What Rami called a diner was actually the swankiest, most expensive restaurant in the colony. Which wasn’t exactly saying much, but unlike Brad’s favorite cafe or other small convenience stores throughout the colony, this place had an atmosphere that reeked of extravagance. Chandeliers, art, live music played by a jazz ensemble, and food that was the textbook definition of opulent. Duck fat was a common ingredient listed on the menu, with an asterisk noting that it was, in fact, real duck fat flown in from off-colony rather than some synthetic substitute.

In fact, nothing on the menu was fake, which Brad found all the more shocking. Some things were easier to get ahold of than others. Eggs tended to be among the more common, cheaper items one could purchase, even if most people just cheaper out for the fake stuff. Some meats were more common than others, usually dependent upon which colony their ranch of origin was established. The Epiphany Colony’s location made importing of things such as pork and chicken relatively manageable, whereas things such as fish, beef, and other animals’ meats were a commodity reserved for the upper echelons of society. As in, the type that would frequent this place: business owners, visiting diplomats, and wealthy tourists passing through to other, better places.

This whole thing was a little lavish for Brad’s tastes. Sure, he loved the prospect of someone paying for his chance to eat a nice ribeye with roasted potatoes, something he’d scarcely had the opportunity to be in the same room as since he’d moved to this colony, but the money being thrown around made him uneasy, as if something was expected in return.

Brad took some time to consider how to approach the questions laid out for him, knowing full well that he wasn’t likely to get a full, 100% straight answer to any of them, or worse, that any questions he did get an answer to would only lead to more questions.

Well, we might as well dive right in. I’m really regretting not emphatically saying no to the murder case but it’s too late for that now.

“Okay, you’ve fully succeeded at grabbing my attention, Rami. Why did you bring us here? What’s so important about the info on that hard drive? I mean, clearly Matsumoto wouldn’t want news getting out about him financing and arming a secret mining operation, but why go to the lengths you went to for the drive? We didn’t find anything else there.” Brad stopped to consider that he might be offering too much information up front, but he also held out hope that, by chance upon seeing his sincerity, Rami might be inclined to give more information of his own.

The old man didn’t offer any particular nonverbal reaction, but he answered Brad’s question with one of his own, “Just what do you know about the mine?”

Brad settled back into his chair to think for a bit. “Honestly, not much. I just know it was sealed off years ago due to an incident. Something about radiation or a gas leak or something that led to a lot of fatalities and the only entrance to the facility being sealed in concrete.”

Rami chuckled. “Yes, the official story was intentionally vague about what had happened, partially to discourage any follow-up expeditions. That’s something I’m sure you can easily assume on your own. But it was also left vague because the story put forward by survivors of the incident sounded decidedly less credible than a mere story about poison gas.”

Elaine immediately pushed for more detail, “Excuse me?”

“I’m getting to it,” Rami continued, holding up a hand. “The survivors of the incident, both of them, said that the deeper into the mine they proceeded, the more they were plagued by unwelcome impulses, almost like something in the mine itself thirsted for blood. Eventually, something within the expedition party broke and they all turned on each other. The survivors said they were only able to get out because their impulse towards violence was overcome by another impulse, that being to flee to safety. That whatever was in this cave was not worth the risk.”

A heavy silence hung over the table, eventually broken by Jolene, who asked, “Do you know what happened to the survivors?”

Rami sighed, “They were placed in a mental hospital for rehabilitation, though eventually they were able to return to relatively ‘normal’ lives. One passed away a couple years ago, surrounded by his loved ones, but the other one is out there somewhere, the decades having taken their toll on him.”

Elaine quickly responded in an unamused tone, “He’s sitting right in front of us, isn’t he?”

Rami laughed, “You catch on quick.”

“So why go through the trouble?” Brad asked. “I thought you said you were able to return to a ‘normal’ life.”

Rami’s expression darkened, “I know what I saw and heard. One person experiencing those things, I can buy as the ravings of a mind in need of special help, but there were dozens of us!”

“But why do you want what’s in the mine?”

“There’s something in there that I mean to keep out of the hands of people who would misuse it. I’d like to destroy it if I can.”

As the conversation had progressed, Jolene began rubbing at her neck. She finally spoke up, saying, “I think they—Matsumoto—already has it.”

The heavy silence returned, before Elaine finally broke it. “Shit.”