Chapter 2

  Opera

  And now, for the introduction of Aldel, the latest straight man in the circus of life.

  Sage

  It was by all respects an average morning for Aldel, he woke up, had an uneventful breakfast of Pickled Eggs and Toast, and then clocked into work, and now was simply doing his ordinary patrol routes. TOM and Magnolia were patrolling separately, so it was just him while crossing from the main road. For all the flash, excitement and activity a big city provided, they also were a real pain for Public Safety. Aldel appreciated that, just ordinary mooks here, the occasional robbery or murder here and there, but there was a quiet quality to it. Everything was very low impact in Katamuri.

  Opera

  Aldel sometimes thought about if he hadn’t accepted the job offer, if he had stayed in Westshire. His only response to that thought was a grunt of displeasure.

  But all this peace would soon be lines in the sand, and the moment he subconsciously understood this was when a large man rolled onto the sidewalk beaten and unconscious.

  Sage

  Aldel rushed to the man’s side, quickly drawing up the Glyph for Kyudoh Art: Restoration and watched the ethereal green light flow throughout the man’s body.

  Aldel recognized this man, he was some thug who liked to hang around the abandoned underground train station. He was also a big pain to deal with, alongside his group, Aldel had only ever taken the basic combat afforded to an Usher, at least just enough to pass basic training.

  Opera

  So who could have possibly defeated him? Were the others with them? What condition were they in? These questions would immediately be answered when a man walked out from the alleyway and stared at Aldel.

  Sage

  Aldel jumped back a little, quick to assess this potential threat. What he immediately saw was a deeply disheveled man wearing a beige Greatcoat, with scraggled dirty blonde hair that came down to his chin, framing a youthful face with solemn hazel eyes.

  Aldel drew the Glyph for Kyudoh Art: Red Eye, and readied it at his side, demanding an answer from the Man.

  Aldel, trying to feign authority, yet quivering to a trained ear

  Who are you? Are you the one who brutalized this man?

  Sage

  The man simply walked forward silently, not breaking his gaze.

  Aldel

  Bloody answer me!

  Ritter, softly

  I wouldn’t fire that here if I were you…

  Opera

  Ritter wasn’t really concerned about the safety of Katamuri or its infrastructure, but the Orthodoxy always demands discretion, needless destruction was a fast way to be exiled, or worse.

  Aldel, bewildered

  (aside)

  Does… Does he think that’s supposed to be a threat? Well, this guy is clearly no slouch. If I hesitate for an instant I might die, I’m just an Usher…

  Sage

  Aldel pulled the Glyph forward and was about to fire when with great speed Ritter darted forward and redirected his hand towards the sky, the Red Eye, a small explosive sphere of Quintessence shot up and burst harmlessly, briefly illuminating the area in a faint incarnadine glow. From the inside of the Greatcoat, Aldel could see the unmissable display of the Empyreal Orthodoxy.

  Aldel, relieved

  An Inquisitor of the Orthodoxy? Why didn’t you just say something? Someone or something could have gotten hurt..

  Ritter, in a matter of fact tone

  No, I would have stopped it.

  Opera

  Aldel wanted to protest, but the man was right, if he was an Inquisitor, even if he was an Usher like himself, Aldel knew he’d lose in that kind of battle, especially as a healer focused Usher like Aldel. Inquisitors meanwhile, were focused on one thing only, the annihilation of the Orthodoxy’s foes.

  Aldel, gathering his composure

  Well, what’s an Inquisitor doing in Katamuri? It’s a border town with a criminal population of…

  Sage

  Aldel looked at the thoroughly beaten thugs.

  Aldel

  These guys.

  Ritter

  I’d prefer to relinquish that information to your commander.

  Aldel, confused

  Why? I can call in advance to him.

  Ritter, dispassionately

  I have my reasons, Public Safety Officer…

  Sage

  Ritter looked around for Aldel’s name tag.

  Aldel

  My name is Aldel, since you know my name, I'd like to know yours.

  Ritter

  My name is unimportant, all you need to know is that I'm an Inquisitor of the Orthodoxy, here to take care of official Orthodoxy business.

  Opera

  Aldel found this Inquisitor most peculiar, sure, he'd met plenty of Inquisitors, well, compared to the amount of Inquisitors most Sleepers encounter. But even they had enough grasp on Human to Human communication to at least bother with the conventional exchanges of information. But this guy? Seems like he genuinely dislikes the idea of communicating more than… No, actually, he hasn't even bothered with the bare necessities.

  Sage

  Aldel, realizing further attempts to speak to the Inquisitor were pointless, simply sat up. He phoned the mundane Police and let them know the location of the brigands, and began walking in the direction of the Public Safety Building.

  Aldel, annoyed

  Alright, let's go, my Commodore should be at the Office.

  Sage

  Ritter began walking behind Aldel, still utterly unwilling to say more than what he felt was necessary, if even.

  Opera

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  As they walked, Aldel silenced the frustration brewing inside with the familiar comforting sights of Katamuri he’s grown to enjoy the past years.

  Sage

  The first was a Delicatessen, a fabulous place for a quick lunch, especially since Aldel got a discount. The shop was currently in a sort of quite hustle as the workers began to get ready for the day’s labour as the owner, Matteo, popped his head out the window and waved for Aldel's attention.

  Matteo, excitedly

  HEY ALDEL! Couldn't resist my eats until lunch ay?

  Aldel, mildly embarrassed

  No, Mateo, I'll be there at my usual time, gotta escort some Inquisitor to my Commodore.

  Matteo, fascinated

  An Inquisitor?! Hey Mr Inquisitor Sir! Are you friends with Aldel? Come on, get a bite at my shop, I'll sell you a 24cm Sub at half Marks!

  Opera

  Aldel felt just a twinge of jealousy at such a great deal.

  Aldel

  Sorry Matteo, Official Business right now.

  Sage

  Disappointed, Matteo closed the window, and went back to work. The mouth watering smell of the freshly carved meat disappearing with the closure.

  Ritter

  Do you know him?

  Aldel, surprised at the sudden question

  Umm, not really, I just like eating lunch there, a great place. Matteo likes having me there, something about “making him feel safe”.

  Sage

  Matteo, you see, has been here in Katamuri ever since adolescence, he's watched over the years, the large, rounded, futuristic buildings rise and slowly uproot the town from the humble collection of brick and mortar buildings that had been there all his life. Brick by brick, street by street, Katamuri changed around him.

  Opera

  But Matteo was an older man, you see, nearing the eve of Forty. And to see what you once knew slowly but surely be devoured by the modern age is bound to feel some kind of way. And sure he collects his worries and tries to dowse them in the truth that such things are bound to happen as years go by and beyond. But there's that eternal nagging of Time and Memory that cannot be put out that easily.

  Sage

  The next building to note, actually belonged to Matteo’s niece, Contessa; she ran The Remembering Monument Bed and Breakfast. Unfortunately, Aldel didn't find an opportunity to say hi, as Contessa was probably busy working.

  Opera

  Meanwhile among the rest of the Town, people began to wake and stir, signs of which were everywhere. The brewing of coffee and the sizzle of breakfast through a window, a lady walking her dog. These individual cogs of urban society, performing the little rituals of a quiet town, turned in their usual rhythm, unaware of the wild fury soon about to put a wrench in those gears.

  Sage

  After passing a few more businesses, Aldel and Ritter finally reached The Public Safety Building, in large print on the front read: Katamuri Municipal Public Safety Division.

  Opera

  Among the other elements of rapidly advancing technology that were noticeable in Katamuri’s city center, the Public Safety Building was by far and away the most advanced, ID Lights pulsated a cool blue glow around the building, giving the whole place a calming aura. Combined with the curved geometry of the architecture and the shiny white coat of nano paint, it looked alien in the town of Katamuri, though to Ritter, it was honestly refreshingly familiar.

  Yet despite it being the pinnacle of technology in Katamuri, the figurehead of the modern age coming to the town, it remained pragmatic in design. Nothing in the way of additional flourishes or extraneous details, not even Eco spaces, those little pockets of natural life that have become synonymous with Post Divergence Architecture.

  Sage

  Indeed, the glossy white painting , the cool blue ID Lights, and the ever subtle green tint of the windows represented the architecture of today very well; stark, glossy and clean.

  An advanced security system stood active; Cameras stood by at all corners, giving the camera monitor total view of all that occurred in a ?km radius around it. Aldel could see the faint violet light of the Building’s Anti Riot system, when activated, dozens of hard light dummy officers would be deployed and attempt to dogpile any aggressive individuals, though to Aldel’s knowledge, it has never been activated.

  Opera

  And good thing too, Aldel didn't want to even imagine how terrible things would have to get for it to be used in a town as sleepy as Katamuri. And not to mention how many injuries might occur, if a Riot happened, would he be able to help everyone before his Chalice faltered? Aldel put the horrifying idea aside and simply walked into the building, let it by the automatic doors.

  Sage

  Aldel checked in with the Receptionist, a simple Module, consisting of a holographic image of a woman secretary. While one would think giving a Hologram a gender would be unnecessary, it was well understood by even pre PR civilization that technology too removed from the image of Adama, Humanity, was rather off-putting to people. Such considerations led to the technologies of the time being “Person-ified”, design sensibilities that still widely see implementation, especially in areas like Katamuri, where IDs, Idea Drives, more commonly called Modules, are a more measurably rare sight.

  Aldel, with an amount of usual comfort

  Receptionist, I need to speak to the Commodore, it's Official Orthodoxy business, tell him an Inquisitor has arrived.

  Receptionist, whirring to function

  Yes Officer Aldel, please wait a moment while I inform the Commodore.

  Sage

  The Hologram blinked out of view, and the desk began making various noises.

  Aldel, exhausted and ready to hand off this guy to Commodore Junias

  Alright, it'll probably take the Commodore a few minutes to stop cursing his work being interrupted, so just take a seat over there.

  Opera

  Ritter, even more eager to finish up dealing with people, sat on one of the benches in the lobby, the cool white interior gave off an almost surgical vibe, it creeped Ritter out just a little. Though the technology did remind him of back home at Uranus, City Country of The Empyreal Orthodoxy.

  Sage

  But for now, let's cut over to the office of One Commodore Junias Geiger, head of the Katamuri branch of Public Safety.

  Opera

  A cushy job mostly spent pushing pencils and watching his favorite Tella Novellas, unaware he's about to experience the story of his life.

  Sage

  As the next episode starts, the voice of the Receptionist comes on from a little box near the edge of the brown desk located at the center point in his office.

  Receptionist

  Commodore Junias, there's someone from the Orthodoxy here to speak to you, an Inquisitor.

  Commodore Junias, to himself

  Oh Adama, an Inquisitor? Exactly what we need, some bloody Goma to come on down and tell us we got a Vampire or Mummy roaming around.

  Opera

  Commodore Junias made a bit of a mental gamble with himself, what kind of Inquisitor was it this time? For Junias’s 37 years as an officer of Public Safety, he has met too many Inquisitors for his liking, and all of them roughly could fit one of a few categories.

  Sage

  First there was the Hero.

  Opera

  The wanna be defenders of the innocent, Junias hated these fellows, bloody annoying beyond measure, always talking about Justice and Defending the weak.

  Sage

  The Zealots.

  Opera

  This kind of Inquisitor, who were so militantly devoted to The Via Adama that they seemingly made it their life mission to make the world itself know that fact. As much missionaries as Inquisitors, always blabbering about the “Divine Sovereignty of Humanity”. Ugh, made him sick.

  Sage

  The final ones were the Broken.

  Opera

  Those who hunted because of some lingering torment. Ones whose pain allowed no other kind of feeling, people who couldn’t live normal lives…

  Between his Heart and his Mind, Commodore Junias was of two thoughts, he liked the Broken because they didn't typically make themselves bothersome. But he also knew it was terrible to hope the person in the next room was some deeply pained soul.

  Sage

  Commodore Junias stepped out of his office and saw Ritter, sitting on a bench on the far side of the room.

  Junias, of two thoughts

  (Aside)

  Ugh, a Broken.

  Junias, formally

  Aldel, who is the Inquisitor?

  Aldel

  I don't know Commodore, he wouldn't tell me, asked only to speak to you.

  Opera

  Already not caring for the Inquisitor, Junias tells the Receptionist to Com TOM and Magnolia back to the Station.

  Junias

  Alright, when the rest get back, we’ll talk.

  Opera

  Ritter then decided to close his eyes and hope this time that sleep would reward him with something more pleasant than last time. Now dear Audience, I regret to inform you that he won't be seeing anything pleasant, anytime soon.