"Set me up with another one" said Action to the bartender.
"Sure thing, Action. You're starting to become a real regular down here" the bartender replied.
"I like the vibe"
"Well, not much is going on right now...the Kitten Show isn't until much later; that's when this place gets really buzzing"
"I thought I'd avoid the crowd on this occasion."
"Shame...I mean, apart from catching the Kittens in action Mr Cuffe is usually down here as well and you might want to catch up with him. There you go, another Bourbon. I'll put it on your tab, shall I?"
"Sure. You know, people keep talking about how me and Alan Cuffe know each other but I can't remember ever meeting the guy."
"Seriously? I've been on shift twice when I've seen you and he talking." said the barman, surprised.
"Don't remember either time" replied Action, downing the drink in one gulp.
The barman was about to say something but thought better of it. Clearly Action was wrestling with a problem and he didn't know the guy well enough to pry. To some customers he was a friendly face to pour out their woes to but to Action, he knew he was the kind of guy to wrestle with his issues alone.
"I'll settle up for the drinks now" said Action. "But if you say I was here talking to Alan Cuffe I have no reason to think you're lying. I just can't.....well, maybe I had a lot to drink those nights. OK, catch you later" he said, getting up and throwing a 10 Simoleon bill on the counter. "Keep the change"
Action left the Kitten Club and walked around the neighbourhood mulling over the information that he had two conversations with the proprietor, Alan Cuffe. Why couldn't he remember either of them? Cuffe was a bit of a local celebrity: Publisher of Lothario magazine and owner of The Kitten Club...two well known but controversial enterprises. Surely he'd remember meeting that guy? Up ahead he spotted a familiar face; Saya Kobayashi. He maintained a network of informers and useful contacts who he could call on for information...well, now seemed like a good time to call on one of them now; Saya.
"For you, Action, I have 10" she replied.
"I'm working on a case...or at least I was...and I'm trying to fill in a few blanks. What do you know of the Leanne McGregor case?"
Saya took a deep breath and let out a sigh. "You know the FBI have taken over that from your precinct?"
"So they tell me. Anything else?"
"Well, they're working on the angle that she's a Russian spy. Or at least one of the Soviet Bloc. Other than that you know how the Feds are; they play it close to their chests."
"Any known accomplices?"
"None have been named but the night you pursued her..."
Action nodded although he had no recollection of that evening. He'd heard Suzy Kent mention that chase but try as hard as he might, there was nothing in his memory about it.
"...they reckoned the only way she could have got away from you so quickly is that she had a getaway man nearby: You got startled by some headlights and that's when he swooped in to pick her up."
It made sense from an outsider's perspective but the trouble was; he wasn't an outsider to those events but now he might as well have been. His conversation with Saya was interrupted by someone he vaguely knew: Geoffrey Landgraab. He was out on his daily run and he stopped when he saw Action up ahead and decided to walk over to him.
"Detective Action, out and about I see" said Landgraab.
"Mr Landgraab" said Action, nodding curtly to the man.
"I'm wondering if you're working on any big cases at the moment?" said Landgraab.
"Nothing major, why do you ask?" replied Action.
"Oh in case you decide to harass my son again, that's all. But as far as you and the SCPD are concerned we're not involved in any major investigations, is that right?" Landgraab seemed intent on pressing this point, which seemed odd to Action. Saya looked on at the interplay between the two men, wondering how Action would respond.
"Not that I'm aware of" said Action, slowly and cautiously. "You've got something to hide, Mr Landgraab?"
Geoffrey let out a short laugh. "Oh no...we're legitimate but you know how there were rumours about us and, well, that arson incident" he said.
"I don't know anything about that; it's with the FBI." replied Action.
"You know nothing about that, eh?" replied Landgraab, looking suddenly cheerful. "That is interesting. Well don't overwork yourself, Detective...good day"
Landgraab resumed his run and as Action and Saya watched him head off she said "that sure was a strange tone to take with you, Action: What does he know that you don't?"
"Right now, a whole lot of things" replied Action.
___________________________________________________________________________
Action had more places to go today. He'd been avoiding having a conversation with his girlfriend, Katherine, as he was meant to be meeting her on that day where he lost his memory. The knowledge that something should be there in his head, that things happened only a few days ago but for some reason it was completely gone and, as a result, he ended the day by standing her up was eating at him. He would completely understand if she was mad at him.
There was a café down Windenburg way that was a favourite spot of theirs: It was quiet, discrete and served traditional Italian and Austrian style pastries and Action thought they made the best damned coffee in the city. He saw that Katherine had already arrived there so he coolly walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek. She, on her part, didn't shy away.
"So what's this all about, Action?" she asked him outright.
"Crazy stuff's going down, darling. Let's grab some coffee and I'll tell you about it." he replied.
"So what happened to you the other day, when you stood me up?" said Katherine after they sat at one of the cafe's tables.
"I don't know" replied Action. "I have no memory of that day except to find out that I'm down at the Planet Honey Pop bar...which is a place I can't stand...with no recollection of how or why I was there. It's been eating me up for days...I go into work to find out I'm supposed to be working on this high profile case and...nothing. I know nothing about it but they all tell me I've been working on it for weeks. I've had to pretend that I know what's going on...covering up my lack of knowledge. Anyway, they turned the case over to the FBI because there's a possible spy angle, I don't know. I don't know a whole bunch of things right now. And do you know what's really weird? I'm there, reading these reports on this big crime like it's the first time I've heard of this case and it's written by me...it's my signature on the bottom of the documents! It's like....it's like I've stepped out of my body and mind and am watching things like I'm detached!"
Katherine said nothing but instead reached out her hand across the table to hold his. Action looked into her eyes and saw a look of concern.
"Do you think..." she said after a while "...that you're suffering from some kind of trauma related to your time in Vietnam? I mean, I hear about battle stress or fatigue and how it affects soldiers...even when they're not soldiers anymore"
Action shook his head. "The thing about war is that you don't forget...you remember. You remember a lot of things you wish you could forget. No, this is something else and I gots to know what's going on here: What's real and what's not?"
Katherine looked around the area, deep in thought. The two of them sat in silence for a moment before she spoke. "Action, it seems like a very specific event has been 'removed' from your memory. I don't know what caused it, I can't begin to think how it could have been done, but my guess is that that day we were supposed to meet in the evening...you did something else that day that related to the case you can't remember"
Action let out a deep breath. "I've considered that. Dammit! How do I recover that memory?"
"What about seeing a psychiatrist?"
"No! If I do that and the police department finds out, I'll be suspended from active duty...be put behind a desk. I don't want that on my record!" and with that he pounded the table with his fist.
"But you need professional help!" said Katherine, leaning towards him in conern.
"Yeah, but it'll be my kind of help! You're right: I have to do something but seeing a shrink ain't it! I'm a detective, dammit, and a good one: I'll piece it together!" He finished his coffee, got up and left the money on the table for the waitress.
"Oh no you don't!" said Katherine, standing up as well. "You're not going to go anywhere without me on this one!"
____________________________________________________________________________
It was very busy in downtown San Myshuno. There was the flea market, the hustle and bustle of the food market and street music throughout. Action and Katherine walked around the stalls and watched the busker play.
"So, who or what are we looking out for?" asked Katherine.
Action scanned the surroundings and replied "A contact. One time they were an enemy but now...."
"They're a friend?"
"Not quite, but a heck of a lot friendlier than when I first met them. There she is now"
Action signalled to a woman standing on the edge of the food court. She had short, black hair combed forwards, wore heavy eye make up and wore a yellow plaid shirt over black slacks. She was once known as "The Brain"; one of the top cat burglars in Sim City but her name was Aurora Ahmed...now a reformed criminal and police informant. She saw Action and walked over to him.
"Hey, Action...who's your friend?" said Aurora.
"This is Katherine, Katherine I'd like you to meet Aurora Ahmed. Aurora's my number 1 expert in the criminal underworld"
Aurora looked Katherine up and down and nodded, impressed. "I take it you're off duty" she said.
"I am and this is strictly off the books, you dig?" said Action. "Let's sit down and talk...I have a little proposition I'd like to outline to you."
"OK, Action, what's the deal this time?" asked Aurora.
"That case I was working on: Leanne McGregor. I want you to find out everything you can about her especially associates. I don't think she works alone."
"Oh man, I told you that was too much for me to handle!" protested Aurora. "No" she said, shaking her head. "I'm out of this one, find someone else"
Action leaned across the table and looked her dead in the eye. "So you found something out last time, did you? I want to know what that is!"
Aurora took a deep breath and looked around. "I...I..." she couldn't finish her sentence.
"I'm off the case: It was handed to the Feds but I gotta know what's going on and I'm the one taking the big risk. This time it's personal. Tell me what you found out"
"Is she cleared to know?" said Aurora, nodding at Katherine.
"She's cleared. Now spill the beans" replied Action.
"OK..." began Aurora. "Your theory that she's a Soviet agent? She ain't."
"Alright, then who is she working for?" asked Action.
"They're called The Visitors. I don't know what country they're from, I don't know who they work for or if they work for anyone other than themselves. But get this...they have access to all kinds of weird stuff like lasers, those remote bombs found at Alan Cuffe's house, cars and craft that can be made to become almost invisible..."
"Oh come off it!" said Katherine in disbelief.
"Listen, doll, I don't care if you believe it or not, this is real!" said Aurora, tersely.
"Go on" said Action.
"They're also....telepathic. They can read minds, hypnotise others..."
"Whoa right there!" said Action. "Actually hypnotise people? Yes! It all makes sense!"
"I'm glad someone thinks so" said Katherine.
"Do you know if they can remove memories some someone?" Action asked.
"I'm not sure of the details" said Aurora. "But I guess so"
"How did you find this out?" asked Katherine.
"It wasn't easy, believe me!" said Aurora. "I did some digging around, starting at the end point of the Cuffe bombing and the attempt on Lilly Feng's life. So I....well, 'obtained' some documents from Mrs Feng which led me to obtaining some other information from the Landgraab Corporation and these people...The Visitors...keep cropping up in top secret documents. You owe me, Action."
"I can settle your expenses, off the books" said Action, pondering this new revelation. "I think we all need a drink now"
Action and the two women headed over to the Waterside Warble bar for drinks but when Action went to the bar to place an order he noticed a familiar face already there. Someone who was also embedded in this case: Suzy Kent.
"Yo, Suz" said Action, greeting her. "I think I've got the lowdown on the Visitors you mentioned...but let's talk where it's a little less crowded."
"Absolutely!" replied Suzy, enthusiastically.
"Can you handle that?" asked Action.
"They sound superhuman!" she said, in a quiet voice so not to alert the other bar patrons. "Are you sure this Aurora isn't yanking your chain because you arrested her a few months ago?"
"I'm a pretty good judge on who's on the level and who's spinning me lies, Suz" said Action. "I believe her and it all fits in with the police reports AND what happened to me. You found me in that bar, not being able to recollect anything from that day."
"But...actually erasing memories? How do they do that?" asked Suzy.
"How does that tree lead to that grotto you found? I ain't been there yet, but I'm telling you it all fits like a glove. Between the two of us, we've found something that's beyond anyone's knowledge."
"What do we do now? Tell the F.B.I.?"
"Those turkeys won't believe us...no, you and me gotta delve deeper into this mystery. You work your side of the street, I'll work mine. We gotta deal?"
"We gotta deal" nodded Suzy.
After finishing his drink, Action introduced Aurora to Suzy. "This here's my co-investigator, Suzy Kent" he said.
"The 'Hey, Wow' columnist? Is she up to the job?" asked a sceptical Aurora.
"I don't just cover the fashion beat and I also have half the story of what's going on" replied Suzy, defiantly.
"So anything you can share with me, Aurora, you can share with her" added Action.
Suzy headed off to her next engagement and Action briefed the rest of his "squad" about what to do next.
"OK, this is strictly off the record...no cops, no Feds. Just us for now. Aurora, I can pay you expenses if you need anything to help crack this case."
Aurora nodded. "OK, Action, I'll be in touch"
Aurora headed off as well, leaving Action and Katherine alone.
"Action, are you sure this is a smart move? Not involving your own colleagues?" she asked.
"Babe, who's gonna believe us about mind reading, laser guns and the like? No, I need cast iron information before I turn it over officially." he replied.
"It's beginning to sound like revenge, Action" she said with a hint of worry in her voice.
"They took part of my mind! That's a violation I can't explain properly. You just gotta trust me, Kat, on this one."
They walked home, making small talk but something was in the air...a tension between the two of them. Outside of Action's home they stopped to talk and speak what was on their minds.
"It could get dangerous, Action" said Katherine.
"I know...which makes this next part more difficult" he replied.
"This next part of my life's gonna get rough. I'm going after people...heck, we don't even know what kind of people they are...who can do all kinds of scary-ass stuff. I need to do this next part on my own."
"On your own?" asked a surprised Katherine. "But we've been together on this one for so long!"
"That's before it got freaky. These "visitors" have all kinds of advanced weapons and abilities. If they get me, they can get you and I can't let that happen! You need to stay out of this, Kat. This is my fight!"
"So is it over between us?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I only want to put us on hold, babe. I will come back" he said, holding her hands.
"I'm afraid you might not" she said.
"The hood, the Cong, the punks...ain't none of them made a scratch on Action. But it's gonna get hairy out there. I'll see you down the line, Kat"
He gently stroked the side of her cheek as she shut her eyes with sadness. "I....know." she said, her voice cracking.
They kissed, one last time, and then Katherine hailed a taxi to take her home. Action watched her leave and then headed home to bed. He was angry: He was going to hunt these Visitors down and make them pay!
