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“You and that friend of yours need to be on the alert. There was another murder last night.”
Emma looked questioning at her old commander who sat opposite her desk at the All Trades Agency, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand. “Another Esper?”
“Yeah. He was an Oniru. Been in the town for a couple of years now. Ex Shadow Decree, retired as best we could tell but that's another connection to the others.”
It was the fifth murder in as many weeks. All minor Espers. All members or one time members of the Shadow Decree. Their cell in Tangton's Lower City had been known to the Marshals and kept under observation, just like the research post manned by agents of the Union. But while they behaved themselves the Marshals left them alone. Until now.
Now there was only one of the Decree's operatives left and while she was being watched at all times the Marshals were worried. Not just about the unknown assassin but also of the risk of possible retaliation by more hostile members of the Decree and the risk of civilian casualties in the crossfire.
Emma's nose twitched as it always did when she was considering her options. “We'll keep our eyes open and let you know if we see anything boss... Commander”, old habits die hard she thought.
“Knew you'd understand. The force lost a good Marshal when you decided to go it alone.” He finished his coffee and went to leave. “Be careful. There's no telling that this isn't some anti Esper thing and the Shadow Decree connection isn't just a coincidence.”
It wasn't until he was out of the door that she noticed the paper underneath his mug. She was about to go after him when her curiosity got the better of her. Unfolding the paper she discovered a photo of a Nymph Esper along with a name and address. The old bastard was playing on her sense of duty. Well it wouldn't work this time.
“Tell me why we're working this district today? Nobody here can afford to donate to our expenses.” Her pestle was in her hands threatening to connect with his horns if he didn't clean up his act. “I mean, they're unlikely to have any spare change they can throw at an honest busker.”
The pestle disappeared back into the mortar. “Just play.”
The neighbourhood, while not a total slum, was certainly not the richest. Certainly not the type of place Ethan usually worked his mischief. But the accordion music and his menagerie seemed to brighten the day of the few people, all entirely human, that walked the streets. There were even a few more coppers in his cup than he had put in to seed the collection.
Emma stayed clear as her partner played, ostensibly chatting to the street vendors but constantly watching everything and everybody. That kid over there, trying to fence his latest acquisition. The man loitering outside the opium den, a plain clothes Marshal. The Nymph who had just left the address that had been left for her, the potential target.
Leaving Ethan to his playing she stealthily followed the Nymph as she bought some vegetables from one of the stalls then disappeared into a dark alley. Gods, didn't the woman have any sense of self preservation, She followed her into the alleyway. There was a rustling sound from above and a short, cloaked figure, in a huge hat drifted down from the rooftops to, not quite, land between Emma and the Nymph. A pair of wicked looking, multi bladed spikes appeared in her hands.
“Don't.” Emma's voice was calm and commanding. The Nymph, finally aware of her danger let out a shriek and tried to hide behind a dumpster.
“Walk away now and I won't have to kill you.” The voice was surprisingly young sounding. “I never leave witnesses to my work.”
“You know that I can't do that”
“I'm so sorry you feel that way.” Said the murderous girl as she turned towards Emma. Then her expression changed from one of intense hatred to one of absolute delight. “Bunny!” she squeed.
Emma was unprepared as the cloaked figure, still floating above the ground, launched herself at her and pulled her into a tight hug. As she was bounced up and down by the young woman Emma managed to mouth the word “Run” at the Nymph who took the advice and legged it out of the alleyway.
The young assassin tried her best to pet her new playmate. Fortunately Emma's helmet kept prying hands from her face but they soon found purchase on the soft fur on the back of her ears, gently stroking them as the girl kept up a chant of “Bunny! Bunny! Bunny!”. Emma was never so glad that her tail was hidden within her suit as she was then.
Suddenly the bouncing stopped and the girl let go of Emma. “Stay here Bunny and we can play all day once I've finished my work.”
“Not today, darlin'.” A gruff voice called from the entrance to the alleyway. They turned to see that the light from the street was blocked out by a hulking, shaggy figure. “you's caused us a lot of bother little girl. It ends today.”
Rather than regarding the fear a manic expression set upon the girl's face. “Why Freddy, so nice of you to come here. Saves me having to seek you out later. Where's your boyfriend?” The spikes were back in her hands. No, not in her hands, floating around her and there was a lot more than the two there had been before.
“Shit!” thought Emma.
Freddy leapt at the young woman, slobber dripping from his jaws. The assassin launched her spikes at him as he closed leaving several deep gashes in his arms and legs. “Hey! Those things hurt. This is goin' to be fun!” He used the momentum of his jump to close on the girl and raked her across her chest sending her crashing back into the dumpster. She felt her wounds, examined the blood on her fingers and her grin widened. Once again, the spikes started to float around her.
“ENOUGH!” The diminutive figure of a white rabbit in a space suit stepped between the combatants, blocking the girls aim and the wolf man's reach.”
“Look. It's 'wabbit season'” Freddy quipped, sending a spray of spittle over Emma's helmet. “Does the lickle bunny want to play with the Big Bad Wol...”
He never finished his sentence because a large silver pestle swung up between his legs and showed him real pain. His knees buckled, his eyes watered and he let out a very un-wolf like whimper as he sank to the floor.
“Bunny!” The young assassin called delightedly. “I knew we were going to be friends!” She was back on her feet and held one of her spikes ready to impale the prone wolf man.
“YOU. ARE. NOT. MY, FRIEND! Get out of my town you crazy bitch.”
The pestle swung again. Had she been standing upon the ground the blow would have been knocked off her feet to land on her arse somewhere at the end of the alley. But she was floating, The blow caught her squarely on the chin and inertia did the rest. She sailed up and up, over the rooftops and away into the distance. Emma watched her go with a grim satisfaction. She'd float back down. Eventually. Probably. 33Meanwhile she was neither Tangton's nor Emma's problem.
A sound behind her reminded her of her other problem. “And as for you!” she said with the end of her pestle resting on the tip of his snout. “Find your agent and get the hell out of my city as well. BEFORE I GET ANGRY!”
“Yes ma'am.” Freddy exclaimed and scuttled away on all fours in the direction the Nymph was last seen.
Emma opened her visor and mopped her brow. Then she went back onto the street to find Ethan.
Ethan was still playing his accordion only now he was surrounded by a group of ragged children happily dancing with his animals.
“Hi Emma. Finished your job for the Marshals? Hope they're paying this time.”
“How did you know my old boss had sent me here? And no they probably not paying.” She huffed.
Ethan ignored her as he finished his tune. “That's all for today folks. You've been a lurvley audience.” He bowed and closed his accordion which emitted a farting sound much to the amusement of the children who were now clapping at his hooves. He picked up the cup and tipped the pitiful amount of coins into his hand. He looked at them for a second, pulled a couple more from his pocket and tossed the whole pile down to the kids. It wasn't much but should be enough for them to get that luxury of luxuries – chocolate. Hello. You not gone home yet?
His attention finally turned back to Emma who was tapping her foot on the kerb beside him. “Oh hello. You not gone home yet?”
Emma reached up and grabbed one of his horns pulling him down to her level. “How did you know about the Marshals?”
“Oh. Them.” Emma rolled her eyes at Ethan's obvious attempt to wind her up. He suddenly developed an unexpected sense of self preservation. “Well, did you see that guy lurking on the other side of the street? We go way back. “ Ethan speak for 'he arrested me on numerous occasions'. “HE wanted you to know that the Commander wanted to show his appreciation and had sent a donation to the All Trades Agency's coffers.” He waved a small roll of bills under her nose. She snatched it away from him.
The loveable bastard had spotted the plain clothes man, picked his pocket and relieved him of a... neatly rolled wad of used banknotes. She would count it later, of course, but could tell by the weight that it was the amount of two days work at their formal rates plus a couple of bills extra. A small price for preventing an all out Esper war. Plus she had got to hit some bad guys. She wouldn't tell Ethan that her old boss had planted the money on his underling, he was so proud of himself at the moment,
“Home?” She asked. “At least we won't have to eat one of your pets. Tonight.”
Ethan gave her a horrified look but nodded his agreement. “Home.”