Isolated in a dark room, the highest floor within a dark skyscraper amongst the city that shone bright. A young man sat in a steel chair leaning over a worn table. The clank of rain on metal roofing being the only audible noise. "I always believed in justice, I believed that it would defeat the wickedness of this world." Distraught and conflicted, Iggy spoke to himself. "There was nothing I could do, I fought, I tried. Isn't that enough?"
"I've given into the darkness, I've let it rule me. Taken hold of my heart." A fist met with the table in violent force. "Nothing I've done has meant anything, I've only hurt others in spite of myself!"
A raspy voice spoke in response, "you've done what is necessary, nothing more matters."
"I've done a crime! I've lead someone into this hell that I didn't intend! You said I would have him! You swore to me that I would show him justice!" Iggy fought with the voice in blinded furry.
The voice held no reply, nothing but silence from the intercom. "I'll have your head, normally regret crossing me!"
"Inject the solution, here," pointing to various parts of the limb body on the operating table, "here, and here." A man in a dusty lab coat stood and ordered others in similar attire.
"Of course, this experiment will yield much desired results. Perhaps even that which will give him even more power." A thin needle was pressed onto pale skin, worn with bruising from struggle.
"I think this specimen is absolutely DELICIOUS. Such a LOVELY complexion, with PEARL skin." An abhorrent man spoke in glee.
"This should allow us to create an synthetic version of this wonderful ability, and to be compiled and enhanced for use." The woman scientist spoke in a slow tone. "After it is created, I'll work the coding process to digitally improve it. And once we reach that stage it can be put to use."
"Parallel Heart, such AMAZING results from such a PATHETIC esper." The grotesque one continued to spout.
"Perhaps this is indeed our greatest work yet. To think such a magnificent ability, right in our hands."
I began to question many things in my life at the time. As to what lead to this point, and how I would follow were an unknown concept to me. Mina has been taken, and I would find her, no matter the cost. I had reclined upon telling Sato of this, as he had already suffered from this endeavor. It was something I would take on my own, not getting anyone else involved.
"I'm gonna be out for a while, fix yourself something to eat." I told Kazmi, her face less than convinced about my actions.
"Where are you going-will you be back soon? It's not something stupid is it?" Her questions in a frantic state.
"It's nothing, I'm just going to figure something out. I'll have Sato come by and look after you, does that make you feel better?" I spun a vague lie.
"Hmm… I guess so." She still seemed slightly hesitant.
"I'm going to call him, so gimme a second." I walked into my room dialing the number on the phone.
It rang for some time, yet eventually Sato picked up. "Hello? Aru? What's up?"
"Hey, Sato, I need a favor to ask of you. Could you come and watch Kazu, I need to run out for a while." My words still seemed vague and uncertain.
"Oh, alright, with ask that's happened lately I understand why you asked." He was still in the dark over Mina, therefore it worked to convince him.
"Thanks man, I appreciate it." We voiced our goodbyes and both ended the call.
I began to leave the apartment, hopping out from the three story balcony as I normally did. I was going to find them, do what ever it took to put this to an end. I opened the holographic screen on my phone, looking through the various contact information I had acquired. I pulled up the number that was most recent to be added.
"Hello, this is the anti-skill capitan right? From yesterday?"
"Oh, yes, what is it?" He spoke in a low, almost monotone, voice.
"This is Aru Valentine, I'd like your help on pinpointing the location of those who took my friend." I was in no mood to be denied.
With a deep sigh I could hear sound of a keyboard and mouse. "We have two possible locations, an abandoned factory in seventh district, and a worn down retail office in district nine. These sites have shown high levels of activity in the past twenty-four hours."
"Ill try the closer one, which means factory in this district." I wasn't very pleased at the thought, some scummy factory that time worn to rust.
"We've seen footage that shows a minimum of three different figures moving in and out of the area. You should be well prepared, you're taking on the darkness of this city. Make sure it doesn't swallow you whole."
"I'll take care not to, thank you for your help." I voiced my gratitude.
"I'm going to send a a squad to help in an emergency, is this alright with you?"
"That's a more cautious approach than I had in mind, I appreciate it."
"I'll send the squad over to get you now, just start heading in it's direction." A map with my location and my destination appeared on my screen.
He hung up and I began walking to towards on the empty street. It was around seven o'clock, only the lamp posts illuminated the dark road. The distant horizon was well lit by the vast shopping centers and visitor attractions. The city was always lively, in some fashion or another. It was odd to call such a bizarre place home, yet I knew no different. It had always been my home, where I resided in.
I moved ever closer to my goal, they would regret taking my friend. For I would make they pay tenfold for their actions. I began working on a new technique, one that would help me in a pinch. Air resonated around my being, I was focusing in deep concentration. I held out my hand in front of me, manipulating the air to lose temperature rapidly.
Before I could finish touching up on my new technique I was interrupted by the sound of a vehicle approaching. I stopped from working further. It came from the direction I was facing, and halted at an ease. The vehicle was a van used by anti-skill forces, the door opened in the rear.
Out stepped an officer who signaled me closer. "Get in, we're here to assist you on this operation." He was a short man, what looked to be in his twenties.
I climbed into the back and sat next to him, along with two others in the same attire. The man spoke again after closing the back door, "I'm Lieutenant Oliver, I'll be your back up on this mission. The goal of this to raid the factory, we will arrest any individuals involved at the end phase."
He handed me a small ear piece, "this is going to let us know your position, and if you've gotten more than you can handle." I put the device into my left ear.
"Phase one one involves you going inside, sweeping the area for anything of interest. We'll establish a base outside while in this van. We have listening equipment and an electronic hacking network. If things go south then we have concussion and flash bang explosives to aid in escape. As well as bulletproof shielding if necessary."
I nodded as he explained the situation. "So, I know this is a personal question, but it helps to know our strengths. What is your esper ability and rank? If you're okay with that, that is."
I sighed lightly, "I am a level three aerokineticist, though, that is only what's on record. By my power I should be higher, but at least four. I can control air, and even the properties of it."
He seemed interested in my words, doubtful he was an esper, a low ranked one if he had been. "Alright, we can work with that. I normally don't do this, but I'd like you to keep my knife, it's a titanium alloy so it has high rust resistance. I can get another at some other time. That should work well with your air control."
He handed me the knife, feeling the weight of the blade as it rested in my palms. It was all jet black, metal grip, and what seemed like a fifteen centimeter blade. I held it in my right hand, then left, testing it's comfortability. I held it in my left hand, flipping it upside down, wielding it backhanded.
"Thank you very much, I'll use it well. I also know what having this means, the ability to take the life of another. However I know that from my ability more than anything." He nodded and smiled.
The van came to a stop, Oliver spoke again, "We're here, are you ready to do this?"
"Ready as I'm going to be." I grinned in a slight manner.