Gideon Recruitment Agency, London

9 May, 2011

09:51—?'s Perspective

:-:

News of Babyface's security measures has garnered media attention.

First Wonderland, now Ferryman… Infinity is becoming serious, ruining the church's pockets mercilessly.

I can't believe those heretics, carrying on the way they do. They're doing nothing but mustering up trouble.

Church loyalists are against Infinity's present actions. They despise it, seeing it as heresy against their masters, especially their lord… Yes, these people *worship* the Old Man, blindly, which isn't a good thing.

To Gideon, the Old Man is a savior; someone who brought them out of poverty, gave them jobs and homes to live in. He's their "everything". So, their opinions are virtually understandable… God will smite them for their crimes. Our lord has been so gracious to us, and look at what they're doing:

Destroying his finances… At this point, it seems even Gideon will soon be defunct. And that's something I won't stand for.

A masked maiden in a black habit, a nun in service to the church, sits alone at her desk, absorbed by this morning's news broadcast. "...Citizens, if you see anyone approaching the Ferryman building, please, contact your local authorities.

This is Brenda Norwood with Sunrise 9. We'll be back after these messages."

The nun turns off the television.

She can't bear to hear another word about Infinity's crimes against her lord. It sickens her, and, for the first time in her life, she feels the need to punish another; to exercise brutal force.

Even the news speaks so *casually* about it. Blasphemy!

…Our lord… He's in danger.

This must stop. This must stop *right now*—

Her unheard ire is quieted by her ringing landline… According to her caller ID, she's receiving a call from Belfast.

This is the first time this has happened. Her branch usually doesn't do business with the said city, but she must still take this call; it's her duty.

The nun answers the phone. "Hello! This is Sister Estelle of Gideon R.A., London. How may I direct your call today?"

"—Mornin', Stella. It's Rem. What's up?"

"—!? D. Remedy? What a *pleasant* surprise." Yes, the elder brother of Dead Motion has personally rung her office phone.

"How're things going at the office?"

"We recently recruited 978 believers. Unemployment rates have dropped another 7.98%.

I'm proud of that, Rem, but…"

Sister Estelle's voice wettens, and she loses what she wants to say.

No. It's more like she's struggling to speak because her heart...is breaking.

"What's wrong, Stella? You sound upset."

"—have you seen the news? Infinity is hitting us *hard*.

Wonderland was a *magical* place, and should Ferryman fall… Nothing good would come from this.

Also, about Father Mycenae—"

"No need to tell me. Father Kerrigan already gave us the heads-up.

Ol' B. D. M. is a cool dude, but he couldn't cut it. We're both close to him, so it hurts me as much as it hurts you."

Sister Estelle becomes quiet, bothered by what D. Remedy just said to her: About Father Kerrigan contacting him.

When the said elite touches base with others, it's for business purposes. It's rarely a personal call, so the nun can't help but wonder… "He issued you a contract, didn't he?"

"Yeah. Me and li'l bro are out for the old doctor."

Sister Estelle shocks!

"You mean… Father Paddington? That sweet old soul!?"

"Yep, him, and before you say anything else...we don't want to do it."

"I expected you two would feel that way. After all, he—"

"I know, Stella. Don't remind me, alright.

This is hard enough as it is."

It seems Stephen, or "Father Paddington" as the church regards, has a deep connection with Dead Motion and Sister Estelle. Just mentioning his former name provokes cold sensations of pain and sorrow.

Father Kerrigan hasn't overcome the agony of defeat. And it's been five centuries… Yesterday marks a few months from the anniversary of—

"Stella, you still with me?"

D. Remedy awakens the nun from her thoughts. "Oh. Yes, I am."

"You alright, Stella? You're not one to space out like that."

"No, Rem, I'm fine. Just…

—I don't like where this is going."

Ironically, D. Remedy undergoes the same situation: A moment of silence.

"Hello?"

"Yeah, Stella. I'm here… Just feeling like shi—I mean, 'really bad' right now."

Sister Estelle wants to laugh, but this isn't a laughing matter. Hearing D. Remedy correct his language to refrain from offending her: She always sees humor in this.

Lord, help him. That potty mouth of his… Tee hee!

The headhunter hears her huffing.

"Sis, you laughing at me?"

"—I'm sorry, Rem."

"Naw, it's alright. I know how you are about profanity, so...you know."

"I do, Rem. And thank you.

God sees your heart."

D. Remedy wants to believe that. But the way things are going… "Stella, you're a good woman; you give so many people hope…

—but you're serving God in a den of devils. My brother and I…*we* became devils to save our tribe. So, no matter how much it hurts, we have to do this.

I just wanted to make sure our tribe would be okay, in case we didn't make it."

Those are strong words, things the nun has never heard D. Remedy say before.

Normally, he's quite different from this, so…she's a little surprised.

"...I'll do everything I can, Rem. You called the right person."

"Is that a 'yes'?"

"It's a guarantee. And…

—be careful, Rem. Your children need their father."

"...I know, Stella. I know…"

He's hurting… D. Remedy is succumbing to the pressure.

At the moment, he's fighting his emotions; his eyes are burning with tears he has yet to cry. So stubborn, but for the sake of his tribe… "—we'll come back."

"I know you will, Rem. May God be with you."

"You too, Stella…you too…"

Queen's University, Belfast

9 May, 2011

09:57—Li'l Thrill's Perspective

:-:

The call was made from Belfast's public research university, Queen's.

D. Remedy hangs up the main office landline, his gloves stained with crimson: The blood of all those on the campus; students and faculty members alike.

Yes, Dead Motion recently committed mass murder. It took them a few hours, but they managed to claim every head in the Queen's Quarter area of Belfast.

Such violence is unbefitting of the Oti, so the act doesn't rest well with them.

"...There's no way out of this one, li'l bro."

"Yeah, I know that. But we had to do it."

The thought of being forced to kill: A sickening thing in every sense.

It's torture… Everyone that died in the past few hours were Infinity supporters, a feat done to repay the radicals for destroying Wonderland.

I can't believe Mr. Ghostie made us do that.

Li'l Thrill suffers in silence, presently in another form: Cutting Edge; a double-edged sword mode that enables a balance of speed, power and defense for Dead Motion. In this state, he's scabbarded to his elder brother's back.

Li'l Thrill is still able to speak, but only D. Remedy can hear his voice. Anyone outside of their sync rate won't be able to hear him… This is another feature of their existence; what gives them an edge over their contracts.

"Big bro, we can't stay here. If we're spotted, we'll be arrested on sight."

"I know, Thrill. But I'm not sweating the authorities."

"—Then why are your hands shaking?"

D. Remedy *knows* what they're doing is wrong.

Li'l Thrill knows it too, but he's beginning to accept their reality as well. Soon, he too will descend to this level of guilt.

—and, once again, I know I'll hold him back.

Big bro's fighting hard; he killed *all these people* just to make a statement. And they weren't even apart of our contract.

…What was Mr. Ghostie thinking? What was the point of this?

...He's already there…

The guilt of obedience is more punishing than the guilt of illicitness.

"Big bro, what did Stella say about our tribe?"

Li'l Thrill brings up an important question to dodge the pain.

"—Stella was the 'right' person to call; she guarantees their safety." D. Remedy's reply is filled with pain.

His younger brother understands. "Yeah…she is… Let's get this over with."

"Right, li'l bro."

Dead Motion departs from the main office to complete their contract, their spirits heavy with guilt.