03/02/2017

At long last, a story I've wanted to write for FOREVER! "Phantom" is here.

There is one small issue I'll reiterate. This story takes place after "Skells & Love". So Jaynix and Alexa are together. That said. There aren't any major spoilers from "Skells & Love". I don't allude to anything about mission and the ending, Jaynix and Alexa getting together...well...duh. So if you want a sneak peek into these two lovebirds here we go!

I'm placing this story a month after the end of "Skells & Love" I hope you enjoy this story headed up by the blue and red siblings: Kruse and Jaynix.

Also, another reading reviews thing on my youtube...

A Ghost's Touch

Late afternoon came to New Los Angeles, finding Kruse headed towards the BLADE Barracks, almost bumping into a few people along the way. The Harrier had been hard at work these last few days and it was very clearly starting to wear on him.

Entering their barracks, Kruse could barely stifle a long and powerful yawn. Rubbing his eyes he continued moving, Elma spotting him and greeting him. Leaning down he kisses her on the cheek before sitting across from her.

"My. It's barely past the afternoon and you look like you're ready for bed."

Kruse shrugged. "I was out overnight. You know this."

Elma chuckled "Indeed I do. So why not head to bed instead of sitting here? I think you've earned it."

"He's hungry."

The pair looked over to Jaynix who was cooking lunch and whistling to herself. Turning, her red eyes caught sight of the couple. Kruse gave her a small smile.

"She knows me very well."

Elma shook her head as Jaynix approached them, sliding a plate in front of the Reclaimer.

"You're gonna have to be patient Kruse. I was only cooking for the two of us as in me and you're wonderful girlfriend Elma. Not an exhausted Harrier."

The man chuckled as Jaynix made her way over to the stovetop.

"C'mon Sis. Really? Have mercy!"

Kruse then looked back at Elma who had forked a piece of chicken and was holding it out to him. With a silent thank you he took it and ate it, letting out a relieved sigh.

"Ever the amazing chef you are, Sis."

Jaynix turned back to the pair "Next time. I'm making spaghetti. That's something you lovebirds will really enjoy."

A few minutes later the three were now seated, eating from their own plates and chatting.

"Did I do something to upset you, Sis?"

Jaynix smiled at Kruse.

"Not at all, Bro. I just like pushing your buttons."

Kruse nodded, a small laugh escaping Elma.

"I figured you'd realize this Kruse. She does it all the time."

The Harrier took another bite before shrugging.

"I am pretty tired. Can't really feel the sarcasm I suppose."

After a short silence, the trio heard a beep. Not sure from where all three of them pulled out their comm devices, Kruse finding that he was the one getting a message.

"Solomon?"

"Who?"

Kruse looked to Jaynix and cleared his throat.

"Mathias Solomon. He's the head investigator here in New LA. Think of him as a super Mediator. His office the Investigative Crime Unit is part of the new infrastructure Chausson is putting in place to make New LA less of a…I don't know…less of a whatever we are right now and shift it more towards an actual city with real civil service and government. He did say that it was only after the Ganglion were defeated and the Lifehold reclaimed that his job as Director General would begin."

Elma nodded "And true to his word, he's been working nonstop. The construction crews have finally finished connecting all the roads in New LA and he's close to unveiling the next step in man's continued survival here on Mira."

Jaynix thought for a few moments before snapping her fingers. "Expansion."

Kruse and Elma looked to each other, confused.

"How do I know that? Alexa kinda blabbed it to me."

Elma shook her head "Of course."

"In her defense, she felt really bad about it. She got all dorky and adorable and told me to forget what I heard. You two know you can trust me though. Right? I won't tell a soul. More importantly, what does this Mathias Solomon want?"

Kruse took a few more bites before returning his attention to his comm device and reading the rest of Solomon's message.

"He wants me to join him and his assistant Rueben Torrez in an ongoing investigation of a…a serial killer…"

Elma stopped mid bite, placing her fork back on the table and watching Kruse. Jaynix looked at her warily before staring at Kruse. His change was subtle…but she could see it. He didn't look tired anymore, he didn't have his lazy smile or the glow in his eyes. He seemed…angry.

"Kruse."

He looked up at Elma, who reached over and placed her hand on his. Letting out a long breath he nodded.

"From what Solomon is saying, this guy they're dealing with…the Phantom…is a serious problem…did either of you know about this? I've been out a lot these last few days so-"

Elma nodded "I got back not too long ago and heard about it from Vandham but on Chausson's insistence we left it to Solomon and his investigative team to handle it. Chausson is pretty adamant in getting all of us to follow the new hierarchy…and there is a lot of BLADE work we all still have to do. During the Lifehold Incident it was understandable that we just did whatever job needed to be done. But the way the Director General sees it, we need order."

Jaynix remained silent as Kruse put his comm device away.

"Regardless, Solomon is personally asking for my help and I can't let this serial killer continue his rampage here in New LA. Whoever this Phantom is…I'm going to find him."

Kruse stood up and began leaving the barracks, Elma close behind, placing a hand on his shoulder and turning him to face her.

"You know I'd be right there with you if I could…"

Jaynix watched Kruse's anger vanish, the friendly face she knew returning as he addressed Elma.

"I know. But like you said. We have a lot of BLADE work to do and other vital pieces of the White Whale still need finding. If anyone can do it, I know you can."

Elma smiled "Same goes for you. Good luck Kruse."

She leaned in and kissed him, the Harrier smiling before taking off.

Elma returned to her seat, noting that Jaynix had an odd expression on her face.

"What's wrong?"

Jaynix gestured in the direction Kruse left.

"I hardly see him so angry…in battle he's a completely different person but this is the first time I saw his…warrior persona come out like that…"

Elma could only nod.

"You're observant. Moments like these make it clear you trained under General Kumon."

The pair sat in silence as Elma thought over what to say.

"Kruse is…how do I put this…he's an idealist. It comes with his not having a memory of the White Whale or Earth. He only understood what he saw before him. All of us, the remains of humanity struggling to survive in an alien world and hostile Xenoforms doing everything in their power to kill us all. He had a very black and white view of the world. Those of us in NLA were the ones he protected and those who harmed us where the ones he slew. I appreciated his simple outlook early on but I was also there when his beliefs were tested…"

Jaynix waited as Elma thought back.

"Alex. Powell. The Celeste Three. Ornella. Fraisie. Justin. Gus. Dale Gibbon…humans. BLADEs. Individuals who stood against the many for themselves. Racism. Revenge. Greed. Religion. They used the foundations of human conflict to excuse their murderous rampages. Every time Kruse solved one of these cases…I saw his faith in humanity die…"

Jaynix shook her head "No way…Kruse? Losing faith? I just…really?"

Elma gave Jaynix a sad smile. "Yes. He tried to understand why things like that had to happen…but in trying to understand them he only found himself at even more of a loss. As he explained it to me once. There is only a few of us left, humans. Why would any one of us want to kill any of the rest of us? He believed in the human spirit and our desire to survive…he believed that these extraordinary circumstances would bind us all together…I believed that once as well…as did the Coalition and the ECP Board but…"

Jaynix sighed "I see…you know what the 3rd Soldier Unit did in the Lawless Sectors, right Elma? I saw up close and personal the worst trash humanity had to offer. I slit countless throats and splattered brains across countless pavements. Despite my best efforts…these walking shit stains still made it onto the Arks. Hmph…if I'd run into any of these fucks…I'd lose a little faith too."

There was another silence before Elma spoke up again "What really did it though…what really brought out the anger that Kruse rarely utilizes…was…"

"The traitor."

Elma nodded "Kruse wanted nothing more than to kill him. To this day he wishes that he did. He wishes that he'd shoved past Lin and run his blade through that man…he and Lin were…not close after that. Not for a while."

Jaynix's eyes widened "How do I not know this? I've been with you guys for-"

"We try not to talk about him. It only upsets Lin and enrages Kruse. So we never bring it up anymore."

Jaynix crossed her arms "So, Kruse has a natural disdain for murderers and traitors. Especially if they're human."

Elma nodded "Yes. And even more so if they're BLADEs."

Kruse stood near the crime scene he was asked to come to. He saw the Head Detective standing not too far looking at a report. He wore simple gray hat, a beige trench coat over his white suit and had a cigarette in his mouth.

"Solomon."

Looking up from his report, Head Detective of the New Los Angeles Investigative Crime Unit, Mathias Solomon spotted Kruse. A smirk on his face he breathed out a cloud of smoke and approached the Harrier, stretching out his hand. The pair shook as he spoke.

"Hey. Glad you could come out."

Solomon gestured Kruse over towards another man.

"Torrez! Walk Kruse through what we found."

Assistant Detective of the NLA Crime Unit, Rueben Torrez looked up at Kruse, standing from his kneeling position he addressed Solomon.

"Are you sure? Is he a member of the Crime Unit? I've not seen him before."

Solomon chuckled "No he isn't but if Chausson's paperwork becomes a pain in the ass we'll just pencil him down as an…unaffiliated observer."

Torrez shrugged at that and gestured to the body. Kruse looked the individual over.

"Isn't that Raymond?"

Torrez looked to Kruse "You know the deceased?"

"Yeah. Raymond Penn. Harrier. I ran a few missions with him…"

Torrez sighed "Well I'm sorry you had to see him this way. A passerby found Penn about an hour ago. Dead already. As you can see he had his arm sawed off and while that caused a lot of the trauma the cause of death was catastrophic protoplasmic loss. The fluids that run through all our bodies. Our mims. He lost so much of it the mim shut down and he died."

"That's a fancy way of saying he bled out." Solomon finished, putting the cigarette he was waving around back in his mouth. Sighing, another cloud of smoke escaped his mouth before he asked.

"You know of the Phantom, Kruse?"

"I've been out of town a lot. Just heard about this killer from your message and what Elma could tell me."

Solomon grinned "Right. Your girlfriend."

Torrez's eyes widened "Wait. You're the guy with Elma?"

Kruse nodded "Yeah. Why?"

"No reason just…wow…how did that happen?"

Solomon shook his head "No time for romantic dramas or a tale of young love. Serial Killer. Dead body. Get your head in the game Torrez."

The assistant nodded before returning to his paperwork as Solomon addressed Kruse.

"This sick fuck has earned the name 'the Phantom' because he commits his murders in the dead of night and no one ever sees him. Penn is the fifth individual he's murdered and the third BLADE. All of his victims died via catastrophic protoplasmic loss. Which means, he bleeds them out overnight…you'd think we would hear some screaming but this guy is a ghost. A phantom."

Kruse nodded "Fitting…"

"The Unit thought so too. Anyway. I called you out here because now we're up to five bodies and I'm about ready to turn in my badge. I've made no progress and at this rate there are going to be five more bodies before I make any sustainable lead."

Kruse looked at Penn's corpse then back to Solomon. "So you need a fresh pair of eyes? Why did you think of me first?"

Solomon laughed "Really? The guy who took down the Celeste Three? The guy who found their fourth member? The guy who hunted down the last crazed killer the Blood Lobster? Why the fuck would I go to anyone else?"

"I didn't do that alone."

"No. But you were there for every single one. I don't know if you were just born for this sort of thing but I know you can handle it. And if it was just luck…well…we really need the luck and we really need the help. Torrez! How fucked are we otherwise?"

"Cataclysmically fucked sir."

"See? Cataclysmically? It's like the Crime Unit is Earth and this phantom fucker is the Ganglion. We've solved quite a few disputes and crimes but this one is just getting away from us. And we can't let that happen."

Kruse nodded to Solomon. "No. We can't."

The Head Detective smiled "So. You're in?"

Kruse gave him a look and without a word, he nodded.