The next few days were tumultuous. In Central Ardour, a busload of students crashed into a government building. News headlines speculated that the driver had been intoxicated. Three children died and several sustained serious injuries. As a result of this, a ripple effect was created. A couple of people transformed into clients, which only gave dozens more a catalyst to change.

I was working non-stop. Even with back-up teams, we were still overloaded. Some clients took twenty minutes to convert back, others took hours.

As I talked clients through their miseries, all I could think about was the man in the automation. He was supposed to be a protector, yet he was part of the single most violent group in Adour.

I considered my options. If I told the Department of Psychological Defence and showed them the proof, he’d be out of a job. However, there was also the possibility that Mateo would become involved more greatly with The Slayers if he was let go from his job. If I confronted Mateo, perhaps I could find out why he was doing this. There must be a reason why he’s so hellbent on killing clients.

As I watched a client I had just reverted leave in a black van, a call came through my headset.

“Team Vygotsky, we have a client on the rooftop of Hope Garden Community Hospital.”

The mellow voice belonged to Dr. Pradhan, an associate of Dr. Bourne and lead researcher for the DOPD.

“What’s its status?”

“Level two choleric, waxing. We’re not certain of its origin, nor its catalyst. The hospital was evacuated before we could do a proper headcount.”

“We’re on it.”

I flew towards the direction of the hospital. Mateo trailed behind me and Ernest, Suzuka’s temporary replacement, soared above me. Ernest clicked his tongue.

“On top of the hospital where the bus kids were sent? Wonder if it’s one of them.”

“Potentially.”

I wasn’t sure what else to say. Mateo’s silence made me feel sick in the pit of my stomach. If he wasn’t working now, would he have been on his way to kill this client too?

“Jesus Christ!”

Ernest’s anxious exclamation as we saw the client was well deserved. Sitting at the very top of the hospital was a colossal white lion. It had to be at least 20 feet tall. Its mane was a pulsing orange and red fire. Looking at the lion’s face made my eyes sting. I blinked several times, black spots dancing in my eyes. It was like gazing at the sun for too long.

I quickly activated the UV visor on my exoskeleton just in time to see the lion baring its pristine fangs. It was darting its head down at the busy streets below it and batting one of its paws. Its body movements reminded me of a cat that was on the verge of chasing down a rodent.

“It looks dangerous.”

Those were the first words Mateo had spoken since we’d taken to the skies. I knew exactly what he wanted to do, and I wasn’t going to let him do it.

“Remember Mateo, dangerous animals don’t always mean dangerous clients.”

“Maggie, it’s a huge angry lion with a mane made of fire. You saw how sharp its teeth are!”

“Let me try to talk to it first. Ernest, keep at a safe distance.”

As I approached the client, I began trying to decode the symbolism of the animal before us. The words majestic, royalty and power came into my mind. Someone with great courage perhaps? Suddenly, a furious rumbling voice boomed at me like a rolling thunderstorm.

“Come any closer and I’ll kill you.”

“That sounds pretty dangerous too.” Ernest added.

I want to snap at the rounder for his remark, but I knew I needed to keep my cool. I had to find out the client’s name before I proceeded with anything else. Familiarity was key.

“Okay, I won’t move.”

I stopped several feet away from the lion. It narrowed its yellow eyes and began swishing its tail in an agitated manner.

“I’m Maggie, what’s your name?”

“Nemesis.”

The client was using a pseudonym. Fantastic, more symbolism to work with.

“What does that mean?” Ernest asked through the private intercom.

“He sees us as his enemy.” Mateo growled.

I was afraid that Mateo was jumping to conclusions, but he did have a point. That was the definition of nemesis. Something seemed to be nagging at the back of my mind though. Where had I heard that word before? A Greek myth?

Before I could ask Ernest to search the term nemesis in our database, the lion stood up. The building creaked under its paws.

“It’s going to attack.” Mateo hissed.

“Nemesis, Nemesis what are you doing?” I asked.

Ignoring my words, Nemesis peered over the edge of the hospital. The client’s deep voice tittered in an unnerving way.

“There you are.”

The lion arched its back and its eyes dilated. Nemesis had found its target and like a hungry predator it was about to strike.

“Maggie!” Mateo shouted.

“Deploy the paralysis net!” I yelled.

Ernest shot a fine web out of a claw at the front of his aircraft. Simultaneously, the lion pounced off the hospital. The net clipped Nemesis’s back legs. The lion let out an agonised roar and lost its poise. Tumbling, the client smashed into an almost empty carpark to the left of the hospital.

I shot down towards the lion, looking for any civilians. There were several terrified citizens running away from the fallen client. Two people, a man and a woman, were trapped from escape by the lion’s paw.

“I’m getting them.” Mateo said, rushing over to their aid.

I gritted my teeth. After instructing Ernest to cautiously secure the client down and do the database search, I soared over to Mateo. He was standing beside the fallen client and reaching out to the trapped citizens. They were shouting and pointing at the client.

“It’s okay, I’m here to save you.”

Mateo’s soft, smooth voice returned. It had been a while since I last heard that. It felt like a façade now.

The scared couple climbed onto the hand of Mateo’s automaton. He carefully held them as he flew over the client and placed them on the street. It was reminiscent of a young child cradling a baby bird. I didn’t have much time to ponder on this as the client began to move.

As the lion shifted, a muffled scream erupted from under one of its massive paws. My blood froze. It had someone trapped under there. That’s what the other civilians had been making a fuss over.

I flew closer. A large pink head had popped out from under a clawed paw. His eyes were bulging wildly, and thick veins were swelling out of his sweaty temple. His eyes darted to me and he began shrieking.

“Oh God, help me! It’s crushing me!”