Time Irrelevant,
The Spirit Horizon,
Navigating the Horizon Realm of spirits reminded Michael of diving in particularly deep waters, but these waters were dotted with stars like the night sky.
Their natural state of energy conservation, Valentyna’s voice said in his head, But we’re not here to witness spirits in their states of hibernation. Follow me.
Saying so, the Master mage soared through the starlit void, with Michael following behind her.
Unlike Michael, Valentyna needed no Voidsuit to navigate the Void, an ability she had assured him he would also learn as he advanced his mastery of the Spirit field.
As they ventured further in the direction Valentyna led him, the essence around the two grew turbulent, and the spirits grew scarcer in number, till they happened upon what looked like howling tornadoes of iridescent energy.
Essence Storms. The birthing grounds of spirits. Stay well clear, your barriers aren’t strong enough to protect you, Valentyna said.
Sparks flew around them from the central pillars of energy, shooting to all corners of the surrounding area, and Michael guessed those were fledgeling spirits, shunted off from the sheer force of the central storm.
And Michael, with his spirit perception, observed something else, veiled within the energy of the storm.
It was large, and it moved through the vortex of energy unbothered and unharmed, several probing organs projecting from the central body and sifting through the infant spirits spiralling outward from the eye of the storm, gobbling some up at random.
Tyrant Worm. A highly territorial, cannibalistic predator, Valentyna’s voice in his head once again, I’ve veiled us from detection.
Cannibalistic? Then it’s specifically picking out-
Yes. Very fine tuned senses, especially in this Horizon Realm. And they loathe competition.
How do these storms spawn spirits of these different… species anyway?
Essence is among the most volatile elements known to us. Even different conditions in the physical plane flavour the essence of the Horizon connecting to them in different ways, which in turn, attracts different species of spirits. Even though I may be called a Master of the field, much remains for even me to learn.
The two of them remained suspended before the birth giving storm, until it was finally time to make their way back to the space station.
2006, 6th February,
Space Station, Apotheosis
“Are you entirely prepared for your trip, Mike?”
“Yes, thanks for asking. You sure I can’t take you out somewhere, just for the day?”
Valentyna smiled indulgently.
“You know you’re supposed to conduct this investigation yourself, without any hints from me.”
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Michael dramatically placed a hand on his chest.
“You think I’d use lunch as a pretext to get you to slip me some information? You wound me.”
“Get a move on, Michael. And if you get yourself killed, at least make sure it’s interesting.”
Michael gave her a two finger salute as he made his way back to his room to change out of the Voidsuit into his regular black suit, packing the Voidsuit along with the rest of his luggage, and then setting off for the portal network.
2006, 6th February,
Lyon, France
Sacha slicked back his blonde hair, generously applied with pomade, to prevent it falling over his eyes.
Irritated, he drained the last of his coffee, now rapidly cooling, while he awaited his guest.
Sitting beneath the direct sunlight while he waited had done nothing to improve his mood, but the man he expected had insisted on this spot.
He scowled as a dark skinned man in a suit took the seat opposite him.
“You must be Michael Kane.”
“And you are Sacha Bernard. A pleasure to meet you.”
“You’re late.”
“I was admiring this beautiful city. But now that I am here, you can escort me to the Parc de la Feyssine.”
“I didn’t realise I was signing on as your chauffeur.”
“You’re not. Lucia didn’t specify what you’d be helping me with?”
“I don’t ask Lucia that many questions.”
Michael raised an eyebrow.
“Lucia told me you were in a relationship. But you are afraid of her.”
“Who said I was afraid of her?”
“She must have hurt you in some way.”
“Look, can we get this over with? I’ll take you to the park if it’ll get you to quiet down.”
Michael nodded, rising from his seat.
They drove to the park in silence, and when they reached their destination, Michael wordlessly got out of the car first, with Sacha behind him.
The two men walked purposefully, side by side, as Sacha shot a bemused look at his companion.
“You walk with a lot of purpose for a tourist.”
“Sightseeing is serious business. But I never told you I was a tourist in the first place.”
“So there’s something going on in the park I should know about. Interesting…”
After a pause, he asked, “What did you say you do for a living?”
“I didn’t.”
“You’re not a gendarme, are you?”
“From your tone, I take it you would disapprove if I was.”
“You haven’t answered my question.”
“Legislation.”
Sacha let loose a bark of laughter.
“A politician. Not the kind of person I would have guessed was Lucia’s friend.”
“And you just assumed we were friends?”
“I assumed you were important enough if she had to contact me to provide you assistance.”
“My work is important. Extremely.”
“Your work as a politician? Please. It’s a pretty seat if you win, but none of you are really in charge of anything.”
“And you? Lucia told me who you are. Nothing but a criminal, a parasite with self important delusions. And you’re so afraid of some girl, you won’t even look me in the eye to-”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Sacha nearly snarled, striding forward purposefully, but somehow he had misjudged the distance, and stumbled, only for his fall to be broken by Michael, who had moved to grasp him beneath the shoulders.
“You must have been in the sun too long,” he responded to Sacha’s confused glare, “That’s my fault. I'll drive us back.”
As they walked back to the car, Michael threw a glance back at the spot where Sacha had stumbled.
He had noticed the other man hanging back at an abnormal distance while Michael walked ahead, but making no attempt to raise his voice, as if he were unaware of the distance between them.
So Michael provoked a near-violent reaction from him, and sure enough, Sacha reacted as if he didn’t notice the distance between them.
Hemispatial neglect.
Or something deeper, something worse.
He had already confirmed the presence of the Horizontal incursion; A Bleed, torn below the surface of the Rhone river.
What he hadn’t managed to discern was the presence of a predator, and a familiar one at that, beyond the membrane.
One that now had his scent.