Meat
- Sometime before Gray Serpent's order was given -
- Cairo -
- Far beneath Cairo –
Jackal walked by the medical cells with a disinterested look. Her eyes flicked to the corners and other spaces where a surprise attack might be lurking. But the meat lying on the beds was not her concern. Nor was the state of it. Or when the meat uttered words. Jackal paid no attention. After all, humans talk, not meat.
One door was ajar, moaning coming from within.
A researcher left the room, clipboard in hand, face looking downcast. Before she had any chance to react Jackal swept forward, placing a finger under the researchers chin and lifting their head so they could meet eye-to-eye.
"Something amiss?" was Jackal's sultry question.
"No, ma'am. Not at all, ma'am."
Jackal gestured with her free hand over her shoulder.
"I always have more room for more meat. So don't be coy, tell me everything."
The researcher swallowed slowly, fear leaving the pricks of tears in the corners of her eyes. Jackal liked that. Fear meant they understood their place. Understood how important this was. Stigma was their salvation and if they did not succeed their fate would be worse than what even Jackal could dream.
Only marginally worse.
"SVR-R7-003… ahh the whole XXX batch. Not good results. We have minor expression of a possible Stigma variable but transcription leads to mutation in the receptor genes, leading to erosion of the cell surface. The thinning of the cell surface means a lower doses of Honkai radiation can lead to a cascade."
The researcher swallowed again. This was not good news.
Jackal withdrew from the researcher and waved off the concern with a gloved hand.
"Modelling indicated that the SVR-R7-XXX batch were non-viable. But the mutation holds promise. If we can isolate the mutation then we can emulate the sequence and look for a way to reinforce the cellular surface therefore increasing Honkai resistance. After all-"
Jackal thought about the Artificial Stigma on her back. The gift and curse that it was.
"- if a lonely fool can achieve such things, then we certainly can do so."
"Yes, ma'am. Do we still want to collect the last three specimens?"
Jackal tapped her chin. The canine smile was hidden beneath her mask.
"Yes. Every variable must be taken into account. Perhaps one of them will be that diamond in the rough."
Jackson awoke with the need to use the bathroom. He rolled out of bed, the motion waking his wife briefly. She groaned fuzzily before falling back into the darkness of sleep. Jackson smiled and quietly left the room, careful to very gently let the lock click.
Down the hallway he went. The door to his son's room was slightly ajar. Eli must have been up earlier too. Turning the corner Jackson came to a halt. A hand gripped him around the bicep. Cold metal pressed against his throat.
"You have two options," the deep feminine voice with a faint accent said from behind. "You struggle and I personally drag your wife and daughter out of here kicking and screaming. Maybe minus a limb. That doesn't matter to my superior. Or you do what I say and this becomes a whole lot easier."
Jackson was no fool. He knew what the woman would say next. Very carefully he nodded his head, conscious of the curved blade, the curved talon, at his throat.
"Good boy."
Jackson's arms were pulled behind his back, zip-ties locking them in place. Tape was wrapped around his head twice, cutting off any chance to scream. The unknown woman marched Jackson into the lounge. Already lying on the floor, bound and gagged like himself, were his wife and son. Jackson turned on the woman. She shrugged.
"Wasn't me."
Something stepped out from the corner of the room. A blot of darkness. A woman with eyes cold enough to send Jackson tumbling back and onto the floor. The soulless woman checked the bindings professionally. Looked to Jackson's kidnapper, the one in the cloak, and spoke in a voice so devoid of humanity it was like they were all meat.
"SVR-R7-097 and SVR-R7-096 secured."
"Jackal being prudent. This batch all failed. But it's certainly like her."
The cold eyed woman shrugged. Then lifted her head. Looked to the door to the house.
"The movers are here."
"Well well, ojou-sama, it seems like your senses are improving. Our job is done. Let them clean up the mess and the rest."
The duo opened the front door to masked people all in black. Eli whimpered and wet themselves. Jackson and his wife could only try to inch-worm their way to their son and provide them some small measure of comfort.
More meat for the grinder.
"Delivered all neat and in a bow," Raven addressed the projected hololith of Jackal. "You finished having us run clean-up for you?"
Jackal sniffed.
"It is not clean-up. These are all valuable test materials."
It was Raven's turn to sniff.
"And how valuable have any of your materials captured been? Mei and I have been combing over the city for the last month collecting your precious lost samples. It has to be over one hundred-"
"- one hundred and forty-two," Mei corrected.
"Lots. Jackal. Lots. Got anything to show for it?"
"Actually yes. Every failure is a success. An angle or avenue that we know not to go down."
"You'd think after one hundred and forty-two there would have to be something to show for it."
Jackal waved off Raven's complaints.
"We are all serving the Sire's will."
The chuckle from Raven held no mirth.
"Going to play that card, hmmm? I see why you bear her signet."
The entire exchange between two people who were, at the very most, friendly colleagues, disinterested Mei. Unless they were focussing on whatever task needed completing next. Whatever would forward her own goals. She did not care. It was all small lives and small numbers to her. But signet was a word Mei was unfamiliar with. Familiar with the English word. Unfamiliar with the strange application Raven made of it. And the way Jackal gave a half-shrug as though apologising. Jackal did not apologise for anything.
"I wasn't her favourite. But was are getting distracted. I have two more for you to collect. A different batch. The last batch. SSR-R9-01 and SSR-R9-02. Twins. Incredibly valuable specimens. Acquire them with the utmost caution. I need them healthy and whole. Comparing the epigenetic differences between the pair will give me much insight into the mechanics of Stigma."
The connection ended before Raven could argue the point. She didn't particularly feel like going out one final time for the night. A cold drink and a hot bath were her idea of how the rest of the night should pan out.
Light drizzle began to fall from the sky. Greasy looking clouds lazily made their way from horizon to horizon, the downpour looking like it would continue it's gentle caress for several hours. The perfect weather to be running around outdoors in. Raven popped up her hood. She glanced over to Mei, who was studying her with those cold eyes, a question in them but left unspoken.
"We can talk later, ojou-sama. Last two and then I book us a hotel. Something glitzy. Put it on Jackal's expenses card."
Mei's eyes had already left Raven, lifting up an arm to allow her hololith projector to map out a pathway. Twin boys, perhaps ten at most, with detailed biographical and biological files, were attached to the side of the map.
"Julius. Johan," Mei mouthed.
"Last ones we send back to Jackal to play with. Then this jobs done and we take a little break."
"No breaks. We are no closer to what I want."
"That's why you agreed to this job the moment it was brought up at the council meeting. Further Stigma research."
"And it sounds like it has failed."
Raven's normally casual voice took on a more authoritative tone.
"You're new so people are going to give you some latitude, ojou-sama. But sooner or later you're going to have to learn that you're still New to World Serpent. And a Herrscher. You're not pieces on a medical table because the Sire said so. Gray Serpent decides what happens. No one else."
The sigh from Mei was dismissive. Cold. Apathetic. The falling rain stopped. Raven frowned and looked up. The water was sizzling into vapour due to the electrical field being projected around the pair. Mei's eyes, those strange purple eyes with the shimmering red light in them, bored into Raven.
"No. World Serpent exists because you are useful to me. Yes, Kevin can kill me. But I would tear the organisation down to less than its foundations before he did. The Stigma research would be obliterated. Humanity still has a chance at survival because it suits my own goals."
Before Raven could argue Mei vaulted the distance between the building they were standing on and the next. The rain fell on Raven again. She pulled the hood down further.
"Just how Kiana obsessed can you get?"
Mei hadn't even questioned the validity of what Jackal had said. Was this for Jackal or for World Serpent? Raven wasn't interested in politics but she understood the structure of power. How to navigate within it. Any good mercenary did. Raven was the more cautious sort. So she activated her comms and brought up someone she did trust.
A figure all in black appeared, holding up an umbrella against the rain. Coincidence or was this particular variant of Gray Serpent in Arc City was well? Raven didn't believe in coincidences.
"You heard Jackal. What's the orders?" Raven didn't mince words.
"You have two to find tonight."
"Understood," came Raven's slightly accented voice.
