Magic and Paranormal Crime and Punishment Division - The Lab of Universes
CONFIDENTIAL - UNAUTHORISED PERSONS CAUGHT IN POSSESSION OF THOUGHTS RELATED TO THE CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE PROSECUTED.
This document has been painstakingly constructed from testimonies of the individuals involved, in addition to post-op divination, and séances (communication with spirits in order to establish fact from fiction). Its accuracy and authenticity are unquestionable.
...
6 December 2192 Briefing, 8:00 AM
"Useless," grunted Lyra. "Useless, useless, useless!"
She threw the papers into the air and with a careless flap of her hand threw a roiling ball of hot, luminous air after them.
"Consistent failure to determine the nature of Vaudruil's research," she said, quoting from the text as it combusted midair.
"You're lucky that we were able to gather intelligence from a private military organisation," she continued, irritably, "an organisation that employs a diviner that is actually competent."
Her deep eyes burned through the blank white hood of her robes. They roamed the room searchingly.
"Mr Gale," she said finally, "your report was particularly useless."
Tomas Gale, who had been sleeping soundly (and drooling a little bit) on the long briefing table, gave a start.
"Oh, oh," he said, "thanks, can I have some more?"
All the figures stared at him.
"Er. S-Sorry."
Lyra sighed. "Mr Gale here presented me with a one page report with the word 'LIAB' on it. Before I continue, can you explain this whatsoever Mr Gale?"
The disapproving silence created a sort of aggressive relativity that slowed the progression of time. For Tomas seemed to sit uncomfortably in the briefing room for quite a long time before he spoke.
"It's just what I saw, ma-am."
"Useless," she said, for what seemed the trillionth time.
Then she continued, jumping immediately to a stoic briefing tone much like a newsreader's from the old days. "Our intelligence has led us to believe Vaudruil is developing a machine that could tear the fabric of space and time."
"More than that, dear Lyra," came a hollow whisper. "He hopes to take the fabric of space and time and rend it threadbare."
It was Olicerro. Tomas had a habit of looking at any person that was speaking, but with Olicerro he had tried very hard to curb the habit. Whenever he so much as glanced at the skeletal mage, his bones froze and his heart thundered with fright.
"Regardless," Lyra mumbled, obviously a little annoyed at being interrupted, "we don't particularly care to let him complete his little science project. We sort of like how space and time are going right now."
"Yeah," said Tomas in fierce agreement.
And when the rest of the table gave him another stare, and another disapproving silence, he decided to shut his mouth.
"Vaudruil has recently upped the security of his primary research and development facility. It appears his activities are escalating; this increases the need for us to act."
Lyra pressed a button under the briefing table and the crisp hologram of a skyscraper appeared. It was girdled by a large garden and stone wall.
"It is fenced, and has numerous security features; trispectrum cameras, motion detectors, security guards, and bots. Notice the garden space, a pure display of wealth in a dense city like this. The guess is that it's probably full of magic traps as much as it's full of the desire to look like a rich bastard. It wouldn't be there if it wasn't useful."
She pressed the button again, and the hologram zoomed in on the front garden.
"We've established the position of an underground power cable that feeds to the security systems out front. We've hired a geomage to give us an Earthquake at twenty three hundred hours, tonight, and from there we can have an invisible operative cut the power."
She pressed the button yet again, and the hologram made the faces of the building transparent.
"Once Tomas is inside-"
"What?" he yelled, breaking his silence and, almost, his chair as he jumped up with incredulity.
"Yes, Tomas, this will be your first operation. We don't have any other agents to spare, I'm afraid," Lyra said soothingly.
Tomas' life flashed before his eyes as he slumped back into his chair, his mouth agape. He realised, with horror, that he hadn't eaten enough cheesecake in his time; and it was too late to fix it before nightfall.
"Tomas, once you are inside you must find a way into the lower levels. Once you get down past the reactors, you'll be encroaching on the machine. I can't tell you anything more about the interior of the place than this hologram of the schematics does; but your powers should be able to help you."
Tomas nodded a few times. "Yeah, my powers."
Lyra cracked what looked like a knowing smile for an instant, before she went on.
"Enjoy your day, Tomas, be ready at twenty two hundred hours."
When Tomas and the rest of the officials were gone, Lyra and the Lich exchanged significant looks.
"The intelligence we have received seems deceptively useful, Lyra," hissed Olicerro.
Lyra gazed back with burning eyes. "It's all we've got. Besides, if Tomas is really as good as he claims, he'll see what's coming."
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