Log 10: The Instigator

Percival paced back and forth. It was clear that he was growing impatient. Someone had asked to speak with him, and that individual was thirty-seven minutes late. It was unacceptable.

Janel had already considered telling Percival that they should leave because of the person's tardiness, but she knew that her boss would disagree. Obviously, this meeting was important to Percival. Though she still didn’t think they should wait around.

To Janel, tardiness was equivalent, if not equal to, committing sins such as lust or greed. A truly horrible act, though not as bad as pride. Not even close.

"Sir," Janel said. "I don't believe we should wait any longer. It feels pointless."

"Maybe to you, but it concerns one of my clients." Percival paused his walk. "That kid's one hell of a dumbass."

Janel sighed internally. Of course. Something must've happened to Kairo Morutsuku. Why did he care so much? Even if they were friends, Kairo's problems weren’t Percival’s. He had no obligation to help the fool.

"Sir, if I may to suggest, Kairo Morutsuku's problems are not of your concern. I think you should ignore him in this situation. Especially if he spent all his funds."

Percival stared at her. "Janel, I'm not waiting for Kairo."

"What?"

"Kairo's gone missing. Something happened to him," Percival explained. "Based on the message, it sounds like he did something really stupid, but also kindhearted."

"But why help him?" Janel asked, confused. It didn't make sense. A client's a client, that's all there was to it. Maybe it was because they were friends?

"Why?" a woman answered. "Because Kairo is a good friend, and Percival won't sit back and let Kairo’s kindness be in a vain. If he can be saved, amazing. If not, at least we tried."

"Index is right," Percival agreed.

Janel narrowed her eyes. This Index lady was suspicious. Silver hair, purple eyes. Something seemed off. Plus, who were these people with her? Two half-elves? Were the rich involved? Janel hoped not.

"Let me introduce my compatriots. This is Idree, and her twin brother Andree. They're both half-elves, children of Lady Vultus Alexandria," Index introduced the twins.

"Happy to meet you," Percival said, shaking each of their hands. "Let's sit down."

The four of them took seats. After settling in, and passing individual greetings, they moved onto business. In Janel's opinion, the whole thing felt like a charade. Though that could've just been the paranoia.

"Explain everything," Percival demanded.

"To put it simply," Index began. "Kairo broke into a laboratory beneath Chicago and freed a young Aspectholder named Saturn. The people people conducting the experiments came to collect her, but Kairo gave her time to run. After that, she ended up with Idree and Andree. They got her chip removed by Doctor Brady Glass, and now Saturn's going to school with a wig on while we search for Kairo."

"Then, why come to me?" Percival asked.

"Because we need you to watch over her until Kairo is found," Idree said.

Janel rolled her eyes. This was seriously why they wanted to talk? Pathetic. The chances of Percival accepting this offer were zero to none.

"I'm a bit busy right now, but Janel should be able to help. She's better with kids anyway," Percival said.

"I'm sorry Boss, but you'll have to rely on Big Tom this time," Janel piped up. "I'm actually busy with personal matters at the moment."

"I see." Percival leaned forward. “That's fine. Big Tom might stand out, but he's a very kind person—if necessary... I can always ask her..."

It was always strange to witness. Percival was a loan shark and bounty hunter, yet he was willing to help those in need. That was definitely one of his best qualities, aside from his eyes.

"Do you have any clues as to Kairo's location?" Percival asked.

"Unless Index knows something that we don't, no," Andree answered. "Given your field of expertise, Idree was hoping that you'd be able to help with finding him."

Percival was about to speak, when Index interjected. "I already explained who you are, no need to ask.”

Percival narrowed his eyes. "That's helpful, I guess."

Janel watched her boss fall into a deep thought. She wondered if he did, in fact, have a way of finding Kairo. Maybe? But what would it be? Would he investigate? Or did this Index woman know more than she was letting on? The latter seemed most likely. Janel's eyes narrowed.

"I apologize for not revealing this earlier, but I do have a good idea of where Kairo might be..." Index revealed.

Janel snickered internally and faintly smirked. Of course someone with silver hair would be vain enough to keep crucial information from a larger group. Index probably wanted to be able to take all the glory for herself. Obviously that was the case. Why else would she not immediately reveal such information?

Percival glared at Janel. She snapped into perfect posture. Percival's amazing ability to read body language was another admirable trait. But she had thought she was being subtle. Clearly not well enough to fool Percival.

"Before we continue, what abilities are we working with?" Percival asked, turning back to the table.

"I'm an Aspectholder," Index said. "My ability is based around obtaining knowledge and seeing what occurred in the past. It's a bit hard to explain, but the simple version is that I learn things about the object, structure, or person I touch with my hands."

"I inherited my mother's affinity with electricity," Idree explained. "But I can only channel magic through the right half of my body."

"And I got Mother's wind affinity," Andree followed up. "My channeling is done through my left half."

"And I'm just human," Percival finished.

So, wait. Three people able to use magic were asking for help from normal people? How desperate were they? Seriously.

Percival glared at her again. Janel was embarrassed. Her boss had read her like a book twice in a row. Janel sighed. She was a failure of a bodyguard. Read too easily. Or maybe her boss was just really good at reading people. Janel preferred the ladder.

"Index, let's circle back to where you think Kairo is," Percival said.

Index's eyes narrowed, her voice became quiet. "I have a strong suspicion that he is being kept in Professor's laboratory. If you still have contact with Crux, we might have a way in."

Percival grimaced in disgust. "Let's go to the mall and get something to eat. I can't discuss that bastard on an empty stomach."

The mall was a large, tall building, filled with advertisements. Janel would never call it the prettiest location, but she'd seen far uglier recently.

The group stopped at a small restaurant and each ordered carry-out. Percival paid for Janel's, even though she tried to decline. He claimed it was because she was his employee—and that the price would be deducted from her payment anyway, so she was basically buying it herself.

Just as the five were taking their seats, a cacophony of screams sounded from around the corner. Idree, Percival, and Janel swooped into action instantly, with Andree and Index following quickly behind.

Several people were attacking other mall-goers. One woman held a man at knife point, while most of the other people appeared to be attacking at random.

As Janel ran to prevent the woman from murdering the man, her eyes darted from person to person. She quickly spotted a woman with an athlete's build and dirty blonde hair slip around a corner toward the escalators.

Janel grabbed the psychotic woman from behind and pulled her away from her boyfriend. The woman quickly escaped from her grasp and swung in with her knife. Janel was surprised by the woman’s superhuman strength and reflexes, but was able to knock the weapon out of the her hand.

Janel narrowly blocked a punch from the woman. Something definitely cracked. At that moment, she noticed a red glint, almost glowing in the aggressor's eyes.

"Percival, we're dealing with a Mass SRS attack! I'm going after the instigator!" Janel yelled, kicking the woman in the chest, before running up toward the escalator.

Janel was certain the instigator was the woman with dirty blonde hair. She could see her slowly riding up the escalator. She was watching the skirmish! The woman's hair came down to her neck. Her eyes were an intense yellow, and she wore a white tank-top and black bike shorts.

Janel charged up the escalator, meeting the woman at the upper floor. She swung several times, but the instigator was able to block every strike she threw. The instigator was using a hand-to-hand fighting style Janel hadn't encountered.

This was bad. Janel was already battered by the SRS attacker, but the instigator wasn't even sweating.

"Who the hell are you?" Janel gasped. She winced when a sharp pain shot down her forearms.

The instigator spoke slowly, "I am Lyssa."