Prologue: Mission Start

Only the blue hue of the holographic computer screen illuminated the dark office. The features of the man were hidden in the shadows as he sat behind his desk. His eyes were not on the citee lounging on his visitor chair, picking at her nails with a pocketknife but on the computer screen. Hands were folded neatly under his chin as his glasses reflected the images flashing before him.

They were of the citi, his citi to be precise, fighting mutants in downtown old town. They were fighting in the streets up new town Detroit. They were photos, videos and blogs; opinions of the socialites and their pesky bugs. He watched them carefully. One of the cameras zoomed in on Lowell Ferris and his “son” Alastor. The blue haired boy was stoic and unreadable. The next was of him going to school, surrounding by people, humans his age but alone. He was always alone.
Except in this last picture.

It was no secret that Ferris had his own private garden with robotic animals and exotic plants. It was high enough to take in the view of the city around him and beyond the dome that protected it from the sun’s harsh rays. It was also low enough that should a helicopter try to fly near it, it would be shot down due to a violation in city flight regulations. The garden had high reviews and raves from those who had seen it, dined and partied in it. It was not the high reviews or the flora itself that interested the Director. No…

It was the occupants that had captured his attention.

With digital exposure and heat readings, his network of spies and allies had uncovered a little secret of Ferris’s behind that frosted glasshouse of wonder. Stolen property of his was playing amongst the dense fauna, creeping along the edges and always pausing to examine the doorway. It chased Ferris’s son along the little gravel paths and hid from him in play. Alastor was not alone whenever he visited the garden.

“Miss Frost, how do you like the idea of paying Mr. Ferris an…..interesting visit?”