Episode 11
“I believe this is yours,” Chief Gnaeus held out a still
slightly horror-stained hammer offered to Gabriel’s waiting hand. He found his
grip longingly reaching for the missed embrace of his crafting companion. It
did indeed feel so good to finally wrap his fingers around his forged friend.
“Thank you,” Gabriel gratefully admitted his appreciated the return of his
treasured tool.
“It was recovered from the site of your attack; I thought
you should see it returned to you when I heard you were going to recover.” The
chief seemed like a decent enough man, Gabriel thought but something else was
moving beneath the surface of the man’s eyes. Like fish in water he couldn’t
pinpoint it but he knew there was more at play here than just respectfully
returned tools.
“However, let’s get one thing clear here and now. You can
carry your hammer with you. I have no complaints on the matter, in fact I would
rather you had it with you so that you might defend yourself should it become
necessary. But you are to be given any other arms. Is that understood?”
Gabriel’s eyebrow rose slightly at the implied notion; he
was going to be expected to help hunt a vicious monster, and he was being asked
to do so with only a hammer to defend himself. Doubtless the other officers
would be armed with their own weapons; it was they who were expected to fight
the real battle. Gabriel was just supposed to tag along and point out the
unknown creature or provide any insight he might. But he wasn’t about to be
trusted as an armed combatant in this endeavor.
In a way Gabriel couldn’t really blame the Chief, I mean it
was a bizarre story and he was under suspicion already. An itching impulsive
instinct still begged at release inside him. It reminded him that even with
only a hammer he could be more of a match for what they would hunt than
anything the authorities planned to send out. Even if they didn’t know full
well the primal potential he was keeping in check.
“Fair enough,” Gabriel bowed his head without objection and
hefted his hammer reminding himself of its presence. “All I asked was a chance
to help end this nightmare before others shares my fate, if I can. This is more
than enough, thank you,” he added and held his stained hammer aloft.
“Now that that is settled, let’s introduce you to the newly
assigned Night-Watch Squad,” Chief Gnaeus declared, an official tone edging
into his voice. “Send them in,” the grizzled old veteran commanded his desk and
the door slid open in response. A pair of patrol uniformed officers stepped
into the room dutifully and stood at attention to await the Chief’s orders.
They were and odd combination Gabriel thought as he took them in.
Standing tall almost regal was the slim and trim figure of a
young lady. However where she clearly had been born to the gender she had molded
herself into something more. Every inch of her body was tightly toned and
conditioned. Heel to head each muscle was as sleek as her raven colored hair,
which was just playfully long enough to be feminine without being efficiently
short for an active lifestyle. This lady, Gabriel was certain must work out a lot.
But even as dedicated to her physique as she must be he studied her eyes, they
were a deep azure and held behind small round glasses, and found behind them a
keen intellect. There was more to this one then met even his sharp gaze.
Next to her was a slight figure by comparison; a young man
who had to barely be into his twenties by Gabriel’s estimation. He had a
shortly cropped head of platinum blond hair and his face held a weak smile that
threatened to fall any minute. Surely this mousy little man hadn’t volunteered
for the assignment? Had he? Where the other officer beside him looked quite
capable of confidently charging into a dark alley to confront an unknown
creature, Gabriel questioned weather this one could even step outside after
dark.
“Allow me to introduce Oliver Novius and Vedia Corvan.
Officer Novius just graduated from his training program and all his tests mark
him as a qualified officer. And Officer Corvan here is one of our most well
read acting officers. She actually volunteered for this assignment,” Chief
Gnaeus explained thoughtfully. “Thought so,” Gabriel added quietly with a
chuckle.
“Excuse me,” the Chief interrupted Gabriel with a snapped
stare. “Oh, nothing, never mind Chief,” he politely apologized and bid the
Chief to continue. “Where was I? Oh, yes; Officers Novius and Corvan, I would
like to introduce you to a civilian who will be joining you on patrol in a
probationary capacity. His name is Gabriel Vincent and he will be bringing with
him a unique experience that may prove valuable in your task. However, you are
to under no circumstance leave him unsupervised, or allow him to take up arms.
Report any unusual behavior or suspicious activity made by Mr. Vincent directly
to me. He is allowed the use of his hammer for self defense only. His job is to
advise and identify, that is all! Understood?”
Both officers quickly answered with a unified chorus of ‘yes
sir’ before the Chief declared introductions over with. It would be dusk soon
and he wanted his newly assigned Night-Watch Squad ready to get active for
their first official patrol. But before anyone left the room Gabriel found two
new pair of eyes that refused to leave his general direction for a moment. It
made him want to curse Sebastian’s name as he decided that perhaps his old
friend had made a good point about people ready to point blame his way as the
easier target. This was bound to be a long night, and anything but easy. He
hoped in some regards it would be uneventful but for everyone else’s sake he
prayed it was anything but. No matter where it might leave him standing.
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