“It seems I am making good time today.” The words escaping his mouth hardly felt like his own.

He looked back down to the chemicals in his hands carefully pouring the contents so that it reached the exact amount in the graduated cylinder. From there he poured it into the mixture he had already created. 

It was interesting work, yes quite interesting. He was kind of sick of it to be honest.

He wasn't quite sure what he made. He wasn't able to retain that much information consciously if he tried. His notes too looked completely illegible to him. He knew that was intentional.

He somehow fulfilled his task as intended, as if he was on autopilot. The more he tried to think about it the hazier it would get. In trying to parse how dangerous the chemicals before him might be, he lost himself again.

He zoned out for some time before snapping back to awareness. “It used to be so easy to remember here but things have gotten worse, haven't they?”

When his hands put the test tube over the burner for a bit too long, the chemicals made a sort of fizzing sound snapping him out of his trance once more. “It's not supposed to do that, is it?” He set down the test tube back on the rack and stepped back, he stared at it for a few minutes.

Nothing happened. He moved back towards it. “That was rather anti-climactic now, wasn't it?” He sighed going back to work.

Nothing quite as terrifying as working with unknown chemicals as your memories distort and fold in on themselves. His foresight ability completely overlooked his dazed actions leaving him unable to predict much of anything at all when he felt this way.

He finished mixing the chemicals and sealed it in a container tightly, if a single bit of it was lost it would waste a lot of time and money. If that were to happen, he wouldn't be able to work on his project this week.

He needed to work on his project. That was the only reason he was still here after all. The only reason. There was already more than enough energy gathered now, he had to keep using it and finish the project.

Even so he saved some excess in a small syringe to be used as some modicum of self-defense if he got himself in trouble.

“If I do get the chance… Maybe I can figure out what they’re doing and why.” He thought out loud.

Whatever it was didn't look pretty and it was sure to sting, unlikely something lethal, however. The syndicate didn't do killing, unless as a last resort. The boss was usually the one to do the honors regardless.

You can't make money off the dead for long after all, there are only so many organs. A finite resource of course. A simple fact of life, it was strange how major corporations dismissed this and yet here in the depravity of it all, the value of life was actually quite measured.

Well, the measurement was mostly in the organs down to the keratin in your fingernails if it came down to it, but valued, nonetheless.

“Now where was I supposed to go again? ...” He looked at the poorly drawn map he was given. “I think I know where this is...” He stated in a confused manner placing the container in a bag.

He finished washing up the lab table and set off to find the unknown place that the map was attempting to show him. Any conscious thought beyond his destination was eliminated as soon as he stepped out of the door again.

He wandered around for a while. “I thought this was it... Apparently it wasn't...” he was now lost, as usual. They made it so difficult for him to remember anything but didn't bother to send someone to make sure he got to the right place.

It wasn’t long after that Orion once again blended into Katz.

The place Katz had come to, was the location of a small gang. It wasn't a much of a distance from where they hid the lab, hardly a few blocks away in fact, but Orion still managed to get lost. Perhaps one of the few areas within city limits left not yet claimed by the Sapphire Syndicate.

At the very least, no one here would be of any threat to him. Orion thought for a second about retracing his steps, but dismissed the thought. The last time he tried doing that he ended up being lost for about three days until the boss came to get him.

He paused for a second, feeling like someone had been following him. He shook his head vigorously ignoring the sensation, he had to get this over with and go back. Orion had already forgotten why, but he knew he absolutely had to return.

He sighed and looked around. This place was not familiar and most likely nowhere near where he was supposed to be. Katz analyzed the area around him and the people in the immediate area. Sadly, no one seemed to be the helpful type, nor did he want to take the risk of disclosing the fact that he was lost.

He caught the scent of coffee nearby and picked up his head. If he could find a place to sit down and relax then maybe he could figure out how to get where he was going. He looked around once more only to realize someone was indeed following him.

“Um... did you require something of me?” He asked somewhat mumbling as he gripped his bag tightly. 

From the alleyway he'd just passed appeared a man, Asher. He was a considerably short man, at least compared to Orion. His blond hair was unkempt but slicked back well enough to keep it off his face. His eyes were a golden brown that almost glimmered in contrast to his dark attire, there was something reddish about his one eye, but Orion brushed it off as a trick of the light.

Orion couldn't tell if the man was a thug or an escort. The platform boots really threw him for a loop on that one. Was he trying to look sexy or intimidating?

“Oh, um...” The man gave him a once over before continuing. “You seem lost, this ain't exactly the safest place to be getting lost. How about I lead you to a better part of the city?” The man gave off a friendly smile. But it was easy to tell he didn't have pure intentions, definitely more on the thug side of it after all.

Katz smiled mischievously; he knew what the man was planning to do. It was impossible that the man wasn't aware his bag contained, well, something interesting. He'd probably try to shake him down for it. ‘A perfect test subject. He’ll get what he deserves.’ A petite man like him would be no problem.

“Thanks... I would like that.” He carefully held his bag and made an innocent looking expression. He never left the house without a good arsenal of defense. He always made sure to be prepared and often times it proved effective. In this case his weapon of choice was a bit of a variable, but it will do. He clutched the bag with one hand and extended the other for a handshake. “Um... So... Whom do I have the pleasure of greeting? My name is Orion by the way.”

He gave his real name, he had no clue why that was, perhaps it was merely because he was playing an innocent role that he felt the need to be somewhat truthful.

Asher smiled with a false shyness, “That's a lovely name, I'm John.” He lied, taking Orion by his wrist ignoring the handshake entirely in favor of leading him away quickly.

It was painfully obvious wherever they were headed was not in any way a safer part of the city. It was dilapidated and mostly abandoned save for a few squatters that occupied the place. Not to mention, right on the edge of syndicate territory. Orion could now sense a familiarity to the area, he didn't think he'd end up so close to where he started. They stopped at a dark alley; Orion was left facing a brick wall dead end.

The man pulled out a butterfly knife, flicking it around with a precision Orion couldn't help but admire. “What's in the bag.” He threatened, his expression seemed to imply he had the upper hand, but he did not. This might have been his first time trying to mug someone, as he wasn't particularly good at acting tough.

Orion stood still and tilted his head, “Eh? What ever could you mean?” He held the bag closely and forced a hesitant smile. Not only where they alone, but the place appeared to be more quiet than usual, it didn't seem like anyone would pass by any time soon.

He analyzed the situation and pieced together various plans of attack. A knife wouldn't be a problem, a gun might be a different story, but the man would've just used that if he had one.

He gave the man a confused expression attempting again to feign ignorance. If there were two things, he knew best, it was the various fields of science he studied and being able to convince anyone around here with his mediocre acting skills. He didn't have a choice if he wanted to survive this situation he was stuck in.

“People don't just wander in this part of city without a purpose, you're selling something aren't you. Give it to me.” The man stepped closer to Orion brandishing his knife again, to be more threatening or to assert dominance somehow. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either works for me, though the hard way is much more enjoyable.”

He smiled deviously then licked his blade in a threatening manner, a childish threat in Katz's opinion. Katz decided it would be for the best too go easy on him; he'd likely never had a run in with someone dangerous. He could tell from the well-kept nails and smooth skin on his hands that the man had never even been in a fist fight before.

Katz opened his eyes widely, making an obscure expression. He looked down at the bag, “Honestly...”

He didn't know what the drug did, but he wanted to find out. He needed this information something to help him flesh out the syndicate's current trajectory. He no longer cared about getting this stuff to the destination, he kinda wanted to sate his curiosity and well, avoiding getting stabbed would also be great.

He would never make it there in time regardless and he had all but forgotten he had a reason to return. 'Maybe I shouldn't do this...' He tried to reason with himself. But his thoughts were interrupted.

“Hurry up, I don't have all day.” The man's impatience only grew by the second. He began moving closer to Katz in a threatening manner. As he closed the gap between them and he was now face-to-face with Katz, it became clear just how short this man was. Their height difference made it impossible for Katz to feel threatened, but he continued to act the part. The man lifted his blade towards Katz’s neck “Hurry it up.” he snapped scowling.

'Does he really think he looks intimidating?' Katz pretended to cower, “Alright, alright, Hold your horses.” He said shakily, he knew if the syringe plan failed, he could snatch the knife from him.

He analyzed Asher thoroughly. He clutched the syringe in his hand being as careful as he could before he began to open the bag. A slight smirk fell upon his face again for but a moment before fading away, he was careful not to break character.

The man rolled his eyes, clearly fed up with him stalling. He kicked Katz’s leg forcing him to the ground. He kicked again as he tried to stand up and a few more times after that to be certain he wouldn't try anything.

His kicks weren't anything to brag about, but they did sting a fair amount. Katz let him take the bag, his feigned expression was something like shock. “Tch. You should've just listened.” Finally with the bag in his hands he got it open to peruse the contents.

“What the fuck is this?” He asked trying to figure out what could possibly be in the container. 

It wasn't any sort of drug the man would be aware of, that much was for certain. It likely didn't even exist before today if Katz had to guess. A mystery to them both.

Any reservations Orion had dropped when the man proceeded to kick him in the face while he was already down, trying to prod an answer out of him. The final straw as it were. “What the fuck is this?” He repeated brandishing his knife again.

Katz coughed and shifted his glasses which were lucky not to have broken. He glared at Asher with a slight smirk upon his lips. He swiftly jabbed Asher in the leg with the small syringe he had been hiding in his hand. It felt almost freeing to be on the other side of this sort of exchange for once. It reminded him of something but only for a moment.

Katz got up quickly and cracked his knuckles, “I believe we shall both find out soon enough.” He eyed Asher carefully, He tried to maintain a stoic expression, but it was rather obvious he looked a bit excited. ”Don't make any sudden movements.”

“What the fuck!?” The man shrieked and fell down, he tried to get up, but he couldn't maintain his balance and ended up back on the ground. 

“I told you not to make any sudden movements.” Katz shook his head in disappointment.

 ”You-!” The man pointed at him accusingly, but his hand soon fell, the rest of him collapsed to the ground soon after. The man struggled to move but couldn't do anything more than twitch. There was a paralytic component, and a fast acting one at that.

Katz inspected him, “Whatever it is, it's fast, probably contains supernatural components if I had to guess.” He laughed leaning over his body. “I honestly thank you for being so gullible.” He lifted the man over his shoulder and looked around a bit confused as to where he was.

“Well, whatever it is shouldn't kill you. So, you don't have to worry about that... For now.” He could see the terrified expression on the man's face.

“I’m kidding… Just feel like I should say... Threats only work if you're actually intimidating, or your opponent is actually helpless. But I don't know if you could even scare a child with that poor attempt. You messed with the wrong person, sure, but you probably could've gotten somewhere if you put more effort into it. Try harder next time.” Katz lectured on for a few moments while he was trying to gain his bearings.

“Wait a second... Ah yes.” He started walking after spotting a familiar sign in the distance. An abandoned apartment complex which only looked abandoned, a number of syndicate members lived in this place now.

“Sorry to do this to you but... Ah, no. I'm not sorry. You did try to mug me, and you did kick me in the face. And you were definitely going to stab me.” He tossed Asher on the ground without care and got out a key. “They used to be such nice people.”

It was Orion, Orion lived in this place. But the man didn't have to know that. And he was a nice person, usually, just not right now and definitely not with this angry little man.

He laughed to himself for a moment before taking the man by the collar of his shirt and dragging him inside. A one-bedroom apartment with a minimalist vibe that made it hard to tell if someone ever lived there. It's not hard to be minimalist when you don't have things. He didn't have a need to decorate a place he could hardly remember to return to anyway. He often slept in the lab in some feeble attempt to retain his mind.

He grabbed some equipment to monitor the man’s condition and first aid supplies in case things turned south. If it were only a paralytic drug, he wouldn't need to do anything at all.

But he doubted that was the case.