The Morbus-verse

"I intend to make D.U.S.K. work, Officer De Silva. For it to work where it previously failed," Dikshil, the name of the darker woman. "You were all chosen for a reason. Any who join you in future will join you for a reason." She said before turning to her.
"D.U.S.K. perished from their own actions, by their own blade. Not mine." She repiled and then sent her a glare. "Don't break the system, Camilla." She reprimanded and Cammie grinned sheepishly and removed herself from the table to a chair. "So, Fair enough, they screwed themselves but did you catch the people that blew them to hell?" She asked. "I mean, Criminals tend to hold grudges, I would know, I hunt them for a living." She said leaning agaisnt the table top with an elbow, her head resting in her hand. "I mean, I'd like to know, D.U.S.K clearly had enemies."

James had been quite for the majority of the meeting. He remembered the Wolfman case, though he didn't work on it directly. He didn't need much motivation or reason though, he had enough motivation, this was just another request from Neo-Seoul of him.

Questions were asked and, for the most part, answered. The last arrival walked in late, but she did it with confidence at least, and more questions were asked. James cast a knowing look toward Laszlo when Camilla noted criminals holding grudges. He hadn't replied to Amen's comment, but he couldn't help but recall it. It was hard to hold grudges after G.H.S.T. visited.

"As I said," Dikshil responded. "D.U.S.K.'s demise, tragic as it may have been, was their own doing. You are officers of the N.S.P.A. Captain Laszlo is here to both watch and protect you."

Laszlo gave a slow smile to the ground as he leaned back in his chair. "The D.U.S.K. members died once they... broke away from us, and started interfering with forces we could not control." Dikshil glared at Camilla and Jong. "You two are not in the N.S.P.A., but if you accept you will be... things inside are different than they are on the streets."

"Heh," Jong murmured, glancing over the contract. "I know..."

"And I assume you have a first case in mind, Commissioner?" Su-min gave her a small, knowing smile. Dikshil wouldn't have just reformed D.U.S.K without there being a reason.

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.

"Yeah, uh...you got kicked down from SILO, bruh?" Amen asked, bemused. "Or did you quit? I heard there aren't a lot of foreigners in SILO so y'know," he shrugged. "Well that's what people say anyway..."

Amen looked back briefly at each member of the group assembled before him. He'd already accepted on this job, because of what would benefit him and hadn't quite thought of how this outfit would run itself. Former GHST captain now heading the DUSK squad. If that didn't rub anyone the wrong way, there was something seriously wrong. He wouldn't raise any objections now....Kyo was in charge after all. Might as well see how he leads first before jumping to conclusions.

"You in, kid?" Jong suddenly asked, looking at Amen from across the table. "You signing up for this thing?"

Kid. For real?

"Fuck yeah, I'm in," Amen nodded quickly. "You know how much you get paid on patrol?" He asked incredulously. "I'd take a job in GHST if it paid better than that shit..." he stated, turning to look towards James Kyo. "No offense, Chief Inspector..." he stated with a tone so perfectly respectful that it could be nothing but disingenuous.

Jong sighed. "I'm making okay money... maybe too much to throw it all away..." The man paused. There was something in the Commissioner's words. About changing the world they lived in. There was something in them that mattered.

Outside the window a holographic whale swam, a url beneath it, the bright neon blue light shining into the room. "But this case," Jong lied. "It might be too big to pass up."

Su min stood, tucking her holopad in her bag and slinging the black satchel over her shoulder, "Well then, I'll see you all tomorrow," she said, making to leave, "Perhaps."

James bowed his head slightly when Dikshil offered him the department head position. It was unexpected, with a SILO agent on the team, and Laszlo, but he supposed it made some sense. He didn't know much about the people in the room, but he felt safe to assume he had the most relevant experience leading a group of people. This group of people, however, was going to be vastly different than he was accustomed to leading. A G.H.S.T. team worked more like a machine than a team of people, and this was group of people who didn't seem to work great as a team.

"It does. Quite a bit." James replied matter of factly, adding "You would not have been accepted for transfer." Someone like Amen, Camilla, even to some extent Jong, they simply didn't exist in G.H.S.T., the system was designed that way.

"Fortunately, this isn't G.H.S.T." he stood, "Tomorrow then."

Just another request from Neo-Seoul.

Amen stood up from his chair as well, feeling that he was about done with this first meeting. He wasn't particularly annoyed by the insulation that he wouldn't be accepted into GHST. The cold level of disrespect did strike a nerve, he had to admit. If you're gonna say shit like that, at least make it funny.

"Well...I don't know about y'all, but I'm fittin' to take a nap. Get some barbecue. And maybe do a little research on our first case..." he stated as he began to walk towards the door. "Cause I'mma tell y'all right now," he stated, turning around as he was reaching for the door...I'm not about to fuck with...wolfmen, vampires, aliens...None of that shit. I like staying alive and and to stay alive out here? You're gonna need this..." he stated, tapping on his forehead.

"She knows it," he stated, pointing towards Camilla. "He knows it," Amen repeated pointing towards Taku. "You might know ir, old man, but you know in Neo-Seoul we've got private inspectors and 'private' inspectors. Both of 'em shady, but...there's only one you can trust in a life or death situation, you know?"

Camilla listened to Dishiki as she spoke about what would be inspected and what they should expect. She pouted like a child when Dishiki gave her a pointed look about her 'attire', though she chuckled herself. This is probably the most subdued her attire has been in recent...years?

She listened and her interest was piqued when their first case was presented to them.

"Wolfman, eh?" She said with a smirk and she sat back, contemplating how this was going to work with all of these people. She liked the mystery of it too. There could have been some augs that could make a person's teeth strong enough to not only break the skin but chew and swallow it. She was thinking this when Amen seemed to break into a fit.

"Well...I don't know about, but I'm fittin' to take a nap. Get some barbecue. And maybe do a little research on our first case..." He said and she chuckled in response. "Cause I'mma tell y'all right now," He turned then before he reached the door. "I'm not about to fuck with...wolfmen, vampires, aliens...None of that shit. I like staying alive and and to stay alive out here? You're gonna need this..." Camilla laughed out right then as he tapped his head. "She knows it," he said, pointing towards Camilla. "He knows it," Amen then pointing towards Taku. "You might know it, old man, but you know in Neo-Seoul we've got private inspectors and 'private' inspectors. Both of 'em shady, but...there's only one you can trust in a life or death situation, you know?" He said and Camilla arched an eyebrow.

"Well, Don't you think that thought process is exactly why you're here?" Camilla shrugged. "She said we were chosen for a reason, My guess is because we know the darker side of Neo-Seoul," She smirked. "No pun intended," She rose to her feet and walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "There are no such things as Wolfman or Vampires, Just Augs." She said with a nod like she was talking to a slow child. "We should start with that, Augs shops, probably ones working under the table." She said and dropped her hand and straightened up and turned to the rest. "That's where I'm starting anyway," She said and then turned to him. " After that barbecue," She added insinuating he was going to buy it for her since bringing it up. "Shall we?"

It wasn't meant to be taken literally. She couldn't have thought he meant that literally.

Amen shook off any slight irritation over what was insinuating with Camilla's nodding, only for that feeling to be followed up with one of surprise as she decided she wanted to join him for lunch.

He contemplated it for a moment and briefly his mind was elsewhere. After a brief moment he shrugged, "Aight, shit, let's go!"

N.S.P.A. Headquarters, District 1 - Downtown
December 1st, 2117
12:37 P.M.

Outside the HQ, the wind began to pick up, making the atmosphere one degree briskier. Amen shivered slightly and clapped his hand together. That barbecue was sounding like a better idea by the minute. He lifted up his wrist, which sported a watch featuring a digital image of a bartender, dancing across the touch screen. Pressing the screen, Amen caused a hologram of the bartender to emit from the watch.

In the holographic bartender's hands, a map was of the city was displayed, with several locations marked by red dots. "You ever seen a restaurant app this fuckin' busy before?" Amen asked, rhetorically, to Camilla. "Anyway, Galbi Palace cool with you? Ain't the fanciest joint in Neo-Seoul but, it's by the docks, so y'know it ain't gonna be too crowded compared to some of the other ones."

Aight, shit, let's go!" Amen said and Camilla beamed. This'll be fun.

She stood beside Amen as he fiddled with his watch and up popped the hologram bartender from the restaurant apps. She personally hated those things. She liked finding her own little dives mostly because... "You ever seen a restaurant app this fuckin' busy before?" Amen moaned and Camilla merely shrugged. That was precisely why. Those stupid apps always attracted a crowd and she hated crowds when she wasn't working. "Anyway, Galbi Palace cool with you? Ain't the fanciest joint in Neo-Seoul but, it's by the docks, so y'know it ain't gonna be too crowded compared to some of the other ones." He said and she shrugged again. "Sounds Good to me," She said. "I've been a few times on jobs, Pretty decent fare," She said and made her way to her bike, merely out of habit... but stopped when her brain caught up with her feet. She looked back at him. "Hm?" She pursed her lips. "You got a ride, yeah?" She asked with a shake of her head. "I don't have a cabbie," She said gesturing to her black and neon blue velocycle. She then smiled deviously. "Unless you want to ride bitch?" She said gesturing to the back of the bike.

Taku glanced over the holopad that was presented to him. He made a small gesture with his eyebrow that let the tiny AI in his systems know to begin copying the data to his own server. If anything were to ever backfire for the new D.U.S.K. he'd be sure to have accurate records of it all. Part of Taku believed the Commissioner would understand, but the other part didn't care. He could walk through the door and go back to SILO, as she had mentioned, this was a demotion of sorts but the offered pay and benefits were still on par with his current SILO lifestyle. He smirked as every run of the mill joke about this being a demotion as the others began to file out of the room. It didn't bother him to not be in charge, the Commissioner knew how little he cared for working with others, and leading them? Forget it. This was a demotion in title alone. Working for DUSK would grant him the authority he needed to truly clean up the city and expose those clinging to the shadows just outside the reach of street cameras.

He left as silently as he'd entered, tucking the holopad under his arm as he made his way back home, ordering barbeque to be delivered as he arrived, Amen's suggestion seeming to have reminded him to eat something at a reasonable hour. It would be an interesting night, he hadn't been home before 2 a.m. in months.

Ground Levels, N.S.P.A Forensic Laboratory

In the depths of the N.S.P.A lay a maze of white tiled halls and frosted glass, most leading to various forensic laboratories, others opening to offices and storage rooms. It was the largest forensics facility in Neo Seoul and most commonly used for police cases. Although it was technically a whole other department it's services covered the entire N.S.P.A and other outlying agencies, therefore certain investigators and medical examiners were often assigned to one of the other police departments. It allowed for more experienced pathologists and analysts to work on classified cases under such departments of S.I.L.O or G.H.S.T. Su-min had been assigned under the D.T.R taking on low to medium profile cases, occasionally working on-site as a general Forensics Officer to collect evidence and analyze it for the department to investigate. It was engaging work, but as of late Su-min had found herself becoming restricted by routine. It wasn't that she thought she was too good for the D.T.R, but she needed something more complex to keep her interested. Even now she felt her brain whirring with possibilities and leads for the Wolfman Rebirth.

The woman stopped at a grey door with a name card beside it, written in bold black letters; 'Morgue Theater 2A'. She scanned her card and entered.

A room not so dissimilar to the rest of the N.S.P.A building revealed itself. White on white on silver. In the middle of the room was a metallic bed-like table with a sink on the end beside a wall of cabinets and benches of similar style. On the table was human-sized mound, covered with a black plastic sheet. Pulling out various medical instruments beside was a Chinese man, late 60's, Dr. Li Huang, one of the medical examiners of the N.S.P.A. He looked up at Su-min's entrance, his dark, squinting eyes scrutinizing everything and everyone.

"Thought I'd catch you before you started," Su-min glanced at the covered body as the door clicked softly behind her, "Ahmed said you were about to do an autopsy."

"Yes," he gave her a pointed look, though it wasn't mean, "You shouldn't be here."

"I have a few questions for you. They're important."

Dr. Huang placed a knife down and gave her his full attention, seemingly amused.

Su-min relaxed. Li had become something of a friend in her time at the N.S.P.A. She figured he appreciated the fact she spoke to him as a human and not just as Chinese, "You told me you worked on the Wolfman case once."

Huang's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Why do you want to know about that, Park? What business has the D.T.R with that case?"

“If you remember, Neuk Dae was a D.T.R nightmare,” Su-min replied, sounding confident in her words despite only really hearing about the Wolfman this evening, “Other than that I cant really disclose.”

He nodded, understanding. Although the people in forensics knew almost everything that went on in the N.S.P.A there was still a level of confidentiality involved with each case. It wasn't strictly forbidden to talk about them per say, but it wasn't encouraged. For Su-min she wasn't sure if she was allowed to tell anyone about D.U.S.K or their cases, so for now she kept quiet.

"Do you know where the old evidence files are? In fact the entire case folder would be handy. I have clearance to access from the Commissioner, I just haven't been approved in the system yet," she folded her arms.

Huang raised an eyebrow but trusted her, pulling over his holopad as the orange light projected a keyboard onto the bench. He tapped quietly for a moment while Su-min glanced at the body between them. Not many people would be able to have a casual conversation over a dead person.

"On speaking terms with the Commissioner, are we? Here," he muttered, swiping the screen. Almost instantly her holopad belled softly. Su nodded her thanks, dismissing his comment about Dikshil, "You might be questioned later. I'm not sure how in depth they'll be."

"Everything I know is written in there," the doctor pointed to her holopad, where the evidence files now lay, "And I don't know much. I just examine the bodies, Su-min."

Park nodded, "I know. It's just procedure. Thanks, doctor, I'll see you later."

Dr. Huang's voice called out to her as she left the room, "Go have a social life, Park! Be a normal young person."

Su-min laughed, tucking the holopad into her bag once more.

Parking Garage, N.S.P.A Headquarters

The elevator rose Su-min up to the concrete parking maze of the police, she ready to call it a day as the doors slid open. "Kid," A gruff voice called. Leaning against the parking lot wall smoking a cigar was none other than Meon Jong. He gave her a dangerous look. "Taking care of loose business?" He asked.

"Hello, Mr. Jong," Su-min greeted politely, "Actually I was gathering old evidence files for tomorrow." She shifted her bag onto her other shoulder, eyeing Meon with reserve.

Jong rose an eyebrow as he puffed his cigar. "Oh sweet. Saves me the trouble of breaking in," He grumbled. A dry wit. Or maybe he was serious. "Come on, kid. My cars over there," He said as he began to walk forward...

"Er, I'm sorry?" Su-min took a confused step, "Are we...going somewhere?"

"The crime scene," Jong replied as he clicked his car keys, his vehicle humming to life as he did. "We have twelve hours since the murder- if we wait until tomorrow that's another twelve, twenty four hours and we've lost everything," Jong said. "Time is everything in this business and when you don't have the clues flying through the hypernet that means ya' gotta go there yourself."

Jong paused to inhaled his cigar. "Of course Dikshil was careful not to tell us where the crime-scenes were. But I look over those files, run a few calls with my contacts, I'll find out where in Guri our vic was murdered."

"Oh. Right," the Korean woman nodded, disappointment silently washing over her, so much for a social life. She opened the passenger door and slid in, "The new case files are under restriction. I couldn't really find any specific details until the Commissioner approves access, but it'll have to do."

Amen raised an eyebrow and snorted. That wasn't a question he'd heard anyone ask before. "Nah, I'm good...I ain't tryna head back here to get my car, anyway." Amen stated, walking towards his car. "Traffic's not lookin' too bad surprisingly. Probably won't last, though. I'll call ahead and get some reservations just in case..." Amen stated, putting his hands in his pockets and walking over towards his car.

Galbi Palace: BBQ and Seafood
210 Reefside Blvd, Sokcho 1:05 P.M.

Amen's car rolled up to an empty space in the restaurant's parking lot. A space labeled employees only. He wasn't worried about his car being towed or tampered with in any way, in fact he'd sooner leave his car here overnight then over back at HQ. Especially after some of Dikshil's comments had him wondering...

He stepped outside and took a stretch, breathed in the fresh air (or what passes for fresh out here) and leaned against the front door of his car, scouting the he rest of the parking lot for signs of Camilla.

"Someone said Laszlo was in that meeting of yours." Lee commented the moment James approached his desk, still working on his reports.

"He was."

"Damn."

"He has received a promotion."

"Damn."

"So have I."

Lee stopped typing and looked up, the glow of the display cast his face in blue. James could see the faint hint of disappointment on the man's face, Lee had been a new transfer when James was given command of a squad. He had become the squad second five years ago and was the only member remaining from that original group to serve under Kyo.

"Well damn." he said, this time with more conviction. "What have they got you doing now?"

Anyone else wouldn't have asked, and if they had James wouldn't have answered. "Chief Inspector, D.U.S.K." he gave Lee a look that clearly meant 'this is not to be public information'.

James went to his desk and picked up the few personal effects he kept there, retrieving the box with his paper crane from the drawer. "Do you remember the Wolfman case?"

Lee thought for a moment, "A while back, yeah. I mean, I remember it happening. Wasn't involved, thankfully. That one gave everybody fits." he cast a sidelong glance at James but didn't press the issue.

James logged off of the computer at his desk for what would probably be the last time. Picking up his things he walked by and gave Lee a pat on the shoulder. "If you kept up on those reports you wouldn't have to sit here so long." he smiled and made his way to the elevator.

"Haraboji." Lee called as the door slid open, "Happy Birthday." James nodded as the door closed.

19:00
somewhere in District 7

Dirt, grime, noise. Guri.

It wasn't the worst place in Neo-Seoul, it was just unconcerned with the idea of being clean and quiet and new. Guri was still about making things, building, creating. There were steel mills turning out vast amounts of whatever metal the city needed. Vast banks of welding machines and riviters and heat-fusion bays. In Guri anything could be made, there were buildings here that could build other buildings from start to finish. There were manufacturers, suppliers, transportation hubs. All of the facets of an industrial age.

The conventional wisdom considered Guri to be in decline, and yet it defiantly served as the place of employment for millions. It continued to steadily provide the basic materials that the rest of Neo-Seoul was so dependent upon, regardless of the fact that the rest of Neo-Seoul barely recognized that dependence.

Chief Inspector Kyo stood at a corner, unaware and unconcerned with which streets intersected in front of him. People bustled around him, coming to and going from work. Weary shoulders and heavy eyes marked the ones going, weary eyes and heavy shoulders marked the ones coming. Guri could grind a person, but most of these people were happy provide for their families. They were proud of the back breaking work they did. Neo-Seoul ran on the sweat off their backs.

Guri was never clean. It was never neat and tidy. It didn't even try very hard to hide its underbelly. Guri was where the hard work of honest men merged with everything that was corrupt about Neo-Seoul in the most open way.

He didn't know how he was going to do it. He didn't know how D.U.S.K was going to work. If someone had put the plan before him and asked if it even could work, with the people that had been selected, he would have said it couldn't. He would have been sure of the fact.

He had spent over two decades in an organization that worked like one of the factories of Guri, taking raw materials and forcing them to become the parts of a machine; discarding those materials that couldn't, or wouldn't, with prejudice. He had said it already, half of these people wouldn't have been accepted for transfer into G.H.S.T training, they wouldn't have even gotten the chance to be kicked out. But these were the people the commissioner selected for D.U.S.K, personally. These were the people he had been giving the task of working with. He couldn't treat this like a G.H.S.T unit. He couldn't demand obedience and precision. He had to find a way to make the machine make itself, a way to have the machine work on its own.

And this machine had to work.