Fuck.

That’s no normal camera distortion. Those without Sight will probably not see it. Not as deep as those with.

The kid is going to lose.

I know this.

This is a losing battle. Those without the Sight will not see it. We might have a bit of grace there if I can manipulate this investigation. If I could steer them towards what they would consider a logical explanation, perhaps that kid could get away with his actions. Gah. Why do I care this much? It’s probably the lingering unresolved instincts of who I was in the past. Perhaps the part of me that didn’t accept my death and merged with the Phantom I am today is the reason I am entertaining the idea of helping the kid out.

“So, what, you think it’s some kind of jammer?” I know of Mortal devices enough to steer the conversation where it needs to go, to keep them off the scent. I don’t know if Magi gives me the impression of someone who will budge from his point of view once he has set his mind to something.

Prick.

“Potentially,” Magi responds.

He says that. I don’t think he believes it himself. He is already peeling back the pieces. He simply only needs to trust his instincts. I can already see that he does in some context, but not completely. Gah. Trying to look through him this deeply is giving me one massive migraine, I finally have a skull that does that now.

“What do we know about camera distortions? Could the cameras be faulty?” Florian ask.

I am lucky. Florian has the hunches to feel something is off, but he lacks the Sight. It is true Mortals are born with the Sight, and some are not. But even those born with lose it over time, if they block it out enough.

The Lenses make it difficult for people to see clearly. They make it hazy. Most Mortals cannot even comprehend the Realms these days or those who slip in out of the few holes there are.

“What’s the connection?” Shaun asks.

He could be useful. He’s the type of person who likes to be a pain in everyone’s side. So stuck in the mud with his own values that he doesn’t consider other perspectives. Being so stuck in with his ideas will help impede and slow down their investigation.

“As said, I admit, I cannot say it is a connection until we comb through Zoe’s security video,” Magi replies politely.

Asshole.

He’s polite. And a pushover. He should tell Shaun, “you asked for my help, I am here because you cannot fucking work it out”. Still, that will be helpful. To block Magi.

“Then why show it then?” I ask leaping off the opportunity Shaun gave me, “You have more evidence than that? Because right now I am not impressed. You’re basically doing work we could have already done ourselves.”

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Oh. Shit. Maybe not as much of a pushover as I thought. Still, he smiles at me and nods politely.

“Fair, this is the most notable thing I could bring to the table,” he tells me directly, “I have the rest of the information, which I will gladly go over here in a moment to see how our findings connect. Though I felt this was worth a mention. And if we see the same distortion in Zoe’s security footage, then we have something to latch onto. On how this person may get into places they shouldn’t be able to.”

“So,” Florian states, “We’re dealing with someone who is computer savvy, maybe someone who works in the Administration Territory Enforcers?”

“A jammer is pretty easy to get online,” Lacie mentions, “If you know where to look. People use the internet for illegal materials all the time. It’s actually how some online markets sell fake designer clothes. That and people can look up online how to make a cheap jammer. Maybe this person isn’t that skilled?”

“You think?” Magi looks at her.

“I mean, what’s the profile that we have of,” she hastily looks over at a piece of paper, “Karma?”

Magi studies her. Then looks over at his tablet, “You have a point. They have been up to now using only public information you can find online. Perhaps we’re looking for a college student or a young adult?”

“So, we’re just going off hunches now?” I ask.

Florian snaps a look my way, “Troy you’re going too hard on him.”

“Not quite hunches,” Magi tells me, looking over his tablet, “I have complied a list of details so far. Based on what we have, so far.”

A projection of Karma shows up on the screen. Crap. This is bad. Then again, what did I expect from a teenager?

Uggh. If Zoe is not the person who Quinn thinks she is-

The list is just looking more and more like the shovel the kid is using to dig himself a grave. He needs to be a lot smarter than this.

“Do you have any way to pro-

-for someone who is a detective, you’re asking for a lot of proof, isn’t that part of investigating?” Wolf asks me, with a smirk on her face, “Sorry. I was curious. Pretend I am not here, just a disembodied voice who makes snarky comments.”

Magi looks up at her. She smiles.

“What is your job exactly?” I ask her.

“Me? I am Ward,” Wolf tells me with a smirk, “It means if someone gets too close, I may lock their arm behind their bac-

-oh,” Lacie looks up from her papers. Wolf looks at her and gives her a wiry smile.

"And you interrupting me?” I ask.

“Sometimes I Ward him from verbal assaults too-

-you think I am assaulting him-

-no, but I was making an exception-

-and that exception-

-Troy, that’s enough,” Florian interjects, “Please let’s be respectful to our guest. I would think you, of all the people, would show some more respect. Especially to an Order of the Exalted Agent. And their Ward.” he gives Wolf a nod with a smile.

He’s asking me to respect an Order of the Exalted Agent. If he knew what I actually was, the Phantoms and the Order have always had their disputes. It is not necessarily a battle of good and evil, more a battle of positive and negative forces. Neither of which are good or evil either, that’s not how the cosmos works. The Celestial were never embodiment of true good and the Phantoms their opposite. Concepts of Good and Evil exist only in the understanding of Mortals who have lost connection with the Realms, so it is the only way for them to understand the nature of forces outside of themselves.

The true nature of the Order and the Phantoms and that of the Celestials is the balanced between the negative and positive forces. The Orders job was always to maintain the balance, not annihilate it.

To rid the world of all negative forces would be just as devastating if all positives forces would. Fuck, I am sounding like a textbook.

"Fine, Florian," it's best to maintain peace for now.

I am going to have to find other ways to impede this investigation. One of them will be finding that reporter.