Chapter 71: The Ruinous Powers.

The sirens had been ringing non-stop for minutes now. Their cries piercing through air and stone alike.

They were so loud that I had to actively resist the temptation to bring my hands up to my ears. Despite the very real need to keep them at the ready, in case one or more of the monsters decided they wanted seconds.

The sounds of chewing were being muffled out somewhat by this point, though not enough for me to ignore them.

'Stupid.' I thought to myself. 'So very stupid. Every single one of my teachers had droned on and on and on about the need to be ready. To always be prepared for an attack. Years upon years of keeping my knives close at hand, only to leave them home right before a fucking Rift broke open.'

That notion brought on a fresh wave of spite from the bottom of my heart.

Every nation under the sway of the United Militaries should have been contributing S-Ranks and A-Ranks to the interception efforts. Instead, what we got was a measly ten A-Ranks. Six of whom were from the surrounding countries. That and all the B-Ranks the mainland could spare on short notice.

All because some idiots had started admitting to a bunch of crimes and killing off the ultra-wealthy on the other side of the globe. Teleporting in and out of mansions with impunity and running circles around all the subjugation attempts.

It had been hilarious a week ago. Now, not so much.

'Shit! It's not like they're doing anything that bad! Those S-Ranks live like kings on taxpayer dime so they should be out here helping to stop the literal end of the world! Those billionaires have enough money for private security anyway! They don't need S-Rank bodyguards!'

There had to be more to that story. I just knew it.

But the facts remained the same. The only jackasses strong enough to help were sitting on their assess while the rest of us were stuck dealing with the fallout.

The lights were beginning to sputter as the building continued to shake. The ornately decorated lanterns falling down unto the floor one after the other. Crashing and breaking like so much cheap nonsense while the feathered fish feasted. Their talons digging into shoulders and bellies.

Disemboweling would-be heroes by the score.

Even then, there were those who were stupid enough to fight back. Picking up chairs or broken table legs or even the odd kitchen knife taken from the kitchen and brandishing them in defence of their lovers, their children or their parents.

Not me.

I stayed put beneath the table, as the monsters ate the woman. Her dress had been as elegant as her makeup had been exquisite. The telltale sign of a fan looking to spend one night with the target of her infatuation.

Her eyes had shone like diamonds as we walked through the restaurant. Sparkling with mischief as she made sure that all the other patrons could see her moving with her arms wrapped around those of a hero.

That had been a special moment to her. One that she would surely have relished for the rest of her life. She probably had fantasies of meeting with me again. Perhaps even becoming my wife at some point.

It was a game me and my team members liked to play on occasion. Seeing how far we could take things without our dates realizing that we hadn't bothered to learn their names.

Now, those eyes were empty and hollow. Looking my way without actually seeing me, as the winged fish tore chunks of flesh from her midsection.

I could feel them digging into me. Penetrating my very being with scathing accusations.

Asking me why.

'Because I'm only C-Rank! You stupid bimbo!' I cursed internally. 'My one and only trick is phasing through stuff! You should have run like your life depended on it when I killed the first two! Because it did!'

The power had been enough to get me classified as a high-C. Almost on the verge of being B-Rank. It was excellent for killing lone villains or big alpha monsters roaming around. Especially with the stealth suit, as they hardly ever saw me coming.

'But it's a hungry little thing and I'll keel right over if I extend myself too much. I had no choice! This is your fault! I told you to run!'

Instead, the vapid cow had glued herself to me. As if my one power didn't rely on sneaky takedowns! As if I wasn't a squishy Projector who'd die in one hit!

'Stupid. How could someone from such a good family and with so many degrees be so fucking stupid?'

I resisted the urge to click my tongue as those eyes kept looking my way. Almost as if they were following me beyond death. Accusing me of something.

'This wasn't my fault you simpering fool! Blame the S-Ranks for not being here when they were finally needed! Blame yourself for having the survival instincts of a lobotomized hamster! Blame your socialite parents for never teaching you to cut and run the second monsters show up!'

Yes. That was it.

It wasn't me that was in the wrong. It was her parents and her mouth-breathing teachers and her brain-dead friends.

They were undoubtedly the kind of people who saw John Gardens' movies and thought to themselves that they'd be able to foil the bad guy's evil ploy by doing a triple summersault and punching them in the face.

In other words, imbeciles.

The kind were destined to subtract themselves from the gene pool sooner, rather than later.

One couldn't afford to be like that where I was from. The day you lost your fear was the day some gang member took you for your organs.

You had to be quick. You had to be ruthless. You had to be hard and cold enough to leave friends behind if they were slowing you down.

If you weren't... well.

There had been a lot of missing kids in those slums.

Getting powers at twelve had been my ticket out. My one chance at the good life. But no one had handed it to me on silver platter. I had to bite, claw and bludgeon my way to the top of my class just to have shot at greatness. I bled for all the fame I had. I trained until my muscles screamed and my bones cracked. I even suffered through the meetings with the assholes at marketing and allowed them to call me the edgiest name imaginable.

There was no way I was going to put all that work, all that effort, to waste. Not by throwing my life away.

No sir. Shadowblade was going to live long enough to retire, thank you very much.

Another body fell in front of me. A man, this time. Plopping down onto the food-covered floor with all his luxurious fineries.

'That suit was probably worth more than the hut I grew up in.' I thought absentmindedly.

Now it was thoroughly stained with a mixture of wet noodles, spilled soup and oozing blood. It's owner's eyes staring at me with an expression of shocked disbelief.

As if the fool had died thinking he, of all people, was going to make a difference.

It took all the effort I could muster to keep myself from spitting at him. At the lingering defiance in his expression.

My fists clenched and I found myself retreating deeper into my own mind. Seeking refuge in my training. To the point where I could hear my teacher's voice inside my own head again. That slow, flat tone devoid of rage or love or anything else that might make someone human.

'Blot out the world. Push away all emotion. Kill the child within you, so that the man may live.'

I did so. Following his teachings like the good little student I was.

My heartbeat began to slow down, as my mind became clear. My senses spreading out and analyzing my surroundings.

'Thirteen monsters within my field of vision. Roughly two-dozen in total, if the sounds are any indication. None are actively following the servers or waitstaff that fled down the halls. Likely not seeking to hunt once they've felled prey. Limited intelligence, since me killing two didn't deter the rest, and they didn't bother chasing me once they found easier targets. Estimated power level is mid-C. Estimated danger level of the individual is low-C to high-D. Estimated danger level in swarms is high-C. Enhancer abilities confirmed given how their claws go through furniture. Possible Shifter or Projector abilities on top of that. Some advanced sensory abilities to locate prey hiding behind walls from the outside, but not enough intelligence to keep using them once they begin to feed. None are actively seeking me out right now, despite the table and the tablecloth offering less cover than the walls outside. Sensory abilities might be active and draining, instead of passive. More observation is required.'

My eyes went from the dead man's face, to the far side of the restaurant. Where deep holes had been gouged out of the walls. The patterns did not suggest direct penetration caused by the impact of Enhanced bodies on re-enforced concrete. Rather, they more closely resembled the marks left behind by industrial drills.

'Projectors then. Localized telekinetic fields around themselves to burrow into buildings or penetrate the defences of bigger prey. They can rotate them to swim right through concrete. The shields are not constant or else they would have intercepted my phasing powers. They also don't have access to more flexible uses of Telekinesis, or else they would use it more actively while hunting. Amend evaluation to high-C. Possibly mid-B while in a swarm. Best counter would be Pyrokinesis, Electrokinesis, Cryokinesis, sonic grenades, cluster bombs or wide-range Telepathic assaults.'

I nodded slowly to myself.

That was good enough for the time being.

I still couldn't retreat below the floor due to the sounds of slaughter coming from below, but those would soon turn into the sounds of feasting.

If the sensory abilities were indeed active, the monsters could be caught unawares.

All it would take was a little bit of patience on my end and I could kill a few whilst they ripped into some banker. Not having my tools was a shame, but I could still count on my own hands, so long as I had the element of surprise. Going in and ripping organs out was dirty, risky work, but it would have to do.

My breathing steadied even further as my muscles tensed and untensed. My body readying itself to strike as if I were a coiled viper.

Only for my senses to pick up on the sounds around me. Or rather, the lack thereof.

The sirens were still howling and some plates were still crashing down onto the floor here and there, but the sounds of chewing were no longer present.

I froze in place. Wondering if these things had some kind of Telepathic potential after all.

Until the beasts screeched as one and flew out of the building.

I gaped.

Not quite able to believe what had happened.

'Is it some social instinct? Some signal they all follow before scampering off?'

No.

That didn't make any sense whatsoever. Monsters never retreated unless they were actively being attacked. Even then, they'd do everything in their power to take their meals with them before fleeing.

Unless...

'Unless they're some kind of alpha leading the way. A queen or king that sent out Telepathic or bio-chemical signals to control the horde.'

That was a dreadful possibility.

It would mean that these things would be able to coordinate enough to carry out rudimentary tactics, so long as their leader or leaders were still alive. It would mean that they'd learn and adapt their behaviours in accordance to the opposition they faced. It would mean that they'd re-focus their efforts to remove any opposition right now, in order to feast in peace later.

'Right then. Time to find myself a speedboat and sail right on out of here.'

I was about to do just that, when something curious happened.

I tried to move my arms, but found them stiff and uncooperative.

Until they weren't.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

I was crawling out from under the table. Without meaning to. Then I was getting on my feet and sprinting towards the stairs. Again, without meaning to.

Then I was screaming.

Moving the only muscles still under my control to express a teensy, tiny fraction of the sheer fucking terror pumping through my veins right now.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!! PLEASE NOOOO!!!!!!! NOOOO!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"

It felt as tough I were a passenger in my own body. Forced to watch as it made movements that were not my own. All of my muscles and all of my bones shifting in concert without any input on my part.

I tried to twist my head, to strike some obstacle with my skull in hopes that it might be enough to dispel the subjugation. But I couldn't reach. I couldn't make it stop. I couldn't do anything.

My legs were moving and I wasn't able to do anything about it.

'No! No! This is not how it ends! This can't be how it ends! I've come too far! Sacrificed too much! It can't end like this!'

I could already picture it.

My body becoming a plaything for some fucking pervert who'd chosen this night of all nights to come out of hiding.

If it even was a person at all.

If, by some happenstance, it was a monster controlling me....

"HEEEEEEEELP!!!!! HEEEEEEEELP!!!!! I DON'T WANNA DIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"

I ran and ran and ran. Moving like a puppet on strings. My body dashing downwards in spite of my desperate resistance.

Then I was out on the streets. Surrounded by hordes of humans, all moving in the same direction I was.

There must have been hundreds of thousands there. Maybe even millions.

All those people who'd survived the monsters coming out and marching in lock-step to the whims of an unseen horror.

I looked up, trying to search for another hero. Anyone who might still be out there helping with the rescue efforts and who might be able to intervene.

That's when I saw the vast, seemingly endless swarms of winged fish. Tearing each other to fucking pieces off in the distance. Their vicious melee causing chunks of despoiled flesh and bone to fall down towards the pavement. Their bloody remains rupturing upon impact like ripened melons.

'Not a monster then. No. This was all being done by a person. A Telepath. One powerful enough to dominate an entire S-Rank Rift's worth of monster and all the civilians of Hong Kong besides.'

I faintly recalled the latest population figures.

The city had been one of the few places in Asia not impacted by the war. So that its population had remained somewhat consistent over the decades.

Right now, it was something along the lines of seven million people.

I craned my neck up once more. To see the unfolding carnage as monster fought monster. Then I looked around myself. Taking in the streets filled with corpses and turned over cars. Noting the way those very roads were filled to bursting with pedestrians marching in perfect unison, so that no one was trampled underfoot despite our speed and the weight of our numbers.

One person had done this. Just one.

My mind raced over the possibilities, until at last it landed on one, sickening fact.

Eclipse, one of the supervillains responsible for WW3 had been an S-Rank.

And they had never been caught.

"HEEEEEEEELP!!!!! HEEEEEEEELP!!!!! I DON'T WANNA BE A SLAAAVEEEEE!!!!!!! HEEEEEEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!"

Other people were screaming too. Wailing with every ounce of their strength.

Some promised money. Others political favours. A few here and there promised houses or jewels. Fast cars and luxury yachts.

They kept moving all the same.

Weeping and snivelling without end.

Just, like, me.

We were made to move through it all. Our new master not caring about what any of us had to say.

'Why did this have to happen to me? Why now? Is it because of the Rift? Did Eclipse think that all the heroes were dead?'

If so, then there was still hope.

Someone would notice eventually. Someone would send word to the other S-Ranks around the globe. I mean, sure. They hadn't moved when the whole city had been in danger, but this was an S-Rank Telepath we were talking about. The whole world was at stake. Surely, something would be done. Surely the United Militaries wouldn't sit idly by while another World War unfolded. Surely they were drafting up a plan even now!

That's when I recalled what happened the last time Eclipse enslaved a population center. The last time the leaders of the world had feared that humanity at large might be enslaved.

The then United Nations had been unable to pinpoint the location of the mastermind due to the sheer amount of people they'd dominated.

And so the French had launched their nukes. Reasoning that it would be kinder to kill billions rather than allowing the whole world to fall.

I looked up at the sky once more and then all around me.

And I could no longer contain the truth.

'I'm going to die. All of us are going to die. The United Militaries will realize what's going on and nuke this whole island off the face of the earth.'

I could not even muster the strength to scream anymore.

Instead, I wept. Choking back bitter tears as I thought back to the woman in the restaurant. At how she had clung to me. To hope.

Her efforts had seemed to stupid at the time. So irrational.

Yet I could not stop myself from following in her footsteps. My brain desperately clinging on to any scrap of hope.

And coming up short.

'I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I didn't mean to. I was scared. Please don't hate me. Please don't haunt me. Please forgive me, if we ever see each other on the other side.'

I'd always thought of religion as just another way to control the fools in the working class, but I found myself praying now. Begging with all the energy I could muster that whatever calamity was unfolding would pass me by.

Conjuring half-forgotten prayers my mother had taught me, before she left us forever.

'Please, if you're listening. Please don't let me die. I don't want to die. Please, save me. I don't care if everyone else dies, but please save me. I've tried so hard. I've fought for so long. Please. Don't let this be my fate. Please show me a way out.'

But no one answered my prayers.

No one came.

We were forced to keep moving.

Keep marching towards some pile of rubble.

And there I saw them.

A man dressed in a red astronaut costume and a woman covered head to toe in painted paramilitary gear. Tinted visors blocked off their faces, but I had no doubt that they were both smiling maliciously.

'One of them has to be Eclipse, but who's the other one?'

The man was saying something, but I was too far away to hear him.

Then, I felt as though a pro-wrestler had hit me over the head with a brick.

My vision blurring as memories came unbidden.

Not with faces or with names or with any other identifying events.

But with inescapable, unrelenting torment.

There was the cave, the bugs, the mushrooms, the centipede, the vines, the poison, the stream, the deaths, the swarms, the status, the fog, the bolts, the fever, the illusions, the resolve, the traps, the eels, the cleaver, the bunny suit, the shotgun, the strike, the wrath, the mole, the knight and [Precognition]. Sweet merciful Buddha, the fucking [Precognition]!

I tried to scream but could not manage to move my mouth. I tried to plead, but the words died in my throat.

In the distance, a voice could be heard. A drunken, slurred chant echoing in the void.

“Star and Moon. Strength and Chariot. The Hanged Man! The Emperor is the Fool. He dances with a paper crown and the bells in his motley jingle to mark his passing! The Empress is under the sea! Upside down where the Sun can’t reach! Her face is black and blue!”

“Fat birds are playing in the snow! Hiding a fox under their skirts! The Magician slays the dragon with her silver wand! Men cheer and Women weep! Her armor glitters and sparkles! The chains! Oh, the chains! They strangle me! They strangle you! But are they touching us?”

“Under the sea and over the stars. A thousand maggots slither. They grow big and they grow fat, before the great corpse withers.”

“Juices fall and juices rise, dancing to the beat. Yet none will stay and none will sing, all will turn to meat.”

“He comes and she comes after, burning with a vengeance. He will die and she will smile, passing down her sentence.”

“The spider looks, the spider sees, everywhere and nowhere. It is there and it is here, watching from the corner.”

“I see you. I know you. You cannot escape. None can run and none can hide from the Coffin or the Drake.”

“The shadows come to play and sing and dance. They stroll about the cobweb, tearing its expanse.”

“The mirror cannot hold. The mirror cannot stay. The shards of glass will all fly out and blind those in the way.”

“The Coffin is still empty, very musty and very cold. Its owner hides behind the veil, eyes glittering with gold.”

“The Drake is loud and furious. Terrible in wrath. Its tendrils invite horrid doom to all within its path.”

“The butcher will come! With fire and sword! To cast you out of your homes and burn all that you hold dear! But I won’t be here! You’ll have driven me away! You’ll have no one to defend you! No one!”

“You are all blind! Your eyes are yet to open! See the world now! See it through my eyes! Feel it through my blood!”

"Under solid Earth! Under boiling Seas! Under burning Skies!"

'It hurts! It hurts! It hurts too much! I was wrong! Kill me! Kill me! Make it stop! Somebody make it stop!'

But it didn't stop.

There was the lure, the snails, the pumas, the bridge, the seahorses, the fall, the plants, the tree, the thing that turned into the suit! I could feel it! Wrapping itself around me and slithering its way into my pores! Into my bloodstream!

There was the calm, the madman, the diary, the cold, the drones, the nightmare, the water, the leviathan, the deluge, the gnomes! The gnomes! The gnomes!

Dear (Gnome)ing Buddha the mother(Gnome)ing gnomes!

Then came the saving and the speech and the....

I hurled.

My mouth releasing the contents of my stomach even as my body remined frozen.

I saw the gnome.

Periwig.

Burning my world to ash.

I saw that no one but this monster, this Tyrant, could hope to match his forces.

I saw the end and the death.

And the angel, with three heads.

----------------------------------------

The office was buzzing with activity.

Hundreds upon hundreds of useless fucking layabouts in suits worth more than their miserable lives coming and going like bees near a hive.

'No. That's not a very apt description.' I thought bitterly. 'Bees actually do something.'

I felt the weariness of all my years weighing down my bones. My body aching for rest, for a good night's sleep, for my thrice-dammed pills.

But those were luxuries I couldn't afford.

There were maybe six or seven people in this entire building that actually knew how to do their jobs. Including myself.

If I left, the chances of getting any help to Hong Kong would go from near-zero, to well below zero.

So, I swiped another mug of coffee and began giving orders.

"I want a direct line to general Lemay." I told one of the nameless aides meandering about.

"S, sorry director Carter. The general has explicitly stated that he is not to be disturbed at this hour."

I whirled about. Desperately suppressing the impulse to smash his teeth in with the mug.

"I don't care that he's doing his mistresses Dingleberry! I want him on the line now!"

"It's, actually Desmond Perry sir."

I stared at him. Not saying anything while everyone else was about like a bunch of headless chickens.

"Dingleberry." I finally managed. "I continue to suffer your mouth-breathing imbecility only because all my direct superiors forced me to take you on as an aide. I know your mother got you this job. I know exactly who she bribed and how much she paid each representative. I even know that she has delusions that you are not, in fact, as capable as a senile chipmunk and that you've somehow convinced her that you are my successor."

I approached him.

Keeping my posture straight and my eyes hard.

"Now, in case you haven't noticed, there is a literal apocalypse taking the eastern hemisphere by storm. All while the general responsible for managing the entire world's S-Rank assets is off buggering a couple of twenty-somethings. I know that our official line will have to go through his receptionist and I know she will do jack-all. I also know you have a direct line to him while I don't. I know this because he is friends with your mommy and daddy. This was the main reason why you haven't mysteriously disappeared while on assignment. Yet."

I made sure to pronounce that last word with all the gravity I could muster. So that even this cretin understood his position.

"You will use this personal line now. Or I will personally see to it that the waste of skin known as Desmond Perry suffers an unfortunate head injury due to driving under the influence. I promise you. With the spectres of my missing family as my witness, that no one will suspect a thing."

In another time, these threats might have been uncalled for. Especially with Dingleberry's particular backing.

My words could have endangered my family. His backers could have used them against me.

But all of them were gone.

And I had nothing left to lose.

I kept approaching. Until he stumbled backwards and tripped like some drunken clown.

"Now. Call."

He did as I bade him.

Simpering sobs escaping his lips as his hands trembled.

The sight made me sick to my stomach.

'How is it that my son and his wife are missing and presumed dead, while this fool draws breath? How is it that my grandson is gone when this wretch gets to live?'

It was the very height of unfairness. But then again, when had the world ever been fair?

The phone in his hands rang. Once, twice, and then general Lemay picked up. His voice betraying the fact that he had been drinking.

I swiped the device and spoke loudly and slowly.

"The situation in Hong Kong has deteriorated. The Rift has opened up. The assets are dead or missing. Local air defences have failed. Local resistance had crumbled. The biggest waves are striking the city, but splinter groups are headed towards Japan, Korea, the Philippines and New Zealand. Enemy has been confirmed as Swarm-Class. Low B-Rank when in groups of ten. High B-Rank in larger groups. Satellite imaging has confirmed the presence of three million and counting. Though more are probably waiting beneath the sea. I need Sirocco, Shatter Storm, Sun Swallow and Smite en route to the Rift's location right now."

There was a tired groan on the other side.

"I told that boy to keep his connections private. How did you find out?"

"He tried to bring a couple of our interns home. He has loose lips. They reported him for being a creep."

Another sigh.

"Not very smart of them. Desmond is going places. They could have been very comfortable by his side."

I took a deep, calming breath. Holding it in to keep my fury locked up tight.

'Positive thoughts Gus. You can't help anyone without his help and you haven't found a way to have him killed just yet. Keep it together. Happy thoughts. Positive thoughts.'

"If you say so." I finally conceded. Grinding my teeth as the words left my mouth.

"Now, the assets..."

"Are still needed in the Americas." Lemay cut in sharply.

"Those terrorists have made fools out of us one too many times. They've killed three generals for fuck's sake! And a bunch of other upstanding citizens and pillars of the international community!"

'A bunch of degenerates and fiends more like.' I thought to myself.

The fact that the perpetrators had all been low-level grunts only added to my respect for the opposition. Not only did the usual tactic of taking family members hostage not work due to the evident mind-control, but it also served to expose more secrets as the few independent media sources left dug into the killers' pervious lives and activities.

Sure, they'd been brain-washed, but we brain-washed people every other day and we'd never had this level of success.

'Now if only the mastermind would be kind enough to take a few more generals out. We might actually improve living standards around the world.'

"We cannot suffer them to be at large! They must all be captured and questioned immediately!"

'Yeah. As if that would help.'

That Mason fellow had seen his entire family executed without batting an eye. If the domination wasn't dispelled after that, the chances of getting anything useful out of him or the others was less than negligible. Not to mention the fact that all members of his group had multiple Types and could teleport around like coked-up ninjas at the drop of a hat.

Then again, that was the whole point.

That Mason brat had been a nobody prior to the brain-washing. Less than C-Rank.

Whatever process he endured turned him and the others into elites at the drop of a hat. To the point where they could reliably out-maneuver capture efforts. You'd have a better chance strangling a lake than getting a hold of them.

Everyone and their mother saw that and wanted to know what that process was. Consequences be dammed.

"We can hide away important targets and resume operations at a later date. Right now, Hong Kong is what's important. The people there..."

"Are a secondary concern." Lemay finished. Sounding more and more irritated the longer the conversation dragged on.

I took another deep breath. Imagining a scenario where I got to wrap my fingers around his throat. Smiling as that version of me squeezed the air from Lemay's lungs.

"And what do you propose we do about these..." I paused. Cringing at the words. "Secondary concerns?"

"Nuke the city." Lemay answered. With a casual ease that took even my breath away.

"I beg you pardon?"

"Well you don't have it. I'm not forgiving you for going through improper channels to reach me. Now stop whining. If you put as much effort into catching these terrorists as you do into whining about civilian issues, then we might have the answers in hand at this very moment. Hong Kong is a local concern. For our Chinese branch. They can handle it themselves or else step down and let someone more capable take over."

His voice turned just a little bit jolly after that.

"Perhaps that can be a likely avenue to Desmond's next promotion. We'll have to see. In any case, keep monitoring the situation and let the guys over there know that our hands are tied. Make sure you offer them the nuclear option if the city falls. Yeah, they'll lose a couple blocks, but it should save the rest of the relevant sectors. Now give the phone back to Desmond and forget we ever had this conversation."

He hung up. Leaving me alone with my thoughts.

And Desmond.

My eyes drifted over to him now. To this wastrel. Noting how he stood a little taller now that Lemay had mentioned his good prospects.

A smile blossomed on my face then. A little joy returning to my cold heart.

"Well, Desmond. I suppose you're up for a promotion and, oops. I seem to have dropped your phone. How very clumsy of me."

His own simpering smile stiffened in response to my own. Sweat gathering on his brow.

"Uh, thank you?"

"Which is why you better start getting to know your new charges sooner, rather than later."

"Okay? How soon?"

"Immediately." I said. My smile growing even further. "The jet should be fueled up and ready to go. You leave for Hong Kong tonight."