A Bloodstained Mantle

Mary, hero with three dozen false faces, shifted uncomfortably in the maximum security cell she sat inside, her body was weighted down with almost uncountable number of chains which themselves were bolted to the wall which wouldn't budge no matter how hard she pulled.

In hindsight her plan hadn't worked fantastically, she hadn't known that Chimera could knock her out like that… although, she thought that might explain why her thoughts were so muddy during their talk.

It was unfortunate, clever people were always so much harder to kill, and to make matters worse she'd been thrown in here, which Mary thought, was very unfair, did nobody understand that some people had to die for a better world? Sure, it wasn't great that they had to die, but at the end of day, well, it was necessary, nothing for it.

She shrugged, dismissing the feeling and continued shifting around in her restraints, she really wasn't looking forward to her one phone call.

The boss really wasn't going to be happy, they'd lost a valuable pawn, she was in jail and would have to escape somehow, and to make matters worse she wasn't even sure if Adamant was actually dead, sure, the boss has said it would work, but Adamant was a titan on the local stage, heck, he was even scary on the national one, and to top it off he'd been an unknowing thorn in their side for…… for as long as Mary had been a member of the group.

All in all, things would have gone much better if she'd just brought her weapon and butchered Chimera in the tunnels, nosy investigators and possible reopened cold cases be damned.

"'Mary', we're coming to give your phone call, make no sudden moves."

And that was another problem, how the heck had Chimera known her real name? She barely used it anymore, certainly not when… actually, she couldn't remember the last time she'd used it outside of interacting with one of her colleagues.

As she was pondering this her cell door opened and Mary did her best to comply with the request as the phone was placed between her shoulder and head as her chin tapped a phone number into the screen with practiced precision.

"It's me," she says, trying her best to keep her carefree tone intact as her boss waited for her to deliver the news. "Things didn't go great."

She winced as the boss responded, trying not to pay attention to how much the cutting words, well, cut. "Ok, a little worse than not great, I admit I made a mistake, a couple of mistakes, and, boss, I am very sorry for that and will make it up you as soon as possible."

Then she smiled as the boss asked the most important question, "Yeah, server is broken, kicked right through it myself, secrets are safe, all of that is good… I just got caught like three seconds after that."

The boss's answer killed any trace of a smile on her face, "Ok, I'm sorry, I messed up."

That mollified them, at least enough that their final question was delivered in only a slightly mocking tone.

Mary smiled sheepishly, intensely thankful the boss couldn't see it, "Uh, yeah, I was hoping you'd have a plan." She said shaking a leg and wincing as the clattering noise echoed around the room.

The boss sighed, and said a single word, one which reminded her of something so blindingly obvious she almost couldn't believe she'd forgotten. Wait, how did I forget it? It was literally always there, I used did it just last-

She face palmed, or more accurately she tried to, the chains around her arms prevented her from moving that much, "Damn it, I completely forgot about that." At least that solved the question of how she'd escape, although it would mean she'd have to visit that old crone and change her face and such around again.

The phone chattered again and she sighed, "Fine, I'll get out when you want me to, you'll be dropping this phone number, right?"

The boss answered and she sighed, "Right, also that, let me know when exactly you want me out, also where to go once that happens, what's the plan for that?" She asked, suspecting she knew the answer.

Unfortunately, she did, even more unfortunately the boss wasn't swayed by her complaints, not even the really good points.

Finally she groaned and accepted the inevitable, "Fine, oh, by the way, would you be willing to hook me up with a lawyer?"

Her boss hung up on her.


O-O-O-O-O

Sorry everyone, Chapter 12 isn't finished yet, consider this my apology for that fact.

The day of the funeral is as bright and sunny as can be, the sun shining down on the enormous crowd all around you as you glare up at it. Utter hate for its cheer hidden behind a mask of stoicism.

You've never particularly enjoyed suits, but today you're wearing the finest one you own as you wait for your turn to speak

First came Adamant's brother, a man you'd met twice who had never gotten involved with his Brother's job, from what you remembered he worked as an electrician. Then came a slew of people who Adamant had helped over the years, a man who he'd pulled out a car crash ten years ago, a girl who he'd talked down from the edge of a roof, the sister of a man who was killed by Massacre Man.

Then came the Commissioner, who had forced down his stutter to talk about his deep respect for Adamant's experience, his bravery, and his cool head. Next up came the mayor, who got dangerously close to turning his words of respect into a campaign speech before you'd caught his eye and stared him into a quick exit off the stand.

Then, finally, comes the person who makes your blood boil the most. Her name is Fireball and she was a friend of Adamant's, or perhaps a former student. You've only met her four times, right now she's here to both give her respects and as a representative for STAR. Who will be leaving first thing tomorrow morning. Apparently helping you with a lengthy investigation just isn't in the cards right now.

"Adamant was many things, a brother, a friend, a comrade in arms, a respected mentor and a brave leader. He taught me so much about my job I don't think I'd still be alive right now if I'd never met him.

He brightened the lives of everyone who crossed his path, saving lives and protecting the innocent wherever he went, from here to the battle over Yellowstone just three four days ago. I truly, dearly, hope that his killers are brought to justice and-" she turns to look at you as she says this, "I would like to say that I am very sorry I wasn't there to help."

Then. Finally. It's your turn to speak, "Adamant was… he held out a hand and helped me get my footing when I stumbled out of that crate. I… I have no idea where I would be if he hadn't helped me." You pause, fighting back the tears for a moment before you concede defeat and simply seal your tear ducts shut.

"I am so sorry." You whisper to yourself. Then, louder, "I might not have been able to save him, but I promise that I'm going to pick up right where he left off, and I am going to find the people who did this to him."

With that your speech is over and the rest of the ceremony passes by in a haze until it finally comes time to lower Adamant's closed casket into the ground. You had to chop dozens of crystalline branches off his body to make it fit inside the coffin.

With a bitter sigh you banish the memory and simple watch it lower in the ground. Your tear ducks finally bursting open as you stand there, wishing that things had gone better, that your mentor was still here with you today, that the sky would have the common decency to be cloudy and rainy and sad.

You're going to find Slip and his compatriots and when you do they won't be able to fit-

They're not going to be able hurt anyone ever again. That's definitely what you were about to think.

A few minutes later Fireball seeks you out in a moment in between well wishers and leads you to a nearby rooftop before she speaks. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry, I want to help in any way I can." She says. Prompting a snort from you. "Yeah, everything, except actually helping me."

She bristles. "That's not fair and you know it, everywhere is on fire right now. If the Horsemen and their associates hadn't allied with the Blood Drop Alchemist or whatever he's calling himself and started expanding into Shadow territory after sacking a village of mice people and taking half the population hostage I'd be right here with you."

You nod. "Of course, it's just kinda strange that you say that you'll help in any way you can when whenever I ask if you can do a thing you say no, precognitive support? Nothing. Assistance from superhuman investigators? Nope. An escort for the superhuman saboteur I have stuck in my city's sad little jail? Say it with me now… nothing! So don't give me that dumb spiel. It's a lie."

Fireball steps back, her face flashing with hurt and anger. "Just because- look. There are certain constraints on our ability to provide support but we've not abandoned-"

"Alright then." You interject, "When you're ready to back that up then let me know. Until then I don't think we've got anything more to say."

She sighs as you begin to walk away. "You know. You remind me a lot of him. Just… younger I guess."

You turn your head all the way around like an owl, taking petty pride in the flash of disgust which passes over her face.

"Thanks." You tell her, genuinely unsure if it was meant to be a compliment or insult coming from her, you have more important things to do. That thought rings through your mind as you leap from the roof and start making your way towards Slip's old house.

Time to get some answers.

O-O-O-O

Slip's old house was not the kind of place you'd have imagined he would live, you'd always pictured some sort of beachfront penthouse that guzzled money like an alcoholic bear in a brewery.

Instead Slip's house seems… well it's not a terrible place. But it's solidly middle class. Bought three years ago by one Dan Richter. AKA Slip, the man who killed your boss.

And now it's your job to sort through the man's house to see if he missed anything as he left for whatever reason he had for leaving.

The first word that springs to mind as you enter is ransacked, the whole place looks like someone badly wanted something hidden inside and didn't really care about making it look like nothing had happened.

Bookshelves have been stripped. Tables overturned. The couch has been dragged into the center of the room and dismantled, its cushions slashed open and their feathered insides spilled across the ground, the safe room hands open. The camera feed completely and unspeakably wreaked.

Finally a quick sonic pulse and a sniff of your sharpened nose reveal a perplexing riddle.

There are several hollow cavities throughout the house, each of them wholly airtight such that you'd need to be able to phase through walls to reach enter them without taking a hammer to the place, and yet each and every one of them had been ransacked in much the same manner as everything else in this house, you also can't smell anyone in here other than Slip.

But what the heck would Slip be doing ransacking his own home?

O-O-O-O

What did the person who sacked this place miss?

[ ] An old diary hidden in a pipe in the basement.

[ ] A backup surveillance system set up behind a wall which shows the events of the last two weeks.

[ ] A printed picture of a very important offer