The warehouse was silent as the three looked at the man who had suddenly died. George and Rose turned to James as the foam hammer vanished. Before they could ask, his phone rang again. Taking it out, he saw Xavier's number.
Answering, he put it on speaker, trusting the two he was with. "Isn't it great to have friends?" Xavier said with his usual flat tone, "Seeing as how you are alive, I can assume help arrived."
"Did you know. Was everything you said a lie?" James forced the words out, getting mocking 'tch, tch, tch' from Xavier.
"Why the hostility. I saved you." Xavier sighed, knowing it wasn't enough, "I told you I couldn't see what was going to happen. That is more than enough proof for me to know it's dangerous there, and you alone likely won't be enough. Your death isn't in my best interests."
James claimed himself down. "Thank you." Saying to Xavier, even if he was being lied to about what he could and couldn't see, he knew that he was the reason Rose could arrive in time.
"I don't need that. Who did you see?" Xvaier brushed the thanks aside. Looking at the two with him, James sighed.
"The Gentleman himself and that woman. He called her Alannah." Xavier didn't speak; instead, he laughed to himself.
"Black hair, red gloves?" Xavier asked.
"Yeah," James replied, not surprised Xavier had heard of her.
"You are quite lucky, Mr Graham. Let alone that old monster, you saw that woman as well and lived. I'm guessing you couldn't recover it then."
"I'm sure you already know this." James rubbed the back of his head and ignored his comrades' stunned looks, "Who is she? The Gentleman is clear enough, but she. I've never seen her until today."
"She's new to the city. I don't know a lot about her either, I just know she popped up out of nowhere and started hunting Artefacts." James nodded to himself.
"How new? I mean, I can understand why no traces of her victims have been found; she doesn't even leave a body, but for someone like her, she should have popped up on someone's radar."
"I think four years ago was when I first learnt of her." James frowned, 'Four years...' It was a time span that he felt matched something, but couldn't put his finger on. "As for why you heard nothing, it only means she's got friends in high places, very high places."
"Is that all?" James asked.
"I'll be in touch, my friend. Don't worry. This little issue will seem like it never happened." The call hung up, and James turned to the two, both staring at him with strange looks. Rose moved closer and smiled.
"Friend, huh. I thought you hated this side of things." Rolling his eyes, he pushed past Rose and knelt by the corpse. Looking at his body, he watched as the purple aura inside him swirl around, trying to remember every detail of it. It was a disgusting thing compared to normal people's auras. A sticky-looking cloud that ate away at everything around it. Something that seemed inhumane.
'Old monster.' James squinted, already guessing who it belonged to. Added with his sixth sense telling him not to look at The Gentleman, he could only wonder what it really was. He couldn't imagine The Gentlemans power was just a kill switch. That alone wouldn't be enough to keep such a firm grip on his organisation for over fifty years. Staring at it, it was more revolting with each second until he had to turn his head in disgust.
"James." George walked over and put his hand on his shoulder, "I know you ain't dirty, but this isn't a good look. Your reputation can keep you safe for a while, but you owe him a favour now. Even if you don't want to admit it."
"Do you trust me, George?" The man shrugged and stumbled a little. It was obvious that the damage he had healed was affecting him a little. Rose walked over and grabbed his arm, helping him stay firm.
"We gotta leave. The Captain said he would give us time to leave before he sent anyone over." James nodded and, grabbing George's other arm, he made his way to the car parked by the front door and helped him in before getting in the driver's seat. Looking at the warehouse door, he clicked his tongue.
"Why did you come through the skyline. The door was right there." Speeding off, they quickly merged with traffic and drove off, a pair of squad cars darting past them with their sirens blaring.
"Dramatic effect," Rose said, like James was an idiot, readjusting her seat to get comfortable. "What about your car?"
"I'll get it tomorrow. I parked a distance away so they shouldn't find it." Rose nodded and looked back at George, seeing him doze off. Only when she could tell he was asleep, her playful attitude dropped.
"What the fuck are you doing? I know we all keep things quiet until we can't any longer, but getting involved with New Horizon. Their terrorists, James. Even having that guy's number on your phone could get you investigated." Rose's words were venomous as she resisted the urge to hit him.
"I know. I didn't think things would end up like this."
"That ain't good enough. You're an officer of the NPSD, not New Horizon's hitman."
"Rose, enough." James sternly said, "It got out of hand, but this whole thing is weird. Maybe having someone who can help us out isn't so bad."
"Fucking hell." Rose rolled her eyes and looked out the window at the passing streets, "That's how it starts, you know. One bribe couldn't hurt. A little outside help never hurt anyone. They are terrorists. We are officers of the law."
"You're one to talk." James snapped back, "Didn't you a few weeks ago beat a man to get information. Sure, we got what we wanted, but you beat him into a coma. And let me guess, he was a criminal, it didn't matter." Rose didn't respond, just clicking her tongue. "We do what we must for the city, at the end of the day, that's all that matters."
"You're right, but it doesn't feel good." Rose let out a deep breath, "What's got you so freaked out about this anyway?"
"The level." Rose looked at him, needing more, "The players involved: Xavier, The Gentleman, that woman. The first two are self-explanatory, but she is a wild card and a dangerous one. Someone who has dodged our surveillance despite her power. As Xavier said, she is being protected by someone high up."
"Then it's out of our pay grade. Let it die, or you will." James smiled and nodded, but Rose could see his eyes had no intention of doing so. Sighing, she shook her head and looked back at the city.
"Have you heard what Hopkins said, or were you in the warehouse at the time?" Rose asked, moving the conversation on.
"Part of it. Only the pay rise and outside help. Turned it off afterwards. For a guy who claims to have grown up in this city, he doesn't understand how bringing in outsiders will make it worse." Rose smirked.
"Yeah, but not that. He brought up vigilantes as well." James lifted his eyebrow in surprise. Rose chuckled in disbelief, "He actually praised them. And I quote, 'although they are criminals, they prove they love this city with their actions. I hope that I can have these men and women fight alongside our forces in the uniform they copied.'"
James laughed and shook his head, "He has no idea what he is talking about. Sure, some are alright, but..." James laughed, thinking of the worst of them, "What's he called? Chicken Head. That guy is just insane."
"I don't think he calls himself anything, to be honest. But yeah, if we had a psycho like that in the force, I would retire on the spot. Have you ever cleaned up after one of his scenses?" James shook his head, making Rose shudder, remembering it, "A bloodbath. I mean, it's like someone ploughed through these people with a truck. Crazy to think one person did it."
"He does get the job done, though."
"Not you too." Rose chuckled, hearing James was being sarcastic, "I respect his drive to fight crime, but he's just a butcher. Worse than most of them." Seeing the station, Rose turned around, "George, we're here." Shaking him awake, the man lazily looked up and nodded, "Go see the Captain. Maybe he will knock some sense into you."