caged and broken (first draft)

It was the day after the group training and I had woken feeling stiff. And in need of coffee, making my way to my small kitchen I went about making a double shot of espresso. I watched the black liquid gold drip slowly in to the tiny cup, the aroma began wakening my senses I could feel the warmth of the flavours warm me from the inside out before I even take a sip, close my eye’s savouring every little detail. When people said it’s the little thing’s that made life worth living they must be talking about coffee.

There was a light knock on my front door. And I opened my eyes without realising I had started to growl at being disturbed. “What are they thinking disturbing a girl before she’s had her morning coffee” I groused to myself

Leaving my coffee where it was I made my way to my door. This had better be good

Opening the door I was surprised to see no one there but instead a small envelope sitting just outside the threshold. Reaching down I recognised the handwriting it was Alexander. He usually just summoned me or showed up when he wanted to talk, this is the first time he has contacted me in this way. Picking up the note I headed back to my kitchen I would read it over coffee. hopefully what ever was in the letter wouldn’t be to bad if I was in fussed with the magic of caffeine.

Coffee and letter both in hand I headed to the bedroom getting comfortable on the bed I took a sip of my coffee and almost immediately the world became that little bit more bright. Looking at the note I knew I couldn’t delay any further. I Grabbed the small envelope and roughly tore it open, retrieving the missive inside.

Dearest Jessica,

I apologise for disturbing you so early in the day especially seeing as you had such an intense day of training yesterday, but I have a matter to discuss with you that is of great importance. please come to my office at you earliest opportunity. Please do not tell anyone even your team about this. What I have to discuss is top secret and must remain as such..

Sincerely yours

Alexander Elric.

As I finished reading the letter the words began to shiver it looked like the black in was flame then in a second the letterer was gone and in its place was nothing more than ash.

Well something has got the big boss freaked out. I thought and began to dress my coffee sat at mysids board forgotten I threw on my most professional work outfit which was honestly my usual jeans and t-shirt but I thrown a fitted blouse and business jacket. The outfit looked good if I did say so myself befor I put the jacket on I put on my gun and knife rig just having my blades this close calmed my nerves immediately.

Once dressed I made my way to my team’s office. It would seem that yesterday’s win had given them a boost because I was the last one to arrive. Everyone had gathered by the coffee machine where I saw an open tray of donuts. I made a bee line for the book of sugary snacks. And if anyone got in my way they would end up on their butt’s. As if sensing what I had though they parted like the Red Sea before mosses.giving me a direct path to the sweet treats.

The doughnuts sat their, layed out like shiny glazed treasures I licked my lips as I began to peruse the beautiful little pastries. After selecting two yummy treats one raspberry jam filled, with a cream cheese frosting and a chocolate glazed with a luxurious chocolate ganache filling. I turned to see abbey standing there with a steaming cup of coffee, and the rest of the team just smiling indulgently, am I really that predictable I thought.

“Okay guys do we have any new updates or lead” I asked hopefull that some one had made some progress on finding out who was behind Aldrich and Jeremiah.

Mini raised her had “I have a few updates some might be relevant but I’m not completely sure” she sounded nervous although she didn’t want to say what she had found. “Jess I have been working with ogma to provide counciling and support to the victims we found at the facilities we raided” I knew this already, she was an empath so her abilities had been instrumental in getting the victims to co-operate with us even if they didn’t completely trust us at the moment. but I didn’t want to interrupt. I nodded for her to continue. “Some of the stories I have heard are so terrible, the ones that made these kids live through this are truly monsters but that’s not what I wanted to say.” She took a steadying breath “ the survivors that had been there longest have started to open up about what they experienced. I can’t say everything yet as I’m still working through what they have told me. But it sounds like some of the victims if you can call them that fully embraced what was being done to them and started to encourage others to view the experiments as a good thing those that had these views and others with low self esteem where taken from the rest of the groupes for long periods. Once they came back well all the will say is that they where different. What I feel when I speak to them about these individuals is fear.” I could understand the fear that they had experienced but I was confused as to why they would be scared of other victims.

“Mini do we have any of the individuals in our care that they are taking about” I asked

“No but if im honest I think that’s a good thing. I think our job would be lot harder if they where with the other victims “

“Well at least thats a silver lining, so you think it could have been like Stockholm syndrome”I asked

“No from what I under stand they completely embarrassed it all on their own volition”

“Do we know where they are now”

“No but I’m going to try and keep working with them to see if I can get anything else from them that might help”

“Okay, Do You have anything else to report?”

“I have two things left to say” she began to tense this is what she didn’t want to say “ the first is that once ogma has secured a site for the victims I am going to transfer to it, I feel like I can be of more use to the victims than I am here working the case. I will still provide intel and support but my skills are better suited to the victims.” I had to chock back my reaction, Mini had been my support since I left the cave she had been with me through every-step of my time at the agency training facility and has helped me with this case how could I manage. I tried to control my reaction as she continued. “ some of the younger ones that we found are elves and they have said that they felt powerful auras coming and going all the time. On one of the experiment days they let a strange man watch, the man was an imposing figure but thats not what made him so memorable he held power that reminded the child of the higher council ranks maybe even the watchers.”

“Wait are you saying that one of the annanuki could be behind all of this” I asked

She just nodded and let her statement hang in the air

“Well has anyone else got some leads” I asked hoping that none of them had anything because I needed to get my head round the implication of what mini had just said.

My hopes where however dashed.”jess” it was abbey her voice tentative like she didn’t want to add more trouble to our already growing list.

“Yeah what have you got for us abbey”I asked crossing my fingers in the hopes that what ever she had for us wouldn’t be so each shattering as one of the watchers betraying us.

“I think I might have a lead that could eventually take us to Aldrich” at her revelation my ears picked up. It had been weeks since we had any concert leads.

“Okay I’m listening what have you got for us.”

She began to pace back and forth before answering it was the first time I had ever seen abbey show any outward sign of discomfort or agitation.

“Your still fairly new to the paranormal society, so you probably haven’t realised that drugs and things like them aren’t as taboo as what they are in human society. You see the affects dont last long and there aren’t really any lasting side effects unlike humans that can overdoes or have really bad trips or even have medical complications.”

I got a chair and sat down feeling that this was going meeting,

“Ive been hearing whispers about a new drug on the market, usually this sort of thing isn’t something I concern myself with, but something one of the tech’s at the blood bank said just got me thinking. Apparently it’s started hitting the streets in a huge way, but they aren’t selling it they are giving it away, apparently they want to share this magical high with everyone”

“Okay I have seen documentaries and t.v shows where dealers give out free samples to get people hooked and then extort the addict for everything they can and then get them turning tricks to bring the dealer more money. Is this what we are looking at?”I asked

“Not that I can tell from what I could gather it’s a little addictive to a paranormal but it clears the system within a few days and all signs of addiction are gone. So it’s not like we have a parade of paranormals going crazy for their next hit. From what the tech told me it makes you compliant while you float in your dreams and let the world drift away.” She said

“So we have a screwy drug thats being given away you’ve already said that paranormals dont exactly see it as illegal so what’s got you so freaked.”

“When I left the blood bank I thought I would speak to a few low level idiots who always seem to know what’s happening when something big is going down. They identified Aldrich as one of the ones pushing the drug but he’s moving around with heavy duty security. From what my informants have said he hasn’t been as visible since he was outed as a traitor but he is still out their pulling strings for his boss”

I didn’t know what to say it was great that we had a lead but something about the entire situation just didn’t make sense why would he be giving drugs out like candy when the whole agency had him on a watch list to apprehend on site.

“Well shit this has been a fun briefing. Okay that is a lot to process Kieth and milo, I want you to work with mini and see if you can get anything else from the kid’s try and get names and descriptions so we can try and locate the missing. Also I don’t want anyone looking in to the watchers until I have spoken to Alexander I dont want to tread on any toes” they nodded and left with mini I could only assume they where going to head straight to the hotel that Lyn had bought out to help facilitate their recovery.

“Lancaster do you have any experience in the narcotics unites of the human police” I asked

“A few of my cases have crossed with there’s and I know a few people that owe me some favours on the force. So I can probably help investigate that angle.”

“Great gudmundur, abby and lancaster I want you focus to be this drug ring if we can even call it that. Squeeze the dealers and get a location on Aldrich. I’m going to float between both team’s but for now I need to update Alexander on what we have.”

Leaving the briefing I truly felt the wait of the world on my shoulders, this whole situation is getting more confusing by the day. We have survivors implicating someone from the council of the most powerful beings that walk this world and the guy that betrayed the agency is giving drugs away like it’s not a big deal. It has to be connected but I cn figure out how, maybe Aldrich is just trying to dispose of any evidence and this is the quickest way of doing it.the more I thought about it the more my head hurt. I need to put it to the back of my head for now. I needed to stay in the moment and I needed my witts about me the way Alexander had requested my presence had me nervous but I couldn’t run I was stood outside his door. He must have known I was outside I took a calming breath and knocked. My knuckles nearly touched the door when I heard his voice yes Jessica please come in.

Entering his office my heart was in my throat, what ever this was about about I was sure that the information I had to share wouldn’t make things better. I gently opened the door trying to brace myself for what was to come. The first thing I saw was Alexander his expression blank not giving a single thing away but what grabbed my attention was the sleazy ball lounging on the sofa in the office sipping what appears to be a cup of tea.

Jessica let me introduce you to Mr Rickson he is here with some information that I think will prove valuable, please take a seat so we can agree on a course of action. I took a chair opposite mr Rickson. He seemed to be in his early thirties he wore a high priced suit that was obviously meant to project an image of power but really just made me think of a con man, he seemed to have a nervous sweat on his brow. What ever all this was about the feeling of unease I felt didn’t settle.

Alexander came to sit with us and handed me a thick file. The file contains all the information we have at present but you can go though it later for now I will explain why we need you.

It has come to our attention that a new drug is circulating the city” I froze when I heard this, it had to be a coincidence. “Usually this isn’t something we would involve ourselves with, but we got a report from a lab that was analysing the compound that it is cooked with magic and contains things that shouldn’t be available to the human population.”

“Alex” I interrupted it might be a coincidence but Abigail mentioned something at the briefing I just held about a drug being given out to the paranormal community by someone who is of interest to my team” I didn’t trust the mr Rickson so I didn’t want to give to much information.

“This might be connected I will speak to Abigail later. To confirm the information” I just nodded and let him carry on with his briefing.

“The drug is called crimson the compound seems to have similarities to chemicals we found at the facilities you recently shut down. including the information you gave me it is my belief that who ever has been pulling the strings between the abductions, murders and the running of those previous facilities is all connected.” He paused letting the information sink in.

“The London police first found traces of it in dive bars that have previously had reputations for brawls and general violence. and junkie hang outs but it’s spread and is now classed as the go to club drug.the drug it’s self is a combination of both shapeshifter saliva and vampier venom mixed with medicinal herbs and cooked with magic, whoever is making this is getting people strung out with free samples then extorting them for everything they can. And that’s only if they don’t have a bad trip and end up going homicidal” said Alex his face appeared more serious than normal,

“Okay so have we got anyone low level that we can apply some pressure to so we can try and fine the manufacturing facility or any solid leads at all?” I asked looking toward’s Alex’s guest.

They shared an uncomfortable glance “Miss Dyer your reputation proceeds you, but i didn’t expect you to look so young” mr rickson gaze ran over my body and it made me want to run towards the nearest shower and scrub myself clean. “Alexander i don’t think putting her in this situation is going to be a good idea, the fighters they use are dangerous, and that’s before they take the drug. but after, they will destroy her”

Who ever this prick is, he is really pissing me off “ look, I don’t know who the fuck you are but i will not have you speak about me like I’m not even in the room” i growl through gritted teeth. “Now if there is nothing else i have on going investigations to get on with and if you ever want to test how strong i am just meet me in the gym and I’ll hand you your ass, you pompous prick......” i stood abruptly and began to proceed towards the exit of Alex’s office.

“Jessica please, I apologise for our guest rudeness. But we do have a lead that we need you to follow. Rickson is going to be working as your inside contact.”

I raised my eyebrow “ and what exactly is he supposed to be connected too that well help our investigation?”

Rickson took my question as his opportunity to interrupt. “ I’m a sort of event promoter, i specialise in gladiator style contests. I pit fighters from various different fighting styles into battle royals or one on one MMA style competitions.”

“Okay but what if anything does that have to do with any of our current lead’s” i said

“Because i have recently been informed that contestants have been using performance enhancers. That in it’s self doesn’t concern me. The events being what they are. Well they are unfair, so we allow advantages and enhancements as long as they aren’t using things like fire arms or explosives everything else is fair game. But these drugs are wrong, i have seen a lot of fights and what these people are doing, what they are enduring is beyond anything i have ever seen. So i managed to get some trace samples of blood after one of the fight’s and brought it to Alaxanders attention” he stoped here looking towards the boss but refusing to say anything more.

Alexander sighed “ I ran the blood and compared it to anything we had on the system, it’s a much more potent and polished version of crimson, the analyst tells me that comparing both compounds it seems that the street drug that the police have been tracking is just a knock off of what Paul has brought to us and has been mixed with halucinagenics so even if you managed to trace it back to its source it isn’t likely that it will lead us to who we are after.”

Well that’s just fucking peachy “ so let me guess you want us to infiltrate this set up and what try and take out who ever is running the drug operation?”

Alex nodded “partially yes, i want you to infiltrate and feed intel back to me, I will then co-ordinate with your team they will then take down the drug network.”

“How long do you expect the operation to last? How hard is this drug network going to be to infiltrate?”

Rickson spoke up “honestly I don’t know, I’ve made some enquiries and keep getting stonewalled all I can say is when you fight don’t look as though you’ve had training, I have noticed that a lot off the confirmed users have been underdogs, you are going to have to fight hard but lose most of your initial fight’s.”

“What the fuck do you mean I have to lose most of my fights. Why can’t I just fight to win ?”

“Because if you win every fight, then who will try and sell you enhancers?” ′

I took a minute to think, shit he was right. But i really wasn’t looking forward to the thought of getting my ass kicked on a regular bases, “ okay i see where your coming from but how many time’s do i need to lose?”

Alex interrupted “Jessica I know this goes against your very nature, but you’re the only one that i know can handle it on your team, the others are to well known or aren’t suitable to be in an MMA fight.”

“I’ll do it,” I declared reluctantly “but I’m really not a fan of just letting someone beat on me”

“We don’t expect you to just act like a punching bag, you need to fight back it’s just that you need to lose, you need to give the dealers the impression that you could win if you had a little assistance, i have brought some video footage of previous fights of people I’m sure are using the compound so you can analyse the way they fight, how they where losing and the change that takes place after they use the compound. If you are willing to go along with the plan i will have you scheduled in to fight in the next 4-6 week’s. that will give us time to get you set with a back story. You will need to cut tie’s with anyone from the agency, we will set you up in a shared accommodation get you a job and you will need to register to some gym’s with an alias.”

“Okay I’m going to need some time with my team to ensure other lead’s are being followed, how long before we get started with the operation?”

“Jess I will join you in briefing your team, but once that is done I’m going to need you to leave with Rickson”

“Okay let’s get this over with.” I said

Walking in to the conference room that I shared with the rest of my team I saw them all peering over the top of their respective computer screens like cute little meerkats. “ everyone we need a team huddle A.S.A.P I haven’t got long before I need to head out.”

That got all of their attentions and they rushed up to alexander and I. “I have been given an assignment that is going to mean going undercover, I will be out of contact for an unknown amount of time so I want Gudmundur to take point on the overall investigations and he will be everyone’s point of contact going forward, any objection’s?” Abigail raised her hand. “ why did I know that you would have something to say” “i I have no problem with the dragon taking over but I need to request an urgent leave of absence, I have had an emergency that is going to occupy my time for the foreseeable future.”she replied with a cheeky smile.