Chapter 63: Vengeance

12:31 PM

August 1st

Diana

”Diana?” Anthony nearly spilled his coffee as I walked into the police office. I didn’t know that absorbing the Silver SIM had knocked me out for so long. “You haven’t responded in three days? What the hell happened and… why do you look so scary?”

”What has Rorsche said about Indra?” I gnashed my teeth, it was difficult to stay in control now. Not with what I had set into motion.

”Indra… right, he said she’s on holiday.” Anthony looked at me like I was about to punch him. “Seriously, what happened?”

”I’ll tell you in a bit.” I walked past him. “Is Rorsche in?”

”Yeah.” That was all he got in before I disappeared to Rorsche’s office.

I didn’t bother knocking, I just opened the door and met his surprised eyes. “Diana? Jesus, what the hell happened to you? You can’t just cut contact all of a sud-“

”Where’s Yvette?” It was easy to fake tears. “Please, just tell me and I’ll do anything.”

The moment his face absorbed what I said, it took all I had not to punch him the second he realized how he could take advantage of this. “Yvette… ah, so you finally learned.”

”What did Indra do with her?” I was already a railroad of emotions, my outburst was too fast to explode. “Just… I- fuck.”

I couldn’t say it, I couldn’t lie. I need her safe.

”Indra has her alright. On my watch.” He flicked his laptop’s screen away, standing up to the height of… well, me. “Don’t worry dear, nothing’s going to happen. Not if you listen and do what you should have done all those weeks ago.”

”Just…” Shit, shit! I wanted to slick my nails into my face. “I- okay. Fine… but then you need to let her go, today.”

”That requires a bit more.” He smirked, and I was one heartbeat away from kicking him there and then. “Well… we’ll get there slowly. For now… my pants are a bit stuffy. Can you help me with them?”

”You can’t be serious.” Maybe I should just kill him here and now.

”I’m serious.” He preyed on my reluctance, how many women had he done this with?

I would be the last one. I would make sure of it.

Anger burning through my veins, I approached him and got on my knees, fumbling with the belt buckle and fighting the urge to surge my electricity through it…

No, take your time, Diana.

”So eager… you always did seem like a slut.” He chuckled, every word sending a spark into the fire boiling within my skin. “The wait only made this better… and don’t worry, I’ll return the favor.”

My hands trembled, but I got the pants loose, unveiling plain boxers of red-and-blue.

Rorsche was was slow and deliberate in drenching every word of his with a condescending tone. ”Everything. Be a good girl.”

I reached up to his hip bones, then slowly pulled the boxers down. His dick practically sprang up in excitement, but I was sure to keep my face away from it.

”Now… I want to see what those lips can do.” I met his gaze, those sickening eyes awaiting every moment to come. Well I kept my focus on them, because I would be savoring this.

Yeah, I grabbed his dick. Then it took a brush of my electricity to crush and snap it, before sending a deadly drill of lightning up the tiny member.

”ARGGHUH-“ My hand clamped on his mouth, the same one that had briefly held his dick and making sure electricity crawled along his face… slowly. Agonizingly.

”Indra’s dead. Jackass.” I threw him back on the chair, blue sparks that had been stuffed down freely exploding their anger out now. “Yvette. Too.”

”Fuck! Fuck!” He groaned. “What the fu- ah! I had nothing to do with that!”

”Well you just tried to take advantage of it!” My nails sharpened to claws in an instant, and I saw his eyes fade as thoughts passed to his Neuroframe.

”Huh… what the fuck? I can’t- urgh, I can’t access the police network! What did you do!?” His painful screaming was a joy to my ear.

I flashed up an image, a tabloid clipping showing his face clearly under the title of ‘Predator Police Investigator takes advantage of junior members? A greater scandal at play?!”

”That wouldn’t do anything!” Though he remained resistant, I could see the anxiety swell through him. I relished his cries. “You think I’m the only one like this? You don’t even want to know what’s been done to me!”

I fastened my sharp nails over his throat. One twitch, and my nails would sever that skin to spray his sickening blood out. I held back, he deserved worse. He deserved to lose everything. ”I don’t care. You’re already fired.”

“What fucking authority do you have to say that? Bitch, you’re fired!” He tried to rise up, but the exertion to his legs must have sent a painful twitch towards his crunched up and burned crotch. “Gah! You can’t do this!”

”I already have.” As much as I was enjoying this, I didn’t enjoy what I said next. “Brian Ulrich has taken care of your disposal.”

”Of course! Daddy’s little girl! Aren’t-“ I stopped him with a clamping of my palm so hard that my nails drew blood across his cheek.

”Walk out with dignity, what little you have left… at least now it’s bigger than your dick. Or else, you might have to be escorted out. You should probably pull up your pants for this.”

I tossed his boxers at his face, and the sheer stammering he tried to pull out was something else to behold. ”You- you- you know what I’ve done to get this squad where it is? Without me, you’ll be stuck sucking up to Corporate shit-stains!”

I couldn’t care less. “By the way, you’re being court-martialed too, see you in court. I’ll have good lawyers… Brian Ulrich is very thorough.”

”I didn’t even do anything!” He got red-in-the-face now. “It’s not my fault that Indra did something to Yvette, I just asked her to scare the girl!”

”Well, she fucking took her to Little Requiem! You don’t know what I had to do to get there! And for what, they’re both dead! And you… you think Indra would have done any of that if you didn’t treat her the way you did?!” I was beginning to wish he had a second dick for me to rupture.

”Oh shut the fuck up!” He screamed back. “I have connections here! You don’t know what you’ve do-“

”Kendrick Rorsche.” A burly man entered the office, a First Rank judging by the emblem on his uniform. “You’re to be escorted off police property. We will arrange to have your assets sent off to your apartment.”

”You can’t fucking do this!” He yelled at the man. “Selim! You know me! You can’t do this!”

”Orders are orders… and this came from the Lieutenant.” Investigator Selim grabbed Rorsche’s arm before… staring down. “For old time’s sake, I’ll let you wear your pants first… as for you, leave. Now.” Selim glared at me, but I was all too happy to leave this forsaken office. I left with my pride, even a bit of satisfaction.

Anthony and Choirmen were waiting right outside the office, both of their faces held in shock. Choirmen spoke in stupor. “What… happened??”

Anthony was pale. “Did you… fuck, did Rorsche just get…”

”Yes. Diana.” A raspier voice said beside me, Risa Wickett glaring daggers at me. “What. Did. You. Do?”

I wasn’t taking any of this, I shot a look off to the boys, a warning glance to leave. They did so in seconds, and I took a stroll with the tense Special Investigator towards a quieter corner.

”Diana Ulrich.” Her voice breathing heavily. “Did you get Rorsche kicked off my Squad, without informing me?”

”The real question.” I seethed. “Is how he didn’t get kicked off any sooner. Risa.”

She sharpened her eyes. ”You will not have that attitude with me!”

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

”I’m not talking to you as an officer. I’m talking to you as a woman, as Diana Jones. Pray you don’t talk to Diana Ulrich, Special Investigator.” I glared back at her. “He got my friend killed, he got Harmony killed! Clearly, he’s never had a woman reject him like I did! Someone here has been enabling his ass to get away with this! But you… how could you let him slip by under your nose. You had to have known!”

”Yes.” She admitted. “He’s done bad things. I excused them for his results.”

”That’s it?” I couldn’t believe her. “That’s… it!”

”Yes. Ulrich.” Risa Wickett didn’t back down. “I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. But you should have consulted me before taking such a drastic-“

”If it’s results you want…” I pushed myself up, but it hardly intimidated her. “…Then that’s all you’ll get from me. But not my respect, Special Investigator.”

”Tch.” She clicked her tongue. “Have it your way, Ulrich.”

It wasn’t like I was planning to stay in this squad long after all of this anyway. “Also, I’m a Gold-Grade, not Silver. The Lieutenant knows. Use me while you can.”

I walked away, but I heard her boots screech the floor at my statement. “You’re a-“

I slammed the door on my way out. Sighing, I continued on, using a pulse of my inner energy to speed my way around the office floor until I found the quiet spot I tended to, just a tiny little mindfulness space for meditation no one bothered to use. Me and Indra would gossip here a few times.

Tears rolled down my face again, and I sobbed myself to oblivion.

”Figured you’d be here.” Anthony entered, a careful and measured approach that wasn’t too fast.. “I heard the door opening… okay if I… sit here as well? I was… worried.”

”Do whatever you want.” I wiped my face with my sleeve. He came closer, offering me a few tissues he had in his pocket.

”I could tell you were… overhwhelmed today. What happened?” Anthony’s concern was palpable, almost cute.

”Just… had my…” I chocked. “Yvette. She’s dead.”

Anthony didn’t know too much about me, we’d been partners but not… too close. Even then, he knew who Yvette was, even though I’d never really spoken about her. He knew, and he cared. “Shit… Diana, I-”

“Save it.” I shook my head. “I- I don’t want to hear…”

I felt so weak, so… powerless at this moment. “Your voice, can you use it?”

“My voice?” He reached for his throat. “On who?”

“Me.” I sniffled back. “I- it’s my fault, and I don’t know what to do. Help me figure out what to do. Make me… feel better.”

“Diana, I-” He held some deeper thoughts back, but leaned his gaze down. “How are you feeling?”

“Like shit.” My voice came out hollow.

“What’d you eat for breakfast?”

“I… can’t remember. Everything’s been a blur.”

“You remember.” Anthony’s voice was a whisper both soothing and invading, as though his voice was the one speaking in my head over my own. “You know what you ate.”

“Fucking cereal.” I rasped out. “Is there a point to this?”

“You asked me to make you feel better right? I’m just… trying to keep your mind off things. To align with you…” He gave me a sympathetic gaze. “What happened? What… really happened?”

The words that were so hard for me to say now came out without resistance. “Indra kidnapped Yvette, she was… keeping tabs on us for Rorsche. Then she heard about the Gold in my veins.” I laughed, not sure why. “I- she took Yvette over to Little Requiem, must have known some people from Metal Heavens… I went there to save her, only… I- I had too much electricity in my body. I touched her, and she died. Then I- I killed Indra.”

Letting it all out, to one person… I was hollowed out, but at least that pain had slightly left me. “I’m a fucking monster.”

”Diana…” His eyes opened wide, he was looking at me like I was a monster. I knew it. I deserved as much.

“I’m sorry.” He said, before staying silent. I didn’t blame him, what could he possibly think of to say to me?

”Don’t apologize. You had nothing to do with it.” I bitterly chewed my words out. “Rorsche has been harassing me for weeks, Indra was keeping her eyes on me. It’s my fault for not… acting up sooner. For thinking I could… battle it by myself.”

He nervously gazed at me. ”What was Rorsche…”

“He wanted me to fuck him.” I gritted. “Honest to god, that was half the reason why I decided to pretend we were dating. I wanted to spite his ass.”

Anthony flinched from that statement, but I didn’t exactly care at the moment. Then he chuckled. “Makes sense why he’s hated me more now.”

“Sorry.” I guess… I did care, just a little bit.

“If you told me-” He stopped himself. “I- I get why you didn’t tell me, we’re not exactly… you just needed me. That’s fine. I just regret I never got my piece of revenge on him, I bet I could’ve made him say some nasty shit.”

”On Rorsche? Please, that would have costed you the job.”

”Not like I wanted this in the first place.”

”Right. Singing.” The thought of that did make me smile just a little bit.

”Do you… want company?” He looked at the door. “I can… give you time alone if you want?”

”I don’t know.” Why was it easier to talk to Ripley than someone I’d seen everyday for two months? “Just… I feel lost.”

”That’s okay.” He stepped closer, but I didn’t give him any indication to leave. “I’m your… partner.”

“Partner?” I’d never once thought of him like that.

“Police partner.” He clarified. “My mom had one, back when she was… in the police. A guy named Derrick. Guy was an asshole, but treated me like a nephew. My mom didn’t just look at him as a coworker… but family. He was an alcoholic, but… my mom helped him get out of it. She was more than a coworker to him. I’d like to… try and do the same.”

I stayed still for a moment, I knew Anthony’s mother was a sore topic.

“My mother… she was remarkable in every way, one of the kindest persons I ever knew,” he began with a childlike smile, though it turned to a frown too quickly, “but when she died, she told me some cruel things. Made me hate myself… I don’t know what made her snap like that, but… she’d been so different the years before her death. I don’t know for what, but she left the police force after an argument with my grandfather.”

I nodded along, somewhat surprised he actually opened up.

“I hated her.” He said flatly. “Blamed her for my… issues, thought she was evil for making her last words to me so hateful. Then I- I forgave her, it wasn’t some click-and-you-know-it-moment. It was just… I realized she was sick, that she was… dying. And that her pain was just so overwhelming it spilled out of her.”

Her wiped dry eyes. “I forgave her, even if she was a monster. I think you know what I’m trying to say.”

I did. "Wish I could do the same to me.”

”Then let me lighten the burden, like my mom did for Derrick.” He took a quiet seat next to me on the floor. “I said I would help, but so far I’ve just been… a contact to get you with my aunt and Simon Jugosla. Don’t take all of this burden onto yourself, let me… let me be useful. I’m more than just a tool to spite someone, you know?”

”I- yeah, I’m sorry for using you like that.”

”Don’t apologize, it’s made me realize I need to do more.” He gave a reassuring look. “We can handle things better without Rorsche around now, even get some of the rest of the Squad involved in Soul Killer.”

”We… can’t do that.” I shook my head. “I know you’re trying to be nice Anthony but… I can’t let you… end up like-”

”I won’t.” He said confidently. “I promise.”

A silence passed between us, but even if we didn’t say a thing, I was thankful for his company.

”By the way…” He started. “My dad was wondering if you’d like to have dinner at our place.”

”Thought you told them we ‘broke up’?” I shot an accusing look at him.

”Uhh… Yeah I was pretty honest with my dad from the start. He knew we weren’t dating, just needed you to get into the restaurant, nothing else!” He raised his hands defensively.

”I… guess that’s fine.” I wasn’t entirely too comfortable with it, to be honest.

”So will you?” He nervously held his hands.

”I will.” Maybe it would help.

”Diana. I’m here for you. Partner’s promise.”

“I know.”

”…Whatever you need.”

”That’s sweet of you…” I laughed to myself. “You’re not such an arrogant bitch now.”

”I was never… okay, will you let my drunken rambling go now? I was a grieving and confused mess”

”Never.” I knew I was slightly hypocritical, but the joke landed.

”Haha.” He mocked some laughs. “Please forget it.”

”Ask nicer.”

”Pretty please?”

”Maybe.”

He sighed. “I’m gonna let that slide.”

…

He puckered his lips. “Yvette… what was her favorite color?”

”Why are you asking?” I stared into the ground.

”She was important to you, I wanted to know what she was like to have that support from someone as amazing as you.” He seemed serious about it.

”By asking me her favorite color?” I gave him a look of disbelief… then indulged him. “Silver. Unconventional I know, but she said it reminded her of her… favorite person. You know… back in the Cradle, she nicknamed me ‘Silvereye’. I told her to stop when we were in cadet school… but I wish she didn’t.”

”Huh… I think me and Yvette share the same favorite color and person then. Silvereye.” He joked.

”She was flirting with me.” I deadpanned.

”Well…” He choked. “Okay, I like green. The color of nature.”

”Well then we actually share the same favorite color… and reason.” I smiled, it was my first genuine smile in days.