Prose:Black Research Mutiny/Chapter 1

"So, Melanie... care to tell me why you brought me all the way to Black Mountain?"

"Sit down. And I'd prefer you address me as 'Adjudicator'." She motioned to the chair.

"We're here to talk about you."

The thudding of footsteps in the hallway briefly interrupted their conversation, as four Internal Security agents in heavy white Sigma Unit exosuits filed in behind Director Taylor.

Taylor eyed the agents' weapons. "Oh. I see what this is."

"Do you know what Reality Law is, Director?"

"I'm not sure how to respond to that."

"Of course you do. So you understand both you and your department must follow it."

"I run my department under the strictest of terms. We've terminated countless employees for violations. All on record. What's your angle?"

"See, that's what we thought, until around three months ago, when CMI operatives came across a certain sapient anomaly in the field. Not like the others. Do you know what we found in its neck?"

"A BRL-17 developed black box implant."

Taylor scowled. "That's impossible."

"...So we did some digging. Your department might be exempt from memory scans, but we had the SIO perform some good ol' fashioned surveillance, and install a few network taps here and there. Ironic, isn't it? Your own technology used against you?"

Melanie leaned across the table, close enough to Taylor's face she could smell the Adjudicator's signature hydrocarbon-scented perfume. "We know about the Seraphim Project."

"What we don't understand is why. Why'd you do it. Is it about power, or do you, by some sick sense of logic, really believe this benefits the mission? You're playing with fire."

"Careful, Melanie. You really don't understand how crucial my role here is."

"The Council's unanimous on this. You're being replaced. Effective immediately."

Taylor paused, as if something inside her snapped. Her face slowly contorted into a smile.

"Tell me, Adjudicator, do you know what exposure to a manifold distortion field feels like?"

"...What are you talking about?"

"Not what subjects report. But what it truly feels like. Your consciousness slowly being torn from its substrate, synapse by synapse. The ablation of your personality until a mere shadow of perception remains."

"Are you threatening me? You might be able to bully every scientist in your department into submission, Taylor, but not me. Agents... take her into custody."

Two raised their weapons at Taylor, while another two stepped towards her.

She simply pointed at one of the agents... and spoke.

"Refract him."

Something shimmered across the room. A bassy warbling coursed through the air.

Alarms started sounding as the agent screamed, looking down at his hand.

Gone was everything below his elbow. Instead, a jagged mess of shimmering polygons reflected the terrified expressions on the other agents' faces.

The polygonation in the agent's arm spread to his collarbone, then across the rest of his body. Turning him into a sculpture.

The statue vibrated, then exploded into tiny crystalline shards.

Melanie recoiled in shock, the razor-sharp shards slicing into her skin as they flew across the room. Fresh, warm blood ran down her neck from the inch-long fragment now grazing her jugular.

She stared at Taylor, gripping her desk tightly, her hands shaking. The air smelt like ozone.

Taylor ignored her, standing and barking a command at the empty air beside her.

"23, get us out."

With a shimmering of particles, Taylor's silhouette faded from the High Adjudicator's office.

The PA system cut in over the shrill alarm.

"Code Black. Exosecurity threat detected. All personnel immediately proceed to the nearest hardpoint. Repeat: code black. black. black."

Melanie glanced at the space where Taylor used to be. Her eyes darted around the room, observing the crystalline shards dusting every surface. Shards that used to be one of the most decorated members of her close protection team.

She took three deep breaths, trying to control her adrenaline, and pressed a few tissues to her neck to control the bleeding. Then she stood up and pointed to two of the agents.

"Kelly, Marko, with me. Steven, have a med team meet me in the situation room."