They didnt get to see the mayor.
Instead, Williams dropped them off outside the NYCEM Headquarters after getting waved through the security checkpoint. The place was a madhouse, with all kinds of army vehicles, news trucks, and ergency tents set up on the neighboring park space around a fountain. The building itself was a great cube so six stories tall, a fusion of gray paneling, blue reflective windows, and creamy vertical stone accents that made it look like sothing out of Minority Report.
A young woman in crisp business attire and rimless glasses was waiting for them, scrolling through her tablet while talking on her Bluetooth earpiece. She was everything Jas was not, the epito of the world hed left behind seven years ago: elegant, clean, perfect skin, perfect poise, young, healthy.
Williams pulled up right before her, double parking with panache. The place was awash in officials, many in military uniforms, people striding in and out of the building, standing in knots smoking or drinking coffees, everybody on their phones, with security everywhere.
The blonde lady tapped her earpiece and looked up as Jas opened the truck door. Mr. Lumberholessjack?
Fuck, he growled. This is going to haunt forever.
Jessica Miles, Assistant to the First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Ergency Managent Departnt. If youll follow ? Ill brief you as we walk.
Good luck, guys! Williams raised a fist. Im subscribed to your TikTok channel, Ms. Serenity - keep us posted!
Will do, hon. Serenity looked more hesitant as she stepped down, her earlier bravado with tcalf lting away before the sheer intensity of political and governnt power on display.
Jas propped his skillet on his shoulder, feeling like an ass but strangely attached to it. Strode alongside Jessica, one hand shoved in his pimp coat pocket, doing his level best to ignore the stares he attracted.
He kind of stood out.
Your TikTok video last night showcases the first docunted example of a Level 3 Lead Aura, Jessica said as she strode through the crowd gathered before the building. Far too little energy has been allocated to examining the personal statistics and the consequences of spending points on any given variation, but your video shocked managent out of their tunnel vision. Were liaising with teams across the country and the federal governnt to analyze the best possible builds, and your spearheading this initiative by going all out on Arete is of imnse interest to us.
Sure, said Jas as they entered through the great glass doors into the echoing lobby. He placed his iron skillet on the conveyor belt then followed Jessica through the tal detector. The guards eyed him dubiously, but apparently skillets werent forbidden. Serenitys Glock 17, however, was held for her until they left.
Jessica led them to a bank of elevators, taking a call on her earpiece and ignoring them till they entered the first elevator, then rose to the second floor. She led them down a busy hallway. The air was alive with voices, people speaking into phones, people arguing with each other, the gravelly tones of military officers, the efficient, clipped language of harassed governnt officials, the sounds of an entire building alive with purpose and filled the brim with people trying to figure out how to survive.
Our departnt contains workstations for so 130 city, state, federal, and non-profit agencies, Jessica said, leading them through the bustling activity. The mayor has expressed a desire to speak with you, but frankly hes swamped. If youll wait here? She gestured at a row of white chairs set against what seed to be a random wall. Ill co let you know when he has a free mont.
Serenity sat without a word. Jas felt a profound weariness descend upon him. What was the armys famous phrase? Hurry up and wait?
Sure, he said, and sat.
Jessica smiled. Ill have soone co bring you water. If youll excuse .
Maybe this wasnt the best idea, Serenity said in a quiet voice.
Jas watched a woman in a starched military uniform whose breast was covered in a wealth of ribbons and dals stride by with six hangers-on, one of whom was earnestly briefing her on sothing.
secured munitions as requested, but logistics is hampered by the loss of power in
No kidding. Jas shifted uneasily. How much you want to bet the mayors forgotten I exist?
Look at all these people. From where they sat they could watch the flow of traffic through an intersection up ahead, as well as the etings taking place inside glass walled eting spaces outfitted with all kinds of fancy tech. Most of the etings featured folks on monitors, while huge displays showed all kinds of data that changed faster than Jas could track, from heat maps of the city to bar charts to spreadsheets.
Wish we had your phone. Jas shifted again. Were going to need to redy that.
Maybe we can ask the mayor for one. And so cash. Tell him we dont work miracles without so drinking money.
Yeah. Jas studied the faces as they went by. They were uniformly tense, but not all-out panicked. There was still a sense of control. Thatll go over well.
An hour passed. Nobody brought them water. Jas was about to get up and just leave when Jessica appeared again, looking more harried, listening intently to her earpiece and gesturing for them to follow without losing focus to the conversation she was part of.
They were led up a floor, down another hall, and then through a reception area into a large corner office with the na Deputy Commissioner Eli Mack on the door plaque.
The room inside was dominated by a huge table, a bank of monitors on the left wall, filing cabinets, a scattering of chairs that were already mostly taken, and a view over the highway and the downtown Brooklyn skyline.
The man behind the desk was old, white-haired, lean, with the look of ex-military to him. He was listening to a heavy-set younger man explain sothing but raised a hand cutting him off as Jessica entered.
Deputy Commissioner Mack, this is Jas Kelly and Serenity, the individuals from the viral TikTok video we discussed earlier.
The deputy commissioner rose to his feet. Good to have you with us. The mayor wont be joining us - hes tied up with the heads of CERT but gave us the go-ahead to talk. Im the Deputy Commission of Response, and this is Mr. Inverness with the CIA, Assistant Director Lin from FEMA, Captain Vischenka from the NYPD, Major Hackworth from the US Army, and Bishop Nolan.
Jas felt like hed been hit across the head with a two by four. He managed a nod to all the inquisitive stares and fumbled for his chair.
Now. Mack sat back down as Jessica moved to stand against the wall with a half dozen other assistants actively typing on their pads. Mr. Kelly. Were on our heels here. Its been less than forty-eight hours since the world went mad. What can you tell us? Do you know why this happening? Who is managing these Neses, and why?
Jass throat closed up. He leaned forward, coughed into his fist, and felt his brow prickle with sweat. Carefully, slowly, as if a rapid movent might get him shot, he placed his skillet on the carpet. I, ah, no sir. Im sorry. Dont know where you got the impression that I did.
Frowns.
Mr. Inverness, a mild-mannered guy with prematurely white hair and black rimd glasses quirked his head to one side. Yet in your video you spoke authoritatively about how to best optimize the use of these unspent points. Where did you get this knowledge?
Firsthand experience, sir. I, ah, I an, we - Serenity and I - we were trapped in a cupcake shop last night, and had to, ah, kill a lot of the gremlins, I an, the Neses, to survive. I dumped all my points in Arete, and it resulted in my gaining this Level 3 Lead Aura that fried the gremlins when they got too close.
But how did you know to spend the points in Arete? This from the FEMA lady. Isnt that an unconventional choice?
I yes. I guess it is. Jas wiped the sweat from his brow. There were people watching from the monitors, another five or six faces that Mack hadnt bothered introducing, half of them military. I guess you could call it intuition, what made choose it. The whole situation was so strange I figured the one thing I didnt understand might be the key to, ah, optimizing my chances of survival.
Over strength or power? asked the CIA man. What is your profession, Mr. Kelly?
Here it ca. Jas sat up straighter. I dont have one. Im holess.
I see. He tapped his tablet. Our records indicate that you were an EMT here in NYC until the tragedy that befell your family. After that, you mostly fall off the radar. Can you explain what youve been doing these past seven years?
Jas felt his chest tighten, anger rise within him, but what the fuck could he do? He glared at the CIA guy then lowered his gaze to the carpet. I told you. Ive been holess. So mostly being cold and hungry.
The NYPD Captain looked at her own tablet. Weve dical records from six months ago. A hit and run?
Thats right. Broke my leg.
And before that, in 2019, an arrest for disorderly behavior. In 2018 a warning for trespassing. In 2016 you were arrested for damaging a parked vehicle while intoxicated.
Serenity glared at the captain. Whats this about? Youre the ones who called us in here. Now youre giving him the third degree?
The captain t Serenitys glare with stoic indifference. Were establishing whom were talking with here. Weve only got one TikTok video to go off of. Credibility is critical if were to believe your story.
Give a break, said Serenity, sitting back.
The point is, were at a critical mont in this developnt. The Deputy Commissioner steepled his fingers. Mr. Kelly, as far as we know, youre the only person to have claid to reached Rank 3 ndicant and developed this aura. Weve registered only two hundred or so individuals who have reached rank 3 or higher, and none of them have gone full Arete. Youll excuse us if were curious about who were dealing with here.
Jas just stared at the guy.
The bishop cleared his throat. If I may? Mr. Kelly, Im Bishop Nolan, here on behalf of Archbishop Connolly. Are you familiar with the term arete?
Yeah. It ans human potential, or how to achieve it. Excellence.
Thats right. Its an Ancient Greek term that has directed a lot of speculation as to the nature of this system were dealing with. Aristotle in his Doctrine of the an uses arete as a asure of things that are useful in life, a goal for education, say. That we should all strive to be useful, to fulfill our potential, whatever that may be. Originally - He caught himself and laughed. And by that I an yesterday - there was speculation that Arete might thus be so manner of cap on the other statistics, and that one had to raise it in order to increase ones stats further, which would be more in line with the Horic notion. Yet you have clearly put that idea to rest. If raising ones Arete results in a stronger Aura, then it seems Arete has a more spiritual nature.
Jas stared at the bishop. All right.
What we need to determine, said Major Hackworth, a handso man who looked just like the old movie star, Errol Flynn, is whether we should establish a doctrine advising people to focus their point expenditure on Arete or not. Is it a tactically optimal move to have everybody develop this system of person defense?
Jas sat back as the others began to argue. More and more he felt his hopes begin to tank. The Third Wave was about to kick off, and yet everyone here was too busy engaging in theoreticals to do anything about it.
Mack listened carefully, then finally interjected as the police captain and CIA guy started getting into a heated exchange. What we need is first a live demonstration of Mr. Kellys abilities. Ive got so eggheads from Columbia University on their way now to help set up so experints. Then we need to figure out optimal ways to accelerate level gain. In the anti, Im going to have to excuse myself, as I need to attend a eting with the Notify New York crew about our ssaging.
Jas stood up abruptly.
Folks leaned back, their expressions indicating wariness.
Serenity and I will be leaving now.
Mack frowned. Youd be best off waiting to talk to the scientists that are coming down. We need to understand your powers better.
No. Saying that word made him shake.
Excuse ?
Im not going to waste my ti with scientists from Columbia. The Third Wave is going to hit this evening. Given what happened to the Second Wave, and how everybodys going to be scared to not acknowledge, you can bet that the streets are going to be overrun with Neses. So Im going to go out there and help as best I can.
People blinked at him. Directors, captains, deputies, assistants, all of them.
Mr. Kelly, said the CIA dude. The knowledge we could gain from your own developnts could be instruntal in -
No. Jas said it again. Theres nothing more to be learned. High Arete leads to ever more powerful auras, which fry gremlins.
Demons, whispered Serenity.
Thats all you need to know. Right now, with my aura at level 3, it kills them about a foot away from . There. Done. You want that ability? Tell your people to dump their points in Arete. Simple. Now if youll excuse .
People started all talking at once, but Jas picked up his skillet, took Serenity by the hand, and marched out the door, through the reception room, and out into the hallway.
Jesus, will you look at you, Serenity said breathlessly. When did you beco so assertive?
With great auras co great responsibilities, he muttered. How the hell do we get out of here?
This way.
They strode down the crowded corridor. Voices were raised behind them. Jas hunched his shoulders. He should have never co here. It was a trap. They were going to force him to comply. Drag him to so lab where theyd throw gremlins at him till it was too late for him to make a difference.
Mr. Kelly! The voice was authoritative, stern, but also with a hint of an entreaty to it.
It was that note that caused him to stop and turn around.
Major Hackworth pushed through the crowd to catch up. At ease. Ive a favor to ask, nothing more.
Jas raised his chin.
If youre going to patrol the streets, allow to assign an infantry fire team to accompany you. Call it superstition, but Ive a feeling youre on the forefront of sothing very interesting, and I want my people there to watch and learn.
A fire team. Whats that?
Four soldiers. Two riflen, one of whom is the team leader, a grenadier, and an automatic rifleman. Ill make sure theyre good people, and make it clear to the officer that theyre to observe and assist. I understand your wanting to be on the front lines, but as far as we know, youre a unique case and an asset. Let the US Army help.
Jas looked sidelong at Serenity.
Sure, she said. On one condition. We need cell phones and so cash. Were broke.
Major Hackworth raised a perfect brow. The army doesnt hand out cash.
Fine. Cell phones, and I need more ammo. Im all out. Another Glock wouldnt go amiss.
We use Sig Sauer M17s, not Glocks.
Fine. Two of those, a thousand rounds, and well baby sit your fire team.
Hackworth nodded. I can make that happen. Can you wait long enough for to provide transport? We can get you equipped and connected to the fire team in one go.
Youre going to give the guns? Serenity sounded startled. For real?
For real. Hackworths smile was grim. Its completely against policy, but I dont think half the people in this building realize how FUBARed we are. So, Ill bend so rules, get you those phones, guns, and ammo, and then you can show my people what you can do.
Deal, said Jas, sticking out his hand.
Hackworth shook it. Give ten minutes. I need to make so calls.
When hed left, Serenity grinned at Jas. Oh man! I think Im going to love being important. Oh shit. We should have asked for a tank.
Jas chuckled, still uneasy, and shook his head. A fireteam. Hope this is a good move on our part.
One way to find out, said Serenity, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms. One way to find out.
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