The Source- Origins by A. J. Witt

Author:A. J. Witt [Witt, A. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781950484003
Publisher: Spring Cedars LLC
Published: 2019-09-07T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY

The long table was filled with nutritious options. There were bowls of steamed rice, various legumes, fresh diced fruits, and vegetables. In the middle of the buffet, trays sitting over Source-powered burners held an assortment of meats. Criss drowned her food in chunky yellow sauce and placed a heavy dish on the cashier’s scale. The Battalion’s second-in-command paid and found a spot to sit near the large windows.

Cases came and went. A longtime agent of the peace, Criss had handled all types of situations. Many were straightforward, easy to deal with. Only a handful required closer attention and revealed in the end an unexpected motive. Or a surprise culprit. This investigation was different. Something about it made her uneasy, if only for the sheer magnitude of the act. Aiden kept his focus in the wrong direction, and her frustration was mounting. I know the suicide bombing was brutal. Though to Criss, the murders came second to what she considered to be the pressing matter, the abhorrent one more deserving of their energy.

Not since the barbaric Dread Days had there been anything like this. The Battalion needed to be stalking the countryside, predicting the next attack. In due course, they would find the person responsible for the deaths of Commandant Rex Quintus and Lord Lester, of that Criss had no doubt. The evidence pointed to a conspiracy, rather than a lone act. And conspiracies always have too many loose ends. Too many mouths to keep quiet. The destruction they were witnessing was incomprehensible. As far as Criss could tell, there was no logical reasoning, in that no one stood to gain from such death and carnage. Entire villages. It reeked of pure cruelty, and it was disturbing.

“Then, she called out to the Gods themselves.”

Criss observed a group huddled around Mira boards.

“And what happened?”

“Auralus Himself appeared, and—”

There was a slight pause in the conversation.

“And?” one of them inquired.

“He guided the coin.”

“And?”

“The Adepts were sentenced to die.”

Their eyes widened upon hearing the insane anecdote. Criss, who had already gleaned several versions of it, was finding this particular one amusing.

“But then, listen to this.” Leaning in, the storyteller lowered his voice. “They managed to escape.”

“Wait, they got away?”

“Yep.”

“How?”

“I heard they killed several Overseers.”

“Monsters.”

“It’s what they’re saying. They’ve become vicious beasts, destroying anything in sight.”

“I even heard one of them was shooting It out of his eyes.”

Criss’s chuckles attracted the group’s attention.

“What is it, ma’am? You don’t believe me?”

“No, I don’t,” replied the agent. “They can’t do that.”

“And how would you know?”

Gulping her last spoon of rice, Criss got up to leave. “I used to date an Adept. And he didn’t know how to shoot much of anything.”

The group laughed, then one of them decided to try his luck.

“Well if you want a real—”

“Save it,” snapped Criss, and she walked out. Just incredible how smooth men think they are. What a bunch of geegabrains. The agent had shared parts of her life with a few of them and would invariably grow tired of catering to their needs and concerns.

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