Chapter 6: New and old problems

[PoV: Lith]

Hours before the attack ...

'' ... with a lot of cuddling on the couch! '' Lith promises Hill, before she steps on the accelerator and beige around the next street corner. By means of a hands-free system, she reflexively calls Daniel, before she notices her mistake. -Fuck! He is my married ex! - She curses inside as well as Daniels merry voice comes from the loudspeaker. 'Hey, little one! Did something new happen? '' -?! -

''No. I ... " Lith can not think of anything she could say to him. -Daniel sounds like 3 years ago, before our affair began.-

"Forgot your case? Good that you already have your mark, otherwise you would not have gotten it for her anymore. '' Jokes Daniel is with her before he reminds her of her case.

-Mara Lema, secretary of the Verwalter district, had been found hanged in her apartment after the neighbors had been chatting to the caretaker about their washing machine. We had her top secret documents from D.S. [Securety district] found. So far, we do not know if something has been taken off the record or not, even if that is just my job.-

Lith lectures herself. To begin with, she goes through the interrogations of surveys on car terminal and take notes.

Now in her Cube in the police analytice office, Lith can 3D review all evidence. After hours she finally finds what she is looking for. -Inconsistency- The statement of Miss Lema's friend does not match Portie's, but she herself is not supported by any of the interviewees. - Is it the Portie?! - Lith wonders where Daniel has gone, because now it was his shift. Sending her results to him and dialing his number she stairs blindly on the floor.

"Hey David. I sent you something. What do you think? '' She asks him excitedly. Lith heares her partner briefly open a sliding door and then close it before answering angrily. '' What do you say about Lems porter? Do you actually know where I am right now? ''

'' At home? '' She asks playful and with a good dose flirt in the voice. -Crap. Habits never die.-

''Not correct. At your portie. He is dead. He was hit on the skull. The cameras show a man with him. He must be the culprit. You'll probably have to chase him through the district database. '' He instructs her angrily, snorting. Shortly after, Lith getd the image of the offender from Daniel. -He looks good. Blue eyes, thick black hair, dreitage beard -... Concentration Lith! -

No entry found...

-How can that be?! Everyone is registered! - Lith thinks while looking at the search result. To test the system she scans myself and start the search.

No entry found...

-WTF ?! Where is my file? - She curses inside and calls her friend, Jane from the data center.

'' Hey Jane. I think your database has caught a bug. '' She directly says that and whants an explanation.

But she only gets one lazy remark back. '' Good evening to you too, Lith. How was your day? Mine was very good. ''

'' I do not have time for your games now. A double killer runs free and your database can not even find me anymore. Claim now that there is no bug! '' She shouts at her own good friend domineering.

"Wait a minute ..." Lith hears an oldschool keyboard rattle. '' ... Strange your file was with Sec. 9 securet! Not even the district administration can open it anymore. '' Answers Jane Lith back confused.

What's that supposed to mean? Is that my murderer is Sec.9? How did I get Sec.9 anyway? ''

''How should I know that? I can only open up to Sec. 7 and lower. That I can even see which Sec you re in now is already a miracle. Just one step from Sec. 10 away .... haaa! '' Jane jokes in Liths ear jealously.

''Sec.10? Thought it's only up to 9? '' Lith asks as she watch out of the corner of her eye a slim, strong man with black hair who whispers to the data center.

'' Sec. 10 is top level. Out of the system. Total Data whipe ... '' Willing to explain to Jane, she chokes her off. '' You know what I call back. It just comes in something. See you later. Thanks for helping ... ' Sage, putting the phone down and taking her Glock out of the desk.

Silently, she sneakes after the man. By the way we were out of corridors and stairs the man leads her to an elevator. From her position, she can now clearly discover the man's face. It was the same man seen in the surveillance pictures of the dead porter. But before she can say something the man disappears before her eyes and a strong hand grabs her neck. The man had seen her.

-Crap. New me and old problems!- She curses internally while she fights against the steel hand. Totaly out of her element she fires at the manpoint blank, but the bullets seem to cause no harm. Finally, with the last of her powers, a bullet gets lost in the eye of the man and he lets her reflexifly go. After she falls in the air she falls hard on the ground, dizzy from the feeling that her lungs are refilling.

'' Ah, a NUC without mods, the user of this district has to be a beginner. I wonder what kind of artifact was given to him ... '' Says the man laughing from above down to her, unfaced by the evil eye Lith throws at him.

''...Ah, whatever. Where is your user, NUC? '' He finally asks her with a nasty pervert grin.

-User? - She ask myself and be rudely lifted from the ground and shaken.

'' Where is your user? '' He asks her again. -Richard?! - Lith shows a sudden fash of understanding on her face.

'' Ah, there it is ... you know who he is. Where is he? "He asks her a third time, pressing his thumb and forefinger of his free hand against her temple.

" I do not know. I do not know where Richard is. '' In pain, she assures her attacker.

Pip ... Pipip ...Pipipip

It rings at Liths throat as the man's wristwatch goes off, he releases her temples and massages a breast of her. '' Now it does not matter. The conquest of this district has begun. But your inexperienced user will surely want you back my love. '' He says and Lith strammples against his arms, just to hammer on cold steel. Without knowing it, she is in a good 2km height and the man wears a blue black Armor and a red cape flapping in the wind now. Intimidated by the height, she cling in panic to the outstretched arm that still clutched her throat and stare down into her district, which is now surrounded by 3 other dictators in flames. From the other districts, fierce fighting Gigants are pouring into the freshly created district defences, Wyern-like beings spewing acid on streets, people and buildings. Angered by this vew she only hears a synicel sinester voice in her right ear: '' As I said, the conquest has begun. ''