Animus - Waterwalking

[Warning: This Story contains strong language, usage of drugs (e.g. Alcohol, Nicotine), scenes of combat and mild violence. Characters and places have no relation to real world events or people.]

Maybe interfering with Business of law enforcement wasn't the snartest idea. For many it often means "Don't get involved" or "Mind your own business". Understandably so, ever since the cursed ones showed what they were capable of. It's not that they desired to harm anyone. But oftentimes people look past the intention and only focus on the act at hand. A terrible thing really, and yet it somehow heals the wounds of long gone days. Sometimes. Sometimes. What was it really, that made the Dark Flame incident so tremendous? What made the Sunblight day so hard to be stopped? Questions many people can hardly answer, if they want to answer them at all.

The door of the interrogation room opened. A man, about the size of Kaelen herself, entered the room. His nameplate spoke "Ahab". Odd, just five minutes ago he was still adressed as "Carl" by his colleagues. Maybe a nickname, to cover up mistakes? Or an artistic choice? Whatever it may be, it seemed to hold ground. Behind him followed another, a taller man, wider shoulders, too. His coat was longer, often a sign of authority, or so the woman thought. His nameplate spoke differently. Herrmann. Odd name. Sounded grumpy, almost vulgar. The bearded, more polite looking one, sat down infront of her. A file in his head, a reassuring smile on his face.

"Alright."

He spoke.

"You might be in a fine haze just about now, but take it slow. Take a breather. You're not in trouble."

This didn't seem to ease the woman at all. Her eye was pinned to the file. Her posture stiff, her fingers gripping to her coat as if it was to fly away at any moment. Her brows weak, bags forming under the visible eye. 

"Are you hurt?"

The man, who the nametag called Ahab, asked. He was seemingly referring to the bandage covering Kaelens other eye. She didn't respond, but shaking her head seemed to do the trick already. Ahab opened the file.

"Well, we don't want to keep you for longer than necessary. So, let's try to get through this smoothly and swiftly, alright?"

Still no response, but she seemed to agree. Nodding in response, her eyes still pinned to the collection of papers before her interrogator.

"So, you said your name was Kaelen, quite the unique name, isn't it?"

His voice didn't hold any unlikeable tone, almost as if he was genuinely interested in her identity. Tho, it was probably just an act to get this questionary over with as soon as possible. 

"Ahab. Not a common name, either."

"Oh, so you've noticed?  Well, my colleagues often referred to me as an intoxicating motivator, hah!"

"Do you like Moby Dick?"

Her question was not all too ordinary to him, it seemed. But despite its topical disconnect, Ahab didn't seem to take it unkindly.

"My father adored it, I myself never had gotten around reading it."

"You should, it's interesting."

This was nice. Really it was. A casual chatter made her feel less opposed, like she would actually get out of here without any form of trouble. However, the other interrogator, the one by the name of Herrmann, didn't seem to be as amused about this little chit chat.

"Instead of talking about old and forgotten literature, we should focus on the task at hand. Your identity."

She didn't like his gruff voice, neither did Ahab. But judging by his expression, it was common for this Herrmann-guy to be the less emotional type. 

"Right, right sorry. You're right. So, Kaelen. We tried to find some intel about your identity, but the file seems to be quite outdated. So we would like to take this opportunity to not only find out about the incident tonight, but to properly update our database. I hope you won't mind"

Kaelen didn't feel like revealing her personal information. Not after what had happened. But if she was to speak up now, this Herrmann guy would probably just pester her until she gives in, while Ahab would try go 'wholeheartly' convince her. Kaelen hesitated, then gave in. It would get her out of here faster.

"Alright, first things first.. your last name is Brandon, correct?"

Kaelen nodded.

"Alright, Miss Brandon"

"Kaelen."

She corrected Ahab. Unsure why, but she preferred being adressed directly, rather than by a family name. Ahab looked up, Herrmann grit his teeth audibly. 

"Kaelen. Your file states you have been working at Laboratory 4 of the Animus Project."

Kaelen nodded. Tho, Herrmann stepped up.

"What did you do there? What was your profession?"

Ahab didn't seem to be on board with Herrmanns approach, but Kaelen just kept going. 

"I was working in the department of development. We focused on creating adaptive Animus for usage in wide arrays of security and safety."

"Did you develop the very Animus you are using?"

Ahab asked, suddenly intrigued by Kaelens words, it seems. So she pressed on, might satisfy them faster.

"Animus - Rainshower. An adaptive Animus capable of controlling rainwater. It's rather simple, really, unlike others that we developed. It's probably outdated by now"

Ahab took some notes. Herrmann seemed to eye him. As if to silently control his grammar. 

"This might surprise you, but Rainshower is actually a very popular Animus. It's simplicity and great performance has proven to be quite effective."

Odd, why is she the only one to use it then? Given, it didn't matter how popular Rainshower was. As long as Kaelen gets to keep hers. 

"Do you have a licence?"

Herrmann suddenly asked, which seemed to tense Kaelen. Are they going to take it away from her? Tho, Ahab interrupted. 

"Law enforcement needs to have a licence to make use of Animus technology. Considering your occupation, we assume that you are well versed in the usage of this technology. Especially considering the time you spent in your profession. However, your file also states that you have a daughter."

Her eyes jumped to the window of the room. It showed her mirroring image. Now she could see those eyebags, too.

"I did. She moved out. Don't know much."

A rather short spelled answer, but it seemed to suffice just enough to satisfy. Ahab wrote it down, this time Herrmann seemed uninterested in his writing. 

"Alright, and your place of residence?"

Silence followed. Dreading, it felt like eternity. Like it took forever. Tho, it was just a few seconds. Ahab seemed to understand, took his notes and closed the file.

"Alright then. Thank you very much. And thank you for interfering with those thugs as well."

"It felt wrong not to do something."

Kaelen replied, her tense posture seemingly loosening.

"However, please refrain from doing this again."

"Huh?"

"We appreciate your help, especially considering the dire situation our colleagues were in. But please refrain from putting yourself at risk in the future. This is not your burden to carry. Next time, there might be more casualties and we would like to prevent that. So instead, please call for backup. Alright?"

Kaelen understood, nodding. Ahab put his hands together, his beard ruffling under his nose.

"Alright, that would be all then. Thank you for your cooperation. You're free to go. Your Animus will be given to you at the exit."

She got up shortly after, her head nodding as a thankful gesture before turning to the door. 

"Thanks."

It was almost inaudible, due to the creaking of the door. As she left, only the two officers remained. 

"I don't trust her."

Herrmann said.

"You wouldn't trust anyone unless they make half a fortune a month."

Ahab chuckled, which got him a rather unpleasent gruff from his colleague.

"Someone with such a knowledgeable past.. might be of great help actually."

The woman at the entrance seemed kind enough, Kaelen got her umbrella back before she even asked for it. As she reached for the handle of the doors, she heard a brash, strict voice. Almost as if Herrmanns tone became slightly more feminine. A woman, maybe a year or two younger than Kaelen, led a group of four into the entrance hall.

"When I tell you to fire, you fire. I don't care if you feel like your aim twitched, I don't care if you're nervous, you fire. This training is supposed to teach you to act on the draw. No hesitations. No thought of doubt. That's what it wants. Alright, training dismissed."

As she dismissed her apparent students, she turned to Kaelen, who didn't seem to have noticed that she was even staring. She flicked her head up, almost as if to scare her.

"What?"

"Oh! Sorry, nothing."

The woman in blue passed by, going outside as she sighed into her collar. Kaelen didn't immediately follow her pace, but she could hear the sound of a lighter, then a disgusting smell. Was that..?

"Black Mold..?"

"If you want some, go get your own. This stuff costs enough as is."

Black Mold Tobacco. Kaelen knew it all too well. Some of her former colleagues used to smoke it as well. A type of tobacco that is capable of suppressing the three human desires. Thirst, hunger and sleep. Albeit for a limited time, but it was the workaholics best friend in this economy. Kaelen dropped it after a few months.

"And don't cause any trouble."

The woman said, as Kaelen left the department. Her head slightly tilting back, as if to react to her 'tip'. No more words however, she just kept walking. Back to the street. Back to wherever the night would take her. After all, she still had to figure out where to stay over night. Maybe the old bridge? Or the parking lot near the shopping mall? Maybe down at the Riverbed? Tonight is not said to have any more rain after all. 

"You were a bit extreme back there, don't you think?"

The man, whos nameplate called him Carl, said, as he put together the remains of his papers that were laid out on his desk. The one in the long coat, Herrmann, seemed to organize his purse, for no apparent reason.

"Don't tell me you would trust some no name from the streets, simply because she didn't decide to attack the officers for ONE time."

"One time, in this case, is better than never. Right?"

Herrmann didn't like Carls expression it seemed. Closing his purse, holding up a bill of 20 Eryon.

"Anyways, food's on me tonight."

"Oh? You wanted to grab a bite?"

"I thought it be a good way to the week. Todays was already exhausting enough and we have yet to organize the team for this whole idea of an 'investigation', as they called it."

The investigation, the plan to finally find out what was behind the rising criminal activity with Animus technology. Some assumed it was coincidence, others thought it was some greater act of terrorism. But the clues weren't yet enough to justify actions from the MTPU, let alone the Full Stop Unit. 

"Well, we have yet to find any connection between this and the last incident. Sure, they had access to technology they were not trained for, but it wasn't like it it risked desctruction of the whole district. Maybe it will just calm down on its own."

"You sure are positive about this whole stuff."

"Haha! No, not really! It's more like 'I hope this won't go out of hand' type of thought process, you see?"

"And to think they used to refer to you as Ahab. You definitely were way more uptight in the past."

"Well, we all gotta come to a calm sense at a point, right? Come on now, I'm starving, and food's on you."

They were friends. Friends ever since they began this job. One with ambition and focus, capable of inspiring even the most dreaded and afraid soldier on the battlefield. Gaining his name by the popular figure of manipulation, Ahab. Carl "Ahab" Feldon. The other, known for his power in leadership, capable of strategizing even the most dire situations, no matter what Animus is at use. Herrmann. Frederic Herrmann. Together, they formed the two head executive of the Public Security Investigation & Defense. It was up to them. Who to send out, who to make responsible, who to make the search for the root of the rotting stench this city slowly dragged through its streets. For the good of the city, of course.