Pitch Black

[valen]

The dark and stale night of London was drifting away, the Star scattered its rays over the horizon, dawn was coming. Michael was lying still on the roof of the building, staring at the sky, observing the stars in the distance. The stars that were as distant as his goals, unreachable. Every now and then Michael rose his hand, trying to reach them and closed one eye to focus better on the stars in the night. Each time his hand fell down to the ground as Michael lost hope, but he kept trying constantly almost as the stars were calling him, showing him the way he was unable to see and understand. A light breeze was blowing through the night, carrying the odor air through the sky and flittered his hair, and his eyes, his crystal blue eyes were blazing with tears in them. Tears shed out of pain, and sorrow, tears that poured because of the cruel world, that Michael never understood, and will never be able to understand. Why is there so much pain, who decides that a small child has to suffer for the sins of its parents. Where is the justice, where is the compassion? Is there none that will fight to change the world, to bring purpose to it. Who will force the people to change, to redeem their sins through pain that they cause themselves. Michael questioned his purpose in this world, but he knew deep inside him that he was destined to reap through humanity with the scythe of memories and vengeance. They shall not be forgiven until their souls ask for forgiveness, and their blood touches the very ground he was forced to walk with suffering consuming his heart. Michael slowly sat on the roof, with the breeze drifting through his hair, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, smelling the guilt and impiety of London. It reeks with sin. As the Star came above the horizon, shining over Michael's face, he opened his eyes, and soreness is what could be saw as he stared in the Star's direction. Sorrow, but deep inside him, malice, and the thirst for revenge.
Slowly did Michael stood up by bracing his body up with his right hand while holding the two datapads in his left hand. Once again did he look the pads, thinking about the future, and the consequences. What will happen next, why are they after him. Little did Michael understand his wrongdoings, quickly did he forget all the people he killed in his rage. And the law has no understanding for his pain, even less for murderers. But in Michael's eyes he was the innocent one, only giving people what they deserved. Does it have to do with Luxuria? But why? Who is she, or better yet what is she? Michael refused to think about it, as he loved her, and no one will tarnish his memories of her. Then it suddenly hit him, like a fast lightning in a summer night, she is in danger and no one will lay a hand on her as long as Michael is alive. He took the datapad with his profile in it and with a swift and powerful throw he let the data disappear in the never ending villainy of London. He chafed his eyes with his hand, whipping away the tears, leaving only anger and hate in them and ran towards the stairs leading down to the alley he came from. The alley was still dark as the Star's light hasn't reached it yet. The bad smell was even worse in here and Michael moved out of the alley with a fast pace and into the open street. Many people were there, rich, poor, pretty, ugly, all were here and all had similar problems, human problems, and inhuman solutions. He took out the datapad on Luxuria, and began reading it with care, trying to figure how to find her, and no easy task will that be.
As Michael was walking down the street reading the information in the datapad, the Star was shining stronger, the day was beautiful, a rare sight in London, as the rain is the most common sight on the planet. He realized that the key in finding his love was the strange man that gave Michael Luxuria's profile and her dossier. But how to find a man that does not want to be found, that Michael didn't knew the name of, even better, didn't know what the stranger looked like. The pub, the pub was the key Michael thought and stopped in his tracks. The pub was the other way and Michael ran up the street in long continuos paces. The people on the street gave him strange looks, the looks of scared people, as Michael had blood marks on his clothes that he didn't notice, and his face was dirty from the rain that was falling during the night. But he care little about the opinions of others, all that he felt deep inside him is the wish to kill all who looked at him with despise. But there was no time, as his love was in danger. Soon Michael saw a familiar sight, the pub where he met Luxuria the first time, where he nearly got killed the first time, and where he agreed to kill someone for the first time. He stopped before the entrance, catching his breath and then entered the pub which was unusually full. It was morning and all the local drunkards came for their morning shots. Good, the same bartender as always, the one that Michael broke his jaw all those years ago, and the thought of which still made Michael laugh.
Michael shouldered his way to the bartender, who remembered him from the night before and smiled at him, knowing that Michael is carrying a lot of credits. Immediately the bartender took a clean glass from the cabinet and placed it on the bar, pouring Michael a drink.

"Good, you think fast." - Michael told the bartender as he drank the whole glass in one sip, shaking his head from the strength of the alcoholic drink, "Come closer." - He continued and hand gestured the bartender to approach him and lean towards him while handing over a thousand credits to him. This was for his ears only, "Yes Sir, can I help you?" - The bartender responded in a polite and courteous voice while taking the credits and placing them in his pocket. He knew Michael has plenty of money and one can always use more credits, "Yes, the man I talked to yesterday, where can I find him?" - Michael questioned the bartender while observing his surroundings carefully, "I don't know Sir." - The bartender responded and lowered his head continuing to clean the glasses. Michael realized he was lying even before the bartender opened his mouth and handed over another thousand credits to him, "What about now? And careful, you tread on thin ground now." - Michael clearly threatened him, and the bartender was obviously scared although he didn't know why, "He left this....Here...Take it." - The bartender spoke with a frightened voice and handed Michael over a business card that had his name and address on it.

Inspector James Gold
New London, 101, Elizabeth Street

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Michael was walking down the same street again, thinking what was going on. Another inspector? Why did he wanted the other one dead? What was going on? Michael was confused, and with good reason as the situation was getting more complicated, and the solution was nowhere to be seen. Michael knew the only way to even possibly solve, and find his love, is to find this James Gold. Elizabeth Street, Michael knew where it was, the rich part of London, where he never ventured in but learned about Elizabeth in school as a child. And he remembered that the street was called after her. It took Michael some time to reach that part of the City, and he traveled through the streets where little ventured, as he wanted to avoid being seen. He lurked where the scum of the scum hang out. But he managed to reach Elizabeth Street faster then he anticipated. Now to find apartment 101, and Michael was hoping that this was his private apartment, and not the Precinct where he worked, or at least Michael thought he worked. Michael asked the people on the street about this 101, but no one wanted to help him because he was judged by his appearance. He was angry, but had to remain calm, for his love, for the future. Finally he spotted a poor looking man walking down the street who was avoided by everyone else, just like Michael. He approached him.

"Hello old man, tell me, do you know who this James Gold is? And where can I find him? 101 is the address." - Michael spoke to the old man. He looked at Michael with his old eyes, clearly he had gone through a lot in life, "Leave me alone boy, I do not need you making fun of me as well." - The old man shouted and pushed Michael away. A long time has passed since Michael met someone like him, and he felt not anger towards the old man, but compassion, as he was as well rejected by the world and tortured, "Listen old man, I mean you no harm, and I will certainly not make fun of you. As I know how that can hurt." - Michael said to the old man and he stopped, looking at Michael who seemed sad, and had a doleful look in his eyes. The old man approached him and placed his hand on Michael's shoulder. His hand had many scars, and it was dirty, nails uncut. A homeless man. Where is the justice in that? Having a homeless man even now, "Boy, I believe you. And I see you have gone through a lot in life. There. Go there. And take care." - The old man nodded towards a large glass building at the end of the street and began walking away. Michael rushed to him and gave him some credits, "Old man, enjoy it while you can. And remember, the world will suffer for its sins."

Michael looked towards the large building and proceeded to it with little thinking. As he walked into the shadow of the beast he saw the number 101 on it, clearly it was the place he was looking for. At the entrance there was a list, of all who lived there. Clearly the was an apartment building, and many lived here. Rich, but many. Michael ran his finger through the list, looking for the name James Gold. There were a lot of names, but finally Michael noticed it, Private Investigator James Gold. That is the one he thought to himself and rang at the bell next to the name and awaited for a response. Soon the door opened without any response, and Michael entered the building with no questions asked. He entered the elevator and pressed the button to floor 78, where James had his PI office. An old lady entered the elevator with Michael. A rich and snobby woman as Michael could see by her jewelry and by the looks she gave Michael. She looked him with despise and abhorrence what made Michael mad, and he wanted to hurt her so badly. But Luxuria was in his head, and he needs to find her, everything else is not important now. Floor 78 was next, and Michael exited the elevator spitting on the floor in front of the old woman on purpose. Michael walked through the corridors, looking for the name James Gold, until suddenly he saw it. A large wooden door with golden garnishes. A private investigator with a snobby attitude he judged. Michael didn't know, but simply entered the room, and sounds of television could be heard inside, and he moved towards the sounds. Little time passed when he was a man sitting in his leather chair laughing at some show on the TV. Michael assumed it was Gold, and he assumed correctly. He approached the investigator from the back and overturned the chair what made Gold fall from it onto the glass table nearby, cutting his skin and his face. Michael cared little for what happened, as he had little time to lose, and hatred, anger, and revenge is what took over his heart.

"How did you track me in the pub!?! How did you know I would come to you!?" - Michael asked in anger as he punched Gold in the face with his fists several times, breaking his nose causing it to bleed all over him. Michael hit him in the ribs with his feet and Gold started to spit blood from his mouth, "Speeaaak!!!!" - Michael shouted and continued to hit him, "I don't.....Know...." - Gold said as he grasped in pain and coughed out blood, "I got an anonymous call....He said....You'll be there." - Gold stopped talking as blood filled his mouth. He spat it out, "Who called you?!?!" - Michael raged and continued to hit him in the head, he even elbowed him a few times what cause his skull to crack a little, and Gold bled even more, "Stop....Please....Stop." - Gold lay down in a pool of blood, and began crying out of desperation and pain, "Stop." - Once again he asked Michael and Michael paused, "I will ask you one more time!! Who called you mother ****er and from where do you know about Luxuria?!?!" - Michael asked and he couldn't restrain himself, as his fist flew towards Gold, but James managed to say something, "Winston.....Heartridge." - Gold said, but Michael couldn't and didn't want to stop, and he punched him the final time, splitting his skull open, and nearly breaking his own fingers. But Michael was berserk, and none could resist him now, "Winston Heartridge. I know you ****er. The Old Man's associate on Cambridge Research Institute. Guess that is where I'll be going next." - Michael said as he whipped his fist on Gold's clothes, the parts that were still clean that is. He stood up from the shards of glass on the floor, and left James rot in his own pool of blood, and proceeded to his ship on the outskirts of London.

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"Approaching Planet Cambridge" was heard from the autopilot of Michael's Sabre, and he immediately turned the AI off, and transferred to manual flight. The station known as Cambridge Research Station was just outside of Planet Cambridge, not even five thousand kilometers away and soon Michael came into visual range of the station. A hail came from the Planet, as the authorities check all who wish to land on the complex, "Unknown vessel, unknown vessel, this is Cambridge Flight Control, identify yourself immediately and send recognition codes." - Michael was smart, and The Old Man though him many things, how to mask his recognition signature was one of them. Changing the frequencies of his transponder was easy, and Cryer Pharmaceuticals is what the transponder was transmitting, "Flight Control, this is James Gold bringing testing samples to Doctor Winston Heartridge. Requesting permission to land on the complex." - Michael lied to the Flight Control in hopes they will buy it and allow him to land. The Flight Control had little reason to doubt his words, and they granted him permission to land, "Stupid fools." - Michael said as he turned off the communication system and proceeded to land on the Research Institute. The landing went in order, and as soon as his ship touched the landing platforms Michael changed his clothes, and tidied himself up a little, to avoid suspicion. He exited the ship carrying his case where he hid his blade, convincing the people in the landing bays that it is the shipment case for Doctor Winston. Michael carried the butterfly knife that Luxuria gave to him in his pocket, and he never parted from it, as it always saved him in trouble. And it reminded him of his love.
Michael was wandering through the countless and endless hallways of the Institute. They so reminded him of the Psychiatry he was in when he was younger, making him restless and scared. It was fairly easy to locate Winston, as this is a Research Institute, not a military base, and they do not hide their scientists like a snake hides its legs. The visitors map that he took in one of the hallways, took him to Winston's private laboratory where he waited for the Doctor to come. Michael sat down on a chair in the laboratory, with the lights turned off. He toyed with the butterfly knife in his pocket, closed his eyes, and wandered in past to seek calmness. A few hours passed when the laboratory doors opened, and the lights were turned on. A gray man with a long beard entered. Surely that was Winston Michael thought, and he was correct, as on the name tag of the man in a doctor's robe said Dr. Winston Heartridge. Michael stood up, showing himself to the doctor, on what Winston was clearly scared to death. A strange man waiting for him in the dark. Michael approached him, and Winston was unable to say a word. Michael closed the doors behind him, and locked them.

"Now Doctor." - Michael said as he pushed to doctor to sit on a chair, and crouched in front of him, looking him straight in the eyes, "How do you know about Luxuria? And where can I find her?" - Michael asked him with a deranged expression on his face, while toying with the knife in his pocket, "Luxuria...I don't know.....Don't.....What are you talking about. Please, you have to believe me!" - Winston answered in fear for his life, as Michael came here with only one goal, to find out where he knew Luxuria from, and how can he find her, and of course, leave no witnesses, "Do not lie to me Doctor!" - Michael shouted as he stood up and punched the doctor in the head with the knife in his hand to increase the power of the punch. Blood sprayed over the old man's beard. The Doctor reminded Michael of his Old Man, whom he hated more then life, "You remember Lewis? The ****er who worked with you?" - Michael asked Winston, "Yes, yes I know him! Please stop!" - The doctor said as he spat blood on the floor, and whipping his lips, he was clearly shook from the punch, "Oh you know him? Good, good. Well.....I am his son. And I hate his guts!!!!" - Michael yelled and punched the doctor once again with the knife in his hand creating a large cut over Winston's right eye.
"Now...Luxuria?! How do you know of her? And where can I find her?!?!" - Michael asked the old man and grabbed him by his shoulders and shook him a few times trying to scare him with his deranged expression on his face, "Your name was mentioned by James....James Gold! And he said you gave him the information about Luxuria?!" - Michael asked the old man while backing down a little, allowing him to talk, "No....You were tricked." - Winston said and tried to catch his breath, "I never gave anything to anyone! And I know of no Luxuria! Please, you have to believe me!!" - For some strange and unexplainable reason, Michael knew the old man was telling the truth, and looking at Winston grasping in pain and coughing up blood, Michael realized he was fooled. James would tell anything in hope that it can save him his life, "Pathetic *******! ****ing liar! Arhhhggggghhhhhh!" - Michael screamed in anger and began tossing things in the laboratory all over, "Please...I know nothing....Let me go...Please." - The old man begged Michael with a beaten look in his eyes, "No. I cannot leave witnesses old man. And someone will pay for this treachery! No one makes a fool out of me!!" - Michael said and the old man started crying. Michael took out the butterfly knife from his pocket, getting ready to butcher the doctor in his seat. He was fooled, and it made him angry. Someone has to pay he thought. Michael approached the doctor getting ready for the final strike, and Winston continued crying knowing his long and prosperous life was coming to an end. And such an end it will be, being killed for something he knew nothing about, and had nothing to do with. But Michael cared little for who is guilty, he was tricked, made a fool of, and someone has to pay for that. In his mind, it doesn't matter who, he only wishes to cut their hearts so sin can be seen by the world. In a swift move Michael cut through Winston's neck, opening the artery there and blood sprayed all over the room. Winston's head was shaking as the knife struck his nerves what made the blood spray even farther. Michael was just standing there, with a dull look on his face. He was proud of what he did, but sad as another man's life is destroyed by his hand. How many more lives will he need to destroy for people to see how much he suffered, how much anger does he need to release to find his love. As Winston was bleeding, he finally fell down from his chair, and the dead body hit the floor, resting for eternity in his own blood. Michael's mind darkened once again, as the pain was too great. Will he have to spread his hate forever, or will his love be the end of it, and the beginning of a beautiful life. Michael was out of control, anger consumed him, "Why!!?!?" Where are you love!?!" - He screamed in the laboratory while knocking over tables, computer consoles, papers, nothing was important. Michael cut himself on the hand when he grabbed a monitor and threw it into the impermeable glass, and screamed from the pain. He grabbed his hand with the other one, trying to stop the bleeding, but with no use, blood just kept dripping on the papers near his legs. In all the pain he was in, he saw something, that soothed his mind. An oasis in the desert of pain. Luxuria's picture was there, amidst the million of papers, "Is this possible?! Am I imagining this? Is that you love?!" - Michael asked in desperation as he fell on his knees grabbing hold of the paper on the floor. Only a picture of her was there, no names, no nothing. Some hidden by the blood from his hand, some simply not written. Why is it hidden, and what is her name, will she only be known as Luxuria to Michael for the rest of his life. Suddenly a strong knock was heard on the door, "Dr. Winston, are you alright? Dr. Winston!" - The security banged on the door as they were about to override the security code and enter. Michael realized this is not a fight he wishes to fight, and he quickly took the papers with Luxuria's picture on it, and several others that were near it and fled towards the back entrance of the lab, quickly running to the landing pads to escape from this dreadful place.

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