POV Jack, retired policeman

All we did, locking Vivaldi in his area and following acts, were half legal. It meant that was half illegal. Some big fishes from military and police, who were friends from years, helped each other more than once, that time stroke people, that attacked me. Culprits were in border zone, so military did operation using prevention argument. It was fishy for everybody, but till there was no public scandal, we could get away with it.

Then, we found, that those people were abnormal. They were like neandertals from stories, stronger, faster and more endurable that human could be. Still, neandertals died off. Most stories pointed, that it was because of humans influence.

Then we got info, that those people could produce some mixtures or medicine, that were as if by miracle efficient. That changed a lot. Big fishes in military or police to work good, efficient need to be little psycho in their heads. Moment, when they can benefit or get an order or badge, they are able to sell all but closest friends for it. System works, that that kind of people got to the top of military or police. In Poland, and as far as I knew, on the West. I wouldn’t talk about places where janitors could become generals, because those countries, empire even, would crumble with time.

I felt, when military big fishes cut off police forces from details of operation. I was only one left at the core of operation, as I had contacts with strange group in War-Saw. With time it became more and more secret, what military did and had.

When we got info, what to do to take control over ownerless bio-stone we had something ridiculous for me happened. I was one and only civilian, that knew situation. I got long talk with one of big fishes. He didn’t talk, that it was important secret or anything like that. No. He told me, that I was candidate for new host. When I asked why, he said, that he couldn’t send soldier on this mission, as responsibility in case of complications would be put on his shoulders then. I tried to ask with different angle, to understand where was problem, that blocked military. As far as I could put it together in my head, military couldn’t send soldier to tasks, that were out of soldier responsibilities. In times of peace, as in times of war soldier responsibilities became kind of blurry.

I was old. My chances for going through process without complications most likely were lot lower than one of young, strong soldiers. Then I saw, why generals were called psychos. He said to me, that in case of complications or my death loss for military would be much lower. He said it in my face. And added, that it was my patriotic responsibility, duty, to help military. He was fucking asshole. Then he went with sugarcoated arguments, that I would be hero, that I would have all support military could give me, I would get some military status after I would succeed. There were also threats, that otherwise my reputation would be shattered, especially among police big fishes. Threats was partially hidden under compliments.

I needed to think. I got six hours for decision. I could choose anything. I was civilian. I was old prick, that retired, so reputation loss wouldn’t kill me. I wanted to get out of there. Only feeling of guilt stopped me. I started this story. I went for culprits that way and let military join chase. If I went away other would need to take risk. In my place. That general knew where to hit me. Maybe it was universal way, they taught officers to motivate soldiers. Go for their ambition and go for their guilt. You miss at one, then surely another would be your success. It worked on me. From the beginning, from first case I took, when I was retired, I had need to be helpful. I couldn’t stop, like other people that lived calmly after retiring. I still was doing things, that could pose some risk to me, if culprits would know at some point, that I was chasing them. Did I need that adrenaline? Wouldn’t I help better by writing books about crimes and criminals. Maybe I subconsciously took meme from my younger times, that writing books were for pussies and real policemen died on duty. My professors from police school, that wrote books, proclaimed that meme. I knew it was bullshit, but I lived partially according to that bullshit. Sometimes, maybe when you are older and know more about yourself, you talk with yourself over some decision, but you know, that you already chose one option. That talk to yourself is only smoke screen, attempt to look better before yourself. We are taught some rules, cultural and civilization rules, and we often rationalize our decisions after we made them, to mislead ourself and others, that we went according to cultural and civilization rules. What that shows us about humanity? I, as retired policeman, would say, that we are loony bastards.

Or maybe not, as I chose to became host.

It took some time, but we were ready, I was ready, for process of becoming a host. We went to War-Saw with bio-stone. I and six soldiers, that cared about my safety. And cargo safety. Everything looked normal during journey.

We came at medical plant with cryochamber. Coal was waiting with others. There was even doctor present. I got special info, how linking would look. I was talking silently with people, that called themselves Devas or Devas chosen. Two soldiers were few meters from us. They didn’t hear us, but they duty was to stay in line of sight and help me if need arises. Other four were guarding cargo.

So it was like bloody ritual. I was quite sceptic about it, but if it somehow worked, that was all I need. Devas talked about themselves, that aura of bio-stone was changed, probably due to long time since Kirk’s death. It was good occurrence, they assured me.

Bio-stone was taken into cryochamber. I got short medical examination. They asked me to put EEG on my head. That was helmet with electrodes inside, that measured currents in my head. I wore lot of warm clothes on myself. I went into cryochamber and put some of my blood on bio-stone surface. We drained some blood before I went to cryochamber, as it was more safe and less wasteful. When I went back from chamber I felt dizziness and vomited on the floor. They took care of me, soldiers were observing them. Hour later we repeated procedure. I didn’t vomit, I fainted that time. Coal was comforting me saying, that last time it took lot longer to go in repeatedly. I asked him why the difference, and he was almost sure, that it was because during take over host was still alive. I got chills.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

I had some stories from my police career, when culprits told me, that victim was still alive, when they left crime site. It always meant, that victim was death, when police got there.

After another two hours, I went another time in. That time I felt weak after, but I didn’t do show out of myself after. About twelve hours after I started procedure I heard some unrecognizable whispers. Doctor didn’t react as I expected. He sent me to talk with Devas. They told me, that bio-stone had inside conscious entity. I would hear from this entity more and more during process. I shouldn’t tell military personnel about it, if I wanted to live under radar. Otherwise I could end up on dissection table. I had some doubts. They told me to wait until I would be able to talk with entity. Four hours later I could.

Soldiers couldn’t notice anything. I was going into cryochamber in some intervals, then I was examined by doctor, then I rest, possible got nap. Pair of soldiers observed me and cryochamber. They were on rotation duty with others. When I touched bio-stone during pouring blood, I heard, that he wanted to talk. I asked who he was and other identification questions, I could think of. I left him there, as I didn’t want to rise suspicions and cryochamber was cold inside. I stayed inside about minute longer than usually.

I felt as if I drank big, intensive coffee. My heart was beating fast and I was restless. Soldier asked, if I was ok, I couldn’t answer anything else, than yes. It took another eight hours, and I was able to talk with it in my mind, when I was in close proximity to it. Devas communicated, that procedure would end in about four hours and that it was success.

I was old prick. I liked talking a lot. I named entity Sleuth. Previous host called it Spock, but it didn’t sit well with me. The more I talked, the more astonished I became. I knew, I didn’t want to go back to military. I was civilian, they couldn’t do much against me, but they could took away my bio-stone. I needed to play it subtle.

I wanted to talk with Devas. When they came and we looked into our eyes, they immediately knew. I was on their side now. Devas side was my side from that moment. They would help me.

POV Mouse

I couldn’t find myself among Huntress team of people’s person. I was more of solitary person. Then I felt, that I contributed too little to the team, to Devas. I felt I was somebody half recognized by others. I talked sometimes with Asmo or Sith, as I kind of like them. But they had their own problems as they couldn’t produce heart medicine. I couldn’t find place for myself. Perhaps I was too passive.

Then Nameless came with his strange project. I felt, that if I ditched it, I would be seen as failure. Even Luigi had more contacts with others than I. Nameless was some king of authority there, even if right at that moment Huntress was one calling orders.

So, we went after people that were interested in spying Devas due to innate distrust. I came to one of them. I wrote with him some messages earlier. He invited me to his flat. At that moment I wasn’t afraid of any normal humans. I came. He looked nervous, that nice lady came to see him. We drunk tee and talk some small talks first. Nameless said, that it was for the best, as some psychologist wrote, that people needed to use to other new person around them. Guy I visited lived in very small flat and there was lot of chaos there, even if he tried to hide it. After half of sweets were eaten with tee, I poked him a little.

-= So, you spied on us because your friend liked us? It’s kind of ridiculous. Or maybe not, if you aimed for romantic relationship.

-= It’s not like that. – He said. – My friend is man. – He showed me, that he liked women. – I just felt angry, that he didn’t spend so much time with me anymore. We were best friends earlier.

-= Sorry, that you lost your best friend.

-= Yeah, I know, that it isn’t your fault.

There was long moment of silence.

-= You know, I came here because you were able to resist our interrogation for such long time, I was impressed.

-= Thank you.

-= Some of us, higher tiers in Devas organization are afraid, that there could be hostile takeover by some evil forces. – After I said that, he had open mouth. I wondered, if we needed people like him. – Seriously. We tap onto magic and we are afraid, that someone could go on dark side.

He gathered himself up.

-= What does that have to do with me? – He asked.

I took some sweets and drank some warm tee.

-= We see you as talented one. We want to create organization in secret, that would react with magic force if lines would be crossed.

-= Wow. – I wouldn’t believe, that was right guy, if I didn’t know about his perseverance in spying us. – That magic thing, is it real?

I took hand out and created plasma ball. Initial flame was provided by smart mechanism attached to wrist. Guy backed off, fell out of his chair. He panted heavily. I let plasma burned out.

He looked at me more suspicious, that at the beginning of my visit.

-= What is the price I must pay for this gift?

He probably suspected, that I would ask for his soul. I was tempted for a moment to do just that.

-= I already told you. We just want you in case, that someone would misuse magic. We want to teach you some magic, but it’s like with everything people try to learn. Some have better talents to some things, some had better to other things. – I needed to put him on the ground.

There is one thing my teacher of history taught me. More bad things was done by idealists, that didn’t acknowledge reality, than by villains that consciously tried to do evil.

-= Point is, - I continued. – if you want to spend much of your time on things, that aren’t really useful.

-= Magic is useless?

-= For now we can use it only for fight, that is most useless use of anything I can think about.

That hit him hard. End of hero story, start of grinding story. But we established with Nameless, that we didn’t want anybody, who would dream of being hero as our candidate. I pushed really hard that rule.

-= So why do you want to create that secret organization of useless magical users?

-= If you want peace, you need to be ready for a war. It’s a saying, but we think it’s wise.

-= I don’t have money to learn magic, if I would need to resign from my work.

When one was talking about money, it meant, that he or she was grounded enough.

-= We will pay you and if you succeed in learning magic, we would find way for you to earn money.

He looked into my eyes searching for some emotion, maybe recognition, that he was special. He didn’t found it.

-= I agree. – He said without much enthusiasm.