The Enforcers

Alexi · #1 (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 08:37 AM

Alexi was one of Veronica's highest ranking Enforcer. The chip in her brain allowed more than just tracking, because of that. She stood in the streets in full Enforcer garb. She didn't worry about an attack, none dared. Perhaps a rebel might but then the insignia on her arm marking her as a commander would give them pause. A normal Enforcer soldier could be taken if one knows their weaknesses and the rebels tend to. But a commander was a whole different ballgame. Though they had weaknesses the AI in the chip compensated by processing information quickly and allowing faster controls of the nanos floating in the Enforcer's bloodstream. Alexi was not known for her forgiveness either. Attacking her meant before she killed you, she went after your family and your friends. It was said she made them watch as she tortured everyone they held dear. It was this reputation that instilled fear when she appeared. Because she wasn't just any Enforcer. Veronica sent her to judge and execute those that she believed were traitors. Alexi never failed.

Kale Allerion · #2 (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 12:48 PM

"I'd take him out myself," one voice began between swallows of beer. "But I have the rest of my family to think of. What would happen to them if I...?"

"I understand," a smaller voice replied. "I just wish that someone would do something about these monsters!"

Miika sat in a dark corner of a crowded tavern, eavesdropping. He took another swallow of his beer - not because he liked it, but so that he'd blend in with his surroundings - and listened intently to the conversation taking place a few tables away from him.

"Those Enforcers are going to take this village down, one innocent family at a time!" the first speaker shouted. There was a thud and a clattering of dishes, as if he'd banged the table with his fist.

"Sssh!" the second man hissed. "You never know who could be listening here."

That you don't, Miika thought wryly. He picked up a newspaper and pretended to read.

"I'm sorry," the first speaker replied, quieter. "It's just..." The man's voice shook. Miika almost turned to look, but restrained himself. "...Jael. My sweet Jael..."

The eavesdropper shook his head slightly. This unknown man had obviously lost someone very important to him. A daughter? A girlfriend? A wife?

I know I can't handle this job, Miika admitted to himself. Taking on an Enforcer? I've never tried something that intense.

But, then...it had been months since his last job, and those months had been trying. He needed money - It would be nice to get a hot meal without having to steal it, he thought.

Not only that, but this man was in pain. Even if Miika couldn't save whoever it was he lost, or even kill the Enforcer who had taken her, he knew he had to try.

I may be a killer, but I'm a killer with a conscience. Miika set down his paper and started toward the table where the two men were talking. One was a tall, burly man with dark skin and black hair. His head was buried in his hands. The other was a smaller, fair-skinned man.

Miika approached the table and kneeled down to where the men sat. "Can I help you?"

The darker man looked up, confused. The other man shook his head and said, "Um...no thank you."

"Considering the situation you're in," Miika said. "I think you'll find me very useful." He unrolled his sleeve to reveal an elaborate tattoo - the mark of his former assassin "clan".

The eyes of the men widened. They knew well what that symbol meant. "Tell me who is causing you trouble," Miika said. "And I'll take care of him."

Addison · #3 (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 07:25 PM

Addison pulled her black mercedes up to the curb further down the street than she would have liked to park. There was at least a block to walkt o get to her building...Rothar and Williams. The streets of Paradigm seemed to never still, and she knew all too well that during the night there were those that still crept among the shadows.
As she stepped out, several eyes looked and smiled. She was recognized among the citizens as a friend to many but one not to be trifled with. Today she donned a black pencil skirt with red quarter sleeve v-neck shirt that hugged every curve of her upper body. She paired this with a sleek pair of red stilettos.

Her head never was bent down and she never slouched. She got out of her car and took her stride down the busy sidewalks of paradigm

Alexi · #4 (**permalink**) 03-15-2009, 02:03 PM

Alexi moved, walking the streets. She listened to the sounds, she observed the people. It would surprise many to know that their head DA was an Enforcer. It was why she had the mask, it was why she kept the two lives separated. What she did as Enforcer never touched her life as Alexandra Blanc. Her eyes were always moving, never still. She looked for any threat. For an Enforcer that was many, especially when that Enforcer walked alone.

Kale Allerion · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-2009, 10:32 AM

I need a friggin' car, Miika thought for the umpteenth time as he slumped in the backseat of a smelly taxi cab, pretending to listen to the driver rambling on about his love life. The words had lost all meaning, and now all Miika could do was nod occasionally. He dared not say anything other than, "That's rough" or "Pretty crazy", when appropriate.

The lights of Paradigm flooded through the window of the dark cab.

Heh, Paradigm.

It was supposed to be Heaven on earth, but with Veronica and her lackeys roaming the streets no one was safe.

I wonder how Naria is doing. Miika sighed, remembering the face of the woman he would have to go to for information on the Enforcer he was after. Naria was a high-ranking Enforcer herself once, but somehow she managed to escape that life and became a major help to the assassins. She either had, or could require, all the intelligence necessary to complete the job - names, codes, weapons, etc.

The girl was practically always on the run, though.

I wonder if she ever wants to just escape Paradigm and live a normal life? Miika thought. It seemed like her desire to help bring the Enforcers overwhelmed any desire to live a simple life, but then...she had a harder job than any assassin. Ever since she escaped the Enforcers, they pursued her. She had to break into their facilities, filled with people she already knew.

"..And what do you think of that?" the cab driver said, louder than he had before.

"Pretty crazy," Miika said, feigning interest in whatever this guy was talking about.

Addison · #6 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 10:55 AM

Upon walking there was the usual smiles and nods as those who recognized Addison passed by her. Small talk early in the morning was rare considering most of the citizens are headed to their jobs towards the north side of Paradigm. Also, there was the normal hussle and bussle of cabs shuffling through the streets filled with Southern citizens that rarely did more than meet others in local cafes or go window shopping. Its during this time period many are working under the busy cover of day whispering in hushed tones their dislike of the government and Veronica.

Before work, Addison always stopped in at her favorite cafe, Artisans. Rich, the manager always had her usual Iced Mocha Latte no whip cream sitting ready for her on the counter; she would then proceed to drop a $20 on the counter, smile and say, "Keep the change," as she headed on her way.

However, today was different. She had recently closed a case that had kept her busy both day and night. Hence, getting into the office late didn't seem too bad. So today, for a few minutes, Addison grabbed the local newspaper, flipped to the crossword and sipped her iced coffee.

Cain · #7 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 01:21 PM

"I wanna vanilla, with a walfel cone!"

"How many scoops?"

"Ummm, two!"

A robotic hand was extended down from the ice cream truck drone and held infront of the teenager trying to order from it.

"Please provide $5.37"

"That's a lot for a double scoop inna walfel cone."

"Please provide $5.37"

*Sighs* "Oh, okay."
The teenager produced a wallet and checked inside it before looking back at the bot.
"Do you have change for a twenty?"

There was a pause before the bot responded with a, "Change for $20, confirmed."

The teen placed a snickers bar wrapper in the extented claw and the bot made an error sound.
"Please use only legal tender."

"I did."

The bot began creating a image capture of the teen to log him as a trouble maker but this suddenly stoped and the image was deleted as was the backup.

"Please use only legal tender."

"I did, see? Snickers, our 37th president."

". . . . . confirmed. Dispencing $14.63 in change. Dispencing waflel cone, 2 scoop vanila."

After the bot had given him his ice cream and change, Puck smiled wandering down the street. This had all happened about two blocks down from Addison's current location. The truck was stoped another block down the road as a man tried to buy a cone for his son, for some reason it didn't accept his 20 dollar bill and it logged him as a trouble maker

Were the wrapper later checked for prints only one would be found, but it would have been too smudged after having been handled by Puck's right hand, which had no finger prints.

Kale Allerion · #8 (**permalink**) 03-20-2009, 08:36 PM

This is the worst part of any job, Miika complained silently. How am I supposed to find someone who doesn't exist in the minds of more than half the population?

There were two types of people who knew of Naria - Enforcers and assassins. Obviously, Miika couldn't go to the former group for hints, and as one can well imagine, it was hard to find assassins in Paradigm. Not impossible, but hard.

Miika's robotic arm scratched his head as he walked casually down the crowded streets. He'd go to the slums - the "wrong side of town". Naria probably wouldn't be there, but surely at least one of his buddies from the Clan would be hanging about, and they'd know where to find her.

The dangerous assassin blended in well. Sure, he got a few stares on account of the prosthetic arm, but even that wasn't an uncommon sight. Surely no one suspected him of anything, although he'd been the mastermind behind several assasinations.

Even so, Miika still felt ill at ease. This place was crawling with Enforcers, and it felt as if they all were staring into his soul, learning his intentions.

I am invisible, Miika told himself. Invisible.

DungeonMaster · #9 (**permalink**) 03-21-2009, 05:24 AM

A man strode into the bar and sat down next to Addison, raising a finger in the air and speaking slowly and precisely, "Rich, if you would be so kind, I'd love to get the usual, bagel... cream cheese, hot black coffee, you know how I like it." He laid his hand on the desk and looked at Addison reading the paper and sipping her latte. "I don't think I've seen you here before." He said carefully, nodding and offering his hand, "I'm..." He trailed off, bl;inking and trying to remember. "Strange... I can't remember..." He looked like he was trying to find something in his memory that just wasn't there.

When his order was on the counter, he smiled and nodded in metronome, placing a $50 on the counter and saying, "Keep the change... I've got to go..." His head twitched to the left and then he gritted his teeth. "I can't remember... so I guess I'm not going there today."

He smiled at Addison, holding ut his hand, "And you are?"

Alexi · #10 (**permalink**) 03-23-2009, 01:34 PM

A hand landed on Puck's shoulder, the grip firm and strong.
"Nice try kid."
The voice was calm.
"You just got someone else in trouble and broke who knows how many laws. Hope you have a good attorney."
~Addy run a scan.~
Running scan confirmed.
The voice inside Alexi's head was feminine only because that is what Alexi programmed it to be. The chip wired into her brain housed an AI that gave her an unique edge. It had easily hacked into the bot and overrode the troublemaker log so the man could go free. He'd done nothing wrong, Alexi saw no reason to have him punished. The kid however was another matter. She waited, keeping a hand on his shoulder as Addy scanned him.