AN:
This chapter is very very long so I had to break it into three parts.
There is a bit of a crossover with Rizzoli & Isles since I took the liberty of borrowing the characters Jane, Maura, and Frost from the show. They just fit well with this chapter story. Every other character you will encounter is a product of my imagination. Not all are well developed they serve, but they serve some limited purpose.
Also I should warn you that this chapter compared to the previous ones is different, much more intense, and violent, but it gets better towards the end.
I Feel You in the Midst of Revenge
part I
The city was quiet. No pressing calls reporting criminal activity, no one smuggling illegal artifacts, and no one to chase after. It made driving through the streets in search of trouble, something Fate hoped to find, a chore. If only she and Signum weren't on duty. She could have gotten in a good sparing match. Instead, she was left to stew in a vat of memories she wished she could just discard.
It started with a nightmare she hadn't experienced in a long time. About a mission gone bad when she was sixteen and still an enforcer's aid. She didn't know why she had dreamt about it now. She already had enough on her plate dealing with the aftermath of that day not so long ago. Beginning the morning, moody and brooding over a bad dream that brought out feelings of inadequacy and guilt was not what Nanoha needed. Fate had tried toning it down for her sake. Of course Nanoha saw through it, although she didn't comment. They both had a lot on their mind and other than good morning and a few words here and there, the day started on a rather quiet note.
Fate clenched the steering wheel, taking a turn sharper than she should have. Her assistant enforcer jarred in the passenger seat regarded her mentor with some concern. Knowing it wasn't like her to be so aggressive when trouble wasn't about. Still, she didn't say anything and let her be, thinking it wasn't her business to interfere with her mentor's life. Of course, if her mentor's mood disrupted their work and she found her life in peril, she'd open her mouth.
The car jerked as it came to an abrupt halt. Fate stared at the red light. Not really seeing it. She was elsewhere, reliving the same heart breaking scene over and over again. The moment her wife had completely broken down.
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It felt like the hundredth test. She had already grown numb to the result. Still, on Nanoha's insistence she had grudgingly retaken it. Of course, only after Nanoha had agreed to take it as well. And so they had grown a lovely pile of empty boxes and plastic sticks in the middle of their bedroom. Her wife had nearly bought out the whole store's supply because the other two tests weren't enough for Nanoha to confirm the results of the first one.
Fate let the stick slip from her fingers. She watched it fall to the floor, joining the pile with a clink when another sound pulled at her heart. Her wife was sobbing, hunched over her knees, hands covering her face. The culprit- a simple stick innocently lying before her life partner. Fate crossed the short distance between them, occasionally stepping on plastic sticks on her way there. She knelt before Nanoha. Discreetly grabbed the offensive little thing in front of her wife and flicked her wrist, sending it crashing into the far wall with a satisfying clank. She gathered Nanoha's shaking form into her arms and whispered sweet reassuring words into Nanoha's ear. Telling her that, 'Everything would be okay. That they would try again.' When her tears finally subsided Fate's shirt was soaked and her skin was wet and cold.
"I felt so connected with you." Nanoha's voice hoarse and muffled in Fate's chest. She pulled back some, her head tilted up, puffy red rims around her baby blues met burgundy eyes that usually would have put her at ease. "It should have worked." She softly uttered.
"Nanoha." Fate's voice comforted as her thumb tenderly wiped away the wet path from under Nanoha's eyes to the edge of her jaw. "It was our first try. We used an experimental procedure. There was no guarantee it would work."
"I know. But, I-I can't help think… that…" Nanoha had difficulty speaking as if something was lodged in her throat. She swallowed and tried again. She could only whisper, "It's my fault." Her gaze dropped, afraid to see the disappointment in Fate's eyes.
Holding Nanoha at arms length, Fate tilted her chin up and gazed into her wife's eyes. "Now you listen to me," Fate's voice cracked with emotion, feeling Nanoha's pain as if it were her own. She had to make Nanoha understand. "This is not your fault." She cupped her wife's face. "You got that. It's not your fault." She earnestly said to drive home the point.
Nanoha shook her head. Tears once more trekked down her face. "You don't understand Fate." Her voice was raw. "All those years of hard magic. I…I don't…" She closed her eyes. Tried calming herself by taking a shaky breath and letting it out slow. "I don't think I can have…" she faltered, the words at the tip of her tongue, ".….I don't think….…..I can have…have…." She couldn't say it. It would be too real if she did. She started balling again and took refuge in Fate's arms.
Fate held Nanoha close, hugging her for all she was worth. She understood the unvoiced words hanging between them, and she couldn't afford to believe it, didn't even wish to. It hurt too much. She'd end up crying too, and her wife didn't need that. She needed her to be strong. So she countered, "If that's what you think. Then it could be my fault."
Nanoha snapped her head up. Teary eyed, running nose, an absolute mess, but her mouth was poised to argue, refute such a ridiculous claim.
Fate held a finger to her wife's lips. "No. Listen."
Nanoha didn't want to. But that beseeching look in her burgundy eyes, which swirled with hurt Nanoha knew she caused, held her tongue. She listened, quietly, knowing she wouldn't like what she would hear.
"I wasn't born naturally. Shh." Fate said at seeing that indignant fury in Nanoha's azure eyes. It made her inwardly smile. Nanoha hated when anyone thought less of her because she was an artificial mage. A fact many Mid-childan's for all their openness regarded as a thing that was less than human. Nanoha had defended her many times against such prejudice when she remained silent to their taunts, not from fear or because she believed a word they said. She simply never felt the need to defend herself. She plainly didn't care. She only cared about one person's view of her. "I know you say it doesn't matter. That I'm no different from anyone else. But, I could be. Maybe, I am unable to give you children."
Nanoha vehemently shook her head, biting her bottom lip as tears trailed down her face. It was hard listening to her say such words. She brought the blonde into her arms, shaking her head, adamantly saying, "No! No! Fate-chan is perfect. So I don't want to hear you say that." She stroked her blond tresses as she held her close.
For a moment, being pulled into Nanoha's breast, Fate was overwhelmed. Nanoha was so warm and kind and had no regard for herself. Fate could feel tears welling in her eyes. She very nearly cried. Instead, she closed her eyes and breathed in Nanoha's scent. She regained her strength and pulled back. Holding Nanoha's gaze, she softly spoke, "You too Nanoha. Stop blaming yourself. Okay?'
Nanoha nodded, giving her a small smile.
But, Fate knew. She could see it in her eyes. They lacked that certain luster. The sparkle of self confidence that always shown there. Nanoha was too optimistic to completely lose hope. But, the woman before her reminded her of that hurt twelve year old girl who was afraid she'd never fly again. She doubted herself, and that saddened Fate.
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The enforcer glared at the road, cursing the doctor's name. In the privacy of her home office, when Nanoha was busy in the shower, she had called his clinic. The receptionist was as strange as always and had informed her, the old coot was away for two weeks. She had entertained the idea of contacting the Black Mamba, a notorious gang, big wigs of the underworld. She had gotten real close with them. They had even accepted her as part of their family. They weren't the nicest bunch at least to outsiders and rivals, but after spending two years undercover as Raven, or Birdie, their affectionate nickname for her, she had grown a certain fondness and respect for them. They looked out for each other, and people like that, even if they did live outside of the law, weren't all bad. If she asked they would definitely scare the doc, rough him up a bit and no one could pin it on her. The only thing preventing her from doing just that was her stupid sensibility and her abject obedience to the law.
She turned onto an old beaten down path full of cracks and potholes. A few choice turns down certain streets and it would lead her to the warehouse district on the north part of town near the harbor. Whether it was a shoot out between rival gangs, a heist, business dealings of smuggled goods, lost logia, or weapons dealers, something always went down there.
"Um… Enforcer Harloawn?"
"hmm."
"Aren't we supposed to be downtown?"
"Change of plans."
"Right, but we're heading for the warehouse district that place is off limits unless-"
"I know." They were talking about that unspoken agreement between the gangs and higher ups. Enforcers weren't allowed on their turf unless they had a search warrant or cause, and the gangs didn't do their dealings in common civilian areas of the city. Many enforcers protested the arrangement, no one liked turning a blind eye to crime no matter where it was, but that was politics. "We're just passing through. If they want to pick a fight than that's their problem."
Her mentor seemed almost hopeful. The enforcer-in-training inwardly sighed, hoping they wouldn't get into too much trouble.
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Meanwhile, on the opposite side of town, in a quiet neighborhood where the houses were semi-detached, separated only by thin walls that the neighbors could listen through, Nanoha stepped out of her home and made for the parked sedan on the single car driveway. They had a garage, but that's where Fate kept her baby, an ultra sleek black sport car. Their house wasn't big, but it was decent for a three-membered family. They had two-floors like a private home. Bedrooms on the second floor, one on the first as well as the living room, office, and gourmet furnished kitchen- which originally attracted Nanoha to the home, that, and a decent sized backyard for morning drills and practice, oh and the fact that a neighborhood background check of every person, whether they were young, old, man, or woman- her sweet and overprotective enforcer was quiet thorough- revealed them to be good law abiding citizens with the exception of a few traffic violations. That cinched the deal for her worrywart Fate who immediately while still in her office in front of her computer, and without consulting her, wired a down payment for the house.
Fate was lucky she liked the small home. Well, the enforcer knew her well enough to pick up on that. The small messages she sent Bardiche as well as the sweets she packed in her lunch in the shape of a house probably tipped her off. But, that was beside the point, she would have liked to be involved with the decision Fate did all by herself, without even a word or heads up to her. That, argument, had led to quiet a night. Her enforcer was most apologetic, very regretful, and showed it in a rather surprising although very pleasurable way. They definitely didn't sleep much that night. And the following morning, the day she had a rather big mock combat with her students, she had been uncomfortably sore although very satisfied.
She didn't have to teach today. It was the weekend. The time of the week she spent catching up on household chores, paid bills, and made their usual family dinners since Fate often came home early from work. That meant, she had to go to the bank downtown and then grocery shopping, after which she had to go shopping for some new clothes for Vivio. Her young daughter was growing taller practically every day. She'll probably be taller than her by the end of the year or middle of next year. Maybe she'd end up as tall as Fate or taller. She was currently almost up to her shoulder and she was only ten years old. Of course as a foreigner and a Japanese woman she wasn't that tall to begin with. She had to look up to most of the people on Mid-childa so she wasn't surprised that Vivio was taller than her at that age. Still, it was almost upsetting seeing her baby girl grow up so fast. She wondered if that was how her mother felt when she was out gallivanting in space, learning about magic while doing missions far from Earth, at the tender age of nine. Maybe she'll stop by The Boutique, a unique little store that had all kinds of knickknacks. She could get her mother a gift, a thank you for being so understanding and supportive. She knew she'd have an awful hard time, maybe outright refuse Vivio from doing some of the things she got away with at that age.
Nanoha, about to turn the key to the car door, paused. She felt odd like she was being watched. She surveyed every tree, bush, and car she could see; anything someone could hide behind. Her gaze rested on the neighbor's large shrubs across the street. She thought she saw movement.
There, it shook again. She readied a single shot at her fingertip hidden at her side. She knew the place was safe and she didn't have many enemies being a combat instructor, but being on the front lines in a few major cases she could never be too careful. The bush rustled just a bit. It was too late to remain hidden she already knew where they were. She stared at the bush shake and shake, before… a bird flew out. She watched it fly away, her magic dissipating. She couldn't believe how jumpy she was being. She blamed it on sleep deprivation. She hadn't been sleeping well for a while now, ever since… well, she didn't want to think about it. She removed her hand from her flat stomach. She hadn't even realized she'd touched it. Opening the car door, she stepped in, and drove away.
A man hidden within shadows watched her go.
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Fate drove through the streets of the harbor at a slow pace. It was just her luck she couldn't entice even the lowest gang members into a fight. The place seemed dead, empty of all activity. Not to say that no one was there. Criminals were sneaky. They could remain hidden in plain sight when they wanted too. And right now, they were doing an awful good job at it. She couldn't even get a hint of them.
As she passed between two warehouses, she felt a sudden bout of anxiety. It came and went like a breath. She didn't think much of it since the bond she shared with her familiar allowed her to feel her emotions. She would have to have a word with Arf. See what trouble she got into this time. She usually was very well behaved, but her familiar had a temper to people she perceived as a treat. She wouldn't be surprised if Lindy or Chrono were scolding her for being too rough. Arf didn't take reprimands well from people close to her; she usually grew nervous about it. Fate sent a calming wave through their bond. It was to sooth as well as to show her support.
After a peaceful comb through the streets, much to the relief of her assistant enforcer, Fate made for their original post, south of the harbor, to the city's central district where the wealthy and fabulous resided, along with their chic shops. She sometimes ventured into them for those big shindigs where her uniform and civilians clothes wouldn't suffice.
It was while she was looking through the window of one of those shops that she felt fear, not her own, followed a minute later by the sense of falling. She wasn't quite sure. Her vision was blurred and everything felt off. Her head banged against the car dash as she slumped in her seat. There was a faint scream. Was that her name? It sounded like it came from her assistant. Then, there was a jerk and the sound of crumpled metal. She didn't really notice. She only knew her magic was passing through her quickly. It made her sick. Her hand fumbling with the car door handle eventually grasped it and pulled. She stuck her head out right in time to vomit all over the pavement.
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Nanoha held grocery bags in each hand while she walked down the sparsely populated streets searching for her car parked beside one of many floating spheres, Mid-childa's version of a parking meter. That was certainly an interesting sight when she first came to the planet. Now, it and many other nature defying devices and exploits that came with living on a magic rich planet didn't even faze her, becoming mundane.
Suddenly, the contents of the grocery bags spilled out onto the street as someone grabbed her from behind. His large hand over her mouth silenced a scream she would never utter. As a trained combatant, she controlled her fear, used that heightened energy to assess her situation, search her surroundings, find a fault in his grip. His arm going around her waist was tight, pinning her arms to her sides as she was dragged into the dark alley where the homeless lived and garbage hid. She couldn't shake him. He was far stronger than her. But, all she needed was one finger pointed at his leg, holding a small charge of magic to bring him down.
Her magic spilled into him. The effect was immediate. He let go. Dropped to the ground, his body contorting and twisting in pain. She stood over him, performing a binding spell, when a shot of magic nearly grazed her cheek. She sent probes to find her attacker as she glanced over every crack and dark crevice her aggressor could hide in.
"Protection." Raising heart erected a shield, stopping the blow to the back of her master's head.
Nanoha pivoted, already firing spells from her hand into her attacker before he even knew what happened. His body slammed into a brick wall, slid down to the ground, unmoving and unconscious.
She didn't waste time. She defended herself against another attacker, followed by another and another. They crawled out of the shadows like cockroaches. Their assault quick and precise. But, she was used to fighting against large numbers and she was more than a handful for them. Even if they were AAA ranked mages, she drove them away, threw them unconscious, bound them where they stood, and shielded herself from their arsenal of fire. That was until. She felt a pin-prick. Her hand moved to her neck, grasped the object and pulled it out, bringing it before her face. Her vision blurred in and out of focus as a growing layer of haze clouded her mind and impaired her ability to think and react properly. She dropped the object, a dart, as she sensed them approach.
She staggered around like a drunkard. Just barely ducking and dodging their punches, kicks, and energy shots. She relied more and more on Raising Heart to protect her as her hearing faded. Her vision, showing triplets of the same guy, messed with her aim, her shots missing more so then hitting. She couldn't tell who was who or where they were coming from, and pretty soon she took more hits practically falling into them on her unsteady feet as she lost the rhythm of the fight and the rabble, forming a ring around her, pushed her around from one attack to another before she fully succumbed to the drug and fell to the ground in a heap.
Raising Heart tried raising a shield to protect her unconscious master. "Protect…ion" The ruby jewel's voice faded as an unknown virus suddenly attacked her system and shut her down. The jewel growing dull as the light inside dimmed and vanished.
The ring of men who stared at the downed and beautiful woman fighter with a mixture of respect and hostility. Their attention turned behind them when they heard a quiet thud where a figure in black crouched. He stood, stepping out of the shadows that seemed to cling to him like an old friend. They couldn't see his face; it was hidden beneath his large hood and cloak. He was like a phantom. He didn't make a sound as he glided through the parting crowd in heavy black combat boots that went up to his calf, his dark cape billowing about him like suffocating, heavy, smoke. They moved further away from both fear and deference as he walked passed. Leaving the combat instructor alone; a prone unconscious woman offered to an approaching shade.
He stopped and knelt before her like a dark knight. She seemed to be sleeping. Her face relaxed, innocent and helpless as a child with the beauty of a lady. "Nanoha Takamachi." He rasped in an echoing whisper as he reached out to stroke her cheek. A dome of iridescent blue appeared, shielding her from him and singed his hand. He pulled back. The dome disappeared. The back of his hand was red with boiling blisters consistent with second degree burns. He rubbed it and observed her resting form from head to toe, looking for anything indicating she carried another device. When he couldn't see the thing protecting her, he performed a search spell. The dome appeared, encasing her whole body, blocked his spell and made him take a few steps back as it radiated a searing heat.
He didn't understand what charm she possessed, but it was clear he couldn't get near her. So, he sent his men in one by one, and they too couldn't approach more than a foot before the dome appeared. He grew frustrated until a man without the gift of magic approached. His movements were slow, weary of the burning barrier that had injured his friends. He reached a foot and nothing happened, he scooted in further and further taking tiny baby steps until he was able to touch her.
The man in black smiled.
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"NNNNNOOOOO!" Vivio shrieked.
Arf came bounding into the living room slipping and sliding on the wood flooring until she came to rest beside the couch.
"How could you lose?! Aria!" Vivio burst out, throwing gestures at the TV as her favorite cartoon character was knocked out by her arch nemesis.
Arf whined pitifully.
Vivio pet her head giving her a sheepish smile. "Sorry for worrying you, Arf."
Arf nudged her belly forgiving her, then plopped down by her feet eventually falling asleep to Vivio's gibes and opinionated commentary and the quiet hum of the TV.
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Fate rested in her car seat. Her eyes closed as she took slow deliberate breaths. Her clothes, soaked in sweat, clung to her; even her bangs were drenched and stuck to her forehead. She had gone through that horrible magic drain multiple times. Always, she'd throw up. Eventually, her stomach had been rung out so many times she ended up dry heaving, which was very unpleasant. Relief only came in the moments in between the draining where she'd feel fine as if nothing happened. It was the oddest thing. Other than the urge to throw up during the drain, the drain itself wasn't painful like her experience with the book of darkness. She thought maybe she contracted a parasite that fed off her magic, but that wasn't consistent. Magic parasites, at least the ones she was familiar with, fed off a host mage slowly. They didn't have intense bouts of feeding. Then there was that attack of fear. She knew it wasn't her own. It felt too much like she was receiving it from elsewhere, similar to when she sensed her familiar's emotions. Only, Arf would never drain her magic so violently. It was perplexing. In any case, she needed to see Shamal. She'd know what was wrong with her.
"Enforcer Harloawn."
She blinked open her eyes and saw a styrofoam cup in front of her. She gently took it from her assistant. Her hand a little shaky.
"Thank you." She whispered as she sipped at the herbal tea. It did wonders to sooth her parched, very burned, throat.
There was a knock on the car window. "Enforcer Harloawn?"
Great. Fate thought as she put down her tea. She rolled down the window and greeted the traffic cop with a pleasant smile. "Officer," she glanced at his name tag, "Camaro" she said to his face, which seemed shocked to see her. Well, it wasn't everyday a Naval Ace was in a car accident; and she had been accident free since her first motor vehicle license on Earth.
"Everything alright Enforcer?" He said with authority, his mouth twitching between a thin line and smile. Fate had to commend him for trying to keep his admiration in check to do his job.
"Yes." She answered, after glancing at the steam coming from the hood of her work vehicle, a simple dark blue sedan. She had rear-ended a parked car; one of the lamest ways to lose her perfect driving record. She had chased down criminal cars through crowded streets and oncoming traffic and never once hit anyone. It was very aggravating.
"Mind telling me what happened?"
"Just negligent on my part Officer. Feel free to ticket me for careless driving."
"Um. No. That won't be necessary. I'm just filling out a police report for the gentleman over there." He nudged his head toward the man walking in circles in front of his car.
Earlier, the guy had come running out of the store across the street, screaming "My car!" Apparently it was new. Her assistant had dealt with him since she had been too tired to be cordially. But, she had given her assistant her card to give him and the message that she'd personally reimburse him for the damages. He had accepted, but insisted on having a police report. He probably thought since she was an enforcer she'd somehow get out of it. She understood; she knew some law enforcers who did that.
She gave the cop a genial smile. "Thank you Officer." She knew he was letting her off easy.
He nodded. He turned to leave when he hesitated. Pivoting on his toes, he pulled out a photo of her from Top Gun magazine when she had agreed to an interview a few months back. He shyly gave it to her and asked, "Can you sign this for me Enforcer Harloawn?"
"Sure." She grabbed a pen from the glove compartment, signed her name in elegant curved script, and returned it to him.
He grinned widely and tipped his hat off to her. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
He backed away with an almost hop in his step. Fate thought Nanoha would definitely giggle when she told her about him over dinner. Her smile fell when she imagined her wife worrying and hovering over her because she got into an accident. And Fate was the worst liar, at least with her wife. She decided not to tell her. Fate sighed. She had been looking forward to making Nanoha laugh.
"Everything alright, Enforcer Harloawn?"
Fate glanced at her assistant while shifting her car into reverse. How many times was she going to hear that question today. "Fine, Rola. Let's go to the garage... And call headquarters, tell them we need someone to take over our shift."
"Already did that Enforcer Harloawn." She said with a smile.
Fate nodded and backed away, her work car scraping and clunking out of car metal before it was free and she drove off.
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A woman in business attire, bouncing black locks, and an old fashioned revolver at her waist went under the yellow tape going across the doorway of a lab that looked like it had seen better days judging by the blackened stone walls, broken glass, and smashed machinery. "What do we got?" she said.
A dark skinned man in a gray suit handed her a black disc containing a profile of their latest case. She scrolled through the holographic screen while they walked through the lab as he briefed her. "Rebecca Warner. Age 35. Lead chemist and founder of L-corps intergalactic drug distribution facility for poor worlds and creator of Nextol."
"That drug that came out a few years back?" The detective asked, stopping before a badly burnt body and a strawberry blond woman in a white coat hunched over it.
"Yeah. Saved millions of mages with linker core failure."
"Oh, that's the disease that hinders a mages ability to pump magic. Very similar to cardiomyopathy." The medical examiner piped up from her position over the corpse.
"Thank you Dr. Isles, I had nnnoo idea." The detective enthused.
The medical examiner looked up into the detective's brown eyes with a smile and said, "You're welcome, Detective Rizzoli always a pleasure." She turned to the cadaver, the sarcasm spilling from the detective completely going over her head.
"Right, well." Detective Frost got between them before Jane Rizzoli could issue a sharp remark at her co-worker and best friend. "She was reported dead this morning by her lab assistant after she heard an explosion coming from the lab."
Rizzoli knelt across from the medical examiner and looked over the body, not at all fazed by the scaly black skin on a skeletally thin body, missing all hair and the plumpness of water, fat, and muscle. It looked nothing like the picture of the young woman on file. Her partner, standing off to the side, looked anywhere but the body, otherwise he'd hurl. He'd seen more than his fare share of death and could handle pictures just fine, but confronting live corpses, his belly was still too soft for that. She noticed pieces of glass on the victim's overcooked face. "Anyone else in the lab with her?"
"No. They said Warner was the only one at the time." Frost answered a little green in the face. The smell was awful and his hand held over his nose and mouth did little to help.
"Do we know what she was working on?"
"No. Her co-workers said she has been working in secret for months now."
"Mmm." The woman detective gave one last glance at the corpse. "Check the surveillance footage. I want to know who was in and out of this room prior to Warner's accident." She stood up, removing her gloves.
"On it." Her partner said before leaving.
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It was cold, damp, and dark. That's the first thing Nanoha noticed. The second was her head hurt and her body felt like one big bruise. She slowly sat up and walked around. She was in a room. It was quiet except for a broken pipe steadily dripping in the corner. The place was utterly barren. There was no furniture, or windows, or broken metal or wood, only one solid metal door, stone walls and floor. She had nothing to use for escape and she had trouble calling upon her magic. She just couldn't focus and concentrate, and when she tried to contact Raising Heart she found herself alone. She flopped down in the corner and brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, deriving both warmth and comfort. She closed her eyes and imagined she was flying. The sky was bright blue, she was above the cloud layer, passing over soft rolling hills, the sun warmed her skin, and the cool breeze felt good. She was free.
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Fate came home to a silent house. Her daughter was out playing in the back with Arf and her wife was absent. She wasn't concerned. It was only 2pm. She came home from work earlier than usual. After leaving her car at the garage, she had headed back to the office did some paperwork, then decided to just go home. Nanoha would be out keeping the house running smoothly at this time. So, after giving her daughter a quick hug and petting Arf's head, she had gone to take a shower.
Coming out a half hour later in only a towel to cover her nakedness, Fate exited the bathroom and entered her bedroom. She headed for the closet when she paused midway. A red glint caught her eye. Nanoha was home. She had left Raising Heart on the bed. Odd, since she usually placed her on the cushion on the bed stand, however, next to the jewel was a note. Curious, Fate walked over. She wondered what her wife had planned this time: a romantic evening, a hint to one of her desires. Nanoha enjoyed seeing her puzzle over her. And frankly, Fate took pleasure doing it. She loved challenges and Nanoha liked giving them to her. It spiced up their marriage, and as of yet Fate never lost. She'd always figure her out within a day, befitting for the TSAB's top investigator.
When she was near the bed, she glimpsed Mid-childan scribble. Interesting, since Nanoha usually wrote to her in her native language, Kanji. Lifting the note, she became uneasy. The handwriting wasn't her wife's. Nanoha's penmanship was like a second grader, big and choppy. This script was neat and read, "I have her."
She dropped the letter. Glanced at Rising Heart, gently picked up the ruby, light hitting its surface. It should have sparkled, glowed. It didn't. It was dull, lifeless. Knots twisted in Fate's stomach. What happened? Where is Nanoha? echoed in her head.
"Sir, unknown communication."
Her hand fisted around the red jewel, holding it passively as her eyes darkened and her expression grew impassive. "Patch it trough and record, Bardiche." She commanded in a lowly voice. A holographic screen appeared with the words 'no video' scrolled across it.
"Evening Enforcer you're looking well. A towel suits you much better than a uniform."
There were only one set of windows in the whole room, and they looked out into the backyard where… Vivio was playing. She clamped down her rising panic, reminded herself that Arf was with her. She had to be in control. Gripping the loose knot holding her towel together, Fate turned to the window. She came to stand before the full length glass looking out into the backyard. She saw only grass and trees. Vivio wasn't there and neither was Arf.
"Don't try to find me. You won't."
Her gaze settled on the small patch of woods the best place for someone to hide. "Who are you and what do you want?" She demanded.
"I am…" he paused for effect, he must have liked drama. "Your victim." He declared. "Your judge and executioner." He drawled in a deep rasping voice. "I want… to see you… cry… enforcer. A deep wail from your heart. That's what I want. And you will give it to me." He promised. "Until then, I have a present for you at Star Labs. Don't take too long, she's waiting." The line suddenly cut out.
Her heart hammered in her chest. She remained cool, knowing she was still being watched. She turned away from the window and took controlled steps to the closet. Behind the safety of closed doors, she stood a moment breathing in and out, in and out, controlling the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. One last deep breath and her mind cleared, becoming focused on what she needed to do. Her worries and fears locked away and shoved down deep where it wouldn't resurface. She grabbed her uniform and put it on, ordered Bardiche to search every prison holding she ever dealt with. If there was an escapee, they wouldn't hesitate to take revenge on her through her family.
Buttoning up her shirt, she came out of the closet and her room. She practically flew down the steps and nearly toppled over her daughter who was on her way up.
"Fate-mama. Is something wrong?"
Fate pressed her daughter against her, stroking the back of Vivio's head, relieved she was safe. A minute later she pulled back some, her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Go pack Vivio, I'm going to drop you off at Uncle Chrono's."
"Why?" Vivio wasn't opposed to the idea. She loved playing with her cousins. But, this was sudden. She was ten years old, a big girl. She didn't need a babysitter, she had Arf.
"Please, Vivio." Her mother begged, distraught. Vivio didn't like seeing her that way. She wanted to help. She nodded and ran to her room, Arf trotting close behind her. The familiar felt Fate's desire to protect her daughter.
Grabbing some clothes and her stuffed bunny, Vivio was ready to go in a few minutes. She met her mother waiting at the bottom of the steps. They walked to the garage and into her mother's sports car. The ride quiet as her mother sped down the streets.
##############################################
At Kahragran's Homicide Department, two detectives sat within a dimly lit room, consulting over their findings of their latest case.
"I went through all the video footage. Nothing. Rebecca Warner was the only one to enter and leave the room." Detective Frost said.
"Maura said it wasn't an accident. The chemicals our scientist was working on weren't supposed to be explosive. Play back the footage from when she died." Jane Rizzoli replied.
A second later, on a large screen, she watched the scientist mix vials open the door of a microwave-looking machine, place a beaker inside, close the door, and a second later explode. The video paused.
"Forst. That machine, we have any data on it."
He looked through the computer. "Yes. It's a spectrometer. It identifies chemical compounds using light, gamma rays, and x-rays."
"We have one of those in the lab." Dr. Isles said as she entered the room. "Light excites a liquid substance and a photo detector analyzes the wavelength of light the substance gives off. If it's not set properly, or the machine malfunctions, the substance can become over excited."
"You think it can cause an explosion?"
"It can make chemicals unstable."
"Ok, Yes." Jane translated then turned to the man behind the desk. "Frost, check for tampering." She reached for her jacket on the chair next to him, placing it on as she headed for the door. "I'm going to chat with the usual suspects."
##############################################
At the gate before Star Labs, two security guards sat in a booth chatting as they gazed at a boring, peaceful, driveway.
VVVVaarrooom, aarrooom, rrrroooooommmm A deep rumbling sound echoed as a black sports car sped around the driveway bend and came to a screeching halt centimeters from the laser gate.
They jumped to their feet. Wondering, who was the driver of that hot ride and why would they be interested in a lab when they belonged on the race track.
The black tinted window rolled down revealing a gorgeous woman with blond hair and black uniform.
"Um miss…" one of the security guards said.
The woman popped out her wallet, which held her badge and ID.
The officer's eyes grew wide. "Enforcer Harloawn!" He exclaimed in surprised admiration, then coughed and spoke in a deeper suave voice. "I mean, Enforcer Harloawn. It's nice to meet you in person."
She smiled.
He stared. She had a beautiful smile.
"Officer." She inquired in a melodic voice.
His friend pushed him aside robbing him of her splendor.
"Sorry ma'am. You're expected. Didn't know they'd send an ace for security detail. Guess when they want the best you're the best!"
She nodded demurely. "Whose expecting me?"
"Oh. Um. Chief Nickolson. You'll find his office on your left after you go through the gate."
"Right. Thank you gentleman. Have a nice day." She sped off when the gate opened, leaving them staring after her.
##############################################
Chief Nickolson was an old man that reminded Fate of her wilderness survival instructor. He was gruff, focused on his work, and had a crew cut that meant business. She respected him right away. Even though, she wished he hadn't caught her wandering the grounds.
"Enforcer Harloawn! Get your ass in gear. Don't think cause you're an Ace, you can do as you please. The safety of Mr. Richardson is imperative, you hear."
"Yes sir."
"Excellent."
They walked as he briefed her about Mr. Richardson, Fate listening with only half an ear as she took in the facility. The place itself was like every other lab she'd seen before. Large, made of brick and metal, security check points at every turn, and the interior was all white with heavy metal doors, and a clean air that reminded her of the hospital. If Nanoha was here she'd most likely be in the restricted area. Experience told her that would be in the basement. She'd head there first and work her way up from there. She would have liked to perform a search spell but the barrier protecting the lab nullified her magic. It was a defense mechanism every lab had in place to stop unauthorized mages from stealing valuable lab research.
"You hear me. Harloawn." He ordered.
"Perfectly sir." She answered, looking him directly in the eye.
"Good. Then I leave the rest-" He paused as his gaze focused inward.
Fate guessed he must have received a telepathic call and by the grave look on his face it wasn't good.
He eyed her. "Follow me enforcer."
Fate nodded, hoping the enforcer who was scheduled to be here hadn't arrived yet. Well, if it came down to it, she could pull rank. Not something she liked doing. It felt too much like flaunting, but it would get her out of trouble and stop the questions of why she was here when she wasn't assigned to be.
Fortunately, she didn't have to worry. She was led deeper into the facility, going through many turns, security points, and one long stair case to reach exactly where she wanted to be. The basement.
##############################################
Jane flopped down at her desk, putting her head in her hands.
"I take it, it didn't go well."
She swiveled around in her chair to face Frost. "Their alibis checked out. Anything on the machine?"
"Well, I looked through the communication logs and found nothing unusual. Then I checked the machine's programming and found this." He laid down a large paper with many symbols and numbers in front of her.
"O.k.?" She raised an eyebrow, wondering what this was about.
"Here" his finger rolled over a set of symbols. "and here." Another set of symbols further down the page. "Is evidence of tampering."
"Can we trace who did it?"
"No. It was a clean job. No fingerprints and no data trail that I could find."
"What about magic imprints?" That was the debris of magic left behind after a mage performs a spell. If enough residue is left over a mage could be tracked down and identified by looking up their magic signature in the TSAB database, a who's who of every mage in the planet and known universe.
Frost shook his head. "If there was one. Our scanners didn't pick it up."
Jane plopped back in her seat. Then stood up, grabbing her blazer off the chair. "I'm going to the autopsy lab, see if Muara has something."
Frost nodded, watching her leave the office for the basement floor where they kept the dead bodies.
##############################################
In the basement, Fate stood before heavy metal doors, their density thick enough to contain a nuclear explosion. The chief typed in some password and the doors slid open. White smoke burst out before clearing some. Chief Nickolson rushed in. Fate pulled her shirt over her nose and mouth and followed him. Her eyes stung and teared; white haze covering everything in sight. She could see faint outlines and shadows of things. It was when they were deeper in the lab that they came upon a body lying limp on the floor before a lab table. She would have tripped over it if the chief hadn't stopped. While Chief Nickolson attended the body, Fate checked the rest of the lab. To her disappointment and relief she didn't find Nanoha, or anyone else.
"Harloawn, help me with him." The chief ordered.
Going around the lab bench, Fate crouched before the scientist, a Mr. Richardson.
"Grab his legs."
She nodded.
The chief placed his arms beneath Mr. Richardson's armpits and with Fate's help carried him out of the lab and up to the first floor. There they found out that Mr. Richardson was dead.