Case File 1X01B

Since I joined the academy at eighteen, my reaction to any trouble had been drilled to stop, assess, then attack if the situation arose. It was stressed numerous times that we made sure there was good reason when we pulled out our guns and fired - and that assessment had to be made usually within the span of one heartbeat.

Unfortunately for me, The Morrigan - Celtic Goddess of Strife, Battle, and Death (also my Mother) seems to believe that marksmanship is fitting for archers and snipers sure - but not for her vision of me. What took a year to instill in me via mortal methods she wiped out over the course of a three-day weekend. My new calling, she told me, was the blade and I took to it like a bird takes flight.

For example, when the Formorians crawled out of their hole it wasn't even a conscious thought to dodge, twist the blade around, and chop down and back at their legs, stilling their forward momentum. Each cut was precise enough to sever the limb completely and as one crashed into the ground, I turned towards the other giant who was charging towards the jeep and Moira (she'd tossed a spear at him, that's a daughter of the Dagda for you!) and we fell into perfect sync. She hugged the giant, I sliced him in two.

Bonding moment, really. By the time we were finished Tetsuko had finished her own kill and the poor girl shook just minutely enough that it wasn't visible, but it was noticeable. Got to hand it to those Japanese, they've got the stoic warrior thing down pat. Me? I threw up for an hour after my first melee kill and like I told Tetsuko - the second kill would be worse before it gets better.

In the crater the Formorians popped out of was a woman who shied away from my touch. Ok, sure, I was covered in gore and looked a mess but I'm not the bad guy here. Moira, smooth charmer that she is, swooped in, checked the girl out, and between the four of us we figured that we'd set her up at the Lodge and go explore the northern tracks of the giants. Moira and I got walkie-talkies for contact, she got smug about the jeep, yadda yadda.

She whispered something scandelous in my ear that sent my blood pounding (no, I'm not sharing - find your own novelist!) and then warned me that the girl was eing evasive about questioning before they took off. And, of course, about three minutes into my hunt for the northbound trail turned into a "I think the girl in the crater was more like a lady-giant in the crater" moment. I radio'd Moira, told her I thought it was lupus, and hustled Tetsuko and Aren back towards the Lodge.

Over the walkie-talkie, the girl contacted someone to drive her and Moira brought up our fishing trip at the Loch which meant that she expected trouble and to prepare for it. Then the radio went dead and my mind went so far past asses mode that I scooped up poor Aren who wasn't used to marathon sprinting and just dashed up the rest of the mountain trail.

Gotta hand it to Tetsuko, kid's taking this all pretty well for only being a Scion of a few days.

We get to the Lodge and it already looks back. Then Moira crashes out a window.

There's going to be nothing left of those giants when I'm through with them.

Case File 1X01A -

It wasn't hard to set up my extended leave with the department when the coordinates came through. I was still technically on leave due to Dad's murder investigation still being considered 'open' and that I was 'too emotionally connected to the case'. Captain told me to use up my vacation time or turn in the badge if I couldn't stay away. I was undecided until Moira showed up at my place with a bottle of wine and a smirk on her face; it'd be nice to get away and unwind with her.

We met at a Family Reunion for the Tuatha a few months back. The Irish are big on family and the Tuatha (our gods) even more so; plus it's a way for the Gods to show off their Scions and for us to make contacts - anyways. Moira's a daughter of the Dagda and bumped into me when I ducked away Mother's latest attempt to pit me against one of Lugh's daughters to asses my capabilities. 

Back to the present. After all was said and done, she mentioned that her father had dropped by earlier with some rambling task that she thought had to do with the missing towns cropping up over the world. I figured it was good sport. Vacation in the mountains, pretty girl on my arm, and I'd more than likely get to stab something. So we headed out to the cabin and while I packed just enough to survive, Moira brought the entire  city of New York's weaponary with her. ... ok, so she also remembered my swords (hey, I spent my life training to use a gun -- not my fault I don't remember to carry blades with me everywhere.)

Two other Scions were there already. A quiet gal who looked Japanese and a paranoid lass who probably had good reason to fear cameras. Whatever, I'm not on duty so I don't judge. Plus, once you become divine, you're sorta above mortal law. We did the bed arrangements - meaning that there's a spare room if someone wants to designate a storage closet - and the paranoid girl ... Aren did a bone prophecy while I checked maps.

Right away I knew what we were up against here. Malformed giants and bright ones? That's Tuatha Training 101: How to Spot Your Formorian Cousins. The All-Father of Darkness gave me pause though, but we'll probably figure that out later. Right, so that done and our course set - we headed into town...

Or the crater of the town because that was all that was left. I realized this was Mother's idea of a test because none of us were survival nuts and here we are in the middle of Montana in the winter. Whatever, I'll kick ass and she can brag about it to Lugh. Win/win for the Morrigan. Anyways - found tracks heading off ... Moira whined about driving the jeep because she wore heels instead of boots ... I gave in -- the usual stuff.

Up until the Giant stabbed the jeep with a spear biger than me. Yeah, see, jeep engines make noise. Noise breaks Stealth and Moira will not hear the end of my 'I told you so' for a while. I'll get back to what happened later, later. I need to tell her 'I told you so' again.