"Mike," Kira says over the mobile, distress evident in her voice, "I managed to contact Tensei but his schedule is too packed to meet you on the date you told me. He's either with Inspector Scott or Sera these days. Busy with training probably."

I fold my legs more comfortably while playing with a pen left on the table, considering what Kira told me. This is fine. There is still time before the contest between Tensei and his brother. If I push too hard now, Kira and Tensei might get suspicious. Gently does it.

"No problem Kira. Just let me know when the beau is free." I reply from the darkness of my office, "I'll make time for both of you."

Kira cheers happily from her end of the line, "Thanks! You don't know how much your help means to me. I hope I'm not calling too late though."

I laugh, "No. Its fine. I'm still in the office anyway."

"But its already dark!" Kira protests, "You should get home before its too late."

Its not like I have to sleep. Staying in the office and going home really makes no difference to me. I don't say any of that to Kira of course.

"Work never ends." I tell Kira, "Anyway, I need to get back to it. Talk to you later."

I sigh tiredly to myself after Kira hangs up. The work really never ends. Just when you start making headway with something, another piece of bad news slaps you in the face. I turn on the lamp on my desk and read through the report my people had sent to me on the Archmage. I really wish I didn't need to do this, but experience has taught me that the man is deeply unreliable. Working with him was the equivalent of trying to ride a wild horse. You could get thrown off the saddle at anytime. If you were unlucky, a trampling would be added to the bargain.

The SOPO bodyguard detail that I had assigned to Naiberg had reported that the man had refused to take any precautions whatsoever even after my warning that he was in danger. Naiberg had been going about his days as if nothing had changed, and tonight he was going to be showing up at a fundraiser for the College. It was at times like these that I really felt like giving the Archmage a tight slap across the face. Just because your actions have been divinely guided by milady does not give you the excuse to take no responsibility for yourself.

My mobile rings again and I accept the call without bothering to check who it is, "Yes? Michael here."

The person on the other side of the line speaks in a rush, clearly close to panic, "Michael, its Hartley from SOPO. Did you authorize the removal of the Perfecta from the hospital?"

I blink as my mind goes completely blank upon hearing this from Inspector Hartley. There might have been a break in at the hospital, but I have made it clear that the Perfecta are not to be disturbed, not until we can find a fresh hiding spot for them. We need the Perfecta to activate the codex, so they have to be protected, regardless of the risk.

"Hartley, slow down." I command, "What in the world is going on?"

Hartley's voice is a rush as he responds, "The officer I had stationed at the hospital report that around an hour ago, several coaches with their windows blacked out had arrived at the hospital. From what we can tell, the Archmage's staff had smuggled the Perfecta out of the hospital ward and on to those coaches which have since departed. We have no idea where the Perfecta are now."

Like I said, a wild horse. I restrain myself from screaming in frustration and say to Hartley as calmly as I can, "Perhaps the Archmage has found a more secure location for the Perfecta. If anything, his loyalty to the Goddess is not in doubt."

"No. I don't think that's what the Archmage has in mind." Hartley's voice is now a whisper, as if he is afraid someone might overhear us.

Hartley continues, "My man at the hospital checked the medicine stocks left at the ward. Michael, the ward staff had dosed all the Perfecta with the stimulants meant to counteract the heavy sedatives the Perfecta had been put under. Whomever is moving the Perfecta out wants them to awaken."

My stomach sinks at the thought of the Perfecta awakening in public. Not only are they physically repulsive, they have the minds of wild animals. It would be akin to a herd of buffalo rampaging throughout The City. Not only that, questions would start being asked about where the Perfecta had come from. It would be a complete disaster.

"I need to contact the Archmage about this. Stay at your desk." I hurriedly instruct Hartley and hang up without waiting for his response.

I scroll through the list of contacts on my mobile and bring up Naiberg's number. I hope he answers. He'd better answer.

"What." an irritated voice snaps at me the moment my call is accepted, "I'm going to give a speech soon. Make it fast."

"Naiberg, its Michael." I say as calmly as I am able, "The Perfecta have disappeared from the hospital."

Naiberg replies in an amused tone, "I know. I was the one that ordered them brought to me."

"Are you crazy?" I yell, "What if anyone sees them? How are you going to explain that?"

Naiberg laughs, a sick, miserable sound, "I won't need to. The goddess will provide, will she not? Or are you doubting the ability of your precious lady?"

Before I can slap Naiberg down for his insolence, that mean, taunting voice presses on, "I know why I cannot complete the Perfecta project Michael. And if my guess is right, we will never create our perfect being without taking drastic action. Drastic action which I am setting into motion right now."

"What drastic action?" I demand, biting back another shout, "I've provided you all the test subjects and funds you requested. Stop giving excuses Naiberg! You disgrace milady with your failure!"

Another laugh from Naiberg, this time loaded with malicious enjoyment, "The Perfecta are all broken because your lady's power is not absolute. There is another force actively interfering with the transformation process. When the Perfecta's soul reaches its maximum state of purity, its body begins to break down. The fusion between the three forms is managed in the most backwards and impractical way possible. Its almost as if there is a self-destruct sequence built into our bodies that triggers the moment we seek to draw closer to the goddess, isn't there?"

I swallow hard and reply sternly, "I've told you about the Tyrant. The coward that strikes from the shadows. Now explain what's going on."

Naiberg now adopts a conspiratorial tone with me, "Yes, the Tyrant. You also told me that we are all the children of the goddess. My experiences with the goddess have confirmed that piece of intelligence as well. But that's not completely true isn't it? The Perfecta prove that the Tyrant does have some kind of claim on us, no matter how much we try to deny it."

"What are you intending?" I hiss, fear crawling up by spine.

"I wonder." Naiberg hums, "If the Tyrant has a claim on us as well, would it mean that the goddess is not as infallible as I had been led to believe? Are our paths in life set in stone by the will of the goddess or not? Curious. And I intend to find out."

Naiberg now grows serious, deadly serious, "An experiment is in progress Michael. I have set the Perfecta loose in order to ascertain whether the goddess is truly the patron of our races she claims to be. Whether or not unity is our real end state. There is a man who has devoted himself fully to the Tyrant."

"The blackguard." I confirm, "You know he hunts you, right?"

"Yes. Your blackguard is in the same building as I am right now." Naiberg sneers, "He thinks he is hidden, but I have known of his presence ever since the event started. He will be part of my great experiment to the question of where our destiny truly lies. Look forward to the results Michael. It will be illuminating, one way or the other."

The line goes dead.

I need to call Hartley quickly so that he can scramble a team to where Naiberg is right now. Should I accompany SOPO as well? We could end the blackguard, right here, right now, with the blessing of milady.

My hand reaches for the phone again. Its going to be a long night.