0009

Date Published
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## Synopsis

Mallory and Quinn discuss the Aberration case and its similarities to the Aberration Spree Killings ten years previous. Mallory reveals she knows a lot about the old case, but wants to keep it secret. Ori, Lioness, and Bear confront Bluejay, whom Lioness claims killed Lykoi.

## Transcript

### Panel 1

* ...just five more minutes with mallory and quinn

FINE, A LITTLE LONGER...

* Stay with Mallory a bit longer. Ask about the Aberration case.

Quinn: I'm assuming you already know some things about it. Tell me what you know, and I'll fill in the rest.

Mallory: Okay, so...

### Panel 2

Mallory: The Aberration Case is an alarming series of disappearances, all of which have been people residing in the city of Aberration. Nothing is known of where victims go after disappearing, or why they go missing. The only thing more unsettling than this is that a certain amount of victims turn up again- dead. Right? But far from all of them are seen again. A majority of victims stay gone. I think it was, um, about 40 people gone by now? And, like, 10 bodies returned? ...Somehow, the case is strikingly similar to the Aberration Spree Killings of 10 years ago, aside from the fact that this case has a lot fewer returning victims...

Quinn: Wait.

Mallory: ?

### Panel 3

Quinn: The case 10 years ago...how much do **you** know about it?

Mallory: ?

Quinn: I mean... Even I don't have all the details straight. The files and reports are all... either just **gone**, or **expunged.**

Mallory: ...Come on now, Quinn...I know more about the case of 10 years ago than you because **i was there**. Don't my files say **why** I'm in jail in the first place ?

### Panel 4

Quinn: **Expunged.** Even **your** file is basically barren. I don't know what happened to it or why, but **all it says** now is **cybercrime**.

Mallory: Wow...Someone was **really** dedicated to keeping that case a mystery, huh? Well, it doesn't matter to me. file or no file, as long as we both know **I'm** not the killer, I'm good.

### Panel 5

Mallory: But if that's the case, and it's all expunged... I mean,... If they're going to such **lengths** to delete what I *did* and *learned,* I probably shouldn't speak freely about it with you. I'm sure you understand. If they're willing to execute **one** person, they'd **no doubt** have **your** head off for it, too.

### Panel 6

Quinn: Yes. You're right. Only talk about it if 100% necessary. Let's stay in the present. The figure you gave - 10 corpses to 40 disappearances - is inaccurate. That makes sense, assuming it's based on public info and the media's guesswork... But... At present, it's more like... 40 corpses to... 120 missing give or take.

### Panel 7

Quinn: since there's so little evidence to tie everything together, it's difficult to even know with certainty how many victims there are. I haven't started my own investigation properly yet, but... It's clear to me that we need to operate with two assumptions in mind. 1: the culprit or culprits is seasoned. A serial criminal. 2: the culprit or culprits is ruthless and definitely has some kind of weapon or intel that we don't. We can't affort to take any risks or suffer delays.

### Panel 8

Quinn: "............If we aren't careful here, we may end up dead, too."

SPOOKY ! IT'S BEEN FIVE MINUTES. LET'S GO BACK.

Lioness: Bear, put your mask back on.

### Panel 9

Lioness: Ack ! !

Bear: Lioness ! ! !

Lioness: Don't worry about **me**, Bear... We have a **visitor**.

### Panel 10

WHO'S THIS CHODE

Lioness: **BLUEJAY!!!**

OH

Lioness: **Returning to the scene of the crime, huh!? Traitor!!**

Bluejay: How ugly I didn't do anything. Where's your proof? These are serious accusations, Lioness. Do I look like a murderer to you ?

ORI, IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE GETTING HEATED... WANNA SAY SOMETHING, OR WILL YOU STAY OUT OF THIS ?

### Caption

NARRATOR: Sorry for pulling you back so suddenly.

NARRATOR: You had to see this.

What do you do? The number is 0009.