Another Death: The Andrew Powers Case
Chapter 10 - Work
Still June 30, 2027. 5:13PM
The KIC members rushed around the rest of that afternoon packing and preparing their things for the much-awaited weekend. It came as much of a surprise then when, just as some were waiting by the doorway for their rides, an announcement came over the sound system. "All KIC members please report to the main conference room on the second floor immediately." All of the people by the doors and still packing looked at their watches confusedly and disdainfully, wondering what could cause such a change.
The group made their way quickly to the destined room, leaving their prospects of relaxation at the door temporarily. George, being in the lead, opened the door first and saw Zeke sitting (one leg folded under and one up by his chin) at the head of the large table in the middle of the room sipping some Ramen Noodle Soup. "Zeke what's wrong?" George asked frantically as he and the others dashed in.
"I don't know, you tell me," he responded as he examined a noodle hanging off his spoon.
"W-Well, didn't you call us here for something urgent?"
"Yes."
"Then what happened?!" the lot of them cried simultaneously.
"What makes you people think there has to be a reason for urgency? It's bad for work output to hurry only when necessary."
"But it sounded important over the sound system, you said to be here immediately and everything."
"Yes, we have things to discuss. I would hardly begin to assume that those few things we brought up over lunch cover all of the information that needs to be exchanged right now."
"But I thought we were taking a break for the weekend," Kevin said.
"You are, and today is Wednesday. Your break starts tomorrow night."
"Oh, of course," Kevin said embarrassed, "I didn't mean to sound like I was complaining or anything."
"I believe it's a bit late for that. Please sit down." The group moved to a spot on the long table and found before each of them a thick manila envelope. "Thus commences our first CIP, or Collective Intelligence Protocol. These will be held every three days we are in the building regardless of how eventful or uneventful the previous days are, to gather our thoughts and further organize ourselves as a collective pool of intelligence and investigation skills."
"Isn't the whole purpose of this building to be on the same page without things like this though?" Tamara asked skeptically.
"Even in the most cohesive structures it is impossible for this many people to work together in absolute perfect understanding. If we are to minimalize causalities by Kira by figuring out who he is in the most efficient amount of time then we must keep each other informed of any and all developments, and even things that may seem as trivial as minor opinions. If there were three or four of us than this wouldn't be so necessary, but because we are working with a body of eight separate individuals it brings like thinking to a whole new priority. In other words, there's too many of us and we have to think as if there weren't."
"Of course," David affirmed.
"Excellent," Zeke said, "So bringing me to our first order of business, our essential security."
"I had thought we had taken plenty of measures to hide our identity under Near," Logan commented.
"Near had no plans of leaving a single enclosed space prior to the completion of the case, and thus simply changing your identities was sufficient to keep you all, or rather most of you, safe. But as you know I have already slated a collective step outdoors within the next few days, and in the real world simply saying a fake name isn't enough."
"What could possibly happen to us related to Kira that a fake name wouldn't protect?" Kevin chuckled.
"Kira is everywhere, Kevin. He isn't just some magical entity that can clog your arteries anymore; he is in people up and down every block, in major political leaders, and even in your friends and neighbors. The magnitude of what we're dealing with here isn't confined to this structure and the news and internet. Outside it is an entirely different picture, and as we take more time to progress on this case the world's psyche takes more steps toward deterioration. So yes, fake names prevent us from Kira heart attacks, but suppose that this weekend the United States granted Kira amnesty and there was a riot of sorts around your vacationing spot. Or perhaps you're in the vicinity of a major Kira death and you don't have your cell phone or PDA to contact anyone and you find yourself stuck in a bad position. All of these things are possibilities, which brings me to the envelopes you'll each find in front of you."
They each looked down in front of them, some starting to open them up. "Inside of these envelopes are several individually wrapped packets, each containing a small patch of what appears to be skin. In actuality these patches are highly sensitive pieces of technology that could be the key to your
survival in some situations. I want you all to have one connected to you at all times, especially while outside of this building. Place it in a place you'll be able to reach, but won't bump during the day such as your lower back or something. When in danger, all you need to do then is place any of the printed parts of your fingers against the patch and a message will be sent to our network – that includes the main computers here, Ichigo's PDA and all of your cell phones and laptops. The patch reads only your finger prints and also has a tracer that allows us to pick up your location in both address and latitude longitude upon being activated. You'll find in the envelope three years worth for each of you. Hopefully we won't need them that long."
"Astounding pieces of technology," George said as he held one up for examination.
"No kidding," Tamara agreed as she looked at hers.
"So," Zeke said as he pushed his empty bowl out of the way, "moving on. Oh first, any questions, comments, concerns pertaining to these patches?"
"Will you be wearing one?" Logan asked.
"I don't personally have much intention of leaving this place unless necessary for the case, and if I do I will always bring one of you or Ichigo with me, so no."
"What if whoever's with you dies and you're left alone?"
"I have my own means of self-defense, and as for the said person being killed by Kira, well, I haven't said my real name since I was four. I think I'm covered."
"What kind of self-defense do you know?" Logan persisted.
"I'm good with a gun, if you must know. If you're this concerned with my safety perhaps you should just be the one who comes with me at whatever instance."
"I think that there's no other man for the job if you put it that way," he said proudly.
"Fine. As long as we are on the subject of what we'll do in the event of an attack by Kira or otherwise, I think there is one major thing we must affirm."
The others looked at him with interest as he went on, "The previous Kira left the world in a dismal state. Sure, it was okay while it lasted with such a low crime rate and all, but they were at a loss for what to do in his absence afterwards. Several nations put their citizens under martial law for some time and began locking up people for being for and against Kira. It was chaos. Kira's vengeance period is what I call it, as the death count of more than just criminals shot up in the ensuing destruction. Since then order has of course been restored and Kira zealots persecuted. But now this new guy comes along, and people are scared; they're scared that this one' s here to stay, or if he's not then there will just be another. These nations that have taken such steps to eliminate any traces of the old Kira are worried that their structure will fall before the newest followers. And thus the predicament we are faced with here is far worse than the last. The time it will take for the entire world to submit to Kira will be cut in less than half compared with the first one, and it will be wholly out of fear and terror rather than respect. Kira worshippers will easily replace normal citizens in political positions, and being against Kira will be a dangerous state of affairs."
The others looked away sullenly at the thought of it. "And so I am left with two major precautions: one, upon the return from your weekend off we will officially become underground. I feel that it is best to do this in advance of such occurrences to prevent the nation from coming down on us before we are fully prepared. And second, if we find Kira, know exactly who he is and have him in our sights, I am afraid to say that by that point turning him to whatever police are left is out of the question. His fate must remain in our hands alone because we will be the only true justice left on the face of the Earth. And what he has done merits the death penalty. I believe you know what I mean by now."
David looked up seriously, "We have to kill him."
"Without hesitation."
--
Still June 30, 2027. 7:00PM
That evening Jack Johnson made a special trip to Andrew's apartment. Having just learned from a friend of his that the nation of Ukraine was pledging allegiance to Kira's supremacy, he found the occasion fitting to stop in and celebrate. To his surprise, though, after letting himself in through the unlocked door whilst complaining about security, Andrew sat at his desk staring at the spot he entered the room. There was but one small lamp on in the room, and the TV and computer were turned off.
"Um, Andrew? Is something the matter?" he asked timidly.
"The matter?" he seemed to snap out of a trance, looking slightly surprised at something, "No, nothings the matter at all. What's the matter with you? It's not Saturday."
"I just came to tell you some good news," he said slowly as he entered the room and put a dish he had prepared down on the table, "Why is it so dark in here?"
"I was napping, actually, and you caught me in a daze."
"And you're positive nothing's wrong?" he asked very concerned.
"Well, there is one little thing, but it's not important."
"We've been through this, nothing's unimportant if it concerns either of us. I've told you all of my concerns, now don't hold out on me."
"Well, it's just that I'm going to have family probably coming into town over this weekend, and it was so sudden it just kind of surprised me, is all. Nothing important, like I said."
"Oh, really?" Jack said more brightly, "Who's coming?"
"Oh, just my cousin Kyle."
"Kyle? Isn't he…"
"The cop? Yes, but it's not a problem. We've got no worries; we'll just have to keep things on the low side for a few days."
"Do you want me to take it while he's here? It might be safer that way just for a few days."
Andrew felt a wave of nausea fall over him, with eager anticipation welling in his stomach at the same time. "Take it? Oh, yes, that, the notebook. Well, uh, yeah, sure. That sounds like a good plan to me. A good plan."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jack asked uncertainly.
"Yes, like I said, I'm fine, just a little surprised."
"Okay, well now that that's over I'll tell you my news. Vince over on Eighth Street just told me…Ukraine…monumental news…Kira…"
Andrew found himself losing complete interest in what Jack was saying as the message cousin Kyle had left for him replayed in his mind over and over, filling his thoughts and cluttering his subconscious. Hey, Andrew, it's Kyle. Sorry about the sudden change in plans, but work's been really interfering lately. You'll never guess, and I probably shouldn't say this on an answering machine, but I've been working on that darned Kira case. It's horrible, isn't it? Well, anyway, I just wanted to ask you if
this weekend, maybe on Thursday or Friday, if I could pull into town for a couple days to fill up my break. Just give me a call back and let me know. I'll be waitin' to hear from you, bye.
The Kira case. Who would have thought I could be so lucky? Andrew thought to himself. When he pulls into town, it may work…
"Andrew?!" Jack shouted, "Are you even listening? This is huge stuff! Kira is being accepted all around the world! Yesterday almost the entirety of South America said they'd halt anti-Kira campaigns, and now it's happening in the Middle East and Asia! Isn't this uplifting to you at all?"
"It's brilliant," Andrew said quietly more to himself than to Jack.
"Man, you look tired. Maybe you should take a longer nap. Or just call it in early tonight. I could take that book a few days early to give you a break if you want."
"No, I'll hold onto it until Kyle comes, thanks anyway though," he said just as absentmindedly.
"Whatever you say. You can just keep this lasagna and give me what you don't eat later. You know where to find me."
"'Night."
"Later."
Jack walked out the door and Kinddara made her presence known for the first time that night. "Boy, you almost stepped in it this time. Do you know how on edge you were just now? He probably thought you'd committed murder or something."
"This is no time for dumb jokes, Dara," Andrew said more coherently as he got up and walked over to the couch. "This is amazing. I'd even go as far as to say the moment I've been waiting for this whole time."
"What do you mean?"
"Jack, Dara, Jack. This is my opportunity to do away with any extra hindrances dragging me down, Jack included."
"How are you going to do that?"
"Kyle is working on the Kira case."
"So?"
"More than likely, there wouldn't be a large force working on a case like this, and the only people working on it exclusively would be those few that Nate River probably had clustered around him. That must mean that after he died the investigation didn't dissolve, and Kyle is one of the ones still working on it. He's my plug to the inside."
"And so you know someone, related to you at that, who is working as we speak on hunting you down. I'm still not finding any letters that spell success in that situation."
"Don't you see, Dara? The answer is right in front of us. Kyle is coming here. If he sees someone other than me killing someone with the Deathnote then he'll have no choice but to lead the investigation after that person."
"How are you going to pull that one off?"
"It will all become clear for you in time, Dara. I'm sure it will be easier for you to figure out if you just sit back and watch than if I try to explain it now. All I'll need is the Deathnote and Kira will be free again."
"So long as I get something to do instead of just sitting around this stuffy place."
"Oh you'll be entertained, don't worry about that. But for now there's work to be done."