B~R~R~Ring

"Hello, hello!"

"Lt. Elitia Turner?"

"-Pause, sigh-Yeah?"

"-Chuckling- Expecting someone else? This is Dr. Wagner with?"

"I know who you are doc...."Rustle, rustle, click, crackle, snap- So what?s up, my req go through' "Exhale-"

"-Pause- Yes" about that Mr. Turner?"

"Mach. Call me Mach' third line down under nicknames slash preferred names."

"Mach' we need to talk about your health."

"-Puff, exhale- Yeah' Fit as a fiddle and virile as a stud?"

"-Sigh- More like a walking time bomb' would you seriously not smoke when talking to your doctor!"

"-Smirk- Bad habit doc."

"-Exasperated sigh-You seem to have a lot of those. Now look, I've been reviewing the results of your last physical and frankly I'm concerned. Posttraumatic bone thickening in frankly all your bones and most worrisome in all parts of your spine, heavy wear to ligaments and tendons, raggedy lungs from your two pack a day habit, hepatic cirrhosis only exacerbated since you're missing a quarter of your liver to begin with, you have atherosclerosis with mild plaque deposits which is not generally considered bad at your age" if you were obese which you are clearly not' heavy intra-abdominal scar tissue, heavy muscular scarring in general, probably some weak vessels in your brain thanks to your extensive history of head injury and concussions " frankly I am aghast to know that your only 31."

"-Puff, exhale- What can I say....hard job is hard."

"Hard job is killing you Mach. You know you've had more regenerative healing than soldiers received on average during the Permiatic War" By twice. And on top of that your drinking, dietary, and smoking habits are not helping you in the least."

"I served in that war you know. "Exhale-"

"Two battles and you about got ripped in half at the last. And you know statistically other than follow-up care most those soldiers didn't continue to require more and more healing afterward."

"-Pause, puff, exhale- So hard job is killing me. Nothing to get excited over doc."

"-Mildly groaning-But it is. You know regenerative potions and healing magic only work for so long right' After you've reached your saturation and tolerance point that's it' back to the best of medical science and I can tell you we don't have anything to fix the amount of problems you've been raising for yourself. Now you've been very lucky so far that you seem to have a retarded tolerance development, particularly for a potion dependent class like you? but this will only last for so long. Most men in your field don't see it to retirement age before they start experiencing diminished performance of regenerative potions or start experiencing problems from unhealable stress and damage?"

"Doc, most people in my field don't make it to retirement to begin with."

"And that is why you should be taking care of yourself now rather than burning up your body! What if you buck the trend, serve to 40 and retire" what then" You'll have a body like a 70 to 80 year old with about as good a quality of life. "

"-A smirk-"

"This isn't a laughing matter Mach. Why do all of you A class hunters have this?"

"It's fine, it's fine, that's why I'm saving an actual full regen treat until after I retire.-Exhale, rustle of cigarette being crushed out.-"

"It's not fine! By then it may be too late, you may be too saturated for a full regenerative treatment to do you any good if even you make it that far! This wear and tear is taking a toll on you Mr. Turner whether you admit it or not and it's going to lead you to make a mistake one day that's going to be final!"

"-A long pause " Alright, alright. I get it. Eat more carrots. Is my req approved or what?"

"-Sigh' a muttering of something under breath likely very profane and very not patient care oriented- That's not the point Mach. You're asking for yet another bump in your regenerative mixture supplement. Obviously problems are starting to affect you."

"That's what I'm supposed to do. More aches and pains, req for increase in regimen."

"To a point Mach. And only when you're in a combat role."

"-Chuckle- Yeah, well I'm sanctioned to continue requesting increases so long as my combat mission remains active and funny thing doc, the civy mission doesn't end. Anyway, I'm nowhere near the cutoff limit?"

"If by cutoff limit you mean lethal dose then yeah, not there yet. But you are well above regular dosing parameters for one of your station and role" -Sigh- Whatever. I want you to see a specialist. Dr. Rabjohn?"

"Aren't they a shrink" I thought you said it was my body that was failing, so why you trying to recommend me to a head doctor?"

"Because your body isn't throwing itself in the path of fireballs itself. The start of a healthy body, or at least less unhealthy body in your case, is a healthy mind."

"Bullshit' -Smirk- Anyway, if you haven't reviewed my record I'm off planet. Can't lie in a comfy couch and talk about my mommy light-years and dimensions away."

"-Shuffling sound of papers- Well then you better make it work" or find a local psychologist there. I don't care. Until you start seeing some sort of specialist I'm not approving your requisition to increase your regenerative regimen."

"-A pause before the spurting outrage- You can't do that you "oh my- piece of -oh my, oh my - who can shove your "oh my, oh my, ohhh myyy-! You're not out here dragging dangerous bastards in who'd no more roast you than say how do!"

"-Sigh- No, I'm not, and actually, yes I can. I'm not telling you to stop living as you are, I'm not that stupid. But I do think you should see a psychologist to at least try to address some of your problems" and maybe if we're lucky it'll have a trickledown effect on the rest. You send in proof of visit and I'll approve your req" I'll even draw smiley faces on my 'I's just for you."

"-A long pause before an aggravated sigh- Fine" FINE! One visit!"

"A treatment round."

"-Pause with some soft grinding sound in the background- No more guff about increasing my regen regimen!"

"Until next time."

"-Very displeased grumbling.- Whatever" I'll see what I can do."

"-Much more chipper- Good!"

"Go to hell."

"I'm the main military doc here in charge over class A licensees" believe me I'm pretty close."

"-A snort- Whatever...anything else?"

"Well, since I have you I would like to make a few recommend?"

Click

BEEP BEEP BEEP

B~R~R~Ring

"-Grumble, groan, muffled cursing, THUNK, more muffled cursing and shuffling- What!"

"-Chuckling- Well, good morning to you too!"

"Fuck you.....oww.....fuck me....-Creaking, thumping-"

"Rough night at it' -Smirk- You know that playboy lifestyles going to kill you..."

"-Sound of water running covering over more cursing- Hey....somebodies gotta live the dream.....damn it where's a towel..."

"-Chuckling- Yeah, well, you don't gotta live them all. So, who or what was it yeah?"

"-Splashing, scrubbing, a gasp for breath, rinsing- Who....two beauts. Man you should see them, sizzling bods, rave pink hair, fine examples of the womanly form....sisters. Damn fine sisters Gin. -more scrubbing-"

"-Curious- Sisters" -Low whistle- Da~yummm you dirty dog Mach! Was it wild or was it wild!"

"-Chuckling, more rinsing- It was 'wild' man....screaming, yelling, crying, rolling around on the ground, nail digging...shit was brutal. Got the bruises to prove it..."

"-Rustle, rustle, snap, puff, exhale- You always did have a nose for the best kinds of troubles Mach."

"Yea....-Rustle, thump, gurgling heaving sounds in background before the whoosh swirl of a toilet flushing. Some coughing followed before splashing and gurgling.- " you know me....like to stir them pots of trouble..."

"-Slightly strained chuckle- Yeah....drinking too?"

"-More gurgling, spit, scrub- Of course....little local chaos brew and a few home grown..."

"-Puff, exhale- Wow! Was the party that good?"

"SS X man....for the long and hard nights yeah. Detoxing now."

"-A pause and then a low whistle- Wow....you really do find yourself some hot trouble. You....you need me to call anyone, get you delivery or something?"

"-A long pause, some splashing and the water would turn off.- Nah....I'm not that bad off Gin....might call myself a pizza later on....wanted to go to that fashion party too."

"-A pause, a puff, an exhale and finally a cackle- Fuck you can't be that bad off then! Alright, I think Yoyo is going to call you next time."

"Yoyo' Damn I thought that joker was dead."

"-A mild chuckle- Undead actually but still putting in a bit of work before it wears off."

"Shit " that's rough."

"-Puff, exhale, rustle of cigarette being ground out- Ain't that the truth. Alright Mach you take care....don't hesitate to call if you need anything yeah?"

"Yes mooom"

"-A smirk- Jerk....I mean it though yeah' We idiots gotta look out for our own and your laying your dick alone in a hotbed."

"-Sigh, smirk.- Bunch of idiots huh....yeah, yeah, I'll call if I need anything."

"-Chuckle- To the end. Alright Mach, catch you later."

"-Chuckle- Laters Gin?

Click

BEEP BEEP BEEP

B~R~R~Ring

"This is Mach?"

"MACH! How you doing!"

"Don! You stupid son of a bitch how are doing!?"

"-Cackling- Oh you know me, work, work, work. I've read you've been up to no good as usual!"

"-Sniggering- Aw come on Don, you can't believe everything you read about me."

"Oh I know, just the disciplinary reports! "Chortling- And it's Dr. Wells you know!"

"Doctor" Oh come on I thought you got your doctorate out of a cereal box!"

"-Chuckling- Yeah, when I was a madsci" got a proper one during this work release stint I've been in."

"-Chuckling- Shit has it really been three years since I caught you? Doesn't seem that long?"

"I know right' Time sure does fly when you're locked on base without your freedom?"

"Don't give me that Don you know you're lucky you get to keep working rather than rotting away in a prison getting told on an hourly basis to play nice with the normies."

"-Sniggering- I'm fucking with you Mach, I know how cush this is" anyway, I've been free of the program for months now?"

"Damn, they let a sociopathic dip like you out in public" "Smirk- Well, if I have to hunt your ass down again just be warned I'm drilling lead between your eyes no questions asked?"

"Your so kind Mach' -Smirk- Anyway, talking about drills between the eyes let's start off with your eye yeah' How's it doing?"

"-Smirk, rustle- The eye' It's doing alright I guess, kind of a low level sting like there's some kind of constant feedback."

"Hmm' yeah, you are sporting a rather traditional one there; some feedback is expected but where you're at probably isn't helping" -Rustle- When next your homeside we could always upgrade you to one of the new models. Got some nice ones now that are tech based" low level light, high zoom, distance magnification....even thermal on mil spec ones!"

"-Snap, crackle, pop, puff, exhale- Thanks but no' I want a mostly natural looking one thank you? no freakish mechanical whirring always glowing sort of affair?"

"Oh come on Mach! Heterochromia iridis is like the in thing right now! You should embrace that you've lost an eye! I could even get you one of those fancy mood change irises that shifts all the colors of the rainbow!"

"-Mild chuckle, puff, exhale- Thanks but I'll pass, all I need it to do is low light, some magic assist aim with my caster, and look good while doing it. How about we just do an adjustment."

"-Pouting- You're no fun. "Snort- Fine, fine. Anything else of note?"

"Yeah' I keep getting mild headaches and I think they're from my mental resistance band. Like somebodies ringing a bell inside my head for giggles"."

"Ringing" -Rustle, rustle, pause- "hmm' sorry, looks like you're out of luck on that. That seems to be a common problem among hunters out in Rhydin. It's suspected the Nexus resonates with one of the protective scripts or perhaps all of them in the band so you really are getting dissident feedback on that. Guess you can consider yourself lucky that you've got a Gen 3 versus a Gen 2 band" looks like those bastards got migraines daily."

"Lucky me"."

"Hey, if you're willing I guess we could try a tech based option. They've just finished approvals for a very promising device?"

"You're not talking about the Relling Industries Cyber Spell Anti-Manipulation Sub-Dermal band are you?"

"Exactly!"

"The device that has a record of catching on fire and melting people's faces off when exposed to excessive magic?"

"-Defensive- Only in extreme cases?"

"Don' I'm a mage hunter in a land that has a giant magical gnarl that causes resonance with my current band" what in the hells makes you think that device won't totally melt my pretty, pretty mug off!?"

"-Sheepish- There's no literature backing that it would?"

"-Puff, exhale, stern- Don?"

"-Sigh- Ohhh alllright! "Pouting- Didn't want that trip to the Omelan Islands anyway?"

"Really!" You wanted to use me for a company's field study testing!?"

"-Defensive- Can't make progress without a few broken eggs?"

"Don' you know it's that kind of thinking that got you arrested in the first place right?"

"But this is federally backed and funded so it's okay!"

"-Tired sigh, puff, exhale- Alright' Don' no trying to make your friends into guinea pigs. Bad Don, bad!"

"-Sighing- Alll~right' -Rustle, rustle- Annyway, so how's the Brewster working out for you? I see you got a pretty decent model which is kinda surprising."

"My Brewster?" It's been doing pretty well. I really can tell that there's a potion performance boost with a dropoff in negative effects even with expired ones" still bleed like a stuck pig during detox?"

"Well, everyone has a remission, just be glad yours is simply hemorrhaging of dead vitae yeah' Could be like Big" finally popped the cherry of his sat tol and learned his was debilitating back pain and short term paralysis" bastard near cracked his head open tumbling down a flight of stairs when his back locked up?"

"-Puff- Damn" really' I thought he was supposed to be a natural, how the hell does he suddenly get a sat tol like this" And doesn't this preclude him from service as a hunter now?"

"It would but we're pretty hard up for idiots wanting to move into Class A. They'll likely A5 him and stick him with a support team of doubles. As for being a natural that was likely just a plateau" if they did their due diligence probably would have discovered this ceiling before he was out on a foot chase. But then you know" due diligence and hard up and such?"

"Shit' that's rough. I remember that kid really wanted to make a name for himself too?"

"Yeah' well, like the saying goes: if you are really talented as a mage hunter you're probably already a mage??"

"-Smirk- True, true" -Puff- Talking about being mage like I was wondering if you think you could swing me an upgrade to my E.P.P and mana booster next time I'm in?"

"You mean you actually want to upgrade something" That's pretty rare for you? -Shuffle, shuffle- Let's see" looks like you got a pretty up-to-date Ether Processing Plant' a Truestar mk 7 which is a good reliable workhorse" and your m. booster is already past job spec with your Titan' why the sudden upgrade those?"

"Well....you've read my reports yeah' Saw the bit about me casting that stacked S3 spell?"

"I read a lot about you Mach' according to half the reports you regularly fornicate with demons, have sacrificial pacts with witches, and build death rays on every other Wednesday' you mean the bit about you casting Niflheim was actually true!?"

"-Puff, exhale, scrunch of cigarette being ground out- I know, wild right!" I just' thought I could do it' visualized it, charged it, sumped it, and -Clap- BAM! Crunch, schloop, cast' and it worked! Froze a giant column of water in the bay?"

"-Low whistle- Wow....yeah, that should of totally fried you."

"I know right!" And get this....I cast a level 3 dispel afterward..."

"Damn Mach....how....?"

"That's the thing, I don't know! My first thought was lightening finger but I didn't want to harm the occupant and I just thought 'hey....what about Niflheim...' And when I crunched it all I just knew I could..."

"Huh....-Rustle, rustle, rustle- You know Martin....er, Danub.....crap....-Snap, snap, snap- Shark! Shark described a few occurrences of that too before his kickoff....feeling oddly 'juiced' or able....was attributed as a strange flux state of the Nexus there but little more was looked into it."

"You know, I have been feeling a little more spry as of late now that you mention it..."

"There were also bouts of increased signs and symptoms of his S.A.D. disorder as well as frequent headaches and the occasional misfire of spells even though later analysis showed no quality issues with his reagents or caster..."

"Oh....damn..."

"I can't imagine getting a beefier processor and booster will help in that regard....if anything I would venture that it might make effects on both ends of the spectrum worse..."

"Hmm....I see....-Long pause-"

"....-Sigh- I'll see what I can do Mach....your not classed for anything but there might be an exception somewhere to be exploited..."

"-Chuckling- Thanks Don....I owe you."

"You can save your thanks until after I actually get something worked out and all pending it doesn't kill you if I do."

"Yeah, yeah, still..."

"I know. Been working with enough of you to at least partially understand that screwed up mindset. Anyway....to tide you over I do have some good news! Folks down in R&D have come up with a few new cantrip recipes I think you'll like which I'm going to get sent to you with dies and such. You've also been greenlit for a new caster model....now you'll only be 5 generations back rather than 12 that you are now..."

"Wait...I thought I was only 5 generations back with my caster..."

"-Snerk- Are you kidding me" With that piece of junk you carry!" It's a workhorse yeah, real stable but come on man, I built something better than that when I was a budding madsci! -Chuckling- Nah, I was able to get my hands on a Manser Elite for you....not the latest or most decked out but it's got a smooth spell cycling process and flow tracking with multichannel support....and casts much faster than the crap piece you have. Does it for less too."

"Ah, but I like the feel of the ol' girl I got now..."

"Now don't be a holdout Mach. I tell you this thing will be like night and day once you start using it. I'm even getting some custom work done so it should have a familiar feel and weight as your Dugger."

"-Smirk- Thanks Don, I'll give it a whirl when I get it....certainly know how to treat a jerk!"

"Well, if your in a good mood about upgrades there is still that men...."

"Bad Don! Bad!"

"-Sigh- Gotta try....maybe I'll get one of the AA's going out there to try one out....oh, by the way, gotta ask, why did you cast Niflheim?"

"-Mild- You really don't gotta try....-Chuckle- Thought you read the report..."

"Yeah....I was hoping for a little more truth and a little less tuna."

"Well, why would you cast a spell that might kill you and then dispel it right after?"

"To test a theory?"

"-Sigh- Okay....assume you thought like a normal person and not some amoral madsci..."

"Hey! I'd resent that if it weren't true! -Smirk- Hmm....my next guess would be test subject so....that must mean someone your....attracted to?"

"And they said you couldn't be rehab'd -Smirk-"

"Har, har....you know at least I've been in a healthy relationship within the past 3 years that we've known each other."

"You do know 'dissection' isn't third base, right?"

"And look! I've hit the deflection defense that you hunters are so good at! Looks like it's time for a new line of conversation eh?"

"Ass."

"You are who you associate with Mach....-Chuckling, creak of chair- But seriously Eli....how you holding up out there?"

"-Rustle of a shrug- Ain't killed me yet."

"Not an answer."

"You going to hound me" -Snort- I think you do deal with us hunters too much..."

"Yeah, well....maybe I still feel indebted to you for lying on your threat assessment of me those years ago and getting my Ruger score lowered, yeah?"

"What's this" You make it sound like I've done unscrupulous and illegal things on a secured military line when really I just rated you as I saw fit and helped get your Ruger test graded right". Nothing under table about that."

"-Long pause before a snort- Yeah' maybe your right....still, thanks."

"I take cash and card" nice lays too but I don't think you've got that in you?"

"-Smirk- You might be surprised..."

"I doubt it."

"Jerk....-Chuckle- So, how are you doing?"

"-Sigh- Fine! I'm doing fine....really....have met some good folk, have met some naughty, and I'm generally having fun while I'm here. Good times."

"You know Eli, there's a difference between good times and content right?"

"You've been reading Dr. Wegner's notes haven't you?"

"Doc to doc review yeah....still, you are a friend Mach....just don't want to see you burn out like so many other hunters yeah?"

"-Sigh- Right, right....so any idea when my gear'll be in?"

"-Creak of chair- Yeah....they should be shipping out end of month, just a few last forms to finish for the transfer....much more a bitch to get weapons there when you go by official channels..."

"Alright, sounds like a plan. I should be in for a six month physical in June so we can do the upgrades and adjustments at that time."

"Yeah....unless you get cooked, you know, trying to impress the pants off people..."

"-Smirk- Oh I don't need spells to do that! Well, is there anything else Dr. Wells?"

"Well, I....-Pause- Oh....No, no, I think we should be good for the moment."

"Sweet! Alright, I'll catch up with later yeah?"

"Alright....Oh, and Mach?"

"Yeah?"

"Take care out there....and try to be happy..."

"-Smirk- I'll be the chuckliest of clowns! Catch you later Don."

Click

BEEP BEEP BEEP

B-R-R-Ring

"Hello, this is Mach."

"Lieutenant Elitia Turner, U.T.R.A. Specials Hunter Task Force - Civilian Branch' "

"-Wary- Yes??"

"Good Morning! I am Major Allen Bessick of the U.T.R.A. Foreign Relations Office currently acting as liaison for the Rhy"Din Portal City. "

"Shit?"

"Yes, that was an expected reply from what I've read of your file Lt. Turner -Chuckling- As I am sure Capt Albright has likely mentioned there has been some....interest" in having you work inter-agency with a liaison from the local law enforcement there."

"He may have said something about such, yeah' more along the lines of it was something being considered not an absolute though?"

"Yes. Well, after some review of your latest debrief it was decided that you may just be the right fellow for this assignment! The Watch is most amicable to a joint effort as well given some tensions regarding the scope of our presence there."

"Is 'scope of our presence" some fancy way of saying "crater in ground from last hunter?""

"-Chuckling- There was some concern of that, yes. But more they are interested in having someone observe the tools and techniques used by our forces in the apprehension of criminal elements augmented with magic or magic like technology since we are one of the few that have such a successful program using otherwise normal humanoids."

"-Wryly- Successful hmm' and I'm not sure what part of my debrief said that I was perfect for some sort of meet and play nice but?"

"Oh, our program is very successful! Our survival ratio is nearly 23% better than other agencies that employ such non-touched natives for this sort of work! And it was the part where you get along so well with all the natives there of course! You've got a natural charisma that we feel is vital for a cohesive work experience."

"-Tired- Right' -Pause likely for eye rolling- Ah, yes" charisma. Well, while I may be good at charming folks that doesn't exactly translate well to cooperation in joint efforts?"

"Oh don't sell yourself so short Lt Turner?"

"Call me Mach."

"I don't think so Lt Truner?"

"-Grumbling sigh-"

"-Cloyingly friendly- I see we have gotten off on the wrong foot Lieutenant' I apologize. Please, let me try again! You are being assigned to this post regardless whether you approve or not. You will meet Warrant Officer Hardings down at the Benny's by the portal station in exactly one hour plus or minus ten minutes for you're in person briefing with our representative who will be acting as handler for you during this investigation and apprehension. If you disagree with this or fail to arrive for your briefing with the Warrant Officer at the designated time, which is entirely your choice to make, I will see you removed from your happy little post with every benefit you have acquired stripped and a string of black flags shoved so far up your ass that you'll be able to floss with them for the next year. Have I made myself exceedingly clear"-Still creepily cheery-"

"-Long pause, tired sigh- Crystal?"

"-Beaming- Very good Lieutenant! Everything you'll need to know you will be briefed on by WO Hardings. I am looking forward to a glowing review and impressed water cooler talk about you you sly dog you!"

"Yeah' I?"

"Remember, don't be late! You've got a 44 to 64 minute window to make it the Benny's! Please have a good rest of your morning Lt. Turner!"

Click

"-Grumbling- What a *** *** *** on a *** *** *** sideways?"

BEEP BEEP BEEP

B~B~B~Ring

"Hey, you've reached the voicemail of Mach also known as Eli Turner currently on post in Rhydin. I'm probably getting in some kind of trouble or another so I can't take your call for more trouble at the moment. After the beep thing leave a brief message with name, callback number, measurements, picture, bank account and routing information' that sorta stuff" and I'll get back to you when I can' unless I'm dead dead" then I won't..." BEEEEP

"Lieutenant Turner, this is Captain Albright. You've missed your month's end debrief interview call and I've received no reports or advance notice that you should have. I hope you do realize that without prior permission you are obligated to make these calls. Even If you've gone to deep cover you should still leave a message in a drop box location though I've found no such messages at any know drop box location. You are aware the repercussion that may be visited upon you for such a breach of protocol.

-Pause- You" you're alright, yes" I've". not received a dead man's switch message from your phone so I'm assuming you're physically still alive at least. I'll" wait a week before I call to have feelers sent out to try and locate you. If you are deep cover I suggest you find a way leave a drop message soon. Otherwise" -Long pause-

W..we'll talk later Lieutenant. There are a number of things I need to cover with you. Contact me soon.?

Click

BEEP BEEP BEEP

B~R~R~Ring

"U.R.T.A. Civilian Staffing and Assignment Office, Specialist Horner speaking, how may I direct your call?"

"Uh' -Pause- Oh, Lieutenant Elitia V. Turner, Military Bounty Offices number: 098325HL121780 calling for monthly debrief with Cpt. Albright. "

"Lt. Truner" -pause, typing- Yes, your call has been expected. I'll page Cpt. Albright now."

"Okay' thanks. "Rustle, rustle, click, snap, flick, pop-"

"Lieutenant, need I remind you that this debrief is considered an official meeting and as such you are held to the non-smoking restrictions in place during official business?"

"-Exhale- Nah, you really don't but I get the feeling you just did."

"-Something muttered inaudibly. A few moment's pass.- Um' sir-?"

"Mach."

"" Oh, uhm, sir, Mach sir" are you aware that you're on an on-air line" If you could report to a briefing chamber at-"

"I'm not on base. On location' providing security under the "protect the civilian populace against renegade malficarum' clause of 'reasons I do my job.?"

"-Muddled- Oh, umm, really' But protocol states that any debrief with potentially sensitive information be conducted in a contro-"

"So you're saying I don't have to report in because I can't leave my post' "Puff, exhale-"

"-More confused- Wh-what? No' I mean, yes. You need to go through a D3 security router at least to ensure adhoc tele-encryption' and sir, I did mention that smoking is n-"

"Specialist Horner was it?"

"-Dumbfounded- Wha, uh, yes?"

"-Inhale- Learn to chill, yeah' Rules are there to bend my friend."

"I-I-I don't believe that they are sir. They are in place to provide uniformity and discipline so as to save soldiers" lives!"

"-An exhaling pause before a smirk escapes- Right' hope you stay a comm off paper pusher then buddy. Look, tell Morgan I called but I'm on post and not able to reach a D3 so I suppose we'll chat next month, yeah' "

"Wa-wh-huh!""

"Lt. Eli Turner sig" oi, that's my pizza crust! "Grumble- Damn ferret. Hmm, oh, right, yes. Signing off!"

"S-sir, please wa-"

Click

BEEP BEEP BEEP

-= A few minutes later=-

B~R~R~Ring

"Hello hello, this is Mach!"

"-Deadpan- Hilarious Lieutenant, you are a natural gods damned comedian?"

"Really' Well, I have had so-"

"-Snapping growl- Shut. Up. Lieutenant! You think it's clever to fuck with the front office staff?"

"Well, yes" wouldn't have done so if I didn't."

"-Tired sigh- Lt. Turner, stop trying to be clever, you're terrible at it. Right' so why, exactly, aren't you on a secure D3 router or better back at the satellite office for this report?"

"I'm on post acting as a body guard for a target of a known malificarum."

"-Puzzled- Beg pardon?"

"Did I stutter" I'm acting as a guard for a target that has already been kidnapped once by said mage prior. There is a high likelihood that another attack may be planned and so to protect the citizens of Rhydin City as is part of my writ of practice and perhaps to get the drop on this psyzard I have taken to home guard duty of this target until further notice."

"-Uncomfortable pause- I would ask if you are trying to screw with me as well but it seems this being true is much more damning and aggravating than it being a joke and thus must be true"-Aggrivated sigh- You know, a single hunter makes for a poor guard compliment. That is a waste of your efforts and resources."

"I beg to disagree sir. Target has several other protective parties interested in nailing this magus aiding in surveillance as well allowing me to continue with duties as necessary."

"Ok, regardless, this sort of thing is generally a job for a dedicated force such as the Watch than some lone wolf hunter."

"True" but I have positive rapport with the target and previous hunt history with the magus. Besides, a smaller force makes for a less conspicuous presence which can be beneficial in such operations."

"-Long pause, tired sigh- You apparently have all your bullshit in order and I'm sure paperwork into the office so there doesn't seem much point in beating on about this."

"-Chuckling- Hey, you're learning! "Puff- Where's Jezzie, by the way?"

"-Mild grumble- Mrs. Trundle is taking some leave of absence."

"Oh' Vacation time, nice! That girl?"

"-Mild, interrupting- Personal leave. She took your sudden failure to report in very hard. Thought another of her "family' had died."

"-Stunned pause- O-oh' really' "Puff, exhale- Sh-she knows I'm alright, yeah?"

"Yes, she knows. I called her personally, and insisted she finish out her requested time away."

"Oh' okay' thanks" -Pause- I gotta send her some flowers or?"

"Turner! "Snapping before a weary sigh- Just, shut up" and be around for your next debrief" or call ahead if you're in deep cover again."

"-Sheepish- Y-yeah' sorry about that. Unexpected and all."

" Obviously. But then that's why there's the dead call switches that you could have" "

"-Puff, aggravated scratching- I know, I know! Circumstances didn't really allow for that though. All in my report."

"Yes" -Mild- Your report' interesting read that' deep cover reconnaissance, high risk for exposure with apparent madsci scanning tech, and a whole lot of dick to show for your efforts."

"-Puff, rustle of shoulders shrugging- Them's the breaks of the game sometime. Anyway, I'm out here mostly by myself" they probably caught wind of my exposed six and bugged out."

"And it certainly had nothing to do with some reported rumors of an altercation around the same time frame involving "Mach and a couple of pink haired women." Women who's descriptions sound an awful lot like the Farron sisters you seem to keep having dealings with....despite repeated warnings. Of note in this 'rumor' is involvement of that warlocks pet demon, the witch, and another unknown element."

"-Sighing- Still relying on your rumor mill Captain" Look, it's as on my report, yeah' None of this heresay BS you keep digging up.....seriously, who are you asking" The gossip rags" The neighborhood chatty Cathys" None of th-"

"Reputable information brokers. Of course they are willing to substantiate their claims with some blood samples found on scene. Apparently that Mach stood around like a retarded lump and got hit with a heavy dose of some exotic magical energy which pushed them into a SA schism and magicka overlord which had that Mach 'bleeding like a stuck pig' from eyes, ears, and mouth. Very similar to the mana purging hemorrhage many hunters are known for."

"-Silence, long pause.- Really. You going to..."

"I am not."

"-Pause- Hey, now, I'm talking, you?wait....really?"

"Lt. Turner, I believe in this past half year I've learned a thing or two about how you tick. All you hunters tick actually....and it seems to me that as you put it on the report is likely how it happened....or at least I don't see anything to contradict such a notion."

"-Stunned- Oh....well....yes! True and true then, um?"

"But Eli, let me make this clear. If there was something that seemed amiss....unpure so to say....I would investigate it to the very limits of my abilities and drag the truth to the light so as it may be acted upon. Do you understand Lieutenant."

"-Pause, simple tone- Yeah' I understand."

"Then let me ask you frankly' there isn't anything I need to worry about on this, is there?"

"No sir. Nothing to worry about' just personal matters."

"Personal" -Snort- Like the other "rumor" I have of a Mach searching mad dash around Rhydin for a pink haired woman of same description as Serah Farron back in April which cumulated in several multiple gun shots fired reports to the Watch' -Tapping on a keyboard-"location Marketplace, around the central bell tower. One of the shots fired sounded like, per eye witness report, "a toilet flushing while being fed into a wood chipper?" which sounds an awful lot like a caster spell."

"-Uncomfortable pause- More rumors."

"-Long silence- Lieutenant' Eli, it seems a lot of bad luck follows your" personal affairs" with this Serah Farron. And as you know, bad luck and hunters do not go well together."

"-Tense- What are you trying to say Captain..."

"That perhaps you should cut ties with this individual before it gets you killed."

"-Coldly- Is that an order?"

"A suggestion' off record, to a dumbass I'm concerned over. I know you'll do what you will regardless" but really, a lot of what I keep getting via the rumor mills is worrisome. An A.S. schism is not a light matter" out there without the support structure and proper arcane medical training it is a miracle you recovered and your S.W.F. didn't just collapse. And need I remind you? if you die not in the pursuit of your service or due to a complication of your service you forfeit all your benefits as a sweet dealer" everything you've worked for down the tubes?"

"-Somber- I know" I know" b-...."Falling silent-

"Just' be careful Eli, alright' Or as careful as you or your lot can be. "Sigh, clear throat, tap of papers- Though that isn't very likely is it"your target for guard duty, it's Serah Farron, isn't it?"

"-Long pause, puff, exhale-Saw the A.P.B. didn't you?"

"Just as you get crime stats to your phone I get them here for pattern analysis. So yeah' and the magus in question?"

"Scionius" was involved in the Star Shimmerscale incidents back in February' I'm guessing at least an S3 classed magus with skills in barrier and destructive energy flow. Kind of a show off."

"-Creak of chair settling back- Hmm' you want me to send you a Rapid Heavy Assault and Suppression Kit' Maybe a support single A hunter for backup?"

"-Thinking- I'll take the R-HAS" and if you can swing it a full entrenchment and escort set' but I don't think I need support. The dynamics of this situation are" complicated" and I don't need another hot head chomping at the bit to tear this mage apart. Too much potential for crossfire with natives."

"A full entrenchment and escort set' For a single target' That seems rather excessive" -Chair creaking- Eli" this personal relationship between you and the Magi Serah Farron' it's not an inappropriate one is it?"

"All my relationships are deemed inappropriate, remember?"

"Yes, let's be glib about this after I just expressly said I'd crack down on anything that might be affecting your purity and potency."

"-Weary sigh- Is it something you don't usually get with hunters" Yes" kinda is" but it's not affecting my purity. She's not influencing me towards some dark agenda, I'm just....trying something different."

""Something different' doesn't exactly bolster confidence that you aren't being influenced to some, perhaps not sinister plot' but to an unhealthy state."

"-Smirk- Funny that " unhealthy state. No, I'm actually trying not to play "the game" with her."

"-Long pause- Is that really wise Eli" I don't know all the specifics of the game you hunters live by but as I understand it is-"

"A necessary evil of what he do' What we are" Yes" but healthy' We're a lot of dopes but I don't think any of us are that stupid to think it's anything close to that. Look" it's not influencing my perception any more than Sid did" and it's not altering my potency' I know what I am and where I'm going. I just' wanna try something different before I get there, yeah"

"-Long pause, squeak of chair shifting- I'd like to believe you Lt. Turner" but you haven't exactly been forthright about any of this. Secrets are not the companions of honest men."

"Only sane ones who actually have friends while dealing with a paranoid organization. Look, what are you getting at Albright?"

"That there are going to be eyes on you because of this. Mine, others" just a fair warning Eli. You've always been a wild card" I just hope for your sake as well as those who care about you that we don't have to call an Aberrant Purification on you, I really do."

"-Somber pause- It's nothing like that Morgan, I can guarantee you that. But"but if anyone gets the bug up their ass to suspect such anyway...to call me out for a purification' let me know, yeah?"

"-Mild- You know, the whole point of a purification hunt is to catch the prey and you know as well as I that surprise is th-"

"No, no, I don't mean tip me off to run. I" I can swallow a bullet as well as the next hunter, yeah' The last line of defense against taint' and if I serve my duty I can mitigate the scrutiny to those I've associated, so?"

"Oh"-Deflated- yes" right. We'll see". but the aim is to not need such an intervention. Just' be careful. Particularly when women are involved, alright' Chivalrous and reckless make for a very bad combination by my witness. "Tired sigh, creaking of chair- Right, anyway. Moving on to lighter topics lets proceed with our debrief proper. Beyond what has been discussed there are a few further points of inquiry."

"-Pause- I-I will" as I can' -Puff, exhale, rustle of readjustment- Alright. What's next on the agenda."

"Valentine Song."

"-Groaning- Are we really going to go over this" Really' After your offices had compromised her cover with their snooping?"

"Yes, because you never mentioned them as an informant until you got yourself thrown in the brig for raising hell about getting them protected status back on 11 April. That sort of thing usually raises eyebrows" you know, literally flipping desks and such."

"-Annoyed sigh- Yes, because as I just said your offices got her cover blown. Now there are folks after her."

"As I understand from your W.I.P.S.R 108-B submitted. A regrettable occurrence but then if you'd been more forthright about details regarding your relation with them then-"

"Don't give me that bullshit, "a hunters associations while on post should be considered as potentially sensitive and treated with utmost care." "

"-Smirking- Quoting Foreign Affairs policies now" Cute. But the policies of the Office of Hunter Purity and Potency supersede the edicts put forth by the O.M.F.A...Anyway, their importance as an informant is based solely on your word."

"How the hell do you figure!" Didn't you get my hunt report for 28 April where Val and I fought a cult and some S3 class summon in the protection of an altered group of hostages?"

"-Taping- Yes" incidental hunt Case: 28A1737-098325A2" a case with absolutely no corroborating evidence, not even a statement from your friend Val."

"What about the supply list used" My medical aftercare" The amount of arcane detox required?"

"Circumstantial at best. You very well could have just had another "personal" engagement th-"

"-Growling- Don't you dare insinuate that I was using such supplies for extracurricular fun. I have never been tagged as inappropriately using the tools granted me to do my job!"

"Calm down Lieutenant. I'm not insinuating anyway"I'm simply stating facts. There is absolutely no concrete evidence that this operation took place other than the cost in resources" that doesn't look good in the books you understand."

"What looks good on the books!" I did the right thing, fuck the books. And as I noted, it happened off world" I traveled through a portal an-"

"Which only means that you may well have been working out of jurisdiction on top of everything" -Sighing- Look, I do not doubt that what you were doing was just' I do not doubt that you helped save a group of potential primitives from a terrible death by' -Taping on keyboard, groan- 'drowning orgy." You are a lot of things but you've always rated high on the personal justice rating scale which contributes to why a number of your past indiscretions have been looked at with a softer touch than otherwise warranted. But at the end of the day you are still a civil servant with your wages and the cost of your tools and resources paid for by the taxpayers of Tanga."

"I-I know" but?"

"But nothing Lt. Turner, that is what you boil down to at the end of the day. You need to understand that. "Sighing- Of course I know you don't care and will do as you think is best just like this time" but I must wonder why you were so stupid about things this time?"

"-Puff, exhale- Didn't have a good visual what I was walking into' so I took a full kit, personal and mil assets."

"So you willingly followed a construct into an unknown situation?"

"-Forceful- Val is not some mere construct. And yes, I did, because innocent lives were at stake. "

"I understand your conviction Lieutenant, but you have to temper it with discretion. -Tired sigh- Aright, I'll see about having a few more near expiration kits sent your way for your" discretionary operations" so long as they do not end in dead tree format back here at central."

"Wait"are you telling me to do this sort of stuff "off the books?""

"I'm telling you to be discreet in your miscellaneous activities that you'll do regardless of my approval or not but can't do squat to prove actually happened other than the warm and fuzy feeling in your chest. You're an A2 hunter Lieutenant, almost none of your operations are clandestine which I'm going to have to class this one as if you don't want a long line of investigators suddenly taking a very keen interest in you."

"-Puff, exhale, grinding of cigarette being ground out- Sounds almost like your aiding and abetting me in what may or may not be some sort of pseudo vigilante pursuits of mine."

"I'm covering my ass Lt. Turner, nothing more. I've not meet a hunter and doubt I ever will who has not used their granted abilities for some sort of agenda. Parlor tricks to pick up woman would certainly have been easier to deal with' but since you are working to do good or at least decent which is in line with what the personality matrix assessment estimates of you I can overlook a little inappropriate use of resources" to a point. "

"So you're covering for me" -Mild pause- Look, I appreciate it, but I've never asked for you to do such. My idiocy, my problem."

"Like I said, covering for us both, Lieutenant. Your actions, your "idiocy' reflects on me as well. But yes, your continued questionable relations are raising a lot of eyebrows" generating a lot of questions I do not have the answers for nor the excuses to cover with. Adding in potentially unscrupulous activities and continuous interactions with tainting elements just adds more and more fuel to what may be, one day, your heretics pyre."

"-Long pause- Sorry, but I'm not?"

"Apologizing, changing, giving up on your "friends??" Yes, I understand that. I'd be an idiot if I thought mere words could do that. I just want you to understand what repercussions may be brewing from your actions" not let such blindside you. Make sure you keep asking the question "is this worth it' knowing full well both sides of the coin."

"-Pause, frank.- It was worth it."

"Alright' fine. I hope it keeps being so or that when it doesn't it comes up as a whimper than a roar. "Sighing as chair creaks, taping in background.- Moving on, let's discuss a new name that's recently crossed my desk: Sarai."

"-Mild moan, sound of shuffling.- What about her?"

"You mean other than the fact that they seem to be a full-fledged infernal of some hierarchy or another that you've been noted to' -Tapping- "Drape upon like velvet while visiting nibbles and kisses upon as raindrops in a storm?" in public" Let's see?"likelihood of sexual relations: ludicrously high and likely very active.?"

"-Snickering- Okay, you had to get that from some chatty Cathy types or another, at least folks who read far to many trashy romances" -Shuffle, pause, crunch- Shit, outta smokes?"

"Have a care Lieutenant. Or did you think that screwing demons was somehow not something someone in the purity offices might take notice of?"

"She's fun, so are fauns. Besides, no agenda there other than seeking mutual comfort' she's not trying to get at our state secrets or any such stuff through my pants, just trying to get at what?s in my pants. Besides, I'm working on cooling my' heels" here recent."

"-Weary groan- What have I said about trying to be clever" "Sighing- Cooling your heels hmm' Right. Fine. Okay'so beside this infernal being a poor choice of bedmate they have been noted in reports for at least two of your hunts in regards to the Sanguine Cult cases."

"-Pause- What' My reports hav-"

"-Bluntly- From other incidental reports. An EMS treatment report of a demoness of matching description to this Sarai from the hunt of two cultist knights" a little chatty mention of a woman of matching description from our interrogation of Tom Hopel. Funny how there is no mention of such a woman in neither of your reports for these two cases."

"-Momentary pause- Oversight, didn't think it important mentioning..."

"Didn't think it important mentioning that a civilian is getting involved in criminal investigations and apprehensions?"

"A demoness. She handled herself."

"Not from the report I got from the EMS. Multiple broken bones and contusions, burns, a scene like a battlefield.....healed quickly but that's not the point. The point is that a civilian is getting involved in military affairs."

"-Mildly- I know....I know."

"Oh' You know" Well, and here I thought it may have been too hard a concept for you Lieutenant."

"Now look who's sucking at being clever...-Sigh, creak of chair- Look, can you blame me for leaving her off the reports with how you all have been dogging my associates" I thought it best to let things lie after Tom, but apparently that didn't pan out as I had hoped."

"-Dry smirk- Suppose I learn my clever from my charges. -Chair adjusts- And how did you hope lying about her involvement might pan out exactly?"

"You saw the bit about Tom knowing me, yeah?"

"-Tapping- Hmm, I recall something along those lines in your report. What about it?"

"There was no way he should have known me....not by my full, proper name. That shows some sort of interest to have gone through the trouble to have learned such....but what?s more bothersome is that he didn't seem to have much interest in who I was other than a hunter but then started spouting off about me suddenly....serendipitously even after talking about his little cult idol."

"-Contemplative pause- Hmm....yes....there was some question into that....nothing that Tom opted to illuminate for us during his interrogations. So what does this have to do with the demoness Sarai?"

"I know you're not an analyst but come on, even you should be able to connect the dots."

"-Grumbling pause, whine of adjusting chair.-"

"-Distant-Hey....TGoW....think you can get me some of these" -Rustle of cigarette pack- Comeon....fetch some for me and I'll give you three slices of piz...h-hey! Where are you going...! Little furry bast-"

"-Creak, thud of chair- You mean those two battlemage knights were actively seeking out this Sarai?"

"-Shuffle of phone back to ear- Hnn..." Ah, yes, that's what I'm thinking. I mean, think about it: two knights traveling together in regalia and with mythrial swords just so happen to corner her in an alleyway with their blood slaves up above for support and containment' That's an awful lot of careful strategy for some random grab and drain."

"Then what about what you proposed in your original report' That such strategy was adopted against a random passerby in case they happened to be someone of hidden potential as oft the case in Rhydin?"

"Yeah, well, they weren't a typical passerby....and the fact they had proper mythrial swords versus just hand held focuses is particularly suspicious. Those fancy swords are only something battlemages use when facing off against a known, powerful threat. Basic BMK 101 for hunters " pop em off while their swords are down. Besides, it just doesn't fit the MO of other cases. They've been rather careful about choosing targets that won't cause a fuss or not long against them, don't see why they should suddenly now."

"So you think they purposely targeted this Sarai because they were identified with you when you caught one of their co-conspirators" How would they know" The scene with Tom Hopel was secured and he refused any contact rights. Besides that what?s the point of targeting known associates of yours?"

"-Uncomfortable pause- I-I don't know. I think there may be some sort of telepathic comm between the cult members so that may be how they knew of her" as to why I've not dug up anything worth salt so far. It's just' I got a feeling, deep, in my gut yeah?"

"Okay, the telepathy thing I can see, it's a known and prolific naturalistic spell on many blood mages repertoires. But come on, "a feeling" is what your giving me as a causal link?"

"Hunters that ignore their gut instinct typically don't lead very long lives" Look, I know it's far-fetched, hence the down low treatment. But if there is more to it than just bad diet than?"

"-Groan- Alright, alright, I get your point. But you know, there's better ways to go about these things, right' Use the system put in place to support you rather than work against it?"

"Yeah, well, protocol dictates that she be brought in and placed into protective custody during the remainder of the investigation. Not only do I not think that would fly foreign affairs wise here but I think Sarai herself would probably reduce the satellite office into a pile of burning rubble if we tried to contain her as such. And I don't want your sniffers and coats on her" saw what that did for Val and if the cult catches wind there's more of our presence about it may make them bolt to ground."

"-Stunned silence- Huh'suppose even you can think things out clearly' now if you can work past that secretive nature of yours..."

"-Singsong- It's only unhealthy paranoia if it proves to be untrue."

"Hmm' is that so. Alright....we'll let you handle this your way for the time being. You are principle hunter out there and those are your grounds" just make sure nothing happens that may bite you in the ass later on. Civies in regards to you are extended to include the scope as is defined by Rhydin ordinance, not merely Tangian, so even infernals are protected under such it would seem."

"-Coyly- Oh believe me, recompense for that was" paid in full" if you catch my drift."

"-Moaning- I truly wish I didn't Lieutenant. "Creaking of chair, tapping- Beside that just be careful otherwise. Infernals may not seem so bad or to have a dark agenda" but they're not chaos aligned creatures for no reason. And they are considered rather high on the taint affinity scale" so if you do continue to interact with them, in any regards, it will reflect poorly upon you and lead to further scrutiny by the purity investigators sniffing around your records."

"-Mocking- Not more scrutiny, whatever will I do!?"

"Sure, laugh it up Lieutenant, apparently you've forgotten how fun an inquest proceeding is."

"-Sighing- No Captain, I've not. But I'm not-"

"Not going to let others dictate who you can or cannot associate with. Yes, yes" speaking of I just need to get some comments on a few more associates" mild inquiries these. Hopefully that will be it."

"Great' -Shuffle- Alright, shoot."

"New face" a Carla" Noted in the inn with you and Sarai" the two of you were drawing upon them."

"We asking about normies now?"

"Is that what she is?"

"Far as I know, haven't dealt too much with them. But I don't sense anything particularly off about them' other than a little youthful naivety and a poor hold of her alcohol."

"Right' okay, how about another" Eris" Noted associating with them a few places."

"Okay, now you folks are just fishing all my contacts" but she is something more" supposedly."

"Oh' And what is that?"

"A goddess of chaos."

"-Long pause, credulous- A goddess of chaos?""

"What she says. Haven't really verified that since, you know, little in the protocol manuals about verifying or dealing with deities except maybe using a demon god forged sword and a massive war of beasts and humanoids" but that's just historical anecdote really."

"-Sighing- Right' I'll just list her as "unknown" in the notes. Okay, on to your continued relations with Jewell Ravenlock."

"Pass, no comment."

"-Aggitated sigh- Alright, fine. How about with the warlock Zynn?"

"Ditto."

"You know, you're not doing yourself any favors not commenting to inquests for more information from other investigators."

"Well, if they have a valid concern to bring up I'll be glad to angrily tell them to fuck off on record when I find out it's not really valid at all. Since it's just an "inquest request' I'm figuring they're just digging for something to validate their negative views since, shock and surprise, nothing terrible has come up from my continued associations with these people."

"Fine, fine, whatever...your headache later on. "Tapping- Alright, something of a more positive note, how's the investigation with Hope Jubal going."

"-Shuffle of a shrug- Just starting" We've both been busy with our respective jobs. Apparently the girls moving on up at a clip" guess the watch needed themselves a hard headed girl scout. Hardings I understand is getting in touch to have a lunch meeting with her Lieutenant' guess she really likes those"and I'm gonna try texting her in a while as part of my long 'shit to get done" list."

"Hmm, alright. Just remember, you're a hunter first' get the job done and get it done right. The politicos can figure out the friendly business after a few apologies and stepped on toes."

"-Mock shock- Why Cpt. Albright, I am amazed to hear such pragmatic words from your mouth! Thought you were the penultimate ink follower."

"-Insipid- The body count is only going up Lt. Turner. Each day this group isn't shut down is another day they have to get stronger, entrench more in the shadows and underbelly of that putrid place. And there are a lot of eyes, a lot of tension from both sides of the rift riding on this" feeling more and more like a powder keg to me. Want to douse this before any sparks start flying."

"-Quietly- Yeah' I feel you. "Clears throat- Hey, Albright. Whatever did happen to Tom Hopel" I got a hold of his interrogation report but after that I've not seen any follow-up judicial notes."

"Oh, yes, you wouldn't. He was being considered a special case under U.T.R.A. Foreign Affairs JAG."

"Was" What happened?"

"-Tapping- Let's see" looks like Watch officials put in a request for us to extradite him back to Rhydin to stand trial for the murder of the six victims killed on Rhydin soil."

"-Shocked- What!" I hope they gave the Watch the finger or three! That bastard murdered eighteen academy students on his escape" he should spend the rest of his life working off his debt to society!"

"-More tapping- He did, so to speak. Tom Hopel was executed on Sansreed 28th, 1737 for twenty four counts of first degree murder, thirty nine counts of first degree aggravated use of magic, and two accounts of aggravated absconding from the law. He was put to death by mana drain and his body was destroyed by incineration. Ninety one point two three percent of his remains post incineration was sent to the Watch offices in Rhydin so as to be in compliance with the extradition request."

"-Long pause- Wait' executed" That's not right. Mages are a resource so unless they are well and truly a bastard they're supposed to be surgically suppressed and forced to atone for their crimes via service. You can't atone for crap when you're dead!"

"That is typically true" or was true. Public opinion and hence military and law enforcement doctrine have been shifting on the value of mages remaining alive to atone for their crimes as of late. Besides" it was felt that Tom may well have been given a lenient sentence in Rhydin and since he is considered a secrecy threat it was decided it would be better if he did not leave Tang again in anything larger than a coffee tin."

"But...what about mage rights" What about the Vers slippery slope conundrum' And he wasn't exactly easy to catch you know" what about the other mages?"

"-Ruffle of papers being straightened- Look, you're overthinking this. Extraordinary circumstances if you remember" besides, some would argue mages and madsci's are just being held accountable in the same vein as everyone else. If you or I were to kill twenty four innocent vics they'd not get past our middle initials before we were twisting in the wind."

"-Apprehensive- I don't know about that, all seems" wrong" to me."

"-Sighing- Yes, I know you've bought into what that one magus Siddell Vers was selling but you gotta remember: you are a mage hunter for the U.R.T.A. military. Your job' or duty is to protect the general populace against esoteric and/or wild science, malificarum, and monsters. "

"Yes, so they may atone for crimes. Be useful to society using the abilities they have. And you're wrong, you and I would be tried and then put to forced labor for the rest of our lives too' capital punishment is not a judicial standard in Tanga. To start doing it because it's convenient to do so against potentials will only lead us back to the good ol" days of the mob witch hunts."

"Yes, yes, the Molderen Charter and Evinstein Proclomations" but that just places an unfair inequality on the" no. No, I am not getting into this" armchair philosophy and politics are for exactly that' armchairs. We have a duty to do Lt. Turner. Yes, it is uncharacteristic for Tom Hopel to have been simply executed as he was" but at the same time it was a necessary evil, a concept you of all people should be very well accustomed to. "

"-Reserved- Yeah, well, maybe there's a little too much evil being classified as "necessary' for my taste nowindays?"

"-Long pause, cool tone- Lieutenant, I would advise you to can that thought Right. Now. Am I understood."

"-Pause, grumbling sigh- Yeah, your understood....sir. Crystal."

"-Moment consideration before a listy sigh- And you wonder why purity crawls around your record like flies on shit. Look, hold your bleeding heart views, bang all the wizards and witches of Tanador Tower, piss on a flag for all I care" just remember what you have to do at the end of the day' do and do it with a smile and your lips buttoned tight. You understand?"

"-Growling- Yeah, yeah?"

"Yeah, yeah??"

"Yeah, yeah, sir."

"-Sighing- I really doubt that but fine. Any more questions or comments?"

"-Shuffling, clomping- No, none."

"Alright. -Finishing up typing, creak of chair shifting- Then I believe that should do it for now....though I'm certain my debrief report will do little to alleviate concerns of those poking and asking questions about you. Just....be careful, yeah' Your skirting dangerously close to finding yourself before a purity inquest."

"-Muted padding- Aren't I always" -Mild chuckle- I know....I'll try to stay frosty as I can....life willing of course."

"-Mild groan- Of course....-Shuffling of papers- Oh, before I let you go there was one last thing. Looks like your leave request has been granted."

"-Pause- Leave request' What leave request?"

"For Amnsreed 24th through 28th' The request was filed a month ago on your behalf by.....Jonathan Turner. Said you had sent him the paperwork to file for you."

"-Thoughtful- Amnsreed 24th through 28th....-Realizing growl- oooh, that son of a bitch!"

"Is there a problem Lt. Turner" As I understand it it corresponds to the white coat ceremony of your sister Brianna, doesn't it?"

"Problem!" Why would you take a request not fi....-Fall to silence, realization- You're a bastard Albright."

"It's a good thing Eli, you should attend. You never know when or if you may get the chance to see your family again....or your homeland. Should take advantage of the excuses when you can."

"Yeah, but....I've-"

"Been trying to live some outside the confines of 'the game' as I recall, yes" Or is that only in regards to bad news mages?"

"-Grumbling sigh- Fine....fine! -Scrubbing sound- Alright....I'll try to make it...see if can swing things here with my schedule and such. Though thought you said to get things done fast though..."

"I also said that things seem like a 'powder keg'....and I think you may need this. My own 'gut' feeling as it were."

"Oh, well, if it's a gut feeling....-Smirk- Alright. Well, if there isn't anything else then..."

"No, their isn't. You are dismissed Lieutenant, good hunting."

"Thank you, sir. Lt. Turner si...h-hey! That's my speedo you little thieving bastard, get back back here you tube rat...!?

-Thudding-

Click

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Text to Mach: You free for that call"

-Rather than a text response Shae's phone would suddenly come to life with an incoming call. It was from Mach-

B~R~R~Ring

- Shae picked up after the third ring. There was the sound of wind and water in the background. As well as something like a hammer.- "Well hello, Eli."

"-Whispered grumble- Come on you son of a....he-....oh! There yo- -Cut out, suddenly the voice is much more clear and a little more drab in flavor without any sort of background noise save perhaps an ever so slight echo- Hello! Wait, Eli" Why Shaeshae, I didn't know we were so close....-Teasingly demure-"

"Cut the nonsense. What is this that's so complicated that you couldn't explain a few days ago via text' Why did you need Serah's wards down?"

"-Mild chuckle- Right to the point. Okay. -Sobering up tone.- You were researching into making Serah a new body as a sort of way to save here if she were to be taken by the visions, the chaos that was destroying her, right?"

"Researching" No. I offered the arcane means to make one to Claire about two weeks ago. Are you telling me she's taken a turn for the worst' Where is Claire?"

"Claire's in Valhalla last I saw. Look, Shae...-Tired sigh, a pause as he considered how best to approach this. Shae always was a sort of blunt sorts- Shae, Serah....that form of her.....died. -That last word was sort of a whisper.- On Wednesday night....I was there. "

"-There came a period of silence. Then, at last, tired anger.- You jackass. If you ever keep something like this from me for this long again I will soak the bits that give you pleasure in life in enough magic to make them fall off. -Pause.- I'm sorry. That must have been difficult. Where is she" Have you preserved her" What do you mean 'that form of her'?"

"Sorry, have sort of been dealing with a lot, yeah' -Almost snappish. A tired sigh escaped him.- Sorry, sorry....it....has been a little rough. -There was a pause at the string of questions- Things were dire, her.....body....was dead, just a shaky anchor for her spirit. I got her to Claire and she did some sort of ritual thing in Valhalla to try and...'rebirth' Serah into a newly minted form. It worked....I think. Will take some time to see....she'll most certainly need you. And she's with me....asleep right now. I'm talking via subvocalized transm....-A pause as he considered who he was taking with.- Technomagic."

"I know what sub-vocalized sounds are. -There was a quiet grunt that said he wasn't quite off the hook, but when she spoke again it was of the more urgent matter.- So she's been revived into a new body' I assume Hope did that with Claire. Fine. But what do you mean she'll need me" Seems like you all have things in hand."

"-Pause- No, just Claire. Their madsci.....erm, Hope wasn't there. Just some blood magic and divine voodoo and sorts. And of course she'll need you, she's strong...very strong but I don't think anyone can just sort of accept that they died, were brought back in a new form, and be hunky dory with it all! Not after all she's been through, all she's done to prepare for....well....-Falls silent before it is broken with a smirk.-Shae, I don't think anyone, ever, should think I have anything in hand. Besides, rebirth and all now may be a good time to get away from the pains in her ass, get a fresh start yeah?"

"Mach...-The way she began and trailed off said the anger was back.- Don't you dare up and disappear on her. She's had too many people do that to her already. You only get to leave if she tells you to leave, are we clear?"

"-Dry smirk- Come now Shae, no one can ever truly promise that, not anywhere outside of fairytales. But....I will stay by her side....as long as I'm able or allowed...-Mild chuckle- Don't think I could leave her alone if I tried....-Fall silent, mild pause- Damn I could use a smoke. But anyway you need to be there. She'll need all the support that can be kicked up yeah' Hopefully I can move her back to her place in a day or so....just letting her build her strength up at Claires....you know where that's at?"

"I'm not a child, Mach. You know damn well what I'm telling you doesn't exist in an idealized reality. -She matched his dryness with an annoyance that masked something else.- I know you care for her. Trust me, I get it. You aren't the only one. I meant what I said before. Don't keep things like this from me. -Long sigh.- No I don't sodding know where Claire lives."

"-Mild- Sorry, sorry, just saying. And I didn't keep this from you, I've been busy dealing with all of this and figured you were owed a proper explanation than just a text yeah' Wheel keeps on turning and such. -A sigh before his tone turned more familiar- Ah, okay. guess she'll have to suffer just my poor company then for a few more days. Sorry, not that I don't trust you with how to get here but this place is sorta like the Fortress of Solitude or the Batcave....remote, hidden, and a safe haven for Claire and hers, not something I'm really keen on just giving out. Plus I don't think her guard company just lets unannounced guests waltz in....guess you could try contacting Claire but like I said last I saw of her she was non-dimension."

"You could have called sooner, Mach. If you can text me, you can call me. For example. Call me when she's back home."

Click

-Mach sort of cringed as the line suddenly cut out from an obviously angry push of button. Damn madsci tech and it's empathy for electronic devices- "Sonofa..mmmm!" -Groaned mildly to himself as he ended that that call on his end.-

BEEP BEEP BEEP

(Adapted from a conversation with the smashing Shae Stormchild!)

B~R~R~Ring

"Hello Hello."

"Good afternoon! May I speak with Elitia Turner?"

"-Groan- Speaking?"

"- Mild chuckling- Well hello then. I'm Maj. Glen Callahan, or Dr. Callahan of the U.T.R.A but you can call me shrink, quack, doc, or whatever you're comfortable with. You should have been expecting my call..."

"Yeah. And can do' Maj. Callahan."

"-Chortling- Oh come now Elitia I've read your records, such formal titles of respect don't really befit someone of your colorful nature."

"-Defensive- For one, it's Lt. Turner and two, I don't really take a shine to head doctors....particularly when they insist on being buddy buddy with me."

"Ahh yes. Well, perfectly understandable given the nature of our relationship. I just hope that I can garner your trust over time so as I can be of the most service to you."

"-Derisive snort- Our relationship. You mean lap dog of purity working me to open up so I'll tell you stuff you can nail me on, yeah?"

"-Mild sigh- Yes, officially I am following up with you to help monitor your purity for the brass but at the same time I am a doctor. Do no harm, help all in need, you know the creed yeah' And look, you say there's nothing corrupting going on so what?s the harm in getting some of your issues worked through?"

"-Smirk- The fact that you assume there are issues to begin with is a pretty jerky view, don't you think?"

"-Blunt- Lt. Turner, you've served four active combat roles with intense, live combat and have experienced great personal loss and injury all the way up to nearly fatal. If you're fine with all that then that just means there's something seriously wrong. Look, I don't expect you to trust me right off the bat but at least give me a chance" Work with me and I'll work with you."

"-Pause with rustling in background. Snap, crackle, pop of cigarette being lit before a drag and a sighing puff- Fiiiinne. We'll try it your way for now....to a point."

"-Cheery- Excellent' I don't think you'll find this nearly as bad as you're envisioning Lt. Turner" "

"I can envision pretty vividly. And it's Mach. Call me Mach."

"" Mach. Yes, your namesake. Not one that's easily guessable of its source. Pleased to meet you Mach."

"-Grunt, puff-"

"-Mild chuckle- Anyway, I received back the result of that Briggs-Meyer's personality test I requested you take. An E.N.F.P. from the looks of things."

"-Exhale- Oh yeah' why exactly did you have me take that before our first call anyway' Doesn't the Roger C.C.A. Personality Scale in my record cover most that stuff?"

"Why' Because it provides fresh new insight into the mind of Mach of course. Helps get past some of the expectation and repetition bias inherent using the same test matrix over and over again. Besides, thought you could use some change."

"Change" -Puff, exhale- It's a test doc, those are pretty shitty universally' multiuniverally really as I figure."

"-Smirk- Yes, well, perhaps. But this one focuses on some aspects that the Rogers C.C.A. or even the comprehensive PACMA doesn't touch upon. Take the Extrovert/Introvert axis for example. Sure there's the Leadership/Subservience and Action/Reaction scales on the C.C.A but it doesn't really go about attitude and motivation in the combinative sense as the Briggs-Meyer. I mean you score in the seventieth percentile for leadership and action both but you're really only in the tenth percentile extrovert which is interesting. You need action and crave social interactions to a point but at the same time you need time alone and find a lot of solace in reflection"."

"-Drab- Fascinating?"

"Oh don't give me that, you're a natural manipulator per the PACMA. Like I said, it provides a unique and fresh view on you, a fresh lens to enhance what we already presume. I'm sure this stuff is actually very interesting to you? if it were about someone else..."

"-Snort- Alright, fine, new lens and such. So what does it say about me" Am I gonna go fruit cake and start using my mojo to make life very short for a lot of folks because of the company I happen to keep?"

"-Creak of chair tipping back- You know it doesn't work that way Mach. It's all about degrees. A former friend of yours I was following had a very healthy relation with his daughter whi-"

"Hold on, hold on! You were tracking Gin" Why the hell were you tracking Gin!?"

"-Clear throat- We were tracking him because of his daughter. He had a very close relationship with her which elevated his risk factor for becoming contaminated."

"And you're tracking me because I got a girlfriend. What' hunters having normal, healthy relationships gets them tagged as aberrant?"

"No' not really....y-"

"-Sniggering- "Not really?" but yeah."

"Mach. Look at it from the vantage of the purity trackers. Is there nothing you think Gin would have done for his daughter" Do you think he'd remember his oath of temperance if she were in trouble" What about you? You've shown plenty of loose cannon tendencies in the past' could you tell me honestly that if" -Rustle of papers- Serah was in trouble, or needed your given abilities for something, anything, that you wouldn't abuse the tools you've been granted" moreso than you would normally?"

"-Agitated exhale- Look, I know I ain't no saint but do you think I would , or Gin would have, really give up government secrets or do a one eighty of personality and start slaying folks in droves just because of l...a relationship?"

"-Frank- Yes, I would. Or at very least having that trust, that openness to another makes you susceptible to dominance s-"

"-Growling- She is not trying to dominate me to some evil ploy!"

"I didn't say that she was! I'm merely laying out why this sort of intervention and monitoring is necessary, particularly regarding hunters in deeper relations than normally seen."

"-Pause, puff of cigarette, exhale- And you don't think it's sort of really fucking sad that having a healthy like relationship is considered a threat...?"

"Mach, I find the whole existence of your branch of the military sad. From the need to subjugate mages for the public's safety to having to ruin the lives of soldiers so as to make them capable of enacting such control and then being fearful that they may well become that which we are using them to control. It's all one screwed up system....which is why I'm here, in the middle of it, trying to do what I can. Because while you may find all this intrusive and bothersome I'm fair sure you know how much worst it could be."

"-Drawn out pause quiet puff of cigarette, exhale. Mild tone- That's a pretty ballsy view to have as dog for purity review."

"Well what can I say' Want to affect change in the system then the best place to do it is in the middle. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of risk involved with hunters and rogue mages and esoteric scientist; I simply believe there is not as much to fear as some would believe. So I try to help those that I can, monitor them, guide them, and if it becomes necessary only then do I make recommendations to purity for action and only when all other options are exhausted. Certainly more a chance then many would give those like you."

"-Another quiet puff, an exhale before the sound of a cigarette being ground out.- Alright, fine, say I believe you're earnest in this and not just gaming me. Then what? What do you want."

"Just the chance to help you. Ben.....Gin opened up and we discussed many things on balance. Balance of who he was, of his relationship with Gina, and the road he traveled. And it was doing well for him, he heeded some of what we came up with to very positive affect."

"Until he took a railgun bolt to the chest..."

"Yes an unfortunate circumstance. From what I....-Pause- Wait, are you..."

"No....-Sighing- I'm not blaming you for his crap luck. Sorry if it seemed that way."

"-Challenging- Okay, but you may be blaming me for not getting him to quit being a hunter....to live his life with his family rather than continuing to go out until he met his end."

"-Mild smirk- Nah....I know....knew Gin. Always a bit more things then just what seems. He wouldn't have quite if he wanted to. Simple and complex as that."

"-Mild pause, creak of chair shifting- Is that so....-Adjustment of papers- You know, he did speak of you a lot. Seemed you two were rather close.

"Yeah' Huh. Suppose we sorta were like bothers in a shit sort of situation.

"Not surprising among hunters, to find at least one other whom to 'go to hell' with as it were. How are you dealing with his death?"

"-Mild rustle of a shrug- Just fine, friends die. Part of life that."

"Mach, you know what I mean."

"Do I" Suppose even if I did it's not something I want to discuss right now yeah?"

"Talking about what bothers you is important."

"Yeah, well, so is not letting it control your life. Look, I'm fine enough, and if I wasn't I'll tell you. But I don't really have any interest in dwelling on this right now, yeah' So why not drop it..."

"Alright, alright, I understand. It's a touchy subject. You can talk about it when or if ever you want, but I will ask that you keep thinking about it. Putting it out of sight out of mind is a terrible coping mechanism over properly grieving."

"-Snort- Now you're sounding like a proper shrink..."

"Don't get to have people call me doc just for giggles. -Light smirk- So then, new subject: Serah Farron."

"-Creak of chair- Serah....what about her?"

"Enjoying yourself?"

"Quite."

"Any difficulties?"

"To be expected when you get two folks together usually, from what I gather."

"How about in conjunction with all the interesting reports swirling around that purities been gathering like a little collage" Of you badgering her and her being quite cross with you? A rather hot and cold seeming vacillating sort of public relation' An alteration of her physical appearance as of recent beyond what seems just cosmetic....magical almost?"

"Hey, I'll admit, there have been some interesting times, and neither of us are guiltless in them, particularly not me and my schmoozy ways. You know how it is..."

"Humor me. What are these ways that your guilty?"

"-Incredulous- You really haven't heard about 'the game?"

"-Pause, chuckle- I have, simply confirming that is what you meant. 'Schmoozy', going to have to write that down for a new way to describe that. Anyway, 'the game' is a pretty well documented defense mechanism amongst hunters. So you've been difficult by your given nature, what about Serah?"

"She....has been through a lot too. Both of us are a little colored by our experiences and circumstances."

"Has been....so she is over such now?"

"-Uncomfortable shift- Ish....life in progress..."

"With you at her side, trying to help her through such."

"-Mild pause- It's nothing...hnn, not like that. Like how you might think which includes bad stuff and me killing folks for her or what not, you hear. Just....being there for her."

"Think you could elaborate on that?"

"-Long pause- Do I have to?"

"-Moments consideration- No. Not yet anyway. Whenever you are ready....just, remember to stay true to yourself and your principles. She is not everything."

"-Annoyed- I know, I know! It's not subversive....just....someone you care for that needs some support. To be at that someones side, in their corner. I know well what my limits in such are....what hers may be for me. Known expectations, easier to manage yeah?"

"This must be the 'like' in your 'healthy like relationships.'"

"-Rustle of a shrug- What can I say, hunters are generally a crappy sort of lot and it takes a lot to change them back to a decent one and even then. -Pop sound made with lips- It's all over far to brief to matter."

"Kind of jaded don't you think?"

"Four active combat roles with a heaping of personal loss. I think I'm afforded a little jaded."

"Yes. But you shouldn't give up to a nihilistic view. Particularly if you're trying to build a relationship with another. Heck, even just developing bonds, friendships, companionships, confidants....it's still important to go about such with a faith in your life and your future."

"-Drab- Hmm..."

"-Sighing- I feel you and I are going to have a lot to discuss in future sessions. For now I think I'll let you go. Don't want to tax things too much."

"Things....like my care for listening to head doc nonesense?"

"Yeah, among others things. -Chuckle- Though before I go I wanted to show some of my sincerity. You work with me I'll work with you....and I've seen you've been fighting to get a bump in your regenerative mixture allowance pending a psych review. Well, consider yourself reviewed."

"Wait, you're bribing me with stuff that keeps me alive?"

"I'm trying to show you that there are more benefits to working with me on some of your problems than simply a lovely little chat with someone you don't really like every so often. Think you have quite enough of those with those calls to your handler."

"-Gaff- Is that so' Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment."

"We already know that given your life choices which have brought you here."

"HA! You're a right cheeky bastard aren't you. Alright....thanks. Suppose you can't be all bad. Maybe it can be useful to talk with you....sometimes."

"That's all I ask for is a chance to keep you out from anybodies crosshairs."

"-Snort- Too late for that sentiment but thanks. Alirhgt, soooo..."

"You'll have your clearance for a bump by next week. As for today I want you to think of what we spoke on especially for next time when I'm in contact."

"There's a next time" Aww man. -Pouty-"

"Mach..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I'll....I'll think on things I suppose."

"Thank you. Now if there is nothing else."

"Hey, Doc Callahan."

"Yes?"

"Was....was Gin happy' With everything that was?"

"-Mild pause- You know, I'm not really at liberty to say given confidentiality even among the dead. But....yes, he was. Moreso for his abnormal relations for a hunter."

"-Contemplative- Hmm....is that so. -Slight shuffle of head shaking- Alright, thanks.....for everything yeah' Talking and shit and keeping the goonies at bay for the time."

"Just doing my part. You enjoy yourself Mach and we'll talk later."

"Yeah, yeah, you too."

Click

BEEP BEEP BEEP

B~R~R~Ring

"U.T.R.A. Staffing and Assignments office, Jezebel speaking, how may I direct your call?"

"Hey, Lt. Turner number: 098325HL121780 returning a field report call to Cpt. Albright with M.C.P.A. "

"Mach!" -Demure excitement- I-It's been a while since we've last spoken."

"Yeah....-Smiling- yeah it has. How've you been beautiful?"

"Oh I....-Pause- ...wait, should you be flirting like that?"

"-Puff of cigarette- Huh?"

"Since you have a girlfriend! Jeez.....and congratulations by the way!"

"-Dumbfounded pause- Wai-...what? How would you know I-"

"From your brother Jon! You know he's dating a girl down in administration right' Well he visits the admin co-op occasionally and he and I have spoken a little. Nice young man. Anyway, he told me you had a cute picture with her and everything!"

"-Puff, sighing- 'Nice young man' is it' Asshole. Don't get taken in by his words there Jezzie, guys a worse little snake than I am."

"Eli! He's your brother....wait, so you don't have a girlfriend?"

"-Pause, sound of hair scrubbing, agitated groan- Well, I dooo have one bu-"

"Then that's great! You better take care of her and treat her right! Be less....you and more....you I know you can be!"

"-Silent moment- What?"

"Don't 'what? me! You know what I mean....like when you were with....you know....and not with the Colonel."

"Ellena....-Wistful, lazy puff and exhale- The Colonel huh...-Mild chuckle- Sounds like she's moving up in the world some more."

"Mach, that relationship wasn't good for either of you. I hope you don't or haven't gotten into another one of those. I mean, Ivera is a nice enough but-"

"Jezzie, Jezzie, hey, come on....don't say anything bad about her yeah' You know me, I wouldn't be able to just stand by for that sort of thing....our relationship was what it was. There were good times, there were bad...."

"You got arrested for insubordination and sentenced to solitary for a month."

"....Okay. Granted some bad times with some are worse than others. But we were what we needed at the time."

"-Unconvinced- Hmm....well, then I'll just stay quiet on the subject because I don't like what was happening to you when you were with her. This Serah that you're with now....she sounds much more your pace."

"-Mild grunt, puff of cigarette- 'My pace' eh....hmm. We'll see I guess. That's the hope at least but life ain't hardly ever peaches and cream for folks like me you know."

"And that's what I'm talking about! -Sigh, clear throat- Anyway, I'll transfer you in at once"

"Thanks Jezzie."

"Oh, and Mach?"

"Yeah?"

"It....it really is good to hear from you. We'll need to catch up next time you're Tang side, maybe you can bring along the saint that's gotten involved with you! -Soft giggle before the sound of tapping-"

"-Soft snort- Yeah, yeah....you too Jezzie. Hope you didn't tell Rob about me....want him to think the pressures still on to wow you. Don't want him getting lazy over a fine lady like you!"

"-Giggle- Flatterer!"

BEEP BEEP BEEP

"Lt. Turner."

"Hey Morgan, hows tricks?"

"-Sighing- Better until this call, but suppose I couldn't have hoped for too much just because things seem to have calmed down some there."

"-Smirk, puff- You call this 'calmed down'" Twenty plus arrests in two months all connected to this cult business?"

"I was more talking about your lack of making the purity investigators overly nervous. You are still acquainting yourself with those dangerous elements....but no one new has hit the radar and seems not too much has really cropped up to be concerned over."

"-Exhale- Shock and surprise, exactly what I've been saying."

"Oh don't get cocky Lt. Turner, the part that you're complaining about is the primary reason why they're not so nervous about those you're consorting with at the moment. Your dedication is showing your worth....and the no small amount of foreign affairs spinning going on to keep the government types there calm helps as well. If it weren't for all this..."

"Yeah, yeah, then I should just grow myself a magical mustache to twirl, right?"

"Cute. Real cute Eli. This isn't a joke you know."

"Oh Morgan, it really is. Just not a very funny one."

"Lieutenant."

"Oh, I mean 'har, har' sir."

"-Grumbling sigh- Fine, keep shooting yourself in the foot, see how long you can keep dancing like that. And when your ass hits the ground I hope you keep that fine humor cause there won't be anyone around to help you back up."

"-Sigh- Right....sorry. Just, come on man, how many times am I going to get hit with the same threats until they stop?"

"About as long as it takes for them to become a reality....one way or another. -Sighing, tapping of folder- Anyway Lieutenant, I didn't request this call so as to scold you over your poor choices. I'm calling about this 'Sanguine Hunt' case that has been taking up the lions share of your time."

"The Sanguine Hunt....yeah, real nasty business that."

"So we've seen with the sort of rabble you've been sending back. Brass is keenly interested to know just what is being done to resolve this case that's been dragging on for half a year now."

"-Mild snort- Leg work, yeah?"

"Leg work" This is a cult, Mach, not some criminal league. Half a year with a growing number of victims and no solid evidence is making the U.T.R.A look incompetent....and this is in compare to the local Watch there."

"-Puff- I beg to differ. It is a cult, sure, but it's working like a criminal league. This isn't some orgy, murder group of mental degenerates lead by a cult of personality. These are dangerous folks, organizing and working to keep one step ahead of those who would shut them down. "

"Yes, I've read some of your speculation....that there is some underlying purpose to this group beside simple worship to their dead god. But still, for things to drag on this long..."

"Is aggravating, but understandable. When I got contacted about this case by Maj. Bessick back in April I was quoted fourteen mages to contend with....and I've captured thirty seven to date. That's nearly three times the number of mages than was originally suspected of coming over. Hell, that doesn't include the Rhy'Din recruited! It's not incompetence if the original goals and assumptions prove to be wrong. Like thinking you're fighting a snake but come to find that you originally just had the tip of a wyrm's tail."

"Some would say that you let the situation escalate."

"Some would be fucking idiots playing armchair strategist from the comforts of their cozy little offices a dimension and a half away. Look, I've been trying to get a bead on these guys but you have the reports, you know what I've been contending with."

"-Weary sigh, creak of chair leaning back- I know. But at the same time it is my duty to try and push results from you."

"Thought it was you're duty to make sure I don't go slap dash mad and start cooking folks for fun and profit?"

"It's a multilateral mission with you. -Flap of folders opening- So why do you think this is more than just a cult?"

"Other than the extreme measures they've taken to keep themselves and their business private and out of my sights" I dunno....just a feeling I get. Pattern's yeah' And the fact that you have this many mages flocking to a cause just seems sort of....counter-intuitive....at least to this sort of cause. You expect to see goonies, sure, but respectable battlemage knights" Academicians" Nah....maybe a few at the top but not this many."

"So you think there's some sort of plot attracting all this 'talent', some reason beyond the worship of their dead god?"

"That's what I don't know. I mean, I get the feeling that the two are connected....that the worship is important but it's for some greater scheme that I just can't see. Can't see it, can't track it, don't know what to look for....because 'a cult in Rhy'Din' sure isn't narrowing a lot down."

"Daft fucking place....-Creak of chair adjusting upright- So you have a lot of talent, a plot within a cult, and an ever growing number of vics.....what?s the plan to reign this in Lieutenant?"

"-Puff, exhale, ground out of cigarette- Well, like I said....work in progress. I'm following up on some new leads that maybe'll get me some new perspective on this....shake loose something I can use."

"'Shake loose'....is that what all that hardware you ordered is about' Hi-quality caster carbine cartridges, crafted contact sigils and cantrips, a light hunters coat....looks like a piecemeal assault package to me."

"...Vigorous shaking."

"-Weary groan- Eli....this isn't-"

"It's a solid lead, I'm not going to be kicking down the door on some senior citizens bingo hall if that's what you're worried about."

"And the source of this tip?"

"-Pause- Albright....do you really want to know that?"

"-Moments consideration- No. No I probably don't. But I imagine it is why you're requesting a refill of your slush fund."

"Quality information isn't cheap....and sometimes you just gotta grease palms to get the gears going."

"Hmm. So what about personal to use this excess equipment you're ordering?"

"-Slightly hesitant- I'm....improvising."

"Mach..."

"Look, the footwork got caught sniffing about and paid for this information. If I sit on this for the six or so months for a temporary excursion force to be granted without any solid evidence the target could grow paranoid and just bug out leaving me at square one. So I'm trying to enlist some local help on the quick for this raid."

"You know, you're taking responsibility for anyone else you involve in this case, right?"

"I know, I know....why I'm working on convincing someone who's familiar with this cult and all it's nasty....and is rather resilient."

"Right....-Tired sigh, creak of chair- Look, Lieutenant, just....be careful, alright' Sometimes when you poke the beehive it can become dislodged and land on your head if you aren't."

"Why Captain, I'd almost think you're concerned for me."

"Of course I am. I don't want another hunter turned into a crater like Danub. Myself and many others care about your health; likely more than you would figure."

"Oh?"

"Don't 'oh"' me. Your family, friends, fellow hunters. Even this inquest was prompted by Col. Trang who was following up on some of the disturbing reports that worked their way up to her desk."

"Ivera Trang....heh, now there's a name I was sort of hoping to avoid having invoked in regards to me ever again."

"Wh- -Pause- Oh....well, come on, that was some time ago. From what I can tell the Colonel never stopped worrying about you either....though to be honest you make that very easy for folks to do given you're reckless nature."

"Really' Worried" Damn, hate to see if she actually starts to dislike me! -Smirk- Anyway, trust me Morgan, she's all free for you."

"All free for..." -Mild pause, growl- Grow up Eli, not everything between two people is always about sex."

"-Pause before a hearty chuckle- I never said....wow, you really jumped the shark there Morgan!"

"-Silence, embarrassed snort- Shut up Lieutenant. Dealing with you and your lot it's usually a good assumption that's what you're getting at."

"-Trying to calm his cackling- Right, right, I think....I think you protest too much!"

"Lieutenant..."

"S-Sorry....-Clears throat finishing with laughter- Just screwing around with you yeah' I know you're married."

"-Long pause, tired sigh- Right, hunter, looked into me didn't you."

"-Mild- You've told me....I've met her. You know, I'm sure Genie would be pretty pissed if she learned that you forget who all you're talking about her to!"

"Wh-I-It's not like that! Quit twisting things around Lieutenant just because there's a sore subject for you. You're the one that dated a superior officer, and you got what was coming to you for it."

"-Wry smirk-Yeah, sure. Maybe."

"-Sigh, flap and tap of folders- Anyway....so something is at very least being done about these blood mages" Some resolution is on the horizon?"

"Yeah, I'm working on it. Hope this raid will go well and I'll get enough info to try bringing down the organization. Actually, in regards to that you think you could start and expedite some paperwork for a support request for me?"

"Support request' You think you'll need more hunters to take down this cult?"

"Honestly' Yeah....don't know how deep this rabbit hole goes, but I just got a bad feeling. Don't think this'll be a one man show."

"-Tapping of pen on folder, pause, scratching- Alright, I can do that. But you know Eli, I'll need evidence bef-"

"I know! You worry about the administrative end and I'll worry about evidence. Will get that sent over to you as soon as I think I'll need a team."

"Freshly procured from your raid is it' -Tired sigh- Alright, can do."

"Thanks."

"-Mild snort- Still, to have you spooked. -Pause in consideration- Does this have something to do with your relationship with Serah Farron' "

"Wait, what!" -Shocked- No....no....just simple math, yeah' I mean, sure, I am a little more concerned about my continued well being but come on."

"-Mild chuckle- Well, good to see Dr. Callahan's assessment is pretty accurate."

"What' What the hell are you talking about?"

"Nothing, nothing. Just....hold on to that. Having some place, some one to return to is much more important than you probably realize to hunters like you. Good to see you might have found such."

"-Grinning- What, you suddenly approve of my relation with a mage" Should I be recording this as a once in a lifetime experience?"

"-Snort- Laugh it up if you will but you've seen first hand evidence of such."

"-Long pause, an aggitated smirk- Sure, worked out swimmingly for Gin. How's the grass on his plot nowadays?"

"Fresher than it had any right to be."

"-Soft sound of teeth grinding- Yeah, yeah....so, anything more to discuss with me?"

"Hmmm -Creak of chair sitting forward- No, the Sanguine Hunt case really was the main point of this. Just wanted to touch base, see where we stood so as to pass such on to the brass. Alleviate some concerns that are overriding other concerns regarding you at the moment."

"Well, consider yourself informed then. Though maybe I should dick and dally more on this if it'll keep negative attention off the things that shouldn't have it."

"I wouldn't suggest that Lt. Turner. Rhy'Din may be considered a crap posting but they'll still pull you if you end up being incompetent in maintaining our presence."

"-Coldly- Is that a threat?"

"Incentivizaiton. Just letting you know what could be on the line."

"-Pause, derisive snort- Right. Fine. Well, if there's nothing else I got some stuff to see to."

"That should do it, you're dismissed Lieutenant. Good hunting."

"Yeah, yeah...sir."

Click

"-Sighing- So there you go Colonel. Need anything else?"

"No, no, that's good. Thank you Cpt. Albright. Don't worry about the support request, I'll work on getting that moving."

"Alright. -Slight pause- Col. Trang, if I may ask-"

"You already have your answer Morgan. Told Eli it yourself."

"You don't think you should be the one talking with Lt. Turner about this" Maybe compare notes, let him or even me know what analysis has come up with?"

"I don't see a need to. Mach's got good instincts and they're serving him well. He has a good handle on the situation, and in the long run him getting this done himself will only benefit whatever agenda he has."

"Or it could get him killed. Information is blood on the battlefield ma'am."

"-Soft chuckle- That's rich coming from a noncombatant like yourself. But I trust in Eli, he'll do what needs to get done. The man's driven and has a goal after all. Anyway, thank you again for letting me listen in on this call, we'll be in touch Captain."

"Ma'am.

Click

BEEP BEEP BEEP

B~R~R~Ring

"Tech-e-Whiz Technology Repair Services is currently closed right now, leave a message an-"

"Regi, cut the shit and come get drunk with me."

"-Pause-...How did you know that wasn't a recording?"

"Cause you never sleep."

"-Thoughtful pause- But I do sleep."

"Hardly....and when you do you're jacked in so that doesn't count. Seriously....you build robots and you can't grasp the concept of an answering machine?"

"I wouldn't want to waste their time."

"-Eye rolling tone- Riiight....anyway, get your ass in gear. I'mma be there in-"

"Why are you coming here again?"

"Cause we're going to get drunk. Come on Reg, you're the smart one here..."

"Intelligence doesn't make me clairvoyant Meg....why not start from the top?"

"-Aggravated sigh- Look man, I just need someone to make sure I don't do something lethally stupid while I'm drunk, yeah' Chaperone with benefits..."

"-Mild- Don't you have friends to do this with?"

"Nah man, I ain't looking for a good time. I'm looking to get shit faced."

"....Again, don't you have friends for that?"

"-Tired sigh- This isn't a social sort of affair. I....I don't want friends to be concerned over me or anyone to care really. I just....want someone to make sure I don't do anything overly stupid. An objective observer of my drunk escapades."

"-Fiddling and clacking in the background- Good to see where I rank in the greater schema of things with you."

"-Puff of cigarette, pause- W-Wait....I don't mean-"

"-Brightly- It is actually pretty commendable your grasp of our respective societal roles and such placement on the totem of social responsibilities to each other."

"-Dim- And that is why I called you....well, assuming whatever the hell you just said means that you are an objective observer."

"Quite."

"Perfect. Then I'll be by in a bit. What do you like to pre-drunk yourself with?"

"Uncertain. I don't exactly think 'pre-drunk'ing is something people typically do."

"It's not' Shame....guess I'll mark you down for rum too..."

"So exactly why are we going out of our way to poison your body and mind?"

"-Long pause marked by the crackles of several puffs being taken from that cigarette- Serah and me broke up..."

"Serah....-Thinking- The woman you commissioned me to make a jetpack for, yes?"

"-Tired- Y-Yeah....her."

"-Frank- Was she displeased with the lack of rocket armaments?"

"W-What' No....no! Nothing like that!"

"Oh....I see. Then what other reason would she have to be displeased with your cohabitation agreement and mutually exclusive mating rights?"

"Wel-wait....what? -Woosh of wind waving by- No, no, never-mind, d-don't explain, not important. -Thoughtful pause- Or....or, well, maybe you could say that was important."

"-Displeased pause- You're losing me Mitch."

"-Crackle of cigarette, tired sigh- She....she couldn't deal with what I am..."

"A human?"

"N-No, not that! I me-"

"A carbon based biped?"

"T-That's the same thing! No! I-"

"An individual of marked favorable physicality but with a-"

"A Hunter Reg, the answer is a Hunter!"

"Ohhh~....yes, quite understandable that."

"-Mild- Thanks for the vote of confidence there 'buddy'."

"That wasn't one. Between 'the game' you hunters play to keep people at bay to the reasons why such could even be considered a good idea it is almost surprising to me that she agreed to your advances to begin with."

"-Tired sigh- Yeah....I-I know. But it just....just....felt good....felt right. -Lazy puff of cigarette- I guess...we were just fooling ourselves."

"I always hypothesized that was a requirement for human monogamy....So what went wrong?"

"-Grumbling- Reg, I called you for someone to make sure I don't do anything too stupid on my bender. Not to talk this out. That....-Sigh- I just don't want to think about it right now..."

"Yes, I understand why you called. And I'm trying to gauge how much chance for recovery there is of this relationship so as I can adequately judge how much 'begging the question' you may do while inebriated or if you will just be inconsolably dreary and depressed."

"-Mild, depreciating smirk- The second option....unless I get struck by not only one but two miracles and I've seen enough hands to know that double royal flushes have never been in my cards."

"Two' -Soft tapping- Ah. Ah! Yes....hard to make a future with someone who has none and is unable to propagate one in turn."

"Mmm....yeah, that's about the crux of it. A lot of other stuff too but....but it all comes down to that. Just don't have the time."

"Well, my apologies on this turn of events....that is something 'friends' are supposed to say to each other in this situation, yes?"

"-Airy smirk- Yeah Reg, good for you."

"And I'm not even on my medication. -Obviously smiling- So, the plan then. Drink, get you drunk, and then shackle her jetpack to a remote system so you can hijack her flight and terrorize her?"

"-Stunned- Yeah, drunk an...wait, what!" -Panicked- No! Nonononononono! Bad thoughts Reg, bad thoughts! Jeez...come on man, that isn't....I mean....why would you even consider that!?"

"Is it not also customary for the 'bros' to hate against the 'hoes' and do things to make them regret emotionally taxing the 'bros'?"

"-Stupified silence- N-....that is. Okay, first off, never say 'bros' and hoes' again....never. Second, we agreed to....to still be friends, and you do not dash friends into the ground! And lastly....lastly....-Click and grind of teeth as falls silent-"

"You....you still love her."

"-Awkward silence interrupted by the crackle of cigarette before there is the thump and grind of it being put out- Yeah."

"-Soft sigh- I think I'll need to bring something to knock you out and bind you then....just in case."

"-Soft snort- Yeah....maybe best. -Soft sigh- I just....it hurts. Hurts knowing that I screwed everything....and caused her so much pain just by being who I am That....that's torture."

"It certainly is."

"-Scoff- Another theory?"

"I'm a madsci Mel. Spark touched. I can't just turn off who I am when it's inconvenient you know."

"-Slight pause followed by a groan- Ah damnit....sorry man, I didn't mean-"

"It's quite alright. But just to let you know I may try to run experiments on you now when you pass out."

"-Nervous chuckle- R-right. -Sigh- Hey, so how....how do you deal with it' I mean....you've had relationships before, right?"

"-Mild chuckle- I have. And they don't. Work that is. But luckily I generally don't care thanks to the ingrained madsci apathy I have. If someone can' t deal with who I am then they they don't deserve me."

"O-Oh. I see..."

"Well, that or try to fix me. That was a fun relationship!"

"-Mild pause- I....I'm not sure if I really want to hear about that or not..."

"Given our past interactions" Eighty four percent chance you really don't. But I will say, I do miss her. And we occasionally meet up in the information ether."

"-Pondering before a revelation- She's not in Rhy'Din is she."

"Didn't make it unfortunately. But from what I understand she's happy now. She hates the medication but it keeps her connected to her family so she grins and bears it. Unlike me. Screw the medication."

"Heh....let go of that which you love so as they can find happiness huh?"

"What' No. No, the squad of hunters on our tale stunned her during our escape. I calculated our chances of getting away at that point to be less than two percent so I continued on without her."

"-Drab- Ah.....yes....suppose I did say I didn't really want to talk relationships so that's why I called you. Reason obvious."

"-Chuckling- I am who I am. And you are who you are. We all live with that. So anyway, why exactly do you need a chaperone for your drinking?"

"-Depreciating smirk- Because I hate myself right now. And last time I was feeling even remotely like this I almost picked a fight with a baker that I swear would have killed me."

"Ah. Hmm....maybe a gag too then."

"-Snort- I want you to make sure I don't do anything terrible, not serve me up to what kinky ass fates would want me!"

"Just being cautious Melon. Just being cautious."

"Right....anyway, we good?"

"Yeah...sure. I don't mind. You are buying, right?"

"Until I'm a heap on the floor."

"Then grab some cash in case I have to steal your wallet to pay after you pass out."

"-Grumbling- Right, right. Oh hey, and Reg?"

"Yes" -Shuffling as moving to get ready-"

"Thanks."

Click

"-Pause- You're welcome Mach."

BEEP BEEP BEEP

T~T~T~Ting

T~T~T~Ting

T~T~T~Ting

"Yo, this is Mach, sorry I missed you but if you'll leave your name and n-"

"Ah, that humor of yours serves you well as always Mr. Turner, to think you could pull a fast one over me."

"-Long pause, sigh- What do you want Delorno."

"-Tsking- Such hostility, and I would think we'd have gotten over such by now in our relationship."

"Nope, sorry, I'm petty like that."

"-Drab chuckle- Well no matter. I have another request to make of our illustrious hunter."

"You mean order."

"Oh come now, orders are for the military which holds your leash Mr. Turner. In our organization we are simply like minded individuals working towards the same goals. Equals as it were. And as equals-"

"Yeah, yeah, equals make requests, governments give orders; whatever turn of phrase floats your boat but you and I both know where things stand."

"Hmm....well, whatever. I suppose even you need some way to skirt your conscious of the perceived 'wrong' your doing."

"Hey, I don't-"

"Moving on...there is an individual, Corwin Davos, which we have reason to believe is making their way to Rhy'Din. They are taking means....not ours, to get here and we suspect they've already garnered the attention of the U.T.R.A. so you should be receiving their dossier in the not too distant future."

"Right. And?"

"We would like you to collect this individual and deliver them to one of our offices, you'll receive details once you've checked in after acquiring them, of course."

"So you want me to snatch them and dump them off with you, what do I tell the government folks that hold my leash happened to them?"

"Why you'll tell them that you eliminated the target, of course. We'll provide you with an explosion for cover, don't worry."

"And am I really doing that...?"

"Hmm?"

"Eliminating them. Is that what I'm doing?"

"-Pause- Mmm, do you really want to know what is to become of Mr. Davos?"

"I'd like to know if I'm going to have to worry about them coming after me in the future or blowing my lie because they've popped back up after I've said they were toast."

"-Soft chuckle- Oh you do like to worry. Be at peace, Mr. Davos will not prove any future problems for you, that I can garauntee."

"-Dimly- Lovely."

"You know it's that bad habit of overthinking things which robs you of so much peace."

"I'd rather have a lack of peace than a lack of acknowledgment of what I'm doing."

"What you're doing" Why it's your job of course, or do you only turn a blind eye to what you do and have done when it's done for an 'order'?"

"-Disapproving grunt- Yeah, yeah. Corwin Davos, snatch and call, deliver to random ass location, got it. Anything else?"

"No, not really, unless you were wishing some other payment for this side job then the services we already provide at cost."

"No."

"Then that is all. Good day and, how do you people say it....'good hunting', yes?"

Click