Chapter- ERROR 404
6:00 AM
August 2nd
Diana
I didn’t sleep, how could I? I didn’t understand anything I read, it couldn’t be real? Could it? There was no way Anthony’s mother had… looked into the future. That was impossible, right? But that message had my name in there.
It had a nickname I barely even used. Silvereye.
The more I thought about that, that somehow… whatever this… link the message had to the Allseeing, it caused a primal dread to drench me.
A fear of the unknown. Of the Abyss. Of the Void.
I thought it through reasonably, whatever was at play here… with my Implant. With Dogwhistler. With Soul Killer. With Skeleton. It now had a common lead, The Uncaged. And their ploy to control the events of the next Swarm. Three years. Would we survive until then? Would we survive beyond it?
I didn’t know. For the first time since, I had hours consumed by thoughts other than Yvette. The Old_Data, just what was it now? All of human history, events, knowledge, emotions, developments, all of it was sealed away behind The FIREWALL. Left in the care of a MALtitan, a being of insurmountable power and calculation. The MAL were free to use Earth’s history, while humanity was forced to redevelop everything from scratch or old antiquities that were preserved through the nuclear holocaust of the late 2060s.
I knew one thing, that if The Uncaged were trying to truly make the next Swarm the last one, then they planned to break The FIREWALL to unleash the Allseeing. It was a shame then, that I didn’t have a BUG to figure out how they would do so.
Those three names at the end, I was sure of it…
Soul Killer. Skeleton. Dogwhistler.
They were each members of The Uncaged. And… there was only one Data Delver among them in the Dogwhistler. Just what were they planning?
———
Ripley went straight to voice-mail again.
”Hey, Ripley… I stumbled onto something. Something… big. I need you to come and check it out, maybe bring your… actually, just come alone. I’ll send you my address.”
The drive to the station was punctuated in an unnerving silence. Come on Diana! Think it through, of course a MALtitan with hundreds of years to toil with all of human history would be smart. It would be pretty damn good at predicting the future.
Michelle Silva, founder of NeoCore, was widely known to have similar powers of predicting the future. They always said she knew how to be in the right place at the right time.
So then, if someone… say a SIM User like Anthony’s mother got in contact with a MALtitan somehow then… she would crumble. I hated this, I needed someone, anyone… but I was alone.
I had… to do this alone.
———
“Who else knows about the Gold?” Risa Wickett asked sternly.
”Just Anthony.” I mumbled, half-focused.
”And?” She motioned forward.
”No one.” I dazedly said.
She droned a hum, but even though I knew minutes had passed, it was seconds to me when Anthony entered the room.
”Anthony. Ask her who knows about her Gold SIM.” She ordered.
He gulped, and nervously stared me down with a confliction burned across his eyes. I nodded at him, and with sweat beading up on his forehead, he whispered. “Diana, who knows about your Gold SIM?”
Ripley. Dr. Faltest. My father. Archangel. Metal Heavens. Your father. The Lieutenant.
”Right. My father and the doctor he sent. It was hard to keep it from them.” I quietly said, my thoughts intertwined with the creeping image I saw yesterday night.
Wickett slowed down at that, she’d been fighting non-stop with her metallic hands. “Acceptable. But I wouldn’t put it past some higher power to know more than they let on.”
She had no idea how right she was.
”Diana.” Wickett bore her gaze into me, so intensely it briefly startled me out of my thoughts. “We’re in a tight mess because of you, I have my own problems to worry about, but with Rorsche I didn’t need to worry about your problems. He did that for me. So now, you need to do it for yourself, as of now Choirmen is taking over as Second-in-command for the On-field unit. You will be reporting under him, and carry out whatever task he asks of you.”
”Aye, aye.” I answered tiredly.
She scoffed, before leaving to do… whatever it was she was doing. I didn’t care anymore.
”Diana.” Anthony moved in. “Sorry.”
”Not an issue, your powers need time to activate anyway.” I didn’t feel the slightest bit compulsed, it just jogged my memory, that’s it.
”By the way… your mother loves you.” I said.
”What?” It was simple to see why he was shocked. “Where- where’s this coming from?”
”I don’t know, I just thought you’d want to hear it.” I couldn’t bother coming up with something right now.
”Er…”
”I’ll go see what Choirmen’s up to.” I stood up. “Need a promotion if I’m going to get out of here.”
”You want to leave?” He seemed shocked..
”Yeah. The squad… understandably don’t have the best reputation anymore.” I moved past him but looked back for a smile. “But you’re enough. Let’s get out, together.”
”Oh.” He blushed. “Thanks. I’ll do my best to keep up.”
”No problem.” I waved him bye, a slight smile on my face.
———
“Why? Diana.” Choirmen grumbled. “I was perfectly fine on-field, my body is built to take bullets not case-files.”
”Sorry…” I tensed up.
”I don’t blame you though, about the time someone stuck the nail in his coffin, just a shame Indra isn’t here to see it.” He chuckled tiredly, Indra’s… betrayal was covered up, by my father. He put in some lie about them being abducted by Metal Heavens and my ass going to save them, tried to make me into some sort of tragic heroine… it worked. “Rorsche may have been a prick, but he was… a dependable prick, didn’t excuse him for the shit he did when it came to his… dick. I… really didn’t know any of that about him — how vile that bastard was. I’m sorry for what you went through, all of it. You’re tough, tougher than you deserve to be.”
I didn’t continue that conversation, my case with Rorsche would come up in the trial soon and… I had to focus. “I’ve compiled some stuff for you, think you can assign them?”
”Already?” He looked over the list. “Gah, more corporate shit. Why can’t we have a nice shootout?”
”I’ll find something worthwhile… you going to let me on-field or…?” I asked slowly.
”Go, go. You look like you need to release some shit anyway, just… take care. Let me know if you need anything, Diana. And… will you be there at the funeral?”
“I’ll… find my way.” I stepped out, I needed the air.
Indra and Yvette’s funeral was today.
———
The ceremony was quiet, Yvette’s parents were… devastated. The story was already circulating around, Indra and Yvette were victims to Rorsche’s manipulation as he tried to scare them with Metal Heavens. Their ‘accidental death’ was the last line he stepped on before it all came crashing down by my hands.
I was being congratulated for putting an end to his tyranny. It was all a lie.
Yvette’s parents hugged me, and I patted them back with numb hands. They told me that I was always welcome as a ‘daughter’ to them, but I could see it in their eyes a hole I would never replace.
A hole I’d created.
Everyone said I gave a nice speech, but I barely remember it. They were just words strung together that talked of happier times I longed for, each syllable scarred with a falsehood I could never take back. I talked of the love I had for both of them, of the need to get rid of people like Rorsche, of how I wouldn’t rest until it was done.
Stolen story; please report.
That… that I meant.
———
“Come on! Ripley! Answer!” He had to know some sort of illegal gang business that I could play a helping hand in solving, I wasn’t sure exactly what he was doing with Missy, but I do remember him and Twilight taking care of those Metal Heavens’ goons pretty quickly.
I just needed something to distract myself with. Something quick and easy, painful but liberating. I needed to start making up for everything I’d done.
But being unavailable like this… was he at Little Requiem? Bold of him if he did that. For now, all I could do was sift through cases until I’d come up on a lead. But every line passed me by, melting and melting… as the words only echoed with no meaning. All I saw that message from Juliet Grazhe… a woman who stared into the abyss.
———
August 9th
”Hey, Diana.” Ripley finally picked up.
”Ripley, where the fuck have you been?!” I was pretty outwardly pissed, the last few days had been a shitshow.
”Little Requiem.” He peeped.
Of course. I sighed. “There’s… something I need you to see.”
”Alright, send it over.”
”Can’t… it’s… better if I don’t. Not sure who can read these calls, but it’s dangerous to do it like this. Just… it has to do with a certain… Missy. She knows more than she’s letting on, about everything.”
”I am not surprised. She’s going to be busy till the end of August, so will I and. Oh yeah, Diana… you and I should probably not meet in person.”
”What? You don’t understand, we need to-“
”You have a bounty of 35 Million.” He said.
My heart might as well have sunk. “I- what?”
”Mr. Skeleton.”
”He… is this because I refused his deal?” Were these the consequences?
”I don’t know, but he’s also given an offer about info on my BUG despite knowing that I have it. I think it’s a way to keep tabs or put pressure on us, it’s all strange.”
”I- okay, I get it. Still, someway or another, find a way to my place soon.” I sent over my address.
”Huh… well, my schedule is packed.” He seemed to be distracted for a moment.
”Till when?”
”Uh… end of August.”
So three weeks?! He could not be serious, I had an auction to go to. ”What the fuck requires you to get that busy??”
”You probably don’t want to know. Also, killer-moves at the hotel. I saw a video of you fighting. You’re slick.”
”Wait, I thought there was no video released to the public?”
”I got friends on the inside.”
”Does said friend have the ability to basically become invisible even if he’s perfectly out in the open?” Topaz, if I got the name right.
”Shit, how did you know?”
”Archangel mentioned that name once, just been looking through a bunch of old notes recently. Also, how come you get to know how I fight while I’ve never seen you fight?” That was a bit unfair.
”Oh… well, you might see something come up. Eventually.” He teased that.
”Don’t tell me I need to arrest you.”
”Ha, like you’d be able to.”
”Confident much, aren’t you?”
”Very much so. But if you’d like the challenge… be prepared to get trapped under my web of- oh ow, ow! I’m not- I’m not flirting!” He was talking to someone off call, but I couldn’t help but tease it a little bit.
”Bondage is a bit too forward, don’t you think?” I said with a smile.
”Huh? Wha-“ I heard a loud clang. “Put that down Twilight!”
”Twilight again?” I couldn’t help but ask now. “Are you two dating?”
”Uh… it’s-“ Then I heard a female voice scream, for it to filter through that meant… she was… in his head? “Ripley is mine! You bitch! Also… we do have a date scheduled… so unfortunately he won’t be available to make any booty calls to your place for the next month, toodles!”
Uh… why was I… strangely mad?
His voice came through again. ”Sorry about that- wha- I can’t apologize?”
”Uh… if you’re busy I can call at a later time?” Was I interrupting a date? No, she said they had a date scheduled so… what exactly was I interrupting?
”Yeah, that works! I’ll see if I can-“ Then the call cut. Okay, that was strange.
———
August 16th
“This is a shitshow.” Risa Wickett grumbled, looking over the thirty pending cases. “Rorsche could have had this done in a week.”
”Did you adopt him or something?” Anthony was now forcefully pushed into mine and Choirmen’s facultative duties. By us.
Risa Wickett glared at him once. That was all it took for him to excuse his way out. I stared at the ceiling as Choirmen and Risa Wickett argued about how to best run this squad… but you know what?
”Fuck it. Special Investigator, what exactly do you do?” I said, then clarified. “Apologies if that sounded rude, I just… don’t have a very clear understanding of the responsibilities you have as Squad Leader?”
”I…” She stammered for a second, a rare moment for her. “I work.”
Choirmen joined my side, stubble strapped on his face from the multiple nights of him not leaving the office. “I understand you’re busy, but even I have a lack of understanding as to why this all… falls on us?”
”Because you’re paid for it.”
”Then what are you paid for?” I continued our tag-team assault.
”I… I mostly do MAL cleanups.” She said. “Once a month.”
Once a… month?
”And the other 30 days in a month?” Choirmen had a vein ready to pop.
”I organize it.”
“With who?”
”Sergeant Solomon. I primarily provide support to the STRIKE department, get them their cases.” She seemed to have half made that up on the spot, it wasn’t unbelievable per say but… was she… blowing off our own squad to work in another department entirely?
”Oh.” Choirmen seemed to have come to a conclusion. “You, you’re only here for the Intelligence income aren’t you? You’d much rather do STRIKE work, don’t you?”
”This is why I liked Rorsche.” She glared. “He liked running this place.”
”He liked the power it gave.” I corrected her. “Just like you prefer slashing people apart.”
”I don’t need to prove myself to you. Besides, I prefer MALs.” She stood her ground.
But she was like… five-feet tall. I blew out a tired stuffing of air, at least my curiosity was satisfied. “Special Investigator, do you… fraud your case reports?”
”How dare you-“
”Do you?” Choirmen interjected, I could high-five him right now.
”Rorsche used to put my credit on the tasks he performed in my name.” She glared, suddenly it was becoming more obvious why she kept him around.
”We can do that.” I said to Choirmen, a wise glint connecting our eyes. “But only…”
”…If she puts in at least three cases a month.” He completed, he was the best.
Risa looked like she was about to explode. “You’re both going to suffer for this.”
”I put in twenty cases last month!” I protested.
”You’re being a child.” She said firmly.
I- I was being a child??!
“Two.” Choirmen bartered. “I mean, now that Rorsche isn’t here, it would be pretty easy to dig up some evidence-“
”Fine!” She agreed, putting her hand up. “Tch, I was going to look from a different squad to transfer in a new sub-leader but… fine. Have it your way, Choirmen. Ulrich.”
She closed the door so hard that a hinge snapped, silently I waved back. “Toodles.”
Then me and Choirmen broke into a fit of laughter. Was two cases a month really a big deal that would make our jobs easier? No. But it was nice putting her down her pedestal.
———
August 19th
[I’m outside.]
Ripley responded, fucking finally!
Rushing to the door, I paused in front of my mirror. Just quickly brushing my hair, and changing my clothes and then I just sweeped my couch-
What was I doing? I did not… like him… enough… to put in this much effort. He was just going to look at my computer, we would talk a bit about the cryptic message, and then he’d leave. Nothing more, besides, he was dating Twilight… I think… I don’t know how it worked when dating a person with split personalities.
”Hellooo?” He rang my door’s intercom. I hopped up to the door and opened it, only to see absolutely no one.
”Down here.” His voice echoed again, but this time not from within my house’s speakers. Sitting on my welcome mat was a hand-sized spider-shaped drone. One little arm raised up. “Hi.”
”That drone is oddly adorable… but you could have told me you weren’t coming physically.” I leaned down to inspect it, the entire structure looked complex and was that a… I saw a familiar shaped bangle but broken up into segments along the drone’s back. It was a Braceshocker, but those were only available to Intelligence Department Investigators…
Unless you were me as an officer.
”Still working out how to get it to climb walls, so could you pick me up?” The fact that he pretended like he was the robot was a little endearing.
”I think I like it when you’re this tiny.” I put the cute spider on both of my palms. It had ridiculously big eyes that carried my warping reflection.
The drone poked my hands with it’s little legs that were deceptively sharp. ”Wow, your hands are showing an impressive amount of rigidity under my sensors. You’re pretty thick-skinned, I thought girls were supposed to moisturize or something.”
”Shut the fuck up, you miniature dwarf.” I said with an endearing smile. “I’m only saying that because I can’t get enough of you.”
He nervously laughed, as I expected… he wasn’t alone.
A female voice echoed quietly, like it was far off from a microphone. “That bitch! Tell her to back off, Ripley, you’re my boyfriend, not hers!”
Ah so he was dating… I’m going to ignore this little nagging feeling in my stomach. I smiled despite the cracks. “Don’t worry Twilight, I didn’t mean anything by it.”
“This is Midnight, you fucking idiot. Leave my boytoy alone!” The voice grew louder, almost a growl. Then it sang cheerfully. “Oh I’m Daylight by the way. Just wanted to say, you’re gorgeous so I think you’ll have better luck with some other men who aren’t taken, thank you very much.”
Then the voice switched again, becoming what I remembered most that day. “Twilight here! He’s mine, all mine. Sorry you were too slow, it sucks to be you!” Only for her to once again take a tonal shift and become a tad bit quieter. “Um… sorry about them. They’re a little attached… but they are right. I know where you live now. And for peacekeeping sakes, I’m going to call you Diana Jones.”
“Yeah, okay I won’t do that anymore.” I learned my lesson, I think. I didn’t even like Ripley… that much, it was the weird Gold Implant connection! I hoped. “Never got your name by the way.”
”Elsa.” She said.
”Oh, like the princess from Frozen.” I remembered being pretty emotional when my dad and I watched it together.
”Oh… yes, actually.” She sounded a bit embarrassed, and I heard a shuffling of static as Ripley came back on tune from the spider drone.
”Moving on. You’ve met my girlfriend… girlfriends… So let's see what you said was so important.” The spider drone hummed patiently.
I took it over to the laptop, plugging the datacube in and typing out the URL.
”An Old World based link? Maybe there are more?” Ripley clattered on the table in his little spider body.
”I’ve tried other combinations, this is the only one that…”
No page found.
”What?” That wasn’t right. “I have a screenshot saved, just give me a moment to load… it.”
I searched through my gallery but why couldn’t I find it? Where had it gone? “I- Ripley, it’s missing.”
”I believe you.” The little drone clambered forward. “Do you remember what was on it? Exactly?”
”Not a whole lot, it was pretty cryptic. A lot of information highlighted to The Founders and the MAL fighting over something called The Source and another group called The Uncaged seeking control of it. They want to turn the Fifth Swarm in their favor, some other weird shit about Hybrids and how we’re supposed to embrace it?”
He waited a moment before responding. “Sounds like a lot of Metal Heavens dogma… I’ve got some experience within their circle now. Long story. But I’m going to choose to believe you, especially if the image was deleted off your Frame.”
He clambered around a bit, looking at the Datacube. “You said there was more info on this? Can I check?”
”Yeah go ahead, just some short notes. Missy’s warning to the Lieutenant’s sister, some stuff about a Mikail Almajali and his relation to Hammersmith and Missy… the Iron Devil Incident. Uh, Bladefather and how Muramasa is a front for The Uncaged and-“
”There’s nothing on it. Shit, it’s been tampered with, I think? Elsa?” The robot whirred in place, one wire plugging it to the cube. Then it clanked up again, turning to me with a slight panic shivering through the drone. “Yeah throw away the computer. My girlfriend’s saying you’ve been hacked. Try your best to disconnect all services to your frame for the time being. Get a fresh DataShield, Bronze Grade — maybe something different from the police ones… Twilight’s offering to sell one to you. Get a fresh, distinct DS for any appliance connected to the net here. If you can’t shut them off, scrap them. Better safe than sorry, shit, shit. This place might also be bugged! Shit! They heard you say my name!”
The little spider panicked around the table, before suddenly two of it’s limbs enlarged to become wide and membranous, they flapped up and down in a blurring whirr that generated lift for the drone. “I’m going to leave now! Also, I don’t have the time to tell you but I looked through the BUG of one of those tattooed homeless men, you were right! They work for Dogwhistler!”
Then it picked up a surprising speed, somehow unlocking my door which opened up to allow the little drone a safe, zipping, retreat.
Left in stupor, I hardly had the time to fully capture the weight of what he meant. Remove all appliances connected to the Net? I stared around me and, Founder’s ballsacks… that was practically everything I owned.