Virgil was seated in his usual chair while Fii occupied herself by perg on the edge of a filing et, leaning against wall. An open map of the slums read out in front of them, dispying the locations where they had each scouted. Several red dots marked different spots within the shantytown, each corresponding to a reported sighting or i.

  "So, how'd the Night Market go?" She inquired. "Find anything iing?"

  Virgil rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Got the intel from a few trustworthy dealers, but the buzz has been quiet, even for the market. Seems like this Shiver stuff hasn't been a hot odity, which means there's not mufo cirg. Everyone's in the dark, and the gangs aren't talkiher.

  He tapped his pen against the desk absently, pting. " As far as I tell, the Neon Vipers' got everyone spooked. They're the ones distributing it." He scrawled a small note in his notebook. "Not surprised, holy. It was either them or the Neon Knights, sih deal with narcotics around that district."

  Fii hummed thoughtfully. "That tracks. Someone I know warned me about them. I met with this guy, uh...Quinn, that's his name. Nice guy."

  "Did you, now?" Virgil raised an eyebrow, shooting her a sideways gnce. "Was this while you were suited up as Axion or...?"

  "Yeah, of course, duh." Fii huffed, rolling her eyes. "Doesn't hurt to make es, y'know." She swung her legs, kig her heels against the metal drawer behind her. "Anyway, I bumped into him yesterday, aold me all about a gang leader named Kasumi. Wears a mask, and calls herself 'Cobra.' She's apparently the head honcho of the Neon Vipers. Ever hear of her?"

  Virgil's eyes widened momentarily before narrowing, his expression turning grim. "Yes, unfortunately, I have. Viper Vaughn's her wo, and a nasty sonuvabitch, too. They used to operate iropolis years back before the Ultimate Guardians booted them out. Sihen, they've been squatting in the slums, dealing drugs and racketeering." He shook his head and grumbled, "Thought I'd see of those jackasses..."

  "What about the Neon Knights, the ang? Anything about them?" Fii queried, leaning forward ily. "Do they deal with the Vipers at all?"

  "Dunno," Virgil admitted, scratg his stubble. "Been out of the loop til retly, just before I started training you. Could be a turf war going on, or perhaps a partnership. Either way, it's a real goddamn shitshow. If it was any other narcotic, fine, but Shiver's a wild card, especially if it's affeg people differently."

  "Did Edith figure anything out about that?" Fii pressed. "It sounded like she was still testing the samples I found."

  "She's been holed up in her b for the past couple of days," Virgil revealed. "Says she's w on a 'breakthrough,' but won't say anything else. Doesn't want to get our hopes up, or so she cims."

  The door to the basement opened, ah desded the steps, her b coat swishing behind her. Her hair was tied ba a loose bun, and she looked a bit paler than usual, as if she hadn't slept in days.

  "Fii, you should really learn to keep your helmet on so I tact you over the s instead of me having to walk all the way here and waste valuable time." Edith sighed wearily, but her tone cked its usual bite. "Anyways, I've finished analyzing the Shiver sample you retrieved for me. There's a lot more I o do, but I've found a few preliminary results that you may find iing."

  She moved toward the table and spread her haablet atop the map. A holographic s flickered to life, projeg an image of a microscopic cellur structure.

  Hey! I kinda know what that is! That’s eople are made out of!

  Fii smiled to herself. Somehow, learning all about the sce stuff over the past few weeks had been easier pared to when she first started. She didn't kly why, since she still thought that a lot of it was b and plicated, but it did make uanding what Edith and Virgil were talking about a little less intimidating.

  "You see this, Fii? This is the structural position of a normal human neuron, taken from a healthy person. As you see, there are several brang dendrites, axons, and synapses, all eg and iing with one ahese structures transmit impulses between the neurons, resulting in chemical signals. When the impulse reaches the terminal button, or sy stimutes the release of a ransmitter, such as serotonin or dopamine, and that ransmitter travels across the synaptic cleft, a tiny gap between the cells, until it binds to a receptor on another adjat cell. This process repeats itself endlessly, resulting in thought, movemeion, everything, really."

  She gestured to a sed image alongside the first. "Now, this is the cellur structure of someone uhe influence of Shiver."

  On-s, the neuron's branches appeared darker, thicker, and more bulbous, resembling a tangle of roots.

  "Notice the extra growth and infmmation in the dendrites and axons. These are abnormalities that only occur during Shiver's toxic withdrahase."

  Edith zoomed in further, highlighting the intricate fiments that lihe cell's nucleus.

  "These fiments are what are responsible for the halluogenic effects. Upon ption, they immediately ehe bloodstream and travel to the brain. Ohere, they embed themselves into the brain's nerve endings, disrupting the normal electrical signaling and causing a severe rea. Over time, the amount of these fiments increases expoially, resulting iid uable behavior. The individual will experience heightened levels of euphoria, followed by a gradual crash, culminating in rage, paranoia, and seizures, leading to catatonia, a, ah."

  She folded her arms across her chest, frowning. "Unfortunately, there is no antidote currently known for this. Only symptomatic treatment and ma of acute withdrawal is possible, although even that es with signifit risk."

  "Guess the guy I found was lucky I found him when I did and brought him to you," Fii mused somberly. "Probably would've gone berserk and killed someone."

  Edith's face remaiony and dispassionate. "Most likely. Even now, the ce of him dying from plications is still high."

  Virgil and Fii exged a pained look, clearly distraught by the revetion.

  Edith tinued, unfazed, "In addition, the presence of these strange fiments indicates a higher intelligence is at work. Creating a substance capable of altering one's physical aal state, particurly with such specific effects, is extremely sophisticated. The fact that only some of the users suffer violent halluations while others feel euphoria suggests that the dosage is being calibrated based oic factors, such as metabolism and drug tolerance. Add to that the fact that the dose of these fiments increases over time, and you begin to see the scale of the issue. Whoever created this drug has advanced knowledge of both chemistry and bioteology. Which leads me to my final point."

  Edith's finger jabbed at the proje, indig the stem-like protrusioending from the nucleus. "The appearand fun of these structures strongly suggest geiipution of the inal psychoactive pound. In other words, whatever we're dealing with has been artificially altered. Geigineering at py. The sheer level of sophistication is astounding, and frankly, quite frightening."

  She turned her gaze from the dispy tard Fii and Virgil coolly. "The drug is highly addictive, the withdrawal symptoms are severe, and the victims bee violent and homicidal. I don't know why someone would circute this within the slums, uheir goal is to create chaos and panic. But clearly, they're pying a dangerous game."

  Fii blinked slowly as she processed the information. Even with everything she'd learned, she felt overwhelmed by the influx of data, unsure of how to respond. "Um, so...what do we do now? Should eople? I mean, I could put out some word oreets, get the message out as best I , and hopefully keep the damage to a minimum, at least for the time being."

  Virgil puffed on his cigar, exhaling a plume of smoke. "We don't even know where the source is, though, and I doubt anyone in the Night Market has the answers." He stroked his beard ptively, weighing his options. "Then again, we do know who the major pyers are in this area, he Neon Vipers. We track them, find where they're getting their supply, and follow the trail back to whoever's cooking up the stuff."

  Fii straightened, eager to tribute. "Maybe I could get more information from my tacts! I've already gotten some leads from some friends I trust." She tried not to sound too excited, but she couldn't hide her eagerness.

  The truth was, she wao be part of this iigation, not just a tagalong, especially now that she knew what they were dealing with. This was bigger thay gang disputes and small-time crime, and the implications of what Edith was telling her...well, it scared her. There were already too many addicts in the slums; the st thing they needed was something worse out there.

  "Well, as long as you keep a low profile and stay out of trouble, I guess it wouldn't hurt to iigate further." Edith aowledged relutly. "Remember, keep your identity as Axion a secret. Don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself, and keep me updated, uood?" She peered at Fii expetly.

  Fii saluted her smartly, grinning cheekily. "I know, I know. I've been doing this for months now, remember?" She hopped off the filing et, nearly losing bance as she nded on unsteady feet. "Oof...heh, easy does it. Anyways, I'll try to reach out to people, see what they know. I'll let you guys know if I find anything useful."

  She spun on her heel and strode toward the stairwell. Before leaving, she paused and gnced back, shooting them a small, reassuring smile. "Don't worry, I'll be careful."

  As she asded the stairs, she caught a glimpse of Edith's lips curling upward in an amused smirk.

  As night fell, Fii wandered bato the Neon Night Market, disguised once more in her shabbier, street clothes.

  Wait, when was this a disguise? This was her usual outfit. The bodysuit a were the disguises. Wait, no...whatever.

  She made her way through the neon-lit market, avoiding the worst of the crowds, aually ended up at The Crimson Cw. It seemed like as good a pce to start as any. She ehrough the side alley entrance, slipping past the bouncer without i aering the lounge.

  The bar's patrons were more rowdy than usual, with fights breaking out and the floor stained with blood. A few brawls had spilled outside, as well, and a group of thugs were scrapping in the alley, pung and kig each other in a frenzy.

  Fii approached the bar, weaving her ast the mass of writhing bodies, and took a seat at the ter.

  The bartender gnced over and raised an eyebrow. "Well, if it isn't my favorite little straggler. Where you been, kid? Haven't seen ya tely." He shot her a knowing wink and pced a bottle of beer in front of her, wiping the densation with a cloth. "On the house, but don't go overboard."

  Fii ughed. "Thanks, Zig. Been busy with odd jobs, y'know? Earned a few chits, mao eat some real food for once. Ain't gonna turn my nose up at a free drink, though." She popped the cap and took a sip, sav the bitter taste of hops and alcohol.

  Zig leaned against the tertop, scrutinizing her shrewdly. "So, what brings you by? Not to insult you or anything, but you normally stay away from pces like this. Especially on a fight night." He gestured to the crowd behind her. "Business has been real good, as you see. Got most of the Neon Vipers here tonight. Some Neon Knights, too. Look like they're ready to kick the shit out of each other at a moment's notice."

  Fii took another sip and sed the room. "So I've heard. Kettle's always boiling, huh?"

  Zig snorted derisively. "That's an uatement. Word is the Vipers' been running the show, and the Knights ain't too happy 'bout it. You gotta uand, though. Vipers been dealing in this distrionths, ever since Cobra Kasumi and her crew showed up. They been putting a lot of pressure on the Knights, f 'em to move outta the Neon Market. Pissed 'em off royally, apparently."

  Fii set down the beer bottle and cleared her throat, speaking in a lower tone, "Heard from echoes in the alley there's been some uff floating around. Is that true?"

  Zig sighed and lowered his voice, matg her volume. "Afraid so. Apparently, the Vipers got their hands on some new product, somethin' real strong. Some kind of weird, syic psychedelic, I heard. And they've been selling it to dealers at half-price, cuttin' into the Knights' business. Got some of the Reaper Posse involved, too, who've been supplying their own crew, so things have gottey tense."

  He scratched his thoughtfully, frowning. "Actually, funny thing I just remembered, now that you mention it. Barely two nights ago, I saw Viper Vaughn ing around, makin' the rounds with a case of the stuff. Got some of his boys handing out the needles in exge for Tinks. The gangs started throwin' pu each other soon after, and thied from there."

  Fii blinked. "Only Tinks? Not ChitCreds?"

  "Crazy, right?! And the dealers didn't seem too ed with colle' paymeher. Acted like the goods were free. Now that's something I never expected to see from the Vipers. They must really believe the uff is worth it if they're givin' it away like that. Might expin why the gangs have been fighting nonstop the past few days."

  Zig shook his head and tutted disapprovingly. "Bad for business, I tell ya. I don't hat crap happening in my bar."

  "Speaking of which," Fii prodded. "You got any idea where Viper Vaughn came from when he made those rounds? Got any clue who he's w with? Or who he got the stuff from?"

  Zig threw his hands up defensively, eyes wide with surprise. "Hey, hey, slow your roll! I'm just a humble bartender, girl. I don't ask questions. Just pour drinks and listen, which I've done. But getting' involved? Now that's something I don't wanna mess with. If you ask me, you might wanna steer clear of all that nonsense. Whatever the Vipers got, I'm not ied."

  He stepped back, wiping his hands with his towel. "I got a livin' to make, and I'm not getting' on the bad side of Cobra Kasumi, or worse...her lieutenant, Vaughn. Bloke's a psycho." He shuddered at the mere mention of the gangster's name. "Nope, you want info? Ask someone else. I ain't stupid, and I like living, thank you very much. You ought to do the same."

  Fii pursed her lips, frustrated.

  Aside from Lyria, Zig was the only oer in the Neon district she trusted. He had never failed to provide useful gossip and rumors before, but it seemed like he really drew the line here.

  Fihere's nothing I do about that.

  Fii draihe rest of her beer in silence, sg her face as the bitter taste burned her tongue. With a grimace, she slid the empty bottle toward Zig, who disposed of it with a shrug.

  "Thanks for the drink, Zig." She pushed her stool back, preparing to stand. "I'll, uh... I'll just be on my way, then. Good talk."

  "Don't be a stranger now, kiddo," Zig chided good-naturedly. "Stay safe, all right? Watch your back out there." He reached into his apron pocket and tossed a protein ration packet at her. "By the way...you've got quite the glow-up si time I saw ya. Lookihier." He fshed her a sly wink.

  She caught the packet and tucked it into her jacket, grinning sheepishly. "Thanks. Really appreciate it." She exited the bar and merged bato the throng of bustling partygoers and revelers, hoping to fier luck elsewhere.

  And she kly where to go .