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Fathom's Phantoms Regulation 3

Carol didn't know why it was Theo decided to bring Jen's Gens together for an evening meeting but she had plenty of ideas. With the current welfare of the team in question it only made sense that they maintain their firm bond and establish support for one another in the trying times. The fact that they were as much family as they were coworkers it was about time in her opinion that they sit down and discuss their feelings, explore their emotions, and use the opportunity to grieve for their fallen brethren.

What the meeting involved however was something far different than she had anticipated. Once everyone was seated around the large circular table in the condo's dining room it was Henry who stood, and not Theo. "Marco is dead."

A number of murmurs rose up around the table but the voice that ultimately won out was Theo. It was obvious in the Wolf's bearing that he had been previously briefed by the Hyena but he asked the questions for the benefit of the gathering. "What can you tell us about the circumstances around his... passing?"

Henry went right into things, thankfully omitting the grizzly details. "He was shot. Ken found him several hallways over. It didn't look like he suffered."

The Bat was quick to jump in with details. "There was a 'three' written on the wall next to him with his own blood."

The comment was enough to catch almost everyone's attention in a big way although Carol didn't know why. Likewise, Theo seemed just as out-of-the-loop as she, which did help her feel a little better until she realized that if the Wolf didn't know something it was more a cause for alarm than consolation. It was Trudy however who spoke up next. "A three? As in, T-H-R-E-E, or as in the number three?

Henry answered. "The number... as in, Regulation 3."

Ken added a gesture, drawing the number in the air. "Three... like a sideways 'm'."

The majority of the Gens around the table were likewise taken back but once again it seemed as though she and Theo were out of the loop. The Wolf took the opportunity to speak up. "What is Regulation 3 exactly?"

All eyes were immediately on Theo and all was quiet for several seconds until Trudy made a realization. "Oh! Regulations didn't come about until the DD Four Series... that means Theo and Carol WOULDN'T know about them..."

Xavier picked up where the Mouse left off, looking to the Wolf, "Regulation 3 is the company protocol that dictates that all Designer Domestic Genticons take HID. There are specific penalties for any unit that doesn't."

Carol nodded in thought, "Right... like what happened to Nate. Our genetic structure breaks down and we die if we don't take HID..."

Henry shook his head. "No... what happened to Nate was his body's reaction to not having HID. What happened to Marco was because he had survived."

Theo was quick to add to the questions. "So you mean to say that HID is more than just a maintenance drug, it's--"

Ozzy inserted a comment. "It's a regulated requirement."

Carol waited until there was a momentary lull in the conversation before she leaned forward. "So that means we're all... supposed to die?"

Theo shook his head, setting his paws on the table. "No... there's got to be some mistake."

Henry sighed, the Hyena's fur slightly on end. "No mistake about it... the only people who know about Regulation 3 are the LHI manufacturing team, quality control, executives, and the Geneticons who are required to follow it."

Carol and Theo both fidgeted but the Doe was faster in voicing her concern, "Jennifer is an LHI executive... she would have told us about it... wouldn't she?"

Ozzy shrugged, picking at the edge of the table with a single, webbed digit. "Whether she does or doesn't or should have told you or didn't, the end result doesn't change: someone killed Marco because of Regulation 3."

Theo wasn't ready to let the discussion go past the regulation. "But... WHY would they have Geneticons killed off for managing to survive being without HID?"

Xavier and Ozzy shot one another a glance as if each wanted to say something but it was Trudy who spoke instead. "They're worried about pirated genetic material... without HID it's possible that LHI could lose its patent if our DNA became accessible to the public."

Xavier growled softly. "Basically, LHI doesn't like the idea of us having sex."

Trudy scowled. "You mean wanting to. There's no reason we weren't able to 'have relations' before... there just wasn't any real reason for us to."

Ken continued that thought process. "We all have the right... pieces. Our bodies work just fine... but HID is supposed to remove the less preferable desires and emotions so we're not worried about missing anything."

Ozzy rested his chin in his palms, elbows pressed against the table. "Yea... so we don't realize what we're missing."

Theo redirected the conversation. "HID also makes it so that we can't reproduce even if we DO.. ah... mate. So, all that aside, we still need to get back to the discussion of what happened to Marco... Henry?"

The Hyena nodded at the segue. "Right... so what we know is that someone who KNOWS about Regulation 3 either did it or ordered it."

Carol didn't much like that thought. "So... either it was one of us, or there are other LHI DDs on board Sigma-Echo."

Ken rubbed the side of his face. "Or Jen?"

All eyes were immediately on the Bat and, if any of her coworkers felt the same about Kenneth's casual suggestion then he was not particularly popular among his peers. Theo managed to put it into a professional response. "Ken... that's just... no-- if there is ANYONE on board the station that wouldn't have done it then it was Jen. I'd rather you all think that I was the one who did it before Jen EVER became a suspect."

Henry shrugged. "Well... if we're going to point fingers we may as well start getting suspects out of the way then. There WAS a piece of white fur at the scene which, if we WERE to make accusations, then yes, Theo... you DO have white fur."

Carol jumped up immediately; first Jennifer THEN Theodocious? No... she couldn't stand for that. "If you're making Theo a suspect then I may as well be one too! Theo would NEVER do something like that and you all KNOW it."

Ken shrugged. "Someone did... and right now there aren't a lot of suspects available other than everyone in this room. Besides-- Trudy has white fur too."

Henry shook his head. "It's a moot point for all three of them. They were all here in the apartment prior to us discovering the body and I was in the living room the whole time. I would have seen them leave."

The Bat sighed. "So who does that leave us?"

The Hyena leveled Ken a very calm stare. "You."

"WHAT?!? It wasn't me! I was the one who FOUND--"

Carol slammed her fist on the table. "ENOUGH ALREADY!"

The fact that the room fell silent was a surprise to the Doe but then again her outburst was probably just as much of a surprise to everyone else. She continued once she had the floor. "I don't want to believe that ANYONE here did it... and I KNOW Jennifer didn't. Let's just get this out of the way and move on."

Theo nodded then looked to Xavier. "You weren't here in the apartment, right?"

Ozzy answered first. "No. Xavier and I were working together all evening."

The Borzoi glanced around the table then added. "And no, we weren't working together to kill Mark if that's what you were gonna say next... Ozzy doesn't even HAVE white fur."

Henry nodded. "True... but you do, X."

Xavier opened his muzzle to object but the Hyena quickly spoke over him. "No, that's not an accusation. Besides, now that we've been through all of the obvious suspects there's one other important piece of evidence."

Trudy scowled. "If you knew none of us were suspects in the beginning then why did you make us all just sit through that?"

The Hyena offered a smirk with the faintest hint of sadism hiding in it. "Because, if we go through it as a group we don't have to take my word for everyone's innocence."

Theo quickly stepped in to diffuse the situation with a rather astute question, "Wait a minute, Henry-- you said you found a piece of fur on Marco's body... is there any reason we can't put it into a DNA scanner to--"

Henry's smile was much more genuine. "I already did... and that's why I wanted to talk to everyone."

Ozzy's ears perked. "Okay... so... who did it?"

The Hyena folded his paws atop the table. "A Designer Domestic-- one who isn't part of Jen's Gens."

Carol felt both relieved and concerned at the same time. "So... we know it wasn't one of us... and it ISN'T Jennifer... but I didn't know there were other DDs on Sigma-Echo."

Theo nodded. "I don't think any of us did... but that's nothing out of the ordinary-- we're part of a big product line. What we need to figure out now is--"

The Wolf's declaration was silenced by the sound of a lock override being put to use on the apartment's door. All eyes turned in that direction to see a snow leopard dressed in security armor step through; he had a machine pistol in one paw. He gazed around the room, eyes going from one Gen to the next before turning and walking out.

Nobody said anything for several second but when someone did it was Ken. "He has a gun... and white fur."

Xavier, Oswald, and Kenneth were immediately ready to go after the Snow Leopard. Henry was just a step behind them, having delayed long enough to get Marco's side arm out of the drawer where it had been stored. Carol wasn't able to stop them all, so she chose to go for the Hyena. "Henry... wait."

He pulled his wrist free from where she'd grabbed it. "Stay here... those three are gonna need some help taking him down."

Theo moved to the exit, but not before calling to Trudy. "Go find something we can use to block the door-- I have to stop them."

Henry stepped up to the Wolf, holding the gun for him to see. "Theo... I don't know if we can stop him from getting in later-- but I know we can stop him now."

Gertrude remained by one of the condo's sofas. "But... X, and Ozzy, and Ken...?"

Carol raised her ears just as Theo did the same; the condo's door was still open, and there was the distinct sound of conversation. Henry's ears went up too and he turned to glance that way as well with a firm scowl stretched across his broad, spotted muzzle, "What's going on?"

Theo moved to the door, peeking out carefully. "They're... talking.... and now they're all headed this way!"

The Wolf waved everyone back; Carol was quick to comply and Trudy remained under the cover of the sofa. Henry was the only one left by the door as Xavier, Oswald, and Kenneth returned followed by the well-built, white furred Snow Leopard adorned in combat armor. It was the Bat who spoke up first, "He says he's friendly."

Henry's frown only got worse. "Well holding a gun isn't exactly the best way to say he's a friend, you know. It'd be a lot smarter if--"

The Hyena didn't have a chance to finish as the feline quickly reached out, clamped down on the barrel of the pistol Henry held, and twisted. The sidearm was pulled unceremoniously out of his grasp. The Snow Leopard spoke in a firm, commanding tone with a distinctive Russian accent, "I was ordered here by Mrs. Thurstenburger."

Trudy's ears went up in an instant. "Jen had you assigned to Sigma-Echo? But she would have told us if--"

The newcomer shook his head and made his way over to the table situated in the condo's dining room where the Gens had been assembled before the interruption, "No... MISSUS Thurstenburger, not Miss. Paige Thurstenburger had me assigned to Sigma-Echo."

Theo eyed the feline Gen critically. "Jen's mom?"

The Gen nodded, both at the neck and the waist before taking a seat. Carol noticed that the protective armor he wore didn't make a sound at the motion; Marco's and Rob's had always made a faint scraping whenever they moved but then again the Snow Leopard's armor looked distinctively higher quality than simple security riot gear.

Everyone else slowly took a seat as well and the visitor set Marco's pistol down on the table. When the unfamiliar Gen didn't respond, the Doe finally took a turn to speak up, "Why? Why did she send you?"

The feline's eyes locked onto hers and she felt her heart skip a beat; his steely-eyed, feral gaze was more than just intimidating-- it was, at an instinctual level, fear-inducing. He stared at her for several seconds before speaking. "She was worried about her daughter... and you..." he glanced to Theodocious before staring back at Carol. "...and him."

Theo thankfully pulled the Snow Leopard's attention from the stricken Doe, "Being worried about a daughter is something any mother would be... but that doesn't explain why she'd have an MDU assigned to Sigma-Echo."

Ken's ears perked. "MDU? I thought he was a Designer Domestic."

Trudy answered quietly. "Military Designer Unit... it's a sub-brand of DD."

As if ignoring the exchange between the Bat and Mouse entirely the Snow Leopard answered Theo's question. "Mrs. Thurstenburger knew she couldn't do anything to stop the VAC raid but what really worried her was the Regulation 3 clean-up team."

Henry growled, snapping his fingers decisively. "I KNEW there was something to that Regulation 3 shit."

Ozzy's small, round ears laid flat on his head. "So... they ARE having us all killed."

X rested a paw on the Otter's shoulder. "It's some kind of mistake. We'll get this fixed and then we--"

The Snow Leopard shook his head. "There was no mistake. Regulation 3 was anticipated after the VAC destroyed all of the Overseer's HID supply."

Theo stood up. "Wait a minute... so you mean to say that Jen's mom KNEW that the VAC was going to attack... AND that they were going to destroy our HID supply?"

The armored Gen nodded. "Yes. That was the primary focus of the attack."

Ken blurted. "HOW?!?"

The Snow Leopard crossed his arms over his chest. "Mr. Thurstenburger was the one who negotiated with the Vamosla Corp for it to happen."

If everyone else in the room was as surprised as Carol at hearing the news then it was certainly evident by the fact that silence prevailed for many long seconds. It was ultimately Trudy who found her voice first. "WHAT?!?"

The feline drove the point home. "Mr. Thursenburger provided the VAC with the coordinates for Sigma-Echo and gave them the station's schematics. In return they would extract the Overseer and two of her Geneticons."

Xavier's ears drooped slightly. "Two?"

The Snow Leopard nodded. "And Regulation 3 would purge the rest."

Ozzy lowered his head, clasping his paws around the back of it. "So... just two of us? I guess you probably don't know which two?"

The armored Gen shook his head. "Mrs. Thurstenburger knew her husband would do something drastic after DRC's hostile takeover of LHI and she wanted to make certain that Ms. Thurstenburger and her assets were protected in the--"

Theo interrupted him. "Wait a minute-- hostile takeover? I thought it was a merger."

The feline shrugged. "DRC wanted LHI for its DD licensing and congressional approval to manufacture Geneticons. It was not a mutual business arrangement as Mr. Thurstenburger does not trust the Deep Reconnaissance Corporation to maintain his ideology."

Henry scowled. "And why should we believe you over all of this? We found white fur on Marco's body... and you have white fur... and a gun."

The Snow Leopard shrugged anew. "You do not have to believe me-- not believing does not make it less true. I have already said that I am here to protect you; it was the Regulation 3 cleaners responsible for your friend's death. As for the gun: it is easier to defend against a firearm with another firearm."

Trudy fidgeted. "Did you say cleaners... with an 's'? As in... plural?"

"Yes. There are five other MDUs stationed on Sigma-Echo and they all have orders to carry out Regulation 3's end game function."

Theo nodded with resolve. "Alright. Well, we know who's after us. Can you tell us what they look like, Mister....?"

The feline looked to the Wolf. "Dmitri... Dmitri Vanestov. As for what they look like... they look like me."

Xavier cocked his head to the side. "So... they're Snow Leopards? Okay... and what do they look like?"

Dmitri turned his critical gaze to the Borzoi and stated flatly. "They look like me... JUST like me."

Theo was quick to speak up. "The MDU project was more about rapid production of combat capable Gens and not about unique features, X..."

The Snow Leopard nodded. "Yes. They look EXACTLY like me, except for color coded iris identification."

Ken simplified the explanation. "So... you have different eye colors?"

Dmitri confirmed it. "Call signs were designated based on eye color-- DNA is identical to scanners so we are all Dmitry Vanestov. Rust, Teal, Bice, Gilt, and Perse."

Henry snickered at the last name. "Purse? Wow... a woman's handbag. What a name."

Carol, who was the most aesthetically inclined of all of the Gens was quick to correct him. "Perse... it's purple. Rust is red, Teal is blue, Bice is Green, Gilt is Gold, and Perse is Violet."

The Snow Leopard nodded. "And I am Steel."

Ozzy looked up, cocking his head to the side. "Oh... right... grey eyes."

Theo, as usual, was the one to bring things back to the task at hand. "So... if Mr. Thurstenburger really sent--"

Dmitri interrupted him. "He did."

The Wolf skipped ahead. "How is just one MDU supposed to protect us from five?"

The Snow Leopard rested his gun down on the table where everyone sat. "The others were assigned as civilian workers... their equipment is sub-standard compared to a fully approved military load-out. They will be at a disadvantage but you are correct... four against one is not an ideal situation even under the best circumstances."

Xavier scowled. "I thought you said five."

Dmitri nodded. "I already found Teal."

Henry leaned back in his chair. "So... one down-- four to go."

The Snow Leopard nodded and picked his gun back up. "I have been hunting them since the VAC attack. After the comm tower was taken offline I have remained on the Executive Deck. I anticipated them to strike at any time."

Ozzy rubbed his paws together in concern. "Which is why you walked in on us."

Xavier frowned anew. "And THAT brings up a very good question: how were you able to override the--"

The question was cut short as the apartment's door blurted out the lock override alert. A moment later a Snow Leopard dressed in a technician uniform stepped into the room and leveled a pistol at the inhabitants. Carol jumped down to the floor and covered her head with her hands. She heard the sound of two gun shots followed by Theo's exclamation. "No!"