Author's note: the story is also being published by me ( under the nickname MaWa as well ) on the Resistance HQ boards in the EC-10 Sense Offences section.

Chapter I

The sound of a working computer was the only one that could be heard in Crow's office. The last investigation he conducted, coded case 254/58 finally found its end and James Crow was about to finish his report.

Based on the gathered evidence, it is clear that the recent network crash was caused by Frank Revan, the computer technician in I Department. He hacked into the network and accessed the computer database. He also attempted an unauthorized access to Class A documents, but failed due to detection.

Suggestions:

Complete the introduction of A, B and C level computer access cards as soon as possible. Current security measures are insufficient.

Reinstall and upgrade the system!

James Crow, Tetragrammaton - II Department

There was also one more thing that crossed Crow's mind. The blood test which had been run on Revan showed that the Prozium concentration in the suspect's blood was within norms. So he wasn't a sense offender. But it was he who hacked the system.

"There's something missing." Crow thought.

But for the superiors the mere fact of the hack was sufficient to send Revan for combustion. They'll say he was a sense offender, because only they are capable of treason.

"That would be too simple."

Suddenly, the telephone rang.

"James Crow, you are to proceed to the Vice-Council immediately."

"Understood."

The investigator left his office, heading to see the Vice-Council DuPont.

After a thorough search, James Crow stepped in to the office of the Vice-Council, who began to speak even before the doors closed.

"The case I have for you is of a very sensitive nature. I asked your superiors in the II Department to single out the most capable investigator they have. They chose you. And your records seem to confirm their choice."

"Thank you, sir."

"Now let's get down to business. Martin Stein, a leading V Department scientist, has disappeared."

"What do you mean... dissapeared, Vice-Council?"

"He didn't come to work. He also wasn't in his unit, neither did he leave a message indicationg his whereabouts"

"My task is to find him then?"

"Yes" DuPont nodded, "There is one thing you need to know. Stein is leading the research, which is absolutely vital and cannot be continued without him. Find him, dead or alive. I will not accept failure. Am I clear?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. I authorize you to question everyone in the Tetragrammaton and Stein's family. I'll also send orders to all departments to give you all possible assistance. Find him. I give you ten days." As DuPont said it, his secretary started to type the authorization message.

"Understood."

"Dismissed."

Crow nodded, turned on his heel and left the Vice-Council's office.

Back in his office Crow accessed the Tetragrammaton Database. Father hadn't given him much time, he knew it. He typed "Stein, Martin" into the database search engine and waited for the results. After a while it came up with the following:

Name: Stein, Martin

Age: 60

Date of birth: 03.III.1980

Marital status: married

Children: 2

Private address: Sector 10, 1st Street 12/4

Occupation: Department V - R&D, scientist ( First Class )

1998-2002 – studies chemistry, studies interrupted by the outbreak of III WW

2012: Starts working for the Tetragrammaton, under the I Councillary, in the V Department

2012-2013 – a lab assistant

2014-2024 – a Second Class scientist

2014-2015 – took part in researching Prozium I

2016-2018 – took part in researching Prozium II

2019-2022 – research on new weaponry

2023-2024 - research on emotion detector PROJECT SUSPENDED

2025 – a First Class scientist

ALL DATA CLASSIFIED

Opinion ( 1.VII 2019 ): A brilliant mind, hard-working. Specialized in chemistry, does his job very well. Tasks completed on time. Further prospects: A

There was also Stein's photo, which Crow examined carefully. He saw a bald, round faced man wearing glasses. His look was sharp and scrutinizing.

"So, what do we have there?" Crow thought, while processing the information. "A promising chemist, now First Class scientist, working on both Prozium generations. Fifteen years of his career are classified, so some major researches are going on."

"People do not disappear." The investigator said aloud. "Coffee also doesn't make itself. Which reminds me..."

James Crow poured big amount of coffee in his espresso machine and turned it on. Coffee was the liquid which, besides Prozium, kept him alive.

The telephone rang again.

"Crow, do you have the report on case 254/58?" It was John Miller, Crow's direct superior.

"Yes, I've finished it."

"So bring me the report immediately. This case has already been dragging on way too long."

"It's closed. Definitely." Crow stressed the last word.

"Good. Now bring me the report." After these words Miller hung up.

Investigator Crow printed his report and took it, along with complete documentation. He went then to Miller's office.

John Miller, a blond in his mid forties looked at his subordinate as he laid the report on desk.

"I've already been informed by the Vice-Council about your new task" The superior started, "Therefore I'll give the case I planned for you to Watts."

Crow nodded.

"As for your report" Miller continued, browsing it. "It's interesting. Frank Revan – who would suspect? But what took you so long?"

"Ask the system administrator" Crow replied "The system is so unstable that it could be as well a random malfunction. Revan simply took an advantage of this – and he would have got away with it, if he succeeded. So it is luck and Revan's insufficient skills that made this case possible to close."

"You'll need this luck now. I appreciate your skills and I can wait bit longer, because I know you don't miss anything. But the Vice-Council won't wait. Got it?" Miller spoke slowly, stressing each word.

"Yes."

"Good. Find Stein. We can't miss anything. We can't let him get into Terrorists' hands. Preston's rebellion almost succeeded because we allowed him too much. It is Vice-Council DuPont's bullet that stopped the threat. Remember: if Clerics are the hand of justice, we are its brain."

"I'll bear this in mind" Crow answered.

"Good. You may leave" Miller said.

James Crow left his superior's office and started to make a detailed plan of his investigation.

Already in his office, Crow stared at the computer screen. The best thing he could do, he thought, was to question Stein's family and search his flat for further clues. The investigator picked up the phone and dialed the Police Forces' extension.

"Yes? Who is there?" The voice asked.

"James Crow here. I need two of your men right now." Crow said.

"I don't have two men. All are already assigned. Some are patrolling the city, others are patrolling the Nethers.. Four of them went on house searching." answered the voice.

"It's Stein's case, Paul, you should receive message from the Vice-Council. I need those men!" Crow's voice was getting tired.

"Hold on for a moment."

After a while the man called Paul said:

"Yes, I've got the orders. But the only thing I can do for you is to contact the searching teams and ask them, when they will come back. I'll do this and call you back as soon as someone will become available."

"All right. I'm waiting." Crow answered and hung up.

"Will this ever come to an end?" the investigator asked himself, "The police are patrolling the cities, doing random blood tests. Each member of the Tetragrammaton and other institutions has to take an obligatory blood test as well. The Monitoring Centre soon will be fully operational. And yet there are people who still resist. How long will it last?"

Unable to find the answer to these questions, Crow picked up the cup of already cold coffee and drank it. He knew he will need a lot of this awfully tasting Librian coffee to function for the next ten days.

The telephone rang after half an hour. It was Paul.

"James, consider yourself lucky," he said, "Sweepers Harris and Reynolds have just returned from the house searching and are to your disposal."

"Good."

"To be honest, I'm suprised that I've found someone at all. A lot of my people are being regularly deployed to the Nethers, capturing Sense Offenders."

"Capturing?" Crow asked, "Aren't they supposed to be shot on sight?"

"I also don't understand it. I'm just fulfilling my orders." Paul answered „ James, I need more men." he added.

"We all do."

"Harris and Reynolds will be waiting for you outside. Try to be short."

"I'll do what I can."

Paul hung up.

James sighed. House searching just can't be short. At least not in this case, where each slightest clue would be priceless. He thought he should someday explain some things regarding his job to Paul, but it would be probably futile.

The high-pitched tone of James' watch reminded him of taking a next dose of Prozium. He placed his dose in the PIU, injected it, waited few seconds and headed outside.