Shadow Warfare

Martha barged into the office of Diego, a fiery expression on her face. In the office was Kyler, Latifa, Ricardo, Pop and Queens, all standing around a table with a case on it. She looked round the room, scanning their faces, before staring at the case.

"So, what's this about? It better be important 'cus I had some things to take care of." She asked finally, breaking the silence.

Queens was the first to speak. "We believe that the daemon that attacked Aaron was not a full daemon."

Martha turned to him, confused. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Yeah." Kyler stepped, "Samples for the hand that Queens cut off show traces of human tissue and blood. We took the test in a nearby lab and confirmed it."

"Also, the fact that the hand in question is rotting is proof." Ricardo asked.

Martha opened the case slowly, revealing a slim hand. Ricardo was right. The hand was rotting. Like a human. There was no way that it could be daemon because daemon flesh dissipated on death. Also, the daemon flesh was still latched onto the human carcass.

"So what? We have a daemon half-breed on the loose?"

"Not just one." Kyler said, "Two."

"Huh?" All eyes turned to Kyler. Kyler took a deep breath before explaining.

"I went back to where Barry had been attacked. Just before that daemon had tried to end him, I slashed him with my rei. But there was human blood traces when I went back there. First I thought it was Barry's but just like the other Half-breed, I can't find an identity to whoever it is. I checked the sewers and I found this." Kyler removed a metal device from his pocket. It was old and rusted, with wires sticking out of it.

"What is that?" Pop asked.

"A tracking device. Military stuff. Used to track daemon that they set loose on enemy territory."

"Wait, the military use daemon?" Latifa asked.

"Yes." Kyler replied. "Although most of the times the other side have people with reis and licht techniques as well, but they use it to gather their attention, then move in quick to do whatever the mission entails."

"So they were on a mission here, using a half daemon," Martha said, her fists clenched.

"No," Kyler said. "The daemon does belong to the military, but they would never set it loose on their own soil. To risky. Innocents."

"Maybe it could have belonged to another terrorist group." Pop said,

"I agree. If the US have done this before, someone else would just steal the idea." Leticia added

"Yeah, but that tracking device belongs to the US military." Kyler said.

"So it's a stolen military daemon?" Ricardo asked.

"Yes." Kyler replied

"I've been in the army, they never applied this before."

"Yeah. But the two of us didn't fight in the same wars, Ricardo." Kyler replied. "This is shadow warfare."

"No kidding." Ricardo exclaimed.

"Um… Hello? Non-militants in the building?" Queens said

"Shadow warfare is when you back other countries engaged in warfare. They don't participate in the war, just aid it."

Martha stopped pacing around the room, staring at Kyler with horror.

"It can't be…"

Kyler nodded. "These daemon were intended to be used by the US to control the outcome of the war. They send in a daemon, a powerful one at that, then when the daemon becomes too difficult to handle, they send in a unit to handle it."

"But then they can't just send in any military unit…" Martha added,

"…So they send in Shield."

"The hell." Pop spat out.

"Yeah." Kyler said, "Shield takes care of the threat, unaware of the whole operation and get the praise. Only this time, someone caught onto that and decided to release in in Boston. The only unfortunate thing was that we got in the way. We weren't the target. The Shield was."

"But they couldn't have possibly known that the Shield would come."

"What they couldn't have foreseen that other daemon would sprout out of nowhere. But then why was it that on the same day they sent out five of their recruits was the day that the half-breed attacked."

"They've got an insider in the Shield." Latifa answered.

"We need to head to the Shield right now!" Pop said.

"No." Martha said.

"No?"

"No." Martha said. "Our job is to kill daemon, not to be involved in terrorism."

"But, two of our guys were…" Latifa stated

"I know, Latifa." Martha said, "But this is from Prime Klaus."

"And where the hell is he?" Ricardo asked.

"On a mission." Martha said bluntly, "And I have missions for you too. You are to investigate spikes in daemon activity all over the Americas.

"Really?" Pop exclaimed. "Now?"

"Yes," Martha replied, "Now. By evening, you should be on your way. The recruits would be deployed as well."

"They aren't ready." Queens said

"And they never will be if they don't see some real action. These are your groupings. Kyler, you're going solo to Minnesota. Ricardo, you and your 'gang' are assigned to Vermont. You're assigned with the recruit Blake Summers. Pop, Latifa, Mexico's yours. Queens, Brazil. The islands have been taking care of so don't worry. The rest of the inquisitors would be assigned theirs."

"Who stays here?" Ricardo asked.

"Me. And Sarah Stone."

"Of course."

"Alright, you can leave. And take the case with you."

They all left the office grumbling, save Kyler, who held onto the case. Martha took her seat, reading through some files and sorting the rest. After a goo twelve minutes, Martha finally sighed

"Okay, fine. What is it?"

"You're just going to drop this? The fact that they created something as disgusting as a half-breed."

"Yes, Kyler, I will. It's not our jurisdiction."

"But they were our friends."

"We are inquisitors, Kyler. It's our job to kill daemon, do you think I don't want to find out the shitbag that put two of my best friends six feet under because of his or her stupid vendetta?"

"Then let's do that."

"No is no! End of conversation."

Kyler looked at her in silence as she rummaged through the papers. He let out a laugh under his breath. Time had really changed them. The Martha he knew would have been saying what he had just said.

"Also, about Blake."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Leaving him with Ricardo?"

"Yeah?"

"I mean, its Ricardo. Why not me?"

"I got a message from Diego saying you might ask that. You're too close to him, and I don't know what he meant by that but apparently you do. I'm holding back on asking about how you know Blake, but he stays with Ricardo."

"If I'm close to him then I could get along with him well. Besides, Jacquez is there. You know, the ex-mercenary."

"And I don't see a problem with that, mercenary,"

Kyler smiled at her before leaving the room.

"Oh and Kyler?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful."