The Fantastica - Volume 1: Black Dossier
Chapter 1 - Nearer to the End than First Expected
L's Base of Operations, Tokyo, 2015
Near looped a length of hair around his finger and twirled it into a tight knot. He tilted his head, thinking.
He spun it out again. Picked up the knight between his index finger and thumb. Lifted it with careful delicacy and held it above the board. He tilted his head further. Then he put the piece down. Twisted it, slightly, so that it faced the same way as all the white pieces. Frowned and picked it up again. He turned the piece upside down and picked a hair from it. With a grimace, he held it out. Giovanni took it from him. He put the knight down again, twisting it carefully into place.
The computer pipped. Near didn't look up.
"Legally you shouldn't touch the piece after putting it down, but I'll let it pass."
Near finished adjusting the knight. He put his fingers back into his hair and twirled out another length.
"You can't see me."
He looked up at the computer. Giovanni nodded and typed in his move. The board displayed flickered as it shifted. A pawn had moved. Near looked down and flicked the knight aside.
"Are you sure about that?"
Near looked away, distantly. He spun his hair out again.
"There is no camera attached to my computer," he said, calmly. His eyes drifted back to his board.
"I could have your building wired."
Near rolled his eyes. The garbled voice on the computer was starting to irritate him now. The chess-player F. Roy Dean Schlippe was too rushed, too angry. And he couldn't play mind games.
"Hurry up."
Near reached up. Giovanni sighed and pulled the desk drawer open. He shifted through the collection and pulled out a silvery miniature jet. He leant back and placed it in Near's outstretched hand wordlessly.
"I'm waiting, Shinji Ikari."
The speech distortion didn't disguise F. Roy Dean Schlippe's distaste for the name. Near smiled, faintly. He looked down at the board. Tilted his head.
"Mind games don't suit you. Or is it something more? You're not stuck for a move, surely?"
Near ignored it. He whistled slightly as the jet fell from his hand. It twisted in the air, turning into a nose-dive. It hit the floor. He frowned.
"You're still there, Shinji. Move."
Near picked up the jet and ran his finger along the cracked plastic. He looked up. Giovanni was sat, waiting for Near's move. He looked bored.
Near rose, stretching. He yawned.
Giovanni covered the microphone. "Near, what's wrong?"
Near put the broken jet down, carefully. He tilted his head. Then he looked back to the board.
He crouched. Picked up a pawn between index finger and thumb. Lifted it, carefully, and placed it down again. Twisted it, gently. Then rose again.
He looked up.
"Make the move, Giovanni."
Giovanni nodded and looked back to the computer. The board flickered as he updated the move. There was a hesitation.
"Damn."
Near tipped the board up.
"You beat me."
Near pulled the desk drawer out. The distorted voice sounded surprised. Slowly, piece by piece he began to back away the chess pieces. Giovanni looked back to the screen and frowned.
"Congratulations," the voice acknowledged. Near ignored it, again. He waved at the computer. Giovanni closed the screen.
"That's it?" he asked, slowly.
"That's it," Near agreed.
"You didn't checkmate him." Giovanni said, frowning. He vaguely suspected the response.
"He recognised the situation and that I recognised it too. He knew how it would end."
"No bragging?" Giovanni tried.
Near looked at him, sidelong. "I won the game."
Giovanni shrugged and turned off the computer. Near crouched down again, and picked up the jet.
"Is this what we do now? Play games?"
Near tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. He put his fingers to his hair.
"Yes."
Giovanni watched as he twirled the hair around his finger. He exhaled.
The door opened. Giovanni looked up. Near didn't.
"What is it, Commander Lester?"
Lester held out the file. Near didn't take it. He looked up and read it, carefully.
"This is happening as I anticipated. There is a file in the cabinet. It's under T. I've already highlighted the contact detail required. Giovanni, contact the number specified."
Lester frowned. "Near, perhaps we should wait before we..."
"I know where he is," Near said, definitely. "and I know what he's doing. Giovanni, please do as I ask."
They stared for a moment more. Then Giovanni nodded.
"Yes, L."
Lester watched him move over to the computer. The familiar letter flashed up onto the screen. Angular, stylised. An enigma.
He looked down at Near.
"It's good to be back in business."
Near looked up. He held Lester's gaze for a moment, and nodded.
Lester left the file on the desk.
Inside were the details of the thirty-three bodies discovered over the last week. All given the same time of death. All heart-attacks.
Kira had returned. Near smiled, distantly, and twirled his hair again.