Chapter Three

part one

June 26th, Old Lenox District, noon

"Jeez, Did they turn down the ac?" Jasmine fans herself looking around the empty waiting lounge. Looking down the corridor a group of people wearing lab coats exits the patient’s room.

Jasmine shakes Kuniva, breaking his focus from his magazine.

“Looks like it’s over.”

“And they're coming this way. I’ll be right back.” Kuniva skips off leaving Jasmine on her own.

Rude. The group of white coats stops in front of Jasmine. “Are you Jasmine Wingate the one investigating the bombing case?” The woman leading the group reached a hand out to Jasmine.

“That’s me.” Jasmine said, slowly takes the woman’s hand and shakes her hand.

“We arrived prior to the hospital’s invention from the Elli Edmonton Institution administration. My name is Venessa Wingate, pleasure to meet you,” the woman said with a tired tone.

“I apologize for being late. Collecting his data was rather complicated.”

“What about the others that are in comas just like him?”

“I’m specialized in neurology and neuro technology. I'm not a doctor. This is out of my jurisdiction. My only task is to simply classify the root of this cause. But I do find it uncanny to explain this with a student from Doctor Hunter High School.”

“Pardon me, but have you acquired a solution from his data?” the male doctor overseeing the unconscious boy asked with a concerned look.

“Unfortunately, there isn’t any conclusion as of right now. My team is preparing to have that young man’s data moved to our facility for a deeper analysis.” Venessa takes out a handkerchief and wipes her forehead.

She unbuttons her coat and fans herself. “I'd like to also address another issue. The moment I stepped in here the temperature started to rise, is there something wrong with the thermostat?” Venessa asked the female nurse.

“Two nights ago, a severe thunderstorm brought everything to a grinding halt all through the city. We’re currently running off the backup generator to keep all essential equipment operating until the problem has been resolved,” the nurse replies.

Venessa takes off her lab coat looking at the reflective surface inside her coat. “No matter how advanced technology becomes, the forces of mother nature will always one up mankind. Nothing we can do about it. Hmm?”

“Sorry about that. I wasn't expecting a line for the restroom, feels like I'm at a mall,” Kuniva said.

Venessa looks the boy up and down. “Kuniva Eurodyne, what a coincidence that we met each other.”

“Man, how far does my reputation extend in this city? Oh right.”

“Who isn’t going to know your name in this city? You’re quite popular mostly among the scientific and technology community. That's what happens when you’re one of the Unranked. Anyway, regarding the transfer of data?"

"We couldn’t send it out from here due to our systems being down. Our deepest apologies for making you come all the way here, Professor Wingate,” the doctor said.

Venessa shakes her head. “There’s no need for you to apologize for anything. That data we collected isn’t going to be enough to determine the cause. The firsthand details aren’t available at this time. We’re doing this because we’re concerned about those people.”

Venessa hands her colleague a tablet.

Jasmine steps forward looking into Venessa’s restless eyes and flushed skin. “Uh yeah, I have a question if you don’t mind?”

Jasmine takes a few seconds explaining the recent cases in the stigmata enhancer outbreak.

“Hmm…Stigmata Enhancer?”

“Yeah. However, it’s just a small rumor going around on the internet and on the streets.”

“Hmm, I see, do you know the manufacturer?”

“Uh, we’re still…”

“What about its shape? Operating system? Components?”

Vanessa kept pressing Jasmine with all sorts of questions that not even she knew an answer to. Kuniva stares at Jasmine, shrugging his shoulders not sure what to say or do to.

“Again, we’re still working on it, Professor Wingate.”

Venessa sighed. She pulls on her shirt looking around the waiting area.

“If that’s the case, I’m no use to you.”

“Even if that holds some truth. Among the people in a coma…wha…Ms.Wingate what are you doing?”

Kuniva and Jasmine witnessed Venessa peeling out of her clothes in front of everyone. Jasmine looks at him menacingly as his eyes are glued to Venessa, his face bright red. "Wh-"

Jasmine covers his eyes. “What are you doing Ms. Wingate!?”

“I’m sorry, but my clothes' climate control is malfunctioning. It's scorching in here.”

“But you can’t just strip right out in the open! There are guys here! Refrain yourself from further public indecency.” Jasmine spins Kuniva around and hands Venessa her clothes. Venessa puts her clothes back on but puts her jack on her forearm.

“I don’t understand the problem?”

“You know I can arrest you for Public Indecency? It’s not lady like to undress in public. I hope that sticks with you.”

Venessa’s colleague hands her a tablet, after signing it she hands it back.

“Have the data sent to the lab. Now, let’s go somewhere else for a talk.”

Kuniva and Jasmine nod following Venessa down the hall.

Kuniva squints his eyes at the back of Vanessa's head with such an intense look that Jasmine elbows him in the side.

“What are you doing?” Jasmine whispered to Kuniva.

“I noticed she has an cyberized eye and neural augmentations,” Kuniva whispered back.

"But still… wait when?"

"When she greeted me in the waiting room, I only noticed it when I was standing next to her."

“I’m astonished that you noticed,” Venessa responds to them. “A few years back I was involved in a car accident costing me an eye and minor head injury.”

“I can see the electricity flowing through technology, I didn’t mean to do that,” Kuniva said shamefully.

“Don’t worry about it.”

*******

“Well, my patrol is done and it's 5 minutes to lunch.” Marquis sat on the bench taking out his laptop. Pushing away at the keys a pair of hands covered his eyes.

“Guess right…”

“Shantae, this is getting old.”

“You’re no fun. What are you doing out here on Summer Vacation?”

“It may be Summer Vacation but I’m still part of Public Safety remember.”

Shantae pokes her tongue out and gives Marquis a thumbs down.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m doing better now, I owe you one. Oh yeah, your text ‘I’ve got my hands on something amazing,’ what is it?”

Shantae snickers with her head high and chest puffed out, and said, “Hehehe, So you did read my text and didn’t ignore it like the others. Well, feast your eyes on this bad boy!”

Shantae reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small device holding it up to Marquis' face.

Marquis moves closer to get a better look at the small contraption.

“An earbud case? That's what you wanted to show me?”

“Tsk tsk. Not even close my friend, not even close,” Shantae said, waving her finger back and forth.

Then again how am I supposed to know that just by looking at it? Marquis sighed.

“It’s inside this small case. Come, let’s head to the pizzeria and I’ll tell you all about it.”

Marquis puts away his laptop and follows Shantae.

“Always showing off.”

*******

Part Two

“I’ll take an unsweetened lemonade.”

“I’ll take a milkshake.”

The waitress takes down Kuniva and Jasmine’s order.

“And what can I bring you, Ma'am?”

“I’ll take a sweet tea, go crazy with the ice and sugar.”

“Uh, Ok? I’ll be right back.”

“Let’s get back on topic,” Venessa said, loosening her shirt top button. “The rumor circling around the internet regarding the Stigmata Enhancer might hold some truth. Does it make you wonder if there’s any connection between the people in a coma and the device in question?”

“Rather we already came up with that theory. What's your opinion, Professor Wingate?” Kuniva responds to Venessa’s question.

“I expected no less from you. With the details provided it's not too far fetched. This is a case that requires top officials to inform the public and remind them to be weary of the threat that has surfaced, but we still have yet to physically confirm this. Moreover, if Public Safety chose to publicize this information the number of victims will only go up.”

The waitress came back with drinks and passed them out.

Jasmine takes a sip of her milkshake. “More people will go searching for the device instead, making my job harder. At the current set up, our plan is to closely examine the public’s reaction and then we’ll proceed with the investigation based on real time events and information.”

“hmm...” Venessa pours coffee creamer in her sweet tea and stirs it. “The current measurement is appropriate for this growing outbreak. This Stigmata Enhancer may have a function that’s capable of awakening a person’s stigmata nodules. Now stack that on top of the users ending up in a vegetative states, if that were to be released to the public it can have adverse effects on the city. The higher ups isn’t willing to jeopardize their image.” Venessa continues to stir her tea until the ice melts to half their size.

“Now answer me this? Why are you telling me this?”

Jasmine pinched the bridge of her nose. “The matter regarding these forced stigmata awakenings, we believe it might warrant the intervention of a specialist, so that’s why…”

“You want me to investigate further into the Stigmata Enhancer once it’s been found?” Venessa said.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

Venessa glanced at Kuniva from the corner of eye and replied, “I’ll do it. Just understand, it’s my side that hopes for your branch's cooperation.”

“That’s great to hear!”

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you two,” Venessa said sitting back in her seat blocking out the sunlight as she glanced out the window.

“I take it that those two are friends of yours?”

Kuniva and Jasmine turn towards the window. On the other side of the window was Shantae waving at them.

Shantae and Maquis introduce themselves to Venessa and take a seat at the table and receive their orders.

“How did you two get roped into having a drink with a researcher? Is there anything wrong with your brain, sis?”

“No, we were having a conversation about the Stigmata Enhancer before you two arrived.” Jasmine takes a spoon full of her brother’s parfait.

“Stigmata Enhancer, hmm.”

“Yup!”

Shantae’s eyes light up when she hears the others talking about the Stigmata Enhancer, she reaches into her pocket taking out the small case halfway out of her pocket.

“I—” Shantae stops as she listens to Jasmine and Maquis. The expression on each of their faces weren't warm with color, instead frozen in a state of seriousness.

“The main branch intends to search for anyone who used the Stigmata Enhancer and provide protection.”

“I understand the first part. But protection, from what?”

An outburst of nervousness washed over Shantae when Jasmine brought up the main branch. She didn't know how much trouble she would be in if she told her friends about having the Stigmata Enhancer in her possession. The thought of showing off her prize instantly fades from mind. She puts the device back in her pocket and sits quietly eating her sandwich.

“I mean, the case is still under investigation, so putting it into words will prove difficult. We concluded the device has various side effects upon the person upon its use,” Marquis said to his sister, fighting her spoon away from his parfait.

Jasmine pouts, crossing her arms, giving up the fight with Marquis. “Meanwhile, those people that awakened their abilities via Stigmata Enhancer will walk in the shoes of a criminal. So far we have identified several cases like this one, hence the protection part.”

Shantae chokes on her drink, her mind began to race when Jasmine mentioned the word criminal.

“You ok?” Marquis hands her a napkin.

“Y…yeah I’m fine.” Shantae became antsy, accidentally knocking over Venessa's drink, spilling the milky beverage on her skirt and stockings, eventually the drink spills on the seat and floor.

“Ahh! I’m so sorry, Ms. Wingate!”

Shantae grabs a handful of napkins and hastily cleans off the table and Venessa’s leg.

“Don’t worry about it.” Venessa gets up and starts taking off her stockings. “I can get them replaced on my way back to my office.”

Jasmine jaw drops as she watches Venessa strip out her clothes. She covers Kuniva’s and Marquis' eyes.

Everyone in the establishment blankly stares at Vanessa.

“Hey!! If you're going to do that go to the restroom. There's families here with children you know!” Jasmine said ready to burst a blood vessel.

Customers began to leave feeling the awkward atmosphere as Jasmine squabble with Venessa urging her to stop stripping out her clothes.

“Awe~ but aren’t there any guys around here that got turned on by me stripping?”

Venessa pulls her stockings up.

“No Professor Wingate! Everyone has their own types of fetishes. Besides even if it wasn’t for the guys around there are others who are of the same gender with a twis—”

“I am the one who spilled the drink and we’re getting off topic.” Shantae jumps in between them, nodding her head twice to the left.

Venessa and Jasmine glanced at the displeased customers and the dinner's manager scowling at them.

“I think it’s best we leave, I don’t want to get banned from this place,” Jasmine said as she paid the bill.

"Yes, I'll meet you outside," Venessa said, heading to the restroom.

*******

“Thanks for helping us out Ms. Wingate, seeing that you’re currently busy and all.”

“Don’t mention it, Jasmine. That also goes for myself. My apologies for causing such a ruckus. It was kind of frightening but it reminded me of when I was an instructor. It was fun.”

“Oh? You used to be a teacher?” Kuniva’s eyebrows raised.

Venessa smiles at Kuniva and leaves. “Sometime in my past life I was, and Kuniva, Tell Professor Monroe I said hello”

They stare at Venessa until she vanishes from sight.

“She knows my mom?” he stared confusingly.

Jasmine pats him on the shoulder.

“Eh, I’ll say unlikely ordinary people. Professor Wingate is an extraordinarily talented woman. Isn’t she?”

“Yeah, but I had no idea she knew my mom. A small world it is.”

Kuniva abruptly turns around nearly breaking his neck, facing a holo advertising display, his fist trembles and he begins to shiver.

*******

As they walked through the park, Marquis suddenly remembered something.

“Shantae, you mentioned something earlier today that you praised so much about. What was it?”

Shantae froze, clenching her hand in her pocket. Her face was flushed from its color. He remembered that? He usually doesn't take interest in made up stuff!

“You ok? You look a bit sickly.”

“I’m fine, I'm fine. I just remembered I had something to do. Uh… I have to call my mom because she wanted to talk about something. So um…see you later!”

Shantae’s face muscles twitched as she smiled and without a second to lose, she speed walks off not looking back once.

“What was all that about?”

“No idea, sis.”

Jasmine turns around and notices that Kuniva has run off as well.

“Ah, no wonder it got quiet.”

*******

Just when I finally got my hands on a Stigmata Enhancer, I can’t just let it go, not after all the hard work it took me to get it. Heck, I haven’t gotten the chance to use it. Shantae clenched her fist walking in long strides. She reached into her pocket taking out the device and looked it over. The longer she looks at the device the more conflicted she becomes. I mean, no one has to know…right?

*******

Part Three

156th Branch Office, Evening

Jasmine sighed as she looked around.

“I just created more trouble letting a civilian in a case involving the Stigmata Enhancer. Eh, I'm sure things will be fine.”

Jasmine scrolling through her notifications then her Network Sleeve dings.

“Hey Marquis, head back to the office and gather whatever info you can about the enhancer.”

“Sure sis, but what about you?”

“I was alerted about a group of teens loitering south of Battery Park. I'll round them up as quickly as I can so we can go home.”

“Alright but be careful, sis.”

Jasmine gives her brother a thumbs up and vanishes.

*******

“Tough luck b—”

One of the teens from the group drops to the ground after receiving a blow to the head.

Jasmine squats down and sighed. This isn’t getting me no were.

Raising her hand, a pair of handcuffs drops out of thin air. She cuffs the group and sighed louder.

“See, all of this could have been avoided if you’d just answer my question? Damn it, I hope this doesn't set me back. I hope Marquis finds something soon.”

Jasmine checked her wrist, "7:30 pm. Well there's always tomorrow."

*******

Part Four

An hour after parting ways

Kuniva stops at the store window peering into the store, his eyes lit up. Without a second, he raced into the store.

A few minutes later, Kuniva exits the high-end sports store carrying two black bags. “Later Malik, Sweet!! to think they have this legendary gear used by none other than Keith Moore himself! This is truly a once in a lifetime event. I have to thank mom when I get home. Hm?”

Kuniva turns to the store display window and sees the display window ‘Sold Out’.

Kuniva held up both bags and said at the top of his lungs, “Thanks, mom!”

*******