Brick Wall

"That's bullshit!" I roar, slamming my hands on the chief's desk. We'd come straight to the precinct after breakfast, and soon after arriving I was summoned to this office by the chief. Only to be given an update that I definitely had not been anticipating. "My CI named the company directly, they're a competing business with Methus Labs. That gives motive, they can't just shut down a warrant.

The chief sighs at my rage. "You think I don't agree? I don't like it any more than you do." He points out, gesturing with his coffee mug. "But there's nothing we can do, they've clearly got some pull with the judges. No one's willing to sign a warrant for the Neurocorp building. Our hands are tied, you'll need to find another lead." He concludes reasonably. I hate when he's reasonable, it just makes me angrier.

I want to explode with fury, trash the whole place, but I know that there's no point. Besides, if Lux is right, the purifiers' spy might be watching us. I look back out to the rows of desks in the precinct, there's about a dozen pairs of eyes watching me... Or they could be watching Azure speed reading training materials just outside. Could be either. Still, if this is a dead end, it might be worth reaching out to Lux... Guess that's my only step.

"Fine, but they're involved." I growl to the chief. "If I get more evidence on them, I'm ordering a drone storm and putting every fucker in the building under arrest, got it?" I add, as if I had the authority to do it... We both know I'd find a way. The chief doesn't seem to respond as I make my leave, focusing instead on his coffee. I grab Azure by the arm to signal our departure.

I summon my AV and reach for the console to set a destination when... I realise I don't have one. I don't have Lux's location. I guess we're doing this over a call. I wave over the AV's console until Lux's contact details appear, causing Azure to scoff. I ignore my passenger and begin the call. Oh, it's been three seconds, guess she's not picking up. I should-

"Well, isn't this a nice surprise? Let me guess, you found out your warrant got blocked?" Lux's voice echoes out from every speaker in the vehicle. The fact she knows that to be the case irks me. "Before you ask, yes, I checked the judges, they're deep in Neurocorp's pockets. No amount of **** is digging them out."

I wasn't going to ask, but I suppose that seals that deal. "That's not what I was after. I need a lead on the Purifiers, and I can't raise it in-house." I explain.

"Ooh, the cult turned boogeymen, yeah, I've got a few sightings, but I wouldn't say there are any leads... Are you saying they have ties to Neurocorp?" Lux intuites.

I roll my eyes at how much information I'm having to share with a hacker. "My contact seems to think that they're developing a **** called HEP, ring any bells?" I ask, half expecting her to have no clue what I'm talking about.

"Super-steroid, right?" She responds immediately. Damn it, can't I be a step ahead of her just once? "I can get you the name of the project lead... If you give me a ride on that sweet ass of yours." She propositions in a seductive tone. Azure's eyes flash yellow, while my mind is cast back to being bent over for her.

"I'm hanging up." I threaten, ready to actually do it. I'm not a hooker, and it's not like I'd settle for fucking her when I have... No one. No one in particular. That thought means nothing.

"Fine, fine. The guy's name is Brian Logren. He's pretty well connected in the corp, but not high enough to have his own security detail, your best bet is catching him when he leaves the office at 8PM. I'm uploading code to your bangle to get you into the parking lot." She acquiesces to my harsh words. I check to see my bangle receiving a message from an encrypted number. "So, like, maybe just a bit of fingerbanging?"

I end the call abruptly.

*

Now, is letting myself into a secure car park using stolen credentials to interrogate someone with no warrant strictly legal? Well, no. I think it's important to remember that corporations aren't people, but they can still piss me off. I wanted to do this the right way, they wanted to play dirty, so now it's open season.

I wait in a dimly lit area of the car park, several AVs are still here, but only one I'm focused on. Well, almost, there's also my own that's currently doing laps in the air with Azure safely inside. If Neurocorp really is involved with the Purifiers, then it's the last place I want to bring her to. She objected, but I managed to convince her in the end.

I finally get sight of my target, he's a middle-aged man, balding, and has a tan expensive enough not to look as fake as it is. Matches the image I got from Lux. As he approaches the vehicle, I make my move, laying my hand on the back of his shoulder. "Dr Logren. I have a few questions for you." I announce, causing him to jump like a cat getting a glimpse of its own reflection.

The man turns, his back against his AV as he stutters. "W-What do you want?" Skittish little fellow, isn't he? His green eyes look tired in more ways than one. Something's haunting this man.

"Detective Tera Baker, I'm investigating the incident at Methus Labs. I need you to tell me about the Human Enhancement Project." I explain, remaining calm. Seems like I don't need to frighten the guy, he's already there, so it's better to be direct and get the information I need.

"I-I can't t-tell you about it. It's classified." He argues, barely able to get the words out... And what interesting words they are.

I keep eye contact, trying not to let my smirk show. "Funny, you know, private companies don't have 'classified' information. Confidential information, sure, but classified only applies to government files." I point out, causing him to flinch. "Does the Ministry of War know that you're selling off samples of your project to the Purifiers?" I ask, noting his eyes going even wider.

"You know who they are?" He asks rhetorically. "Then you know I can't tell you... They're beyond anything you—" He attempts to continue.

"Yeah, super scary, blah blah blah, I'm getting sick of people warning me instead of giving me the information." I growl, using my forearm to pin Logren against his vehicle. The good doctor struggles but can't escape my grasp. "You're going to tell me three things: One, who's your contact in the Purifiers; two, why would they want to target Methus Labs; and three, what sort of AI projects Neurocorp is working on."

He stops struggling as he processes my questions. "We don't have AI projects, we're a medical company. AI would be an advanced technology product, not our area." He protests. Well, there goes that theory. "The Purifiers... They find me when they want to talk or... Resupply. They're fanatics, they really do believe in their cause. The only thing I heard is that Methus was working on something they called an 'abomination'. If you're saying Methus had a type of AI, then they'd definitely target them."

Singing like a canary and yet giving me nothing. I suppose it does confirm that Azure was their target, but that was pretty obvious by now... Maybe that's what I need to know. "Project Azure. What do you know about it?" I demand.

Logren laughs, as if I've cracked a joke. It doesn't take him long to realise I'm not kidding. "It's a myth, a drummed-up rumour, no one with any sense believes it." He proclaims. "A super-AI, a monster, so advanced it can supplant humanity and rule over us like some sort of technological dictator. The company's found no evidence of any AI that powerful. The Purifiers curse it like it's their version of the devil. I'm telling you, it's impossible, the technology just doesn't exist."

Supplant humanity? Azure? The girl can barely supplant an omelette... Still, I can't deny her capabilities match the idea of a super-AI... If she's some kind of weapon Methus was planning on selling it'd make sense why he wouldn't program himself as her master... And if the Purifiers really are zealots rather than Neurocorp's lapdogs, then it explains why they'd oppose it... Honestly, I could see their perspective. True AI made enough of a splash when they arose. Super AI? That might just be worth killing to prevent.

A twinge in my gut kicks in as I imagine them getting to Azure. No. AI apocalypse or not, she's relying on me. The rumours are likely built up, there's no way Azure could be that dangerous.

I let Logren go and begin to make my way to the exit when he shouts to me. "They'll kill us both for this. You know that, right?" I can't help but snort at his cowardice, bet he didn't have the same qualms when the Purifiers were greasing his palms.

"Call the police then." I shout back, mockingly. I escape the building without any issues, security's really lax in this place. I suppose it is only the car park. I summon my AV when I get a call on my bangle. Lux. I suppose I should tell her about Logren. "Perfect timing, I just got finished with Logren. He-" I begin.

"Shut up, this is serious." Lux cuts me off. She sounds tense. She never sounds tense. I wait quietly for my AV to arrive until she finally says the words that chill me to my core.

"Your CI, Marco? They just found his body downtown."