| abstract
| - A singular truck stops at a red light in the industrial district of Salem. It’s mostly a desolate place. Most of it has fields and small, rectangular buildings in shape, mostly with factories or supply centers. On top of the truck lays Emerald, flat on her back, waiting until she gets to a certain stop. Her hands are crystallized, dug into the metal of the truck to hold on tight. The truck makes a turn opposite to the one Emerald needs to go. She lets the crystal fade away and hops off the truck as it slowly turns. It’s late at night. Emerald goes to the side of the road where the tall pine trees block the gem-like stars. She runs at a normal pace, making sure she doesn’t light up with her crystals. Her athletic activities from her youth had managed to pay off for her. Through her head flashes memories of volleyball, tennis, and kick-boxing. Her muscle tone was to account for this. Emerald finally spots a few cop cars parked outside of a government office. Emerald raises her brow under her mask. Emerald takes out the piece of paper she got from Hemsworth. She reads it under the light of a traffic lamp. It’s an invitation to a party. Emerald (to herself): This is indeed the place. Emerald runs around the building into the darker areas. There, she scales the building, using the crystals on her hands to assist her climbing. She eventually comes toward a window. “Quite the nice party we’re having here!” “Indeed. Here, let’s get some some alcohol.” She finds a window that allows her to get into the second floor of the building. It’s a perfect hiding spot. It looks over the entire party while staying hidden in the darkness, behind rails. As she waits, a good amount of the policemen become intoxicated. Some start dropping to the floor, drunk. Others insist on getting another drink before they make a mess. Quite the few still gorge out on food. However, there is a select few who are incredibly sober. Emerald snaps a few pictures from the shadows, and then places the phone back into her belt. Then she waits more. ~~ Back at the Police Headquarters, Hemsworth studies over a few files. Commissioner Hawthorne comes over to him and taps him on the shoulder. Hawthorne: Don’t you think you’ve studied those enough. Hemsworth lazily moves his eyes to the side. He’s tired. Hemsworth: I suppose. Hawthorne: Get some rest. Please. Hemsworth: Alright. Looks like I’ll be done for the night, then. Good night, Hawthorne. Hawthorne: Good night. Hemsworth walks out of the Police HQ and drives his car to the industrial area. ~~ A small group of cops looks over the drunken bodies of their fellow policemen. One of them smiles. Cop #1: I suppose now that the guys supposed to patrol tonight are all gone, aren’t they? Cop #2: Heh. Yeah. Emerald hears the conversation and looks down. She gets the phone out and quickly snaps a picture. Then, Emerald watches as they approach the stairs to get to the second floor. Emerald looks behind her. Plenty of boxes of material. Then, a knock on the backdoor happens. Cop #1: Bet those guys are getting impatient. Emerald looks around for a hiding spot. She quietly runs over to a corner and hides behind some boxes. The cops come upstairs, pointing their guns and looking around. They open the backdoor, where two men dressed in suits step in. Then, a man dressed in a black jumpsuit with blue gloves and belts enters and shuts the door. It’s Black Blast. Black Blast: I presume you took out the coppers? Cop #2 shakes his head. Black Blast: Good. Very good. Black Blast looks around the cargo. His lower lip moves upward while his eyebrows raise. Black Blast: It’s a good amount-ta guns. Ye did good, laddies. Emerald looks at the crates. She notices one of them is filled with explosives, and another with bullets. Black Blast: Men, go get the boxes. Take them down for me, will ya? The Triad grunts pick up the boxes and take them outside the door. Emerald stays in place, hidden behind rather large crates. Black Blast takes another look around. He spots a shadow behind some of the boxes. The policemen see it too. They get their guns ready to fire. Emerald: Showtime then, huh boys? Emerald tosses one of the boxes in front of her at an officer. Black Blast readies his gauntlets. Black Blast: Emerald… Long time since we met. You gave me some nasty scars on me hands. Emerald: Well, I hope you’re ready for some more. Emerald punches him straight in the jaw, leading his face to hit the wall due to force of the punch. The cops fire at Emerald, but the bullets reflect off of her. She creates crystal shards out of her fingertips and throws them at the guns, knocking them out of their hands. Emerald: Don’t think you’re gonna get away with this any time soon. Black Blast gets back up and fires at Emerald’s back. She falls to the floor belly first. Black Blast: Lucky for you, I didn’t come to kill ye. Hurry it up, men. We need to get this cargo out of here. Emerald is picked up by the cops, who hold her by the fabric of her suit and lean her against the railing. Cop #1: That’s a nice suit you got there, miss. Too bad you won’t look good in it after we’re done with you! Cop #2 takes a club and hits Emerald with it. Just then, a crack sound fills the air. The cops look and see Hemsworth down on the first floor. He’s holding up his semi-automatic. As they’re distracted, Emerald pushes them off of her and then punches each in the stomach. Hemsworth runs up the stairs, holding up his gun. Hemsworth: Emerald, go after the blondie! Emerald turns around and sees that Black Blast is gone. She opens up the metal door and sees nothing. She runs down the stairs where the second floor was connected to and sees a delivery truck starting up. Emerald slashes the tires with her crystal projections. Black Blast curses at Emerald, and steps out of the truck. Black Blast: Oho, you enjoy giving me a terrible time, don’t ye lassy? Emerald jumps down the flight of stairs and runs to get Black Blast. He hits her with his blast, knocking her off of her feet. Blast runs, using the blasts to project him a bit in the air in order to get out of Emerald’s reach. Emerald slams her hand on the ground, angered. Emerald: No… He got away. Emerald heads back upstairs. The corrupt officers are all out cold. Hemsworth cracks his knuckles and looks to Emerald. Hemsworth: Get pictures of the supplies and the policemen here. They’re out cold. I’ll search them. Emerald takes a picture of some of the crates, using light from her crystal to make it easier seen. There is a triangular logo with a dragon in the center, under an image of the sun. Emerald: Triad crates, of course. Hemsworth: Yep. Triad badges in their pockets, as well. Talk about pride to wear the badge. Emerald walks over to a wall and leans on it. She takes another picture. Emerald: Say, you’re off duty, aren’t you? I hope you don’t get into trouble. Hemsworth smiles. Hemsworth: I won’t. I didn’t clock out. Technically I am still on my shift. Emerald: Clever. Hemsworth: Not really. Do it all the time when I need to investigate stuff myself. Emerald looks at Hemsworth’s face, and focuses on his scarred eye. Emerald: How did your eye end up like that, anyways? Hemsworth: My eye? Not much of a mystery. It was from a chemical burn. Blinded my eye and left this burn scar. I like to ignore it, but it doesn’t hurt to tell people. Now then, let’s round up this evidence. Emerald: Are we gonna arrest these guys? Hemsworth: They’ll get due process later. I gotta go clock in. We have those images, they should be good enough. We need to hurry out of here. Emerald: Right, you can’t be seen with me. So Emerald and Hemsworth parted ways. ~~ 558 Anno Domini. Ireland. In foggy waters, millennia ago, a boat slowly treads the waters of the Larne. A saint is standing upon the boat as a crew of fishermen are trying to get a simple catch. The saint, known as Comgall, is overseeing the crew pulling in a load of fish. Comgall: This is definitely more than yesterday! God has surely blessed us. One of the monks on the boat, Beoan, notices something in the water. Beoan: Look there, Comgall. In the water. There is something circling the boat. Comgall: I hear something. Crew! Quiet it down. The crew stood still as they hear a light hum rise gently from the water. One of the crew members looks around. Crewmember: Is it an angel? Beoan: No… It comes from below. Below the water. Crewmember: Is it a demon? Comgall: It must be. Beoan looks closer in the water. It’s the shape of a fish. Beoan: It’s a big fish. Crewmember: A big one, eh? Let’s catch it then! The men set their nets in the water along with Beoan. They wait, until they feel a tug. They pull the net up. One of the men is startled. Crewmember: Aye! It is a demon! ???: No… Not a demon… I want to talk... Beoan: The creature speaks! Bring it aboard. The men get the water creature out of the water with their nets. It’s a beautiful creature. With a very light blue skin speckled with green splotches, she is very fair. Her tail separates into legs. She is dressed with a red cloak. Comgall: She is beautiful. W-was that your singing? We heard it come from the water. ???: Yes. It was mine. Where… Where am I? Comgall: This is the Larne river. ???: Oh my. I’ve travelled far from my home. I don’t know how many years it’s been. I’ve lost track. Seems like centuries have gone by. Comgall: Woman, you are deformed. Crooked. Have you been affected by witches? ???: Woman? I… I have a name. It’s Li Ban. And no. My home was destroyed by a spring. M-my family died. My husband, my children. All dead. I was forced to wander waters, and eventually, I became this after praying to my goddess. Beoan: Li Ban, you are afraid, are you not? Li Ban: Very afraid. Please, take me to land. It’s been a long time since I’ve ever touched earth. Comgall: To land you shall come. Beoan, we must baptize this woman, that she may be saved, and perhaps escape this pagan spell. Li Ban: Sir, please. Do anything, but… I hope you know that I’ve lived a long time. I’m afraid if I get baptized… I might die. Beoan and the fishermen became anxious of the beautiful creature’s situation. Comgall: Li Ban, come with us. You will be saved, and you will gain everlasting life. Li Ban: Everlasting life? Comgall: Yes. Death is a temporary thing. I must tell you of the Christ. He is the forgiver of sins, the ultimate sacrifice. You’ll learn so much once we get to shore. Li Ban listened to the saint as the fishermen rowed to shore. Her interest grew as the man spoke loud and powerfully. Li Ban asked the saint questions with her soft, angelic voice.
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