Snippet #2734812

Dikshil stared down at Park. "Yes, we have a case for you." She looked up at the group, the assembled men and women of the law sitting across the desolate boardroom, the cold white December sun shining in on them. Half their faces were illuminated by the bright of the window. "But first, I have something to say. This is the new Department of Unusual & Specialized Knowledge. There are only a handful of you, but trust that all of you have been chosen for a reason."

Dikshil swallowed, her palms touching the table as she stood at it's end. "Your budget will be minuscule, your equipment loaned from the other departments. I do not yet know if you are valuable... but if agree, and you prove to be." Dikshil bit her lip and nodded slowly. "We'll see where this goes."

Jong leaned back in his chair with folded arms, scanning the room. This did not feel like a celebration. Not yet. Not even close. This felt like a test.

"So," Dikshil spoke. "Are you in?"

Jong frowned. "Commissioner, with all do respect, I got out of being a cop a long time ago... why would I want back in?"

"Imagine the worst of this city, Meon Jong. Imagine the worst you've seen. The darkest corners, the blackest depths, the truths you know but cannot bear to imagine," Dikshil began, her voice growing low. "If you are in the world you wish to live, if you have the life you wish to have, go back to it." Dikshil stepped away from the table. "But if not... I offer you a chance... to change everything."

There was something frightening about Dikshil's words, something unsettling. In Neo-Seoul companies offered you the world, individualistic change, but it was all bullshit. One person couldn't change anything, and everyone knew it. And that's what sent a shiver down Jong's spine. Dikshil seemed to mean it.

"So do I!" Laszlo added, reminding everyone he existed.

Jong let out a long sigh. "Okay... you have my attention."

CASE 01: THE WOLFMAN OF GURI

"There's been a murder," Dikshil continued. "Downtown. Over a month ago. What we believed to be a copycat of Neuk Dae, the wolfman of Guri. Eaten alive. Only one witness. No camera footage." Dikshil folded her arms. "Of course Neuk Dae has been in prison for ten years. A trio of S.I.L.O. agents, including Agent Saito here," The woman indicated to the Japanese man she'd entered with. "They found a culprit and made an arrest in record time. Two weeks later we have another death, this time in Guri. No witnesses. No footage." Dikshil swallowed. "Last night we had a third. No witnesses, shots registered but to a person that doesn't exist."

Dikshil glared over the group. "I need you all on this as soon as you can. You have twenty three hours to accept my offer. If you do I expect you all here first thing in the morning, ready to hunt down this copycat. In work appropriate attire." The last line was added with a sharp glance at Camilla. "You will all be Inspectors with the D.U.S.K. And James," Dikshil looked up at Kyo. "I would offer you the position of department head. Chief Inspector."

Laszlo suddenly shot to attention. "James Kyo? Chief inspector?"

"Captain Kardos, you will still watch and assist with the full power of G.H.S.T. behind you," Dikshil dismissed the blonde man quickly. Jong looked across the table, at the Japanese SILO. Agent Saito, he'd been called. This was a demotion for him. SILO were the top branch of the N.S.P.A. and he wasn't even going to head it.

Suddenly a smooth chime came from Dikshil, a small holograph appearing on her arm. "I'm afraid another department calls, inspectors. Leave when you want."

Dikshil grabbed her pad and walked toward the exit of the room. "Remember," She said as she left. "You have twenty three hours to accept." And with that the Commissioner left, the noise of the lounge flooding in as the glass door swung open, her coat tails following her as she marched.

"And remember," Laszlo added, catching the door as it swung shut. "I'll be watching." He gave them all a smile before sliding a doorstopper on the glass and exiting. The silence was broken. The daylight outside had faded, the bright city lights flooding in from the early sunset. They were back in the noise of the fortieth floor, their exit clear.

Meon Jong swallowed before glaring at Saito. "Who the fuck did you piss off to get here?" He began, laughter from the lounge bar seeping into the office at his words.