Quinn inhaled deeply. “Just run that by me one more time.”

Saxon and Herman sat just across from Quinn in her office.

“Which part?” Saxon asked.

“All of it,” Quinn responded.

“Ok, so after the Desmond, and Epilogue cases I ended up going to Midas headquarters downtown to check their files,” Saxon said.

“Naturally,” Quinn replied sarcastically.

“So I accessed Midas’ files,” Saxon continued.

“After nearly getting caught,” Quinn clarified.

“Irrelevant now,” Saxon said dismissively. “Turns out a lot of their avatars are having their mythoi changed, including Desmond, hence why it was so easy to catch him.”

“And you think the one doing this is a member of the FMPD?” Quinn asked.

“We believe so,” Herman said, interjecting himself into the conversation. “Based on Saxon’s findings one of the people who had their mythos altered confirmed having met with somebody who had an FMPD badge.”

“Continue,” Quinn commanded, pinching her nose.

Saxon nodded his head. “I checked Midas’ list of avatars who have experienced changes in their mythos and went to pay the one at the top of the list a visit.

So I make my way to their residence in Backwater, but it turns out they’re a member of the Killian family.”

“Because things just had to get worse,” Quinn lamented.

“The whole situation turns into a massive fight,” Saxon replied. “In the end, I came out on top, and decided to search the place. Didn’t find much on Midas.

What I did find was a report on the Chimera family.”

“Afterward, Saxon called me to take him home,” Herman remarked. “It wasn’t long after that that he told me everything he had uncovered.”

“So then after a flood of tips came in regarding the Chimera family we decided to act on the information we had discovered and conduct a proper investigation,” Saxon said.

“And you also roped Lya into this, because she couldn’t be the one changing mythoi, since she didn’t have a badge until after this supposed encounter with our mythoi changing mastermind took place,” Quinn said.

“Correct,” Saxon said.

“We also felt comfortable telling you since you were here with me when that meeting took place,” Herman noted. “Emmanuel, Mori, Charon, and Alex were also all here on that night, so they have an alibi as well. Also, Varrick doesn’t have a badge, so he’s also clear of any suspicion.”

“But anyone unaccounted for can’t be let in on this?” Quinn asked.

“We believe that’s for the best,” Herman answered.

“And that’s everything?” Quinn asked.

Saxon and Herman looked at each other.

They had omitted quite large chunks of the story. In particular, Saxon helping Octave, and Kuri’s involvement were details they didn’t feel they could share.

“Yeah that’s everything,” Saxon said.

Quinn looked down at the completed report on the Chimera family sitting on her desk. Alongside it, was a recommendation for a raid on the Chimera family to take place as soon as possible.

“Quinn, I know the path to get here may have been a little rocky, but the truth is right there,” Herman said, gesturing at the report. “I know it's Saxon, but the evidence in there was all acquired legally.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Saxon asked, offended.

Herman ignored Saxon and continued speaking. “With the rate they're growing, the Chimera family will soon be a threat to more than just Backwater. We should deal with this problem before that happens.”

“Still, betting the whole operation on new recruits is too risky,” Quinn responded.

“With all due respect,” Saxon said, “what other choice do we have?”

Quinn glared at Saxon with disapproval in her eyes. However, Saxon continued. “Quinn, if the person who changed Draumur’s mythos, thus enabling him to build this family in the first place, is placed on the team meant to take him down, then the odds of our success drop to zero.

Herman and I have the experience needed. Lya took down a high-ranking avatar in the Chimera family by herself.”

“The three of you alone won’t be enough,” Quinn rebutted.

“We’re aware,” Herman replied. “Lya mentioned a group of three from the academy known as the Anagrams who were talented enough to keep pace with her. Supposedly they joined the raid team. We were hoping to ask Varrick about them.”

Quinn laid back in her chair and gave a thousand-yard stare.

Saxon stood from his chair. “I’ve done my job, Quinn. Now it’s time to do yours.”

Quinn closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Ok, we’ll do it your way. Please, prove me right.”

“We will, I promise,” Herman answered.

Quinn opened her eyes and stood from her chair. “Let’s head down. Mori’s probably finished the autopsy on the avatar of the vampire by now.”

Quinn, Saxon, and Herman exited Quinn’s office. The three of them made their way into the basement of the FMPD, where the autopsy room was located.

Mori, the FMPD’s forensic pathologist, was there to greet the group. “Glad you could make it.”

“Status report,” Quinn requested.

“Should be finished soon,” Mori answered. “Ran into a couple of abnormalities, so it’s taking me a little longer.”

“Any idea where Lya and Varrick are?” Saxon asked.

“Waiting area,” Mori responded, pointing at a door behind her.

“Thanks,” Saxon said.

The three made their way into the waiting area, leaving Mori to finish up her examination of the avatar of the vampire’s body. As they entered, they saw Lya talking to Varrick.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“So I was confused why some of the coins hurt him, and others didn’t,” Lya said, recounting her fight with the avatar of the werewolf. “Then I remembered how werewolves could be hurt by silver, so I filled my sock with silver coins, and that seemed to do the trick.”

“Smart thinking,” Varrick remarked. “If you can figure out your opponent’s mythos, it’ll help you figure out their abilities. Do that, and you’re already halfway to winning.”

Saxon knocked on the already opened door to signify the group’s arrival.

Lya examined the look on Saxon and Herman’s faces. “Well you guys are at least alive, so that’s a good sign. What’s the verdict?”

“You first Varrick,” Quinn insisted.

“Lya filled me in on the plan, and how they reached that conclusion,” Varrick informed Quinn.

“And?” Quinn asked.

“I don’t see another option,” Varrick admitted.

“So we agree,” Quinn lamented. “I hate it when Saxon is right.”

“So do I,” Varrick said.

“Same here,” Lya responded.

“Make that four,” Herman said.

Saxon looked at everyone with shock scrawled across his face. “I don’t like it when I’m right either, but this is just bullying.”

A brief bit of laughter was let out by everyone in the room, which helped to lessen the tension of the situation at hand.

“Even if I agree with the idea, the fact is that three people isn’t enough for the infiltration team,” Varrick said, getting back on topic.

“About that,” Lya remarked. “I’ve been meaning to ask, but why can’t you join us?”

“Unfortunately, my mythos isn’t suited for an infiltration operation,” Varrick responded. “Besides, if I wasn’t present with the main force topside, then it would raise suspicion. You gotta keep this team a secret, so your mastermind doesn’t catch on.”

“Herman, you had mentioned a group called the Anagrams from the academy,” Quinn said.

“That’s right,” Herman confirmed.

“Lya brought them up as well,” Varrick said.

“Ok, I have to ask, but what’s with the name?” Saxon inquired.

“Other students at the academy came up with it,” Lya replied. “From what I heard, it was because no matter the situation or who they were paired up with they’d do well. No matter how you arranged them, they’d always perform.”

“Clever,” Saxon said.

“Name and notoriety don’t mean much,” Herman remarked. “I’d prefer to know what they’re capable of.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” Varrick responded. “From my understanding, the Anagrams are a group of three students from the academy. Traditionally, graduates aren’t put directly into the field. However, just like Lya, their performance at the academy was good enough to let them get their hands dirty from the start.”

“You’re telling me they’ve been in a real operation?” Quinn asked.

“Just one,” Varrick answered. “Nothing as big as a raid. They were involved in taking down a group of three avatars that shared the mythos of the coven.”

“That’s still impressive,” Saxon said.

“No doubt the kids have skills,” Varrick responded.

“What kind of skills?” Herman inquired.

“Here’s the basic rundown,” Varrick replied. “First up is Lou Taw. His mythos is Billy the Kid, the greatest outlaw in human history. It allows him to construct a six-shot revolver, and the ammunition to go with it. On top of that, it grants him expert marksmanship and reflexes.

He’s a top-notch gunslinger, but that’s not all he’s good at. His mythos also gives him some lockpicking and safecracking skills, though he hasn’t developed that aspect of his mythos much.

Lou’s got a tendency to rush into things headfirst. The type to hit first, ask questions never.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got practice handling troublemakers,” Herman said, slapping Saxon on the back.

“Next is Tay Phi,” Varrick said. “Her mythos is Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi. It grants her the ability to ask any question, even about events yet to occur, and receive the answer.”

“So she can just ask who the mastermind is, and get the answer?” Saxon asked.

“As with every mythos, Tay’s has its limitations,” Varrick clarified. “It drains her energy every time she gets the answer to a question. The harder the question is to answer, the more energy it drains.

Questions that are too difficult to answer, such as asking what will happen tomorrow, cannot be answered. However, by acquiring more information about the subject in question, the answer may become clearer. The clearer the answer, the more plausible her mythos will be able to find it.

Tay is an architect of glass. Her plans are beautiful, but the moment one thing goes wrong, she collapses, and falls into analysis paralysis.”

“Then just make sure nothing goes wrong,” Lya replied.

“That would be the easy option,” Varrick said. “Last is Ada Prox. Her mythos is the shield and the spear paradox.”

“I’ve heard this one before,” Quinn remarked.

“Enlighten me,” Saxon requested.

“A merchant tells a soldier that their shield can block any spear and that their spear can pierce any shield. The soldier asks what would happen if he struck the merchant’s shield with the merchant's spear, and the merchant doesn’t have an answer,” Quinn said.

“It’s the origin of the question: what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?” Herman informed Saxon.

“Her mythos must be pretty strong then given the mythos,” Lya remarked.

“It is quite remarkable,” Varrick said. “Ada’s mythos lets her manifest a spear that can pierce through any mythoi’s defenses and a shield that can never be broken. I can speak from experience that neither of those statements is an exaggeration.”

Everyone's eyes widened with surprise.

“If even Varrick couldn’t destroy the shield, and could have his defenses pierced by the spear, then the downside must be immeasurable,” Quinn said.

“It is. Unlike other mythoi that allow their avatars to construct a weapon, Ada’s mythos grants her no proficiency with the weapon itself. On top of that, despite the weapons being close quarters weapons, Ada’s mythos doesn’t increase her physical capabilities beyond those granted to every avatar.” Varrick informed everyone.

“Wouldn’t that make it impossible for her to fight any avatar with a mythos that makes them adept at close-range combat?” Herman questioned.

“Not really,” Lya replied. “One day at the academy, I woke up at six in the morning, because I messed up my alarm. Unable to fall back asleep, I made my way over to the gym in hopes that I could work off my excess energy. However, when I got to the gym the lights were already on.

I go inside, and Ada is sitting there alone, ice packs on her legs. Not only had she come here earlier than me, but she had already worked out.

I asked her why she did this, and she told me she does it every day because, with her mythos, she needed to work more than twice as hard as everybody else.

Ada has built her skill, and physicality through hard work. If you ask me, that makes her stronger than most other avatars who have those things given to them on a silver platter.”

“Ada has a hero’s spirit,” Varrick said. “She’s incapable of leaving anyone behind, and all too eager to throw herself into the flames if it means saving just one more person.”

“World isn’t built for heroes,” Saxon remarked.

“Are you saying wanting to help others is a bad thing?” Varrick asked.

“I’m saying you can have too much of a good thing,” Saxon replied.

“Calm down,” Herman requested. “Those three sound impressive. You think they’re ready for this kind of operation, Varrick?”

“Combat wise I’d place them just below Lya, only because of a gap in experience, and that Lya’s mythos is arguably stronger than any of the Anagrams,” Varrick said. “If what I’ve heard about the Chimera family is true, then they should be able to hold their own in a fight against its high ranking avatars.

Whether or not they can handle the operation is up to you as the leader.”

“Do you have what it takes, Herman?” Quinn asked.

Herman nodded his head. “I think the three of us, with the three of them, could get the job done.”

“Then it’s settled,” Quinn said. “The infiltration team to capture the leader of the Chimera family, Draumur Chimera will consist of Herman, Saxon, Lya, Lou, Tay, and Ada.”

“Glad that’s all settled,” Saxon said.

“Things are going to move fast Lya, so try to keep up,” Herman said.

“Fast is my specialty,” Lya replied.

“Varrick get to work on a plan for everybody topside to hit the Chimera family’s warehouses and hideouts,” Quinn ordered. “I don’t just want to cut off the head of this operation, but all the limbs too.”

“Yes ma’am,” Varrick replied.

The door to the waiting room opened, and Mori stepped in.

“Hate to interrupt, but the autopsy is complete,” Mori informed everyone. “The findings are as interesting as they are confusing. To be honest, I’m at a loss. I’ve never seen anything like this. Please, follow me.”