Bitesize 3.9

An advance warning that there won't be an update Sunday. I know we're on different days some of us so this is Friday's update and there will be another tomorrow, then we miss a day.

Bitesize 3.9

Ed didn't know what to expect when he returned. A hero's welcome perhaps? For doing what the Bureau's finest had failed to do over centuries. A round of applause? A pat on the back and a cigar? As it happened, the only greeting for the chopper was a ring of armed personnel, pointing assault weapons at the chopper.
"It's Ok boys." said Ed, climbing out, "He's still under."
A specially constructed stretcher was wheeled out and the unconscious T-alpha hoisted unceremoniously onto it. He was strapped in and wheeled off as a second stretcher arrived for Dennis. Ed put a hand on the shoulder of one of the stretcher pushers.
"When he comes round, tell him thanks."
The chap nodded and strapped Dennis' prone wolf form in tightly and wheeled him off. One of the armed guards made his team stand down and approached Ed.
"You're to go to Briefing Room Two."
"I'm going to go with the T-alpha." said Katia to Ed, "I'll keep you informed."
Ed nodded. He knew Alf would be waiting for him in Briefing Room Two and whether the news was good or bad he could understand Katia not wanting to be present. Mentally preparing himself for the worst he made off toward Alpha Sector.


As he'd predicted Alf was waiting in the briefing room. Ed took a seat and looked at him expectantly.
"Good news?" he asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.
"That all depends on your definition, Ed." He produced the tape recorder. "Crowley bought our story about Odolf's suicide, or at least wanted us to think he did. He agreed on the trade, Raddick for Valentina and your Dad. He wasn't there in person but I think the guy who was is the same guy who broke through the wall in Odolf's tale. I could see recognition in Raddick's eyes. Half expected some trouble but I guess Raddick wasn't feeling so confident after your little confrontation."
"That's what happens when you live for decades thinking you're invulnerable only to have someone find out your weakness."
"Maybe, or maybe he knew how much Crowley needed him." Alf waved the tape and stuck it in the machine. "Your Dad couldn't tell us anything about his time beyond the mirror at first. But he agreed to a hypnosis session. This is what we got." He pushed play on the recorder and the voice of Ed's father came on, his speech slurred and distant, trancelike.
"It's strange..."
"Strange how?" That was the voice of the examiner.
"Like a dream world. Like hearing voices while you're half asleep but being unable to move."
"What kind of voices?"
"All voices, all of them. Like a hive. So hard to concentrate, but his voice, his is loudest."
"Crowley's?"
"Yes, Crowley's. When he talks, they whisper."
"And what did Crowley say?"
There was a lengthy pause before Ed's dad replied.
"He wants the Onigawa inside Odolf. He might have the key."
"Key?"
"To the portal. The portal to bring all the Onigawa back to Earth. One of them has it. Not Raddick, not Leclair. One of the others."
"Back to Earth?"
"They lived here once. They know they did. Crowley wants to bring them back, get their revenge on the ones who imprisoned them."
"Who imprisoned them?"
"I... I don't know. A group of people."
"How did they imprison them?"
"I don't know."
There was a sigh, presumably from the examiner who changed his line of questioning.
"Who is Leclair?"
"A Frenchman. The Onigawa Crowley summoned into him is strong, really strong."
"What about the others?"
"One of them holds the key."
"I think we're done here. We're just going round in circles."
The tape cut off there and Alf looked at Ed.
"Thoughts?"
Ed sat back, raised his arms and linked his fingers behind his head.
"Well Leclair is the wall breaking guy. So we know Crowley has him and Raddick now. And we have Odolf. If one of the others holds this... key... Then we need to find them before Raddick does."
"How?"
"Odolf. He must know some names. Maybe he knows where there are records."
"We can try."
"If Crowley's looking for a way to open a portal to bring the Onigawa through then we need to stop him fast."
"And the rest of it?"
Ed shrugged.
"It would be handy if we could find out who sealed them in the mirrors and how. Maybe we could send Crowley there permanently."
"Where do you want to start?"
Ed frowned.
"I dunno. Speak to Odolf I guess. See if he has answers. If he can't remember anything, hypnosis. Get some people looking for anything to do with Onigawa or secret societies and groups that were active before the legends began. Someone needs to talk to the T-alpha when it comes round, see if it's open to helping us."
Alf nodded.
"I'll see if we can get any information from the German military about the outpost Odolf was at too."
"How's my Dad doing? Can I see him now?"
Alf looked down.
"You can see him sure. But Ed..." he sighed, "His condition has taken a turn for the worst. Being forcibly disconnected from his drip exacerbated the disease."
Ed's face was grim. He'd expected there to be complications but still he felt the pang of pain over this revelation.
"We're doing all we can for him." said Alf. "He's in Beta Sector, room twelve."
"It's ok." said Ed, getting to his feet. "Thanks."
He left the briefing room. Frustration mounted in him now. He'd always known his Dad would inevitably succumb to the disease but so far he'd proven so resilient. Having all this happen now, he felt cheated, robbed. Crowley might not have killed his father but he'd hastened his decline. Once again he prepared himself for bad news and made his way to Beta Sector.