Urban Fantasy, Magic, Technology, Conspiracies, Murder, Mystery - crowd sourced story game by members of the steemit.com community.

contributors to the alphagame so far - why don't you join us - rules at the end of this post...
[0] - @dwinblood [1] - @rxhector [2] - @virtualgrowth [3] - @reneenouveau

[0]

Yesterday the world was understandable... today... you tell me...

Source: www.pintrest.com

Say Goodbye To Yesterday

Source: www.veteransday.com

In the year 2001 the world changed. Early on the morning of September 11th, 2001 allegedly 19 hijackers took control of four passenger planes. The destruction that ensued is the stuff of nightmares. The stuff of nightmares was not simply because of this act of terror of colliding the planes with buildings. The stuff of nightmares was not simply because, this and many other conspiracy theories seem to be more conspiracy fact than conspiracy theory. In fact the most off the wall conspiracy theories seem far more likely than they would have seemed in the time before that event. Within weeks what the normal world was considered to be was changed. Perspectives on what was myth, what was fantasy, and what were fairy tales were forever changed. The shock of this is still being felt throughout the world and the entirety of the world still has no semblance of understanding on how to handle this.

The first shock was when a wealthy investor by the name of Leland Brooks came forth in New York City expressing his outrage. Outrage at the time was expected. What was not expected was his appearance on that day and what he said. It may have been a bit outrageous that he was apparently wearing a costume to deliver this message. He had pointed ears like he was trying to be funny or he was a Trekkie gone wild. This is what he had to say.

Source: forum.nationstates.net

“Enough is enough! You humans cannot control your actions and on September 11th your petty squabbles and amoral approach to problems cost more than human lives. It cost us lives! We have been here with you for as long as recorded history. We the Elven Clans can no longer sit idly by and expect your actions not to effect us. Technology has advanced and your ability to cause destruction has outpaced your common sense and morality.”

At this point he paused to point at the backdrop screen behind him. Unlike a weather man with a weather map behind him it now showed a familiar scene of an airplane crashing into the World Trade Center.

Source: giphy.com

“On September 11th we lost 31 of our people! This may seem like a small number to you but, our population is much smaller and we do not reproduce as quickly as you do. This cannot go on. We will no longer hide in the shadows. The Elven Clans will join you in the open and we will continue working as we have in the past but, instead of pretending to be human we will show you what we are.”

At this point the screen behind him changed to a forest-clearing scene. We, the Elves, are not the only people you are unaware of to have lost lives through your inability to find a common ground amongst yourselves. Suddenly flying around his head are some small humanoid beings with butterfly like wings.

Source: giphy.com

“These Pixies are some of the Fey that have also decided they will no longer hide. They lost some of their families in the gardens and flowers in the World Trade Center that they tended.”

He gestures and the Pixies fly off the set. The scene behind Leland changes and becomes a map of the world.

Source: geology.com

“Over the following days, weeks, and months you will begin to hear from more of those that have walked amongst you in secret. The time of secrecy is past. We will no longer be collateral damage to your insanity. We WILL have equal rights and we will help to protect all from the insanity of humanity.”

With that Leland walks off the stage and the stations it was broadcasting on returned to their normally scheduled programming.

The resulting media was huge but, most people considered it fake and CGI. While they considered it fake they also considered it a tasteless joke to have performed at the time the nation and the world were in shock over 9-11.

It would become clear how very real it was. Over the following months bands of Elves revealed themselves around the world though the heaviest concentrations of them were in the United States and Europe. They also did what they claimed they would do.

The news would go back to 9-11 and the mainstream corporate media would start telling a story and within an hour of telling that story their signal would often be interrupted and Leland Brooks would appear to “Set the story straight”. Leland made it clear that Osama Bin Ladin and Al Qaeda were involved from what they could see with what happened on 9-11. Others like Vice President Dick Cheney also were culpable. It was the first and only time in the history of the United States that the Vice President took control of Norad. It also was when our air response to hijacked planes was not rapid. We failed not ONE time but, FOUR times while Dick Cheney held the reigns of the force responsible for stopping such events. This statement did not convince everyone and Dick Cheney was able to brush it off as a “Conspiracy Nut Theory”. Over time Leland would have more to say about this.

Source: www.salon.com

The early days in what would become known as the OUTING were dominated by news and appearances by Leland Brooks in the United States. At one such live appearance a group of men wearing masks lifted automatic weapons from under their coats and opened fire on Leland. The bullets seemed to hit a shimmering blue wall in the air and drop to the ground and lightning lashed from a human standing near Leland that appeared to be holding only a battery out stretched in the palm of his hand. The lightning arced from the sky and the ground and knocked the would be assassins down. This was caught by several news agencies that were filming the gathering.

Source: giphy.com

Magic was real!

In a world where magic, and conspiracy theories are real, where are you right now...

[0] ---- ---- ----
John Smith wasn't a name I was happy about. It was ordinary, but we take what we're given. I was a simple Private Investigator in the Denver, Colorado area and really most of the time I was doing ordinary things. Finding out if spouses were cheating, doing some investigation for insurance firms, etc. Every since Leland Brooks that pointy eared bastard came out on the news my world had been turned upside down. I'm now hearing of some strange and brutal murders on hiking trails up near Boulder, Colorado and that certainly doesn't sound like any Elf to me. Not unless they come with retractable claws or are fond of weapons like something Freddy Krueger would use. I guess I need to take the jobs I can get. The silver lining... at least I'm not doing an amateur porn shoot which actually what a lot of my catching cheating spouses amounts to.

[1] ---- ---- ----
Otiinahlfa pulled his long white beard as he watched the scrolling images through his looking glass. he wondered what could come next now that the cat was out of the bag (so to speak)

[0] ---- ---- ----
John Smith pulled out his cell phone. He wasn't sure why a private investigator would be investigating animal murders in Boulder, Colorado. That sounds like work for the police. He had been hired by a mysterious Mr. O. and all he had was a retainer for service and a cell phone number. It made him reminisce over the Georgia Guidestones and how some R.C. Christian paid in cash to have those weird stones built and then just vanished. Was Mr. O. taking him for a ride? This is the first murder investigation that anyone had hired a Private Investigator for. The world though had been turned upside down since those damn Elves went public. Talk about coming out of the closet.

I need more details to work with. I can't just go up there and say "here murder, murder, come here murder." I need to know what he expects from a P.I. that the cops can't do.

Pulls out cell phone and dials the number for Mr. O. I'm going to ask for more information.

[1] ---- ---- ----
Aflhaniito (Otiinahlfa's brother) was watching over his shoulder through the looking glass and could see John Smiths thought materialize in the air - so he summonsed a flock of crows (a murder) to taunt him.

[0] ---- ---- ----
splat It was white and smelly and now all over the cell phone. John Smith disconnected the phone. Cleaned the bird shit off the side of his face and out of his hair from the crows that suddenly passed over. They are noisy too. He looks at the cell phone for a moment to make sure it is still functional. It definitely looks fine, he's seen other cell phones go through a lot worse.

He leans against a wall under and awning and dials the number for Mr. O. again.

[1] ---- ---- ----
Otiinahlfa looked in disdain over his shoulder toward his brother.
Aflhaniito retorts "aww cmon, you know that shit was funny" (pun intended)

The two brothers wheeled back in their chairs and looked at the wall of looking glasses
Otiinahlfa says to his brother; "Well, what kind of trouble can we stir up next?"

[2] ---- ---- ----
Meanwhile Carl is back in his office trying to understand how to fit together information about New York and elves. Nothing is fitting together whatsoever! Still no answers from anyone in emails either. Feeling like he's getting no where he goes out for a drink.

cc: [hidden]
to: John Smith
from: Carl [[email protected]]
subject: 911 mystery
Noticed you have been wondering about the occurrences in New York and Boulder, CO just like me. Looking through numerous things I discovered some mention of something called "Emaginta DNA-let". Problem is no one wants to talk about it or knows anything about it. Not sure what is up with all this weird stuff since Leland showed up. One source said it could be a kidnap operation. They could be misunderstanding something much of like we are all struggling to understand how this 911 thing could ever have happened. Unable to confirm this any further. Hopefully someone can manage to find out more information.

[0] ---- ---- ----
cc: John Smith
to: Carl [[email protected]]
Subject: RE: 911 mystery
Hi Carl, from what I know there is some sort of big animal attack scene with some hikers on a trail outside of Boulder. I haven't been on scene yet, I've just been doing some talking to news people I know in the area and trying to get the local PD to spill the beans. Doesn't sound like a bear. It is particularly brutal and looks like some big animal. I'm not sure how this ties in to the Elves, the Fey, Magic, and whatever other crazy things that maybe might be real now. Maybe there is actually an alien base under Denver International Airport (DIA). With the crazy things going on in the world and Elves... If elves are real, and magic is real, then maybe alien bases are real at this point. If you get any clues about these animal attacks let me know. I'm not quite sure why people asked a P.I. like me to look into these murders.

John Smith - Actually Private Investigation, LLC

[2] ---- ---- ----
cc: [hidden]
to: John Smith
from: Carl [[email protected]]
subject: RE: RE: 911 mystery
Hi John, Thank you for your delayed reply. Have been trying to dig through some newspaper articles. Found some articles on animals and even some on giants from over 100 years ago in some parts of the country buried in mounds. Have not been on scene either as of yet. Can't talk to the police right now because a company I was working for might be looking for me. There is a tunnel system network under the surface that may connect about half of the states. But I am not allowed to talk about such matters. Will see what I can dig up about the animal attacks. Not sure why people asked you to look into these murders either. Maybe we can figure something out someday. I'll get back to you when I am digging these newspapers in the library floor. Someone is coming and I have to go!
Carl Bo T. of BCI

[1] ---- ---- ----
to: John Smith
from: anonymouse
subject: base64 encode
Sm9obgpJdCBzZWVtcyB5b3VyIGZyaWVuZCBDYXJsIGlzIG9uIHRvIHNvbWV0aGluZyB3b3J0aCBsb29raW5nIGludG8uCk1heWJlIHlvdSBzaG91bGQgdGFrZSBhIHJpZGUgdG8gQm91bGRlci4KSSB3aWxsIHNlbmQgbW9yZSBkZXRhaWxzIHdoZW4geW91IGFycml2ZS4=

[2] ---- ---- ----

Source: giphy.com

Can't help but wondering what is happening in this world these days

The towers were hit by planes. But one of the towers wasn't hit by a plane. Yet it too fell to the ground. There is some story about someone saying to "pull it". This whole idea of planned demolition. Or was something far more mysterious happening. Can't help but wonder why the Elven creatures show up now. They've showed up in stories in the past. But why now?

Source: giphy.com

Since 911 I feel the world has been going crazy. The people even crazier still. Or is this all just in my head. Lately I had been trouble sleeping with thoughts of creatures looking out at me from behind trees! Trying to learn about those mysterious murders in the woods was really getting to me.

So I decided to go out for a drink. Mostly the same crowd as usual. Just kept to myself. Don't want people to see just how uncomfortable I had become since trying to learn about the mysterious changes in our world that have been coming much more to light the past few decades.

Watching a movie that was ending. Kind of made me scared. But was thinking I should go back and get some sleep. Have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Might hear back from John and others with more key information hopefully. As I was leaving I overheard someone say, "Well, what kind of trouble can we stir up next?" Kind of gave me the chills. So I hurriedly gathered up my coat and headed on my way outside to walk back home.

Source: giphy.com

Suddenly a bunch of crows came out of nowhere! Got scared and panicked and ran home as quick as I could! Those stories in woods by Boulder seem to have put my on edge. Normally I like to sit and watch the crows and see what they are up to.

But not tonight. Tonight I just had to get home so was safe. Just not sure if this world is as safe as it used to be. Thinking I should head to bed. So I turn out my lights and head to the bed room. I stop and go back down the hall. Turn some lights back on. Tonight I don't want all the lights off. It just doesn't feel right for some reason.

Lied down for a while but couldn't sleep. So I got up and got a glass of water. Decided to take a walk and get some fresh air. Maybe that will help me relax so I can get some sleep.

Source: giphy.com

The ringing in the temple had become unbearable later into the night. People keep telling me I shouldn't go if it bothers me so much. Have a need to face this ringing and figure out what it all means. If only I could regain control of my life!

Outside I looked up at the sky that was clear and full of stars. Seemed to help clear my mind. So I went back in and grabbed a notebook and tried thinking of some things to write about all the mysteriousness I was experiencing lately.

911, New York, Boulder, Elves, Fairies, crows, planes, buildings, murders

Dropped my pen and notebook and finally fell asleep.

[3] ---- ---- ----

Source: www.pexels.com

Several blocks away, a silver high-rise soaring above a human city built upon the ruins of an empire’s former glory, caught the last rays of the sun. The silver gash on the horizon turned from gold to amber to ruby as the sun sank behind the horizon.

Inside the tower, Colette Waymire took in the sunset with a pained expression on her lovely face. Under the city with its endless suburbs, the ancient foundations of a much larger and greater city stirred. She turned her eyes, from the shimmering scene. The soot was a nuisance and a constant reminder of their collective failure but she thought it made for breathtakingly beautiful sunsets.

She lifted a glass to her lips, tilted her head, and drank deeply barely tasting the wine. In that position she caught sight of the first stars of the zodiac emerging from the blossoming night.

Colette felt impossibly insignificant in the vastness of space, despite the vital services she has lent to the changing world…or so she hoped.

She was the last of the once-great houses of the Illuminati. An artifact from a distant age, her successors were eager to hide her like the ruins of the ancient city hidden beneath the streets. They had been replaced, by corporations. Business was king in this civilization. Even the dwindling Illuminati had to fight for market shares.

A flock of dark shadows dashed past the window swirling towards the streets below. As the last of the sun winked out over the horizon she caught sight of a reflection that did not belong to her, the silhouette of a large man behind her.

Her husband, Artemis, was a large man; one of the finest examples of the old Cimmerian bloodline, which was one of the reasons she had fallen so hard and so fast for him. He crossed the room and took up position behind his wife to watch either the sun wink out behind the horizon or to watch the reflection of her face in the window. Wherever his gaze actually fell, she felt his eyes upon her and the white-hot guilt rose up into her throat. One of his big hands found its way around her waist, and turned her gently from the dark sky and twinkling city lights.

“I’m going out.” He said, turning her gently. Collette did her best to reveal nothing of the fear she held towards him. She did her best to impersonate the gaze of a loving wife. It hadn’t been that long ago that she had been a loving wife, so the gaze was easy to recall. Before she could ask why, he answered.

“This extra project has us all working late hours…” then added, “I’m reviewing the security protocol with the team.” He cupped her cheek, a gesture that belied his cold gaze. “So you needn’t wait up for me.”

He gave her a perfunctory kiss and released her. She was stunned for an instant realizing this would be the last time she kissed her husband or saw his face. A dizzy swirl of emotion welled up; sadness, relief, longing and much regret. Colette watched the door close behind him and downed the rest of her wine in a gulp.

[1] ---- ---- ----
Aflhaniito came running into the room , panting - almost out of breath.
"Brother - turn to the news fast!"

https://www.yahoo.com/news/iceland-unearths-rock-appease-angry-elves-195326271.html

Otiinahlfa watched patiently then turned to his brother
"Yes, my brother. I knew it was coming. I tried to to get our fellow 'otherkin' to have a little more patience, but they are still clinging to the old ways"

We shall call a meeting with the elders and discuss the next phase.
http://elves.dontexist.org/
[asheraine.deviantart.com] - elf logo

[2] ---- ---- ----
Carl's bus trip got a little off track when someone decided to drive into the side of the bus. This isn't the bus I was on. We were on the side of a highway so I couldn't get a picture. Will update later. Thought life was crazy already and it seems to get crazier! My devices are running low on power...

Source: bbc.co.uk

[0] ---- ---- ----
Meanwhile in Colorado. "Grrrr... idiot drivers!" says John Smith as his foot hits his break to avoid the person weaving out between lanes. John has driven Colorado 36 many times from Denver to Boulder. It has given his mind many opportunities to notice that weaving doesn't always get a person there faster, especially when the traffic is thick.

The quick momentary anger subsides as he mentally goes over his plan of action when he reaches his destination. Having crows quite literally shit on him yesterday gave him the kick in the ass he needed. He might as well drive to boulder and check out the scene of the murder.

The cops were not being forthcoming. If these Elves brought anything resembling a God or Goddess of luck with them when they materialized out of the forests then perhaps, just perhaps there might be something worth seeing at this crime scene.

Encoded emails and trying to reach the Mr. O. who had hired a private investigator in the first place to look into these murders had not really offered the answers. It looked like it would simply take old fashion foot work.

What did he know so far? He knew there was a body of a jogger found on one of the hiking trails near Boulder and that it was badly clawed and mauled as though something with claws like the knives of Freddy Krueger had attacked them.

Source: curiomira.blogspot.com

Exiting 36 he drove on some side roads for awhile until he came to the parking for the trailhead. The trailhead actually begins at the South Mesa Trailhead, but the murder itself happened just past an old stone mining cabin. The murder took place in Shadow Canyon which is a steep canyon filled with huge boulders, lush foliage, and lots of ferns.

Source: www.boulderhiking.com

John Smith hadn't really exercised much for some time. Driving and desk work don't exactly keep a person fit. There was a man and a woman on the trail ahead of John so it looks like murder did not scare away all of the "healthy" hikers in Boulder. Or maybe they just didn't know.

Source: www.boulderhiking.com

Soon it if anyone bothered to look you could still see some yellow tape off the side of the trail.

Source: www.abc.net.au

The trail appears to have become much more extreme just past this point. This is a rather remote location, and while a bear, or a cougar attack might be possible, but remote; the wounds described seem to be something OTHER.

Source: www.boulderhiking.com

Double checking his cell phone, John is relieved that there is still some service. Just barely...

[0] ---- ---- ----

The end of the world is coming they said, and then tomorrow turned into yesterday

At the scene of the crime

Source: giphy.com

Just last week this spot up Shadow Canyon near Boulder, Colorado was the scene of an apparently brutal attack. Private Investigator John Smith stood a ways off of the hiking trail and could see stains from blood, and the police tape is loose and lying on the ground and in the bushes. John found himself in thought. I wonder if the police get fined for littering too, and then shrugs as he kneels down to see if he can see anything. This is not very likely, and the police are not being forthcoming.

That feeling of being watched will not go away. The feeling is that of a little tingling sensation or pressure in the middle of John's back.

"You don't look like a cop," a deep male voice comes from behind John. John's hand reflexively goes to the 45 revolver he has concealed inside his jacket, as he turns slowly around.

Source: www.charlottestories.com

"You won't need that," says a very fit man as he points at where John's hand has come to rest behind his jacket. Something about the calmness of this man and how he doesn't seem concerned about a person reaching for a gun causes John's eyebrows to rise and twitch just a bit.

Source: breakingmuscle.com

"And you are?"

"Sam, I run through here every day."

"You do realize this is a crime scene right?"

"It was the other day. I saw it."

Sensing an opportunity John relaxes a bit and instead reaches into an interior pocket to extract a business card. He then walks a little closer to 'Sam' and holds out the card.

Source: smallbusiness.chron.com

"John Smith, Actually Private Investigations"

The big man laughs lightly with a deep rumble down in his chest.

"Actually private? How do you manage that?"

John opens his mouth to speak and his cell phone beeps at him. He makes a motion to indicate just a moment and looks at the phone.

Source: boap.dvrlists.com

It looks like another email from [email protected]. Now is not the time to read it, but he will as soon as he is done talking to this person that may have seen the actual crime scene. As he is putting the phone away he does notice a few other news headlines from a news app.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/iceland-unearths-rock-appease-angry-elves-195326271.html
http://rememberbuilding7.org/7-facts-about-building-7/
https://www.intellihub.com/exclusive-secret-underground-base-beneath-denver-international-airport-now-revealed-whistle-blower/

"So you saw the scene of the murder?", John asks as he looks back at this big man named 'Sam'.

"Place was crawlin' with cops when I came jogging by, but I saw enough" he says and still seems very calm.

"Can you tell me about it?"

"Depends, how come your agency is called Actually Private?"

"I am not a fan of privacy being forsaken for security, it seemed like a good name at the time."

Sam looks at John for a moment and then chuckles as he says "all right, I'll tell you what I seen."

Source: www.freedomphoenix.com

"There was one body that they were covering up. It looked like at least one limb was severed too as I saw them put somethin' in the body bag. It was quick so I don't know if it were an arm or a leg."

"Can you give me anymore details?"

"Not so much, there was the smell of blood in the air."

Source: giphy.com

"You saw no more details?"

"They saw me standing there and asked me to leave."

"Who told you to leave?"

"Cops."

Source: videohive.net

"Do you have a way I can reach you in the future if I have more questions?"

"Sure, let me see that there cell phone of yours and I will type my number in."

John hands Sam his cell phone, but keeps an eye on him. Sam types a few things and swipes here and there and hands the phone back.

Sam 303-555-1970

"I best be running, my blood is cooling down", says Sam as he starts doing a little jogging in place.

"Thank you, I'll be in touch" says John as Sam turns and starts to jog easily up the steep incline of the trail.

This crime scene is not very helpful it seems. The little extra information that has been gained is that this strange big person witnessed the crime, smelled blood, and thinks a limb was severed from the body.

John decides he needs to get back to civilization and see if any more information is forthcoming from Mr. O. and take a moment to read the email from [email protected].

Source: rideshareapps.com

[2] ---- ---- ----
Carl's laptop battery is about to die...
Carl logs in to check his email to get back on track with all the new information and findings! Carl thinking he'll have to use his notebook again. Hoping to find a better place to work from. The last hotel didn't have wifi and not comfortable to be at or sleep at.
Please email pizza Carl is getting hungry!

[1] ---- ---- ----

the eye - 34°15'07.8'S 58°49'47.4"W

Ootin awoke with a startle. The alarms were sounding.
He rushed to the foyer where he met his brother.

"The file has been accessed brother."
"Yes, I know" replied Ootin.
"I only hope our system can hold of their alarms long enough for us to save her. Send her protection immediately, and call for the Elders"

Ootins' mind wash rushing - it had been eons it seems (well , at least one) , since there was this much at stake.

He found his way to the library stairs, this would require some research.
Yes even the age of computers some things cannot be stored digitaly.

He called for one of his servants - "Musho, send carl a pizza - he is going to need energy."

[3] ---- ---- ----
The room was filled with the ghosts of the dead. A mechanical sphere that hovered in the center of the room was white with projected light, throwing images on every wall and object, bathing the apartment in history. Colette walked as if she was underwater, barely breathing as she assembled the few objects that would accompany her into the next life. She bathed, tucked her hair up out of her face, dressed in her most sensible outfit for fleeing for her life, all to the ghosts of the past; photographs of her parents, their parents, and their parents milled around silently acting out their lives.

“Servo, stop the projection," she said once she had her fill of nostalgia. "then delete all non-essential data.” There was no room for nostalgia, in the bot's database or in her heart. Obediently, the luminous sphere darkened to its former golden hue. Servo, she had named it, floated before his mistress. The bot was constructed from a fusion of Fae Magic and Cimmerian technology. It was the finest encapsulated sentience that money could buy. The robotic shell was a top secret domestic model. As soon as it had arrived she had scooped out the software and reknit the esoteric programming that bound the soul to its vessel. Everything had to be reconstructed. Her initial fear had been that it would relay their lives back to the Corporation. In reflection she identified those fears as the first seeds of doubt that had now blossomed into her treason.

Servo hung motionless before her, soft light pulsing from the seams. She turned it in its orbit and with a finger; she traced a ritual pattern; half computer program, half fae magic to reinforce the privacy screens.

Colette, previously soft and gentle, hardened like amber as she tapped into this great well of power. Her turbulent emotion drained from her psyche at the brush of the great pool of magic just outside her grasp. Those fragments of emotion were now frozen in the light of introspection. She dismissed the sentimentality, the longing, and embraced the relief of escapism. There was no going back for she had sold her soul to the devil and the devil was on his tonight way to collect.

She had failed again and again to produce an heir for their great houses. Her marriage to a Cimmerian was the family’s last attempt to buy some time and influence in the changing world. Not just the Outing. These were trends going on for decades. The Waymire’s Empire of ancient secret networks was nothing compared to machine learning algorithms at the disposal of the Cimmerians and their new corporate friends. The Corporation was the perfect expression of their lust for power and the perchance for violence.

Her next steps had to proceed perfectly, or she would be at the forefront of every ounce of ruthlessness and barbarism she’d seen her husband devote to his work over the last decade. He had killed to get where he was, and he would kill to protect it. “Access Corporation database under my husband’s personal encryption key, and download the folder, “One World Trade Excavation Data” into portable storage. Check the file for errors and then delete the original”

“Accessing and Downloading “One World Trade Excavation Data” the bot echoed in a synthesized voice. She had seen the files many times before and imagined the photograph of the muddy pit, and the construction workers crowded around ancient worked stone. She remembered the plans and sketches of ruins as they were uncovered. Everything about the project would soon be stored only in her little companion.

Artemis had worked rabidly on the excavation of what was discovered entwined with the foundations of the World Trade Center. When the charade could go one no longer and the building had to be erected. He made sure the Corporation had its command center at its heart. “Give the humans their monument” she recalled him saying with a snarl. It was the project, he hoped, that would send him straight to the top. He’d let nothing stand in his way. The Executives above him had given him a good deal of command and had a couple hundred loyal officers under him that would obey him before the next in the command chain.

She had to get out of the city tonight and surrender the data to the Elven Council of Ancients. Even in their weakened state, they were the only organization that could mount a defense. If the Cimmerians had really discovered the Foundations of the World…and if her husband’s team was as close to accessing its power as she feared, then the entire world was in more trouble than they could fathom. Her contact with for elves, her transport out of the city, was due to call any second with the instructions for her flight. How long would it take the Corporation to begin to notice the data was missing, one minute? five? She gathered her jacket and a bag big enough for her bot as she considered her options. If the elves betrayed her she would have to make her own way into the night.

[0] ---- ---- ----
John smith kicked back at his desk at the small office in a small business park. The coffee was doing a good job of bringing him back to attention. A little Peet's to give a kick when it is needed is always a good thing.

Source: sacremento.aero

Poking at the keyboard occasionally to show a new news story and try to dig up more information on this murder. This was not the easiest of investigations he had ever had. Those spying on adulterers was starting to look a little bit more appealing now.

ring tone... ring tone

"Hello, Actually Private Investigations, how can I help you?"

"It's me", says a deep voice.

"Do you care to give me a name? I sometimes call myself me too," responds John failing his resistance to anti-smartass remark.

"Sam, we met earlier"

"I now recognize your voice, how can I help you?"

"We might want to hire you."

A look of surprise forms on John's face.

"Really, well I am currently on a case as you know."

"Yah Yah, I knows about that. Thing is. Actually Private, are you legit with that?"

"Yes, or course."

"So you're kind of like a priest with confessions, if I hire you for somethin' you won't go telling people my secrets?"

"As long as I am not aiding and abetting then yes, that is the case."

The door to the office opens and in strolls the big man named Sam as he pushes disconnect on his cell phone. A frown mixed with confusion forms on John's face.

"Here's the deal, we want to hire you."

"I am on a case, and who is WE?"

"If you accept us as clients the other case will be solved," says Sam as he pulls up a chair which seems to crack a little as he sits down in it.

John Smith is sitting up straight in his chair now and did accidentally spill a little bit of coffee into his lap.

"You keep saying we, and us, who exactly would I be working for?"

"The pack."

[] ---- ---- ----

That is the story so far...

Perhaps you want to join in... you can jump in or out at any time....

Read the rules in this post: Alpha Game - Original Rules

You can always find the latest game turn by looking under alphagame tag.

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THE NEXT TURN IS HERE: [Game: Alpha Game: 3]