Transcript from viral video of various statements gathered from the public by Denise Common from Journalistic Netcast: The Common Tongue, regarding Diana 'Silvereye' Ulrich. Posted on Hotgram and analyzed by SynTec Counter-Intelligence.

DC: Silvereye? That name was just put in our news feeds one day when Brian Ulrich made a surprising announcement at Westbrook's September Police Conference. No one knew who Diana Ulrich would become: stopping MALs in broad daylight and spearheading a charity foundation, but you're not here to hear it from me. Let's see what the common tongue of the people has to say after her first three months in action.

"A good lady. Never saw a MAl in my life until footage from that day. She's someone who leads by action and not words, I can respect that. Silvereye...? I think she's a good one."

[Interviewee identified as Erik Henry, male, age 29, construction worker at the docks. Iron BUG Adapter. Tier I. Status: Trustworthy]

"You kidding? Like, I'm totally her biggest fan now! Sexy? Strong? Empowering?! Talk about a girlboss getting shit done! Silvereyeee! If you're watching this, I love you!"

[Interviewee identified as Lauren Mokovich, female, age 21, undergraduate student of Netscape Studies at NCU. Silver SIM Adapter. Tier I. Status: Trustworthy.]

"Hey, mind not getting in my face?! Look, that bitch is just all talk and boohoo, she has power? Well ----ing obviously she has power?! She has a Gold Implant! You want to see someone who's actually making a difference and giving shit to the people who deserve it? That's Dreadwire. When Silvereye gives shit to SynTec or Yuzhou instead of following their orders, then she'll have my respect.

[Interviewee identified as Alice Wilbur, female, age 15, orphan currently employed by a pleasure den affiliated with Mr. Skeleton. Iron BUG Adapter. Tier 0. Status: Potentially Hostile.]

"Oh, Silvereye? Hm. I have a feeling she hasn't shown her true colors yet. Once she's really in trouble, pushed to her limits, then we'll know who Diana Ulrich is."

[Interviewee identified as Mei, female, age 27, current heir to Muramasa Dynasty as 'The Bladedaughter'; fiancé to Mr. Skeleton; Gold Shard Adapter. Tier III. Status: Hostile and designated to be neutralized.]

December 12th

5:44 PM

Diana

"Did you get the same message today?" Sabrina sighed, flicking an annoyed gaze to Belle and I.

"About donating to the Cradles?" Belle looked bored as he read the files I sent. "Yeah? What're you thinking, Diana?"

"You all know what I'm thinking." I didn't hide my anger as the message sat in my box.

Donate your genetic information to a Cradle now!

Now, more than ever, the cradles require high-yield genetics to prepare the next generation of humanity! For every child you help bring into this world, you sow the seeds to rebuild following the Swarm. We even guarantee that should you choose to adopt them, you will have no additional cost.

"I signed up." Belle sighed. "Had me secrete my 'fluid' into a test tube."

"And now you've got a potential bastard in the wilds." I didn't hide my eyre from him. "Just don't treat them the same way I was. Either ignore them, or take responsibility the moment you can."

"Hey…" He turned to me with an honest look. "I get it's an uncomfortable topic, but Cradles… they saved humanity. Pumping out millions of genetically healthy children a year when damn nukes scrambled our DNA in the Collapse, the only reason why we don't have three eyeballs. Besides… I… me and Kim talked about it. We ain't ready for a kid with the Swarm coming. Maybe once it's over… we'll contact the Cradle to make one using our genetic info."

Sabrina sighed. "I did too… just… more since I plan on getting to Tier IV during the Swarm."

"Tier IV…" I sighed. It seemed so far away, every gap in the Tiers bore a larger difference of strength than the one before it. Some came with costs due to all the genetic modifications we'd gone through. At Tier II… I was utterly incapable of having a child now without specific treatment to prepare my body for it. It would dampen my Mutations to keep the kid safe, not that I wanted one.

Not now.

Tier I were more or less still capable of having them, Tier III was even more complicated whereas, Tier IV… you weren't human anymore. No longer a part of the human species, they were known collectively as Homo Ascendens — it was impossible to have a child unless you froze samples of your eggs or sperm prior to getting there.

The Cradles had rebuilt humanity. Almost every single human born today came from one that was activated Post-Swarm. Maybe only nomads weren't. But I… I hadn't come from a cradle mass-producing a workforce.

I was a luxury child, a product. And that was what… irked me.

My father wanted to cast me in an advertisement promoting others to donate their genes to the Cradles. To give them the false hope that their child would be like me.

Such was the burden of my birth, and my parentage. My father had a huge stake in the Cradle companies; my presence was going to raise the price of his shares, just like any other. At the very least, I'd try to raise more money for my Foundation. It was going well, thanks to Starlight's research and a few promising volunteers. By the start of next year, I could begin properly funding many organizations to aid those less fortunate.

If I could help even one person off the streets, it would be worth it.

For now, we were busy as members of ASK. Together with Skeleton's information, we'd identified several Nexi among the criminal gangs. It was startling just how many people were under Soul Killer's control. Particularly, Los Diablos had been hit hard and reports were coming through of a fracturing of their leadership.

A Silver Nexus could manipulate almost fifty individuals, and a Gold could control as many other Silver Nexi. According to Skeleton, there were approximately five Gold Nexi within Westbrook — each hidden and secure.

But Dryder was now in with Crimson Souls. He was also… trapped working with them for now. According to what he told me, Crimson Souls were indeed anti Soul-Killer and the Crimson Heart was… surprisingly friendly.

And scary. She was an Esper unlike any other in the District, capable of completely altering what your mind could see. The Crimson Queen, on the other hand, he said, was fiercely protective of her.

Today, I had the unwelcome job of informing Staff Sergeant Morgan 'Omen' Kirell of what exactly ASK was. Brian Ulrich loved making me uncomfortable.

His office door opened without me knocking, and I saw him with his four metallic arms folded behind his back as he looked far and beyond into the city skyline. "Sit, Ulrich."

"Yup." I said tiredly. "I'm here to inform you that I've received orders from the top… from… the Captain."

"Ishram Krishav. The Leviathan. He wears a heavy crown atop his head, the only Captain still in Westbrook as the others prepare in stations among the Siege Capitals." Omen turned his eyes over to me, the steel baldness of his reflecting the evening light perfectly into my eyes. "Has he also informed you of Muramasa?"

"Muramasa?"

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

"They're quiet." Omen sat down on his chair, facing me with his soul-piercing gaze. "Unnaturally quiet, they have stowed their blades away and are hiding in the shadows."

"Oh… great." I sighed. "I've come to tell you about my duties related to Soul killer."

His bald eyebrows raised. "From the captain himself?"

"From him, my dad… and the rest of their club. Skeleton included." I let my silver eyes burrow into him.

"Yes, we are working with Skeleton. His information is second only to the Dogwhistler, she is proving… less of use now." Omen sighed, his face unreadable. "They're at war, and Skeleton has provided us with the means of combating them, hasn't he?"

I told him everything, from Crimson Souls to the vaccine… to even Dreadwire being an accomplice. There was no hiding that.

As the discussion grew on, it began to rain outside. The city's climate projectors were in overdrive to fight off the frigid Pacific winds.

Thunder boomed as he digested my words. "I see… and I expect you've come to me for more aid to your cause. I have little reason to reject it now that a means of protection of Soul Killer is possible."

Moira said she was almost done. Another week, and we'd have the first batch ready. Ripley's would take a little longer — I stirred in thought for a while. "As for Anabelle, what should we do about her? It's clear that some form of Soul Killer still controls her from time to time, even if it's… not in the hivemind."

"Anabelle…" Omen closed his eyes. "I will be taking over her station."

"What?" I coughed.

"Anabelle was our means to communicate and maintain a relationship with Soul Killer, as soon as she understands we are working against them — her mind will sabotage both herself and the police. We will have her become a martyr." He said it so simply, I couldn't believe it.

"A martyr?" I said with a hiss.

"Her father brought peace to this District. She was a momentary method to extend his grace even after his passing. Once Soul Killer is properly excised, and Skeleton takes control of the greater body of the underworld… peace, even if false, can be achieved."

My ears rang with the reasoning behind it. "You're going to send her to die? Who's going to do it?"

"That, I do not know." Omen sighed. "All I ask is that you let it happen."

"I- I can't!" First Jacob, then Anthony… I wasn't letting a third Grazhe fall on my watch.

"For the betterment of this District, you have to." Omen didn't look happy about this either. "I respect Anabelle, even if her mind is not hers… it is brilliant. She deserved better, but the risk is too grave to remain unchecked."

"Then let me cure her!" I screamed.

"And risk having her mind fracture even further? Much as it dismays me, Soul Killer is the only thing keeping her from breaking under the pressure of the truth." He had gentle eyes when talking about her. "She would still wield immense power; her Mutation is not to be trifled with. This would save her legacy… euthanize it."

"Euthanize? It's murder!" The thunder from outside was now drenching my bones, a fire igniting. "It's a bid to gain control!"

"The last thing I seek is… control. That is a heavy burden, especially for this district." He sighed. "You might be surprised, but not everyone craves your power. I dread it. For when one person has power, others seek to take it from them… Silver is the final step before you cross that threshold, yet even I feel the eyes upon my station."

"And yet, with that promotion, you'll get to Gold as soon as NeoCore's shipment arrives!" I hissed.

He smirked, remarkably. How the hell could he smirk at a time like this? "Did you know it's arriving today?"

"It… is?" I blinked. "That was quick."

"NeoCore can work quickly when they want to… but let me show you why I fear possessing power." Screens flicked all around us, and I drew my breath in tight as I saw many dead police all throughout different locations in the Precinct.

"All murdered in the last ten minutes: snipers, bombs, and ambushes. While you were talking to me, I assigned the rest of your Squad to investigate." He then changed to a different screen. I saw multiple men and women in long flowing robes and wearing Black Dragon masks, and the most odd were a group of violet robed people with Red Dragon masks commanding them.

One was a huge hulking mass of steel in a robe of tattered black. They swung their staff and it broke through a concrete wall like it was made of sand. Another shifted appearances to resemble a police officer, spreading misinformation before flesh and alloy revealed an inhuman, doll-like body, that stabbed into a confused officer's neck. Then I saw screens of blue flame, a woman whose body combusted with it in a cycle of burning and healing.

"Those... are the royals of Muramasa. Is this live?" I said, seconds before one of the views blacked out when shadowy threads shot at the officer transmitting the visuals. "What the fuck is Muramasa doing?"

"Something we can't stop." Omen changed to a different screen. It was a camera view of a fearsome black-armored woman with white blades sprouting from every corner of her body. Her mask was red and white. "That is The Bladedaughter."

She stood on the ledge of a tall building. And then stepped past it into a freefall. The view switched again, this time of an Aerodyne watching the scene as the falling woman landed on something in the air, quickly being whisked away by it. Switching views again, she was floating yet traveling insanely quick on something and struck down. Her claws, long as machetes, caused the air to ripple with light as a compact yet metallic vehicle appeared underneath her feet.

"The shit?" I wasn't sure what I was seeing. Was that the NeoCore shipment?

It changed directions suddenly, swerving past buildings.

Omen gnashed his teeth. "Right now, I am combatting The Dogwhistler as she continuously tears down our digital defenses. I am struggling to contact anyone to stop Muramasa. She's taken control over the NeoCore Aerodyne now — at least now I know she's Titanium."

Screens blinked all around me, dozens… maybe even close to a hundred police members being shot down or cut to pieces as Muramasa massacred us in different parts of the District. I looked at my briefcase, my suit. "Where the fuck should I go?"

"Stay here — you don't have enough time to wear it. Be ready." Omen turned to the window behind us, as I recognized now where the Aerodyne was going. In a blink, a black vehicle streaked past the window.

In a blink, the window was shattered as a Gold Shard Adapter broke through and white claws reached for Omen. Two of his arms severed at once with a clean swipe, blood flashing from his chest as he staggered back.

The attacker was tall, her body cast in a suit of black steel that was sharp no matter where you looked at her. Her white hair spilled from behind her mask as she took a curious glance at me, before charging at Omen.

Dust and debris spilled into the air as every movement of hers cut apart the room we were standing in, yet I felt her Gold and matched it in weight. Electricity stormed into my body as I used Energetic Release to manifest an explosion of electrical energy through my hands.

It intercepted her rush and slammed her into a wall, but not before blades shot out from her forearm, and one impaled Morgan in the chest. He yanked it out, but then that blade ripped free and twirled in the air to take out the last two of four arms. I shot at the sharp steel with my gun just in time, sparking electricity to pull it away.

But six other floating blades launched towards me in a rush of whistling wind. My body charged with the Lightning Tendency, a web of blue sparks latching onto them as I deflected and threw them aside. But each time, they redirected, flowing closer like a spiraling storm of blades.

The Bladedaughter met my gaze behind her veil, unlike every other Muramasa dragon mask — it was red and white. I couldn't blink before she vanished, only knowing a deep pain in my stomach as her claws dug through me. Blood coughed out, her voice slithering into my ears.

"I'll be waiting for you, Ulrich."

Yanking the claws out, she kicked me with her leg, and I felt a terrible pain spill from my ankle as I fell down. Through the tears of pain, all I saw was a bloody stump where my foot should have been. With weakened breath and a trembling storm of dread, I watched as she strode over to the injured Morgan.

A bone-white blade ejected from the scabbard on her side before she plunged it down.

Morgan's body moved by itself, the carpet he'd laid on had slid away. Bladedaughter clicked her tongue. "You're here… sister?"

"I am." The blades that had once been attacking me now stormed towards Bladedaughter, a green glow infecting them. And it wasn't just the blades, random objects around the room flew up with that same glow and converged upon her. With a fluid streak of her katana, everything split apart around the Bladedaughter as mere ashes.

Before a green hand materialized in the air and touched her. The Bladedaughter grunted, before it turned into a laugh. "Oh, at least have the decency to meet me in person!"

Green chains, or paintings of chains spread across her armor, and Morgan stood up as she briefly struggled to move amidst the strange green bondage. His head transformed into a thick set of coils and barrels.

The Bladedaughter broke free at the last second and slashed at something in the air, before a violent flash of lightning exploded upon her and scored her armor with molten red lines. She hissed, not phased in the slightest, and charged back at him.

My arm outstretched, I seized that lightning within her to grab her momentum and fling it the opposite direction. My Warp Energy pained as it moved as quick as electricity, unlike the slow burn of fire, I dwindled myself down to mere sparks in a single action as I telekinetically commanded her to be thrown back outside the window.

My hand felt sore, my entire brain did, like I'd fried my nerves. All I saw was the door opening as a young woman with dark green hair and eyes grabbed my face and opened my eyes. She snatched my severed foot, and painfully stuck it back to the stump before lifting a gun up.

And shot that wound with a pulse of electricity, it was a jolt of power and pain alike, I screamed as flesh and blood knitted itself back together. Groaning, the strange woman merely touched me and I was lifted into the air, tossed right onto one half of a bisected couch. Then she turned to the Staff Sergeant, not saying a word until he did with a groan. "Special Investigator… I asked you to be here five minutes ago."

"I was." Came her reply, her voice harsh but simple. "My physical body was preoccupied."

"Who the fuck is that?" I wheezed, feeling the holes in my intestines clog up.

"Your newest member of ASK." Omen said that more as an order to her than a declaration to me. "Special Investigator Kim Liyung."

"Kim Liyung…" I turned my gaze to the tall, intimidating woman, her eyes were a green as deep as moss. "Oh fuck… you're who Belle is dating?"

Kim shot me a silencing look, and as I felt the contours of her Soul… I jerked back.

Her Soul was everywhere in the room.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.