My Shot (ID)

[ThePopcornFairy]

Sometime past the stroke of midnight, two lone figures approached a fenced-off compound. The building seemed quiet at first, but up close, there were clearly dim lights shining through several windows and faint sounds of construction within. Even at this ungodly hour, while the rest of the city slept, the Mexus Center of Modern Technology was still hard at work repairing the damage inflicted upon them.

"Guess this wouldn't be the first time we've been forced into overtime..." Jack mumbled as he stared up at the building, steeling his nerves for the confrontation to come. He approached the gate, lighting an astral fire in his hand so he could get a closer look, discovering that the gate wasn't locked or even closed all the way. "Sheesh, you'd think they would've tightened up their security after that altercation."

Undeterred, Jack slid the gate open with a low grunt and stepped inside the compound, motioning for his accomplice to follow. "Not sure what kind of reception we'll receive. Whatever happens, though, I'm afraid we're gonna have to go easy on these guys for now. Yeah, I wanna knock some sense into them like nobody's business, but they're still the only ones I trust to get Lydia back to normal once we find her."

[ColArana]

As Jack snuck into Mexus, Avenger shadowed him. Despite the audible click of his shoes on pavement earlier, now he moved in absolute silence, with practiced ease. The Count was a master of many talents, developed in the lightless prison to which he had once been convicted, and stealth was among them. In a single leap he cleared the fence surrounding the compound, landing lightly on the other side as he waited for Jack to slip in as well. He smiled at Jack's overtime joke, but glanced at the flame he conjured for sight. "Ah that's right. I have long since learned to see in absolute darkness, but it seems you're still new to this Master. Still. If you hope to avoid conflict, you might want to be careful about how brightly you shine that flame of yours." He cautioned. "Even with the front door unlocked, you might invite unwelcome guests to come and investigate." Still, the Servant followed Jack into the building as he slid the gate open.

"I'll keep my eyes and ears sharp. I doubt anyone here will be capable of sneaking up on us."

Avenger strode alongside Jack, a placid grin playing about his features, which shifted into a frown when Jack asked him to go easy on anyone who tried to stop him. "You're too kind Master. A few deaths is excellent for ensuring others take you seriously." He stated. "Though I'll acknowledge your need to save your woman." He surmised, as he followed along. He scanned the walls and doors of the room as the two moved together. "So tell me Master, who or what you seek here. As accurate a description as you can. Mannerisms, appearance, scent, gait. Whatever you can tell me."

[ThePopcornFairy]

Jack sighed and snuffed out his flame. The streetlights inside the gated perimeter and the building's illuminated windows were sufficient enough for him to see. Granted, drawing unwanted attention wasn't exactly his biggest concern.

"Yeah, no, we're not killing anyone who works here," Jack ordered, staring warily at Avenger. "We need these guys to cooperate with us. That might be considered bad form. And, well... yeah, I'm upset about a lot of things we've done here, but I do still like some of the people I work with."

As he approached the lab, Jack steadily became aware of a low buzzing noise in his head. It grew louder and louder with every step, the unintelligible drone slowly turning into a jumbled cacophony of overlapping sentences. Added to it was a barrage of powerful emotions, mostly frustration, confusion and concern, which only served to bolster his own anxieties. He couldn't stop his eye from twitching, prompting him to grab his head to cushion the throbbing pain he was starting to develop. Adapting to these powers was going to be a trip...

Fortunately, despite the crowd control issue taking place inside his brain, Jack could still pick up on what was being spoken aloud right next to him. "Well, if there's anyone with any iota of what's going on, it's probably my boss, Dr. Pendleton. I plan to talk to him, but you'll probably know him when you see him. Tall, dark skin, black hair, firm posture, no sense of humor..." He pursed his lips and took a deep breath through his nose. "He's... also Lydia's dad..."

Jack pushed the front door to the building open, leading Avenger into the spacious lobby. As usual, there was a guard sitting at the front desk, and as if the look on his face wasn't a big enough indicator, the aura of shock and the mental acknowledgement of the intern's state of being showed that he hadn't expected Jack to show up. "M-Mr. Wexler..."

"Yeah, I'm alive..." Jack breathed, walking right past the desk without slowing. "Please tell me Dr. Pendleton's still here."

The guard didn't need to answer. Upon hearing the name, he immediately responded with a mental confirmation. Verbally, his next reaction was to point to Avenger and ask, "Wait, who's this?"

"It's okay, he's with me," Jack grunted as he made his way down the nearest hallway, gesturing for Avenger to ignore the guard and follow suit. He gingerly massaged his temple, the psychic barrage already at an uncomfortable volume, but still he pressed on towards the main lab, mumbling to Avenger all the while, "By all means, feel free to speak up as needed. My tongue's gonna get tied if you leave all the talking to me. Believe me."

[ColArana]

Avenger seemed unbothered by the dousing of the light. Indeed, in what limited light there was in the building, they seemed to glow an eerie golden. He took note of Jack's growing discomfort and an amused smile danced around his features, recovering it since Jack's command not to kill was issued. "I see your new abilities are giving you grief, Master." He chuckled softly, keeping pace with Jack. The description of Doctor Pendleton was useful for recognition at least, but less so for locating him. "Hmm. Is that so?" He began. "I suppose you wouldn't pay attention to the rhythm of his steps, would you?" He added, his ears catching the sounds of various different footsteps deeper into the building.

"So we are to meet your future father-in-law, Master?" He teased with a wicked grin at Jack's expense. "I suppose that makes things awkward indeed, doesn't it?" He made a quiet chuckle of amusement, before encountering the guard, who clearly recognized Jack. "Yes indeed! Back from Hades, and on a quest for vengeance!" Avenger stated, keeping pace with Jack, his face settling into his stern expression once more. "I certainly hope you won't let a simple peon hold you back, however, Master. I take your will and determination for more than the kind that would be dissuaded with a few words, even from someone you know, or might be on positive terms with, yes?" He proposed.

"But, if you want for me to talk or create a disturbance for you... Well. That can easily be arranged."

[ThePopcornFairy]

"Steps? Jack couldn't even begin to comprehend how such a minor detail could play into a situation like this. "Well, no, but he's gotta be here. If things are still this busy this late at night, I'm sure he would've stuck around to supervise it." Granted, he was having a hard time discerning if any of the multitude of voices in his head were Dr. Pendleton's.

Jack had to stop and stare irately at Avenger for a moment. "Okay, that's not funny. Lydia and I haven't even had a single date yet. I mean seriously, what are we, five? We have more important things on the line than my love life."

He stopped in front of the double doors near the end of the hall, picking up on a faint hum of hustle and bustle through the barrier, waving his badge in front of the nearby scanner until he heard a beep and a soft click. A sigh escaped his throat. "Trust me, that's not gonna be an issue. I'm none too happy with these guys right about now." Then Jack pushed both doors open and stepped inside...

The lab was much cleaner than it was when he had left, to be sure. The debris had been cleared out and every piece of unsalvageable tech had been disposed of. By now, the technicians were fully engaged in the task of repairing every machine that could be fixed, replacing every computer that couldn't, reinstalling every bit of software, and transferring as much data as they could to the new equipment. Well, perhaps not fully engaged. The mood that Jack picked up on as he entered the scene, apart from general anxiety, was fatigue. This had been a long day for everyone, and even at a glance, it was clear that the work was far from finished.

Unsurprisingly, as Jack marched through the lab and made his way up the stairs to the balcony overlooking the half-repaired miniaturization chamber, every technician he and Avenger passed stopped what they were doing and stared incredulously at the duo. The potpourri of thoughts regarding their work and the events leading up to this mess started to shift into a repeated pattern of mostly similar reactions. Jack was alive. How was he alive? Where had he been? Who was this other guy?

It took about seven instances of each of these questions for someone to finally approach the intern. "Jack...!"

"Hey, Wendell," Jack breathed, already exasperated. "Where's Dr. Pendleton?"

"A-At his desk. But you probably shouldn't-" Too late. Jack was already off to bother him.

When Jack found the doctor, he found him lying face-down at his fully restored computer, his head tucked inside his arms as he snoozed with nary a thought in his mind to disrupt his slumber. Being exhausted was one thing, and completely understandable at that, but seeing Dr. Pendleton so peaceful was certainly an odd sight, and not just because of the circumstances. Jack was almost tempted to knock some sense into him, but curiosity got the better of him before he could take that opportunity. His eyes trailed to the monitor, currently displaying a screensaver. Tapping a button on the keyboard revealed an open word document...

Lydia,

I can only hope that we can reestablish contact with the ship soon enough. I also pray that when we do, we can regain the ability to transfer documents to you, because I'm not certain how I would be able to get this message across through audio feed.

If you're reading this, it means we were unsuccessful in restoring the reenlargement program. I'm sorry. I am really and truly sorry.

I know I've always been distant, but I always assured myself that I had a good reason for it. Being a stay-at-home dad doesn't provide a sustainable income. Me being busy had nothing to do with how I felt about you. Then again, maybe that's just what I wanted to believe. I don't think I ever really understood you all that well. After your mother died, there was virtually nothing connecting us. When we began work on this project, I saw it as an opportunity to really demonstrate to you what I do and to help you further your career. At the same time, though, I tried not to be too overly demanding or pedantic. You are an adult, after all. I wanted to give you room to make your own decisions and confront your own demons. I don't think I did well on that front.

Whatever the case may be, I just want you to know this. I never expected to lose

Jack spaced out for a moment, staring at the screen in genuine bafflement. Dr. Pendleton... showing emotion? Regret? Outright apologizing to his daughter? So not only had hell frozen over, but it was the new venue for Disney on Ice.

"Um... Dr. Pendleton?"

A quick poke on the head was enough to get Dr. Pendleton to jerk awake, his eyes wide behind his crooked glasses. Three seconds of awkward silence later, the doctor straightened himself out and looked up at the one who roused him.

Cue the double-take. "...Jack?"

"Yeah, hi." Jack kept his tone low and somewhat gentle, opting to remain polite, pretend like he hadn't seen the unfinished letter, and get right to the point. "Question, if I may. When we were still working on the Phoenix Project, did you ever conduct tests on subjects without their consent and without informing any low-level employees?"

It took a moment for Dr. Pendleton to respond to that, let alone snap out of his blank expression, but his rapid-fire thought process already told Jack everything he needed to know on the matter. He had already been made explicitly aware of Jack's death. He recalled that the results on Phoenix 017 had been inconclusive, despite the fact that there had only been sixteen test subjects during the course of the project. He thought back to the notes that Dr. Perry had written and his theory that a certain Jonathan Wexler might be physically compatible with astral energy. He very clearly remembered donning a prototype gun glove late one night, loading it with a pellet filled with dormant phoenix nanoes, and injecting it into...

Jack's jaw dropped. Dr. Pendleton sighed and covered his face with his hand.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Jack..."

"I-I would've considered giving it a try if you'd just asked...!"

"It's not that simple."

"NOT THAT SIMPLE?! I COULD'VE DIED BECAUSE OF YOU!"

"You did die because of me," Dr. Pendleton freely admitted. "And yet here you are." His eyes briefly flicked in the direction of the man in the hat and cape, mentally questioning his presence.

[ColArana]

Avenger nodded. "Of course. I've already memorized your own walking pattern Master. I could notice your approach and identify you from five hundred meters, even without being able to see you." He replied, as he kept pace with Jack. At Jack's frustration with his barbs, Avenger laughed quietly. "I'm not joking Master! Didn't you state you had feelings for the girl? Or do you plan to just let those fester in your chest for the rest of your life?" He asked with a smirk, letting the matter hang in Jack's mind. He knew he could also simply think the thoughts and Jack would pick up on them, but telling Jack was more fun! Then his gaze focused again and his smirk disappeared. "Besides, to say it is unimportant is a lie. Your motivations are very important. Resolve is the thing that will save or condemn you in the end." He told Jack.

The destruction of the facility was certainly impressive. Avenger's eyes scanned the wreckage. "They were thorough. There's not much of use left here." He observed.

As Jack handled the guards, Avenger observed mostly silently. He gave a passive smile at the guard as he passed him by. If the guard attempted to stop him from following Jack, it would be unfortunate indeed. For the guard at any rate. Normal humans had little chance against Servants afterall. He walked right in and looked at the screen alongside Jack. His face now was unreadable, but his thoughts were tending... well. To say they were tending towards "disapproval" would be a colossal understatement. Before Avenger could speak however, Jack awakened the man collapsed on the desk. "So you're the eponymous Doctor Pendleton are you?" Avenger noted as Jack pressed for details about the phoenix project.

But when Doctor Pendleton looked to Avenger, he was greeted by a scowl. "Disgraceful." He replied. "The woman to whom this is addressed is your daughter?" He asked rhetorically. "Writing a note like this reeks of defeat. I've seen the bonds of family accomplish amazing things, and witnessed the lengths a parent will go for their offspring." He began. "All I see are excuses and preparations." He challenged the doctor. "If this is your daughter you're doing an abysmal job of trying to tend to her." He stated, his eyes boring into the doctor angrily. "You. Are the very worst humanity has to offer."

[ThePopcornFairy]

"Excuse me?!"

"Whoa, whoa, Doc! Doc!" When Dr. Pendleton suddenly shot to his feet, Jack promptly backed up a few steps and waved his hands defensively, quickly regretting a decent number of his life choices.

"I'm sorry, but do you have even the slightest idea what our present situation is?" Dr. Pendleton demanded, hardly looking the slightest bit intimidated by Avenger. Suffice to say, he was not the weirdest thing the doctor had seen that day. "This facility has suffered damages that will take weeks, if not months to repair in full! We're working our *sses off trying to recover every critical system we can!"

"D-Doc, Avenger...!"

"I have men out there searching high and low for the man who has my daughter, but there's only so far we can get without satellite or radio contact, not to mention the most vital piece of equipment necessary for her recovery, which has been lost with zero practical means of immediate retrieval! But we are doing everything we can to bring her back in spite of the circumstances! We just happen to be backed into a corner with limited options and a severely restricted time frame! And you know what?! Sure, that is largely my own fault! Maybe my best intentions were a little skewed! I want Lydia back! I'm prepared to do whatever is in my power to get her back!"

"Doctor Pen-"

"But I'm not one for sentiment. I'm a pragmatist. I'm trying to prepare myself –mentally, if nothing else– for every possible outcome! Did it ever occur to you that I'm writing this more for the sake of catharsis than anything else?! Because no matter what happens to Lydia, even if we are successful in getting her back, I have no idea how else I could tell her any of this after how badly I mucked everything up?!"

"GUYS!!!"

The moment Jack raised his voice and threw his arms down, astral fire briefly burst to life around him like a firework. Dr. Pendleton jumped back a few steps, startled but by no means dumbfounded. The technicians closest to the commotion were much more awestruck by the phoenix's display, expressed via low murmurs, wide eyes, and a roaring dissonance of baffled thought processes.

After taking a moment to clear his head as much as he possibly could, Jack turned back to Dr. Pendleton and continued in an even tone, "For the sake of progression, I'm gonna ignore this blue moon display of self-pity and insist we focus on, like you said, fixing what can be fixed. But before I can set my mind to that, sir, I need to know. Why me? Why make me into a test subject without telling me? Moreover, why did it work for me? Am I the only one??"

Dr. Pendleton sighed, grabbed his head, and begrudgingly put a lid on his temper. "Okay, you want the truth about the Phoenix Project? It wasn't my idea. That was Anthony's business beginning to end. I didn't even want any part in it."

"I know."

"Whatever force compelled me to greenlight the project, I have no idea, especially considering all the mad ramblings Dr. Perry recorded as justification for his work. But the bottom line is that we did it, we failed repeatedly, and Anthony went crazy somewhere in the middle of it all. Or prior to its inception, either one wouldn't surprise me. But..." The doctor grabbed his head with a low groan. "During what I suppose was a moment of lucidity, Dr. Perry told me that he had tested you positive for compatibility with the nanos, but he also theorized that they would have a better chance at activating naturally without subject input. If he was unaware of their presence and wasn't actively attempting to jumpstart them."

Jack seemed less confused by the cryptic explanation and more on account of a strange train of thought that crossed Dr. Pendleton's mind in the midst of it. Sentinels? What was a Sentinel?

"He made me promise not to tell you what you were. Said you had to figure that out for yourself or some bullsh*t like that. But he... well, you know what happened to Dr. Perry. After that fiasco, per his last request and against my better judgment, I injected you with the nanos, but nothing happened, so I considered the project a wrap, shut it down, and kept you monitored from there on out in case something ever did come of it."

It took Jack a moment to fully absorb everything Dr. Pendleton was saying, thinking and feeling. By all accounts, it was clear that Dr. Pendleton had been uncomfortable with every facet of the Phoenix Project from the start, including Jack's involuntary involvement. It seemed as if the only thing that kept him attached to the project, excluding his longtime friendship with Dr. Perry, was intuition. An unconscious, inexplicable feeling that as far-fetched as this program was, it needed to be done. And the fact that Dr. Pendleton off all people went along with this plan on nothing but a whim was about as sharp a heel-face turn as one could make.

"So..." Jack ran a hand through his hair, effectively shaken to the core. "So you participated in the Phoenix Project, a program dedicated to imbuing its recipients with logic- and death-defying abilities, knowingly putting my life on the line with the intention of turning me into something more than human, willingly participating in the supernatural phenomena that you claim to oppose... and you did it all based entirely on instinct? You... You HYPOCRITE!"

"And two minutes ago, you were getting on my case for acting defensive and emotional," Dr. Pendleton mumbled.

"I don't even know why I'm surprised! You never seemed to have a problem injecting random strangers with your own shrunken daughter! Why should I be exempt from the blatant disregard for human rights to bodily integrity?!"

"I'm not gonna act like everything I did was in the moral right. I had my reasons. I still do. All I can do now is try to be better." As he said this, Dr. Pendleton reached into a drawer in his desk, pulled out what looked to be a slightly worn-out notebook, and offered it to his intern. "Here. This should tell you just about anything you need to know about the Phoenix Project that I never bothered to document or explain myself. If you feel content to further this research at a later date, I think our efforts would be better directed trying to get my daughter home."

Jack just stared at the journal for a few seconds, still angry but trying not to let it get the better of him. He could sense that Dr. Pendleton's regret was sincere, and while that wasn't quite enough for Jack to excuse everything his boss had done, he eventually conceded that now was not the time to lose their heads over personal matters. If this notebook really did have everything he needed to know about why and how his phoenix status came to be, he would have plenty of time to look into it later. He could set his needs aside for now. Someone deserved his attention more than Dr. Pendleton.

"Right." With a firm nod, Jack took the journal and tucked it into his coat. "For Lydia."

[ColArana]

Avenger's eyes flashed with anger at Doctor Pendleton's defense of himself. "Excuses." He hissed back. "Everything in your power to bring her back? Then what is this?" He snapped back, indicating the note. "Will that bring your lost daughter back to you? Will that help save her life? The clock is ticking Doctor Pendleton, and you waste precious seconds writing up something like this!?" Avenger's hand slammed down on the desk, leaving an imprint of his palm embedded into the surface. "You call yourself a pragmatist, but that is another excuse. I see no pragmatist, I see a coward wallowing in self-pity."

Avenger and Pendleton's argument was mercifully interrupted by Jack's sudden display of frustration, and the Servant gave pause, looking at Jack. "Hmph." Avenger coolly withdrew and stepped back beside Jack, away from the doctor and the desk, which still bore the imprint of the Servant's hand. Jack would doubtlessly sense that Avenger was still seething. As a man who both hated and loved humanity in equal measures, Doctor Pendleton's display disgusted him. Regardless of the truth of the matter, Avenger saw the Doctor as exactly what he had proclaimed.

But Jack wanted to know who he was. What he was. And so Avenger was willing to allow him to do so. Indeed, as he listened, he even seemed somewhat amused, the traces of a smirk playing about his features as Jack screamed out at the doctor's hypocrisy. "Ah, Master. For once this foolish doctor has not disappointed. Hypocrisy is natural to humans. It comes as naturally to them as breathing." If anything Avenger was entertained by the unscrupulous and immoral measures that Doctor Pendleton was willing to go for his research. He still did not like the man in the least, but at least there were still some refreshing human traits about him after-all.

After the journal was handed over, Avenger sighed. "Well. Now that we have that out of the way..." He glared at Doctor Pendleton. "Tell us everything you know. My Master has some inherent knowledge, but we came here for answers. Tell me. This "vital piece of equipment, necessary for her recovery"." He began. "If you were to consider where the worst possible place it could have ended up is, where would that be?" And then as for Lydia herself.... "As for your daughter, have you any leads on her?"

[ThePopcornFairy]

Dr. Pendleton didn't feel like justifying Avenger's further quips with a response. He did, however, raise an eyebrow at the cloaked figure, then at Jack. "Who is this?"

"He's a friend. He's with me," Jack answered flatly. "And he's not leaving."

Finding himself no longer in the mood to argue, Dr. Pendleton begrudgingly accepted his intern's response, sat down at his computer, and started going through the programs he had open. A scowl crossed his face when he saw that the Proteus program still hadn't finished installing. Sure, it was a lot to install, but just what kind of computer did these bozos replace his old one with? Given his luck, he was probably working with a single-hard drive tower from 2014.

Casting that aggravation aside for now, the doctor dove into his explanation. "I'm sure Jack has brought you up to speed on a number of things, but to reiterate, the thieves who broke in here stole one of the two microchips we use in this project. The second one is in Lydia's pod, which Jack injected along with her into the body of a civilian." He turned away from his computer and looked Avenger square in the face to make sure he understood what was being conveyed. "Only one chip is necessary for miniaturization, but both of them are required for reenlargement. So the thieves' next logical step is to find Lydia and obtain the second chip. We've been trying to do the same, given that we don't have the time or resources to produce duplicates within our restricted time frame, but so far we can only theorize where the stolen chip may be, our satellite feed is offline, and our ground team hasn't been able to track down Lydia's host."

"I can describe who you're looking for if that helps any," Jack offered.

"He was here." Dr. Pendleton frowned at the floor. "His name is William Lowe. Lydia led him to us, I explained the situation to them, but I foolishly turned my back for a minute and they escaped. We were given a few tips on places they'd been, but they were always long gone by the time our people showed up. If I had to guess, I fear that they're trying to retrieve the stolen chip themselves."

Jack nervously gritted his teeth. He certainly couldn't put it past Lydia to try something like that. The lion's den metaphor didn't need to be said aloud, nor did Dr. Pendleton's internal concern over who would find her first. "Any idea who we're up against?"

"I'm almost completely certain, but maybe you could confirm it for me." Dr. Pendleton nodded to Jack. "Do you remember who it was that killed you?"

"I have nothing on a name..." Jack responded, rubbing the bloodstained spot on his back but not looking especially outwardly bothered by the memories. "Appearance-wise, he was well over six foot. Short, dark hair, light skin, wore sunglasses and a suit... his gun was literally built into his hand. Uh... Avenger, you got a good look at him. Anything else you can add?"

[ColArana]

Avenger chuckled lowly at Jack's description of him as a friend. Avenger would never have considered himself such. He was a Servant. A weapon. A tool. And even among Servants, he considered himself one of the most wicked and deplorable.

The Heroic Spirit listened to Pendleton's explanation. "An interesting system." He noted. "Quite dangerous to the recipient wouldn't you say?" He grinned, seemingly amused by the dire predicament. After all. It was in such predicaments that the true colors of a man would shine through! And the grin only grew as Pendleton explained that Lydia and her host had arrived right in the very room they were standing in. "How sublime! To come so close, and yet so far. Magnificent!" He exulted in amusement, before Jack asked him about his "killer".

"But you are also in luck. I have fairly excellent senses, and can tell you most things you would need to know about your murderer, Master." Avenger replied. "Six foot three, specifically, if you like. Based on his gait, and the sound of his footsteps, somewhere between two hundred and three hundred pounds. He possessed extraordinary physical strength. I know of few non-augmented humans who are capable of throwing an entire dumpster as he did. I suspect he did not need his firearm to slay my Master at all, in honesty." He considered. "There was an irregularity in the sound of his footsteps, though even my senses cannot place it perfectly. Not the rhythm but the sound of his steps specifically. Heavier than a man of his build should have been, even accounting for considerable muscle mass." He determined. "Very professional, and dedicated. I daresay even taciturn nature. Focused entirely on his assignment and avoided unnecessary conflict." Avenger stated, concluding his report.

[ThePopcornFairy]

Again, Dr. Pendleton refused to give Avenger the satisfaction of a comeback to his taunts, though his eye did involuntarily twitch once or twice. The description of Jack's killer, though, did earn a long sigh. "Well, that confirms that..."

His narrow scowl flicked between Jack and Avenger. "The man who pursued you is designated as Unit 9715-E, more colloquially known as Mr. Stone, pet project turned personal bodyguard and laborer for Dr. Cora Michaels."

"LunArc..." Jack murmured, immediately recognizing the name at the tail end of Dr. Pendleton's explanation. He anxiously stared at the miniaturization chamber for a moment, then he turned to Avenger and elaborated, "Dr. Pendleton and Dr. Michaels went to the same school. Her company deals mostly in robotics and cybernetic implants. They've been a rival of Mexus for decades."

"And yet, confound it all, no one knows where LunArc's main facility is," Dr. Pendleton picked back up. "We know where their business center and research facility are, but their headquarters are entirely off the grid. We've been trying to figure that much out, but again, our eyes and ears in the outside world have been significantly hindered."

"How did Dr. Michaels even find out about the Proteus Project?" Jack warily questioned. "I mean, her men specifically went after the chips, and chances are if that's all they needed, they've already figured out a way to replicate our system. Did our information get leaked? Did one of our own sell us out?"

"That is yet another mystery that has yet to be solved," Dr. Pendleton grunted with a hard frown. He briefly glanced left, right, up and down the balcony, then he leaned in closer to the duo and continued at a lower volume, "I'd bet my bottom buck that someone in here is a turncoat, but I haven't been able to figure out who. I had hoped that having Lydia here would lead the perpetrators back here, give us a chance to get a jump on them and squeeze some answers out, but that plan went out the door along with Mr. Lowe. And I haven't really had a decent chance to go around interrogating every single one of my employees because we've all been preoccupied repairing our equipment."

"Wait, so you've been working on the chamber this whole time, knowing that at least one person in here ratted you out? How do you know the perpetrator isn't sabotaging the machine while he's working on it?"

"That possibility had crossed my mind. At the same time, though, I trust that the rest of us are eagle-eyed enough to find a wire out of place. And besides, the rat knows that Lydia was here. There's always a chance that they believe a functioning chamber could lead her back, and that having the second chip available at full size would just make his job easier."

Jack sighed and ruffled his bangs. "Still, if you think we'll be up and running again soon enough, Avenger and I could try to find the culprit. The less people in our way to getting Lydia back, the better, right?" Might as well make himself useful, be it through manual or psychic labor.

"If you think that's the best use of your time, then knock yourself out," Dr. Pendleton breathed, turning back to his computer, physical and emotional exhaustion apparent.

[ColArana]

Avenger looked at Jack, to try and read his expression as Doctor Pendleton exposited the information behind Jack's killer. He gave a pleased looking grin when Jack explained the history between Doctor Pendleton and Cora Michaels. "Ah. So my Master's death was a result of your petty rivalry with this LunArc is it?" Avenger smirked. "I'd be very interested in meeting this Cora Michaels one day soon. And it seems that is what our objective will have to be shortly in any case." He added. "Someone like that will want to handle something so sensitive personally."

The discussion shifted and Avenger began to consider the group's options with a thoughtful look. "So it's a race to find their home base is it? If my Master commanded me to, I could locate one of their known facilities and find out if anyone there is aware of the location." Avenger's slasher smile when he said this however indicated that it would not be a peaceful negotiation, were he sent there. But at the idea of a traitor in their midst... Well.

"Ah... Well then. If there is a mole amongst us, that makes this much, much easier." He noted, as he looked around the room. "Very well Doctor Pendleton you may be of use yet. Is there surveillance in this room? And do you have a list of every individual that was working on your daughter's little project, or had access to it? I suppose that would include security and janitorial staff. The easiest place to hide a rat is a position that everyone else ignores." He noted. Of course Avenger would know quite a bit about gathering information. In his past life, before becoming a Heroic Spirit, he had excelled in such things.

[ThePopcornFairy]

"Just about everyone involved in this project is in this room right now," Dr. Pendleton replied, his eyes on his screen and his fingers on the keyboard. "Jack can attest to that. He can also point you in the direction of any other employees here, right?"

"Right." Jack nodded to the doctor, then turned to Avenger and started walking along the balcony. "Might as well get started right here."

With his focus no longer on Dr. Pendleton, the buzzing din of voices in his head screamed for his attention again, earning an involuntary eye twitch in return. It was admittedly overwhelming, as was the prospect of interrogating the people he worked with, but Jack sucked in a deep breath and braced himself to face the music regardless. If he could find a way to sort through the crowd, to focus on one voice at a time like he did with Dr. Pendleton...

He descended the metal staircase into the miniaturization chamber, pausing for a moment to observe the progress on its repairs. It seemed nearly ready for launch again, with only three people still inside to replace the outer plating. Opting for a more civil approach to the investigation, Jack nodded to the technicians and warily spoke up, "Hey, guys. How's it going in here?"

One engineer looked up and stared blankly at Jack. A previous announcement from Dr. Pendleton regarding the intern was on his mind. His emotional state was dominated by confusion and worry. "Uh... Fine? Aren't you supposed to be-?"

"Dead, yeah, Phoenix Project," Jack hastily elaborated.

The other two technicians were looking his way now as well, their thoughts basically the same as the first one's. "That sh*t worked?"

"Well, I'm still here, so yeah. Do you need to see the bloodstain for proof?"

The man in the back donned an overeager smile. "That'd be wicked!"

Jack shot him a hard frown. He'd meant that as a joke. He hadn't expected such an enthusiastic response to such a grim, sarcastic proposal. Still, he let out an exasperated sigh and turned around to show off the dark red stain in his jacket, then slipped the jacket off to expose his much more thoroughly bloodied sweater vest with a prominent hole in the fabric.

"Oh-ho, that is sick!" the technician laughed with bewildered, macabre fascination.

"I'm glad my continued existence has brought you such joy," Jack mumbled, already feeling dejected from the direction this mission had taken. Putting his jacket back on and facing forward again, he continued, "So are we almost operational again?"

"Almost," the first engineer responded. "It's mostly a matter of getting all the computers up and running again now. Why do you ask?"

"Just wanted to be sure we'll be ready for Lydia when she makes it back here."

Another technician scoffed. "How do you know she's still alive?"

"Hey, I'm the reason she survived and escaped LunArc's stranglehold!"

"Mm-hmm. And now we're without both chips needed to keep her alive."

Jack folded his arms and glared, but said nothing. He instead focused on the three technicians' minds. The first one was simply exasperated with the whole situation, just wanting to get the repairs done and over with; he'd long since given up on the doctor's daughter. The second one was more frustrated about the microchips; maybe they could recapture the one attached to the pod, but getting the stolen chip back was a pipe dream as far as he was concerned. The other one was still buzzing about the Phoenix Project. Sure, he felt bad about Lydia, but the Phoenix Project...!

[ColArana]

Avenger seemed to be pondering something and nodded. "I see. That will have to do then." Avenger collected himself, and sighed deeply. "Shall we begin then Master?" He inquired, and followed Jack out of the room. He'd just have to count on Jack and Doctor Pendleton to play along once he began to lay out the pieces of his own plan. A Servant that took action without their Master's command like this was unusual, but Jack hadn't formed a proper contract with Avenger. Of course, now with the Phoenix Project's results, such a contract was possible, and could provide Avenger with a considerable power boost, as well as grant Jack greater control over the Heroic Spirit, should the need to reign Avenger in arise. Which perhaps was why Avenger hadn't explicitly suggested it just yet, though Jack may have noticed the thought dancing around in Avenger's head. In fact Master....[/color] Avenger thought. If your co-workers are unaware of the exact extent of your capabilities, you may be able to find the spy, just by reading their thoughts. He suggested mentally.

As the two of them ventured back to the location of the repairs, Avenger gave the project a scrutinizing look. I have an idea as well. Play along, Master. While the engineers gushed over Jack and the Phoenix Project, Avenger approached the miniaturization chamber, seemingly studying in. "I see..." There was a subtle shift in his demeanor that only Jack might notice. For a moment now, Avenger suddenly gave off the air of a refined gentleman.

"I'm pleased to hear that Doctor Pendleton rallied so quickly to the repairs. When I'd heard what happened, I was most disappointed." Avenger stated, adopting a tone that suggested he had more familiarity with the project than Jack knew that he had. And then the technician dropped the line he'd been waiting for. "Without one chip to keep her alive." Avenger replied calmly, glancing at the technician who had said so. "I'm one of the benefactors of your project here, and brought a prototype of one of the chips. I've invested quite a bit into this project of yours, and am less than pleased about current events. However, I am very glad to see that you have been so quick to work on the repairs."

Avenger was lying as casually as breathing, and spoke with absolute confidence. He wasn't even looking at Jack when he spoke, instead still looking about the miniaturization chamber. In the event that Jack could not find the spy, through his telepathic powers, Avenger was deciding to begin to seed a second trap. If news spread that a copy of one of the missing chips was present, it could easily draw their double agent out to try and take it from Avenger and Jack. 

[ThePopcornFairy]

The three technicians' mental reactions to Avengers' bluff ranged from outright disbelief, to bewilderment over the presence of another microchip, to simply "We have benefactors?" They didn't speak for a while, simply glancing between each other, Jack and Avenger. Then the first, most visibly skeptical of the three turned a deadpan frown on the spirit. "With that coat and hat? I'm sure you are, buddy. Look, we've already been conned once today. Don't make us bend over backwards for seconds."

"Hmm..." Jack narrowed his eyes. Despite his coworker's attitude, nothing about his emotional state or thought processes seemed to convey that he had anything to hide. The second one was at least hopeful that there was another chip, albeit second-guessing himself on the matter, and for what seemed like good intentions. The third guy just seemed stuck in a perpetual state of confusion.

Bearing all of this in mind, Jack shrugged and opted to move on, addressing Avenger as he made his point known. "Well, sir, I believe the best thing these fellas can do now is finish preparing the station to receive that chip. And Proteus II, because rest assured, we're getting it and its pilot back."

"Well, glad to know coming back from the dead gave you such a confidence boost, Wexler!"

The snide remark didn't come from any of the technicians working on the chamber. When Jack looked up, he instead found the familiar face of an old friend leaning over the balcony railing with a coy smirk. "Lord knows you needed it, kid."

"Oh, hey, Wendell." Jack nodded to the senior engineer, remaining otherwise indifferent. "Glad to know the rest of you survived without me."

Wendell shrugged. "We can't all be phoenixes, but self-preservation instincts are just as effective. Seriously, kid, ya nearly gave me a heart attack with that stunt!"

"Well, I... more or less had an adrenaline rush, I guess. I had to keep the pod safe, right?"

"Heheh... Are ya sure it was for the pod or didja just have a boner?"

Jack offered a meek, half-hearted, thoroughly embarrassed chuckle in return, but even despite the humiliation, something felt off. Wendell's tone conveyed nothing but humor and casual riffing, but something about his aura seemed to give off a sense of antipathy.