The Informant

Eryco sat down at his desk, the holo-screen flickering across its steel surface as the lights in the room dimmed.

He tapped in the password, and a message notification blinked on screen. He tapped it, his eyes dilating.

It was from Genesys.

He scanned the words, his heart sinking more and more with each line.

The Captain was the only person left alive. Koharu was her name. All other members, including the Ronin, were dead.

Kiyomi was a spy? He thought, running his hands over his head.

He tapped out of the message as the doors on the other end of the hall-like room slid open with a hiss, the Cypher Corp flags hanging all the way down on either side swaying as a man stepped in.

The door hissed closed behind him, his boots clomping against the floor as he strode forward.

The Founder.

Eryco stood, taking a bow. His heart began hammering in his chest. Did they find out? Why else would the Founder be in his office?

“Oh, please,” the Founder said, placing his hands on Eryco’s shoulders. “Sit down, I’m just here to… congratulate you.”

Eryco frowned, taking a seat. “Sir, what an honour to have you here,” he said, smiling through the dizziness, fear coursing like electricity through his body.

The Founder shook his head, the robotic half of his face glinting in the light of the holo-screen.

“I should say what an honour it is to have you here, Eryco,” he said, smiling. “You’re an invaluable asset. I know it was you who assisted in locating the First Nexus.”

What?

He had done so, but according to the message from Genesys, she’d been…

“Yes sir,” he said, “I was simply doing what we were instructed. It was by chance that I had the privilege of locating the First Nexus.”

Had it been a trap message? One mimicking the device Genesys had been using to communicate with him?

The Founder smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You heard the news?”

Eryco frowned. “No, sir. Do we have the First Nexus?”

The Founders eyes lit up with a red glow. “Yes, Eryco. And it’s all thanks to you.”

Eryco’s stomach sank. “What… that’s excellent news, sir!”

They had her. They had her, not Genesys. So what on earth was the message from Koharu for?

“And what’s more,” the Founder said, raising his fist. “She can bring powers from the Ethergeist into the real world. And!”

Eryco felt like he was going to be sick, but swallowed it down. His eye twitched, a cold sweat breaking out over his skin.

“We have already extrapolated a way of replicating her abilities from within the Ethergeist,” the Founder said, planting his fists on Eryco’s desk. “Do you have any idea what you’ve unleashed upon the world, Eryco?”

He swallowed, a drip of sweat running down his nose. “I don’t… think I appreciate the gravity of the situation, sir.”

The Founder stood up straight, pulling the collar of his high-suit down. “Well, I appreciate the gravity of your contribution, Eryco,” he said, sighing as he tilted his head. “And I’m sure Genesys appreciated your help, too.”

Eryco’s eyes widened. His hand shot to the drawer compartment of his desk, the edges flashing with white light as it slid open. But his charge-pistol was gone.

He closed his eyes, swallowing hard. The Founder placed a cold metal knuckle to his chin, lifting it to look him in the eye.

“I just wanted to know,” the Founder said, still smiling as if nothing had changed. “Why did you do it?”

Eryco’s nose wrinkled in a snarl. “Why did I supply Genesys with information about the location of a little girl who you bastards abducted?” he spat. “Because I knew it was the right thing to do, that’s why. Because I know that one day, Founder, one day you’re going to light a fire that cannot be extinguished. That one day, all the people you and this evil Corporation have hurt, killed, and broken will come back to haunt you, and drag you back down. That is why I did it.”

The Founder chuckled, nodding. “Good, very good, Eryco. It’s unfortunate that you helped us become unstoppable now, isn’t it?”

Eryco snorted. “There’s always a way for men like you to be stopped.”

The Founder chuckled again. “So it wasn’t for family? Someone you loved being a part of Genesys?”

Eryco shook his head. “Nope. For the man who contacted me, it was. For the man who contacted him, it was. But me? I’m a nobody,” Eryco said, opening his arms with a grin. “I’m just one of the many, many people who’s going to make you burn.”

The Founder placed a hand on his shoulder. And squeezed. Eryco screamed as the bones crunched together like a ball of paper, snapping and popping out of place.

He panted, veins bulging in his forehead. “Go on then,” he panted. “Kill me, just like the coward you are.”

The Founder gave a sealed smile. “No, Eryco. Fortunately, there are worse fates than death that I have created.”