Chapter 4 - Problems

Chapter Four: Problems

I was woken far too early the next morning to the sound of the phone at my bedside going off. Growling audibly, I reached over and picked it up, barely able to get any kind of greeting out. “Tachyon, you're needed in Medical now!” I vaguely recognized the voice as Homura's as it came over the phone, and I could tell by her inflection this was important. Instantly banishing the sleep from my system, I threw myself out of bed, hurredly got dressed in some semblance of officiallity, and tore out of my room towards Medical. With yesterday's shenanigans still fresh in my mind, I could only imagine whatever was bringing me to medical at – a look at the clock on the way out said four AM – was not a casual check up.

Gently slapping my cheeks as I rode the elevator, I prepared for the worst. My exit was strong and fast, practically prying the doors open and assessing the situation. Several of Patricia's aides and nurses were shouldered up to a door as a commotion came from within. Two of the female nurses had their outfits torn, barely hanging onto their shoulders, while one of the men looked like he had gotten into a fight with someone six times his size. “The hell's going on?” I asked after everything fell into place. One of the female nurses in the torn outfit seemed relieved to see me.

“Oh thank god...! Tachyon! It's Doctor Brightstone! She's gone mad!”

“Mad how?” I continued to pry. The male doctor who'd been roughed up grunted as the door bucked powerfully, the three of them barely able to hold it shut.

“She tried to rape Aiko and Himiko.” He responded. “She threw me out the fuckin' way when I tried to pull her off.” He grunted again. “Nearly broke my fuckin' neck.” The screaming from within picked up again as the door stopped moving. “...we had to shut her in the OR with Sayaka.”

“I think it's the Y chemicals...” The other female nurse picked up. “I think they're... fuckin' with her brain. She was fine up until just a few minutes ago.” I advanced and motioned for them to move. “Be careful Tachyon... she's got the strength of a Y right now.” I nodded to her as the three shifted out of the way. I opened the door and stepped inside.

The Operating Room was tossed upside down. Several trays had been thrown clear-cross the room; their contents littering the floor as the operating table had been flipped into a makeshift barricade. Shreds of clothing – a soft pink – littered the floor in large, torn ribbons as the shrill cries of a woman in distress echoed off the walls.

“Help! Help! God dammit, get in here and help me!” Her voice called from the curtianed off area which held the pre-surgery washing area. Tearing forward, I threw open the curtain to see Sayaka – one of Patricia's nurses – struggling in vein against Doctor Brightstone. The poor girl was stripped to naked and clearly in fear for her life.

“C'mon cutie! I promise not to hurt you! It'll be fun!” Patricia's voice was... wrong. For lack of better terms, it had taken a sweet, almost cartoonish vibe to it... like she had been transformed into one of those pre-war anime girls you'd see in perverted porn flicks. “You'll never forget tonight~!” She – like Sayaka – was naked, pinning the poor girl to a wall as she struggled against her advances. Thundering forward, I put a hand on Patricia's shoulder and pulled her off the girl.

“Doctor, enough!” I glowered at her, expecting the woman to cave at my presence.

“Don't interrupt me!” She shouted, shoving me hard in the shoulders and knocking me ten feet back and to my ass. Christ-! She was strong! When the hell did she get so strong. “If you behave... maybe I'll let you be next... my cute little-” Sayaka took the break in her concentration to flee back into the Operating Room, leaving me alone with the Doctor. “...oh, darn. Look at what you did! Sayaka dear! Please come back! It'll be an experience to remember!” She tried to step over me to give chase to Sayaka, but I lashed out and took hold of her leg.

“Stop-!” I growled.

“Persistant!” Patricia barked, kicking me hard in the face, the impact causing me to growl in fury. Okay. If she was going to play like that! “Wait your turn!” Getting to my feet, I grabbed her by the neck and threw her with all my might against the nearby wall. “Ahn~!” She gave a cute grunt as she hit, shaking her head. “Oooh, that's not very nice!” She smiled. “Mmmm, but you like to play rough, don't you! Mmmm, that makes me so hot!” She ran her hands through her hair in something that I believe was supposed to be seductive. “...maybe I'll play with you first after all...”

“Doctor, stop. This isn't funny.”

“Doctor this, doctor that... it's no fun playing Doctor...” She giggled. “...well, I mean it is... but we're not there yet...” She ran forward and caught herself on the collar of my blazer jacket. “C'mon tall, dark and imposing! Lemme see what yer hidin' beneath that uniform!” She pulled, trying to tear at my jacket. I had never been on the receiving end of a Y attack before... and I can see how it can be terrifying... even if the offender isn't completely Y. She only managed to break one button before I shoved her away. “Ah-ha...” She moaned another shocked grunt. “So much pent up sexual tension... mmmm... why don't you let me melt all that away...” Lunging forward again, she tried to tear my jacket once more, but I was ready for her grabby-hands, snatching both wrists before she could latch on, holding her hands above her head. “No fair no fair!” She thrashed her whole body to try to get loose. “I only wanna make you feel good! Why don't you want it?”

“Because this isn't you!” I answered. Christ, I had to find some way to disable her without hurting her too badly. I still wasn't convinced she had turned into a Y... after all, she had targetted the girls without doing too much damage to the guys around... and the guys who were roughed up were only roughed up because they had tried to stop her. She's not aggressive... she's responsive. She thrashed some more before her demeanor changed again.

“Please... please give it to me! I... I need it! The orgasmic release! The... flood of pleasure! Please! Give... give it to me!” She heaved heavily, her eyes turning into a panic-filled mess as she struggled in vein. “Tachyon, please! Give it to me! Save me! I need it! I need it!” I sighed.

“The only thing you need, Doctor... is a nap.” Spinning her around, I threw both arms under hers and put her into a sleeper hold, choking her just enough to get her to pass out in my arms. Panting myself, I finally let myself breathe. Picking her up, I carted her out of the OR.

Sayaka had managed to escape to the main area where she was currently wrapped up in a blanket and shaking. She looked up as I walked out – Patricia in my arms – and mewled.

“...is she...”

“She's asleep.” I answered. “Get me somewhere to put her. Preferably with heavy restraints.” The male nurse nodded and rolled over a stretcher with heavy, thick leather restraints across it, moving them so I could lay her down. After strapping her down to the table, he threw a blanket over her and seemed to deflate from the events. “Call Homura, get her down here. She needs to be appraised.” He nodded to this and dashed to a telephone. I slowly advanced on Sayaka, the poor girl shaking uncontrollably. “...how are you?” I asked, dropping to a knee in front of her.

“Th-thank you...” She smiled uneasily to me. “...thank you for... for saving me...” I pulled her into a hug, petting her hair. “She was... she was trying to-”

“Sssh, sssh, I know...” I didn't want her to think about it. “I know. We'll get this sorted out, okay?” I felt her nod.

“Thank you... Tachyon. If you hadn't been here... bad things would have happened.” She continued.

“Yes, thank you.” One of the other female nurses spoke. “And thank you for dealing with it without hurting Doctor Brightstone too much.”

“Tell me what happened, just leading up to this.” The nurse nodded.

“It was the strangest thing. We were doing tests on some of the Y in containment... she had some of their bone samples under the microscope. It was her, myself, Himiko, and Yashiro in the room. She sent Yashiro out for coffee and kept Himiko and I around... Sayaka came in a few minutes later with some of the results from previous tests. As she's looking at the samples she starts... touching herself. Through her clothes... it was the strangest thing... Doctor Brightstone... well, she's a woman like everyone else, but she's never been so... open? I guess. As she's looking at these samples, she's touching herself and moaning a little, so I ask her if everything's okay. She just... smiles at me – doesn't stop touching herself – and says 'everything's fine'. I'm a little concerned at this point, so I suggest she should get some rest – she's been pushing herself hard last few hours. She asks why I think she needs a rest and... well I just say she's acting weird.” She took a breath.

“This is about when Sayaka came in with those reports and Sayaka mentions that she's... you know, touching herself; which is very unlike her.” Aiko shook her head. “She just... laughs at it. Her voice changed... you must have heard it?” I nodded. “Yeah, she starts... sounding like a damn hentai voice actor, moaning and saying that Sayaka can... touch it if she wanted.” A grunt. “We're both weirded out at this point and... Himiko tries to force her to sleep and... shit it was all a blur from there on out. You saw the end result.”

It was definitely strange... but more importantly it was... disjointed. I felt like there was something going on here past what we could see. “I'm no doctor-” I started, crossing my arms and standing. “-but something about this sounds off in more then one way.” About this time, Homura entered medical, her uniform looking about as disheveled as my own. “Commander.” I nodded to her, telling her the story as I knew it up until this point. She listened intently to the story and my own thoughts on the matter, nodding simply when it was done.

“I'm glad everyone was okay.” She answered first, patting Sayaka's head. “And I thank you for your rapid response.” She suddenly looked deep in thought. “...so... you think there's something at work here?” I nodded.

“It's possible that this isn't a... mutation or... Y control or anything like that. She told me before I knocked her out that she... needed it. And I could hear panic in her voice.” Homura stroked her chin.

“...strange.” She looked back up to me. “Tachyon, would you be adverse to spending the rest of the night in Medical? Just in case things go south again?” I shook my head.

“No, ma'am.” She nodded.

“Thank you. As for the rest of you-” She looked to the nurses. “Clear Medical of all non-essential personnel – and you, Sayaka, even if you are essential – and put it in temporary lockdown. The rest of you, work on seeing if you can't figure out what's going on.”

“Already working on it, ma'am.” Yashiro – the male nurse from before – nodded, bringing out a collection of medical supplies and setting them on the table by Patricia's bedside. “We'll get to the bottom of this.”

“Good. Keep me updated. Tachyon, until further notice, you're assigned to keeping the Medical staff safe. If what you said is true, no one else is going to be able to control her.” I nodded.

“Of course, ma'am.” She exhaled quickly.

“Sounded like quite the adventure.”

“Yes.” I agreed. “And it's only getting worse, I feel.”

Homura went back to sleep, leaving me alone in Medical with a token staff of only about six people. The two female nurses were kind enough to make me up a bed to catch up on the rest of my sleep on, telling me they'd come wake me if I was needed. I silently hoped that everything was said and done for at least a few more hours. The moment I put my head on the pillow, I was out, the fatigue of yesterday colliding with the early-morning rude awakening I had this morning. I would stay asleep for a few hours – three? Maybe four? I couldn't tell – before I would be gradually drawn out of my sleep by a familiar screaming from another room. It wasn't a scream of terror – thankfully – but of... frustration? Anger, maybe... it was difficult to tell. Grunting and standing up, I decided to see what the fuss was about. Pushing the door open, I was greeted by the few staff on site doing their best to ignore the screaming form of Patricia in the bed, thankfully still strapped down. This close, I could tell her screaming wasn't out of anger, but fear of all emotions. She kept pleading to the staff to 'give it to her' and that 'she needed it'. Christ, was she still on this?

“Tell me you've got some good news...” I growled to the man on staff – he was a new one, probably brought on during a shift-change. He grimly shook his head.

“Sadly, no.” He answered. “We've been running any and every test we can on her, and as far as we can tell, she's fine. I don't know why she's gone batty. There are a few more tests we're waiting on the results of, but I'm not holding out any hope.” My eyes fell on her, the distress evident in her face and voice. “She's been like this for an hour now.”

“...she tried to rape a few of the nurses earlier...”

“I know. We've been brought up to speed.” He nodded. “Something on your mind?”

“A crazy hunch but... it's worth a shot.” I strode slowly over towards the screaming form of Patricia, her eyes darting back and forth between any point of origin she could find before they fell on me.

“Please... please just... just let me-” She was grunting something that was borderline unintelligible, but judging by her antics earlier it wasn't hard to tell what she was trying to say. There was a reason she was acting this way... and she didn't smell like any Y I've fought before. This wasn't control from the Y, or even a mutation... this almost struck me as... instinct. She was still strapped down to the bed; heavy leather straps crossing her shins, thighs, stomach and chest.

“You're either going to thank me later... or report me to HR.” I shrugged. “...and I can handle being reported.” She was still dressed in her t-shirt and jeans from before this whole thing occurred. Like some... possessed freak, I slipped one of my gauntleted hands down the front of her pants.

“Tachyon-!”

“It's a hunch... give me a second.” It was a crazy hunch... but one that didn't have a mountain of merit behind it. She offered no resistance as my hand went under her jeans and slipped beneath her underwear. She gasped as a cold, metal finger gently slipped into her moist vagina, her whole body screaming with heat and need. She was already soaking wet even before I started to move the finger about inside her; slowly drawing it in, and then pulling it out.

“Haaaah... oh god yes... yes please...” That honey-sweet, almost cartoonish tone came back to her voice, sounding – in Sayaka's words – like a hentai voice actress from those cartoons from before the war. She moaned loudly in a high-pitched squeal, her muscles stiffening from the pleasure. “Yeah... yeah... finger me good... I've been a bad little girl...” It must have been quite the scene – my stone-hard face watching with neutral disinterest as I fingered a woman strapped to a bed. She panted and moaned more and more as I sped up, slipping a second finger inside to join the first. She split her legs best she could restrained and tried to push her hips up to meet my fingers. Everything about her – her body, her demeanor, her tone – they all screamed that she wanted this... dare I say she needed it? I wasn't one to believe that anyone needed sex... but with her? I'd almost believe it.

Her whole body sent rigid as her moans turned into screams of delight, her breath heavy and hot and her eyes shut tight against a wave of pleasure I could only imagine she was feeling. After only a moment or two, she let out a shriek of delight as a torrent of hot, sticky warmth spread across my hand and her underwear, the orgasm hitting her with the strength of a ten-ton hammer. Sighing happily, she looked back at me with the biggest smile I've seen, and nodded happily. “Thaaaank you...” She moaned before passing out.

Silence. Beautiful silence. Retrieving my hand from her jeans, I looked up to see the medical staff all staring at me. “What?”

“What... just happened?”

“Her instincts. What happened earlier...” I shook my head. “That's not control. She wasn't trying to hurt anyone – not physically. Her instincts told her that she needed a sexual release. I can't explain why... but I figured if she got it, she might at least calm down a bit.” About this time, one of the lab doors open to a young female nurse carrying a worried look and a piece of paper.

“Excuse the interruption, but I've discovered something disturbing.” She handed the paper to the male nurse. “Her body isn't producing endorphins anymore. What's worse, we think this lack of endorphins is causing the Rastinobinitrate in her blood to break down.” The male nurse read the paper before handing it back to the new nurse, striding over to Patricia to draw a second blood sample. He handed it back to the girl with a firm nod.

“Run the test again.”

“But-” The male nurse shook his head.

“Run it. Trust me... I've... got a hunch.” She screwed her nose up in a fashion that said she didn't think it would help, but nodded and took the blood sample regardless. I pulled up a chair (after finding something to get the sex off my hands) and took a seat, interested to see how this would play out.

The nurse spent half an hour running the test once more on the fresh blood sample, and the look on her face when she came back said it all. “I can't explain it-” She started with. “-but everything's normal again. Endorphin levels are stabilized and the breakdown of the Rastinobinitrate in her system has stopped... hell, the bonds are even stronger now then they were when we tested them just after injection... what happened?”

“That explains why she was so determined to orgasm.” The nurse nodded. “...god, I never thought I'd hear myself saying this but... sex just saved her life.”

“So we're not going to be reporting me to HR, then?” I asked with a crass smirk on my face, the nurse shaking his head.

“No... no, in fact I should recommend you for a promotion... if I could.” He exhaled happily. “I'm glad this whole thing is over for now.”

I stayed in Medical practically the whole day – until Homura came back around noon. She was brought back up to speed about the events of the last few hours, and seemed in equal parts concerned at the findings of the medical team and pleased that we were able to find a shot-in-the-dark that fixed it. “...so all in all, as much as I hate to say it... if she gets like this again, I think it would be better for someone – not gonna point fingers – but someone nearby to sate that urge of hers.” I finished my report with. “It may knock her out again... but having her unconscious is better then dead due to genetic degradation.” Homura nodded to this, her face alight with a gentle smile.

“Good thinking, Tachyon.” I shrugged.

“To be fair, it was a one-in-a-million shot.”

“Regardless, it was a hell of a shot – a dangerous one, mind you – that you willingly took.” She gave me a hug. “I'm glad you're here.”

“First time you've told me that.” I responded. “Thank you.”

“Ugh...” Came a stirring from the bed Patricia was in. “...why does my head hurt and...” A pause. “...why am I strapped down?” Homura, the male nurse and I advanced on her.
“Good afternoon, Doctor.” The nurse began. “Feeling better are we?”

“I'm okay... why, what happened?” She struggled against the straps. “And why am I tied down?” I looked to Homura, and then proceeded to explain the whole event.

-

“...oh my god, I can't believe I did that...” She covered both hands over her face. We had determined she was okay to be unrestrained, the look of mortification on her face genuine. “...Sayaka's such a sweet girl, I can't believe I almost... Ugh I'm disgusted at myself at the thought!” She looked at me. “Is she okay? When can I see her again?”

“She's fine. A little shaken so... you could imagine it might be a bit before she can see you again.” The doctor nodded.

“Yes... yes of course... please, give her my sincerest apologies, with the understanding that when I see her next, more are to follow.” Homura nodded.

“Of course. Maybe you could give us more insight on what you remember?” Patricia looked down and shrugged.

“...not much... I just remember looking at some of the samples and feeling... hot. Like every cell in my body was screaming for me to... find someone attractive and just...” She looked up. “I'm not even into girls! I don't get it! There were... plenty of guys here, why didn't I-”

“Probably the Y chemicals.” I answered. “A lot of Y-Breds are bisexual.” Everyone looked at me. “Okay, you are aware that Y-Breds are only female, yes?”

“No, I didn't know that.” Homura admitted.

“Few do. Almost every Y-Bred is bisexual, their human half struggles in direct conflict with their Y half. The human half pines for male companionship while the Y half fights for female companionship. Usually if they have sex with men, it's their human half. They're more gentle then with women. If they're with women, the Y side comes out and it can be... rough.”

“How do you know so much about Y-Breds?” Patricia asked. I shrugged.

“I've had a couple'a run-ins with them, and I've researched.”

“Well... regardless, it's a possibility.” Homura looked to Patricia. “Doctor, look at me.” She did. “I need you to be honest. Is that how you feel right now?”

“...you've got pretty eyes...” Patricia responded in almost a dream-like state. “Aaaah!” She snapped out of it. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I don't know where that came from!” Homura nodded.

“Yeah, it's safe to say that's what's going on.” She looked to the nurse. “Make sure Doctor Brightstone gets plenty of rest, and keep your tests up. Doctor-” She turned back to Patricia. “If you start feeling those urges, you're to tell someone, understood? You've been helped for now, but we don't know how long that'll last.”

“...so this is my life now, huh? Forced to bounce from sexual encounter to sexual encounter to survive...”

“You did it to yourself.” I responded crassly, causing her to stick her tongue out at me.

“I know that... but still.” She put a hand on my arm. “Thank you, Tachyon. I owe you my life.” I gave a nod to her.

“Any time. Do you want me to hang around for a bit longer?” I addressed this to Homura, who shook her head.

“No, I've got something else I need you to do.” I nodded to this.

“Very well. I'll meet you in your office?” She agreed to this and I excused myself from Medical, taking the elevator up to her office as Homura stayed behind to make certain Patricia was well.

Homura's office was a quaint little thing. She had a rather nice oak desk in the center of the room, complete with an old pre-war computer that had been restored; the screen casting a harsh blue light on the back wall. Two small chairs sat in front of her desk while another – leather bound and much nicer – sat behind it. She had a beautiful view of the city out the window on my right, which had a commanding view of one of the city's main streets. The bed under the window had yet to be made after it was last used, one pillow lying carelessly on the floor.

After a moment, the door opened again to Homura stepping in. “Thank you for your patience, and I apologize about the wait.”

“It's alright.” I responded simply. Homura strode around her desk and picked up her discarded pillow, tossing it onto her bed again before sitting in her leather-bound chair.

“Now... the job I've got for you is... a bit different then your usual fair.” She pushed a button on her computer's keyboard to bring it out of sleep. “Are you familiar with a woman they're calling The Black Lotus?” I shook my head.

“No.” Homura nodded and took in a breath.

“We've been trying to keep her activities from everyone else in the city but... it's becoming difficult.” She began to type something on her computer, her fingers flying across keys as she worked. “The Black Lotus-” She began after a second. “-is a black market weapons dealer who has been supplying weapons from the Company to citizens of the city.” I blinked.

“To civilians?”

“Yes. Rumor holds she doesn't trust us or the Council, and has told the citizenry she's been dealing with that only they can truly protect themselves.” She pulled a small USB drive from her computer and handed it to me. “I've been in discussions with the Company, and they agree they'll let her transgressions pass, under the condition she agrees to aid us. Weapon sales aren't the only talents this woman has, so we'd like to procure her services. Now, I don't expect she'll jump at the chance to join – as I said, she doesn't trust us... but I think she'll find the contents of this drive of interest.” I took it from her, and slipped it into my breast pocket. “I want you to hunt The Black Lotus down and deliver that USB to her. We have an idea where she is – a section of the sewers was recently quarantined off by parties unknown, and we've had reports of several prominent citizens descending into the sewers. Now obviously, any average citizen would have no reason to go into the sewers, so we believe that's where she's making her deals.”

“I take it this is one of those 'gloves on' operations?”

“We're not expecting any Y in the sewers, no. She hates the Y with the same kind of zeal as I do, so there's no way she'd have anything to do with them... but she may have security systems on-site. I'd prefer if you didn't do too much damage to her security system, just in case it sours her disposition towards us more... but don't take any chances on your safety.”

“I could just drag her back, you know?”

“I'm aware.” Homura nodded. “...but I want her to agree on her own volition. She's... not a bad person, just misguided. My... interest in this matter is more then just professional. I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later but... the Black Lotus is Hikiri Kawazoe... my sister. She's none to happy that I'm part of the 'system' she sees as oppression, so she may not even listen... but it's worth a shot.”

“Is there anything else?”

“Just this last thing... do be swift about it. As I told you at the beginning of the week, we're going to be starting retraining starting tomorrow, so that means most of our combat units will be unavailable. More work for you, I'm afraid.”

“Which reminds me.” I chimed in. “What would require a full organization-wide retraining of everyone but me?”

“Policy updates. Some things have come to the attention of the main branch, so we're updating all our policies in regards to certain areas. You don't have to go through it... because you don't follow policy anyway.” I smirked at this.

“I work better without the red tape.”

“I'm aware.” She repeated, only a hint of frustration in her tone. “Anyway, one of the support staff'll drive you to the location we've been seeing people entering the sewers from, and they'll brief you more on some of the details en route. I don't think I have to say this, but I will... just remember Tachyon that this woman – as frustrating as she might be – is still a citizen of this city... the same citizen you're sworn to protect. Don't hurt her.” I nodded to this. As much as people frustrated me, I never wanted to hurt them... it was always farthest from my mind.

“I wouldn't dream of it.” I answered firmly, causing Homura to smile in relief.

“Good. Dismissed.”

I made my way down to the motor pool where another woman was waiting. She was part of the support team – the group of people who helped the soldiers and base staff from the rear lines – the hexagonal pin on her uniform lapel labeling her as such. She was much more polite – if a worse conversationalist – then the first man who drove me to my first two missions earlier in the week; offering me a curt, stern nod as she opened the door for me. As we made our way to my destination, she filled me in on some of the details Homura left out.

“The Black Lotus has been in operation for a little under a year.” She began. “We don't know where she's getting her weapons – some say she's got connections in the Company that supply her – but she's providing the same kind of weaponry we're being supplied, so you can imagine why Command wants to secure her aid.” In a normal world – before the war – this kind of person would have been arrested: a black market weapons dealer dealing military-grade weapons at a premium to the masses. Today however? Today's much different then the yesterday of my mother's time. We don't want to stop her... in fact, many would argue that an armed population is a safe population. We just want to make sure that if push came to shove, she wouldn't be against slipping some of those guns our way. “The few who have had contact with her that we've managed to track down seem to imply that gun sales aren't her only specialty. Some of her richer clients are purchasing custom weapons – anywhere from paint jobs to custom modifications – so we've reason to believe she either knows a gunsmith, or is one.” She continued. “Power drain in the area has been slowly rising, according to the city's municipalities department, so it's safe to say she's got some pretty impressive security measures installed. Cameras, probably something a bit more elaborate if I were a betting woman. I've no doubt she's aware of your arrival, even before we left base.” An informed woman. My kind.

“I'll just have to be careful, then.”

Our conversation tapered off after twenty minutes; about the time we reached my drop location. It was a sewer cover in a back alley between a restaurant and a brothel (what is it with restaurants setting up next door to brothels?), loud club music blasting through the thin walls. You know, it really was amazing... here we are, teetering on the edge of extinction from an inhuman force bent on replacing us as the only dominate species on the planet, and people still find time to indulge in their vices of drugs, alcohol and sex. I guess it either speaks to how seriously the average citizen is taking it... or how the average citizen copes with the knowledge that tomorrow, we could all wake up and be dead.

Dropping to a knee, I pulled the sewer grating up to reveal a ladder leading into the city's sewage system. “I'll be here when you're ready to return.” My driver spoke to me, returning back to the car to wait. Didn't blame her... I didn't feel like smelling what I was about to stink like, either. The ladder stretched down into the abyss, an ankle-deep trench of water stretching across the majority of the large pipe, with a single footpath – barely wide enough for me to keep balance – took up a small portion of the side I was on. If everything went according to how I wanted it to... I wouldn't have to get wet. Scrawled on the side of the piping with faded chalk was an arrow pointed deeper into the sewage system. Looks like it was just a matter of following the markings.

Those arrows lead me deeper and deeper – through a few twists and turns – before coming to a large metal grate blocking off another portion of the sewer. Strangest thing, was there wasn't any water flow through the blocked off section. Pushing on the gate, I checked to see if it was open – which of course it wasn't – the steel bars rattling in their frame.

“That's funny...” A voice came from around me, faded through a speaker. “...I don't seem to recall having any appointments today... especially not from one of you.” The voice was female; a smooth, almost authoritative air about it as she spoke. “...but you've piqued my interest. What brings one of our... stalwart protectors crawling through the muck of the sewers to me today?” How she said 'stalwart protectors' screamed tired sarcasm.

“I'm looking for the Black Lotus.” I responded, trying to find the speaker she was using.

“Well ding ding ding. You've found her. But that doesn't answer my question.” A pause. “Mmm, no wait... don't tell me. You came here in uniform, which means this is official, right? And if this is official... did my dear, sweet older sister send you?”

“Maybe.” I responded. “I'd tell you more, but I don't talk to machines.” I heard her laugh at this.

“Oh, I like you. Mmm, yeah, I think I can entertain a guest today... provided you're polite.”

“Tell you what... you let me in, and I'll be as polite as you want.” There came a pause, followed by a buzz, the gate in my hands swinging free.

“Second left coming up. Take it and follow it to the door. You can't miss me. Mm... maybe you can solve my little problem while you're down here.” Problem? What kind of problem did she have that I could solve? I shook my head and entered through the freshly-opened gate, following her instructions to take the second left-hand path. It stretched some distance into the darkness, but through the darkness, I could barely make out a door with a dimly lit light above it.

This door turned out to be unlocked by the time I arrived, swinging open freely with but a push of my hand. The inside looked much different then the exterior – newer, recently renovated – with another door on the far side of a small antechamber. “Close that door behind you, would you? I have such low tolerance for the stink.” I did as asked, shutting the outer door.
“If you've got low tolerance for stink, why set up in the sewers?” She laughed again at this.

“Have you seen how expensive building permits are in this city? I could sell all my organs and still be shy. Mm... now this certainly is interesting...”

“What?”

“Do they normally let people like... you into their organization?” I squinted at the door.

“...no...” I responded slowly, causing her to laugh.

“Then I'll take the gander they don't know. How... delicious. Tell you what, you do me a favor, and I'll not only consider whatever brought you here today... but I'll do you the added favor of not spoiling your little secret, how's that sound?”

“Like blackmail.” I responded.

“Yes, but it's such a cute version of blackmail, wouldn't you agree?”

“Fine, what's your favor?”

“You're not the first guests I've had today – by and large the politest, but not the only. I've asked them multiple times to leave, but I'm afraid they just refuse. If you'd be willing to remove my unwanted guests, I'd be forever in your debt. Or... at least until you leave, and I forget you ever helped.” I could hear the sarcastic smile in her tone. “What do you say?” I didn't have a choice.

“Your 'guests' are Y, aren't they?”

“Figured that out all on your own, did you? Yes, they are... and they're also...” The inner door opened with a buzz, swinging free to reveal another room – a storage room of some sort with large forest-green colored crates lining floor-to-ceiling. “...right in there.” Sure enough, aside from the crates there was a small group of Y – two drones and a Progenitor – beating on a far door. “They've been trying to get in all morning. I imagine the leader has delusions of sticking that dirty phallus in me and... well, I'm just not into that sort of thing.” Couldn't blame her there. The two drones turned to face me, barking a cry as they charged. I snatched the first one up by it's tail – a scorpion-shaped Y with a nasty stinger on it's tail – and wrapped my other hand around it's body, pulling the pieces apart and splitting it in half.

Discarding him, I moved to his buddy – a strange cross between bestial and humanoid – grabbing it's attacking left arm and ripping it from it's shoulder, then bashing it across the head with it's bloody appendage; before stepping on it's back as it fell and crushing it's head beneath my heel. The Progenitor barely had a chance to react as I took it's head in both hands and twisted hard in one direction, then the other, tearing it's head from it's shoulders. I heard the Black Lotus chuckle over the intercom.

“Brutal. And efficient. Now I know why they've sent you... Tachyon.”

“...I'm not even going to question how you know my name.” I muttered, dropping the Y head with a dull thud.

“Please. Don't sell yourself short! You're a living legend in certain circles.” A pause as the door the Progenitor was beating on opened. “Come on in. I wanna see you with my own eyes.” I strode over the fallen Y corpses and pushed my way into the new door, stepping into a large, open room that definitely looked lived in. A bed was pushed into one corner and an ajar door nearest the bed showed a toilet and shower. A large desk was set up on another corner of the room with a large computer setup with several monitors showing camera feeds of different parts of the sewers. The high-backed chair by the computer spun around, showing the Black Lotus herself.

I instantly could tell why she had chosen the moniker of 'Black Lotus'. Her skin was a dark obsidian with huge claws on her fingers; a segmented scorpion tail wrapped about her waist, complete with barb. Her eyes glowed purple as she smiled gently at me. She was a Y-Bred... one of the more unfortunate ones who looked too much like a Y to blend in. Most could blend into human society – with our without minor camouflage – but some were just... too monstrous. Unlike most Y-Breds I've dealt with... she didn't seem to have the decency to wear clothes.

“Mmm...” I grunted, crossing my arms. “...explains a lot.” She looked hurt at this.

“Awww, what? No gasping in terror? No... confused blubbering?” She laughed. “It's kind of nice, actually.”

“You're not the first Y-Bred I've dealt with, and I'll be damned if you'll be the last.”

“No... no of course I'm not.” She clapped her hands together. “So! Tell me... what does dearest sister want with me today?” I took the USB stick out of my breast pocket and tossed it to her, her clawed hand deftly catching the flash drive. “Mm... interesting... One moment.” She turned back around in her chair and plugged the stick into her computer. “...oh, and there aren't even any viruses on this... that's so sweet of her.” She laughed to this. Her chair turned a little to look at me. “Oh, where are my manners? Have a seat, this won't be long.” I huffed, picking up a wooden chair from near the door and placing it a few feet from her computer, taking a seat and crossing my arms.

She sifted through the flash drive – which contained only two files – for a few moments before turning back to face me. “So... Homura wants me to 'come home' in her words.” She leaned back in her chair. “...I no doubt believe she filled your head with thoughts that I 'didn't trust' her and her little... organization, yes?” I nodded.

“She may have said something to that effect, yes.”

“The truth couldn't be farther from it. I trust you. Hell, if I didn't I wouldn't have let you get this far. What I don't trust... is putting all our faith in one group. You've seen it, yes? The intelligence lying beneath the brutality?”

“They can be smart.” I agreed. “But 'can' and 'are' are two separate things.” She grunted to this.

“...ignorant answer...” She grunted before turning back to her computer. “Well, you've done what you've come here to do. You tell Homura I'll consider it, but unless something changes and they really need me... I'll stay here. Now... if you're not going to buy anything, I suggest you leave at your earliest convenience. I'm tired.” I stood off the chair.

“That's it. 'You'll consider' it?” She nodded.

“Yes, I thought I was quite clear. Don't worry... I'm not a terrorist, I'm not going to tear the system down or... whatever you lot think I'm doing.” Turning to the door, I growled.
“...fuckin' waste of time...”

“Don't be that way. We met. It's never a waste of time to meet new friends.”



