Chapter 1:

San Francisco home to the ACME Detective Agency, its headquarters since the early 70's. People didn't even really seem to notice the business's existence except the local PD. They're the ones who cared really acknowledge them for their presence and of course those that worked for the agency. Nearly two decades of being located in at the address of 4720 19th street that beside buildings meant for residential purposes, not business. It surprised staff when they gained attention by people not mistaking the place for an unmarked apartment complex.

Somehow a loosely organized organization named HAPPY had spotted them out for being a wanted new added partner to them. They felt a better connection to law enforcement was needed to their body, and everything they knew of ACME sounded splendid for the need. Mainly guesses had been made of how HAPPY had learned ACME decades long track record, investigations leading to countless arrests. The fact they seemed to do a lot of business in San Francisco, all were sure was a big factor in their knowledge to the detective agency. Did HAPPY know for the longest time ACME had been based before in New York City? That question was a minor one Rebecca knew she wanted answered when the next meeting happened with representatives from HAPPY.

When she thought on the fact she couldn't answer how many cases the agency on its whole had handled. That brought to mind other things. What was currently being done to the building she was standing in and else where to ACME's many other offices. Within the United States and other nations, global locales. The updates to its appearance for clientele and staff. New security measures and equipment to keep clientele and staff safe. The reason for that for one, sometimes people sought out the agency to ask for them to help deal with safety matters where lives turned out to be at sake. The client learning an unauthorized weapon couldn't enter the building thanks to soon to be installed metal detectors. The second, the staff. Their fear criminals they knew where they worked and could barge into the building and start killing. The x-ray scanners, camera monitoring system also soon to be installed. Those in the near future would be helping people's peace of mind. Another update but in better definition upgrade. The network ACME had built over time between its offices named "Crime Net" was about to be a true net matter. Meaning something called the internet as she'd heard it called was going to linking together all ACME's computers on a world wide scale.

She didn't know how it worked, she only knew heavy duly computer hardware buying was going on and she felt a little ashamed at herself not understanding more details beyond that. ACME's Chief at this location, an elderly man named Chester Bumpass she'd known for years. He seemed to be better at handling technology better than she did. She Rebecca Lamberton, a detective that had only been working for the agency for a fraction of the time he had, at twelve years. Nothing to sneeze at she knew. But her not being very familiar with computers and the likes that surrounded using the machines? With no ill thoughts to part of her identity. She knew motherhood was to blame at not being on the up and up with technology. Between raising two kids and a full time job. She felt lucky at least ACME was normally a safe place for her children to hang out in and sometimes be babysat by other staff.

It was because the building was in minor chaos today how it was brought to her attention today was a bad day for her to be there. Also for her children. Sure the updates would impress HAPPY if they cared for such things. Currently all the changes did for her nerves was create fear.

Having recently exited a storage supply room, on the third floor, two hallways away from the main meeting room and folder file records room. Soon the meeting room slash central Crime Net server room. Holding the door she'd closed in bracing one hand to it, while with her other hand, holding an unopened box of mechanical pencils. At hearing his voice to her back, she wished she could still be in with prolonging need, in the place she had just left. She didn't want to be anywhere around Bishop Lamberton as he said. "I've been waiting for your answer Rebecca."

She knew somehow he had been keeping tabs on her, on Ivy and Zack as well. Not knowing how that was being done. Having already searched her home for bugs and her office for the same. He had told her that at anytime, he'd hear her give his wanted or unwanted answer. Was his new family ease dropping on her with listening devices from afar? That thought had dawned on her but investigating that possibility. She felt too fearful to try. VILE was more well resourced than ACME. His new family as he called them. VILE if they knew she was looking into how to get their harassment to end of her. Then it might not matter which way she answered her husband's offer. Everyone might die in that case.

She couldn't answer. She didn't want to turn around to face him. She wished things were how they normally were at least in the work place. Then he likely could not have entered ACME's HQ. When things weren't a mess. Before the revamping to it's self had started. The place at least had a reception lobby that was staffed. Any shift during the normal daylight work hours of the place. A receptionist at seeing Bishop wouldn't have welcomed him in even with his presence being a surprise. She or he would have him escorted out of the building. Everyone in the building knew of his rage outbursts and the result of them. The event that had been the cause of his inflicting social abuses in its socially sheltered nature. What had caused it few knew. But the front desk staff knew like everyone else. They knew the knowledge Bishop didn't take kindly to knowing only Ivy shared his genes.

"I don't really have a choice do I?" She replied not turning to face him. Before a moment later when he grabbed her to turn her around for otherwise.

His blue-green eyes showed something in him she couldn't pin down emotionally from just their stare but she knew what thoughts lurked behind them. Want, persistence, drive, loyalty, hatred and love. Plus a further descriptor to his mental state she couldn't say out loud if she felt like it, out of fear, insanity.

Touching her hair, he voiced words she'd heard him say before. Ones apparently she couldn't get him to change his mind about. "Little square pegs in the hole. VILE would not welcome them. I already hate the bastard. She would be equal to him in my eyes and what I've done before, you could count on worse. VILE would aid me in that."

Fear couldn't show. Only emotional deadness. She couldn't let him know. Her plan if she had to pull through with it. But one last try should be made. Her words said with unusual slowness, Rebecca requested. "Leave them out of this. Don't you or the rest of VILE. Don't any of you take action on them because of me."

Grabbing the box from her hand holding it. Bishop grabbed out one of its pencils, smashing the writing device into the wall nearest them both. Only loosely withholding the anger in his tone, he replied. "You truly have no choice. Say your goodbyes to the rats and meet me outside, not out front, the back. You will be taken care of. We are good people."

Forcing herself to directly look at him again and not the broken mechanical pencil, shattered on the floor. A wrongly shaped poppet of herself she felt. She saw him watch her before he let go of her to pause before briskly leaving her sight down the hallway. Today it was to all end she thought as a tear started to form out her right eye, she brushed away. Thinking of what really mattered most right then she started for the meeting room that had been her reason for being in the storage room to begin with. Ivy needed a pencil after her last one had gone missing. Likely the fault of her brother, but sending Zack to the storage room to make up for the act. She knew better than to let him have access to it. Not for fear he'd actually steal directly from ACME. It was just a fear he'd do something creative and unconventional with the wealth of the supplies looming before him.

Yes, he could have paid someone else to do this work for him. But for thoughts to self pride, Chester wouldn't let this matter come to that. After all to really feel he'd earned his prize in the end, he felt it best he learn to deal with computer hardware on top of its coming priority software. Mentally braced and ready to install the memory card to the opened computer tower mainframe. A door shutting jarred his attention out of the task he almost feared doing to what he saw as a high probability he'd mess up on.

Noticing who's just walked into the room, she could act like a further delay to his action. Heck a wanted delay. Although she herself looked like she could use a distraction herself. Rebecca normally didn't look so glum and just dealing with a little mischievous behavior from one of her children shouldn't have been cause for that. Wanting to create pause for his tech work and also maybe help her in whatever was causing the concerned down look on her face. Chester asked, "something the matter? Did one of the FOX men say thing?"

Focusing on the box of mechanical pencils, Rebecca answered. "Nothing you should be concerned about."

Oh something was bothering her; she just didn't want to admit it in front of him. The chief of the San Francisco office knew this but didn't want to press her now for answers. They'd come in time as all answers did. For the moment however it likely would be best she concern herself with her brood. That's when he realized he had not been keeping tabs on her kids for the last ten minutes or so.

Ivy, he felt grateful hadn't moved much at all since last he'd noted her position. Her back was still pressed up almost entirely against a far wall to him. Her positioning choice to a standing lamp recently brought back out into service as the lighting overhead was being re-fashioned. A couple school textbooks to one side of her. One textbook in her lap, keeping her attention. Plus papers set off to the other side of her.

For lack of being able to do her written homework for the afternoon. The sixteen year old was reserved to do what she could of her assignments while she couldn't jot down her answers. The eleven year old as far as his school work was concerned. That wasn't a thought for this moment to Chester. Right now Zack was in the middle of doing an act that to consequence the old detective wasn't sure what that would be.

"Zack, stop what you're going right now!" Chester snapped at the boy. The shaggy haired blond instantly took on a look of supreme innocence noticing the white haired man glaring at him. Not moving the pre-teen eyed the floppy disk in his right hand. His right hand only inches from a drive that could take in the floppy disk. The drive attached to the office's only computer currently in operation.

Without turning to her work superior. Instead with her view focused towards her youngest kid. Rebecca asked, "Chester, you can handle my two well can't you?"

A point easily made, and to stop the more mischievous of the youths he knew of one simple sentence which would really stop him in his tracks to get him to behave. Without moving from his work he was delaying in duo purpose. Chester told the boy, "drop that disk and I'll let you join Ivy and the rest for self defense combat training."

The young man did as told dropping the floppy disc literally to the floor before giving a salute with a broad grin surfacing on his face. Not knowing if the child's reaction was acceptable to his mother. Chester's face showed the barest fraction of a smile on him as he looked up at her from where he was sitting on the floor. Rebecca's reaction to her son's halted antics although was met with relief than scorn the older man hoped to not happen. Oddly calm the elder noted, she gave her judgment call over adult and child interaction.

"That salute, you started doing it because of. Hon, where is your jacket? Also chief that was fine but next time you make a request to him. You might want to clear up the word "drop".

Both man and boy started responding to the mom at once. Zack pointing a finger towards his sister. Why Ivy could be of interest to Zack currently, Rebecca had to wonder until looking more closely at the red haired teen. True, reading a textbook was innocent enough. What wasn't innocent about her just then took a good eye to spot. Something fabric and highly rumpled was poking out from behind her back acting as a light barrier between herself and the wall behind her. That rumpled fabric from what little she could see of it. She didn't want to snap at Ivy even if she knew the big sister had wronged her little brother. Instead she walked over to the high school student. Bent down into a crouch beside her, and gave an accusing look to her. Before motioning for the girl to move so the jacket could be removed from behind her back.

"I'll make sure not to ask him such a thing without true direction again." Was Chester's reply before the adult Lamberton had taken actions to help her son's regaining of a deprived comfort.

No words came from Ivy at the jacket being removed from her keeping but a smile she tried to suppress happening. Glad at giving Zack a hard time but at equal concerned her mom would lay some consequence to her actions at any given moment. Nothing harsh looked to be resulting from the loss of the army jacket as she watched Rebecca drape the too big garment over her brother's shoulders from behind.

Sitting in a crouch, giving a warm smile at her son, confusing him in the process, unsure what to make of his predicament. No punishment for playing with work equipment. No words of defense for him against his mean spirited sister for her cruelty to his prized item. Instead an action making him more wonder what could be going on in her mind. Raising her voice but keeping it gentle Rebecca called over to Ivy, "come over to me my little guppy. I want both of you with me."

Punishment didn't look to be forthcoming. Since that looked to be the case, Ivy felt it non-worrying to set down her social studies book, get up and come to stand in front of Rebecca. Motioning with her hands, the adult Lamberton indicated to Ivy she wanted the girl to lower herself to the same eye level she held with the blue eyed scalp. Once the older of the children took the position, more motioning came from the mom, to group them all into an awkwardly positioned hug.

"Zack, Ivy, know that I love you. Know that I've always loved you and know I'm doing what's best for you," Rebecca said still embracing her children in the oddly positioned hug.

After receiving a pecked kiss on one cheek and noticing her brother gain a kiss like-wise on his nearest cheek to her. Ivy questioned her mom, "we know that. We love you too, is something wrong?"

"Tighter hug you guys, come on I know you can." Came Rebecca's first response that not answering her daughter's question. Was finally answered when both children came into their mother's embrace further, after Zack stated. "I love you too. I'm being crushed."

"It's for your own good. I don't want you getting hurt. I trust Chief Chester; you know I've known him for years. He'll be taking care of you now."

"Mom?" Was all Ivy could think to say now truly concerned whereas before just a little amusing by her mother's behavior. Not in the hug but paying close attention to it, Chester was now concerned too.

This whatever, this was. It was not what felt like a fished for good excuse to avoid damaging computer hardware by accidental static shock he'd been fretting about happening. This was giving him the quick creation of a lump in his throat as worry started rising. Making sure just in getting up from where he'd been sitting, no other form of damage could happen to the computer parts. The chief started making his way over to the younger detective, only stopping short of her position by a respectful distance to her and her kids.

Not noticing she'd gained more concerned attention. Rebecca told the children, looking back and forth to each of the pair but finishing her words focused on the older one. "I love you so much. Help take care of your little brother ok?"

Annoyed by the reminder he was youngest but with a still felt sense of age entitlement due to the fact he was currently enrolled in middle school a year younger than he should be. Zack protested, "I'm not little. Five years isn't a real difference."

"I'll help. Mom, what's going on?" Ivy asked trying to look beyond the warmth she could sense in Rebecca's face. Something else was there which shouldn't normally, that was evident. Sensing movement coming in from behind, the teen turned to notice Chester was almost upon the family's trio position. He looked as troubled as she felt although he seemed to be wearing it more on his sleeve than she was.

Forcing her children in towards her again and nuzzling them both, Rebecca replied. "I can't say. Just know I love you both. I can't say."

Then she kissed both gently before giving a longing look to the pair before finally taking note of her job superior. Taking on a shift in attitude that leaned into stern resolve. The adult Lamberton couldn't completely hide that she'd just exchanged a tender moment with her kids as she shed a tear telling him as she approached him. "Do your very best for them."

Mouth agape, Chester wasn't sure what to say as Rebecca moved passed him and exited the room, shutting its door behind her. Recovery was quick coming to him as to next action to take. She needed to be followed. Everything could be put on hold with the wording she's just given him. Whatever was going on it needed to be investigated and fast!

By the time he'd flung open the door to come into the hallway, to quickly pursue his work colleague, his friend. The lady he'd put his faith in many times and she the like back to him. The copper haired lady from Boston who had decided many years back that if she was going to work the offered job of being a detective for ACME. She only wanted to work for its forefront base and travel across the whole country to do that. The woman that let nothing stop her from finishing a case in getting it solved. He didn't see her. He didn't know which path down the hallway she'd taken, left or right.

Then from the right came a muffled sound. An impact against metal and the sound of another impact, a fall of some kind. The sounds, his only lead, had him press towards where they'd come from. Once he'd rounded a couple corners the old detective saw the lockers used for storing clothes when long hours happened and employees refused to go home. Them opting instead to stay until things were fixed on a case from the comfort of an office work environment.

One locker he noticed didn't look like the rest. Not for its design, it's color, its position to the rest. This locker he noticed had blood coming out from the bottom of it. This locker ... the lump that had formed in his throat now felt unbearable as it joined a pit just created in his stomach.