Apologies, everyone, for the... more-than-month-long wait.
Life got in the way with a combination of work and other stuff. Still, now that I've got some free time again, I can write some more, though I'll probably be stuck with one chapter a month for a bit while I sort some stuff out. Once that's over, though, I can update more frequently.
It had been a month.
A month of nothing more than the pettiest of robberies, muggings and purse-snatchings, and Elijah was getting sick and tired of it fast.
Something was wrong, he could feel it. While his powers were frightening to behold, there was no way the criminal underworld was so scared of a single newcomer that they collectively decided to go to ground and hide away. Something was going on, and he wanted to find out what.
Standing up from the rooftop he'd been relaxing on, he Flare Dashed down the side of the building, the flaming motes of phosphorus reforming a few meters above sidewalk level to avoid accidentally burning anyone. Dropping the remaining distance, he began to walk, hands in his pockets as he observed his surroundings.
People walked by, talking on their phones and/or with their friends. Some walked with their dogs, while most walked alone, heading from wherever they were from to wherever they were going. More than a few were holding coffee cups, since it was still early in the daytime and most people were still waking up.
Cars went streaking by in the streets, honking at slow drivers or at pedestrians who tried to cross against traffic. No accidents that he could see, just more of the same for street after street... and it did nothing to assuage Elijah's ever-present worries.
Seattle seemed to have the same level of hustle and bustle as it had since he'd arrived; he didn't know the area quite as well as Fetch and Eugene did by now, but he knew it well enough by now to notice any irregularities. He knew where and when people tended to congregate, and what areas they tended to avoid. And so far... everything was matching up with what he expected to find.
What was going on here?
Elijah walked into Eugene's command center, strolling up to the Video Conduit before placing a paper bag beside him. "Olaf's had a sale; figured you'd want some." He stated as he moved to a nearby chair.
"Stress eating again, Elijah?" Eugene joked, though his teasing smile faded a bit when Elijah sighed and tilted his head back.
"I guess I am." He replied, staring at the ceiling. "I just... I just can't shake the feeling that something is going on, and I want to know what. Crime is an an all-time low, but I'm not arrogant enough to think the underside of this city took one look at me and ran for the hills."
"Well, that's definitely an improvement over some of the other people we've had over the years." Eugene commented, pulling out a burger. "Though personally, I do think you're onto something. There should have been an influx of guys trying to fill the power vacuum around here; we've had more than a few attempts over the years after Delsin kicked Augustine off her throne and exposed her to the world. Sure, kicking out some drug smugglers isn't as grand as that, but it still should have had at least some new faces show up. Someone's always going to want to fill that hole, regardless of the risks or consequences. And yet... there's been nothing. In fact, crime has been on a strict downturn since then. And that... makes no sense. Yeah, people are smart - but for every smart criminal, there's three more who are dumb enough to try it. That we haven't had any of those supposed three show up here? Yeah, that means something."
"Question is, what?" Elijah asked, leaning forwards again. Finally, Eugene was coming around to his side. The Angel-Man had initially been insisting that there'd be a crime wave any day now and they'd have to be ready for it. That it hadn't happened? Well, Eugene prided himself on his work, and he didn't like that his calculations were wrong.
"Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to that." His fellow Conduit sighed as he bit into the food. "My Angels have turned up nothing, no matter where I send them. I've even had them explore further than before, just in case they were hiding outside of my 'territory' and... nothin'. Just a whole lot of... normal."
Elijah groaned again as he once more leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "So... I guess all we can do right now is wait for something to go down, huh?"
"I'd prefer if we could find them first, but... sometimes, the best way to dodge a trap is to trigger it."
Elijah paused before eyeing the Video-man. "Was that a Heaven's Hellfire reference?"
Eugene had enough presence of mind to blush a bit at having been caught dispensing divine wisdom from a videogame, which just made Elijah laugh. At the very least, it gave him a welcome distraction from the nagging thoughts in the back of his mind.
A man stood at the window, looking out across the water towards the horizon. Things were coming along well; the prep stage was almost complete. Equipment had been brought in over the last few weeks, and while more was to come, there shouldn't be any issues. With the Bio-Terrorists running around taking care of the typical scum of the streets, it meant that those who wanted to stay in the game were becoming more and more reliant on them and their methods; and all of that came with the cost of favors, men, supplies, and other such things.
All of it would pay off soon, very soon.
The man didn't even flinch as the door opened, allowing a well-dressed figure in a white button-up shirt and black pants to enter. "Sir, I have the reports you asked for. It took longer than expected to gather information on their newest member, but we've managed it."
"Good - leave it on the desk, I will review it and get back to you."
The newcomer nodded and gently placed the manilla folder he was carrying on the desk, before turning on his heel and walking back outside, closing the door behind him.
The man smiled, still staring out across the water. "Soon enough... things will be as they should. Soon, we will correct the mistakes that have been made..."
There we go, chapter done! Hopefully this makes up for my absence.
I am also hoping that future chapters will be longer, I banged this out in a few hours just to post something and let people know the story hasn't been abandoned.
