Page 1-3: Astrid Elio’s Apartment. Evening. Astrid is sitting in the kitchen looking at her computer
The first thought that came to Astrid’s mind was, “this can’t be right!” But this was the fifth time that she had run the test through the advanced analytics on her computer, and no matter what configuration she put in, the results were always the same. She ran it over and over in her mind, “Calixte, her fiancé, was a vampire!” Moreover, he was the newer strain of vampire, which were being called vombies. Vombies were different from older vampires in that the traditional ways of killing them, namely with sunlight or a wooden stake simply turned them into a zombie-like creature that could only be killed by chopping off their head. A task made nearly impossible as a result of the vombies vampire strength, toughness, and speed.
She knew she had to do something, but just exactly what, was unclear. While her relationship with Calixte had not started out well, over the years it had grown into something special. She thought loved him but now was confused. How could she love someone that she is sworn to arrest or kill. Likewise, vampires fed off of and were sworn to kill humans. How could he be a vombie. She searched her mind of a time when she had seen Calixte in the daytime. She thought that she had but was not sure. As was required of her worked, she slept mainly during the days, coming onto work only at dusk. Perhaps, he did not know. She had read that some vampires take hypnosis to convince themselves that they are not vampires in order to better integrate with humans. But if he did know what was he up to. He said that he loved her. Was he lying?
On the one hand, if she knew that if she did nothing, one of her colleagues at the Vampire Enforcement Administration (VEA) would come across the same information about Calixte that she did. They were all dedicated vampire police and skilled at their jobs. Even if she were to hide Calixte’s information deep in the database, she would never be able to permanently delete it. Sooner or later, it would show up on someone “vamp-scan” is it did when she accidently typed Calixte’s identification code into her work computer. She also knew that some people that the “administration” did not like her, and would do anything to give her trouble especially if it was revealed that she was engaged to a vampire.
An image of her colleague Mi-Lun shot into her head. She thought to herself, how long have they known each other: five, eight, ten years. She recalled first meeting her in the first year at the VEA training academy and had been assigned to the same precinct when they graduated. Initially, they were inseparable both on and work. That was until they met Calixte. Though Calixte, initially seemed interested in her, she was more interested her work. Mi-Lun, on the other hand, was immediately attracted to Calixte. However, it seemed that the more that she tried to get him to like her, the more Calixte ignored her and focused his attention on her, Astrid. When she finally agreed to go out on a date with him, it was simply to get him to stop annoying her, she did not know how deeply that affected Mi-Lun until the week after the date.
Page 4-6: Flashback: Three year ago. An empty industrial unit on the outskirts of the city.
Astrid and Mi-Lun have been sent to arrest a group of vampire that were last reported to be using the unit as meeting space before perpetrating attacking sprees on the locals. VEA order were to detain the group but not kill or injure them. Just as they are about to take actions the following conversation takes place:
Astrid: I’ll take the front; you circle around to the back. I’ll try to force them your way where you can deploy the arrest drone.
Mi-Lun: This is so typical. You’ve always wanted everything that I want.
Astrid: What are you talking about. This is how we’ve done this since we first started. You’ve always been better at controlling the drones then me.
Mi-Lun: Yeah, but I always wanted to be the one to go in first. You never tried to learn how to control the drones better. You just assumed that I like to do it. I actually hate it. But, you never asked about this.
Astrid: Wow. I guess you’re right, and I am sorry that I have not tried to balance out the situation. After, this mission, I promise that I will put more practice into learning how to control the drones.
Mi-Lun: Sure, learning how to control drones is easy. But for some things you can’t undo what has already been undone. For some things there simply is no easy fix or fix at all.
Astrid: Once again, Mi-Lun, I have no clue what you are getting at.
Mi-Lun: I’m talking about you dating Calixte.
Astrid: What! I’m not dating him. I went out on one date with him. That was it!
Mi-Lun: But you knew that I liked him. How could you do that? You don’t even like him. I thought I was your friend. But now I know that, you are just playing games with me.
Astrid: Believe you me, the situation is nothing like what you are thinking. You are my friend. My very best friend. But we need to complete this mission. Once we do, I’ll explain everything, Ok?
Mi-Lun: Sure. Whatever. Like you said; you take the front and I’ll take the back.
Astrid and Mi-Lun separate and head towards the unit. As planned, Astrid slips into front, and pauses a minute, to adjust her vampire-vision googles. As her eyes adjust to the greenish hue, she checked her firearm to see that it is on stun. She peeks around the corner to see exactly what she knew would be there. It was a swarm of vampires huddled together in their normal semi-sleep state. That’s when she heard it. The unmistakable “buzz-buzz” of the arrest drones. “What was Mi-Lun doing she thought”, she thought. It was way too early to deploy the drones. She had not even got into position. Then she noticed, that the sounds of the drones were actually going away from the unit. Indeed, from the sound she could tell that they were headlined back to the city. “Damn!” She thought, I better get out of here before the swarm wakes up. However, it was already too late. The sound of the drones had awoken the swarm. Hunger and with a desire for blood, they lurched at Astrid. Astrid tuned and ran back towards the front door, hoping that if she could make it outside, the dusk sunlight would shock the vampires enough for her to hold them off long enough for back-up to arrive. She also knew that whatever relationship she had with Mi-Lun it was effectively over at this point.
