TIME:
AT THE SAME TIME
LOCATION:
CYSA, ORENTHIA
CERIN DISTRICT
POV:
Lilith Runethari
I chew my lips as I slowly drive through the streets. It was clear and obvious that someone was following the sensors I slapped on to it that allowed the Plaques to work had reported it. The drone was trailing but from what I could check it was properly registered and was designated as military property.
"Mother, may I ask you a favor?"
"If it involves hacking the drone I wouldn't recommend it. I suggest filing a complaint or issuing a warning with the government. The law is rather vague on this issue but there doesn't seem to be any documented reason given for this behavior. If they can't justify it in half a day they will have to disengage,"
Groaning, I nodded my head and Mother was probably already lodging the complaint the moment I asked for the favor. Worse comes to worse I could book a stay at a hotel and slip out with the aid of my cloak. I was insulted and threatened so I struck back at the guilty party.
"Mom, how is the security around the relatives of that moron?"
"They seem to be more cautious. I also have reason to believe other parties are also observing the places they live. I would recommend not going after them. The risk of being caught is just too high even I can't give a strategy that will result in certain success."
"... How about friends of the family, is there anyone guarding them?"
I smile as an unorthodox avenue of revenge opens. The head of planetary security had a family one of his spawn was still undergoing education. I'm sure if I target one of their friends I could cause some trouble just to hint that their father’s actions caused it.
"His son whatever his name is, does he have anyone important?"
"Yes I believe so, a girl he's been talking to they are planning to enter the same university next year. I assume you wish to target her?" Mothers voice lacked the usual caution it usually had she was pissed as well though she hid it well. I merely nodded and soon I received a packet of information straight from my MID from an unknown address—probably some house that Mom managed to hack into—opening it revealed a document of everything I would need to know; Mother truly was a fast worker but she always was cautious at the same time as well.
Driving still I decided I would continue my journey and go shopping for the day. I never bought much but it didn't hurt to look for new books. Paper books were an unusual luxury in space so now was my chance for something new.
TIME:
14 HOURS LATER
LOCATION:
CYSA, ORENTHIA
OUTER LEO DISTRICT
XERXES HOTEL
I close the case and sling the Aeth around my shoulder. It was time I booked a hotel moderately far from my target's location. Now I just had to sneak through security without them noticing. Easier said than done when they're watching the lobby and back door and my room. Walking out my room I had Mom keep me updated on their positions.
The plan was to exit from the third story window and pretend to just be someone walking the streets at night. The side with a street isn't being watched probably because it would involve jumping a fence that looked rather easy to be impaled on and difficult to climb.
Taking the stairs I arrived at the barren third floor Mom sent the cleaner away with a request to clean somewhere else. I was able to approach a window rather easily, opening it I climbed through holding onto a miscellaneous pipe that was nearby. I quickly and quietly closed the window. A moment later using my legs I kicked off the wall. I managed to clear the fence looking back at the window. The only evidence I was there was a cracked brick.
Now came the boring part strolling the streets while avoiding the cameras that were everywhere. I had almost forgotten I lived inside a military dictatorship but this made me remember.
After spending 2 hours walking a single kilometer—dodging cameras the entire way—I arrived outside the house of my poor target. Checking my MID I had 3 hours before sunrise so one hour to make this memorable.
"Are the house's cameras still active?"
"No, you're free to enter. I have decided to cut off power to their house. It will be conspicuous and looked into but that's not a problem I am running everything through as many degrees of separation as I can. Now go if anyone is awake it would make things difficult," Mother pushed me on and I walked towards the small two story house.
The family was upper class but that just meant they had a larger yard. The elites were the ones with manors and mansions and large estates. Truthfully everyone else would be lucky to have much of a backyard being this close to the center of the city.
Stepping in front of the door I took a breath and brought out some tools and took a crack at powering the electronic lock. It took a few minutes of careful inspection but I managed to power the right part to disengage the lock.
'Now I apologize for entering without permission, but sadly I am not like those pathetic legends.'
I smirk as I start walking through the house. First priority was the security I would need to bust that. If someone noticed Mother's little trick it would be all too easy to turn it back on.
I searched the first floor finding nothing but the stairs to the basement and the second floor. Deciding to check the basement first I am greeted with a sight that was full of boxes and things in storage that should be in boxes instead of on the ground. Shaking my head I decided that I would check the second floor first, if I put it somewhere it would be close to where I rest.
Quietly ascending the stairs I am once again grateful for my good vision. I only barely had to turn on a flashlight to see. Finally I arrived at a space with four doors. Mom said the first one on the left was a bathroom, the first one on the right an office space for the father, the back left the parents bedroom, and the back right the room of our mark.
I stepped towards the parents room making sure I kept an ear out for anything that sounded like movement. Turning the knob I was thankful it was unlocked slowly opening it stopped when I had just enough space to squeeze a barrel of my rifle through. Flicking a switch on the side of my weapon I aimed at the father.
Pop Pop
Nodding my head I pull my rifle away from the door. Both of them won't be waking up again. Stepping into it further, I looked through every place I could think of, eventually discovering the video storage device under the safe. I take a smaller device that mom made at my request that is basically a small thumbsized drive that deletes everything put inside it. I manage to connect them ever thankful that USBs have been mostly standardized for many millenia now.
Walking back I reach down and pick up shell casings I left on the ground. I check how long I have and notice I have half an hour before I need to double back to the hotel, I would give myself 15 minutes to be safe.
TIME:
SHORTLY AFTER
LOCATION:
CYSA, ORENTHIA
FELIN DISTRICT
BRECK HOUSEHOLD
POV:
Sam Breck
The sting of a slap wakes me up. I open my eyes but only see darkness. A faint light is visible however. I squint trying to look through the complete darkness but to no success. I flinched as the light brightened and a face could be made out, standing in front of me was a woman who could only be described as beautiful beyond reason. But my hair stood at ends as I realized she was unfamiliar and this wasn't my bedroom.
I try to scream but she covers my mouth as she holds a finger to her mouth. I started to shake as I realized my hands couldn't move, bound in some wire.
While keeping my mouth covered she reached with her free hand into a pocket pulling out a note.
"I'm sorry for the sudden slap, and my rather forced entry but you can rest assured I don't have much time!"
As if she follows what line I'm reading, her facial expressions change starting off sad with an over exaggerated frown and ending with a bright and sunny smile. She shoves the note back into her pocket and retrieves something from her belt, my eyes widen and I start trying to thrash as she slowly brings a needle with thread already tied to it closer to my mouth.
I could only scream for help for a minute before my lips were completely sealed. With wet eyes I stare up at the person I'm at the mercy of when I remember something my MID if I can record it my death won't be in vain. I quickly issue a string of commands to record. The woman stares me in the face the entire time with a sickening smile. Reaching into her pocket she pulls out a second note.
"Just so you know this wasn't random, you can blame someone idiotic for this, but sadly you will remain a worthy sacrifice in the end!" She stashes the note on a box nearby making me aware that this is the basement of my house. She pulls out a note, "Now this is the final note! I just wanted to play a quick game, it wont last more than 10 minutes I promise! The game is how many shallow cuts can I inflict before those 10 minutes are up and I will be forced to kill you!" With all to real glee she smiles brightly while pulling out a knife. I shake my head and try to squirm but I am powerless, I try to scream and beg for mercy, but agony was all that answered me.
TIME:
1 DAY LATER
LOCATION:
CYSA, ORENTHIA
OUTER LEO DISTRICT
XERXES HOTEL
POV:
Lilith Runethari
"... I am standing outside the residence of the Breck family, who have recently been discovered to have all been murdered! The scene was discovered after a friend of the family, concerned that the daughter hadn't showed up to school, visited to find the family killed. It's only been a few hours but already the police are going to discuss what they believe happened in this unfortunate incident."
The news reporter for one of the few nongovernment run outlets kept prattling on to the camera. I watched the report with glee, my smile hidden from my annoying observers by the cover of a book while pretending to use this as background noise. It was so far perfect, I believe I had gotten away clean in my opinion. Any trace of me ended at the front door with bootprints that lacked any identification. Thanks to their nature they can change shape to better suit different terrains. I just shifted them after wiping them off to something completely different.
I looked up momentarily as the police investigator started speaking. He disclosed that this wasn't random and was targeted disclosing the note I left behind as evidence. They claim to be looking into who had written it. Bad news for him but my printer leaves no traces unlike those usually in the market. It left a different identification: a blend of isotopes in the ink that wasn't noticeable unless you looked for it. It was a more secretive way to mark your system you were in without leaking which void ship had sent it. This was only given out to scout vessels that were expected to work behind lines, yet needed to remain anonymous from even allies.
"We believe the only child that still lived at the house had been tortured, likely to send a message, though the length at which they suffered is believed to be thankfully short. Regardless I personally promise that we will find the culprit and bring them to justice. This savage display was unforgivable and disturbing. I will not be taking any questions due to the case still being under investigation."
I smirk as he turns his back on the crowd that despite what he said are screaming questions. Things are bound to get interesting I would guess. Now I wonder if that savage will realize that he was the reason. Chuckling to myself I look back down at the book as a story about another tragedy starts being covered.
'I'm glad to see that humanity is still as disgusting as ever. The murder of a family only gets 10 minutes of public attention, disgusting... but helpful.'