New Breed

Type 1

BattleCat brushed his tail over the desk. Hours of paperwork and sketches fluttered to the hardwood floor. He glanced back before continuing his strut to the living room.

Amelia was resting her head on her hand. Her elbow was pinning other documents to the desk as it supported her. She tipped her chin out and watched the feline ascend the couch.

She lacked the energy to yell at her beloved pet. There was little reward in the effort. Papers already covered the office floor of her apartment. Amelia was never one to keep her workstation neat and organized.

Amelia rested her eyes. It had been days since she was able to curl into her bed. She missed the cool, clean sheets and the cozy comforter. With every hour of work, the more she daydreamed about her soft bed.

The chime made Amelia’s hand slip off of her hand. She blinked and let her eyes focus in the dim light. A glance through the window revealed the late hour that her company arrived.

“Doorbell.” YOKO flew to the door and whistled as a response to every chime.

Amelia frowned at the parrot. “Thank you, YOKO.” She opened the door a few inches and peered out through the crack. “Can I help you?” She swung the door wide open with a small gasp. “Detectives.”

A roar shook a vase positioned on the entrance stand. Amelia held out a finger to stead it and her eye caught BattleCat as he pounced from his position on the couch. The thump told her that he had landed just behind her heels. Machinery squeaked and hissed as he shifted behind his master. BattleCat emitted a low growl ,that Amelia turned to witness, aimed at the figure above the detectives.

BearSaw worked his twitching, sniffing nose through the door. He grumbled and pushed past the detective’s shoulders. Bringing his snout to the tiger’s level, he bared his teeth.

“BattleCat, no.” Amelia laid a hand on the feline’s skull. “They’re not a threat.”

Sparrow followed suit and wrapped his arm around the bear’s forearm. “BearSaw. We’re not here to fight.”

“Sorry,” Amelia smiled shyly. “He’s usually tame. When he meets another Type 1, it’s like he becomes a different tiger.”

Sparrow laughed and rubbed his neck. “Same with this big bear. I think he wants to show off to other Type 1s. Normally, he is a goofball.”

“BattleCat’s the same way.” Amelia hid her giggle behind fingertips. “I bet they’ll be best friends.” She waved away the fluttering parrot. “Can I get you something to drink?”

The men followed her to the small, kitchen. It was clean, but not tidy. Pieces of paper littered the counter-top under the glass cupboard doors. Teacups hung in a decorative fashion next to the wine glasses. There were gaps where wine glasses had been removed from the set.

Amelia motioned to the kitchen chairs. “Thank you, Ms. Curta.” Howels folded his hands together atop the table. “I’m afraid we can’t stay long. We’re here on business.”

“Business?” Amelia grimaced and poured the boiling water into the mugs. “Police business? How can I help?”

Sparrow took a cue from Howels. “Do you know anything about the other BioPet Industry employee deaths?” He sipped his beverage with fingertips resting on the bottom of the mug.

“I’m afraid I don’t know much.” Amelia slipped into the free seat. “They didn’t work in the same building and the murders were brought to my attention yesterday.”

Howels nodded. “We expected as much.” He traced the handle of his mug. “The police force is now opening the investigation and looking into a string of homicides.”

“Homicides?” Amelia scowled and let her jaw fall. “The report I received said that they were New Breed deaths. I was going to push the issue at the next board meeting. It proves that the new BioPet line needs to be as strong or stronger than the Type 1.”

YOKO plotted onto the table and shook the mugs. “He said other deaths. What is the first death you knew about?” The parrot shrieked. “It’s a serial killer.”

“YOKO.” Amelia glared. “That’s enough. If it is a serial killer, then the targets are humans.” She gasped as she sat back in her chair. “Cindy was murdered? That’s why you stopped by the main office?”

“Yes.” Howels nudged the bird away.

Sparrow looked between his partner and Amelia. “Sorry to be so secretive. But we are in the middle of an investigation. Too many suspicion deaths.”

“You think the murders are linked? But the other deaths were committed by New Breed creatures.” Amelia shook her head. “Cindy worked and lived near the city center. To be attacked by a New Breed here is rare.”

Sparrow bit his lip. “We were told to check the sewers as a means for New Breed to reach the city center. It is a viable explanation to Ms. Ferbaugh’s murder.”

“Police have suspected the sewers as a passage to New Breed for many years.” Howels locked his fingers together. “It is the common report solution for many detectives.”

Amelia tilted her chin down. “You don’t believe it? Because you’re right.” She opened her eyes wide. “The city dropped Type 2 Snakes into the sewers years ago. They did it to stop New Breed from gaining access to the city through there.”

“That is why we are here.” Howels smirked. “Our investigation is leaning toward serial killer or at least a premeditated murder.”

BattleCat’s yawn broke the silence. He had curled onto the couch and allowed BearSaw to lie near on the floor. The two were a picture of contentment.

“I don’t know what that has to do with me.” Amelia shifted her eyes between the two men. “If a murderer is loose, I don’t know how I can help with that.”

Sparrow glanced at Howels. “Tell us about Titan Feather.” He took another sip of hot chocolate. “We found documents on Cindy’s body.”

“It’s the new alloy and compound for the shield and body of the new BioPets.” Amelia shrugged. “Cindy was working on it. Everyone at the main lab had to test and create the alloy.”

Howels spun his hand in the air.

“Um.” Amelia licked her lips and searched around. “It is indestructible. Titan Feather was just approved for prototypes. We are turning in Type 5 prototypes next week. The creation and development went smoothly. There were no problems from the board or in any step of the process. That’s about it.”

Sparrow shot her a smile. “Thanks. He says I ramble.”

“You said Cindy was working solely on Titan Feather?” Howels removed his notebook.

“Yes.” Amelia stiffed. “It was our only project until yesterday. We were in a rush to finish and test Titan Feather. They were told to devote all time a resources to the alloy and binding the metals for the armor.”

He flipped the notebook shut. “Did the lab have any research into New Breed steel?”

“Before Titan Feather.” Amelia nodded. “We were researching the steel used to create their structures. It’s more solid than regular steel and most BioPets can only scratch it. With the study of Titan Feather and its strength, the company put the New Breed Steel project on hold.”

Sparrow frowned. “Did the company stop research entirely?”

“Yes.” Amelia folded her hands into her lap and sat tall. “The board viewed it as a waste of money. There is no new research on it. There might not be for a long time. We have three Types of BioPets to launch in the next 5 years.”

Howels’s chair scrapped the floor as he pushed in backward. “Can you show me your workshop?”

“Yeah.” Amelia fumbled to her feet. She motioned to the other side of the room. “My workshop is right here. I have the schematics for the new BioPet Types. Nothing interesting. I also don’t have any data on New Breed Steel.”

The detective examined the room. They lifted sheets of paper and slid the drawings around the table. Howels ran his hand over the Type 6 panther prototype that stood like a treasured figure in the middle of the room.

One object was out of place on the desk on figures and drawings. At the far end of the large desk, stood a small photo frame. It was of a small child with silky brown hair. She stood posed with a tiger sitting in the background.

“Who’s this?” Sparrow lifted the frame with care. “The photo is old.”

Amelia slipped the photo from Sparrow’s fingers. “It’s me. When I was young and happy.”

“Sorry.” His cheek flushed. “You have a lot of desks.”

“I have a lot of tasks and they take space.”

They’re eyes caught the vial at the same moment. A small brain attached to skin within the liquid was growing. Beside it was some sort of device and organic matter mixed within it.

“What is that?” Sparrow pointed to the skin and nerves suspended in the liquid.

Amelia tilted her head. “That’s skin. Skin grown to attach to whatever it is programmed to attach and merge with. Artificial skin that can create the whole organ or become a graft.”

Sparrow’s jaw was loose while the rest of his face was scrunched. “Why are you growing skin in your house?”

“It’s a prototype for Type 7 BioPets.” Amelia gestured loosely to the skin. Her face was relaxed and her voice informative. “The goal is for Type 7 line to appear like real animals. It will give them warmth to their bodies instead of the cold metal that is difficult to comfort a human. I feel that it will bring BioPets and their owners closer together.”

“Why do Type 1 owners always want to be a family with their BioPets?” Howels poked the vial with a pen. “It’s like collectors that became obsessed with the collection.”

Amelia balled her hand into a fist. “Many people love their BioPets. It doesn’t matter what Type they are.” She sighed away memories of her past. “They are a member of the family that protects it’s loved ones.”

“Type 1 owners are closer to their BioPet. It’s just because they last longer. They’ve been around and can be inherited.” Sparrow shrugged with a tint of red on his cheeks.

Howels peered over his shoulder to his partner. The lines erased from his face for an instant before he returned to full height. “We aren’t here to debate the importance of love to and from a BioPet. This is an investigation and I need any information you have.”

“I told you everything.” Amelia relaxed her shoulders but pulled the corners of her eyebrows downward. “I didn't know any of the victims. I had met Cindy once before, but we never talked. The lab isn’t researching New Breed Steel.” She let out a small puff of air. “I’m not researching New Breed Steel. I’m trying to create a strong, loving line of BioPets.”

Sparrow tapped his finger on the desk. He shifted his weight from side to side and kept his eyes down. “You never researched New Breed?” His eyes poured into Amelia’s. “Didn’t you want to learn what made them? You’re a scientist.”

“They’re wild creatures.” She squared her jaw. “Feral and dangerous beasts that keep the remaining humans trapped within a city. It’s a city that they can’t breach because BioPets are here to keep them at bay. ” She exhaled with force and kept her chin raised. “That’s all I need to know about them.”

“They killed your parents.” Sparrow’s voice was a whisper. His eyes glistened and flickered about the room.

Howels examined his friend. “Perhaps it is time to go? If we have more questions, we know where to find you.” He stepped toward the door, but looked back at the two unmoving figures.

Amelia’s shoulders were shaking as she heaved slow, calculated breaths. Sparrow’s eye bore into her own. His pleading gaze kept her transfixed. “Don't you want revenge?” Sparrow’s words were barely audible, but they hit Amelia in her core.