Flari Moon

Andrea Office, Chicago - February, 19, 1991

Andrea was looking at Johnson in front of her, tapping her fingers anxiously at the table, she looked at the man there, glaring at him, the entire office was in a strange mood for anyone observing, her guards behind her, both of them looking like they had a scarce supply of gentleness to give and an even scarcer supply of patience.

The room itself was a big office room, a couch on the corner, books on the shelves and one of the new personal computers on one of the corners, Andrea did not like those much but were useful for many things, especially record keeping and other math stuff, Johnson was sitting on the chair in front of her desk and she was glaring at every movement he was doing.

Johnson gave a small smile “Well that is about it, boss, that is all the info I could gather from the police files on what happened to Riley”, he was clearly nervous and Andrea could not blame him, yet it irked her, he was such a slimy man, yet so useful on so many fronts. She tapped the table once more.

“So, Riley is not only dead, gruesomely that serial killer is more than one person and they are probably targeting us? Anything else?” and Johnson scratched his head “And the police has someone from Riley operation under custody”.

She slams the table in frustration “Can it get any worse than that??” her voice boomed through the room as her guards even approached a bit. “What are you doing about it, Johnson?!” her voice was increasingly frustrated with the situation for sure. Everything there seemed to be working against her from two sides now “Do you at least have any clue on who is attacking us? Who are these fuckers that have been attacking MY OPERATION?!”.

He raised his hand trying to make a calming gesture, all she could do was squint at him, he had a slimy expression on his face again as she groans, he leans on the chair “This is a problem now boss because we have no idea who would try to just attack Riley like that... Honestly makes no sense”

She was fed up with all that “Do you have any idea how much of a catastrophe this whole mess is, Johnson? Any idea!?” her movements were precise but yet she was nervous, her bodyguards were noticing it as well. Johnson could just let a small polite and non-confrontational smile, Andrea just found it slimy, she looked at him again as he started to speak once more “Of course I cannot understand the whole thing, but I can figure out that it is pretty bad... What I can say so far, Andrea, is that they will be targeting you... that was a message to you, not the police, the fact that Vieira was there at that time was a coincidence... Her operation should have been a blow”

“Why?” she raised her eyebrow to him

“Because I warned one of Riley men on the police to warn him, I got wind of the operation by some other means and I know he could have been out of there far before Vieira came to him... That attack was to send a message”

“Is there any chance that the attackers have tips on the police as well?” she glared at him

He just shrugged “Possible? Yes, likely? No” he checked a block of his notes “I have a register of all the cops under your pay grade and are a lot of them, Lizzy is in the beurocratic area, and she would notice if someone was getting paid by someone else... No, they are independent somewhat... maybe someone trying to make justice... vengeance... still doesn't fit...”

She got up and grabbed one of her special drinks from the drawer, she deserved it she felt, “Some new wannabe hero then? Maybe going too far? Someone with powers trying to send a message to the mafia... revenge?” she looked at him and drank from a glass after pouring it, she appreciated the punch a bit.

He looked a bit at his notebook and shuffled through the pages “no... I don't think it is anything like that, boss, really I don't know what it is, just that it creeps me out... Here” he went to his backpack and grabbed a folder “This is a copy that I managed to grab of the precinct, these things are being kept at lock and key, they really do not want anything leaking” he winked and she groans. Reaching for the folder.

She reaches for the folder, his hand was still over it, he smiled again “Oh and boss, these are not photos for the faint of heart~” he gives out a laugh, she glares at him “fuck you, Johnson, let me see what we are facing...” he kept his hand there for a moment more, this time with a serious expression “Boss, my recommendation is for you and any of the higher profile people under you to increase security, a lot” his voice had changed tone drastically, she looked at him now differently, he never spoke like that unless he was dead serious “I do have powerful guards, Johnson” - his response was almost sharp - “So di Riley, do not play around boss, I do not hate you” he looked at them “I've gotta go, you three take care, alright?” he smiled and walked out, closing the door behind him.

Andrea stared at the folder for a few seconds after he left, opening it, she saw the degree of violence used, being used to gruesome things like she was that did not affect her much, but the sheer spectacle of it felt... Different to her, just killing Riley in some gruesome way and leaving to the police or someone to find would have been enough, but this had spectacle. She narrows her eyes as she looks at the photos and notes of the investigation, one of her guards approached, a tall woman of 189 centimeters, muscular, she had super strength as well.

“What you think, boss?” she leaned in rather warmly close to Andrea, who looked at her for a moment and then back at the photos of the scene as well as the reports. “I think it's strange in many ways... It clearly is a message to us... A big spectacle of a scene at that, very angry and very violent as well” she looked at the scene “They have strewn three bodies in a blood cross, all religious like, all the divine messaging written in blood, the rest of the corpses placed like that to set the stage... A stage in which we are observers, an inversion of holy symbols, edgy” It irked her in many ways really. She reached for a rosary on the side of the table for a second before she looked back at the photos, now looking at what they found.

Her other guard approached a bit also looking at it, her hair was reddish, her eyes glow a bit as she observed everything, pointing at one of the photos, it showed one of the security guards from the warehouse, dead on the side “This one was not spread like the others in the ritualistic sense, why ?” she looked at everyone “They took a while placing everyone there and that poor bastard just dies in the wall?”

Andrea tapped her fingers on the table “No idea... whoever is doing it might just be mad... Or there is a pattern here... But the message is not only clear... It is loud, we cannot appear weak or someone else might start having ideas” she grabbed her phone calmly and typed a quick number on the keyboard, waiting to be picked up “Anton? Yeah... I'm giving the order now, increase security at everything, at every shipment, at every movement, pay the police as well as the inspectors, I'm taking control of Riley operation for the time being, be quick, and call Caterina, tell her to find who did this and deal with them” she didn't even wait for an answer and placed the phone back on the base.

“Caterina, Boss? Are you sure? She is a bit... unstable... Too much of wild card, I can go, deal with these self-important little shits” The red haired one, Nora Preston, spoke a bit concerned

Andrea just raised her hand “No, I need you both with me. After Riley, they will try to assault the fortress if they want to take the operation down or ... even take it over, they are not police and for what I see they won't be bought either or reasoned with, they declared war on us... And a war needs a mad dog sometimes” she smiled “Caterina will do just fine.” she looked at them both, pulling Nora for a deep kiss before she looked at the entire place “We have a small purge to do, whoever did this knew where Riley would be... Nora, go now, grab everyone who even had a hint of knowing where Riley would be, we will start asking questions here... We will find who fucked with me and I will have them dealt with appropriately”

You can usually find books on witchcraft, yes, but there’s also field guides on local foraging and wildlife, cookbooks, books that teach you how to craft and DIY, books about environmental protection and stewardship, books on how to use herbs medicinally, books about other religions, cultures, and spiritual practices. My favorite local library even has a seed swapping program and fantastic resources to research your own family history!

Just chill and do fanfic like the rest of us.

No, really, you are not entitled to the creation act itself because you spent money and even less because you like that work, I would love that more of my old shows would return, more would be made, yes, but sometimes it's just "yeah that is nice" and move on...

You are not entitled to receive 'content' or to consume art, try and sip it, try and digest it, try and feel it.

Cop Bar, center of Chicago — February 17, night, 1991

The cop bar was full that night; Bea and Erin walked across the bar, through different people, laughing, brooding, and just talking around; the music was at a low volume, audible but not enough to cause trouble; they both walked towards the final part of the bar. A stall with cushioned seats. Both ordered their drinks. They came on glasses.

They both sit in there, and Erin waits for the drinks to arrive. She sat close to Bea, leaning in a bit “So, what is on your mind?” She knew Beatrice very well, including when the woman was brooding.

“Nothing much… Well… Just all that happened today and yesterday... and all that mess... I can't take the scene out of my head” she said softly cupping her glass with a brown liquor in it, lost in thought.

Erin frowned a bit. “Yeah, it was a lot.” She gently laid her hand on top of Bea's arm; their backs were turned to the rest of the bar, the most discreet area there.” She smiled. “I'm here… speak, please...”.

Chicago Central Hospital — February 17, 1991

Beatrice walked into the hospital room. She had posted Guiding Star and Erin as guards of the sole survivor of the ordeal. The scene was gruesome and was still on her mind. For some reason, it appears that her operation had crossed paths with Johnson's investigation. Why would the serial killer do that?. What was even happening, she was unsure, her mind was racing and she knew she would need answers.

A traveler moves through the world that collapsed a long time ago, collecting stories and fragments from the past, she looks for memories, past and new, she looks for what happened, come and see, discover the wonders and horrors of this world, the horrors of war and hate, the touch of love, come and see the tales of the Collapse.

This story will be updated on a more sporadic schedule

February 6 – 1991 - Some dirty place in Chicago

"So... Barry... What are we lookin at here ?" he said after looking at the rather gruesome scene, Barry was an older man, he was in his 50s already going into his 60s, but he looked healthy as a bull to detective Johnson who felt he was falling apart at half Barry age, still he looked at the scene.

A corpse was strewn about in a cross like position, blood painted a whole cross around him on the floor, Barry looked back at Johnson "The victim is Jim Irons, meta human, was a small time hero around here, very small time, he was not all that powerful as well, all he did most of the time according to people was to walk around and stop some bar fights or do some security gigs... " he looked at the boy on the floor "22 years old, powers included super strength and super resistance, nothing to write home about".

The detective was Barry "not liking how Barry was evading the main point, it made him uneasy, but he decided to press a bit "How did he die, he said, looking at the scene forensics man that looked a bit distraught "Someone exploded his heart in... The strength of the punch was enough to break all his rib... that is not the most fucked up part..." he took a deep breath "Somehow whomever did that also, well, drained the blood out of his body".

Johnson was surprised "Exploded... how?" and the man shrugged "no idea... it just exploded... like from inside out... He has no heart left, and his blood is all over the place around here". Johnson raised an eyebrow, that was a new one, Barry always had some theory on what happened, well, considering the circumstances was not surprising, "Any known MO that we can pin on someone? Mafia ? Maybe some drug lord?" Johnson said almost with protocol, he didn't believe that any of those would be so loud.

Barry confirmed "Not that I can see... Too religious looking, some random drug lord or Mafioso would just have the boy dumped in the river or the lake or ... well Anywhere really. No... Also, it is not personal... too crafted for that and no signs of torture..."

The Detective didn't like where that was going, having a potential serial killer was the last thing he needed right now. "What are you saying?" - "You know what I am saying, detective" - Answered Barry. "I need to hear someone speak" he responded a bit at a loss.

Barry looked and sighed "Detective... This was ritualistic, too ritualistic... It is likely we have a serial killer" Johnson sighed "Fuck!" he grabbed his phone "I gotta call the commissary" he said while moving away.

That day was being shitty, and it had barely started.

Johnson spent the rest of the day reporting everything to Commissary Joanna Heart, she decided with a few members of the city council and the mayor that it was better not to release things to public for now and start investigating. They chose Detective Johnson to head the investigation.

"Fucking Luck of mine..." he was not amused, he could not turn it down, it would be a bad look for him and his companions and business. He groaned as he walked into the direction of his usual night bar, he had a date, not the kind he liked at least. The scene from earlier was still on his mind, he had a hunch that would not be possible to sleep while sober.

The bar he enters has a security guard, a meta man with steel skin, he recognizes the detective with ease and waves, the detective himself goes in after waving back and taking in the scene. The bar itself was quaint, all around made of wood, reminiscent of prohibition era. He sat down and looked around, "Bill, the Usual... double please".

Bill was a nice bartender, on his 20s, he didn't speak much but was good at what he did, however this time his expression was puzzled "You are not the type to be looking like that, you are usually smiling like a scumbag" he said as Johnson sighed "gee... thanks for the pep talk... work was messed up" the bartender looked back "I wonder what is needed to get you squirming like that..." Johnson sighed and grabbed the drink when ready, enjoying every sip of it.

Things stayed silent, people coming and going for a while until someone came in, Andrea Marconi, Johnson sighed, "shit" he muttered under his breath, and she was coming directly to him with her two meta girls always around her. He faked a smile "Boss! How can I help you?" he looked at her and waved his glass, she looked and judged every moment and every little movement he did.

"Oh, now you want to help me? I want to know why the bitch is still alive? Mmm?" her eyes were focused and sharp enough to cut glass, she probably could cut glass with one of her meta girls around her, he didn't like that, he waved her "Look boss... You know how things are, not always things go like planned... I was... held up" he seemed annoyed but didn't want to upset Andrea even more, and she didn't seem willing to be pissed off even more. "Held up... what could be more important than doing the things I pay you to do ?" she looked at him with scrutiny, and he sighed, he looked around and finished his drink "Not here... Let's go to the office" he said.

She was a bit taken aback but nodded as she went with him, as they enter into a small office area, it had a couch and a shelf full of ledgers and data, it also had a personal computer there on top of a desk. He looked at her with a distressed look as she impatiently spoke "Well... go on then, what can be so important?" - He then took a deep breath "There is a serial killer in town... A nasty one at that and likely a meta one at that..." she looked at him "Worrying, but what do we have to do with it?" and he sat down on the couch of the office and pinched the bridge of his nose "Well lets just say I was place in charge of the investigation".

"Fuck!" were the only words leaving Andrea mouth as she heard it. "Yeah, my exact reaction... This one is also fucked up... Like seriously so, I have seen my fair share of death and bullshit, but this is ... fucked up".

"Fucked up how?" she said and sat on the other side of the couch as he replied "So far they found only one meta dead... everything was so... ritualistic, disgustingly so, they removed the whole mass of the boy blood and spread out in a cross and weird symbols", Andrea raised an eyebrow "And you know it is a serial killer with one death?" and he nodded "Yeah I do... everyone did... too ritualistic... it was left there for us to find which means... there are other bodies around."

Andrea clicked her tongue, that could go either way for her, Johnson knew that, more police around asking questions was trouble, they could either start finding her stuff or be so distracted with a serial killer that her business would go unnoticed for a while, regardless it was a coin toss, and she would do all in her power to stay out of the police radar.

"Regardless... That is not of our concern right now, when can you put down the bitch that is annoying my business?" then his gaze focused on a random ledger "I will try to stall the investigations and then claim I cannot continue with them after a month, they will just get someone else to go after the killer while I can go low profile again." that answer didn't seem to please her. "A MONTH?".

He cringed a bit after the scream "Yeah... that is the minimum, look boss I am good... I had it all figured out, I even tried to get out of the deal with the Commissary, but the mayor got involved and all that... I could not deny it without being too suspicious" despite accepting that explanation she didn't like it one bit "So what... are we supposed to wait a month?" - "You could always get someone else to get the girl where you want it" he said nonchalantly, and she groaned "no... She blinded herself for the last YEAR! You get me, she got herself a whole team of wannabe heroes that are hard to get each one of them, she even operates into a different place from the police! We cannot just toss this opportunity, you are the only one close enough to her at this moment... I suppose a month is not that bad" and Johnson smiled "That is what I thought! I will be drinking if you need me, boss"

A charity does not care if you're only donating because your religion says you should; either way, your money is still going to help people. That little old lady next door does not care if you only help her with gardening because being thanked makes you feel good, it's just nice to have some extra hands.

What an utterly cruel thing to tag this post with while completely missing the point. This post was about reassuring people with low and non-existent empathy that they are capable of being kind and doing good, even when they aren't feeling the "right" emotions.

What exactly are the oppressed supposed to do to protect themselves and their families and their land that's acceptable for you?

Are they supposed to sit down and write love letters?

Are they supposed to sit down and wait for the world to pressure Israel into no longer oppressing them? I mean it's been more than 70 years, how much longer should they wait for nonexistent International aid?

How many more years of western media acting as though "those Arab terrorists" and one of the most advanced militaries in the world protected behind an iron dome funded by western nations are on the same level and that it's an equal conflict, are we supposed to witness?

How many international war crimes do Israel have to commit without facing a hint of consequences before it becomes clear that the majority of western nations do support Israel and do not want Palestine to be freed because it would be inconvenient for them?

How did you think we were gonna fight for Palestine?

by trending hashtags? by simply preaching "decolonisation" without physically doing anything? By voting? (lmao) be serious.

This is a war that's been going on for decades. Not some playground shit. Palestinians have been oppressed for decades. Hundreds of innocent Palestinians are murdered every year in cold blood. Hundreds are displaced. The people of Gaza have been trapped in one of the biggest open air tightly controlled prisons for a very long time.

Realistically speaking, this horror and this war is not gonna end by Palestinians sitting down, twiddling their thumbs and hoping the state that's shown no mercy and stopped at nothing to try and erase them will show them kindness and mercy all of a sudden.

This is the same state full of civilians that go around chanting "death to Arabs" on their own holiday. The same state who's soldiers and civilians make it a tradition to attack people simply praying every ramadan.

You think those people will stop trying to gain more land and wipe out Palestinians with treaties, kind words and gifts?

When will it be acceptable for Palestinians to defend themselves and for those in Gaza to try and break free from their prison?

What exactly were you expecting?