They say life is characterised by a few, brief, defining moments. If that is the case, then I guess you could say that this is one of mine…

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Daniel Stevens. It's a plain, unassuming and serviceable name, far from suitable for the high profile KMS Operative that I have become. That's why you probably know me best as Damascus.

What we've got here is your original, honest to goodness 'Very Bad Situation'. I apologise if that sounds flippant but I am trying very hard not to let the enormity of the problem before us overwhelm me. This is how I react to stress - I withdraw from it and protect myself with a devil may care attitude. Sarcasm comes easily to me at times like these. I hide behind it while my mind works overtime as I try to figure out what the hell to do next.

I digress. Where did this all begin? Damn, but come to think of it, I suppose you could say that this all kicked off back at Meny. I was a quiet, studious young man but I was quite capable of letting my hair down in a big way once class was over for the day. She was Ari Kumira, a vibrant woman studying Interplanetary Politics and Diplomacy. Her family had long since discarded the Orientan practice of putting surname before forename, despite ancient historical links and familial traditions that stretched back for generation upon generation.

The life of an Operative in the service of SLA Industries was not the life destined for Ari Kumira. Her father and his father before him had been diplomats of the highest order, renowned throughout the World of Progress for their astonishingly quick, clear minds and their ability to negotiate a satisfactory compromise to seemingly any impasse. Ari was always destined to follow them in to their world rather than mine but while we were at Meny, our love blossomed like a solar flare; brief, bright, white hot love that filled and consumed us and left us both with a lasting legacy.

By the end of our second year, Ari was pregnant and our love was blessed with twins. A boy, whom we named Scott after my father and a girl, the apple of our eye, whom we named Konoko, in the Orientan fashion, after Ari's paternal grandmother. It was an honour Ari's father did not appreciate but she ignored and rebuffed his attempts to call her home in disgrace. She swore to stay with me and I with her and clutching the precious fruit of our love, we swore to our children that they would know nothing but love and happiness.

Konoko was our angel. She was even more beautiful than her mother was and she was blessed with the temperament and disposition of a saint. We loved her more than life itself and she wanted for nothing. I would have killed for her - still would. Innocence and purity such as she has deserves more than the World of Progress; deserves more than I could ever offer her, so I have ever done the best that I can for her and every night I pray that it will be enough.

Though Konoko was our angel, Scott was my son. Ari loved him as she loved our daughter but what I felt for Scott went beyond love. I cannot describe what happened to me the night I first held my son in my arms. My son! Until the day you hold and look down upon your first son, I doubt you will know how profoundly that moment moved me. I swore there and then in the quiet depths of my soul that I would do anything for this boy. Nothing would be too good for him and nothing would I deny him. I would face The Thresher alone, walk naked through the Preceptor's own Red Rains and spit in the face of Slayer for him and I would do it with a smile upon my face.

We graduated Meny with honours. Together. Ari and I had worked twice as hard as anyone else who graduated that year to make sure we raised our children well and still stayed on top of our classes. My heart swelled with pride to hear my children crying as I passed out. It was as though they knew my name and wanted to honour and mark my personal achievements with the accolade of their voices. I cried then and the feelings are so strong that it is with an effort of will alone that I do not cry again now.

Ari got herself a job in Central. We both knew it was a waste of her talents - she could have gone off-world and stood astride the World of Progress like a benevolent colossus. She could have done such good, but the job in Central paid well. Housing, vehicle and, most importantly for our children, security were all included. I joined with five other of my Meny classmates and formed Squad Domino. I painted Double Two's on my right shoulder plate and dutifully followed I&I Op Snake Eyes until a Darknight Flak Bomb eviscerated him as he shielded three schoolchildren from the blast. We grieved for Snake Eyes and swore no one else would wear the Double One's in Squad Domino. I stepped into the breach and have followed in his footsteps ever since. My Consolidated Bonus Scheme payments supplemented Ari's income and made sure that we were able to provide our children with the best education SLA Industries could provide. It also provided for the luxuries in life - luxuries like the occasional off-world holiday where as a family we took in sights that were so far removed from the incessant rain of Mort as to seem like Paradise found.

So they say that all good things must come to an end and I guess it must be true. The twins were ten when Ari was reconciled with her father and it was good for a while to see my children enjoying the company of their grandfather. Contact with Ari's father simply made the restrictions of what was essentially a dead end job chafe and soon Ari had turned her eyes towards the stars. Squad Domino had recently signed with the Necanthrope Brazil. I felt torn in two but diplomats to the end, Ari and her father were able to negotiate a solution. Scott and Konoko would remain on Mort. Despite all else, the educational facilities in Mort Central were second to none. Ari would be based on Mort but would take up her rightful place alongside her father. She would have her work, I would have mine and the children would have everything they could ever need..

Perfect solution? There's no such thing as a perfect solution. Ari and I slowly and painfully lost touch and forgot what we had once had. Scott and Konoko were provided for but I became a bit player in their lives. Ari's father stopped even pretending that I was contributing to their well-being. The deductions from my finance account ceased and Ari's father would have marginalized me completely if I had let him. But damn it I was prepared to fight for my kids and that's exactly what I did. I made a point of seeing them every single day, despite the obvious displeasure of Ari's father and the best efforts of his hired staff. My children still loved me and I still loved them and that was really all that mattered.

Life went on, as is its way. Scott entered Meny and showed an aptitude for I & I that far outstripped his years. His success caught Brazil's eye and the wily Necanthrope had my son fast-tracked into Cloak Division, Internal Affairs and on deeper still into the murky folds of SLA Industries. Until then, I had never questioned Brazil, his contacts or where in the vast organisation of SLA his loyalties really lay. Why should I? He was a Necanthrope and that was all the explanation I needed for his mysterious ways. Even once my suspicions were aroused, Scott had been out of contact on some D-Noticed mission or other for six weeks before I really let loose on his vassal Reeve. The Ebon's answer?

"You know that's D-Noticed Stevens. Do your job. Earn your pay. Don't ask questions. Don't make Waves."

I protested but he rebuffed me: "Yo Stevens. Catch you later." He mimicked a pistol firing with the fingers of one hand and with the familiar but disorientating surge of a Reality Fold, he was gone.

Konoko became my focus and thanks to Ari's father she remained an innocent. No matter what else I might say against the man, he looked after Konoko in a way that I never would have had the resources to do. She was being groomed for marriage in the Orientan way.. I suppose I disapproved in principle but it was easy to suspend my principles if it meant that my little angel would want for nothing. Ari argued that Konoko's would be a proud job - her eventual marriage would be a union that would bring two cultures or two different planets closer together. Ari said Konoko was part of Mr Slayer's Big Picture. I found that hard to accept but it was harder to deny Konoko her comfortable, leisurely life.

In my personal life, Squad Domino went from strength to strength. We got our big break after filing a Hunter Sheet against the Serial Killer 'Bitter Rose' - our star was in the ascendance and we worked like stink to keep it that way. I grew closer to Coral, the squad's Ebon Operative, and we became confidants. I found that she was one of the few people without a child of their own who was able to understand exactly how I felt about my kids. We were able to talk for hours without feeling the least bit self conscious and often did, opening up to each other in the most complete way - something I never would have dreamed was possible with anyone other than Ari. For me, there was another revelation. My relationship with Coral remained platonic and I think ultimately that was a good thing for it meant we strengthened Squad Domino rather than weakening it. I realised that Brazil had been keeping close watch on Coral and I and it occurred to me that perhaps Squad Domino was being groomed for one of his mysterious schemes.

I guess that brings you up to speed and goes some way to explaining how I got into this little mess.

When the phone rang this morning, icy dread gripped my heart and I knew that the news would not be good. Sure enough, I heard Ari's voice on the other end of the line and from the tremulous quiver; I could tell she was barely holding her emotions in check.

"Daniel?"

"What is it Ari? What's wrong?"

"It's Konoko." She sobbed once, caught herself, and then could contain her emotions no longer. All hope of speech was washed away in a flood of tears and to hear her cry so, dread crept up my body and set my hands to trembling.

Evidently Ari had given up the phone, for her Father's voice, gruff with suppressed emotion, was the next thing I heard.

"Stevens? I'm sorry Daniel. Konoko has disappeared."

I cut across him: "Disappeared? When? How did this happen?"

"Last night. We realised she was gone this morning. There was nothing we could do. I'm sorry Daniel, it was… It was an inside job."

"Inside job? Who?" Coral came to my side and put one hand upon my shoulder. She bit her lip and worry creased her brow as I trembled beneath her touch.

"It was Scott."

My mind whirled.

"Scott? What do you mean Scott?"

"We've not seen him for months. He's been Off World on some Green, but he came home late last night. He was wounded, rambling incoherently about the things he'd seen and clutching some damned split-blade knife so tightly I thought we'd have to break his knuckles to get it off of him.

"Ari got him cleaned up and he said he just needed some rest - needed a room for the night. Come this morning, he and Konoko were gone and four members of my household were dead. Dead by Scott's hand and that damned knife. I've got my best men on the job Daniel. We'll find him. Him and Konoko, you have my word on that."

The phone fell from my hand and shattered as it hit the floor. Funny how clearly I remember that and how it seemed to splinter into shards that scattered across the room in slow motion. Coral moved into my field of vision.

"Daniel? Daniel?"

My son. Scott. What's happened to you? What are you doing with Konoko?

"Operative Damascus, situation report!"

Deeply ingrained protocol bought reality crashing back to me and I had to break off mid salute. Coral pulled my head down so that my eyes looked into hers.

"Daniel?"

I felt the tears welling up but bit back a cry.

"It's Scott. Coral something's happened to my Scott. He came home from a BPN yesterday and spent the night over at Kumira's."

"And?"

"Something's dreadfully wrong. He's gone… disappeared this morning and took Konoko with him."

Coral took my head in her hands and pulled me to her shoulder as sobs wracked my body. All I could think of was my little boy, out there somewhere in the city running scared, and his sister's smiling face.

"Scott's a responsible lad. There must be some explanation for this."

"No Coral. Something's dreadfully wrong. He killed four of Kumira's men getting away. Why would my Scott kill those people and take his sister away?"

"We'll find that out later. First we have to find your son and your daughter and make sure they're safe. What's Ari's father doing?"

"He says he's got the best men possible out looking for them."

Coral smiled at me: "I'll call the others. We soon will be. Time for fear and worry later Dan. Suit up and think about where Scott might go. C'mon, let's go find your kids."

*****

Scott's my son. I'm his father. I'm proud to say that we're close so I guess it should have been no surprise how quickly I was able to track him down.

That's why I'm here - a quiet Biodome in the heart of Mort Central. At lunchtime, this place would have been crawling with Employees and Executives. It's a tiny green oasis, protected by its dome from Mort's atmosphere and rain and it makes a welcome relief from the unrelenting corporate world outside. They have real plants and trees here. Not many but a few. There are benches and a small play area where Ari and I used to bring the kids during her lunch break. Once we'd been off world, this park used to remind all of us of that special time together - I somehow knew I'd find my children here.

It's mid afternoon and all the Employees and Executives are hard at work climbing the corporate ladder. Coral had the Shiver's cordon the area off and she's outside the dome liaising with them. My friends Shunt, a 313 Malice, and Six, a Frother, are over by the gate. The only other member of Squad Domino, a Wraith Raider by the name of Gecko, is also outside the dome. He's taken up his customary position on some rooftop somewhere and is acting as my eyes, providing me with a near constant stream of commentary.

I've taken off my helmet so as not to frighten Scott or Konoko and have crept forward into the park alone. I can hear Konoko sobbing softly and I hear an incessant whispering - there are no other sounds. I'm desperately trying to slow the frantic pounding of my heart - trying to pull myself together for what I'm about to do.

My call sign crackles over the Comm.

"Two-two this is Double Three. Give me a mark."

I raise a thumb skyward.

"Mark Two-two. I have you in sight. From your position a gravel path leads northeast for approximately 20, two-oh, metres to the play area. I have Visual One, Konoko, tied up inside the climbing frame - looks like she's OK Dan. I have Visual Two, Scott, and he's inside the climbing frame with Konoko. Seems to just be talking to her."

Talking. Talking's good. I'm not sure why Scott would tie Konoko up inside the climbing frame but the fact that he's talking to her is a good sign. Coral's voice breaks my reverie.

"Two-two this is Fours. Daniel; Reeve's here."

"Fuck. Copy. Stay the hell out of this Reeve. They're my kids and this is my play. You got that?"

"No problem Steven's. It's your play all the way. I'm just here for Brazil - to protect his interests. Care to fill me in?"

"Not in detail no. Situation is as you see it. Ari's father said Scott had seemed disturbed by something that happened on his Green BPN. What kind of bullshit job did Brazil send my son on?"

"You know I can't tell you that Stevens."

"No? Well then fuck you Reeve and fuck Brazil too. Whatever it was has just gotten my Scotty a little spooked. I'm going to walk out there, talk to my son, talk to my daughter and then we're all going to go home. He's just a little shaken up is all."

"Shaken up enough to kill four men? Steven's Ari is the diplomat not you. Why don't you let a professional talk to your son?"

"Because he's my son and because I know what Standard Operating Procedure is in situations like this. Well not to my son, not on my watch. Fuck S-Oh-P and in case you missed it last time, fuck you!"

I kill my mike but leave the earpiece on. I guess Reeve's only doing his job but he doesn't even have the decency to kill the open line before he tells Coral I'm coming unhinged. Coral tells him to fuck off too. Politely.

I toggle the mike in the collar of my armour: "Squad Domino this is Two-two on a go."

I get to my feet and start what seems like the longest walk of my life, down the path towards the play area. I'm trying to treat this like just another job but my body betrays me. My legs feel so weak; I'm convinced it's only the armour holding me up. The gravel path leads straight and true into the play area and as I approach the whispering gets louder until it's like a roar in my ears. I'm astonished to find that the source of the noise is Scott. He's bending down next to Konoko whom he's got tied up within the dome-shaped climbing frame and whispering into her ear. Whispering, but I can hear the sibilance more than a dozen metres away. I strain to catch definite words as I take in the scene. Konoko's sobbing but I think that's just because she's scared. I'm relieved that neither of them looks hurt. As Scott is bent down to whisper directly into Konoko's ear, he's behind her as I approach and I can see that he's leaning over her shoulder and carving images into the dirt with a long silver bladed knife that is split in two for more than half its length. Whatever he's drawing seems to be upsetting Konoko even more - fresh sobs burst fom her lips every time she looks at what Scott has drawn.

"Four-four? Gecko, can you get me a visual feed from your position on whatever it is that Scott's drawing. See if anyone can make out what that is for me."

"Copy."

I spread my hands, palms facing forwards and arms down by my sides as I walk out into the middle of the play area.

"Scott? Scott what are you doing?"

My son's head snaps up towards me as I speak and the sight tears new wounds in my soul. His face is flushed red and streaked with the tracks of tears. His eyes are dreadfully bloodshot and bulge maniacally from his head. His breath is coming in short ragged gasps.

Konoko opens her eyes at the sound of my voice. Her eyes are bloodshot too and I seen nothing in them but terror. Her scream rings out in the still Biodome: "Daddy!"

"Shh. Konoko, shh. No need to be scared. Daddy's here," I say but I don't feel any conviction in my words.

Scott wraps his free hand around Konoko's mouth to prevent any further outcry and gestures towards the ground with the knife. His eyes dart frantically around.

"Dad? Oh Dad. Help me Dad."

"What's the matter Scott? Tell me what it is son."

"Oh Dad, the things I've seen. They hurt! Oh it hurts my eyes, hurts my head. I keep seeing it over and over again and I can't make it go away."

His eyes bulge further yet and he looks at me with such anguish etched into his features that I feel my heart must surely break. Over his hand, Konoko's terror-filled eyes plead with me to do something.

"What things son? What did you see?"

Reeve's voice in my earpiece cuts across Scott's reply: "If he answers that in any detail Stevens, we're getting into the sort of official situation where I'll have no choice but to intervene."

"…So come on Dad. Come over here and see for yourself. I've shown Konoko, let me show you," I heard my son finish.

"Tell you what Scotty," I say. "Now that you've finished showing Konoko. Why don't you let her go and then I'll come take a look. Come on Scott. You're upsetting your sister.. I know you don't want that so let her go. What do you say?"

"Let her go? No Dad, I can't let her go. Not knowing what the world is really like."

"What do you mean?"

"I love her Dad. She's my sister and I'm not going to let anything happen to her. She's so sweet and innocent and pure and I'm going to make sure she stays that way."

In one swift fluid movement, Scott sweeps the strange knife up into the air and plunges it into Konoko's thigh. Her scream and my anguished cry echo across the Biodome in unison and bright arterial blood fountains into the air spattering my children.

"Look," Scott chokes on the words as he says them, eyes starting from his head. "Look her blood and her soul are pure."

Tears stream down my face. My heart pounds in my ears and across my temples as I take my breath in short gasps. I cannot comprehend what I am seeing. My son stands over his sister, knife protruding from her thigh and blood. Oh blood everywhere. Scott moves to stand right behind his sister and tilts her head back so she looks skyward.

Gecko's voice cuts through my scattered thoughts. "Twos. Shit man Dan, I've gotta tell you. I have a clear shot."

A shot? What? Cold fear grips me as I realise what Gecko is saying.

"Gecko, no. No shot. Not 'till I say."

"OK Dan. For you. It's your call. I've visual as requested. Patching the image of those symbols through now."

Helmet-less, I cannot see what the rest of the team sees. Not that I'd want to. My eyes are fixed on Scott and Konoko. The image of them burning itself into my mind. Scott stands behind his sister, a hand either side of her head, cradling her and pointing her eyes towards the sky. A confusing welter of conversation erupts across the Comm and I can only guess that the symbols Scott has drawn are the cause.

Coral's voice, filled with revulsion, says: "Slayer's Balls that's making me feel sick. They look like Glyphs but they're wrong. Ugh wrong."

Then Reeve, rapidly barking orders: "Gecko cut that feed now! This material is hereby D-noticed, I want that slug. Squad Domino is to surrender for Psyche evaluation immediately. That goes for you too Stevens."

Eyes still fixed on my children I can only breathe: "Reeve. Damn you. Just drop dead damn you."

I'm not sure how, but I hear Reeve's mind as he reaches out across the void towards Brazil. A vassal summoning his master. His words are indistinct but recognisable and I see in Scott's eyes that my son hears it too.

"We have a breach. The boys mind wasn't strong enough. He's infected the girl's mind and Squad Domino has seen the Glyphs. Send a Harvest Team."

I see resignation in Scott's eyes and howl at him: "No!

"Scott, no. Let Konoko go. We can still resolve this."

"No Dad. We can't. You heard the brain-raper. I made you hear him. Just like they made me see the things they've seen. Things the eyes of a child should never see."

Fresh sobs wrack Scott's body and when he looks up again I think something inside him might have snapped, but at the last I see his eyes are clear, unclouded, the mirrors of a soul resolute and reconciled with what it must do.

Gecko's voice: "He's gone Dan. I have a shot."

Scott looks up at me.

"I told my sister about the things they've shown me. I want her to know not to look when they try to show her. Don't you look Dad. Don't you let them show you either."

Gecko: "I have a shot."

"I love you Dad. I love you and Mum too but most of all I love Konoko. Her blood and soul are pure still; pure like a child's. There are things she should never see, things the eyes of a child should never see. I'll protect her with my love, don't you see? I'll make sure the eyes of my sister never see."

With a raw animalistic cry, Scott drove his thumbs into Konoko's eye sockets. I saw my son's digits plunge into my daughter's head as deep as the second knuckle. Her squeal of pure agony mingled with her brother's emotional roar.

Indecision had cost me dear. I was far too late.

"Take the shot."

*****

I cradle the bloody remains of Scott's head in my lap and crush my dying daughter to my chest. Tears stream down my face as I desolately roar at the uncaring sky: "Why? Damn you. Why?"

My vision is blurred by my tears but I swear everything suddenly shifts a few millimetres out of sync before snapping back into place, only this time there are figures in white armour around me. They bend to take Konoko away from me. I can only guess what tests they'll perform on her - the ultimate insult and something I'm not going to stand for.

I remember Meny. Remember a phrase they taught us out of Military History, from the time of the Conflict Wars. It offers me solace and escape. I see no other way out now that life has no further meaning for me. They will remember. Coral will remember at the very least and she knows how deeply this moment will have hurt me.

I toggle the mike in the collar of my armour.

"Squad Domino. Let it rain danger close… and goodbye."

I hear an answering roar as Squad Domino say goodbye. Shunt's MAL Assault Cannon booms and Six's AR chatter as they open up with 12.7mm on the figures in white. I fight to fend off one of the figures who bends down to take Konoko from me. His head disappears in a fountain of blood as Gecko once again brings 17mm death to one of Squad Domino's enemies.

I simply close my eyes and remember happiness; I remember my children. We are together again now, at the last, as I wait for Coral's Ebb Bomb to bring me death and bring my children peace.

"Forgive me Father for I have just killed quite a few men..."

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