Chapter 2

"Casualties?"

"Two, sir. 2nd Lieutenant Fore and Private 13."

"Cause of death?"

"Speculated that 13 went maverick, turning on his superior. The Lieutenant was killed by a ruptured cortex after receiving many bullet wounds. 13 was incapacitated from within, somehow, and is currently being hauled in for analysis, sir."

"The culprits?"

"Unknown, sir. The only things we have to go by are a torn dress and an auto-cot. Both are under extreme disrepair, making it hard to find any leads, sir, even fingerprints. Both are being tagged, sir."

"Good, continue the investigation, and have forensics comb the surrounding area for footprints and fluids."

"Already on it, sir!"

A pair of Reploids made their way from the crime scene, one following behind at a respectful distance. The reploid in the lead was a tall, blue reploid with grey highlights on his chest, arms and legs. His helmet was also blue, but his ridged crown and his V-shaped crest were a pale yellow. The crystal in his forehead was blue as well. An eyepatch adorned his left eye, covering all but a small hint of a scar from a past battle. He held a datapad in front of himself, reviewing the details of the case.

His escort was a common hunter-type reploid, only she was blue-grey as well. Her short brown hair and childish face made her a favorite among the male reploids, among many humans as well. But those who went closer to her than pin-ups, found her disposition was often curt and to the point, save for when she, the captain and a few others would meet. Her crystal was imbedded in her left hand, a bright red orb.

"Oh, and Lina?"

"Yes, Commander Dark?"

"Don't let any information of these events leak to the media. We don't need the panic that this would inevitably cause. That's the last thing we want."

"Yes, sir."

"Hey, Dark, you might want to take a look at this..."

"Will do." Dark turned back to Lina. "You have your orders, dismissed."

Lina smartly saluted, spun on her heel and walked away. Dark walked towards an autopsy specialist who was carefully extracting several tubes, wires and memory banks from the downed Enforcer lieutenant.

"For the last time, when I'm in front of my subordinates, you will address me as 'Commander' Dark."

"Oh, right, right! I forgot about your ego."

"Listen, Captain Dominique, you either acknowledge my request or I submit a disciplinary form. Your choice."

"We both know you wouldn't, but I'll stop goading you."

"Much obliged. What have you got for me?"

A medium sized reploid set down the tools he was using and faced Dark. He was a white and black reploid with no helmet, instead, he sported a bright pink bandana. A large half-ring wrapped around his neck, and on the back was a red crystal. His normally cheerful disposition darkened.

"Apparently, Lieutenant Fore was infected as well and not just 13. For some reason, the lieutenant's virus was dormant, intentionally so, as if it was waiting for some kind of signal. If my theory is correct, then today may have been nothing more than a test, and the person responsible for the virus was present today. The only problems with this theory are the complexity of the virus' firewall and the reason why 13 isn't dead. First off, if the virus was so deeply ingrained in the brain, then why wasn't it detected earlier? A simple brain scan should've discovered it, but no matter what we used, we wouldn't have looked for something like this. The only reason I found it was because it was located near the gaping hole that used to be a chest. Secondly, is the fact that 13 isn't dead, merely incapacitated. If I was the person responsible, than I would've killed 13, and erased any proof of my existence. Instead, 13 was left alive for potential interrogation and indictment."

"You shouldn't talk like that. Due to the circumstances, you might be labeled a maverick."

"True, but this is just my theory."

"Understood, I will file my report at HQ. Take care of yourself."

Commander Dark saluted and turned toward a waiting chopper. Dominique returned the sentiment and went back to work.

The flight to HQ was a long trip, but for Dark, his mind burning with more questions than had been answers, it was entirely too short. Somehow he had to report this, but how do you report what you found if you didn't even know what it was? Slowly, he began to write out an impromptu report, just something to tide off his superiors. But, even that proved to be incredibly difficult, there were just too many factors that didn't play with any theory. If the Enforcers were truly downed by mavericks, then why was 13 alive? The complete disappearance of any trace of evidence, besides a dress and a bed, meant that the perpetrator was extremely cautious, or just paranoid, making the suspect unlikely to be maverick. The fact that the enforcer was downed so efficiently only seemed to prove that it wasn't a common maverick. If it was a human, then there should be fingerprints there. None were found. Even the residue in the dress was so scarce that it was impossible to tell if it was ever even worn. If it was just a rebel reploid, than, again, how did it know the workings of the Enforcer so completely?

The helicopter landed with hardly a tremor, it's rotors quickly shutting down. Dark rose and made his way out, his head in his hands.

"Well, this must be serious if it's even got you worried."

Dark lifted his head. "Well, lets just say that this has a genuine cause for concern, not just a random attack." He stopped, rubbing his temple. "Either that or I'm finally losing it."

A slight reploid stood before him, his face impassive. He was completely grey, save for his skin and three red stripes that ran like blood down his left arm. He sported no crystal, and the right side of his face was hidden behind grey locks of hair. Standing next to him was an even smaller reploid. It's gender was unknown, as it was still a child and that it was mute. On top of that, it seemed to share the same love of colors as it's counterpart, except that it was pure white, even it's eyes and crystal in it's forehead. Affectionately, it was known as 'Who', and, unlike it's partner, it was easy to read and loved to laugh, even if silently. Even though Who's gender was a mystery, Dark liked to think it as a 'he'.

"I have no doubt's when it comes to your intelligence or your sanity. If you truly feel that this is as dangerous as that, then we should heed your warnings accordingly."

"Thank you, sir. How are you, Who?"

Who gave an open-faced smile and hugged Dark. Nuzzling against him, Who did it's best interpretation of laughter as it shook up and down. Dark returned the affection with a pat on the head.

"General Haze, what brings you here? I doubt it was just for small-talk, sir."

"You are correct." General Haze stepped forward. "Although, I would prefer that we speak in private, Dark."

"As you wish, sir."

Who let go of Dark and clung to Haze as they walked off the helipad. Dark followed after a curt nod to the pilot. After descending via elevator for several minutes, the group reached the basement of the giant complex. Strangely, Haze preferred to make the lowest level his own, instead of near the top with the other officers. Who didn't mind where it was, as long as it constantly had company.

"So, what's going on, sir?"

"We've known each other long enough to talk informally when we're in private, so, please feel free to do so."

"Alright. What's going on?"

"The rise in mavericks lately is of great concern to us right now. As of recently, Gateway City has been spared the horror of mavericks, but the numbers increase and spread, and will inevitably overtake us. It will happen, and at the rate they've been multiplying, we have less than four months before the war is brought, in full, here. If this recent attack can give us any clues on how to beat them back or, if I dare to dream, destroy them, then I must ask that you give us all the information you have, right now." Even Who stood still at the severity of the situation. Dark took a deep breath and relayed everything he knew. Haze listened patiently until the report was complete.

"...and that's all that has been revealed as of yet."

Haze remained silent, his normally passive face, scrunched in concentration. An uncomfortable quiet enveloped the room, nearly driving Dark mad. Finally, Haze spoke.

"None of the theories are correct, no offense to Captain Dominique. The only theory that might work is that a top scientist was there and had the assistance of a prototype reploid. Perhaps the dress and the auto-cot were from a bystander that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The only problem with that is the lack of any prints."

"I see, but if there was a scientist there, he must have been one of the top scientists in the world!"

"That's what troubles me. I want you to personally go back and oversee the investigation."

"Sir, why would I need to be there? Wouldn't I be of greater assistance investigating some of the world's leading scientists?"

"Dark, you are not stupid, so stop acting like it." Dark was taken aback at the bluntness of his superior. "Think, if a scientist was responsible, do you think that asking to see their labs helps? No, even if they let you in, which I doubt, you wouldn't know half of what you saw. As such the most help you can be to us is to personally oversee any and all operations within the parameters of this case. There is no one else that I trust more for a task like this, given your incredible analytical skills. Not to mention your personal history with mavericks. If you just calm down and think, I know that you will find the answers that we're looking for."

Dark rubbed his eyepatch and remained silent.

"I'm sorry, Dark, but that's an order."

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, get back to the crime scene, and remember, we don't have much time."

"Sir!"

Dark rose and quickly walked out. Haze was right, the only way he could find the perpetrator was to be out in the field. He was no longer nervous or unsure, he had a job to do, and he'd be damned before he gave up!