Chapter 0:
HARMONIC CONVERGENCE
Agent Kaipharene CIXAXD arrived at the towering Pinnacle Complex, adjusting his adaptive combat suit, its surface rippling to blend seamlessly with the titanium-clad streets around him. The suit was a standard issue for high-ranking Agents of the Network, designed for utility and discretion. The sky above was a patchwork of neon advertisements, their reflections dancing on the titanium-clad skyscrapers.
The alert had come mid-report, interrupting an otherwise monotonous day of system diagnostics and efficiency reviews. "Dispatch priority: Code Crimson. Incident: Possible Death. Location: Pinnacle Complex, 48th floor." The words flashed briefly across his neural display, appearing in his augmented vision as floating text, a convenience granted by the integrated ocular enhancements that worked in tandem with his AIBI (AI-Integrated Behavioral Implants).
The elevator ride to the 48th floor was smooth, with only the faint hum of the system announcing each passing level. He toggled through the case details on his neural display. A body had been discovered by a relative. There were no recorded breaches in the building’s perimeter.
The door slid open with a soft hiss, and the stench of blood hit him immediately—sharp, metallic, visceral. A faint whirring sound echoed in his skull accompanied the shift in his vision, overlaying his surroundings with a digital grid that highlighted every anomaly. A man stood frozen in the center of the pristine, minimalist apartment. The smell became strong as he approached him. At his feet lay a body sprawled in a pool of blood,
“Are you the one who found the body?”
“Yes,” the man stammered, his body trembling. “He’s... he’s, my brother. I found him like this.”
CIX’s eyes scanned the man, highlighting his vitals. Normal heart rate, no signs of immediate stress, and the faint glow of his AIBI was visible at the nape of his neck, confirming his compliance with the Network’s rules. “He couldn’t have done it,” he thought turning his attention to the body. The victim had suffered multiple wounds to the chest, and crude lacerations at the side of his face, clearly stitched by hand. CIX extended his nanotech gloves, their surface shimmering as microscopic sensors activated. He examined the victim’s mouth, one of his lateral incisors was missing, and the gum tissue was damaged probably when the incisors were removed.
A trail of faint blood dots led toward the kitchen, spaced evenly. He followed the trail and came across the remains of a broken TV set—a high-end, transparent model from N Tech, released only last month. The glass shards, stained with blood, sparkled under the dim light.
“DAX, analyze,” he commanded.
The AI embedded in his neural interface responded instantly.
"Blood matches the victim, Agent CIX."
The next clue caught his attention—a chilling message written in blood on the wall: THIS IS YOUR FAULT. The words burned in his augmented vision, as his ocular implants automatically switched to a forensic mode. Every detail of the room, every fingerprint, every anomaly in the air, was now being cataloged.
“DAX,” he said evenly, gripping his chest. “Run these prints.”
"Processing... Match not found, Agent CIX."
“Cross-check against the Network database. Code 13828.”
"Processing... Match not found, Agent CIX."
CIX frowned. The database contained biometric data on every living citizen. How can this be? He thought.
He returned to the corpse and captured a holo-image, for further analysis. He bid the man goodbye as he made his way for the balcony.
“DAX,” he commanded, his tone sharper now, “summon the car.”
He stepped out onto the balcony, his suit instantly activating a retractable hover cable as he descended. He landed below, turned, and took a holo-image of the Complex. The streets stretched in sterile perfection, their glassy surfaces reflecting the glow of endless advertisements.
As his vehicle glided soundlessly to his side, CIX activated its onboard systems. “Minimize the image, render it in 3D, and overlay the structural blueprints of the Pinnacle Complex.”
The dashboard lit up, projecting a holographic model. CIX scrutinized every detail in 360 angle. The building was up to code. No hidden entrances, and no structural anomalies. As the car glided toward the precinct, CIX’s thoughts darkened. This wasn’t a normal case, the AIBI prevents violent acts like this. Could someone have bypassed the Network’s system?
“DAX, to the precint.”
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