TokyoPewPew
Emma
RPM
Scrawl Banditta
Mole
Theyra
Kaithe Dame
Neziul
Stryder BC
The brooding (s)mugshot on the webpage was suddenly replaced by a pop-up notification that covered the image. A black screen with flashing white ASCII text generating in real time:
> Yᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ Bʟᴏᴏᴅᴍᴀʀᴋᴇᴅ
> ᴅᴏ NOT ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ Dɪʀᴇᴄᴛᴏʀᴀᴛᴇ
> Tʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ Wᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ
> [ʜᴛᴛᴘs: //ᴍᴀᴘs/ᴊZUGBZᴇ7SJD7T9MPA]
> Cᴏᴍᴇ Aʟᴏɴᴇ
Nimue glanced over the text and clicked the shared location, which opened in her app. As soon as she did, the page refreshed automatically:
She almost dropped the phone as an unknown number called her. The device vibrated violently, the caller ID flickering before displaying: DDA. Before she could react, the phone answered itself.
"Good morning. This is Agent West of the DDA. We identified your device as connected to our servers following a cyberattack on our database. With whom am I speaking?”
Nimue’s eyes widened. She had only wanted to find out more about the weird things happening to her, and now she was implicated in a crime she hadn’t even committed. Her breathing grew heavier as she fumbled for a response.
There was a silence on the line, and the voice softened. "This is a courtesy call. You’re not in any trouble. The attack was the result of fugitive activity, and your safety is our priority. Are you currently in any danger?"
Nimue exhaled, relaxing slightly. This was a close call. She just had to play it off. She brought the phone up to her ear and spoke, "Bonjour… eerr… Yes. No. Toaster?" She inwardly cringed at her attempt at a Québécois accent.
"The former Canadian territories?" The man on the radio half-chewed a bagel, spitting crumbs into the receiver.
"Geolocate that device for dispatch from Detroit Metro. We can have feet on the ground in a couple of hours." He spat the rest of his sandwich onto the side of the road, having over-chewed the dough.
His colleague, Agent Kimball, looked at the congealed mess before returning what remained of his own breakfast into the brown paper bag. "What’s the intel?"
"Code A. We are live." Agent Sandusky pressed the ignition, and the car roared to life. The black DRV (Divine Response Vehicle) lurched forward, lights flashing as it bolted down the highway.
"Aeternus sighted?" Agent Kimball’s eyebrows raised. This could be a big opportunity for the pair.
"Outreach," Sandusky sneered. "Attack on the data center. Secured, but communication has been established. West is on the line with the target. Naive. Get us there first."
"Madam, it’s normal to be afraid in these times and circumstances. We’re only here to help." The voice on the other end was calm and patient. "Let’s start over. I am Agent Riley West of the Directorate of Divine Affairs. What may I call you?"
There was a pause as Nimue considered her options. "Ni… Nina," she said finally.
A sigh of relief came through the line, warm and grateful. "Nina, that’s better. I was afraid for a moment I’d be addressing you as ‘madam’ through the entire call." A friendly chuckle followed. "Well, hello, Nina. If you don’t mind me asking, what brought you to our website today?"
Nimue fidgeted with the phone for a moment. "I had concerns… worries. I wanted to know more."
"We appreciate the interest. We do our best to inform the public about the good work we’re doing. What were you hoping to know more about? Perhaps I can assist."
"Oui… It is a friend of mine. There have been strange things happening, and I don’t know what to do… They are not a criminal or anything… I don’t know." as she started to weave her narrative.
"You’ve done the right thing to look out for your friend."
"What’s the hold-up?" Agent Sandusky called out.
The vehicle wove between cars as it sped down the I-94, the siren blaring.
"Jurisdiction issues. Data Analytics are proving inconclusive." Agent Kimball muttered. "Others are asserting custody of the case. Minneapolis, Ottawa. This is rapidly rising in profile. Deputy Director Cross has already taken an interest in the investigation. There’s a request for cross-state coordination."
"Why in the blazes are they sticking their noses in our patch?" Sandusky shot back. "Ambitious pricks."
"The signal seems to be routed through an onion network. We’re receiving multiple hits across the Great Lakes." Kimball frowned at the map.
"Just ask the goddamn suspect."
"He sounds like an ideal candidate for the TALENT program," Agent West said enthusiastically. "Research has come a long way since the incident in Chicago. We’ve had successful pharmaceutical trials of inhibitors like Divinil to treat affected individuals."
“So… Xaden will be okay, then?” Nimue exhaled in relief.
"Absolutely. You have to remember, he’s an American citizen first and foremost, and it’s our duty to have our citizens out on the streets, living the American Dream. Despite what you may see on social media, we’re easygoing at the department. We’re only really interested in the bad apples. The rest can live happy lives under our protection."
"Cassian Aeternus," Nimue replied.
"Exactly. If you saw our Wanted section on the website, we’re even offering a cash reward for any information leading to his capture. Once he’s safely in our custody, I think we can all sleep a little easier at night." The warm voice continued.
Perhaps the Directorate was to be trusted after all. She thought.
"Why don’t you bring your friend Xaden to see our facilities? We’ll give you both a tour. He can get the help he needs, and you’ll know you made the right choice. For your friend and for the American people." There was a clatter of fingers on a keyboard in the background. "As an incentive, we’ll pay for travel, food, and even a night’s stay. Not every day you get to take advantage of your American tax dollars like this." More typing, then a loud press of the Enter key. "We have you in Wisconsin. Our Milwaukee facility is one of the best. Should I arrange tickets for you?"
A shiver ran down Nimue’s spine. Wisconsin? "Non… non… too far," she muttered.
More clattering of keys. Then a hum. "This is odd. The computer doesn’t seem to be working right today. Where would be best for you? We have multiple sites in the Northeast I could arrange."
Now the hairs on Nimue’s neck rose. They didn’t have her location. And more importantly, they were after it.
"We’ve got a picture from the camera." Agent Kimball’s smile widened as it began to load. "Here… we… go…!"
The photo appeared on the screen: a nervous-looking woman clutching a telephone.
"Pale skin, hazel eyes, brown hair… wait, brown hair that fades to silver at the tips…"
"She looks sixteen," Sandusky said, leaning in.
"The computer estimates a frail twenty-year-old. High confidence for a match."
"Excellent. Tell her to get the coffee ready."
"It would be difficult to proceed without confirmation of your location," the voice on the other end of the call grew more authoritative, the earlier warmth vanishing.
Nimue, on the other hand, was spiraling. "Well, I have to think of my friend, don’t I? It takes a lot of trust." She exhaled sharply. "On the news, it’s implied that all the Bloodmarked love violence."
The line went quiet for a moment. Then, cautiously: "Your description… you haven’t been talking about Xaden Riorson, by any chance?" Another pause.
She had been RUMBLED.
She looked at the phone. The screen was blank where the call options should have been. She couldn’t hang up.
"Madam, the Directorate of Divine Affairs is an enforcement agency for the protection of the American people. We take our role very seriously." The voice had lost all warmth, as if it had never been there at all. "Where did you come across the term Bloodmarked? I stress, it is in your best interest to cooperate with us right now. We will dispatch agents to your location. Please remain where you are and stay on the line for further instruction."
Oh shit. Shit. SHIT.
Nimue fumbled with her phone, trying to terminate the call. She pressed and held the power button. She tried to remove the SIM card. Nothing worked. She looked around, realizing she had only one option.
"Madam, what is your full name?" the voice demanded.
“It’s Nim… … … Nincompoop!”
The next sound was a plop as the phone was hurled into the Great Lake.
"The line went dead." Kimball provided the latest update.
Agent Sandusky sighed. The computer had matched the image to a celebrity casting in a recent blockbuster aimed at young adults, causing a severe migraine for Media Suppression for a solid ten minutes until the false positive was confirmed.
What was useful was that the profile generated matched a report of a suspected awakening. The Deputy Director gave the green light, and jurisdiction waivers had been sanctioned. The case was theirs.
"Flight plan approved for Chippewa County. Air reconnaissance in situ for landing." The pilot called out to the agents on the tarmac.
They waved back as they made their way up the stairs to board the aircraft.
"This will be your parapet, little girl," Sandusky muttered as he closed the door behind him.
Nimue was already wading into the water, bent over as she searched for her phone.
She hadn’t actually considered the ramifications of throwing it. It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Finally, she found it and sighed in relief. The device was completely busted for now, but she had it back. The flower tucked beneath her phone case appeared unharmed during the frenzy.
Now wet, cold, with the government after her, and a half-memorized location from a dangerous fugitive in her mind…
This really was a fantastic start to the morning.