Herosae Kitsune: Chapter 11 - persuit *UNDER CONSTRUCTION*

Deep morning cascaded along, the dawning sun casting well beyond their beds into the air above the world. Morning low mists tingled, their mild chill seeping through the ventilation and between the balcony bagged lovers. Tightening the gap, their laze and tender warmth lasted from dawn to morning hunger. At last, they could not deny their woken crypts, scuffles under the luminant wall and cognition encroaching on them restlessly. Rising, Sarephel took the first taste of late born air. Pale shadows outcast the tower and a vague mist to disrupt the world. With a wobble, instinct took her unpleasantly aware body to the station, brewing another cup for her companion back at camp. Primed with energy, Sarephel finished her pot to turn into the covers again before she could forsake her bed entirely. By the door, wrapped in their tent, Aera got up.

“I see you take good care of the gardens.” Aera spoke, her voice rejuvenating. Two tails casually dusting the floor under her cloak.

“Coffee will be ready, eventually.” Walking up, Sarephel claimed a kiss and a little more.

“Take this.” Aera bestowed, unravelling their blanket as duty took her to the bathroom. Sarephel wrapped herself back up, falling into the chair. Their clothes piled along the table where their camping plans first took place. Among the disorder rested a black topped glass tablet, still disabled. She retrieved it, slouching back over the side arm. Staring blankly, Kaunzi came to mind, her mystery taking hold ever slowly. Setting it aside, Aera finished, wandering near. Seating on the other arm, her knees interlocked, stealing some blanket as she nudged forward. Sarephel adjusted, sharing the chair crooked. “What's this?” Aera questioned, pulling the cold glaze off her side. “Oh, just your tablet.”

“I was looking at it.” Sarephel mentioned, chin resting on her girlfriends shoulder.

“What did it have to say?”

“Nothing, I was just turning it on, it'll take a while.

“It's going to be something to drag you off again, isn't it?” Holding the loading device loosely, her eyes set upon it.

“Depends on what Kaunzi found.” Hugging, Sarephel began to wonder herself, “When it's on, let me know if it's worth reading or not.”

“How am I to know?” Aera confessed, navigating the messages.

“It's up to you.” Sarephel entrusted, part of her dying just a little bit. The pinnacle of this mess was probably written right there, maybe. For a moment, Sarephel regretted her words, ready to take them back.

Aera sighed, “By the looks of it, there's a lot of important stuff that you should know about. It's fine, I know how important this job is... Who's this drinking buddy, and what is a PKE?”

“Hand!” Sarephel

“What? Is it embarrassing?... Oh, it's about Camine.” Aera returned, running her arm behind her. “It's all yours.”

Pouring over her new information, Kaunzi found a few new discoveries and this information about Camine was groundbreaking.

“Coffee's ready.” Aera announced, breaking off to grab a cup. Their leg lock tangled them, Sarephel flopping back into normal position and holding. There were more than a few new updates. Plans were being circulated between the infiltration teams, and Kaunzi's elites, Sarephel included, plus one other recommendation. Catching the gist of it, her ears corked with another annoyance. Lazily her arm dropped onto her equipment, and flung her side iron to her left.

“You can turn the simulation off dad...” Catching Aera's attention. “I'm awake.” The hologram vanishing.

“I don't envy you...” Aera admitted. “Always on alert like that.”

“It's the 'werwing' noise of the projectors that always gives it away.”

“Coffee.” Aera offered, gifting the steaming mug. “Any idea how long you'll be out today?”

Sealing it with a kiss, “Not sure, I'll stop by the restaurant later though.” Sarephel assured, reaching out for her gear.

Even more annoying than the 'werwing' noise, the conglomerate hum and tacking of keys in the office space always weighed on her patience. Door “QJ425” Just as desirable as it's always been. It was open, dark, blinking, just as she left it. Knocking Sarephel greeted the troll “Hey stealth wuzzard!” The secondary electric doors closed. He heard tampering from outside, grieving himself past his headache. Sliding her keylock, the door opened.

Clasping his head, Garath groaned “Now is a really bad time.” Tapping the door lock, Sarephel already bracing inside against the weak closing mechanism.

“I need a second, rather you've been requested upon your talent by your old friend Tannor.”

“The day just gets better.” He turned to her, his face ridden with sleep loss “What, is it another test of my allegiance?”

“I take it Beralda didn't go all that easy on you...” His unimpressed expression dictating the rest. “Think of it like this; after this there will be no questions about it.”

*Do I look like I'm ready to perform in the field?

“Yeah, and why am I uninformed about any updates, why do you have to come by?”

“Information leaks have gone so far as even the offices on this floor, I came in person.”

* “Okay, lets say we're on the same page here, what's so special.

Letting go the doors. “Apparently Camine and the employer were drinking buddies, buddy spilled that detail and the guys location, Kaunzi is pulling up the full local on it.

“And you need me for what?”

“I'm informed your hacking skills rival that of commands mid security access.”

“Now you want me to hack into the tower?” “What do you think.”

“It was a shocker to me too... Kaunzi is taking the fall on your protocol 33 upon my request, and Tannors recommendation.”

“Like I've ever gotten a fair shake from any of them, especially you...”

“I need my stealth wuzzard...” “Nerd wuzzard?”

“I still don't trust you, even without the protocol 33”

“Catch twenty two though, if you can't trust me, it never happened. Come on, we're bringing you down to central command for your access.”

“Yeah, what's so important that command can't do it?”

“You need to watch our backs against real threats.”

“From the big crawlers with their probing devices?”

“It's not the sentries we're afraid of, it's what we can't outrun. This area will be next to a war field, and you just need to sit your ass down in front of a data console 200 floors away.”

“How long until we move out?”

“Five minutes ago.”

“Some things don't change.”

Retrieving her pocket device, She read the updates. “Some things do... Change of plans, she's readying the entire special reserve right in behind us. You're in this right?”

“Like my choices say any different.”

“I can order you a coffee for when you get there.” Sarephel sympathized.

Climbing the ranks, each floor whizzed past with tremendous pace in the private elevators. Bright cold silver lights took the strain off the flashing along the door edges. It's matte chrome walls and non-industrial motor was a pleasant vacation from their main public transports below the office floors. Opening at Central command, Sarephel greeted the guard into the new space; Garath coldly scuffing the stone floor, keyboard and amethyst key drive in hand. A small glimmering gemstone danging from the drive's chain. Kaunzi slid up into the group, “Here are your comms, Garath you've got a private stall.” Redirecting to the intercom. “Charecy will help you set up, she'll give you full access, you will have unrestricted reign over all tower systems, especially unregistered devices.”

“And that's what I'm looking for, correct?” The affirming focus in his voice inspiring confidence.

“Anything posing a threat or an advantage, you're job is to disable and reclaim them for our use. In worst case scenario, you will have to mitigate the damages.”

“Way to put pressure on a guy.” Walking on, Charecy offering his seat.

“We need to gear up better.” Kaunzi criticized, checking down her sister. Their path altering. “Armoury is down a floor by dispatch.” Returning her gaze in front as they picked up pace to a quick walk. Ear pieces crackling.

“Connecting, test, test.” Garath came in over the communications.

“Comms connected.” “I'll let you set up, after we've geared up, I'll update the situation.”

“How did the interrogation go?” Sarephel inquired. “You didn't say anything on that.”

“He was trying my patients at best. I'd like to leave the doubts til later but for now, he was pretty disturbed. By his claims, he really was set up but theirs enough pride in him to dismiss his memories.”

Walls spread with isles of arms and ammunition. A nice selection of specialized swords and batons cultivated one section, it's ravaging implications drawing the adoration of Sarephel's waning heart strings. “Catch.” Kaunzi alerted, tossing a decked belt. “Some tools we'll need, extra lights and power cells, overwrite module and remote access hub. Plus quick clips. Speaking of which, grab a few more, I'm taking a pouch. Catch.” Tossing a satchel. “Polar rounds. Might come in handy. Put it on later, lets book it.” Entering the elevator with two vests over her shoulders. Surrounding the shaft was a network of pipes, that separated and rejoined as their decent took them to the main security check. Sarephel geared up, climbing into the stiff heavy liquid vest.

Tannor meet them, waving casually, and turned to advance. Striking the main elevator for the stairs, they took a great sum of shortcuts as they darted for the sub levels. Each flashing level passed more disorienting than the last. Along the side hall, a tall chamber fell them twelve floors, cascading the stairs of outreaching balconies and the passing holograms of rippling art. Their shortcut ended, leaving the glorified residential recreation tunnel.

The line buzzed. “If we're all set up.” Garath introduced. “How about that update you promised, Kaunzi.”

“Alright, we're hitting the big shot. Camine spilled the location of the employer, it's a coordinate inside the holes, so it works a tad differently. Tannor identified the address structure and after a little research I discovered the target location matches the old office of the suspected Twal Degraden. It was abandoned after moving up and it's been slowly forgotten. In other words, he never left, just washed it away into obscurity like everything else.” Returning to the main shaft.

Stepping in, Tannor questioned doubtfully “Do you suppose the employer and Twal are one in the same?”

“Suffice to say I can't tell, it's still the biggest connection we've got, and it puts Twal directly involved into this mess. He is officially our target, and if we can undermine the Employer while we are at it, then mission bonus.”

“Likely Twal won't be there.”

“Like I said, mission bonus. I want more leads in the very least. Twal is a public figure as a prime investor of the tower, he can't easily disappear.”

“So what about that Haro guy you saw?” Sarephel inquired, gravely curious.

“He was reluctant to say the least. Every other word was curse Twal this, damn Twal that. I'm pretty sure that hate has kept him alive long enough when he had every opportunity to opt out. Like believing that one day he'd see justice was enough to keep him going.”

“Not to feed that motive, but he probably will...”

“I don't blame him for feeling that way, but the only future he has now is a psych ward.” Pitifully Kaunzi sympathized, frustrated under the circumstance. “He says they succeeded, that their experiments really did move all on their own, but he was pretty hysterical. If there is any justice left for him... It's died long ago.”

Below the main floors, Station Plaza cut off the main elevator shaft, still scarred and scraped from the days before. Along the sides of the grand hub stood a line of new elevators on both sides, medium sized hauls for the lower sub levels and Substations' grand platform along the back wall. Industrial by industrial floor, the caged lift poured light onto the hard working blood of the tower's proud and underwhelmed workers. Before long, Kaunzi withdrew down the underground stretch market. Mainly repair shops, greasy meals and immediate exports, their travel soon ended at the large balcony that overlooked the generators. Burning yellow radiant light seeped out and reflected off the massive clear water dams that walled off the deep river lake. Rumbling deeply, their thundering pistons and hydraulic pumps culled the natural water, pounding it off into the heating vents then to the distillation tanks that supplied the tower. Many large cylindrical shafts along the tall ceiling carried away the excess of heat and replaced the cool fresh air from outside. Balconies following down ten floors curved in with a thin pitch deep moat between the lake bottom. Machinery sprinkled along the platforms below and tube piping in intervals between them.

“Sorry.” Kaunzi apologized, eyes dug into her tablet “Re-fixing our map. It's a good few floors below, and a ways back. It shows there is an elevator somewhere along this wall.” Looking up to watch Sarephel drop off the balcony. “Or, we could do that.” Walking up to overlook the railing. Sarephle swinging to balance on the ledge she landed on. Two men rushing to help her. “I admire her careless spirit.”

“You know you do just as clumsy of things, right?” Tannor reminded.

“Yeah, but she doesn't need to know that...” Dropping down to meet her sister, slipping forward off the railing and patting her sister on the back. “You survived...” Cheerfully recalculating. “This way, we're on the right floor. Tannon following in from behind, confusing the workers even more.

“It's along here” Informing, Kaunzi snuck along. “Rhien brought back reconnaissance from the scout squads and found a hole near the spot. Twal also owns a storage room, consequently just adjacent to his office, my guess is it's his own personal entrance into the back roads. By the looks of the papers, he helped remodel it once he moved in.” Turning the corner. Quite visibly, there was an alcove along the side that turned in. With an ashtray and a makeshift bench, it appeared as a simple rest area but the inner corner begged differently. One trash can standing on a metal panel was all that separated them from the entrance to another shade of dingy. Drilled was a hook hole, and lifting it up the hinge locked at a forty degree angle, pulling up the plate as a whole along barred slides. At it's back, a metal ladder dropped down, the clear flag of the hole's existence from below. Conveniently hidden on the top as an unregistered electrical maintenance cabinet, hidden under a can of crap. “I'm not sure exactly where from here” She said, climbing down. “So Tannor, you're taking lead.”

“Our plan is to find the old air vents,” Landing, he said. “Should they still exist. By the specks we can just slip in. From there it's anyone's guess what we'll find. The halls followed by new halls with little to no doors. Knowing their orientation, Tannor guessed the general area, choosing each path accordingly. After a maze, they stumbled on a number, then before the next door he halted. “That's the one...” Subtly quiet, retrieving a device from his side, Tannor slid it along the wall, signalling to remain put. Retracing a single retreating step, “Garath, can you find it?” Clicking, the panel turned. “Impressive.” Waving the team forward along the wall, they came onto the storage room. Dusty, degrading wood and oil resins lacing the rat nest of crates and cardboard boxes. Closing the wall behind them, they gathered along the left wall. “Does this pull up anything?” Tannor inquired, still by the panel lock pad.

“It gives me something...” Garath confirmed, signal still holding. “Wait... Frick, you're right, everything in there is unregistered. I'll search their protocols and determine what's in there...”

The old crate hadn't seen a new home for more years than Kaunzi had ever seen as she cracked it's fused residue and carefully slid it away. There it was, rusted and dusty “What do you think?” Her sister edging in. “You think you could squeeze that?” Kaunzi inquired.

“Looks pretty basic” Garath continued “It's got a small network with some isolated signal relays and a few amenities. Looks like there is a coffee pot and an AC hard wired to a timer, the guy must come here a lot. There are two devices that are powered off, they require a cold boot so I can't access them. Their some real black market hardware, all the software is probably attached too. Otherwise, it's pretty basic, the rest would have to be remote accessed and there are no signals yet. If he gets up, just be aware he might have something hooked to go.”

“Just keep a steady refresh.” Tannor issued, Falling onto the ventilation spectators. “Well?”

“We're set I take it.” Kaunzi asked rhetorically, undoing her belt.

Musty and old, the abandoned area lit up; bright beams pierced the slots, dancing in the disturbed dusty crawlspace. Between the the shutters, old lavish furniture sat dormant since their first installment, one chair however showed great sign of ware. Sitting as prescribed, one coffee pot on top a wooden table encasing no more than a half cup. One light along it's side, someone was still here. Indeed. Two screen panels open, his work cut off by the side tilt of it's projection. Unenthusiastic and serious in his lack of focus his, screens flicks by. Each panel attended to and discarded a moment later to open another. His ears perked. To his right, a large rat crawled out from the depths, the abyss of a barrel aimed between his eyes. His hand reaching to turn off the screens. “Careful what you do there...” A voice called form the other side. Kaunzi, arms drawn akin. The screen shut off.

“Do you intend to kill me? You would have shot by now...” The age catching in his throat. Twal slid back slowly, arms gliding across his desk, helping to push back his chair. “What business have you in my quarters?”

“These aren't your quarters, they were abandoned a long time ago Twal. You've kept a lot of things secret, haven't you...” Rhetoric throttling in her voice.

“And what have you on me?” Not shedding a single notion of fear. His tone smoothing.

“Conspiracy for once.” Sarephel applied, pressing on the tension. “Not to mention framing, and falsifying information.”

“Altering official documents,” Kaunzi contributed. “Funding and orchestrating prohibited weaponized science, and running the back roads underneath the master's knowing.”

“Oh please,” His patients running a thin vein in his timber. “These speculations are highly unfounded. Put the guns down, and we'll settle this maturely” Almost inaudible, they heard a bleep.

“We've got plenty of dirt, I'd appreciate it if you cooperated from here back to the station.”

“I'm not under and more obligations.” Rising slowly from his seat. “You lower your irons and I'll lower mine.” Motors clicked with the plates removed, two mini sentries started rolling their barrels.

“Fine.” Sarephel surrendered. “But we start talking.” Guns still drawn.

“What say you, Kaunzi?” A strong pride riding along Twal's speech, burning embers in her.

“I say I don't trust nagas, I shoot, you die.”

“Then the sentries fire and you both die for nothing out of your sheer ignorance.”

“What is with you?” Sarephel shot indignantly. “You know you're in it deep and you still act as though you're a saint. If you're so right, why do you need guns to protect you?”

“That does not change this.”

“Why because you think you have the upper hand?

“If you really think I'm a monster, you won't listen to reason, you still don't.”

“As I see it, you plan on killing us anyway so at least spill it Mr. Innocent!”

“You keep wanting to peg me as the villain” Returning to his station.

“You sit back down.” Kaunzi issued.

“You shoot, we all die a martyrs.” His annoyed mocking pace rambling it back again “You children are so dunce.” Retrieving his screens. “And don't move irregularly either, they'll at shot moving targets.”

“You forged the blueprints, making these tunnels.

“And I suppose you have proof of that...”

“You were constantly discussing business with the family, and everyone in it. You're name is on most every change and expansion has your name on it.

“This Tower would have never been made without me.” Sternly Twal retorted, retracting back, conveying to Kaunzi.

“Is that a confession?” Kaunzi inquired, pressing harder, “Did you think you could erase every change you made?” Bluffing her knowledge, cautiously angling Twal around.

“Jaeramind, your great grand whoever it was, authorized the changes!” Returning sight to Sarephel. “He knew very well what they were.”

“He knew?” Kaunzi cursed unswayed. “Why would he be so careless?” Shedding her antipathetic disbelief.

“I funded this, without me, your great grandfather would have never afforded such an endeavour.” preaching to his audience. “Where do you think all that money came from? Food, supplies, building material, workers. I gave everything for this, and I was given this in return. All of this was given to me, this office, these tunnels, my very business... By none other than your great grandfather, Jaeramind Progarial Herosae”

“And he accepted this?” Sarephel questioned, doubtfully.

Kaunzi forwarded. “You knew no one else would accept such deceit, why else would you hide it so much?”

“Look at everyone around us,” Twal instilled. “We have homes for hundreds of thousands of people to follow their dreams, jobs, families. This miracle, through whatever means, has brought happiness and you still look at me with disdain?”

“You framed your colleague to profit off his research.” Sarephel countered. “And you're still making personal money off of black business.

“You think it's so black and white? This tower was built off that 'black' business.” Both sisters bitter, taking in the truth. At least, what he believed. Unwavering he had onslaught profession after profession, the claws digging deeper in. “No one told him...” He continued, pausing shamefully. “Celro, Jaeramind's own son... Not even his own father told him. Guess that's something he was ashamed of, huh? And yet I'm at fault? This law you enforce on me, was omit for my sake, with your very home in mind.”

Sarephel “That doesn't forgive your stain on this home of ours. Just try and justify all the fade, other drug*, and ostian addicts that have come in because of your drug trading routes, the lives at risk from selling advanced weapons to our enemies, that until now we had no knowledge which to defend ourselves against.”

“They chose to live those lives, their all just the product of their own doing, I just made a living in giving them that choice. Just like how your father houses all those addicts and forgives them for making mistakes, does that make him a villain too?”

Kaunzi, “And you chose to give them that option.”

“I am not your villain! I was given all of this, and now you intend to break it away from me. I'll tell you who your villain is, I already have. They chose to live that way.”

“You never did it for the people,” Lowering her arms. “Black arms is far more profitable than your morals can allow. Good work Garath.” Tapping onto her communications piece.

“What advantage do you think you have?” Twal reminded, Kaunzi fallowing suit.

“Took you long enough to claim those turrets.” A brief silence took over, the sisters grins widening. Garath's salute renounced his control, revving the guns both ways. Twal's expression fell cold

“So, would you like to come with us down to the station?” Sarephel implored

Chill sweat condensed along his sides, casting irritating drops along the porous aged skin. “It's it...” Twal hollowed sombre, tainted coarse to himself. Grumbling weathered throat flopping his words nearly illegible. “Everything.” His words died out, only the outlines of his lips remained and the tracing pattern of his silent eulogy. “Is gone.” Fading into stillness, his eyes darted sharp “My dream.” He spoke aloud... You, you've taken my dream. You sick puss sack, you've kill yourself. You've killed your own dream. This oath, this will that you follow will kill you.”

Restraints in hand, Sarephel closed their gap. “Sure.” Retracting the pins. “

“You think you're safe? In the end, I do everything so no rat can spoil my cheese, and two unlearned CHILDREN!... Come and break a mans heart clean in two. You will pay, by your own hand, you have undone yourself.” Professing sternly, cornered with his teeth sharpened and his claws bled nubs. “No one is safe!” A drowned creature, clawing it's way from hell.

“So, was the money worth it?” Restraining the cunning fish, “Real good it does now.”

Chuckling, his pious banter settling confidant. “It was the money...” Cuffs clicked.

“See?” Patting him on the back. “Was that so hard to admit?”

“Bio engineering can be quite profitable, but my goal is much higher now. Should I spell it out for you?... No... I'll keep you guessing” Reconsidering, the lights dimmed down “Not that it matters now...” A dark red light flooded into the room. Each screen lit up and an image of the tower displayed. Twals voice carrying without his lips, a recording played, the image reversed for the front entrance.

“What in damnation is this?” Kaunzi uttered, stepping closer. The voice issuing the same spiel.

“You have ears.” Twal cursed. “Use them, I'm not wasting my breath.” Frusterated, she quickly sauntered back, lifting the old man. “Do you think that harming me will make any difference?”

“And if I blow your head off?” Reaching for her pistol. “Cut to the chase! What conniving, long winded shit are you playing.”

“Kaunzi,” Sarephel intervened. “It doesn't work like that, put the gun down.” Holding the iron down. “Does he look intimidated to you?

“What about all the people you claimed to brought happiness to you selfish lying snake?”

That... Dream of mine... Changed for the greater good.”

“You've got a way of stalling that pisses me off.”

“Lets just say that my retirement date was set to be a lot farther down the line, but if I can't have my dream then no one can.” Kaunzi's rage folding in on him, “You made me do this,” Returning to press his forehead against hers. “And I'll take this whole damned cystpool, and every cold hearted rat like you two with me! Look at them.” Directing above. “Ugly, abominable harbingers, deadly!” Like a swarm of piranhas, they crawled out from the waters. Central, *station plaza(?)*, The walls of Herosae tower flooded, sentries hauling up the sides. “Karma should bring you to your knees, but I will take her place. I will be the one to bring you to ruin.”

“You really are a callous snake. You spent a lot of time worrying about being caught,” Arming her needle. “I think you yourself knew all along what you were.”

“All there is to loose now.” Receiving the sting. “Is my retribution.”

“He's not talking,” Tossing her drugged victim aside. “DISPATCH! Send a small battalion to retrieve Twal. Give orders to the reserve, change of plans. We are under a full scale invasion! This is a code black, Rayon, just issue the damn alert.” Running to the computer. “Garath, what did that bastard type into the computer when he was talking to us? It's got to be what started this thing.”

Crackling in, “I don't even know what it is,” Garath replied. “It's all hard wired but it's pretty deeply embedded. I'll see if I can't isolate the protocols...”

“Get me Rhien on the line.”

“Patching.”

“Rhien, we need the maps that your scouts made so we can book it out of here, we're under seige.”

“Leon you bug,” Rhien shot out. “Send her the data while I see what command wants. --Command, what do you damn well want? We're supposedly under attack so this better be freaking important.”

“Leave him, come on,” Kaunzi pulled her sister. “We need to go.” Crashing out the door. Tannor followed out the side passage. “Here is a dumb question...” Tapping into the command line. “But what is the status on the anti-sentry defences?... Yeah, I figured. Boot up the holomatrix, Issue any high tier guard an eather sever by priority of rank, we need full tower coverage immediately. Get father to safety, evacuate everyone!” Flashing bleep, Kaunzi pulled out her tablet. “I got the map.”