Captain Jack disembarked off of the plane jetway. In better circumstances, he would not have minded taking a visit to Agartha or to take a chance to see the old acquaintances from there. But an ominous air hung over his current task. There was a problem here, and it wasn't one that they could afford to have at the current moment. If needs be, more people could follow him to address said task, but people were not something they could spare. So for now, he came alone to get a lay of the situation.
Transporting gnostics from country to country in any large number was often difficult, especially if they were countries the temple had a large amount of power in. Public airports would be on the lookout if too many people with known associations were moved in a close proximity. But at the same time, private planes or other transport would be given no less scrutiny. Weapons were also a problem, which is why they tended to try to have weapons already there on the other side.
However, no scrutiny would be placed on him today. Because this mission had nothing to do with the temple. And it was this that worried him. Even if the temple knew what he was up to, they would probably feign ignorance. Because if he did end up bringing more Gnostics here, it might only be to the temple's own benefit by getting more of them out of their own hair. Hence is the problem with fighting a war on multiple fronts. Even minor threats can become a serious problem if they cause your resources to grow more thin.
He looked through the windows at the city as he disembarked. The airport was not within the city itself but looked over a lake at it and provided a striking sight as the sun created a red glare across the black sky as it slowly passed under the horizon. The city itself was once again built up from the state it had been left in after the late hostilities. But the air of resignation was still palpable in its presence. Jack had not been here for several years, but the resigned air pervaded it still. And it would likely do so for some time. For after all, Fusang's arms stretched far across the globe, and its reach was relentless. And with the tear in the sky bearing down on them now across the globe, everyone felt its glare even further.
From across the arrival gate, a figure started walking over to Jack. He knew he was expected and that it was unlikely that anyone else was there to antagonize him today., but he still tensed up slightly for the possibility that someone unexpected might intercept him. Which in this line of work was always something you had to be on edge for.
But as he got closer, Jack recognized his face. Dropping his tension, he walked over to him, waving as he did. “Hello, inspector.”
The gnostic inspector waved back. “Hello yourself,” he said. “It's been awhile.”
Jack made a blank face back as he responded. The inspector wondered if it was meant to be a smile because it looked like it might pass for one by the standards of one who doesn't actually do them. “It has. Though it would have perhaps been better if we could have met again under better circumstances.”
“Well, at least we know the temple won't be likely to antagonize us today. Though that is likely little comfort, considering the situation.”
The inspector thought for a moment.
“Did you have a good flight? Do you need anything to drink?”
“I could use a coffee. It was a long flight, but I ate on board.”
The inspector gestured with his hand. “Well, there is a place right over here on the landing. We could stop there before dropping you off at your hotel. It's getting late, so they won't expect you to meet with anyone else tonight.”
Jack breathed on his cold hands to warm them up. “That would be good.”
They strolled over to the coffee shop and got coffees. The inspector got a black coffee and then turned around shocked to see Jack with a fancy drink, despite his reputation and gruff demeanor. Jack, seeing the inspector's face, got a little insecure, feeling he needed to defend himself. “What? I know how to have fun.” Both of them looked away after this, feeling a little awkward for a moment before sitting down.
They made a bit of small talk and catching up, as they had not seen each other in some time. They were not super close, being from different countries, but they had seen each other from time to time in the course of the business, as the techno-gnostics had small cells in many places across the globe who often sent people back and forth as needed. And as an extension, they also had a bit of familiarity with a lot of the same individuals, especially Tsubasa from HQ, who often traveled between the cells.
But they did not want to spend long on trivialities. So getting down to business, the inspector took out a scattered photo to show to Jack.
“This is the person. Not visually a man or woman. They go by the name Adi. They have been on our radar for some time and operate out of Agartha. Before now their group had not seemed to be overly large. We don't know how, but their group has exploded in activity and membership in the weeks since the Vimerkanah has become active. And it seems likely that they are acting in response to it. So we can safely say that they are planning something. Though we don't yet have enough information to say what.”
Jack picked up the photo. The person in it did not come off as overly noteworthy, although they had black hair and were wearing a black stole. He winced. “We have to admit we weren't prepared for this. It was already going to be a long shot going against the temple. But we can't fight a war on multiple fronts.” He lit a cigarette. “We are going to have to hope they spend a lot of time targeting each other. Because if we get caught in the middle, it's not going to be easy. Especially if they get involved in the final assault.”
Jack blew out some smoke. “I dunno if they told you this, but some smaller occult groups, even in Fusang, have become more active in the last few weeks. We expected some of this, of course. But we hoped that pushing the temple into action faster would make it happen on our time frame. Some smaller groups don't have long-term plans and are just jumping at opportunity. But it's unfortunate to see that there is more to it than this.”
The inspector leaned on his arm. “Well, that's why we are here. I was a detective in a former life, before becoming a gnostic. But I don't have a lot of experience dealing with these groups. So I asked for someone who has a lot of firsthand experience.”
Jack looked back. “Make no mistake, I am glad to be here. If another problem is brewing for us, there's nowhere more important to be. There are other people who can handle things at home for now.” He shrugged. “Maybe not indefinitely. But for the moment.”
The inspector took a drink from his cup. “Anyways, our intel is still rather small at the moment. Although a lot of their activity seems to be here in Agartha, their group was found to have a lot of cells becoming active in different places. They are secretive, so it is hard to get good intel. If we had the time, we would probably be able to infiltrate their group to see what they are up to. But unfortunately at the moment time is against us.
“The temple has a smaller presence here than in some countries, although that presence has grown larger as of late. But we know they have had a lot of run-ins with it in other places. We have had a few skirmishes with them also, though we are trying to keep away from entering a full-blown war. We need to try to investigate them without it coming to violence. Because we can't afford to lose any more people before the final assaults.”
He took out a file from his pack and slid it over to Jack. “This contains most of the information you will need to be briefed on. They would like if you looked through it before tomorrow when I come to pick you up. Tomorrow we will have to meet with a few people, so we won't get to investigating until later tomorrow, if at all. Investigation may have to be put off until the day after tomorrow.”
Jack took the folder and glanced through it to make a mental note of how much reading he would have to do later. This was not with a tone of resignation, for Jack was very workaholic by nature. Part of why him and Mei did not tend to get along outside the context of working together. But Jack was also honest. He knew not to let his personal opinions influence his understanding of her importance.
He didn't want to ask the inspector a lot of redundant questions that would be included in the file, however. So he figured he should pivot to information that would be useful to have, but which the file would not be likely to cover.
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He took another puff of his cigarette. “Tell me some more about the temple's presence in YYYY. I have some passing familiarity with it, but I've only been here once before, as you know.”
The inspector sighed. “Well, before the war the temple did have a presence here, but it was not very large. Most people did not have a strong affiliation with it. The truth is, they still aren't as big here as a lot of places. Which we could say is lucky, except that it means we will likely have to handle this new problem ourselves.
“I was a detective at the time when Agartha was attacked. You've probably heard the pretense.” He shook his head. “But no. It was just imperialistic action. Fusang invaded and seized a lot of land around the border. When they did, the temple was right there to decry the violence. But it was just a ploy for more influence. Fusang backed off, allegedly at their behest. But ultimately their influence grew.
“And it wasn't even temple guards invading. It was normal Fusang soldiers. Elites from the temple don't like to get their hands dirty with things like this. They pretend to be above politics, so they don't do their own dirty work. But it's not very convincing from the angle of those getting plowed over, just because a temple missionary comes to speak out against what happened.”
He shrugged. “Hell, maybe some of the missionaries really are against it. People who aren't in the know can be useful to do their dirty work for them, since they will be fully convinced of the activities they engage in. Since that time, the temple had become an intermediary allegedly to broker peace. And in the process, set up a lot of facilities here. Not enough to have major influence. But their influence is growing.
“A lot of the infrastructure was damaged around that time. In major cities like this, it has been built up again by now. But there are a lot of areas of the country which have been left in virtual ruins. Hence why so many of them are willing to accept help from the temple. It gives them an opportunity to take advantage of the people who are left there and to force reliance on themselves.
He hesitated for a long period before speaking again. Jack almost thought he finished before he went on again. “And another thing that happened around that time is... I lost my partner. We had not been detectives for very long at the time. And we had planned on being detectives together for a long time. A dream from another life, you could say. That was the motivation that caused me to look deeper and led me to join the gnostics. I have a... personal errand, you can say.”
He turned to Jack and took another sip from his mug. “Here is hoping I live to see it through, eh?”
Jack was not used to following up on personal comments like this. Not if the one giving them was considered trustworthy, that is. It was a different story if it was someone you needed to make sure wouldn't be a liability. But he was in the inspector's own territory and had been made to understand that he was top of the line.
Jack looked up. “Well, their slow encroachment won't be a problem for you for much longer. With the Vimerkanah active, it is now or never. If we fail now, their encroachment is going to be a lot faster than it would have been before.
“In the same vein, though, this means they likely don't want to waste people sending them here now. So we will probably be decently unimpeded by them if we are investigating someone else. When I booked my flight here, I sensed a lower than usual degree of scrutiny on plane trips outwards. Though there may be more for return flights.
“That aside, if this new group starts to be a major problem, they may switch gears. We don't know yet the degree to which the temple predicted this either. They may be just as much in the dark as we are. But for the time being, if we need to, we can get more people over here fairly easily if nothing changes before then. If you don't have enough to spare, that is.”
The inspector looked at him. “People, eh?” He took a drink. ”Tell me about this star you have over there. What is so special about her?”
Jack tried not to show any feeling when looking back. “How do you know about that? That is supposed to be top secret.”
The investigator held up his hands in guilt. “It is. But they don't call me a master detective for nothing. I have a way of reading between the lines. Which is, after all, why you are here meeting me for this.”
Jack looked back into his cup. He had no reason to be suspicious. And at any rate, it would likely help to share information. So he made a quick judgment call to respond. “Well, there is not much to say. Ordinarily we are vastly outclassed by the top-level temple guards. And it can take several people to put one down. But we found someone who can move like they move. Our entire plans being pushed forward onto the timescale they are is predicated on them having found her. Because there are certain things that wouldn't be able to be done by anyone else.
“She was the one who went into the sea of possibility. Before they found her, they were uncertain how to have someone successfully navigate it even if they found a pathway. When the temple chased us in, it seems like they literally just threw in a ton of people in the hopes a handful of them would survive. We allowed the temple to believe that they killed our people and reached the compass themselves. As far as we know, they don't know our current plans. And they don't know about her existence either. At least not her significance. It is a well-kept secret.”
He took another puff on his cigarette. “At least, it’s supposed to be a well-kept secret. It's difficult to keep a lid on information. We have had at least one leak. And we are still looking into it. It doesn't seem like the temple knows. But somebody does. She was accosted by someone recently who understood her significance. And we have no knowledge yet of who it is or who they are affiliated with. Which, although we didn't tell you this yet, is another reason it is so important to keep tabs on this cult. If they are the ones who got this information, then it risks the temple finding out our plans if they end up at odds and capture them.”
The investigator took a sip. “Heh. I take it that that is why she isn't here then. Is she too important to leave Fusang?”
Jack responded. “Basically yes. They want her close by in case anything happens. Though if we really do need backup, they will send her.”
The investigator responded. “Damn. Looks like we are doing this on a budget then. Guess I can settle for the discount helpers. But don't worry, I am good at getting a lot done on a budget.”
Jack donned a blank (or rather, blank-er) face and began to stare listlessly into his drink. He waited a long time before speaking again. “That is what it is about after all. I am replaceable. She is not.”
The Inquisitor suddenly looked a little embarrassed, as he did not realize he was pushing on sore buttons. He too became quiet and looked ahead for a period. They waited like this for a long time, with no sound around them except for that of the news channel blaring on the TV in the corner and the far-off sounds of the city. After a pause, he looked over. “It seems like there is some bad blood there. What is that about? If you don't mind telling me.”
Jack stayed cold, realizing that he had conveyed more than he intended. He thought his tone would convey a form of dry humor, but he realized after speaking that it would not be so easy to trick the investigator. He didn't want to speak, as this was something he had never talked about with anyone before. But if he was going to be working one-on-one, maybe it was best to be more open.
“From when I was young, I always sought to be industrious. But I didn't want to just work for the sake of work. I wanted to dedicate myself to something bigger. Something meaningful. I felt a strong sense of duty. Initially, at that age, I thought that that might involve working with the temple. But when I came to understand their corruption, I found my way to the techno-gnostics. And when I came to understand the Great Work, I wanted to make myself indispensable to it. I trained in combat. I trained in leadership. I tried to become everything they needed. Because I understood that they needed some individuals with unique skills. And I thought it could be me. For a while, it seemed like it would be. I rose in both skill and ranks at a rate that seemed exceptional. But there are hard limits to what one can do.
“When she first joined the techno-gnostics, I did not find her particularly noteworthy. I don't think anyone did. She was often unkempt. And while she was not unimpressive with weapons and was fairly sharp, this did not stand out much at the time. But over time, she got better. And one day, everything changed. It hit me all at once that she was already on my level, despite much less time spent training. I redoubled my efforts, but it didn't matter. And for a final brief moment, I was her equal before she surpassed me. And I knew even in that moment that I would never be on her level again. I could train a thousand lifetimes, and it would make no difference. It wasn't just combat either. She was also good with tactics. And perceptive on a level that was at times unsettling. A veritable Yonaoshi goddess who I would now and forevermore be in the shadow of.”
Jack blew out smoke. “And you know what the worst part is? She doesn't even care. She never wanted the role she found herself in. She didn't dedicate her life to training to get it. She doesn't even talk like she is happy to be their savior. She was just born with better aptitude. I can't do anything but accept it.”
Jack felt a little upset at how much he realized he was sharing relating to his own weakness. Because these weren't things he wanted anyone else to know. “And the thing is, she almost certainly knows how I feel. I try to keep it to myself, but... I don't think she particularly likes me either. There has been bad blood there since before she was even their hero.”
The investigator had been quiet for a time, but hearing this he spoke again in an inquiring tone. “And what would that bad blood be about?”
Jack winced. “Well, back when I was still ranked above her, I chided her once for looking unkempt and having messy hair. And I don't think she ever forgave me.”
On hearing this, the investigator stared with a blank expression for a moment, blinking a few times. But then burst out laughing. Jack's face became flushed as the investigator began speaking. “Oh boy. You should know better than to insult the appearance of a woman who is going to end up having power over you.”
Jack responded back. “Well, I didn't...” He sighed. “She still acts like she doesn't care about being tidy. But no one would dare scrutinize her about it now.”
“Maybe that is for the best. You have more important things to care about than appearance after all.”
“I still think it matters. You should keep all your ducks in a row. And nobody has any clue where any of her ducks are.”
“Well, maybe that's why you're not the one in charge anymore.”
Jack thought about it. “Maybe so. I do still have some work to do to come to terms with my own limitations. Maybe I have been going about some things wrong.”
“Well, I hope you don't go about them too wrong. Because we still have a lot of work ahead of us.”
Jack looked over, pausing for a moment to think before speaking. “You are right. And I know. It is selfish of me to be bitter. And I should try to be better too. I know that without her we wouldn't be able to attempt any of this. And she doesn't even act superior about it. She just acts like she wants to make sure that everyone is uplifted. I don't think my intentions were wrong. But my motives were misguided. I was thinking too much about myself. And that was clouding my judgment.”
He finished the rest of his cup and turned to the investigator, smiling for real now. “I guess it is stupid of me to worry my role isn't important when we have a lot of important work ahead of us too. So let's see if we can't stop these cultists before they become a bigger problem.”
“That's the spirit.”
They both got up and walked out to the investigator's car. As they did, Jack looked up, and the dream spectre flitted out of view. They talked a bit more during the ride about various topics related to current events. And Jack felt a bit uplifted now that he had vocalized these thoughts for the first time.
They pulled up to the motel, and the investigator pointed it out to him. “Well, here we are. I will come pick you up tomorrow. Don't worry, your secret feelings are safe with me. It will be a pleasure working together, Captain Jack Byun.”
Jack got out of the car, picking up his luggage to take it with him. He turned back to wave in the open car door. “Likewise. Good night, Investigator Samuel Heart. I will see you tomorrow.”
