"They say great people dream great things"

-quote from the ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ Manifesto

"...It was this guy, Teodor, he was in the police force for like a good 6 years. Got into intelligence for a couple of years too, then he took bodyguard work in clubs and other kinds of place. Big tough guy. He got people from all these places, got connections to the streets too through his bouncer work, man made a whole gang outta thin air. Crazy shit."

"Yeah, that's why we need to keep stuff like this in check, it can get out of hand quickly and dealing with it later can become inconvenient and bothersome.. at least the traditional way. And we gotta keep it that way for, obvious reasons.."

"For sure. Anyway his crew got up got connected all that put in work. Swear to God they were involved with the fragmentation of the Zs."

"Get out!"

"Swear to God even there they got, took opportunities to grow internationally. I mean he's a smart guy that's for sure, even looking from how he just started, still bothersome like you said though.. And you know those Zs were crazy too. Heard there was this guy, started some cartel forgot it's name, took over it with his brother when it split and it grew bigger than the original. Those crazy Zs took him and beat the guy for like 48 hours, lynched him and all that, pumped him full of adrenaline."

"Pfft, nasty work."

"Fucking animals those guys."

"Anyway I have to go now, handle the business I came for. Was nice talking to you."

"Yeah come over anytime. Look at this water, feels so fucking good in here."

The man finally stood up from the wooden tub and the cold autumnal air of the mountains immediately bit his skin. The robe he put on felt even colder, but soon enough he adjusted to it.

Didn't take long before he started hearing the calls on his way back inside.

"Sir, Agent Shoemaker arrived earlier and is waiting for you. We should arrange to start a conference soon."

"Oh you should've called me earlier if the people are arriving. I could've dried off and got dressed."

"No bother sir, the agents can wait for you. How was the discussion with the local director?"

"Pretty interesting, he's pretty much within my expectations. He talked about some local stuff, mostly surface and that's about it."

"They always complain when they get to talk up don't they sir?"

Selena. 27, blonde, likes pigeons, rank A into research and diplomacy, well documented, reliable and she commands respect. One of the best people a leader could ask for.

"Hah, you're right as always Agent Luna."

"...does he suspect anything foul at play?"

"Ehh, he talked about some airs and afterthoughts, but nothing concrete. I told him to feel free to investigate matters however he sees fit, and if they find anything he's free to pursue whatever course of action he finds fit."

When they got inside, he was immediately greeted with a cup of hot mint tea. People all around the place fussing around making calls. He went to the long table in the back and sat down.

Shoemaker, Markobi, Dresden, Klaus, Luna, Toki, Duke and Vivianne.

The man immediately thought of multiple ways to start the conversation and who to approach first. After delicate estimates that happened in an instant, he took the next course of action:

"Agent Dresden, it's exceptionally rare for one of your people to attend these meetings, to what do we owe the pleasure?"

"The Order's ability to censor and cover-up information is almost stuff of the fables, especially when it involves your direct implication director. So, don't take this as a sign of your network having cracks or becoming rusty, nor that it's inefficient. It's simply that such news cannot avoid our ears. I hope you understand."

True enough, it's almost impossible to hide stuff from these guys. Not that it matters this time..

The director put his hands up.

"Ya got me Dresden."

Calculating his next moves and words, the director took a sip of the hot tea then continued.

"Agent Luna, can you give us a rundown of what exactly we're dealing with."

"Yes, director. Approximately 4 months ago, as you all know, we dealt with an Etherum Crisis level merging. There's also the Santiago Incident that happened around the same time. In the context of those 2 incredible anomalies, we are dealing with 3 cases of Sleepers. There's the case with the Mayan that broke out of binding during the Santiago Incident, which might be due to the merging, but we're still investigating that. There's the Sleeper in Australia, and the one we're here to discuss today."

"Thank you, agent Luna. Now, Duke and Vivianne, take over."

What is it, a sleeper bless, a sleeper, a crosser...what is it what is it what is it...

"We have this girl, about 8 months recruit, her family has history in the EHC.. Well anyway, she contacts us to tell us this friend of hers starts talking about seeing weird stuff, like monsters and dead birds whatnot. Now mind you, this is some weeks after the merging stuff, and it just so happens that this same guy was attacked 1 evening by a Slygoon. Me and Viv personally took care of it, then Toki handled the clean-up work."

A lock?..

"Right. This kid was clean. No I mean it, no sign of any work or any interference in the past or whatever. And he can't dabble with the mind, that much is out of the question. I've been handling clean-up for over 13 years, I can tell, and here I could tell it's nothing, so I didn't pay mind to it."

"Of course we believe you Toki, there's no question about that", Dresden finally intervened. "Now what I personally wanna know, agent Shoemaker, is why would someone of your status and rank involve themselves in such a matter."

She never even raised her look, having been seemingly dissociating since the director came in, never bothering to look at the others or acknowledge them.

"For the same reason you are here now Dresden: curiosity. When I heard that Toki personally handled the situation and it still escalated, I wanted to see for myself. Then it got even more curious."

Something inherited? what is it what is it..

Klaus finally intervened for the first time too, precisely when the director predicted he would.

"What I'd like to know more perhaps, is how the situation evolved in the first place?"

"We were observing; as is procedure."

You still got that same old air Viv I see.

"For what's worth it", said Shoemaker finally raising her head, "there was something off about him. And how it all went down. I can't pinpoint it but something felt wrong. Call it 6th sense. Especially when I approached him after I caged him, there was this weird sensation, like an extremely weak hairdryer blowing in my face and through my bones. Warm and chilly at the same time."

"Also for what it's worth director, we ran some deep research and found the boy was involved indirectly with a contractual incident. Something about case 1408."

This last bit of information from Luna perhaps was the most vital, and it pushed the cogs to start running inside the directors head, though it only caused even more questions to pop up.

"Well then, I think it's pretty clear what the course of action is here, sounds like a simple case to me. As for the other 2, it's all the same really, I don't really get why we really gathered here for this trivial stuff director."

"You know this is not how this works Klaus", Viv snapped as usual. "Toki should try cleaning up again, or maybe we investigate things further. I didn't know about this contract shit. What's the matter with this boy?"

"The thing that bothers me the most is how did he knock down all those guys in the park. I mean sure he had the book but he barely had it for what, 15 minutes? Performing such unordinary feats, shouldn't be so natural to him." Shoemaker looked unusually frustrated, she look honestly confused.

Ever so subtly and gently, impossible even for the most experienced of veterans to notice, Markobi sighed a faint chuckle.

"Director, the reason I'm here today is to talk to you about Operation East City."

"You damned idiot don't you see we're discussing a more important matter here, why do you have to interrupt it for stuff like this?" Markobi is the only person that can get on Shoemaker's nerves.

The exchange between Klaus and Vivianne became a back and forth, which subsequently turned into a whole argument, as it happens. People observing on the sides join in as usual. Lashing out at Markobi for interrupting the conversation, as he usually does. Such is the perfect recipe for chaos to ensue.

East City, East City...

Markobi you fox.

As the fighting continues, the director finally slams his empty cup of tea on the table, which immediately de-escalated the situation and established the proper order. Now everyone without a doubt is waiting for a call from him.

Though there were many paths that led to this point and many ways to approach them, the destination was always set in stone..

"I will personally conduct an interrogation."

This could change it all if you're right Markobi.. ALL!

"Agent Shoemaker, Agent Klaus, prepare a Top-Down room. You will all observe. Now if you'll excuse me for a second, I have to get presentable for our guest."

With that he stood up and headed for the stairs upstairs. When he entered his room, the director felt Markobi's presence.

A copy..

"Is there something that can't be discussed with our dear friends that you have to send this up here?"

"What is Dresden doing here, dear director?"

The director was putting on the suit that Luna had prepared for him. Deep blue.

"You heard the man, he was curious about the case."

"Bullshit. A couple of sleeper cases. For me and you, and others perhaps, those are interesting cases. For his people? Not even worth noticing."

"You supposed it has to do with the whole Rataya situation?"

"Things are simmering, director. But no I don't think he would keep off the table and bring it just to you if it was just that."

He pondered for a moment.

"I haven't had the chance for a 1 on 1 with him yet, he just arrived I'm assuming."

Markobi looks lost in thought too.

"No doubt you will... I just can't figure out yet. I'll try to hear into his camp before so we can be on guard for what he might share."

"That you do, try to reach out to Tarantula see if she knows anything. Now, our guest is waiting for us.."