Sorry for the later than usual upload, worked over the weekend and had a busy day yesterday. Hope you all enjoy it!
"Lock the door behind you," Natalia instructed Titus as he entered the classroom and shut the door, glancing across the room at her with a smirk.
"Someone seems like they're in a rush to get started," he chuckled making his way to her. She blushed.
"Just remember, we're only in here so I can tell you about my mission," she insisted. He sat close to her on the desk, caressing her chin.
"And if we have some extra time afterward?" He questioned.
"Boy, I really got you worked up from yesterday, don't I?" She asked. She playfully shoved him. "Later big guy, I made you wait an extra day for this info, so why don't we get started?"
"Sure," he sighed with a laugh. She removed a small disc and a device to play it on out of her backpack, plugging it into her scroll as she slid off the desk and gestured for him to do the same.
"You familiar with Alexander Latherus?" Natalia inquired.
"Eliana's dad?" He fired back. She nodded.
"That's the one," Natalia replied.
"What about him?" Titus requested.
"You're familiar with how these holo-discs work right? Death files?" Natalia wondered as she took another step back. He joined her.
"They're made using DNA, first-hand accounts, and left behind tech from the agent to reconstruct their last few days alive with nearly one hundred percent accuracy," Titus explained as if she didn't already know.
"This one is for Eliana's father," she replied.
"Still not sure how that pertains to your mission…" he grumbled.
"You'll see after you've watched," she explained as she played it.
"So I fired three shots into the air!" Alexander exclaimed sitting next to Eliana who lay on her bed, looking up at him with big mystified eyes. "One to startle him, one to make sure with absolute certainty that my partner would find me, and another to confuse the criminal."
"And then Officer Marco found you, right?" Eliana asked excitedly, sitting up. He put a finger to her lips and pushed her with it back down to her pillow.
"Yep," Alex nodded. "He used his semblance to fill the street with fog, blinding me and The Minotaur with it but unlike The Minotaur, I can still fight using my semblance to figure out where he is. I managed to get in close, tasing him in the neck with the batons on my gun, blocking a haymaker that he blindly threw at me. Marco managed to cuff his other hand, but that only made him angrier and he swung around blindly at both of us with his two-handed ax. I put several rounds of wind Dust into his chest to force him to take a few steps back from me, and to wear down his aura and Marco did the same."
"And then you did the thing, right?!" Eliana shouted. Alex laughed and tickled her.
"Maybe I should let you tell the story next time!" Alex exclaimed as Violet cleared her throat at the door. Alex and Eliana looked over at her and Eliana giggled as Alex kissed her forehead. She propped herself on her shoulder as he made his way to the door.
"Dad, how did Officer Marco's name follow the color rule again?" Eliana asked.
"His last name was Blanco, which means white," Alex explained.
"Bedtime," Violet insisted.
"But dad didn't finish the story!" Eliana cried out.
"You already said it," Alex insisted with a wink. "Then I did the thing!" Eliana rolled her eyes and laid back down with a smile.
"Love you, dad!" She called out, snuggling in.
"Love you too, Elli," he replied heading out of the room.
"Love you, Eliana," Violet said softly with a smile.
"You too, mom!" Eliana answered as the door closed. Alex smirked and chuckled as he emerged from behind Violet and followed after her to the bedroom.
"So you remembered today's Friday?" She asked. He closed and locked the door behind him.
"I've been thinking about this all day," he informed her as he unbuttoned his uniform. She moved to him, removing his hands.
"Let me help you with that, officer," she growled, slowly continuing as he kissed her lips.
"I have to warn you, ma'am, I have a fully loaded weapon on my person," Alex mentioned.
*Alex, you there?*
Alex turned back towards the radio on his dresser before Violet pulled him back in.
"Friday nights are my night," she told him.
*I know you told me to let you know first. Another kidnapping. Sounds pretty similar to the last few.*
"Violet," Alex pleaded painfully.
"Fine," she sighed. "But you better hurry back." He winked at her and gave her a deep kiss on the lips.
"Of course," he chuckled. "We still have to do the thing." She laughed and shoved him.
"Be safe!" She reminded him.
"I will!" He called back as he closed the door and finally replied to dispatch.
*Yes. Thank you, I'll go check it out. Can you send that address to my scroll and any other necessary information?*
Another kidnapping? It was the fourth in as many weeks and after the second occurrence blowing over with little to no attention from the department, the council suddenly injected themselves into the equation but instructed Alex to keep it under wraps. All of the kidnappings were children. All of the children were about Eliana's age. He sped down the dirt main road that led from their home towards Haven and had his scroll dial his partner on speaker.
"Alex?" The voice answered.
"Hey! Iris! You up?!" Alex asked, shifting into the next gear.
"I am now. Didn't hear the dispatch radio go off, so this is a social call, can it wait?" He questioned groggily.
"Not a social call, can't wait," Alex abruptly responded.
"Okay… can you give me like five minutes?" Iris inquired.
"Make it three," Alex instructed.
"Sure," Iris sighed. Alex hung up, plugging his scroll into the dashboard of his patrol car.
"Read the details of tonight's incident to me," he told the device.
*At approximately 8:30 PM a female child was taken from her home after her parents had put her in bed for the night. The suspect failed to apprehend the child prior to her letting out a single scream and the father of the child witnessed the suspect leaving through the bedroom window from the back. The suspect is believed to have several large objects that appeared to be branches protruding from its back*
"Why…" Alex asked himself. After a few minutes, he skidded to a stop in front of Iris's place, laying on the horn.
"I'm coming!" Iris shouted as he slammed his door behind him and jogged out to the car. "And they say that I'm always in a rush, I didn't even hear anything on the scanner, so where the hell are we actually heading anyway? I know I'm new, but didn't you kind of miss your window for hazing me after the first week? You know what, it's fine. Haze me. I can take it. You're the best, and I've been waiting to be your partner basically since we graduated Academy. Worth it. Seriously. Go ahead. Should I blindfold or cuff myself? Or both? Kinky…"
"I'm married," Alex reminded him. Iris shook his head and waved him off.
"A guy can dream," Iris pointed out. "Seriously though, where are we going?"
"Looking into a kidnapping that happened about fifteen minutes ago," Alex informed him.
"What?" Iris questioned in confusion.
"I have a deal with the dispatcher by order of the council," Alex began.
"A council assignment!?" Iris freaked out. "I don't know if I should be honored or really worried! You always end up losing partners for various reasons after these escapades! Does Captain Meadows know? Are we even going to tell the captain? If we don't, will she just find out anyway? Should I start saying my goodbyes now? Our time together was really short, you know. It'll be sad to go, but anything I can do to help keep Remnant safe."
"Do you ever stop talking?" Alex asked him.
"Not usually," Iris chuckled. "Nervous tick. Maybe genetic? Something my sister does too. I'm sure you probably noticed that back at the academy."
"Now that you mention it," Alex said, slowing as they neared the city. "How is she doing anyway?"
"Also got a position in the department," Iris explained. "Haven't heard from her in a few weeks though. Maybe she's undercover? Maybe she's dead? Not being cynical, I'm just covering all of our options." Alex removed his scroll from the dash and sent a few items to one of his contacts. A message came through as he handed it to Iris who tried to refuse taking it.
"Here!" Alex demanded. "I need you to answer it when Winter calls!"
"I think you're forgetting my semblance," Iris suggested.
"Just take it!" Alex shouted, forcing him to take the scroll. Iris dropped it nearly instantly and his face became a deep shade of red. Alex glanced at him. "What?"
"Your wife just sent you some pictures," Iris stated, refusing to make eye contact. "She… she uh… she's very attractive..." Alex's mind clicked and he looked back at the road once again.
"Don't speak of this ever again," Alex informed him.
"Yep. Already forgotten. Gone. Never happened," Iris nervously replied, picking the scroll up again and nearly dropping it again as it went off. "Winter's calling."
"Put her on speaker," Alex said, plugging a different device into his dashboard. He opened the console and removed a spare pistol, loading it as the car drove itself towards the city gates. He showed it to Iris as he answered.
"This is Alex's partner," Iris spoke.
"Alex there with you?" Winter asked.
"Did you get the files?" Alex inquired.
"Why do you always drag your partners into this?" Winter replied.
"Doesn't answer my question," Alex insisted, preparing himself as they entered the city and the patrol car parked in the nearest parking lot.
"You first," Winter responded coyly.
"This one's going to come in handy," Alex chuckled. Winter groaned.
"You said that about the last three," Winter noted. "And yes, I got the files."
"Thinking what I'm thinking?" Alex questioned.
"I think I'm out of the loop," Iris interjected.
"Wasn't asking you," Alex sighed.
"Quill?" Winter suggested.
"Bingo," Alex replied.
"Wait, you mean Rio 'Quill' Rivera?" Iris assumed. "C-Tier on the most wanted list?"
"That's the one," Alex nodded.
"You think he's involved?" Iris pondered.
"Did you let him listen to the dispatcher's notes?" Winter pried.
"Didn't have time yet," Alex answered. "Suspect had 'branches' protruding from his back. I'm guessing they were his quills since he's a porcupine faunus after all."
"Makes sense, but what about a motive? He's been known for small crimes like theft and shoplifting," Iris reminded them.
"Someone must have offered him some money," Alex noted.
"I have a contact in the area tonight," Winter informed them. "You lucked out there. Meet her on the lower level at The Ring."
"Thanks, Winter," Alex said as he opened the car door. Iris stepped out as well.
"Find out whatever you can," Winter instructed. "Hopefully we can find these kids."
"We will," Alex replied, taking the scroll from Iris and hanging up. He tossed the pistol to Iris who fumbled it a bit before gripping it tightly. "I know you have limited field experience so follow me. Don't speak. Hide the gun. And whatever you do, don't tell anyone that we're police. The people that need to know, know."
"You really expect me not to speak?" Iris laughed. Alex stared at him without a smile, simply staring through him. "Wait… Alex? Are you serious?"
"Yes," Alex answered flatly as he headed to a nearby ladder and slid down it to drop a few levels. "You know, when this city was first built, people used to have to give ID proof of which level they lived on. Crazy to think how far we've come."
"Yeah, but the social structure still sucks around here," Iris called out before climbing down the ladder after Alex. "People up top aren't cared for much at the bottom, and the people at the top don't like those at the bottom."
"That's why I live in the country," Alex told him as he moved to a large iron door on the platform they stood on. It swung open slowly and Alex shone a flashlight into the long corridor that wound down further towards the bottom levels. "I just wish we'd all get along."
"You've put away a ton of the criminals on the city's most wanted list, that's got to help some," Iris joked. Alex chuckled.
"I sure hope so," Alex stated. "The less dangerous I can make Haven for the people that live here, the better."
"So, what happens once you finish ticking that list off?" Iris inquired. Alex nearly stumbled over an uneven part of the incline but caught himself with a forcefield.
"I'm not much of one for politics, so I'll never make the real difference that's needed here," he explained. "But once I clean this place up I think we might head over to Vale. Vi's got family over there and I really want Eliana to attend Beacon once they get it rebuilt. Such a magnificent school. Hell, I would have attended Beacon if my family hadn't been so poor." Alex laughed thinking about it. "But why dwell on the past?"
"Now I remember why I crushed on you so hard back at the Academy," Iris mumbled.
"What was that?" Alex asked.
"Nothing!" Iris exclaimed as they reached the second door and Alex slowly opened it. Iris had been on the lower level during the day before, but it seemed now that the nighttime was when it came alive. Music invaded his senses from every direction, the bass seeming to echo and reverberate through the walls, the road, and into his body, the only thing keeping it from reaching the upper levels was the fact that it originated within the caves and tunnels that made up the poorest of the living conditions. A man standing on the nearest corner nodded at Iris, and though he was sure the man was a freelancer, he wasn't sure whether his eye patch was meant for fashion or function. The street was packed shoulder to shoulder, the occasional performer causing a rift in the crowd and drawing a roar of applause. Alex pushed forward without looking back to make sure Iris was still there.
"Hey there, daddy," a prostitute grabbed Iris by the arm and rubbed against him. "Here from the surface? I can show you around if you'd like."
"He's not interested," Alex replied for him.
"Just as stiff as ever, Alex," she groaned as she sulked off.
"You know her?" Asked Iris.
"No," Alex stated. "Not personally anyways." Alex shoved his way through to the opposite wall, knocking hard on it. A slot opened at about eye level.
"Who's that?" They asked.
"He's with me," Alex replied as the door slowly slid open, the sound of metal grinding on metal filling only the ears of Faunus nearby as the music and commotion were far too loud for anyone else to hear it. They slipped in without being seen by any prying eyes, the entryway sealing behind them, seemingly on its own. "Been a while."
"Winter said you're looking for Quill," Ilia Amitola stated as she made herself visible.
"That's incredible!" Iris exclaimed. She waved him off.
"It's nothing," she admitted.
"Quill?" Alex pressed.
"Right," Ilia replied. "At the bar across the street. I didn't see him come or go but Jackson claims he was there the whole time."
"So he paid Jackson off?" Alex suggested.
"Or he's not our guy," Iris offered. Ilia shrugged.
"I've got a hunch he is," Alex replied as he turned back to the door and peered through the slot.
"Just try not to make a mess," Ilia instructed.
"I'm here of my own volition," Alex remarked with a smirk.
"I repeat what I just said," Ilia groaned.
"We have a plan?" Iris asked. Alex stared for a long couple of moments.
"Was he a desk jockey before?" Ilia chuckled.
"Yeah, but he was just desperate to do fieldwork with me for some reason," Alex stated, closing the slot again before pulling open the door.
"You are the best short of the actual council," Ilia remarked. Alex brushed her off and stepped out of the room. He motioned for Iris with his head.
"Come on," Alex requested. Iris followed close behind and with a glance back Iris once again saw nothing more than a metal-plated wall, wondering just how many secrets this lower level held. Alex entered the open bar of sorts across the way and stepped up to the counter where Jackson met his eyes. The man's face was covered in Dust tattoos and he wore no shirt, instead letting his body do the job of intimidating anyone who didn't belong inside of his establishment. It was dark and plumes of smoke rolled out, a commotion could be heard from inside, which Iris at first assumed to be a fistfight but would learn was a harmless bout of arm wrestling.
"This had better be good," Jackson barked as he slammed a glass stein down on the counter and stared at Alex with a glass eye.
"What happened to your eye?" Alex questioned.
"Ever the blunt one," Jackson noted. "A fight in the pit. Anything else I can do for you? I already answered your friend's questions earlier."
"Quill…" Alex began.
"Already told her…" Jackson bit back.
"I'd hate for the PD to catch wind of the fact that you're still operating without a liquor license," Alex stated as he sat.
"I'd hate for them to find out you were down here on official business, but we both know better than all of this small talk," Jackson barked, turning back towards the sink. "Either order or get out."
"How does five hundred lien sound?" Alex questioned, stopping the bartender in his tracks.
"Sounds like you're desperate for something," Jackson replied as he turned back to Alex and Iris, finding the man wasn't bluffing. Jackson picked it up and examined it before placing it in his pocket. "Quill only got here a few minutes before your friend came over to ask about him. He's still here. You can go and talk to him, but that's the best I can do. You start anything in here and I'll throw all three of ya's out in the street. Five hundred's a lot, but it doesn't cover the kind of damages that come with seeing your ugly ass mug down here." Alex stood back up.
"In the backroom then?" Alex inquired.
"Bring him this," Jackson stated, handing him a beer. "You might get him talking, he's already had a few." Alex nodded and handed it to Iris, keeping him in front of him as they moved back.
"Excuse me!" Iris protested.
"You're less recognizable," Alex informed him. "In fact, you aren't recognizable at all. I don't need you to get in a fight with him or anything. Give him the beer, get his scroll. Easy as that."
"You have a backup plan for when that fails?!" Iris panicked as they pushed through the door into the room. A dart flew past Iris's ears and he flinched as a few of the patrons shouted at him.
"Keep moving, would ya?!" The man who had thrown in demanded. Alex forced the Faunus ahead, sitting at a nearby table as Iris sat with their target. The man was easy to pick out. True to his name, he had large porcupine quills that jutted out of his back, destroying the back of his white wife-beater that looked bloodied, but the blood appeared to be old. His hair was done in neat cornrows, his orange eyes ablaze as he laughed at a joke someone in his entourage had told him. He watched Iris sit and leaned forward, his brass knuckles the first thing to catch the rabbit's eyes as he shakily held out the beer.
"The hell are you?" Quill asked. Iris chuckled nervously, noting Quill's scroll in the middle of the table, ripe for the taking.
"They told me that you made a pretty decent score tonight," Iris managed to spit out. "Wanted to congratulate you and find out how I can get into something that lucrative." Quill stared at him without moving for a long moment before snatching the beer out of his hand and slamming it onto the table in front of him, causing Iris to jump. The other men laughed and Quill shook his head.
"You're too tense to be a crooked cop," he finally spoke. "So you must just be a stupid one."
"To be honest, it's my first time down here. Not as bad as we think it would be up top. Lovely actually. Lively. Not sure what everyone up there is so afraid of. Seems like quite the nightlife. Surprised we don't hear the music up top. I mean, not really, not after actually thinking about it. Initially though…" Iris was cut off by Quill slamming his fist on the table, making Iris jump again. Another round of laughter and Iris chuckled and nodded. "Funny. Twice in a row."
"Get out of here if you know what's good for you," Quill instructed him.
"Let's try this again," Alex said, walking up behind him. Quill grinned and looked back up over his shoulder.
"Latherus," Quill shook his head. "Come to check off another box on your list?"
"Not exactly," Alex stated. "You know the unspoken rules here just as well as I do."
"Then why are you here?" Quill questioned as Alex pulled up a chair.
"Well, you see, Quill," Alex put emphasis on saying his name for some reason. "I heard a rumor about you and I was really hoping that it wasn't true." Quill looked at his men and shook his head.
"All you damn cops can't be bothered with respecting us enough to learn our names," Quill noted. "It's bullshit."
"Where were you earlier tonight, Quill?" Alex asked.
"Fuck off and let me drink, man," Quill shouted. Without warning the can was sliced in half, spilling beer everywhere as the men slid back and turned their attention to Alex, allowing Iris to snatch the scroll. Alex threw his hands up. "The hell!?"
"Boys… we don't want to shoot up Jackson's, do we?" Alex questioned.
"Get out of my sight before I decide that we do," Quill stated.
"I tell you what," Alex offered. "Let's settle this properly, right?" Alex looked past Quill at Iris who was cutting his fingers across his throat to tell him they were good to go. "One-on-one match in the pit, Rio." A smirk crept onto Quill's face as he laughed and told the other men to lower their guns.
"Yeah. Yeah!" Quill agreed. He reached back onto the table and picked up his scroll which Iris had put back, pocketing it. "That's the way."
"Alex?" Iris stood quickly trying to stop him but instead was handed Alex's uniform button up.
"This won't take long," Alex assured him as Quill slapped him on the back and they all headed out as one mass into the crowd of the night. Iris groaned as he chased after them.
"Couldn't we have come up with signals or something beforehand?" Iris mumbled, almost losing them as they entered the street. It was easy after looking for a moment to tell where the pit was. The number of people almost seemed to double as they now forcibly made their way to the fighting ring, Iris doing his best to get through to see the action, that his efforts were proving fruitless.
"No semblance," Quill uttered as they slipped into the ring.
"Sure," Alex agreed as he shed his coat and tossed it to one of the men nearby. One of the fighters in the ring was about to protest the interruption before recognizing Alex.
"Didn't think I'd ever see you in the Pit again!" He shouted at Alex. Alex smirked slightly and gave the man a nod.
"Mind if I teach this kid a lesson?" Alex requested. The fighter smiled wildly and clambered under the ropes.
"You always did put on a spectacle!" The man roared in laughter. Alex held a finger to his lips and winked at the fighter.
"Enough chatter," Quill complained. Alex turned back to his target, the man smirking as he was already prepared to break the rules and run several of his quills through Alex from his hand as soon as he struck. No one ever saw it coming. Alex stretched slightly, bouncing on his feet as he waited for the signal to move. There was a long pause. The bell rang. In a flash, it was over.
Before anyone could blink Alex had already dropped Quill, weapons focusing on the cop as the crowd shuffled and Quill's friends forced themselves to the front.
"No Semblance!" One shouted.
"You dense?!" Another questioned.
"Why would I waste my energy using my semblance?" Alex asked as he checked Quill's pulse. He nodded with a smirk. "He's got a pretty good cut on the side of his arm where he must have gotten hurt earlier tonight. It hasn't completely healed yet. That paired with the fact that he'd had a few to drink before we showed up to appear like he'd been drinking for a while was overclocking his aura. He couldn't have cheated if he wanted to, but he also couldn't rely on his aura for anything. Not to mention, he always opens with that move."
"That's Alex!" The fighter roared in laughter.
"A round for everyone here on Quill!" Alex shouted as he leapt down out of the ring. The sudden announcement was enough to send the crowd into a frenzy, heading in the opposite direction and sweeping Quill's men away with them. Iris somehow managed to make his way upstream, Alex didn't stop to wait for him.
"You know all that from a quick once over?" Iris asked, amazed.
"The more observant you are, the less effort you need to put into battle, which is important in my case," Alex explained. "It's really a good practice for any huntsman or huntress." He looked back at his handiwork, a flood of people doing their damndest to pour into the small pub as the two of them watched on.
"The location is nearby," Iris informed Alex without being asked. "If he really is our man, the kid should be a few blocks down on the left. The phone didn't register an actual address, so I assume it's another one of those hidden door type things like where we met Ilia." Alex thought this over for a moment before briskly heading to where Iris told him. "What's the pla-"
"Same as before," Alex remarked. "Don't speak."
"Can I interject something?" Iris questioned.
"Before we get there? Sure," Alex answered.
"I hate this plan," Iris grumbled.
"Your words wound me," Alex replied as he cut hard through the crowd and walked directly to the spot Iris had mentioned. Without explanation Alex kicked the bottom of the brick wall hard, causing the hidden door to grind back against the concrete floor inside.
"These places aren't very hidden if everybody knows how to get into them," Iris noted.
"Most people don't," Alex pointed out. "You forget that I used to live down here." He removed his gun and flashlight, letting the door screech in pain as it closed behind them and plunged them into darkness. "You can see, right?"
"Kind of," Iris noted. "I'm not a cat Faunus, I'm better at hearing really."
"Then listen for movement," Alex instructed as he made his way further in. The first room had been empty, hardly a room at all and more of a cellar-like structure with a few support beams and empty crates. Around a corner that led them into a long corridor, light spilled out of a side room. They stopped, Iris nodding as he drew his weapon and followed Alex's lead. There was no door to peer into the room through but a large gaping hole which appeared as though it had only just now been formed. A man with an athletic build stood with his back to them, appearing almost out of breath as he looked the room over. It was filled with computers, beakers, test tubes, and other scientific instruments. There were at least a dozen scientists, all of them dead on the floor in a lake of their own blood.
"And here I thought He was more careful than this," the man's voice rang out through the silence as if muffled. "How can I help you?" Alex wondered how the man had heard them, at first pegging him for a Faunus before noting that Iris had left his flashlight on when they stepped closer to the lab.
"Who are you?" Alex demanded. "Hands where I can see them!" The man let out a single chuckle, raising his hands and turning to face them, revealing the plague doctor mask that covered his face. The nose stuck out much further than was typically intended and the eye holes were different sizes.
"I might not know much yet about Mistral," the man stated slowly. "But I do know that you're Alexander Latherus, and that use of any force on the bottom level is frowned upon. A social taboo, as it were. Perhaps you should lower the gun." Alex lowered it slightly, never taking his eyes off of the target. Iris eyed him up and shifted uncomfortably.
"You don't actually think we can trust him, do you?" Iris stammered.
"What reason have I given you not to?" The man said with an apparent smile despite his face being concealed. Iris lowered his gun.
"You didn't answer my question," Alex pressed.
"Abigor," he responded without wavering. "I'm quite knowledgeable in the underclass around here and figured that the best way to climb to the top is from here. Why, I might even be the next Chameleon or Quake. You know a thing or two about them, don't you?" Iris fidgetted, hand moving back to his gun.
"We really can't do anything?!" Iris shouted. Alex smirked.
"Admitting to something like that isn't exactly something we can do anything about," Alex told him. "These dead Lab Coats, however…"
"Dead when I got here I'm afraid," Abigor noted as he looked back at them. "A damn shame really. I wanted to ask them if they were making any progress."
"You know what's going on here?" Alex pried taking a step in and past Abigor to look at the contents of some of the glass containers.
"I do, in fact," Abigor explained as he sidestepped and ushered Iris into the room as well. "And the more I think about it, the more we might be able to help each other out."
"Is that so?" Alex questioned staring up at him. He didn't know if he should trust this man or not if he was being honest with himself, but he'd hear him out.
"You want to know who is behind this, and I need them out of the picture," Abigor stated.
"Go on," Iris prodded. Had he forgotten what Alex told him?!
"Tomorrow. Kuvira Casino on the Upper Level. The man you're looking for will be there late in the evening to meet with another benefactor who is looking to dip their toes into the project," Abigor informed them. "His name is Strakh Temnota."
"Strakh Temnota?" Iris repeated. Alex cleared his throat in indication for the rabbit to shut up, but he kept going. "The upstart from Vacuo trying to start a Dust business he claims 'That can rival the SDC'?" Abigor chuckled.
"Good, then you know who to look for," Abigor said as he left down the corridor.
"Hey!" Iris shouted, quickly moving to the door.
"Don't follow me," Abigor instructed. Alex grabbed Iris's shoulder.
"Let him go," Alex ordered. Iris wrenched free.
"You think he was telling the truth?" Iris inquired.
"Only one way to find out," Alex pointed out. He looked at the mess behind them once more. "Let's get as much info as we can from this place before we leave."
"Right," Iris agreed.
But how does this relate to Nat's mission? Next week, Chapter 27: Casino!
A big thank you to AG_Nonsuch, Helihi, Cadhla182, Carlomontie, Nliast, Y8ay8a, Sa-Dui, Diyaru4500, Demize00Zero, TheCipherNine, SketchHungry, Ookaminoki, Lightning-in-my-Hand, and Dishwasher1910. The artwork can be found at Deviantart, you can search Silent-Celica and under my favorites tab, I have a collection for NITE.
Until next week, stay classy!