Episode 1.05 Shikarzu

[vampyre]

The helicopter flies over the sprawl of Old Town below them. The passenger looks down and uses a electronic range finder as it passes over the ramshackled buildings that line narrow streets, lanes and alleyways. Here is where the migrant community was to be found including Little Chinatown, Malay and Ginza…where visitors could enjoy the unique cuisine and culture, where festivals celebrated New Year and changes of the seasons…but underneath, Old City was also home to vice and crime. And it was known such, newscasts often featured police reacting to violence and trouble with gangs, drugs and murder amidst the sprawl, names such as Yakuza and Triad common. But it did not stop the people from visiting, the streets narrow where one could easily get lost in what looked to be a labyrinth. The streets on this night like any other were bustling with people moving about, frequenting salons, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, casinos and the more adult entertainment world of strip and revue bars. And amidst the back alleys out of sight out of mind were the notorious Jhin joints…as Old City was where opium was to be found. The people here were mostly Asian, about 10,000 or so, of which a considerable number were believe to be illegal aliens and the many bars and restaurants were frequented by the city folk as the exotic culture of China, Japan and Malaysia

Directing the pilot to hover the passenger sees three black limousines outside one of the Ghin joints, marked for observation. Recording he sess people leaving and been directed by well attired guards and drivers to the vehicles. “There you are young lady.” He observes smiling. “No wonder I have a weakness for Asian girls.” He sees a young woman dressed in black leaving the joint, immaculately dressed in a black business suit and she enters one of the vehicles. He activates a cellphone. “Mr Gantt, Lady Shikarzu is leaving.”
“Thank you…those jade statues are very important to me, Niven…follow them as best you can. Somewhere those statues have been stored and our fair dark lady is visiting her family concerns and they must be at one of these locations. I will have them followed once out of Old Town.”

[vampyre]

Chapter 1.05: Shikarzu, Act 1

The day was cloudy and light rain fell, the air slightly cool. The 2nd class had finished and the rest of the afternoon was free. Jennifer was looking forward to meeting Gabriel, Jacob and Tanya at the Diva Café on E street. There was talk about a new student joining the humanities class and Jennifer was intrigued and looking back now…oddly now. The student was a young girl, Jennifer’s age and she sure turned heads when entering the room. Exotically beautiful, long flowing dark hair, light brown complexioned skin, angular featured…Shikarzu, the lecturer introduced her. “From New Tokyo and the daughter of the ambassador.” What struck Jennifer was that alarm bells were ringing about this exotic lady…how could it be…she could not be a vampire for that is what her instinct was telling her.

Jennifer is wearing black stretch jeans with a short blue denim jacket over a pale yellow top. She's got nice but comfortable soft soled boots on too and has her blonde hair down at full length, which falls just below her shoulders. She's decided to do her make up slightly goth-style today, so her eyes have been accentuated with heavier mascara, her lips look black and her complexion looks more pale than usual.

Leaving the classroom she acknowledges other classmates absent mindedly but decides to follow Shikasu to see where she goes. There is a minder wearing a black suit, a slender gentleman who is equally physically imposing who keeps a watch over her. He treats his surroundings with utter distaste. Half a dozen guys flock around her to try and chat her up. Jennifer keeps as close by as she can while she follows. She notices there are about three dozen or so people around the open areas and sees that everyone stops at looks at Shikasu where she passes by. Everyone is obviously enamoured by her presence. Shikasu's movement is very fleeting, it's not deliberate but she is nimble and moves very gracefully, like a sprite. It is hard for people to keep up with her and she reaches a limosine that has pulled up. The minder gets into the front, she enters the back and then the car drives off. The guys who have been following watch her leave, awestruck.

After Shikasu leaves, Jennifer shakes her head and it is like the world has come to life again as normality resumes. A few people are saying “who was that?”

Jennifer questions what has just happened. “Nah, couldn't have been anything,” she thinks.

She heads to the Diva Cafe on E Street.

“Hey Jennifer,” Jacob greets her. “Scoob is going to be just fine.”
“He has been thinking more about him than me these last few days,” Tanya says teasingly.

“Hey Jennifer.” Jacob greets cheerfully as she enters. “Scoob is going to be just fine.”
“He has been thinking more about him then me…these last few days.” Tanya says teasingly.
“I would never do that.” Jacob exclaims somewhat embarrassed.
“So what’s happening guys…sorry Jacob I am glad Scoob is feeling better.”
“And nothing was found by the Professor when he got back.” Gabriel said. “There must have been back up for him…a clean up team, Ryan calls it.”
“Oh well I am glad they did not get involved at the time, could have ended badly.”
“Ryan thinks they are there purely to clean up the evidence…obviously they don’t want to be compromised. We have set up a sanctuary…it is pretty cool, and it is a old townhouse with an extensive basement where the library has been established.” He hands each of the group a cellphone. “This is to be used only in matters concerning well…what happened the other night. Ensures we are not tracked or listened to by anyone else. However should anyone else use it…it will elicit a acid that would not be pleasant. So Jacob don’t go using Tanya’s phone. To activate it just make a call and it will record your voice.”
“Way cool…kind of secret squirrel gadget stuff…where did you get these.” Jacob grins.
“Well…fell off the back of a truck…trust me, it does happen sometimes.” Gabriel replies smiling.
“Hey what’s the buzz on this new student from Japan…I hear she is quite the talk at the moment.” Tanya says.
“Who?” Gabriel asks. “Been away all morning.”
“I hear she is the daughter of the new ambassador and met the Chancellor this morning.” Said Tanya. “They say she is from Japan, a first from her country.”
“Japan…home of the Ninja, Bruce Lee…Yakusa and Geisha girls.” Jacob mused. “Or so TV tells us.”
“”Yakuza you mean like the Asian gang.”
“Yes.” Gabrial remarks. “Unfortunately so…we have them in Old Town along with Triads…they are into the opium trade. We never use to have the problem until they arrived 20 or so years ago. It is generally believed that many are illegal over stayers, though how they getting here is not known. The authorities don’t want to interfere due to the powerful families that have set up their own houses in Old Town. In spite of that, it does not stop people from going there to enjoy the culture and cuisine.”
Jennifer remembers the odd news bulletin about gang problems in Old City but never thought any more about it since she was living north of the city. So I wonder what classes she will be attending.” Gabriel asks.

“Oh Oh…she was in one of mine.” Jennifer says. “And when we left class I followed her as their was something weird about her, like everyone notices her, even me…umm…and it is like nothing else is important except her when she is around, but it is not her forcing it, it just happens.”
“Weird…perhaps Asian girls are like that in general…Geisha and all that.” Jacob said.
“What is it with you and Geishas?” Tanya demanded ribbing him with her elbow.
“Ouch…there has been that series about them…you know their massage techniques are wow!!!”
“Oh really…” Tanya says rather icily.
“Hey two you…not here.” Gabriel says smiling. “There is that exotic touch of the east that interest many which is why a surprising number of citizens visit Old City. And I suppose this…exotique can be a mesmerizing power to one that is gifted so. That could be what you encountered earlier Jennifer.”
“What!!! Exotique…what is that.”
“Ah…a generic term referring to the exotic in not only culture but looks…feel and what it brings to it’s surroundings especially if it east meeting west as in the case here at uni.” Gabriel replies. “She probably appeals to those around her because her looks…where she is from and what we think of her culture in what we see…would make that exotic. Little is known of Japan except what we see in documentaries…I know that we have traded with them to date and this ambassador is the first, introduced through BAMA.”
“Uh oh…the are the dudes who tried to kill me and hurt Scoob.” Jennifer said.
“The professor said that may be the case. But outside the Canadian Federation, BAMA is really the only other major nation we trade with.”
“So they are supposed to be the good guys.” Jennifer says.
Gabriel nods. “One would hope so, but in any alliance you will have those with their own agendas. Here we have a different political system where the politics is kept in check by the House of Lorraine…something unheard of at BAMA and the CF.”
“So you don’t think it is a coincidence that this ambassador arrives soon after the BAMA soldiers run around the place. Do you think they were trying to make the area safe before they got here.” Jennifer says.
“So you are implying that Japan and BAMA could have worked on this together.” Gabriel replies. “That is stretching it a bit Jennifer…no these Hunters from what I can gather are American and what to keep it that way. Call it a racist thing.”
“Ok you are the expert.”
“Actually I am not…I think this lady you met today is more than she seems…but how…well perhaps in Japan they have legends of the likes you have faced…and that they are different in power and abilities given the culture and history. What do you think she is?”
“Well I thought I sensed she was a vampire…but then I don’t know, but this is daylight how could this be?”
“Perhaps in Japan they can walk in daylight…why don’t we ask the professor.”
“Yeah why not?”

[vampyre]

Chapter 1.05: Shikarzu, Act 2

The four travel to the Magdalene and entering the library find it busy with students chatting, studying and moving along the avenues of shelving. Taking the stairs to the 2nd floor Gabriel knocks on the Professor’s door and hearing enter, they do, the professor looking at some exam papers and looking up sees the four enter.
“Well…this is a pleasant surprise…what and Gabriel too. What can I do for you.” He asks removing his glasses.
“Jennifer…explain in your own words what you saw and felt.” Gabriel said.

“Asian Vampires,” Jennifer blurts out. “Can they walk around in daylight?”
The professor replies “Only those of the noble houses, of which there are thirteen.”
“So it is actually possible then?” Jennifer asks.
“Yes – they are totally immune to sunlight.”
“Then I think I might have seen one. We've got a new girl from Japan at school. Her name is Shikasu and when she is around everything is weird, like everyone, and I mean everyone notices her and follows her and wants to be around her. Even me. And when she's gone, it's like everyone shakes their head and it all goes back to normal.”
“Some vampires have a mystical charisma but nothing like this. In an enclosed place such as an audience chamber, a powerful vampire can use what is known as majestic to enhance his charisma and bring everyone within that room to his fold. For it to happen at a university ground where groups of people were conversing in their own groups, for her to suddenly attract them means she has this majestic effect as a natural part of her being. In ancient mythology there was a great war between the Kingdom of Flowers and the Kingdom of Bamboo. The Kingdom of Flowers won because the family was able to summon an army of peasants and led them believing they were samurai and in battle these peasants performed as samurai would. This family is known as Shoakuin. And they are one of the thirteen noble families. To know whether she is one of the thirteen, there will be a tattoo on the side of her neck. There is very little you can do about this effect except discipline yourself and have the will to control your own actions. Many of those around you will not want to defy her effect. Thus what you encountered today will keep happening.”
“Should I confront her?” Jennifer asks. “Or befriend her?”
“Befriend her. If she is to be taken out, then it must be outside the university. This is an interesting opportunity to observe one that is from the east.”
“So ... umm ... how do we befriend her then?” Jacob says.
“What makes you think YOU are going to befriend her?” Tanya says.
“Well ... all for one and that.”
“Let's just leave it to Jennifer,” Gabriel says. “If Jennifer wants to bring us in then she knows where to find us.”
“It might be difficult to get too close to her because she has this minder watching her all the time. He's a real serious type. I suspect he's not easily distracted.” Jennifer tells them.
“Forget about him. Concentrate on getting to her. Because you'll find that this minder is but cattle fodder to her, if she is who we think she is.”
“Cool – I'll do that. I'll make friends with her. Help her ... fit in, so to speak. Maybe she'll like to learn more of our culture, like cheerleading, watching boys and that sort of stuff!”
Gabriel sighs and raises an eyebrow. “I can see I won't be needed for that,” he mumbles.
“Good idea,” the professor says. “And of course, don't be afraid to show her the library.”
“You know me, professor, I'm not afraid of books. I'll bring her here if I can.”
“That is a good idea,” Gabriel says. “To see her reaction to this library, given its knowledge is so different.”
“Well you could make more welcoming for her if you make sure there's a section on samurai ans sushi. She's bound to like that stuff, right professor?”
Jacob exclaims “sushi? Raw fish, yuck!”
“Wrong library Jennifer, but there is a sushi bar on E street.”
“That might be a place to accidentally meet her. I might go there now and check it out.”
“If the classes have finished, she'll probably be back at the embassy. I'll check the clases for tomorrow,” the professor says. He checks his computer and confirms the lecture before lunch tomorrow is when she will be in attendance again.
“Great,” Jennifer says. “I'll meet her then.”
“Just be wary. This effect is going to be continuing so there are going to be others trying to flock to her as well.” Gabriel says.
“Good, so I won't look out of place.” Jennifer tells him.

[vampyre]

Chapter 1.05: Shikarzu, Act 3

The following morning Jennifer has 2 lectures and the one before lunch is where she is expect Shikarzu to arrive. Of course so are the 150 plus other students…all chatting away about what she is going to look like today…how wow she looks and marveling over her accent and exotic demeanor. Shikarzu arrives with a few minutes remaining and everyone breaks into a buzz and people start calling her name and she smiles and nods back and also the odd wave before taking her seat. Jennifer does not see the minder but looking around sees him at the top of the lecture hall looking down coldly. Today’s lecture is the latest of a number dealing with the spiritual effect on humanity and morality.

There are no spare seats near Shikasu. Jennifer sits as close as is possible, which is a couple of rows back behind her. She looks around and sees the minder standing there and then she listens to the lecture and takes some notes for later reference.

When the lecture finishes Shikasu takes her time gathering her books and places them in a duffle bag. Jennifer draws closer and hears a couple of guys behind her. “Wow, she's fucking hot. Says the first. The other remarks “I tell you mate, she's fucking good at martial arts, she knows how to look after herself. You never know ... she could be a ninja.” “Yeah, right.” the first guys says dismissively.

Following her out of the lecture hall and through the campus, Jennifer notices the effect is lessened to the previous day. Shikasu speaks with the lecturer briefly and then the minder follows her outside again.

Jennifer moves up close to Shikasu and attempts to strike up a casual conversation.

“Hi, I'm Jennifer – how do you like it here?”
Shikasu stops. “Hello, I am Shikasu,” she replies. “This is very different to what I am used to.”
Jennifer is aware that people are stopping and looking at them. They guys from the previous day are hanging back, mostly because of the look the minder is giving them.
“Oh don't mind everyone else staring at you, they just do that when they see pretty girls. It's just the way they are. Tell me, do you get out much, have you had a chance to look around beyond the campus?”
“I have seen little of your campus and even less of your city.”
“That's a shame – you seem really nice – tell you what, if you get a moment look me up. Call me. Here's my number if you ever want to go out. I can see your bodyguard is looking a bit anxious. I'm sorry if I'm holding you up. But call me, OK? We could maybe go downtown sometime, or maybe I could show you the library. It's got some good stuff.”
“Let us go to that central park you have (Cedar Park) and try one of your hot dogs. I saw some hot dog stands there yesterday while driving back home.” she says. Her english is smooth and her voice is quite exotic.

PERCEPTION+NOTICE 16. Jennifer notices there are a couple of guys taking pictures for the student magazine.

“Hey, Shikasu, do you mind those guys taking your photo? I think it's for the school magazine. I can tell them to stop if want.”
She speaks to her minder in Japanese and the minder goes and has a chat with them. They look a bit scared and blanche.
“No, I do not mind,” she replies to Jnnifer. “So long as what they wish to write is what they are seeing and not what they wish to see. I think you call it gossip.”
“Yeah,” Jennifer says. “That would be right. Hey, did you want to get a hot dog now? Are you sure your minder won't ... you know ... mind us doing that?”
“He is here to protect me, not to tell me what I can do. Let us go.”
“Cool.”

[vampyre]

Chapter 1.05: Shikarzu, Act 4

Niven watches as the Lady Shikarzu accompanied by another student an attractive blonde to the black car that awaited them, watched on by a crowd of students and the ever present smartly dressed minder. Niven uses his cellphone to record their movement and observes the minder moving quickly and smoothly, effortlessly reaching the car and opening the door before the both arrive. The blonde climbs in accompanied by Lady Shikarzu and Niven flicks open his cellphone.
“Yes Niven.”
“Lady Shikarzu is leaving presumably back to the embassy…however she is accompanied by another student.”
“Follow…discretely.”
“Yes sir.”

[vampyre]

Chapter 1.05: Shikarzu, Act 5

In the car with the minder and driver Jennifer and Shikarzu are in a luxury passenger compartment and having left the university crossing the causeway they enter New Providence skyscraper filled skyline towards Cedar Park. Along one of the west gates is Jennifer’s favourite hot dog stand Mario’s. The car comes to a halt beside the small hedge wall that surrounded the expansive park. “Don’t you have hot dogs in Japan?” Jennifer asks.
“Only at baseball games” Shikarzu replied. “Baseball is one of the few American past times we have adopted with a passion.”
It was the first Jennifer heard that baseball one of the 3 national games of the U.S was played in Japan. The university team along with the NFL and basketball teams had been quite successful at the collegiate competition over the past few years. NFL remained the most popular game with it’s own stadium on campus where the other two sports were played from Staples Court and Hampton field in the city.

The doors are opened by the minder, whom Jennifer does not know his name because she has not been introduced. They both step out and Mario waves to Jennifer as she approaches with Shikarzu.
“What will it be today Jennifer?” he asks cheerfully.
“Hi Mario, I will have the…supreme chilly dog with all the works and this is my new friend Shikaru…just give her something basic for start. This is the first time she has tried a hot dog.”
“Well welcome young lady…it is on the house.” He prepares the hot dogs a basic one with his special relish and hands them both out. “A beautiful day is it not…how is university.”
“Yeah the usual, bit of this…bit of that.” Jennifer asks. “Too many lectures.”
Ah…they are boring you to sleep huh!” he says smiling.
“Yeah you could say that. It is better to be outdoors like here in the park.”
“Now I hope you are not wagging young one?” he winks.
“We are finished for the day. I thought I would show Shikarzu the sites.” Jennifer replies. "She is from Japan."
Mario smiles “And there are plenty to be had in our fine province. Ah Jpan, now I believe if my movie memory is correct that Japan has an emperor is that right young Shikarzu.”
Shikarzu nods. “That is correct…it is known as the chrysanthemum throne…the family has ruled by divine right since the 1400’s. I have met the emperor myself.”
“Oh really that must have been quite something.” Mario says surprised.
“It was a great honor indeed.” Shikarzu says taking a bite from the hot dog and eating it slowly. “This is nice…the sauce very much so.”
“Thank you.” He beams. “My personal recipe and quite secret.” He smiles.

Looking around there are a few people in the park, walking along the concrete paths between the expansive lawns and gardens hat dominated the park. Others are recreational running and some are sitting enjoying lunch. One in particular interests her, a tall man dressed in a fine business suit and he is at the hot dog stand before another gate. He seems to be watching them both.
“Looks like you have an admirer or both of us do.” Jennifer says quietly pointing at the man, who avoids her gaze and seemingly orders a hot dog at the other stand.
Shikarzu looks and nods. “I wonder which one of us he is admiring…hmm?” she says rather amusingly.
“That’s anyone’s guess.” Jennifer says.
“Oh…well then let him admire us, we may find out which one he likes the most.” She says smiling. “Now let’s walk and you can tell me about this Princedom of Arcadia…I am to live here for the next 5 years.”

Jennifer generally describes the Princedom of Arcadia to Shikarsu.
“Aside from the benefit of getting a great American education, what will keep you in the Princedom for five years? Seems pretty definite. Is it your dad – is he a diplomat on a posting, or something?”
“My father is the Ambassador. Yes, his posting is for five years.”
“Of course – silly me – I should have known that,” Jennifer says. “Where else has your father been posted to? Have you seen other places?”
“No, this is the first. And indeed the first time I have left Japan.”
“Cool, are you liking it so far? Has anyone else tried to be your friend?”
“Many people have wanted to be my friend. But you are one of the few I have talked to.”
“Uh huh … the university is quite a social place. That can be a bit awkward sometimes.”
“What do you mean … awkward?”
“Oh … you know … like it can be uncomfortable, you know, if people expect you to go to their parties or other places all the time, or it can be annoying if you get heaps of guys hitting on you all the time. I'm guessing you'll find the latter to be a problem soon enough!” she laughs.
“Do you mean hitting as in striking?” Shikarsu asks.
“No … its a word we use to say a guy likes you and wants to take you out, like on a date or something.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Yeah – we say a lot of weird things sometimes. Hey, isn't this park great? It's like big and grassy and its got trees and stuff.” PERCEPTION 18 - she looks to see if the guy in the suit is still watching them ”And that weird guy in the suit is still watching us.”
“And my bodyguard is watching him. When we arrived here we flew over a thick mist that lies offshore. Is it true that it has always been there?”
“Yes, it always has. Is there no mist around the place you come from?”
“Yes we have sea mist that comes and goes.”
“Hmmm … our mist just stays there, all the time,” Jennifer says.
“The mist is very unusual,” Shikarsu says. “But I am also learning that there are other aspects of your society that is very unusual as well.”
“What do you mean?” Jennifer asks.
“I have heard things being said that certainly have surprised me and my father. I suppose it comes down to education. A harsh reality is that the world outside is quite different from what you see on discovery or history channel.”
“I'm not sure I understand,” Jennifer says. “Is it a corrupt and evil place? Are you saying it is not?”
“The world has moved on from the text books that you learn from.”
“So what is it like?”
“The question you should be asking is why aren't you being told the truth of what the world is like outside of New Providence?”
“Why don't you just tell tell me?” Jennifer says. “You've got me interested now ...”
“Becoming interested is a start but it will be no outsider who will tell you what is going on in your land, it must be you who must find out for yourself.”
“I suppose you'd tell me that we've got lots of monsters running around,” she jokes.
“Why do you have a shield wall if it is not to stop the monsters getting in,” she replies.
“That's right we have two shield walls for exactly that reason. The Princedom got attacked in 2010 – what about the rest of the world? Did Japan get attacked, or was it only this place?”
“That is something you are going to have to seek for yourself.”
“Well all I know is what I have been taught and that it is that corrupt political and corporate forces have undermined the United States and so the Princedom protects its citizens against that. Apparently we have much to be thankful for in Arcadia. Are you saying we do not?”
“Definitely not. People of Arcadia owe a great deal to the House of Lorraine. I suppose in many ways they not only protect you from the dangers outside but they also protect from the dangers of knowing what has happened to the world outside. That includes your United States, which I will tell you no longer exists.”
“Really? Since when.”
“Since 2010.”
“But that's when the demon spawn attacked.”
“Yes. What I know is that outside New Providence you have the Boston Atlantic Metropolitan Axis, which is a huge city. Washington still exists as does LA and San Francisco but much of what was the united States is a wasteland. Ruled by the monsters,” she says with a smile. “I know this because my father sells military hardware to the United States as they take their fight to the monsters. I think you refer to them as demon spawn.”
“And you saw this when you flew over? What about Japan and other parts of the world. Are they overrun also?”
“Of my country we had prior knowledge of the impending attacks from the sea and we created a shield wall around our island nation that remains to this day. We have only just recently emerged from – shall we say – isolation. The only other country I can tell you of is China. It no longer exists because we destroyed it using nuclear weapons fifty years ago. It is now a nuclear wasteland, the enture country, including parts of Cambodia and Malaysia. They decided to test our isolation status and paid for it dearly.”
Jennifer feels slightly ill at the thought of all this. “But how could our government keep all of this from us? That does not make sense. What are the images on our TV channels if they are not the truth? “
“They were the truth a hundred or so years ago. Would you rather see documentaries of a ruined wasteland instead of glimpses of the Atlanta Olympics like I saw last night? It is about protecting your own sanity from the truth. And I sort of agree with what they are doing. You people can generally live out your lives as you have done without a care for the outside world. Because you don't need to. Everything is provided for you here.”
“Then we should be more grateful to the House of Lorraine,” Jennifer says. “What you have told me puts everything into perspective. But now a part of me wonders what is the point of doing all of this, if there is no hope for the world outside? “
“But there is hope in places like this.”
“But the demons will find a way in and eventually they will take over this place,” Jennifer says. “Don't you see? We cannot possibly stay here unharmed forever.”
“You must have some faith Jennifer,” Shikarsu says.
“But I don't go to church ...” Jennifer says.
Shikarsu smiles. “Nor do I,” she says. “But as I said, have faith. After all you are here.”
“Yes, I am!” Jennifer says. “Hey – you know what, let's walk about a bit and stop talking about all this depressing stuff. “
Shikarsu nods. Something is bugging Jennifer at the back of her mind. Something about the words that Shikarsu last said to her.
“Come on then, let's check out the rest of the park” Jennifer says as she leads Shikarsu along one of the paths between trees. They chat about other things, all the while Jennifer thinking about what Shikarsu has told her. Why did she tell me? She wonders.
After checking out the park they return to the car – Jennifer says “I can make my own way from here … it's been really great fun spending time with you. I'll see you later!”
“Shikarsu says “Indeed you will ...”
Jennifer smiles and waves as the car pulls away. Once the car is gone, Jennifer looks around to see if the man in the suit is still watching. He is not. She pulls out her cellphone and calls the professor. He answers.Hello Professor McDowall here.”
“Hey Professor, it's Jennifer here – are you busy at the moment? We need to talk.”
“Sure, I'll be in my office.”
“Great, I'll be there in about half an hour. See you then.”

[Admin]

Jennifer arrives at the Professor's office. He is there behind his desk.
“Hi, how's it going?”
“Fine thank you,” he replies, looking suspicious.
She closes the door and takes a seat. “Listen … professor … I have just been speaking with our new exchange student, you know, the one from Japan and we went to park and were talking about stuff when we started talking about the world and New Providence and the Princedom and what things are really like. And she told me that everything we know about things outside is not the truth. Did you know that?”
“There may be some variations, but it is in your best interests to keep what you learn to yourself.”
“So it's true then? That the United States got overrun by demons and its a big fight out there? Shikarsu says we should all be really thankful for what the House of Lorraine has done to protect us.”
“They have ensured stability here. It ensures that the government remains honest.”
“Then who are they? What makes them so powerful or special in that they could be so strong as to be the only ones who could protect us?”
“They have particular gifts that go back many centuries. I believe these gifts were learned when the Templars travelled to the Middle East after the first crusade.”
“So where do the BAMA guys fit in – they tried to kill me … if they are fighting monsters outside and monsters are their true enemy … then why would they go after someone like me? I am not a monster,”
“You may be in their eyes,” he says.
“But how could I be? I fight monsters. And sometimes that is reluctantly. With what Shikarsu has told me I am beginning to wonder what the point of it all is. It seems this place is a small pocket of freedom, possibly completely surrounded by demons or other things. And who knows, we might even be controlled by monsters ourselves. There have been so many that we've encountered recently that I am beginning to wonder if any place can ever be safe!” She is starting to sound a little hysterical to the professor, which might worry him.
The professor looks at Jennifer and says “Well Jennifer, it a single morning you have had the world shattered before you. By a vampire. I think she is testing you to see if you have got what it takes. After all, if you think it is not worth fighting for the people of New Providence then your existence is meaningless.”
“So you mean – she's what? She is a vampire? I know we discussed the possibility the other night. But you have proof? You know? But she seems really nice … of course, she has just told me all this bad stuff … but then it was like she wants me to keep fighting. She didn't say so directly … she said I need to have faith. I can fight, and I will fight, you say its for the people so that's good enough for me. But for New Providence? I don't know if I can fight for that, unless I know who its masters truly are. Are they vampires? What is the house of Lorraine? Do you know?”
“Yes, I know something of what they are and you have nothing to fear from them.”
“Are they monsters?”
“The Hunters call anyone special 'Monsters' – they don't discern between good or bad monsters. The term 'monster' is very generic. And so in that regard, just like you are a monster to them, so would you call the House of Lorraine and the Templar Knights that serve them.”
“Are they human like me?”
“Of course they are.”
“Right … with gifts. Like I have the gift of being the Slayer.”
“Correct.”
“OK – so now that's cleared up – I guess I could fight for them. Not just the people. Do they know that I exist?”
“Yes.”
“And they know that I am the Slayer?”
He nods. “Yes.”
“Do you work for them?” she asks.
“No, I don't. It is in your best interests that they know.”
“Then who would have sent the BAMA guys after me? Surely if the House of Lorraine -”
“Just get one thing straight. BAMA didn't send them. They had BAMA equipment. The Hunters are a loose group. None knows who sent them. But they are definitely no government organisation.”
“Then what should I do about Shikarsu – if she's testing me, presumably she knows what I am. If she's a vampire then I'll have to keep my guard up I suppose. But then she did seem trustworthy and she told me a lot. She also said she is going to be here for five years. Her father's job requires that.”
“Just do that – just keep an eye on her. The last thing you want to do is create a problem for yourself.”
“There was something else when we were in the park – some guys with a suit was watching us from one of the gates. I don;t know who he was and neither did Shikarsu. But he was definitely there to observe us.”
“In that case just keep an eye out for him again.”
“Have we heard any further news about the other vampires? You know, the 36 that were supposed to have arrived?”
“No. However, if we do, you will be the first to find out.”
“Well they must feeding or something because that's an awful lot of vampires to just arrive and not have any impact.”
“If they are feeding and you are right – they should be – then they are doing so within the rules.”
“What rules? I thought vampire drinks blood = bad. Are you saying something different?”
“No, what I am saying is that for the moment they are being very restrictive on their feeding. I am saying that is because they have been ordered to do so.”
“So has anything else unusual been happening lately?”
“There are a couple of things I am looking at but it may take a day or two to track down. In the meantime just follow your instinct with Shikarsu.”
“OK then professor – thanks for the chat – I'll get going then and prepare for my patrol tonight.”
He nods and says “You know where to get hold of me if you need me.”
“Cool – you see you later.”

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