The door chimed as the detective walked in, an old fashioned leather jacket barely concealing the lithe power armor covering his frame. A few people turned to look at him curiously from their booths, but when they recognized the familiar face they smiled and nodded a greeting. He nodded back, hands in his pockets as he waited for a waiter to see him.

He didn't have to wait long, as a lanky human man wearing a Jodie's uniform approached.

"Morning Cal." He said, an easy smile on his face. "You want your regular booth?"

Detective Caliban shook his head regretfully. He did his best to ignore the tantalizing scent of fresh morning coffee and fried ungal and waffles, instead taking a hand out of his pocket to rest it on his holster.

"Sorry Berry, not today." He said with a slight frown. "Is Jodie in?"

Berry paused, the detective's serious tone causing a prickling sense of unease to take hold of him. "She is, but she's working in the kitchen. Trouble?"

Detective Caliban shook his head again, the hand on his holster raising to scratch the light stubble on his chin. "Shouldn't be. Just had a few questions for her, that's all." He reassures Berry, who nods.

"I'll go get her then. In the meantime, could I get you a coffee? "

Caliban hesitated, but eventually a weary smile crossed his features. "Ah what the Rift, sure. I could use something hot right now."

Berry nodded, his smile back but the unease not quite leaving him as he turned around and headed toward the kitchen. After just a few moments he returned, gesturing towards a more private booth while handing the Detective a mug. "If you'll wait there, Jodie will be out to greet you shortly."

Detective Caliban took the mug gratefully, his hands warming as he walked over to the booth and slid into the cushioned seat. He raised the cup and blew on his coffee, steam curling upwards into his face as he took a sip.

Perfect as always, the Detective thought, relishing his drink. True to Berry's word, Jodie wandered out from the kitchen just a few moments after he had sat down, her gaze wandering over the shop before settling on Caliban in his booth.

Her black apron had small smudges of flour on it, a small detail Caliban noted as Jodie approached him. Her half-nuan half-human features were friendly in the way only an older person's could be, the small wrinkles around her eyes and on her forehead the only betrayal of her age on her otherwise pretty features.

"Good morning Cal." She greeted, dusting her fingers off on her apron. Her friendly smile was almost infectious, causing the corners of Caliban's lips to turn upwards. "How's the coffee hun? Brewed it myself this morning."

Caliban chuckled lightly, taking another small sip before setting the mug down on the coffee. "Still the best this side of Sacison." He assured her, but soon his smile settled. "Though I'm afraid I'm not here for coffee. I'm told Brias and Connel were here about a week and a half ago."

Jodie scowled, shaking her head. "Are those boys up to trouble again? I told 'em, I swear upon the Makers I told 'em to stay out of any-"

Detective Caliban held up a hand, shaking his head slightly. "They've gone missing.." He interrupted her, his voice quiet. She froze, her scowl morphing into a concerned frown.

"Oh." She said softly, the detective noting the way her hands nervously bunched at the edge of her apron. "How long ago?"

Caliban shrugged, resting his hand on top of his mug. "Not too long after they were last seen at your diner here, actually." He said, leaning his elbows on the table. "I spoke to Connel's wife, Yarina. She said he came home after that, but left again shortly afterwards. Something about 'damn mutie's'. People have been talking about them getting into an altercation with two strangers here."

Jodie nodded absently, her brows furrowing. She pursed her lips, nervously looking around, before sliding into the booth across from him. "Well… honestly, a regular here came in about a week ago with a young boy. His name's Joey, he's a supply trucker that uses this route."

The detective pushed his mug to the side, subtly tapping his circlet to begin recording. "Joey, you said?"

Jodie nodded again. "Joey, yes. Big man, human with a beard. Run's supplies for Razor Corps. But the boy he had with him was mutated, and it was the first time I'd seen him. But Joey shouldn't have anything to do with it. He's good people, I know that much."

Caliban tapped his fingers on the counter, mulling things over. "I see. Any idea where him and the boy went to after?" He asked, catching Jodie's subtle glance behind him through the window.

"Well… yes. I told him to make sure his tires weren't slashed. You know how Brias and Connel get sometimes." She admits, and Caliban nodded regretfully. Too many times he'd had them down at his station. "Sure enough, I saw a truck come to take his semi out from the lot."

Caliban raised his eyebrows at that. "Only local person I know who could truck out a semi is Oscar. You think that's where they went?" He questioned, and Jodie nodded hesitantly.

"Looked like one of his vehicles." She confirmed for him, and Caliban stood up. He glanced at the coffee, then picked it up and drained it one last time, ignoring the slight burn on his tongue.

"Thank you." He said, and Jodie stood up as well. She was glancing around at the patrons who seemed to be listening in, before quickly returning to mind their own business. She leaned in close to the detective.

"Listen Cal, like I said, Joey is good people. And the boy was mutated, but he seemed sweet enough. Hungry, he cleaned three plates of food, but sweet." She whispered. "You don't think it could have been them, do you?"

Caliban shook his head. "I'm just trying to track this down any way possible." He replied, his voice hushed. "It wasn't just them who went missing. Three others did too."

Jodie looked troubled, but nodded. "Well then, I hope you find them boys. Brias and Connel are trouble makers sure, but I still hope they're alright."

Caliban patted her shoulder, than tapped his circlet, sending Jodie a few credits for the coffee as he walked away. He swiped the air, calling his station. "Hey, it's Caliban. We have a possible 722 at Oscar's garage. Please send Ronal and William to assist." He said, the door chiming once more as he walked out of the diner.

"Roger Detective, Ronal and Wiliam shall be there shortly to assist."

-

Detective Caliban was leaning against his unmarked cruiser with his arms folded across his chest , two more doors slamming closed from a marked police car as a nuan and a human in police uniforms stepped out of their vehicle.

"Morning Cal." Ronal called, hands hooked on his duty belt while William walked in step behind him. Their expressions were friendly but serious as they stopped a few feet away from Caliban, turning to look at Oscar's large garage. Inside of it they could hear the whir of machinery, as well as loud rock music drifting out into the air.

"Morning." Caliban greeted back, uncrossing his arms as he put his hands in his pocket. "Station drew you up to speed?"

William nodded, tapping his circlet. "Sure did. Code 722, Brias, Connel, and three others?" He asked, and Cal nodded.

"Yep, last known locations were their homes and Jodie's diner." He confirmed, pushing off of his cruiser. William clicked his tongue.

"Guess you might be used to something like this, since you transferred here from Niminir." He said, and Ronal jabbed an elbow into his side. "Ow, what the hell was tha- oh, sorry Cal." His expression was regretful when he noticed the dark shadow pass over Caliban's face for just a moment, but the detective only shook his head.

"No, it's fine." He muttered, though Ronal and William could tell by his tone that it was anything but. "Anyways, I want you two to look around, see if you notice anything out of the ordinary."

Ronal nodded, dragging William with him as he started hissing something in his ear. Caliban paid it no extra attention, walking around to the front of the garage. Inside he could see a larger, bearded human man unscrewing bolts to a tire, rock music blaring as he wiped sweat from his brow.

"'Scuse me Oscar!" He called as he approached, and Oscar paused turning to look around at the detective. Grease stained his hands and smudged parts of his cheek, and as he tapped his circlet the rock music abruptly stopped, leaving silence in its wake.

Oscar's eyes narrowed slightly, before widening in surprise. "Oh, detective!" He exclaimed, a small smile on his face. But Caliban noted the slightest twitch in his cheek, and the way his eyes darted to the side. Interesting. "You finally brought your cruiser here to change out that relic you call an engine to something more practical?"

Caliban chuckled, shaking his head. "Afraid not. What you call 'practical' would put me out a few thousand creds." He says, and Oscar waves a hand.

"You can afford it, I'm sure. Would save you on fuel in the long run too. More efficient Core usage, I swear. Just can't beat the c10 engine." He said, setting down the tool in his hands and wiping grease on his jumper. "Well, if you're not here to have your fossil changed into art, what can I help you with?"

The detective looked around the shop, then focused on Oscar. There were deep bags under his eyes, ones he hadn't had the last time Caliban visited him. From the puffiness of his cheeks he could tell that the mechanic had been drinking more than usual too. Filing away this information, Caliban rested his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket.

"A few local boys have gone missing." He says, carefully studying Oscar's expression. "Brias, Connel, a few others. Heard that some of them might have slashed up a trucker's tires, and that you towed it."

Oscar nodded warily, the detective noticing his eyes once again glance away. "Yeah, friend of mine actually. Took a day to get the right wheels out here." He said, his arms crossing over his front.

"Joey?" Caliban asked, and Oscar looked surprised that the detective knew the name.

"Yeah, that's him. Had him ready to go on the road by the morning, and he took off."

Caliban noted the defensive stance, the hesitation in his voice. And the lack of mention of the boy with him. "Jodie said that he might have had a mutant with him. Know anything about that?"

Oscar looked uncomfortable now, and Caliban knew he was hiding something. "Uh… yeah, he might have. He did, actually." Oscar hurriedly corrected, clearing his throat. "Kid was a little strange, but nothing other than that. Me and Joey shot the shit, cooked up some hot dogs and drank some beer. I might have given the kid one."

Just as Cal was about to press further, he saw Ronal come from around the side of the garage. "Detective, something you might want to see." He said, looking at Oscar before gesturing behind him. Cal stared at Oscar for a few moments, saw him shift uncomfortably, and followed Ronal.

As they walked around the side, Oscar followed behind them. Caliban noticed the slight cracks and indentions on the wall of the garage, damage that wasn't present on any other part of the building. But that wasn't what they were talking about.

William was standing off to the side, his hands resting on his duty belt. All around Oscar's house and garage, the grass was vibrant green and neatly trimmed. All except for a large circle that William was standing outside of.

The grass in the circle was flat and grey, decayed when compared to the rest of the field.

He turned back to Oscar, who had gone almost as pale as the decayed grass. When Oscar noticed Caliban looking at him, he cleared his throat. "That's pretty strange." He noted, and Caliban nodded absently.

"That is pretty strange." He agreed, walking up to the decayed section of the grass. He hoped he was wrong. Hoped beyond hope that he was mistaken, as he laid a hand on the grass.

Instantly his head snapped upwards, as a vision played out in his mind. His Core blazed to life in his chest as his Ability activated. In the vision, he saw a writhing mass of darkness on this section of the grass. Just above him he could see the moon offering pale light around the area. He heard faint screams, followed by wet crunches and a dog's quiet whining. As the vision was old he couldn't make out specific details, but what he did see sickened him to his stomach.

He stood up, shaken, and glanced at Ronal and William. "If I remember correctly, there was a quarantine on a route that led through here to Mackadon, wasn't there?"

Ronal nodded, though Caliban knew that he didn't quite understand the implication. Local cops probably wouldn't recognize signs of Rift Entity exposure. Caliban turned to Oscar, an edge in his tone. "Oscar, could you describe the… kid that Joey was traveling with?"

Oscar's face paled further, if that was even possible, but he nodded. "I can uh… I can do a little better than that. I have a picture." He said, tapping his circlet. An image sprang into the air, of an even bigger man than Oscar laughing uproariously as a boy no older than fourteen stomped on a can of beer, face twisted into a scowl. There were clear signs of mutation on him, with wolf ears and a tail. And in a makeshift pouch was a small wolf.

Caliban had heard a dog whining in his vision.

Caliban studied the image for a few moments, before nodding. "Thank you, Oscar. Now, I'm going to ask you this, and please answer me honestly. Do you know what happened to the missing people?"

Oscar hesitated for a few moments, before shaking his head. "No." He said resolutely, and Caliban sighed.

"... I see." Was all he replied with, turning around. "Ronal, William, thank you for your help."

He began walking away, the two police officers looking between each other hesitantly before hurriedly jogging to catch up to Caliban. "What is it?" William asked quietly, glancing over his shoulder at Oscar, who was watching them go with a complicated expression on his face.

"You know that old adage about smoke and fire?" Caliban asked, and the two officers nodded as he opened the door to his cruiser. The detective looked at them for a few moments, his jaw clenching. "Well, I think we might have just found our smoke. And I'm betting anything, that the quarantine is the fire."

He stepped into his vehicle, closing the door as he sank into the seat of his cruiser. After deliberating for a few moments, he tapped on his circlet. "Hey, Trudy? Yes, it's Caliban. Yes. Please patch me through to RCO, I have a few questions I'd like to ask."

-

Deep underground, a team of scientists in white lab coats milled around three separate vats of murky yellow liquid. The clear glass allowed them to see pulsating bundles of Rift flesh forming inside, shining purple Cores directing their growth.

"I still can't fucking believe that after everything that happened, we were cleared for more damn experiments with the x-series. Ah, apologies for my language." A woman with vibrant red hair in a tight bun whispered fiercely to a moderately handsome Nuan. The Nuan pushed up on his wire frame glasses, subtly glancing at an old man standing on a platform that oversaw the team working.

"Rose…" Devon warned, and the woman rolled her eyes.

"Yes, I know. Doctor Rester ensured full safety. But still…" She trailed off as one of the newer lab techs on their team jumped slightly, backing away from the vat they had been watching. The lab tech very quickly looked up at Doctor Rester, who studied the vat labeled X2 with a wide smile on his face.

Because in the vat, an eye had just formed to study everyone present.