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The next chapter, starring Tatiana Maslai. Episode 3

The damp smoky smell of the grit wreckage reminded Sergeant Jessara Prianta of the whiskey

her father brought out on special occasions. Like him, she never made alcohol a regular habit,

but on this chill morning, as her gloved hands pried a warped metal filing drawer open to find

nothing but a dusting of ashes, a stiff drink was sounding good. It was fortunate at least that

the RCMP had gotten in right after the blast last night. Explosions by their nature had a way of

scattering evidence, but the constables had managed to find potential bomb fragments and even some

fresh blood right before the skies had opened and the night's hammering rain had washed away hope

breakthroughs. The blood likely belonged to Dr. Nathaniel Sturgis, director of research,

the only person reportedly in the building at the time of the explosion. It was unclear if he'd been

an intentional target, neither he nor his remains had been found. Jessara stood and stretched,

cracking her back, even at her full height she felt dwarfed by the shattered building.

...