Virgil was seated in his usual chair while Fii occupied herself by perching on the edge of a filing cabinet, leaning against wall. An open map of the slums was spread out in front of them, displaying the locations where they had each scouted. Several red dots marked different spots within the shantytown, each corresponding to a reported sighting or incident.

"So, how'd the Night Market go?" She inquired. "Find anything interesting?"

Virgil rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Got the intel from a few trustworthy dealers, but the buzz has been quiet, even for the market. Seems like this Shiver stuff hasn't been a hot commodity, which means there's not much info circulating. Everyone's in the dark, and the gangs aren't talking, either.

He tapped his pen against the desk absently, contemplating. " As far as I can tell, the Neon Vipers' got everyone spooked. They're the ones distributing it." He scrawled a small note in his notebook. "Not surprised, honestly. It was either them or the Neon Knights, since both deal with narcotics around that district."

Fii hummed thoughtfully. "That tracks. Someone I know warned me about them. I met with this guy, uh...Quinn, that's his name. Nice guy."

"Did you, now?" Virgil raised an eyebrow, shooting her a sideways glance. "Was this while you were suited up as Axion or...?"

"Yeah, of course, duh." Fii huffed, rolling her eyes. "Doesn't hurt to make connections, y'know." She swung her legs, kicking her heels against the metal drawer behind her. "Anyway, I bumped into him yesterday, and he told me all about a gang leader named Kasumi. Wears a mask, and calls herself 'Cobra.' She's apparently the head honcho of the Neon Vipers. Ever hear of her?"

Virgil's eyes widened momentarily before narrowing, his expression turning grim. "Yes, unfortunately, I have. Viper Vaughn's her number two, and a nasty sonuvabitch, too. They used to operate in the metropolis years back before the Ultimate Guardians booted them out. Since then, they've been squatting in the slums, dealing drugs and racketeering." He shook his head and grumbled, "Thought I'd seen the last of those jackasses..."

"What about the Neon Knights, the other gang? Anything about them?" Fii queried, leaning forward intently. "Do they deal with the Vipers at all?"

"Dunno," Virgil admitted, scratching his stubble. "Been out of the loop til recently, just before I started training you. Could be a turf war going on, or perhaps a partnership. Either way, it's a real goddamn shitshow. If it was any other narcotic, fine, but Shiver's a wild card, especially if it's affecting people differently."

"Did Edith figure anything out about that?" Fii pressed. "It sounded like she was still testing the samples I found."

"She's been holed up in her lab for the past couple of days," Virgil revealed. "Says she's working on a 'breakthrough,' but won't say anything else. Doesn't want to get our hopes up, or so she claims."

The door to the basement opened, and Edith descended the steps, her lab coat swishing behind her. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun, and she looked a bit paler than usual, as if she hadn't slept in days.

"Fii, you should really learn to keep your helmet on so I can contact you over the comms instead of me having to walk all the way here and waste valuable time." Edith sighed wearily, but her tone lacked its usual bite. "Anyways, I've finished analyzing the Shiver sample you retrieved for me. There's a lot more I need to do, but I've found a few preliminary results that you may find interesting."

She moved toward the table and spread her handheld tablet atop the map. A holographic screen flickered to life, projecting an image of a microscopic cellular structure.

Hey! I kinda know what that is! That’s what people are made out of!

Fii smiled to herself. Somehow, learning all about the science stuff over the past few weeks had been easier compared to when she first started. She didn't know exactly why, since she still thought that a lot of it was boring and complicated, but it did make understanding what Edith and Virgil were talking about a little less intimidating.

"You see this, Fii? This is the structural composition of a normal human neuron, taken from a healthy person. As you can see, there are several branching dendrites, axons, and synapses, all connecting and interacting with one another. These structures transmit impulses between the neurons, resulting in chemical signals. When the impulse reaches the terminal button, or synapse, it stimulates the release of a neurotransmitter, such as serotonin or dopamine, and that neurotransmitter travels across the synaptic cleft, a tiny gap between the cells, until it binds to a receptor on another adjacent cell. This process repeats itself endlessly, resulting in thought, movement, emotion, everything, really."

She gestured to a second image alongside the first. "Now, this is the cellular structure of someone under the influence of Shiver."

On-screen, the neuron's branches appeared darker, thicker, and more bulbous, resembling a tangle of roots.

"Notice the extra growth and inflammation in the dendrites and axons. These are abnormalities that only occur during Shiver's toxic withdrawal phase."

Edith zoomed in further, highlighting the intricate filaments that lined the cell's nucleus.

"These filaments are what are responsible for the hallucinogenic effects. Upon consumption, they immediately enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain. Once there, they embed themselves into the brain's nerve endings, disrupting the normal electrical signaling and causing a severe reaction. Over time, the amount of these filaments increases exponentially, resulting in erratic and unpredictable behavior. The individual will experience heightened levels of euphoria, followed by a gradual crash, culminating in rage, paranoia, and seizures, leading to catatonia, coma, and death."

She folded her arms across her chest, frowning. "Unfortunately, there is no antidote currently known for this. Only symptomatic treatment and management of acute withdrawal is possible, although even that comes with significant risk."

"Guess the guy I found was lucky I found him when I did and brought him to you," Fii mused somberly. "Probably would've gone berserk and killed someone."

Edith's face remained stony and dispassionate. "Most likely. Even now, the chance of him dying from complications is still high."

Virgil and Fii exchanged a pained look, clearly distraught by the revelation.

Edith continued, unfazed, "In addition, the presence of these strange filaments indicates a higher intelligence is at work. Creating a substance capable of altering one's physical and mental state, particularly with such specific effects, is extremely sophisticated. The fact that only some of the users suffer violent hallucinations while others feel euphoria suggests that the dosage is being calibrated based on genetic factors, such as metabolism and drug tolerance. Add to that the fact that the dose of these filaments increases over time, and you begin to see the scale of the issue. Whoever created this drug has advanced knowledge of both chemistry and biotechnology. Which leads me to my final point."

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Edith's finger jabbed at the projection, indicating the stem-like protrusions extending from the nucleus. "The appearance and function of these structures strongly suggest genetic manipulation of the original psychoactive compound. In other words, whatever we're dealing with has been artificially altered. Genetic engineering at play. The sheer level of sophistication is astounding, and frankly, quite frightening."

She turned her gaze from the display to regard Fii and Virgil coolly. "The drug is highly addictive, the withdrawal symptoms are severe, and the victims can become violent and homicidal. I don't know why someone would circulate this within the slums, unless their goal is to create chaos and panic. But clearly, they're playing a dangerous game."

Fii blinked slowly as she processed the information. Even with everything she'd learned, she felt overwhelmed by the influx of data, unsure of how to respond. "Um, so...what do we do now? Should we warn people? I mean, I could put out some word on the streets, get the message out as best I can, and hopefully keep the damage to a minimum, at least for the time being."

Virgil puffed on his cigar, exhaling a plume of smoke. "We don't even know where the source is, though, and I doubt anyone in the Night Market has the answers." He stroked his beard contemplatively, weighing his options. "Then again, we do know who the major players are in this area, namely the Neon Vipers. We can track them, find where they're getting their supply, and follow the trail back to whoever's cooking up the stuff."

Fii straightened, eager to contribute. "Maybe I could get more information from my contacts! I've already gotten some leads from some friends I trust." She tried not to sound too excited, but she couldn't hide her eagerness.

The truth was, she wanted to be part of this investigation, not just a tagalong, especially now that she knew what they were dealing with. This was bigger than petty gang disputes and small-time crime, and the implications of what Edith was telling her...well, it scared her. There were already too many addicts in the slums; the last thing they needed was something worse out there.

"Well, as long as you keep a low profile and stay out of trouble, I guess it wouldn't hurt to investigate further." Edith acknowledged reluctantly. "Remember, keep your identity as Axion a secret. Don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself, and keep me updated, understood?" She peered at Fii expectantly.

Fii saluted her smartly, grinning cheekily. "I know, I know. I've been doing this for months now, remember?" She hopped off the filing cabinet, nearly losing balance as she landed on unsteady feet. "Oof...heh, easy does it. Anyways, I'll try to reach out to people, see what they know. I'll let you guys know if I find anything useful."

She spun on her heel and strode toward the stairwell. Before leaving, she paused and glanced back, shooting them a small, reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll be careful."

As she ascended the stairs, she caught a glimpse of Edith's lips curling upward in an amused smirk.

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

As night fell, Fii wandered back into the Neon Night Market, disguised once more in her shabbier, street clothes.

Wait, when was this a disguise? This was her usual outfit. The bodysuit and helmet were the disguises. Wait, no...whatever.

She made her way through the neon-lit market, avoiding the worst of the crowds, and eventually ended up at The Crimson Claw. It seemed like as good a place to start as any. She entered through the side alley entrance, slipping past the bouncer without incident and entering the lounge.

The bar's patrons were more rowdy than usual, with fights breaking out and the floor stained with blood. A few brawls had spilled outside, as well, and a group of thugs were scrapping in the alley, punching and kicking each other in a frenzy.

Fii approached the bar, weaving her way past the mass of writhing bodies, and took a seat at the counter.

The bartender glanced over and raised an eyebrow. "Well, if it isn't my favorite little straggler. Where you been, kid? Haven't seen ya lately." He shot her a knowing wink and placed a bottle of beer in front of her, wiping the condensation with a cloth. "On the house, but don't go overboard."

Fii laughed. "Thanks, Zig. Been busy with odd jobs, y'know? Earned a few chits, managed to eat some real food for once. Ain't gonna turn my nose up at a free drink, though." She popped the cap and took a sip, savoring the bitter taste of hops and alcohol.

Zig leaned against the countertop, scrutinizing her shrewdly. "So, what brings you by? Not to insult you or anything, but you normally stay away from places like this. Especially on a fight night." He gestured to the crowd behind her. "Business has been real good, as you can see. Got most of the Neon Vipers here tonight. Some Neon Knights, too. Look like they're ready to kick the shit out of each other at a moment's notice."

Fii took another sip and scanned the room. "So I've heard. Kettle's always boiling, huh?"

Zig snorted derisively. "That's an understatement. Word is the Vipers' been running the show, and the Knights ain't too happy 'bout it. You gotta understand, though. Vipers been dealing in this district for months, ever since Cobra Kasumi and her crew showed up. They been putting a lot of pressure on the Knights, forcing 'em to move outta the Neon Market. Pissed 'em off royally, apparently."

Fii set down the beer bottle and cleared her throat, speaking in a lower tone, "Heard from echoes in the alley there's been some new stuff floating around. Is that true?"

Zig sighed and lowered his voice, matching her volume. "Afraid so. Apparently, the Vipers got their hands on some new product, somethin' real strong. Some kind of weird, synthetic psychedelic, I heard. And they've been selling it to dealers at half-price, cuttin' into the Knights' business. Got some of the Reaper Posse involved, too, who've been supplying their own crew, so things have gotten pretty tense."

He scratched his chin thoughtfully, frowning. "Actually, funny thing I just remembered, now that you mention it. Barely two nights ago, I saw Viper Vaughn coming around, makin' the rounds with a case of the stuff. Got some of his boys handing out the needles in exchange for Tinks. The gangs started throwin' punches at each other soon after, and things escalated from there."

Fii blinked. "Only Tinks? Not ChitCreds?"

"Crazy, right?! And the dealers didn't seem too concerned with collectin' payment, either. Acted like the goods were free. Now that's something I never expected to see from the Vipers. They must really believe the new stuff is worth it if they're givin' it away like that. Might explain why the gangs have been fighting nonstop the past few days."

Zig shook his head and tutted disapprovingly. "Bad for business, I tell ya. I don't need that crap happening in my bar."

"Speaking of which," Fii prodded. "You got any idea where Viper Vaughn came from when he made those rounds? Got any clue who he's working with? Or who he got the stuff from?"

Zig threw his hands up defensively, eyes wide with surprise. "Hey, hey, slow your roll! I'm just a humble bartender, girl. I don't ask questions. Just pour drinks and listen, which I've done. But getting' involved? Now that's something I don't wanna mess with. If you ask me, you might wanna steer clear of all that nonsense. Whatever the Vipers got, I'm not interested."

He stepped back, wiping his hands with his towel. "I got a livin' to make, and I'm not getting' on the bad side of Cobra Kasumi, or worse...her lieutenant, Vaughn. Bloke's a psycho." He shuddered at the mere mention of the gangster's name. "Nope, you want info? Ask someone else. I ain't stupid, and I like living, thank you very much. You ought to do the same."

Fii pursed her lips, frustrated.

Aside from Lyria, Zig was the only other goer in the Neon district she trusted. He had never failed to provide useful gossip and rumors before, but it seemed like he really drew the line here.

Fine, there's nothing I can do about that.

Fii drained the rest of her beer in silence, scrunching her face as the bitter taste burned her tongue. With a grimace, she slid the empty bottle toward Zig, who disposed of it with a shrug.

"Thanks for the drink, Zig." She pushed her stool back, preparing to stand. "I'll, uh... I'll just be on my way, then. Good talk."

"Don't be a stranger now, kiddo," Zig chided good-naturedly. "Stay safe, all right? Watch your back out there." He reached into his apron pocket and tossed a protein ration packet at her. "By the way...you've got quite the glow-up since last time I saw ya. Looking healthier." He flashed her a sly wink.

She caught the packet and tucked it into her jacket, grinning sheepishly. "Thanks. Really appreciate it." She exited the bar and merged back into the throng of bustling partygoers and revelers, hoping to find better luck elsewhere.

And she knew exactly where to go next.