Author's notes: I made a few additions to the first chapter. This is just a chapter for world developing. No Gold in this one. Sorry dearies. And in response to the reviews I never thought of David being the one who needs to be "woken up", but I see where you guys got that from. Speaking of David... here's a david chapter.
Chapter 2: Can you hear them whisper?
"Would you like some tea, Mr. Rabbit?"
The dirty blond hair man hastily removed the headphones and dropped them forcibly unto his desk as he heard the end of the recording. The force of the impact makes two picture frames fall off the desk and shatter. He rubs face in frustration. He kneels down to examine the mess. One frame, not damaged by the fall, is of him and fiancée, the day she got her masters, the day he purposed. He examines the photo, a small smile decorating his face, they look happy together; he with arms wrapped around her waist, embracing her from behind, our blue eyes sparkling with joy, her chestnut curls flying about. They were so happy then, he thought. No they are still happy. Sure circumstances changed but they're happy. It seemed like ages ago, when in reality only two months had pasted. He placed the frame on his desk, before turning his attention to other frame. This one didn't take the toll of the fall so well. He carefully attempts to salvage the photo from the damaged frame. It's from his younger years, a photo of him and his twin, both of them dressed in military uniform, and his mother. He and his brother have the same look on their face, eagerness and pride. A picture of innocent times, when they still thought they were making a difference.
He and his brother were offered a job at STAF, Special Tactical Armed Forces, shortly after graduating police academy. To be part of STAF was a dream come true, well his brother's dream he just tagged along for the ride. His brother wanted to be a hero, and defeat the monsters, and he did, he was a legend. STAF sole purpose was to serve and protect everyday citizens from the deviants.
Deviants. Some people would call them freaks of nature, others would consider them to be the next step in human evolution. They were humans who posed strange and abnormal abilities. Their abilities ranged, from everything from super strength to manipulating the elements. There was testing in place of course to look for deviants. Every citizen had to have the blood in database. Each deviant radiated a unique energy signature making it easy to track and catch any offending deviants, in theory. His brother's squad, now his, dealt the troubling/headline cases, or how brother would describe them "the stuff of legends" cases.
He turns attention back to the case he's working on, his brother's last case. Glancing at the file over again, hoping the assailant's identity would come to light.
Code Name: ALCHEMIST.
Appearance: 5'8"-6'2".Thin Frame. Dark earthly tone clothing.
Special abilities: Manipulating earth based substances.
Offences: Charged with the destruction of several city wide blocks and the death of STAF colonel James Nolan.
Notes: Showman. Does not leave scene of the crime until STAF agents have arrived. Possess the ability to mask his energy signature. Known association with mercenary Jefferson Hatter.
Jefferson Hatter. Ex-military. Special-ops. Part of project Wonderland for two years before being discharged due to mental instability. Now works as a tailor in the capital.
Reading the case file again turns his thoughts to the recordings from Hatter's office. The bugged his office, after detecting the Alchemist energy signature several times there. The first few times they brought Hatter in for questioning, and each time he had passed the lie detector test, claiming he did not know the Alchemist. They had hours of recordings of conversations between Hatter and the Alchemist, but most of it being mundane conversation about the proper way to brew tea or customers of Hatter's shop. But the most recent recording raised many questions. What are the two of them planning, what kind of "show"? And who was this he, this conductor of this symphony? Who's this Guest of Honour? Who is this she that is so important to Hatter? A love one, a family member perhaps? Though they didn't have any family listed for him. Maybe if they could reunite the two together, Hatter would reveal his co-conspirators. Family. The one thing Hatter revealed about the Alchemist. He has a family. Never did David picture the Alchemist with a family. How could one destroy a city and displace many families have a family of their own? Perhaps he needs outsider's perspective, one who isn't…
"David."
He loses his train of thought, when he hears his name called. He looks up to see his step-father and boss, Albert Spencer, standing in his office.
"Glad to see you've finally joined us. Walk with me." the older man commented.
"Yes sir." He gets up and follows his step-father into the hallway. It had always been very formal between the two of them, even before he joined STAF. He was never Albert's favourite. "I was just thinking about the Alchemist case."
"Any new leads to capturing your brother's killer?"
"Nothing that would amount to an arrest sir." A look disappointment fills the older man's eyes.
"I see. David it's about time you went to the field. With your brother gone, we're short staffed."
"Sir, I like to put in a request for addition staff for the Alchemist case."
"David.."
"General Spencer, I'm glad to have found you. Colonel Nolan."
Their conversation was cut short by a dark hair man dressed in a well-tailored suit. Roderick Alistair Coal. CEO of PI industries and one of financial backers.
"Mr. Coal. What a pleasant surprise."
"You and I have business to discuss, Spencer. I heard about what happened. My condolences, David. You brother was a…good agent." Coal and James were close college, the two of them partied and drank hard. Though they grew a part when Coal went to law school and James went to police academy. After almost dying from a drug overdose, Coal changed his gallivanting ways, and built his business empire." If there is anything within my power to help catch his killer, let me know."
"Will you be joining us?" Spencer asked. Since their college days Spencer has tried to recruit Coal yet in spite of Spencer's insistence, Coal never became an official member of STAF.
Coal chuckled. "No, no not at all. You and I both know I don't deal well with authority figures. Though I do know a few people that might be of some assistance. A Doctor Archibald hopper and a Ms. Emma Swan."
I hope this chapter answers some questions from the first chapter. Bonus points if you can tell me who David's fiancee is. If you guess it right,and are asking why? Remember they're all cursed.