Jack the Ripper

As you probably know,
West and I have been assigned together.
Sometimes, I want to punch him.
Sometimes I want to gut him...

That last post.
I believe I just fell quiet.
I remember blood.
I remember feeling betrayed by him.

London bridge is falling down.
Over and over again.

Anyway.
A while back, I...
I made a promise that I would copy these letters.
Brace yourselves.

"October 1st 1888

Dear Ember.

A double killing, an ear removed from a victim. Just like his letter said. I am sure you have already heard this by the time you read this...

I believe I detest this murderous madman already.

Of course I mean no offence to your own noble efforts in the aid of Mother. My quarrel is with the fact the papers have caught onto such a heinous crime, and such a horrific character. I lied to you when we first met. I knew you were a killer, I told you that I was as well. I have not been forced to use the revolver I bought when I first came to Whitechapel. I have never taken a life.

I have been reassigned to this case, which has allowed me time to look through the previous records of crimes relating to Fairy Fay and John Smith. What disgusts me is what poor records are kept of crimes, I understand the Metropolitan is stressed, but surely some form of order, chronological or alphabetical.

Nontheless, per your orders, I have retrieved files of other witnesses who mention either "The Gentleman" or "Spring Heeled Jack." It is truly shocking how often men and women will mention a gentleman, such a broad word. I have also cross referenced such files with missing persons reports of said witnesses or those who share their surnames.

A task which has taken a great deal of my time, I will have you know.

I enclose a list of names, each of which I shall follow upon.

Please visit again, my friend. I miss the sent of french parfum. Also, keep safe.

Liberté Égalité Fraternité

Jules Chénier

P.S If you are assigned our Ripper, perhaps you could turn him to me. He will surely receive the noose. Ensuring both my goals and your own."

I was wondering when Jack the Ripper would receive a mention... 

Also it seems like Past Ember's giving him orders?

Or is Mother?

I do not know. It is interesting to read though.

This one is undated.

"Ember Fay,

I believe I have ordered you to take time away from the man, that includes not opening any letters you believe to be his. I also know that on the night of October 10th, 1888. You visited him against our explicit orders.

I understand that it may be difficult to distinguish his handwriting, and I understand you find it difficult emotionally, due to certain attentions, but I would not like a soul such as yourself to receive the kind of punishment that men and women like yourself truly do not need.

You will find a knife enclosed, I hope it is to your liking, blades like this will be useful against the common blade, and provided you can evade their own stab, you can bring your mark down easily, stabbing upward through the belly and under their breast. The death will be quicker and more painless. I understand your issues with causing pain to people. Even considering how you comfort those who require it. It is kindness that drives you. Does it not, dear Ember?

As such I believe you will find your next mark particularly difficult. I was debating if I should send you upon this mission, you are so often better suited to killing men who fight back, Not a Lady with child, who's husband needs to understand that we take what we will.

I await confirmation of her demise.

Mother"

I received the knife I use now with the letter.

Swan has seen it, old, lightly curved.

It feels it, too. 


The handle has rough worn leather.

But it looks well looked after.

Maybe it is the same one Mother sent Past Ember.

We have a small job to do.

I do not really wish to talk to West.

The dying are much better conversationalists.

They understand how precious life is.

A lesson in something or other

Mother orders me to train Ember.

I do as I'm told.

Mother tells me to teach Ember to drive.

I do as I'm told.

Mother tells me to keep Ember under guard.

Of course, I do as I'm told.

But being this genderconfused freak's partner? When did Mother even begin to think I'd like it?

Hello. I am West. If Ember's said anything about me, it's a lie.

I know I should be a better person than this, but I really think your dear Ember needs a wake up call as to how to act amongst people.

You see, in a partner I need to know where loyalties lie. Maybe it's with us, or maybe it's with Salome. I mean, I respect her, but who knows what they did together. It could be with David too, I was passing by the room one time after one of their punishments. I could have sworn I'd heard moaning. Or Swan, I mean they did spend the night in a hotel room after all...

Or it could be Tau, or Theta or those runners it keeps sleeping with emailing to, or maybe even that son of a bitch Moriarty.

Speaking of Moriarty...

I'm not the only one who looks at the kid differently after she gets shot in the head and Ember... Ember doesn't even get a bruise. Maybe they were told to leave the kid out of it. And why is that? I wonder... But most of the backers liked the freak, so I cannot really complain too much about it.

Urgh... Zi, I'm supposed to call it "zi."

Ember's always been pretty quiet since I met her. (Zer?) And since that little mess with Swannyboy and one of our backers died, zi has been chattier. About how it kills people, especially teaching the guys. As such zi's not been blogging so much and it looks like it's up to me to blog for our dear Bender. (Get it? It's a pun because Ember's a such fucking robot sometimes. A paranoid android?)

So here you go, your first glance at the poor sod who landed a partner just as likely to slit my throat as fuck me. (Not that I'd ever want to, don't know what kind of runner cooties I'd catch.)

Hey... I feel better now I've vented. I don't talk much in real life, this is pretty sweet. I might make a habit of it.

See you

West

A Dose of Cyanide

I met up with West and the teams. 

It is a horrible smell, that of bitter almonds.

It was not pungent, but you could detect it.

Her face was cherry red, contorted like she was in pain.

A bottle of scotch was resting on the old oak desk,

a glass smashed on the floor by her black heels.

She was at her computer, face against the keyboard.

Spittle along her cheek.

It does not take a genius to know she was poisoned.

We were careful to only remove evidence pertaining to us.

I cannot say exactly what.

Blame Tau.

After all, the police have a job to do.

Her assistant. That nice girl we met last time.

She saw her choking, spasming upon the desk.

She rang us first.

But considering our record for helping our own...

The concentration was high...

She died within minutes.

She was a banker.

She must have had enemies...

But since the whole Moriarty thing happened...

We are being extra careful.

And again,
mixed in with her perfume.

Death and Almonds.

Smells make me think about something.

Like I know that my brain is working upon it.

But my mind cannot understand what it is.

Like formulae in the eyes of a madman.

My mind has been slowed recently like that.

I did not know you well Mrs. Strauss.
But I suppose I must tell you to rest in peace.

A distraction.

There has been a lot going on.
I have been too busy in the past few days.
Too much has happened for one post.

I met Swan,
or Ugly Duckling,
or Duckie.

I prefer Swan though.

Fracture and I had arranged this,
however I was unaware that Swan did not know.
This man who looked my age,
sat at a table with long hair covering the mask he wore.

He was different.
His need to see that spark in people.
That burning fire inside him.

It reminded me of that time Salome took me to a coffee shop.
The divorced husband.
The kill.
How she looked when she told me to kill.

She was family to me.
The closest thing to family I could have anyway.

West was with me,
Tau's reasoning was that he didn't want me going alone.
Just in case it was a trap.
Or that my backers didn't trust me still.

Either way, once we established identities,
we managed to elude West.

We did a host of things.

Talking, Fighting, Singing.
We both sing.
Our songs relax us.
London bridge and La, la la.

He made me smile for a little while.
Even though he was attacked.
And even though Theta took out his revenge on me.
Swan punched him...

I remember a call at 3 AM.

I had to leave my friend.

Caroline Strauss was dead.
The circumstances were suspicious.
She voted for my own termination.

I, along with the teams we were training,
were sent to clean up her mess.
Prevent police from tracking documents or such back to us.
I

I shall continue later.
Tau wishes for brief me with more information on what happened for release.

Elaine.

I... I have so much to talk about.
But I just need to say one thing.
It is a small message to a woman who died recently.
A friend, a friend who had suffered so much.

Elaine.

See you in whatever comes after.
Those were Lucas' words but they feel appropriate.
Sleep well my friend.
I am glad you gave him hell.

I

I do not know what to say.

Backers

We wasted most of our time for the next three hours.
With them telling me to put on a suit.
With me refusing.
I have not worn a suit since the New Years Party at the cafe.

Considering what happened then,
I refuse to wear one again.

Eventually Theta just told me to wear a button up shirt and jeans.
It looked like they expected me to be well behaved.
And not to take my clothes off in front of whoever I was meeting.
(Which I threatened.)

We met up with Tau at the stairs.
He looked me up and down for a moment.
"Ok let's go."

We began to head down the stairs.
I tried to ask questions, but all they would say was
"They are not going to hurt you."

"And we'll be there to fix you up if they do."
Theta was uncomfortably close to my ear when he whispered that.
I must have flinched.
Because they both laughed.

Tau grinned at me, lighting up again.
"Don't worry... They are just going to review case files ask a few questions"
He patted my shoulder reassuringly.
"Determine your effectiveness and if they are willing to support you."

I paused.
"What if they do not?"

"They will."

We went out of the lobby.
We clambered into a car.
The three of us in the back,
West in the passenger seat.

We drove for a while in New York traffic.
We ended up outside a tall building.
Bigger than the Office.
Newer as well.

It looked like it was made of mirrors.
We walked inside into a bright lobby and were taken up an elevator
by a nice woman who smiled at me, leading me off to the meeting room.

There was a large oval table,
surrounded by chairs.
There were five people there.
Just from glancing I could tell they meant support financially.

It must cost a lot to keep people like me killing.

Three older men in expensive suits.
One younger man, and a woman.
One of them told me to sit on the other side.
Balding, glasses, the suit was tailored to hide his beer belly a little.

He glanced at Tau.
"So, Mr. Oak. This is the one Salome recovered?"
Another one, wearing a wig, but decidedly slimmer than the one
who probably puts too much bacon in his BLT.

"Doesn't look like much."

I started to stand and feel West's hand on my shoulder.
Tau shrugged. "You said the same about Salome, Smith."

The interview process was mostly like this.
Tau and Theta knowing what to say and when.
Me agreeing with most of what they say.
When I do not, I try and twist it to suit their needs.

Sometimes they talk of a Master.
I assume it is the blur I see.

Then they play a video.
It is camera footage of my first kill.
Lucas.

I watched.
Stunned.
I had not seen the camera.
Someone must have shadowed me.

Salome?
I suppose it is possible.
She was with me a little after he died.

Smith looked at me.
"Do you regret it?"
I must have looked upset.
Tau spoke up, "I think Ember is sad that-"

I returned the favour, interrupting him.
"Every day. But there is nothing I can do.
Orders are orders. If there is one thing I can do.
It is follow orders."

The odd one out stood up.
He was young, wore a designer suit.
He grinned at me.
"Lucas was nothing but a manwhore.
Yet you mourn him?"

"Salome was nothing but a tool to you and I mourn her as well."

"Ahh, there's a difference. She stuck her neck out for you.
A couple of us were all for terminating you.
A failed experiment. She convinced us otherwise.
Now it is your turn to explain why you are not a piece of meat for the dogs like her."

Before West could stop me,
I was on my feet,
and I had punched him in the throat.

There was a stunned silence for a moment,
and then the others burst out laughing as west grabbed my arm.
As it turns out, that was the best move I could have made.
I thought he was going to break it, but he just sat me down again.

I watched him clutching his neck.
Gasping for air.
I could not help but smile.
"You doubt my ability to kill?
Have you even bothered to read my résumé?"

"And what a detailed résumé it is."
Smith looked at me for a moment, still trying to stifle his laughing.
"I like you Ember. But if you ever do that again.
We'll have no choice but to terminate you."

Theta grinned. "Do we have consensus?"

The younger man was properly stood up again.
He glared at me, rubbing his throat.
I shifted in case he was going to fight me.
West did not move his hand from my shoulder.

He held me down as the other moved to sit.

"One more question."
The woman looked at me.
She wore simple black attire.
"Why did Goldstein not kill you?"

I had not seen her smile at all.

Tau's face fell and he looked at me.
"I wish I knew. Salome was my friend.
Maybe they needed a messenger.
Someone to say how we were caught unprepared."

"And you were that person?"
She looked at me doubtfully.
"Could it be because of Elaine that you were saved?"

"Think about it, she met him.
And then a month later, you were spared.
It is common knowledge that you have been
with her, as a good friend, of course."

She added that on like she was joking.

"If she did then I owe her my life." I replied.

"Could you kill her?"

I could not afford hesitation.
"I could try."

I must have made a mistake.

She looked at me for a moment.
"My vote is for termination.
Ember is a liability to all of us."

The young man I punched gave a similar vote.

I fell silent.
My heart welled up in my throat.
I began to look for exits,
in case they decided to vote for my death.

I had a concealed knife stuffed in my boot...
I could probably bring West down and escape.

The other three voted for my backing.
The large man looked at me for a moment.
"You remind me of Salome you know.
You have the same spirit for the job,
only you have more respect for the dead."

"You are free to go."

We went back.
I was no longer under guard.
And finally I recieved orders.
I get to train people...

Volunteers from the paper pushing department.
Maybe these countermeasures will stop this happening again.
Though, having looked at them...
Maybe they are a little likely to die like Salome did.

But I remain hopeful.
It is my job now.

A Nightmare

Theta came to find me.
I had been locked in Salome and I's room.
I have been having nightmares.

Remember when I said I do not dream?
Not unless I kill myself.
Well... I have been.

They have been the kind where you wake up,
disoriented,
and you still believe it is real.

Walking in a park, hand in hand
with a familiar man who's name I cannot place.
Children are playing, singing London Bridge.
He looks at his watch.

He smiles at me, he says we're late for a meeting.
We begin to run.

I hear a crack.

His smile fades and he falls into me.
Blood.

I cradle him until he dies.

I see Salome, walking toward us.
I am scared...
West tries to stop her.
His face is torn off.

The children have stopped singing.
They are staring at us.

Then she turns on me.
She has that razor blade I used on her.
She carves into my face, smiling.

I scream but the dream does not stop.

Yesterday, I awoke in the early morning.
Theta was at my bedside.
He tutted, like when Salome was injured.
"You thrash, you know."

Confusion,
replaced fear,
replaced with anger.

West was just behind him.
It seems they anticipated me.
That I would try and hurt him.
I would not give him the pleasure.

"Come on Ember. We need to get you ready."
A pause on my part.
"Ready for what?"

He smiled at me grimly.
"You have people who want to chat."
Suddenly the nightmares did not seem so bad.

Not so bad at all.