UNDERGROUND: OOM prt 1
Recently uncovered Librian texts from the post-conflict era detail the genetic research and development of a virus dubbed HV-1. Tested on refugees fleeing from what was Mexico revealed enhanced speed, reflexes, and sensory capibilities caused by an Enhanced metabolism. The difficulty lay in the metabolism literally wearing the infected individual's body out. People were dead within a matter of years. The disease functioned in the bloodstream, giving rise to the label "Hemophagia" when offically recognized by the WHAW organization. (World Health and Welfare) The world court made plans to try the scientists responsible for genetic engieering of the virus to trial on crimes against humanity, but no official summons to court was ever made. To this date, Hemophagia remains the biggest threat to mankind since the Atom Bomb, both ironically created by what was once called the United States.
-Jordan Halsey, M.D.
Excerpt from "A treatise on Medical Diseases of the latter half of the 22nd century
We will combat the threat posed by the so-called vampires with the only method of prevention that has been tried, tested, and proven time and time again. Extermination. They understand nothing less
-Senior Cardinal Richard Drew,
Medical ArchMinistry
John Preston stood before a vid wall and waited to be reprimanded.
He had done nothing that required punishment except wait, and he was sick and tired of waiting. It had been a month since Jurgen died, and he could no longer mourn or bide his time waiting for some magical solution to his predicament to come to them. Magic belonged in other places.
The bar was coming back to him more often then naught now. The people he'd met. The friends he'd made. It had played an essential role in the development of his own soul, his psyche, not to mention the state that he called home.
In a way, the bar was directly responsible for putting the individuals who ruled his state into power, their visages now fading in on the vid wall.
"Council." Preston said, his voice smooth, "-Senior Chairwoman Estepp. It is a distinct pleasure to get your message."
Jessica Estepp leaned forward. Before her promotion, she had been a loyal subject of father, a higher ranking member of the resistance then Jurgen, and the one responsible for smuggling out most of the literature that he'd tried to burn.
Once upon a time he wanted her dead.
It was an odd feeling, staring at an enemy turned friend and now superior.
"....We understand there's been no progress as far as the investigation of Jurgen's death." Councilmember Jordan murmured. He stroked his mustache ponderously, the weight of the world clearly on his shoulders, "-Are we to understand that you care little for justice for your friend's murder?"
"-With all due respect Council Member," Preston said, "This is not about justice. This is about truth and bringing the killer to trial." He remembered holding his friend's body in his hands.
"What else would that be if not justice? You are the first of the Tetragrammaton Guard John, if you're not going to be swift to act-"
"He was swift to act." the senior chairwoman said, "Back when he was the first cleric of father."
The council exchanged dark looks. Yes the man in front of him had freed them, but if he'd been anyone else he would have been executed and-
Preston did not like to think about that.
To be human is to make decisions. Preston drew in a breath Even bad ones. He was conditioned to obey in the end.
"John," The senior councilwoman murmured, " You function with diplomatic immunity, and Ambassador Wilson has the right to order an investigation into the death of his predecessor. Why you haven't asked him about it is something of a mystery."
Preston panicked, "Ma'am, I-"
"It shows a weakness that we're displeased with." Councilmember Ducarte said bluntly, "we cannot afford to show any hesitation in punishing criminals in a world arena."
"Wait a second." councilman Brasco leaned across the table, his bony-frame obscuring the transmitter, "That's what our predecessors thought isn't it? Isn't that one of the reasons Why the United States was expelled from the National Security council?"
"And the WHAWO, and NATOCD, and the treaty of 2119-"
The council rose into an uproar as the senior chairwoman banged her gavel on the desk, "-Gentlemen! Ladies! Please!"
John had thought, ever since he first met Senior Councilwoman Estepp, that she looked like some commerical idea of an elderly grandmother.
"...John Preston." There was nothing grandmotherly about the iron in her tone. She'd had eight children for father, given up four of them to the fires when they refused to renounce father, and hadn't shed a tear, "-We charge you to use your full diplomatic weight to investigate the death of Jurgen Stalinsky. He is a figure that will be sorely missed, his name added to the individuals who assisted you in bringing down the oppression upon all of us. "
There was a wall inside the grand council chamber with a list of names. He'd named them off, he hadn't lied about it either-there was no way to disguise the fact that two years ago today he'd come in with a bunch of people from a world beyond theirs and killed father.
They're not dead
"Bring the culprit to libria to face our justice and so that we can hear his reasons for doing so. We are just, but we are merciful. So it is spoken, so the council consents, so the order is passed."
He could keep shut no longer, "Ma'am, I have no idea where to begin."
Senior Councilwoman Estepp had two kinds of smiles. The kind of smile she reserved for her grandchildren, and the kind of smile she reserved when she was plotting doom and downfall.
She used the second freely.
"....You're are, in essence, a glorified policeman." She said, "That was the purpose of the Tetragrammaton in the post-conflict world. It remains it's purpose today. Investigate John. I have every confidence in you. You are our savior."
An Electronic voice Bleeped, and a woman declared that his transmission was over, would he like to place another call?
Preston shook his head, stared at the screen for a few moments before he nodded his head, clenched his hand, and strode out of the room.