Great is Our Sin

Series 5: One Foul Trail

A concerning report in Beacon has begun to circulate amongst the many organisations within ATLAS. Supposedly members of the Darwin's Disciples have found themselves into the Haven and now are flooding the streets with potent and dangerous drugs that might create more Infected. With the Intelligence Agency stretched thin hunting Jackie and her agents, an independent investigator catches wind of the investigation and in the hopes of a big payday, begins to snoop around.

1: The Detective and Archivist

The roaring sound of a truck joined the chorus of traffic through the streets of the Haven as this one in particular saw itself barrelling forwards towards a checkpoint, one that blocked the way towards the border that the driver was attempting to reach. As they grew closer and closer, the engine quieted as the car slowly came to a halt. Two members of the security force began to walk forwards, weapons gripped tightly in their hands as the car had tinted windows making it exceptionally difficult to see into it. Just as they both stood to stare at the window, faces hidden behind steel masks, the window lowered. Sat in the drivers seat was a man with blond hair poorly kept and a face that could be described as rough around the edges. His eyes however remained concealed behind a pair of sunglasses and he slowly reached over to hand a pass to the guards, the name on it detailing 'Ethan Vicount' as the purple highlights showed this pass was acquired from the Intelligence Agency.
"I'm here to talk to Human Resources about acquiring an investigation pass." His voice was oddly soft for a man of his complexion yet lying just beneath the surface of every word was a bitterness coated in sugar, struggling to hide some form of anger or irritancy as he refused to even remove the cigarette from his mouth.
"Take off your sunglasses so we can see your eyes"
Ethan groaned and slouched back in his seat, looking over again "Promise not to freak out?"
The two just stared each other as the man removed his glasses. Beneath his sunglasses were two brown eyes, both containing an extra iris indicating that Ethan in fact had polycoria. He quickly put his sunglasses back on and looked over to the two "Happy now or do you need me to try burn my retinas again?"
Satisfied the two guards stepped back and the two barriers began to raise whilst spikes in the road began to retract and allowed his truck safe passage past the swarm of armed guards.

It didn't take too long before he did reach the border but more importantly, the office for Human Resources. The building itself was somewhat integrated into the colossal concrete and steel walls and appeared almost unfamiliar to its environment as it was primarily constructed of glass and wood, giving an illusion It was a pleasant place. As glass doors retracted, Ethan stubbed out his cigarette on a public ash tray and threw it in there before he strode in with himself on full display. Standing at nearly 5'11, his body seemed to be in a somewhat unhealthy condition. Despite clear outlines amongst his loose shirt and tan jacket that he had some form of strength to him, his skin seemed tighter than most as if he was malnourished. The reception area was a large open space, two escalators found by the sides of the oval reception desk as the lady behind the desk welcome Ethan with a warm smile and good morning.
"I'm here to secure a pass for the current drug investigation regarding Devil's Kiss, Intelligence Agency said to come here since their hands were full" he'd place down the pass and paper work and slide it to the receptionist, his foot tapping impatiently. The receptionist scrutinised the paper work, taking a while to eventually speak back "Well this all seems in order, hold on one moment as we assign you an agent"
"Oh please no that wont be needed" despite the sincere tone, Ethan couldn't help but let his eye twitch from mild infuriation
"The paper work says to assign you someone and considering that this is labelled as none priority, we'll assign you someone fresh"
Great. Deadweight and a newbie. Ethan could feel his temper boiling at the surface as his nails scratched against the ornate wooden desk. He had to stand there and pretend he was content with being tied down by an inhouse agent. Perhaps this was an investigative agent? Maybe some special agent? Ethan could only hope he was being assigned someone from some secret department.
"Hiya!"
The voice Ethan heard felt like it was clawing at his ears. It was a sharp, over excited trill and as he turned over he saw some suit bound pencil pusher with blond curly hair and a nametag that read 'Tristan.'
"I'm Tristan! I'm an assistant records keeper here"
The receptionist leant forwards a little to speak to Ethan "He's relatively new here, he transferred from Site Control. Be warned though he... he's hyper."
Tristan strode over, gripping Ethan's hand from the desk and shaking it enthusiastically "Its nice to meet you Mr..."
"Ethan"
"Mr Ethan! Ethan's a weird last name"
"It's my first name"
Tristan let out a laugh that seemed sincere and comical but anyone who knew him could recognise it as a nervous laugh "Well it seems either way Ethan I'll be here to assist you and supervise you on your adventures"
"Investigations" by now the sincere façade had melted away into a stone cold, dead pan face that held nothing but poorly contained irritancy. "Are you sure I need a partner?"
The receptionist slid a temporary pass for investigation to Ethan "You don't need one but without him you don't get a pass either"
with a disappointed look he swiped the card and beckoned to Tristan "Move it kid, don't slow me down."
The 'agent's' face lit up with excitement as he immediately shadowed Ethan, waving frantically to the receptionist as the two entered the large truck and drove away from the border. Silence fell the two and just as Tristan was about to speak up Ethan interrupted him "Listen kid, I don't want you here and that receptionist told me you cant keep your excitement in check. So pipe down, keep your head on straight and don't talk unless you have something useful to say which I doubt is at all."
Tristan paused for a second, pondering his response for a second "I have lead."
"You what?"
"I have a lead! I looked through some files before coming to reception and I got a lead. Jenny Michigan, disgraced Haven Enforcement member who got the boot for taking Devils Kiss. And she got fired two weeks ago, right around when the drug surge started."
Ethan wanted to turn and show Tristan his perplexed face but his eyes had to remain straight forward "How do you know this?"
"I work in records keeping for ATLAS personnel in the Haven"
"Great cool, hand me the file and I'll drop you off at a coffee shop and take you back when I'm done"
Tristan began to laugh, believing this to be a joke "Oh Mr Vicount you're hilarious... oh wait no you're serious"
"Yeah, I don't need deadweight"
"This deadweight though didn't bring the file, he's all the information"
Silence fell the two. Whilst Tristan waited for a response, Ethan remained silent with a seething anger, hands gripping the wheel as he finally sighed with defeat "Where are we going then"
Tristan's face once again lit up with poorly contained excitement "Angel Street, by the Greenday Coffee shop!"