a&nbsp;_kitsune_?&nbsp; I love anime as much as you, but I'm going to have to see that to believe it."

X

* * *

X

_Meanwhile, in the Celestial Realm..._

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; **Tamamo-no-Mae** , the nine-tailed kitsune, nodded in respect to the deity standing before her.&nbsp; She looked around the courtroom then said,&nbsp; "Thank you.&nbsp; How may I serve this court today, Chancellor?"

&nbsp; "We have questions about the three-tail named Sinopa Crevan." The well-dressed man folded his arms and turned back to Tamamo, standing at the podium.

&nbsp; "Hai, anything you wish to ask, I will answer Chancellor."

&nbsp; "Tell us, Tamamo-kun, what is your relationship with Sinopa Crevan.&nbsp; Also, could you explain to the panel why we cannot put her on the stand in reference to her prior accolades?"&nbsp;

&nbsp; Tamamo cut her eyes towards the panel of deity judges.&nbsp; "I treat her as my surrogate daughter. Like many mothers and young daughters, she is at the age where we sometimes bicker, but Sinopa-chan holds a special place in my heart.&nbsp; However, she cannot testify on behalf of her prior accolades, because our queen, tennko, Lady Kiko-tenno, forcefully gave her amnesia.&nbsp; This occurred when Sinopa was recalled from Earth to fight alongside her peers in the culmination of the great Celestial Dynasty Wars.&nbsp; The decision to strip her memories happened again quite recently by the demand of the queen of my race."

&nbsp; "Twice," the Chancellor explained to the panel, "Twice, now, Kiko has stripped Sinopa of her memories."&nbsp; He turned back to Tamamo.&nbsp; "And why is that?"

&nbsp; "She feels that Sinopa's involvement with the mortal realm is dangerous.&nbsp; I'm hard-pressed to disagree.&nbsp; Although, I feel great guilt over what memories have been taken from Sinopa.&nbsp; She deserves to know her children and remember love."

&nbsp; The Chancellor nodded then moved to the center of the court chamber.&nbsp; "We would like you to speak on behalf of Sinopa.&nbsp; Explain to the judges why she was chosen by my court to break the treaty of the Esoteric Community of Earth...?"

&nbsp; Tamamo licked her lips, somewhat nervous, then nodded. "Hai.&nbsp; While it is true that deities and demigods are banned from entering the realm of Earth, and have been for a millennium, we have operated clandestine missions of peace and support to aid the human souls.&nbsp; We know it's wrong, but sometimes we cannot bear to watch them suffer.&nbsp; Sometimes, we do it to clean up the messes of vengeful deities who caused such suffering to begin with."

&nbsp; "Understood, Tamano-san.&nbsp; Please, tell us about Sinopa and her highlights in the physical plane of the Earth Realm."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Hai, Grand Chancellor." Tamamo paused and glanced about the court, eyeing the panel of judges.&nbsp; Not all of them represented the Shinto Celestial court - some were western deities from opposite sides of the globe.&nbsp; "She has graduated from her role as gakusei," again, Tamamo stopped, looked at the foreign judges, and said, "What we refer to as a pupil," she explained.&nbsp; "I now consider her a kohai - my junior in rank.&nbsp; Sinopa-chan was first sent to the Earthly realm by Lord Inari as a test to earn her second tail.&nbsp; She was tasked with slowing the progress of a blight that created what the humans call, 'The Irish Potato Famine.'&nbsp; Sinopa wished to blend in and requested to take the form of an Irish human female.&nbsp; It was this forward thinking that drew me to help her.&nbsp; She soon learned, first hand, about embroiled resentment for the governed and their governments.&nbsp; Her second tail came and she returned to Tokyo, then-Edo."

&nbsp; Eiyuu Geroi folded his arms. "To play as devil's advocate, I would say that Sinopa-san did as she was ordered and found a creative solution to slow the progress of a famine.&nbsp; She avoided being caught up in human drama between neighboring nations.&nbsp; These actions make her intelligent, but those actions, alone, do not deem her worthy of this court's high praise. &nbsp;Continue, Tamamo-san."

&nbsp; Tamamo waited for the Chancellor to finish speaking then said, "A century later, Sinopa-chan was returned to Earth as another test by Lord Inari; to prove herself worthy of her then-incoming third tail.&nbsp; Things took a dramatically unexpected turn.&nbsp; She discovered that a small number of human beings were using technology to unearth the great First Age.&nbsp; I speak of the rumored Earth city where our kind may have mingled with human kind.&nbsp; Because no one present in this court knew of this age at the time, Sinopa had no help or support.&nbsp; She continued to live amongst humans for the following decade-and-a-half to continue her research.&nbsp; She met a human man whose family hid proof of such a forgotten time.&nbsp; Sinopa-chan and this human man became romantically involved and, together, using artifacts throughout the Earthly realm, they discovered and confirmed the existence of this fabled city.&nbsp; Only the oldest of deities were previously privileged to such information. Even fewer had ever seen it with their own eyes.&nbsp; During this time, Sinopa Crevan balanced her romance and a newly growing family with her mission - to ensure that The First Age remained in the past.&nbsp; After we felt that the danger had passed, she was recalled to fight in the Celestial Dynasty Wars.&nbsp; To make the separation easier to handle, emotionally, I was ordered by Lady Kiko to remove the memories of Sinopa-chan, and those whose lives she touched with her love."&nbsp;

&nbsp; The Chancellor quickly interjected, "The tragic, unfortunate removal of her memories... A decision I feel showcases the differences between the old dynasty and this new era, under my rule.&nbsp; Sinopa-san should have been reunited with her mortal family at the conclusion of the war.&nbsp; Human lives are short - she should have been allowed to enjoy their company while it lasted."

&nbsp; "Hai. I sometimes suggest to Sinopa-chan that she would make a fine mother, or that she should settle down and raise a family.&nbsp; I have hopes that she may one day remember what she lost.&nbsp; I can only hope that such occurs before it is too late."

&nbsp; The Chancellor asked, "Tell the court how you allowed her family to remember their missing loved one, once Sinopa-san was recalled?"

&nbsp; Tamamo bit her lip again. "I fancy Earth knowledge.&nbsp; I study their academia and history as a hobby.&nbsp; However, I could not have been assigned to this mission because I was slain in my physical form while on Earth a very long time ago.&nbsp; My ability to possess the physical body of a human is rather temporary.&nbsp; Queen Kiko knew of my intelligence and, when Lord Inari ordered me to recall Sinopa Crevan, Lady Kiko demanded that I 'sweep up the breadcrumbs' in Sinopa-chan's wake.&nbsp; I chose to convince the human family that their loved one passed from a human genetic defect attributed to factors that were, at the time, largely unknown and misunderstood by their society.&nbsp; They called it 'cancer.'&nbsp; They mourned her in death, because it was far more honorable than to let the family assume she left them."

&nbsp; "Indeed, Tamamo-san.&nbsp; And what was Sinopa's first action during the battle of the Celestial Dynasty Wars?"

&nbsp; The white-haired kitsune folded her hands on the podium. "Having satisfied Lord Inari's recall, and Queen Kiko's order, I brought Sinopa-chan home, where she selflessly rescued a child deity on the battlefield.&nbsp; While her memories of Earth were stripped, she still possessed something that she learned from her human family.&nbsp; It is a trait that Earth calls 'humanity.'&nbsp; She put her wellbeing and a life of wisdom at risk to protect a child she'd never met.&nbsp; She did this act because she felt it was the 'right thing to do.'&nbsp; I found her courage and humility to be refreshing and honorable."

&nbsp; The Chancellor nodded to the nine-tail kitsune and said, "Thank you, Tamamo-kun.&nbsp; You may return to your meditation, if you wish.&nbsp; We'll will discover the location of Sinopa and bring her to you again.&nbsp; Then you will return her to the Earth realm for immediate reinsertion."&nbsp; He bowed in respect; Tamamo was teleported from behind the podium before she could return the gesture.&nbsp;

&nbsp; "So you see," the Chancellor said.&nbsp; "This new dynasty rewards selfless acts of character.&nbsp; In the final segment of this trial, we will speak to Kiko Sigyn.&nbsp; Before we take a recess, I would like you to make a judgment on how to handle Sinopa Crevan, and to determine if we should utilize her once more, in a final attempt at finishing what we initially started: to save Earth from the impending threat.&nbsp; After all, the swifter we act, the more lives we save.&nbsp; As it stands, there are human beings on the front lines of this battlefield as we speak, whether they realize it or not.&nbsp; They're fighting for their lives&nbsp;_right now._"

X

* * *

X

_October 2, 5:40am PST  
San Francisco, California_

**&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Nichole Parker** &nbsp;glanced at her cellphone screen then back at the townhouse, double-checking the address.&nbsp; "Well, this is the place."&nbsp; Again, her eyes lowered to the text message on her screen that read, '_I have information on Aris Falcon, but I'll only speak to you because I knew your brother._' The rest of the message contained the address to the townhouse across the street.&nbsp; She slid out of her convertible and shut the door behind herself.&nbsp; The eastern skyline was only beginning to brighten on the horizon.&nbsp; She crossed the two-lane road and approached the front door.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Nichole knocked, only to realize that the door wasn't closed all the way.&nbsp; It eased open, silently swinging on its hinges.&nbsp; "Well... that's odd."&nbsp; She cleared her throat then leaned in a bit and said, "Hello?&nbsp; Your door was open - are you all right?&nbsp; It's Nichole; you texted me half an hour ago."&nbsp; ...No answer. &nbsp;

&nbsp; She went back to her car and opened the trunk.&nbsp; Nichole took a Maglite, her service pistol and holster, and a secondary clip.&nbsp; She shut the trunk, went back to the house, and activated the flashlight.&nbsp; "Here goes nothing," she muttered. &nbsp;Parker took a deep breath then stepped into the dark house.&nbsp;

&nbsp; The agent switched on her flashlight and looked around an unfurnished living room and dining area.&nbsp; She moved into the kitchen but the appliances were unplugged.&nbsp; She headed back to the living room, looked around a second time then moved towards the carpeted steps.&nbsp; She headed upstairs, only to find that the bedroom and bathroom were fully furnished.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Finding the upstairs clear, she reached for a light switch.&nbsp; The one in the bedroom did nothing.&nbsp; She moved to the hallway and flipped a switch.&nbsp; However, the lights in the stairs worked, casting friendly yellow illumination at one end of the hall and down to the foyer.&nbsp;

&nbsp; She went back downstairs but before she reached the bottom floor, the wall of the living room exploded.&nbsp; Nichole found herself thrown backwards.&nbsp; She hooked her left arm into the railing and slumped over the steps halfway up.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Nicky glanced back down to the new hole in the wall, half expecting to see fire, but only a few pieces of debris burned.&nbsp; Whatever caused the explosion was more of a concussive force than an incendiary one.&nbsp; She rubbed her forehead and withdrew her weapon without thinking about it.&nbsp; Confusion caused her to flail about but she kept her gun pointed outwardly.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Her head began to clear and her eyes focused.&nbsp; A woman stepped into the front door, adjacent to the large hole in the living room wall.&nbsp; She had a disposable one-shot rocket launcher in her hands.&nbsp; The woman tossed it on the floor and approached the steps.&nbsp; "There you are, bitch.&nbsp; Falcon wants&nbsp;_you_.&nbsp; Why?&nbsp; Because&nbsp;_I'm_&nbsp;not good enough!&nbsp; That's right.&nbsp; He wants&nbsp;_you_.&nbsp; I'm just a body.&nbsp; Well.&nbsp; That's unacceptable.&nbsp; So I've decided I'm going to kill you."&nbsp;

&nbsp; Nichole rubbed her eyes with her left wrist.&nbsp; "Who&nbsp;_are_&nbsp;you?"

&nbsp; "You dumb bitch, I'm&nbsp;_you_."&nbsp; The woman came closer.&nbsp; She stepped into the light of the flashlight that was lying on a step, two stairs up from Nicky.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Nichole's eyes widened, staring into her own face on the other woman.&nbsp; "What the&nbsp;_fuck_?&nbsp; How the...?"

&nbsp; "It's called&nbsp;_cloning_&nbsp;you dumb bitch.&nbsp; God, why would he want you?&nbsp; I'm obviously smarter than you.&nbsp; Give me that gun."&nbsp; She reached for Nichole's weapon and pointed it back at her.&nbsp; "You might be surprised to learn that clones don't have the same prints or retinal pattern as the original host.&nbsp; A few points might match up, but not enough to fool a computer.&nbsp; So Falcon won't let me replace you unless it's in death.&nbsp; And I don't accept that.&nbsp; So when those mercenaries get here, they're going to find your body and I'm going rogue.&nbsp; Sadly, this part of the plan means you die.&nbsp; I considered working with you, but... I've been trailing you for the last week.&nbsp; You have a great life made for yourself, Nicky Marie.&nbsp; It's normal.&nbsp; It's nice.&nbsp; A boyfriend, a job... do you know what my life has been like after I got out of that god-awful tube?&nbsp; It's been hell.&nbsp; Experiments.&nbsp; All so I could&nbsp;_be_&nbsp;you in death, so no one would look for you.&nbsp; My fingerprints were marred up on purpose so they wouldn't be able to use that.&nbsp; Dental is the same, and cops don't check retina.&nbsp; So I would pass as you.&nbsp; Well... everything was fine between Falcon and me until I decided I&nbsp;_want_&nbsp;to live.&nbsp; And the only way that's going to happen is if you become useless."&nbsp;

&nbsp; The cloned woman pulled the trigger.&nbsp; Nothing happened.&nbsp; "Goddammit.&nbsp; You didn't even cock your weapon before coming into a dangerous situation?&nbsp; Dummy." She gripped the slide and pulled it back then released it with a satisfying&nbsp;_clack__!_

&nbsp; Nichole kicked her foot out and caught the woman in her stomach.&nbsp; She tumbled down the steps and slammed into the front door, causing it to shut and latch.&nbsp; Nicky pulled her arm from between the wall and the handrail and headed upstairs.&nbsp;

&nbsp; The clone woman on the floor fired four shots, narrowly missing Nicky.&nbsp; "You dimwit, I have the gun!&nbsp; Just accept it's over, so I can move on with your life!&nbsp; I won't mess up your job.&nbsp; I'll... fake amnesia or something.&nbsp; Go through some courses, and fall into step after a few months.&nbsp; If you can do it, so can I, after all!"&nbsp; She got to her feet and headed up the stairs.&nbsp; "C'mon, now.&nbsp; Don't make this hard for me.&nbsp; All I've done all my life is run on treadmills and drink disgusting nutrient solutions.&nbsp; I don't want the hard life anymore.&nbsp; I want&nbsp;_your_&nbsp;life."&nbsp; She moved off the last step and started down the hallway.&nbsp; "You left your flashlight on the stairs, girl.&nbsp; You could'a had a weapon.&nbsp; What kind of idiot agent are you, anyhow?"

&nbsp; Without warning, Nichole came out of the linen closet on the side, across from the bedroom.&nbsp; With her hands together, she swung her arms and caught the clone across the face.&nbsp; The gun tumbled through the wooden banister poles along the top of the staircase and fell all the way down to the bottom of the steps.&nbsp;

&nbsp; The clone glanced off the wall then dove back at Nicky.&nbsp; Nichole took the clone's shirt, pivoted hard, then threw her through the doorway to the bedroom.&nbsp; The doppelganger hit her face on the dresser and cried out in agony.&nbsp;

&nbsp; "All you've ever done is run on a treadmill?&nbsp; And you expect to fight a federal agent who's had defensive courses?&nbsp; You need to cut this out so I can help you get out of here.&nbsp; Whatever ideas you've had in your head... I'm sure we can figure something out&nbsp;_together_.&nbsp; If you help lead me to Falcon, I can take him down.&nbsp; If you really are a clone, two Nichole Parkers' are better than one."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "Are you nuts?&nbsp; The DEA is one of the only federal agencies that isn't working with Falcon!&nbsp;_NOBODY_&nbsp;can take him down, goddammit!&nbsp; I have to kill you, so that you have no use to him, then he'll leave me alone!"&nbsp;

&nbsp; "That's not where this needs to go!" Nichole shouted in reply.&nbsp; "Seriously!&nbsp; My niece and nephew are twins.&nbsp; If you really are me, then you have always wondered what it would be like to have a twin of yourself.&nbsp; We could work together. &nbsp;My brother can help!"

&nbsp; "No, he can't!&nbsp; He lost his abilities!&nbsp; He's the same as you, now.&nbsp; Why do you think he started having his kids pull heists for him?&nbsp; He can't do it anymore.&nbsp; One of Falcon's test viruses was stolen from the lab and wound up in Jon Parker.&nbsp; Phase one is to kill a supernatural ability.&nbsp; His grace, agility, dexterity... all gone.&nbsp; He's just a normal retired athlete, now."

&nbsp; Nichole blinked.&nbsp; "What...?" &nbsp;The door at the bottom of the steps swung open with a loud sound.&nbsp; Nichole back tracked to the steps and gazed down the stairs then looked back to the clone.&nbsp; "Your friends are here.&nbsp; So now what?&nbsp; Do we play the whole '_No, shoot HER_!' game?"&nbsp;

&nbsp; "You don't even take my life seriously," said the woman.&nbsp; She got up from the dresser, with a hand over the side of her face where she'd been injured.&nbsp; "They know the difference.&nbsp; I'm suppose to die here, and you're supposed to be captured."&nbsp;

&nbsp; Nichole swallowed.&nbsp; "Then let's fight them together."

&nbsp; "They have guns.&nbsp; God, you're really dense." The woman sat down on the bed, defeat in her eyes.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Nichole ground her teeth together and returned to the bedroom then shut the door behind herself.&nbsp; "Go out the window.&nbsp; Tell Reno what happened to me.&nbsp; He'll come for me.&nbsp; You can disappear after this."&nbsp;

&nbsp; "You've obviously not met Krys and Anne.&nbsp; Krys' ability lets her find people with abilities in their genetic makeup, whether they manifested or not.&nbsp; I was used as a test subject to see if your DNA can support receiving active abilities.&nbsp; So I've been activated, but I've not been given any active powers.&nbsp; Krys Monroe would easily find me.&nbsp; I was supposed to have killed you by now, with that rocket.&nbsp; Then I was going to run.&nbsp; When Falcon found you dead, there would have been no reason to pursue me.&nbsp; Now I'm as good as..."

&nbsp; "No, get out the window.&nbsp; C'mon."&nbsp; Nichole took the clone by her arm and forced her over to the window on the far side of the bed.&nbsp; The bedroom door was kicked in and several men in paramilitary gear rushed in.&nbsp;

&nbsp; One of them took his rifle's buttstock and struck the clone in the face with it.&nbsp; She flew back and hit her head on the window, breaking it.&nbsp; He struck her again, then turned the rifle about.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Three other mercenaries held Nichole down, doubled over the bed.&nbsp; She watched as the clone was executed.&nbsp; She flinched, struggling against the hands against her shoulders. &nbsp;Tears ran down her cheeks.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Nichole felt the pinch of a syringe against her neck.&nbsp; Her eyes widened and she gasped.&nbsp; The needle tip slid out of her skin, then she pushed against the bed, trying to shove herself towards the attackers.&nbsp; She used the power of her legs to shove through them.&nbsp; Due to the arrangement of the furniture, she caused the four men to spill back over themselves.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Nicky grabbed a rifle, dove out of the bedroom then bolted down the stairs.&nbsp; She fired it, causing the mercenaries in the living room to take cover.&nbsp; She ran out into the front yard and headed for her car.&nbsp; She noticed a woman in the bushes.

&nbsp; Whatever was in Parker's blood began to take hold.&nbsp; She dropped against the side of her car, back against the driver door.&nbsp; She pointed the weapon back towards the house, groggy.&nbsp; "Goddammit," she muttered, wearily.&nbsp; "H...Hey, lady.&nbsp; Call the police.&nbsp; I need your help.&nbsp; They're trying to abduct me."

&nbsp; The woman recessed into the brush, saying, "I'm sorry, Miss Parker.&nbsp; I cannot help. &nbsp;I don't have backup anymore.&nbsp; Forgive me."&nbsp; The woman disappeared from Nichole Parker's view.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Nicky saw someone come through the hole in the living room wall of the townhouse across the street.&nbsp; She opened fire, sending a three-round volley back at them.&nbsp; One of the rounds caught the shoulder of the man's armored vest.&nbsp; It spun him like a top and sent him to the floor.&nbsp;

&nbsp; The gun became too heavy to hold.&nbsp; The barrel sagged down until it touched the pavement.&nbsp; She knew that gunfire would cause the neighbors to call the police.&nbsp; Nichole squeezed the trigger, shooting the low-pointed weapon across the asphalt three rounds at a time due to the setting of the fire-select switch.&nbsp; Her head canted to the left... everything went black.&nbsp; &nbsp;

X

* * *

X

_October 2, 7:15am PST  
San Francisco, California_

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; **Inspector Nevada stepped out of his 2003 Chevy Monte Carlo** &nbsp;and took a sip from a cup of coffee in his left hand.&nbsp; He moved to the trunk and pulled out a city-issue pullover windbreaker, set the coffee cup on the roof of the car and adjusted the fabric.&nbsp; He grabbed his coffee and headed over towards the crime scene.&nbsp;

&nbsp; He ducked beneath the police caution tape, nodded to an officer he recognized, then made his way into an enormous hole ripped in the front of the townhouse.&nbsp; Small holes dotted the area, caused by gunfire.&nbsp;

&nbsp; All around him, officers were placing numerical placards and taking photographs.&nbsp; One of the officers approached Nevada and said, "Hey, Reno.&nbsp; Welcome back to the job.&nbsp; I hope you had a nice vacation.&nbsp; You're primary on this one.&nbsp; We've got one Jane Doe upstairs.&nbsp; No ID.&nbsp; Looks to be about mid-twenties.&nbsp; We haven't touched the body, but Jerry was a first responder.&nbsp; He's got the print scanner, but said she's got some scar tissue on her fingertips; we'll get started when you're ready."

&nbsp; "Yeah, sure.&nbsp; Funny how this call comes in when I'm supposed to be off shift in forty-five minutes."

&nbsp; The officer grinned. "I see you griping, but all I hear is '_wah, wah, wah; my pussy hurts__.'_&nbsp; Stairs are over there." The man pointed to the other side of the living room.

&nbsp; "Stay classy, Warren," said Reno with a smirk.&nbsp; He walked over to where the front door was closed, a little ways away from the hole in the wall, and took the stairs to the top floor.&nbsp; Nevada saw Jerry in the doorway.&nbsp; "Hey, Sergeant.&nbsp; Look, I don't want any trouble.&nbsp; I know we had a fight not too long ago but..."

&nbsp; Jerry shook his head. "Whatever.&nbsp; I'm a professional.&nbsp; I'll keep it professional on the job.&nbsp; I'll leave the finger scanner with you.&nbsp; I'm going to head back downstairs and start working on whatever caused that big-ass hole in the front of the living room." The sergeant brushed by the inspector and headed downstairs.

&nbsp; Reno shook his head, took a sip of coffee and sighed.&nbsp; "Yeah...&nbsp; Good talk, man," he said to nobody.&nbsp; Reno stepped into one of the bedrooms and saw a young kid in his uniform with a camera.&nbsp; "Hey.&nbsp; Inspector Nevada."&nbsp; He reached for the kid's hand and they shook.&nbsp; "Is this your first body, kid?&nbsp; You look a little pale."

&nbsp; "Uh, y-yeah.&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; Yes, sir.&nbsp; Sorry.&nbsp; First body, sir.&nbsp; Brice, sir.&nbsp; Officer Brice."&nbsp; He nodded back towards the corner of the bedroom, between the wall and the bed.&nbsp; "She's over there."&nbsp;

&nbsp; Reno moved around the bed and approached the slumped body.&nbsp; He pulled on a pair of crime scene gloves from a box sitting on the end of the mattress, and lowered to one knee.&nbsp; Nevada reached down and took the woman by her chin, gently tilting her head up so he could see her face...

&nbsp; The Inspector's eyes widened and he froze.&nbsp; His stomach iced over.&nbsp; He stared into the dead accusing glare of DEA Agent Nichole Parker.&nbsp; &nbsp;

X

* * *

Next Chapter:&nbsp;[https://www.sofurry.com/view/541783](https://www.sofurry.com/view/541783)

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/lmX4ZMNm
Part of the series Twilight of the Gods Book3
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