PROLOGUE
The room was cloaked in darkness, a few feeble sources of light struggling here and there, mostly from monitors. Several unidentifiable figures sat in an arc around a table in the center of the room, watching a holographic display in the middle.
"Another flare. Sir, I recommend a more subtle approach this time. We need answers, and those are easier to get firsthand than from trace residue." The voice came from the rightmost figure.
"I agree. Send a squad to check it out. Put the new guy in command, he needs experience." The shadow in the middle of the arc waved an appendage to the right.
Another figure, this one slightly to the left of center, stood, revealing itself humanoid but bulky. "But, sir! It is clearly in my depart--"
"No. I said to send the new guy. Besides, we all know how 'subtle' you are, and there is no sign that The Other is involved."
"... Fine. However, I wish to go on record as protesting."
"Duly noted. Proceed with Operation Spanish Inquisition."
The figure on the far right seemed startled. "Operation Spanish Inquisition? Sir..."
"Rather ironic, is it not? Go."
"Yes sir!" The figure stood and strode towards the side of the room, and through a momentary there-not there hole in the air itself.
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He strolled slowly along the sidewalk, his black leather trenchcoat swirling behind in the light breeze, looking up into the clouded sky. Passing the other pedestrians, he looked down and to the side, checking out the reflections in the store windows. Pausing for a moment to adjust his sunglasses, he dismissed the sight of a young black-haired man staggering by under the weight of a sexy brunette in a red tank-top, then continued walking down the sidewalk in the direction of the afternoon sun. Nearing an intersection, he looked around for cars, then strode across, following the green light. Once past, he slowed down and proceeded past the shops.
Catching a suspicious glint in the corner of his eye, he stopped and looked in the nearest shop window, which happened to be a cafe. Standing as if undecided about whether to enter or not, he checked the reflections in the window, but found nothing but the other shops, cars, pedestrians, and his own tall frame, with the swords sticking up in back. Wait, swords? Sunglasses? Tall? Trenchcoat? And hey, that guy and girl looked weird, with his funny flexible-looking blue arm and her... Were those bat wings? He shook his head to clear the confusion from his mind.
"Hello? I repeat, would you please come with us?"
He whirled around, adopting a defensive stance and taking in the situation. He was surrounded by troopers in what looked like gray and matte-black advanced powered armor, nasty-looking guns all pointing in his direction, with not a few ominous hums. Their officer was standing directly in front of him, helmet off and weapons away, his hands in front of him, palms up, empty. A parley sign. "We do not wish to harm you unnecessarily. Will you please put away your swords and come with us?"
"Put away my..." He looked down at the swords he was somehow holding, then self-consciously sheathed them in the back holsters. How did I do that? "Sorry. I didn't notice I'd drawn them. Anyway, who are you, and why do you want me to come with you?"
"All will be explained. Now please come with us, Mister... What is your name?" The officer signaled to his troops subtly and they lowered their guns a few notches.
"My name is... My name... is... I don't know... I can't - I - Sorry..." He rubbed his forehead. "I seem to have forgotten myself. Forgive me. Fine, I will come with you. Might as well."
The officer raised an eyebrow, then nodded and turned, leading the way into the street. He followed cautiously, checking for traffic, then pulled up short as the officer disappeared into thin air and the troopers followed. As he stood, blinking, the officer's head appeared again. "Come on, it's a camouflaged entry. Don't worry." Shrugging, he walked through the invisible curtain and found himself in a short corridor, with gleaming hatches on both sides and at the end, with nobody else in sight except the officer. Turning, he saw the street he just left, already receding below. He shot a look at the other, then walked toward the far hatch, which had just opened.
Passing through, he saw what was obviously a pilot's cabin, with a huge viewscreen taking up the whole three walls in front and to the sides, as well as parts of the floor and ceiling. As the officer passed him, he looked at the... being... manning what was obviously the pilot's seat, and its no less strange companion in the copilot position. The aforementioned creatures turned and waved a pseudopod and a paw, respectively, at the officer and turned their attention back to the viewscreen, which was now displaying a view of rooftops passing not too far below.
The officer turned to him and gestured to a chair against the back wall. "Please sit; it will be a few minutes before we reach our destination." He sat, arranging his trenchcoat, as the other spoke briefly and unintelligibly into his headset mike and joined him on a nearby seat. "I'm sure you have many questions, but if you will have a little patience, we will soon try our best to answer them." He shrugged and leaned back, ready for a wait.
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He exited the invisible vehicle, following the officer, with the troops right behind him, and took a moment to get his bearings. He seemed to be in a deserted park, with a sizable brownstone mansion rising in front of him. As they marched towards it, he was struck by a stray sunbeam and stopped abruptly. Raising his hands and face to the light, he drank in the warmth eagerly. He did not know how long he had been standing there, when finally the sunbeam passed and he found himself gasping in pleasure, as the troopers and officer all stared at him. "What.. What were you doing?"
"Um... Can't a guy enjoy some late-afternoon warmth? Anyway, let's go."
"I don't know, especially when the guy's skin turns blacker than a black hole." The officer gave him a weird look, then turned and continued the procession. Shortly arriving at the front door, which opened before them, they proceeded inside, and into a high-tech entry area.
"Man, this place looks cool. If this is the foyer, I can't wait to see the rest of the house." He grinned in unabashed pleasure.
"Just follow me." The officer led the way onwards, as the troopers went off in a different direction. Passing through a succession of living areas, dens, and libraries, they eventually came to a stop in front of a solid-looking brace of doors. Exhaling nervously, the officer raised a hand and knocked hard, twice.
"Enter, enter!" A melodious voice came from inside. As the officer pushed open the door, the owner of the voice was revealed to be a distinguished-looking gentleman in scholarly robes, sitting in a comfortable armchair with a holographic laptop computer floating just above his lap. "I'm sure you have many questions, so please pull up chairs and sit down, so we can ask and answer each other." As the two followed advice, the gentleman sipped from a mug set on an end table at his elbow, then put it back. "Very well. Let us begin."
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