Disclaimer: I do not own the machinima series Deus Ex Machina, nor do I own its characters, settings, etc. Those are all property of Jon "DigitalPh33r" Graham. Halo and its related properties such as weapons, armor, etc are property of Bungie Studios and Microsoft.
Robert Blake sat at one of the many lunch tables in the plaza under the tall structure of Wheel Tower, what was once a windmill that provided electricity for the city in older days. The mill now turned slowly for aesthetic reasons, as it no longer provided the city's power. It was, however, considered a significant structure in the city, and thus has become the city's excuse of a tourist attraction. If there were any "safe havens" from the crime in the city, it was the SCPD HQ and the Wheel Tower. In the plaza, several other citizens ate with their helmets off, enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine of this relatively beautiful day, while crime was rampant in other parts of the city. It was almost as if the plaza was its own little reality, one which was untouchable by the foul claws of Salvation's corruption. Blake couldn't explain it, no on could really, but he enjoyed it, as well as his tuna sandwich. It was nice to sit and relax given the stresses the job provided.
Blake had been chosen as the SCPD leader due to his service in the UNSC Army. Though he hadn't seen anywhere near as much action as the Marines, he'd been in one bad skirmish on an Inner Colony world. This, combined with his training in security forces (which are very similar to a police force) made him a perfect candidate to lead this volunteer outfit. He wasn't so sure at first if he should accept the job or not, having only been medically discharged for a few weeks. His decision was made for him when he saw a teenager mugged and stabbed on his doorstep. Despite the lack of any feeling in his shoulder and his hand inexplicably shaking occasionally, he'd accepted the job offer. At first he'd thought the force was a joke. The volunteers had no training whatsoever, the equipment sucked (the police armor was just civilian armor with a blue paint job, and there were no radios or vehicles), and they didn't even have a headquarters. The only upside was that every member got a Magnum. Blake had to train all of the volunteers how to properly use it, but thankfully they were good learners. The volunteer force's first arrest gave them their new HQ, a sporting goods store which had enough room for storing their equipment, a detaining area, and sleeping quarters for overnight shifters. With the use of Hogs and walkie-talkies the volunteers had laying around, the SCPD began patrolling the city, but it was never enough. In the past few months of its activity, the SCPD had successfully taken down seventeen drug running cells…ten of which had been unconscious, tied up, or both upon their arrival. Most of the police believed it was Deus Ex Machina, but the general view of him amongst the citizens was that Deus was a crazy vigilante who was too dangerous to the citizenry to be left alone. Though most of Blake's men didn't like it, their standing orders were to arrest Deus Ex Machina on site.
What he didn't know was that Deus was counting on just that…
Blake had just finished his sandwich and was donning his helmet when a paper airplane floated lazily onto his table. On each wing was written "To Robert Blake" in blue ink. Blake stared at it for a moment before cautiously picking it up, unfolding it, and reading the two word message within: LOOK UP.
Blake did just that and saw the Wheel Tower. There were several windows from which people could look out and see the city in a glorious view. Standing at one of those windows on the second floor, the only floor with windows that could open, was Deus Ex Machina. At first, Blake was frozen. Then he burst into action, sprinting into the Wheel Tower's front door. People turned to his direction in confusion as he ran past them holding up his badge.
"Salvation Police! Move, move!" he shouted as he ran for the stairway. Sprinting up them three steps at a time, Blake reached the second floor and saw a piece of paper taped to a window. An arrow was drawn on it pointing up in blue ink, matching the paper airplane. Blake glanced up, and began running up more stairs, careful to pace himself. He'd be tired, considering the tower's height, but he had to move fast. Deus was probably running too, so he should be just as tired. If it became a fight, it'd be a fair one. Blake then remembered the armor mods Deus had, but was too committed to the chase to worry about it. Eventually he reached an observation floor close to the roof. It was empty, and as he neared the door to the next stairway, he saw it was closed. On the door was taped a piece of paper with a single word in blue ink written on it: STOP.
Blake turned around with his Magnum drawn, knowing Deus Ex Machina was here somewhere. He'd just completed his 180 degree turn when his Magnum was grasped by a steel gloved hand that twisted the gun out of his hand. Blake then found himself in a headlock, his own arm wrapped around his neck for additional leverage. He struggled for a few minutes, then the run up the stairs caught up with him, and he ceased from fatigue.
"I'm not going to hurt you." Blake heard the vigilante say right behind his ear. "All I want is a civilized conversation, Mr. Blake."
"Civilized, huh?" Blake asked, his voice weak from fatigue and the headlock. "Can't be too civilized of a chat if it involves wrestling holds." Suddenly Deus released his hold, causing Blake to fall to the floor. He coughed from the sudden rush of oxygen, then turned to the vigilante who now held his sidearm. One thing Blake noticed was that Deus wasn't holding the gun as if he meant to use it. It seemed he simply didn't want Blake going for it. It seemed he now had no choice but to talk. "Alright, what do you want?"
"I'm willing to bet my freedom you've got orders to arrest me at the first chance you get." Deus said.
"That'd be a bet you'd win." Blake said, rising to his feet. He didn't like being on the floor with Deus holding the high ground.
"I'd also bet those orders come straight from Mayor Derrick Owen."
"Again, you'd win that bet."
"What if I told you I knew who the leader of the drug ring pushing the enhancement steroids throughout the city is?"
"I'd think you were just trying to get out of having the cops chasing you all the time."
"And if I had proof?" This made Blake hesitate and think.
"I'd lock you up as ordered and use the proof to take him down." he finally replied.
"What if I told you it was Derrick Owen?" Deus asked.
"Then I'd know you were crazy and just take you down." Blake answered immediately.
"And if I had proof?"
"Oh what proof would there be?" Blake asked, his voice practically screaming his disbelief. Deus's reply was to throw a folder onto the floor. It slid to a stop at Blake's feet, and at first he could only stare at it. Looking to Deus, he then knelt and picked up the folder. Opening it, he read through various handwritten notes and pictures. They showed Derrick Owen in his trademark brown armor with various other people in non-standard armor. Blake knew the wearer of every suit by memory. Every one was a major suspect in the drug ring. Some pictures even showed Owen and the suspects inspecting various drug caches. Flipping through more pages, he found a set of vid-disks tapped to the inside of the folder.
"Makes sense, doesn't it?" Deus said, watching Blake examine the folder's contents and trying to picture the look on the cop's face. "Become the mayor and he can make sure his business flourishes. Then I show up and begin messing with his ring, he makes me out to be a psycho. The cops show up, and he begins limiting their resources. Before you say it, I know about the new budget increase. But what you don't know about is the rat he just got set up in your outfit."
"Now that's bullshit." Blake said, looking up from the folder.
"Proof's in the last vid-disk. It's a recorded vid-phone conversation between one of Owen's head goons and one of your guys. I don't know who it is, they don't use names." Blake took this in and shook his head.
"We'll take the rat down." Blake said.
"No." Deus said.
"No? What d you mean 'no'? With a rat in the force, we'll never get any busts through, he'd just warn them in advance!"
"Not if you feed them false information." Deus said. "Use him to your advantage."
"How do I know this stuff's legit?" Blake asked holding up the folder, his voice that of a man who's just found new hope. "How do I know you didn't doctor it? Hell maybe you do all the voices in the videos!"
"Tail him." Deus said simply. "That's all I ask. It doesn't take many resources to have a guy or two follow him around, see who he interacts with."
"And what if you're wrong?" Blake asked.
"I'll turn myself in." Deus said. Blake noticed his voice was that of a man who knew he was as right as if he'd said the sky was blue.
"…Alright. Deal." Blake said. Deus tossed the Magnum to him, and Blake caught it in his hand.
"Next time, Blake, use the elevator." Deus said before walking out the door. Blake at first could only stand there…then he holstered his side arm and headed to the elevator. He needed a Tylenol...or a beer.