Chereads / I, Lucifer / Chapter 34 - A new threat

Chapter 34 - A new threat

The Crime

The air inside NovaTech Industries was unnervingly still. The faint hum of high-tech machinery and the flicker of fluorescent lights were the only signs of life in the otherwise deserted high-security lab. It was past midnight, and Dr. Marcus Hale was deeply engrossed in his work. Sweat dampened his thinning hair as he hunched over his desk, scribbling formulas onto a notepad already filled with equations.

His invention, Eternal Light, promised to revolutionize the world—a limitless source of clean energy. The project had earned NovaTech global acclaim, but it also attracted dangerous attention. Dr. Hale knew the risks, but he convinced himself the lab's cutting-edge security made him untouchable.

At precisely 2:03 a.m., NovaTech's surveillance system detected movement in the restricted sector. Cameras registered fleeting, distorted silhouettes, but the anomalies were dismissed as glitches. Unbeknownst to anyone, the intruder had breached the facility with surgical precision.

The biometric locks outside Dr. Hale's lab blinked red as they were overridden. Inside, the scientist froze, his pen pausing mid-equation as the sound of the door hissing open broke the silence.

He turned in his chair, his face pale. "Who's there?"

A figure stepped into the dimly lit room, their face obscured by the brim of a cap and a scarf wrapped tightly around their neck. The intruder moved with unsettling calm, shutting the door behind them.

"How did you get in here?" Hale demanded, his voice trembling. "Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

The intruder took a step closer, their voice steady but cold. "I know exactly what I'm doing. The question is, do you?"

Hale's heart raced. He reached beneath his desk, fumbling for the emergency alarm button. But the intruder was faster, crossing the room in a flash and slamming him against the wall. The scientist let out a choked cry as papers flew off the desk and a glass beaker shattered on the floor.

"Eternal Light," the intruder murmured, their eyes fixed on the glowing prototype on the workstation. "A dream worth killing for."

"It's not for profit!" Hale gasped, struggling to free himself. "It's for the future—humanity's future!"

The intruder tilted their head. "Humanity's future comes at a cost."

They released Hale, who collapsed to the floor, clutching his side. With methodical precision, the intruder began dismantling the prototype, removing its core and placing it into a reinforced case. Hale mustered his strength, lunging toward them, but a swift strike to the temple sent him sprawling unconscious.

The intruder hesitated for a moment, their gaze lingering on the fallen scientist. Their hand hovered near a concealed weapon, but they ultimately turned away, disappearing into the shadows as easily as they had arrived.

When the morning staff arrived, they were met with chaos. The lab was in disarray—papers and glass scattered across the floor, the prototype missing, and Dr. Hale nowhere to be found.

Security footage offered no clear answers, only static and blurred images that obscured the intruder's identity. The police were summoned, and as detectives surveyed the scene, it was clear this was no ordinary break-in.

The mystery had just begun.

---

The Discovery

The sun was just beginning to rise when the body of Dr. Marcus Hale was discovered in a ditch off Mulholland Drive. A jogger, breathless and pale, flagged down a passing car, trembling as he pointed to the lifeless figure partially concealed by bushes.

LAPD officers swarmed the area within the hour, cordoning off the scene with yellow tape. Dr. Hale's body was face down, his lab coat stained with blood, and his hands bound behind his back with a zip tie. His face bore a grimace of terror, as though he'd seen his death coming.

Detective Harper arrived shortly after, her sharp eyes scanning the scene. She crouched beside the body, carefully avoiding the forensic markers.

"Blunt force trauma to the back of the head," the forensics lead, Dr. Malcolm Ross, noted as he examined the wounds. "Likely something heavy—metal. And those ligature marks on his wrists? He was restrained for hours before he died. This wasn't a robbery gone wrong. It's personal."

Harper stood, her expression grim. "Whoever dumped him here wanted him found. This is a message."

The lab results came in quickly. Dirt found under Hale's fingernails matched the soil around the NovaTech facility, confirming that he'd been abducted from there. Blood splatter on his shoes suggested he'd been dragged post-mortem.

When Harper called Lucifer to join the investigation, he was already at his penthouse nursing a whiskey.

"Another case, Detective?" he drawled over the phone. "I was just starting to enjoy my evening."

"You'll enjoy this one. Marcus Hale. NovaTech scientist. Body dumped off Mulholland. Missing prototype. Big conspiracy vibes. This one's got your name written all over it."

Lucifer's interest piqued. "Say no more. I'll be there in ten."

---

Arrival at NovaTech

By the time Harper and Lucifer arrived at the NovaTech facility, the media had already gathered outside the gates. Harper shoved through the crowd, flashing her badge to gain access, while Lucifer trailed behind, unbothered by the chaos.

The scene inside the lab was eerily silent. Forensics officers worked methodically, photographing every inch of the ransacked workspace. The prototype, Eternal Light, was still missing, but a trail of evidence was beginning to emerge.

Lucifer ran his hand over the workstation, his eyes narrowing as he examined the scattered papers. "Messy. Desperate. And yet...calculated," he murmured.

Harper glanced at him. "You getting anything?"

"Oh, plenty," Lucifer replied, smirking. "For starters, our thief knew exactly what they were looking for. No wasted time, no unnecessary damage. And this," he picked up a shattered piece of glass, "wasn't an accident. It's a statement."

Harper frowned. "What kind of statement?"

Lucifer shrugged. "I don't know yet. That's your job, Detective."

Just then, a forensics officer approached with a new finding. "Detective Harper, we found a partial print on the door handle. Running it through the database now."

As they waited for the results, Lucifer noticed something odd—a faint scorch mark on the edge of the workstation. He knelt to get a closer look, running his fingers over the charred wood.

"This wasn't caused by the intruder," he said. "This...this was caused by the prototype itself. Someone activated it."

Harper's eyes widened. "Are you saying Hale might've been killed over a malfunction?"

Lucifer shook his head. "No, no. This wasn't a malfunction. This was deliberate."

---

A Suspect Emerges

The print on the door handle matched a man named Vincent Cole, a disgruntled former NovaTech employee who had been fired for allegedly stealing company secrets. Harper and Lucifer tracked him down to a rundown apartment in East Hollywood.

When they arrived, Vincent was already packing a suitcase. Harper drew her gun. "LAPD! Hands where I can see them!"

Vincent froze, then raised his hands slowly. "I didn't do anything," he stammered.

Lucifer smirked. "Oh, Vincent, you've just made this so much easier for us. Now, tell us—what did you do with the prototype?"

Vincent's eyes darted nervously. "I don't know what you're talking about!"

Lucifer stepped closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Vincent, Vincent, Vincent. Lying to me is a very bad idea. Tell us what we need to know, or I'll make you regret it."

Terrified, Vincent blurted out, "I didn't kill Hale! I just...I just wanted the prototype for myself. I sold it, okay? To a guy named Travers. He's the one who wanted Hale dead, not me!"

"Where's Travers now?" Harper demanded.

Vincent hesitated, then muttered, "He's got a warehouse downtown. But I'm telling you, he's dangerous."

Lucifer grinned. "Oh, we love dangerous."

---

The Warehouse Showdown

Harper and Lucifer arrived at the warehouse under the cover of darkness. Inside, they found Travers surrounded by armed guards, the stolen prototype glowing ominously on a pedestal.

"What's the plan?" Harper whispered.

Lucifer smirked. "Oh, you know me, Detective. Improvise."

Before Harper could stop him, Lucifer strolled into the warehouse, his hands in his pockets. "Gentlemen! Mind if I join the party?"

Travers looked up, startled. "Who the hell are you?"

"Lucifer Morningstar," he said smoothly. "And you must be the idiot who thought stealing Eternal Light was a good idea."

Harper watched from the shadows as the guards raised their weapons. She clenched her jaw, ready to move, but Lucifer raised a hand.

"No need for violence," he said. "I just have a few questions. Like, for instance, how do you plan to use the prototype without the activation code? You do know Hale kept it memorized, right?"

Travers faltered, glancing nervously at his men. "Shut up!" he barked.

Lucifer smirked. "Ah, I see. You don't have it. Which means this was all for nothing."

At that moment, Harper burst in, her gun drawn. "LAPD! Drop your weapons!"

Chaos erupted as the guards opened fire. Lucifer ducked behind a crate, pulling Harper down with him.

"Detective, this is your cue to save the day," he said, grinning.

Harper rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."

Together, they fought their way through the guards, determined to bring Travers to justice and recover the prototype. But as the battle raged on, it became clear that Travers had one final trick up his sleeve—and the night was far from over.

---

Amenadiel's Revelation – A Price well paid

The moon hung high, casting a cold silver light across the city as Amenadiel stood atop a tall building, his eyes gazing at the horizon. His mind was a storm of frustration and doubt. The power that once surged through him, the strength he had relied on for centuries, was gone. His wings were no longer a part of him, and with their absence came a hollow feeling—an aching void where certainty used to dwell.

He took a deep breath, trying to center himself, but the air felt thinner now, more distant. He wasn't the same.

As the wind tousled his hair, he whispered under his breath, "Why?"

He had always known his powers would not last forever. He had known the weight of eternity could wear down even the most invincible of beings. But this was different. This was not the slow decay he had anticipated. This was something immediate, something irreversible. His powers—his very connection to Heaven—had just... vanished.

"Amenadiel?"

The voice cut through his thoughts like a blade. He turned to see Selene, standing a few feet away, her eyes observing him with an almost knowing intensity.

"Still brooding, I see," she said, her tone softer than usual. She took a step closer, her gaze flicking to the empty space where his wings had once been.

"I don't know what to do anymore," Amenadiel admitted, his voice hoarse. "My powers are gone. I can't even feel Heaven's call anymore. I can barely even hold onto the memories of what it was like. I don't know what to do without them. Without... my purpose."

Selene studied him for a moment before speaking. "I get it. You've lost everything—your wings, your divine strength, your connection to Heaven. And you're wondering why now? Why this? Why you?"

Amenadiel turned away from her, pacing slightly. "It's not just that. I... I did something. Something that changed everything. When I brought Debbie back from Hell, I didn't realize the cost. I was so focused on saving her, on doing the right thing, that I never thought about what it might mean for me. And now... I'm paying the price."

Selene's gaze softened as she stepped closer, her voice lowering. "You think you lost your powers because you brought Debbie back?"

Amenadiel nodded. "I'm sure of it. My powers were tied to Heaven. But when I pulled Debbie's soul out of Hell, it was... I don't know... like I took something from Heaven. Something that was never meant to be returned. Maybe God saw it as a defiance. Maybe it was a test to see how I would cope without them."

There was a long pause, as Selene absorbed his words. "You did something extraordinary, Amenadiel. You pulled a soul from Hell. You defied the laws of Heaven and Hell to give someone a second chance at life. Maybe that's what this is all about. Maybe it's not about losing your powers, but proving something about who you are without them."

He shook his head, his expression filled with uncertainty. "But I don't know what that means. I don't know who I am without them. Without wings, without power—what's left of me? What's the point of being an angel without Heaven?"

Selene stepped closer, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe this is your test. To learn who you are without the power. To prove that you can stand on your own, without the weight of Heaven pushing you forward. The reason you brought Debbie back was never just about her—no. It was about you. You chose to act from a place of compassion, not duty. That's something real, Amenadiel. Something that transcends Heaven and Hell."

Amenadiel's eyes searched hers, as if looking for an answer that wasn't there. "But the cost... I never thought about the cost."

"There's always a price," Selene said, her voice low but certain. "But you didn't do it for you. You did it for her. And that's something God can't take away from you."

Amenadiel stood there in silence, staring into the city below. The weight of his lost powers, the responsibility of his actions, all felt too much to bear. But somewhere, deep down, he understood.

"This... this is about more than what I've lost," Amenadiel said softly. "It's about the choice I made. Maybe... maybe I can still do something good with what I have left. Even without the powers."

Selene gave him a small, approving nod. "Exactly. You're not just an angel, Amenadiel. You're something more. And that's what God wanted you to learn."

Amenadiel took a deep breath, standing taller. Maybe his powers were gone, but there was still something deep inside him, a fire that had never been dependent on wings or strength. He wasn't finished yet.

"Thank you, Selene," he said quietly. "I think I'm starting to understand."

Selene smirked. "You should. Because we're just getting started."

As she walked away, Amenadiel looked up at the sky. The stars seemed less distant now, as if the universe was waiting to see what he would do next.

---

As they broke into the heavily guarded inner sanctum of Travers' warehouse, it became immediately clear that Travers wasn't going to give up without a fight. His bodyguards, heavily armed and seemingly well-trained, moved to intercept them. Lucifer, with his usual confidence and sharp reflexes, threw himself into the action, effortlessly dispatching the guards with a combination of speed and precision. Harper, never one to shy away from danger, covered him from behind, picking off enemies with her gun as she moved forward.

Despite their efforts, the chaos only seemed to intensify. Each room they entered had more guards, and they were starting to feel the pressure of their limited time. Travers was still inside, and the clock was ticking.

After a particularly intense firefight, where bullets flew and fists collided, the pair finally reached the heart of the warehouse, the final door before they could confront Travers. But as they pushed open the door to what they thought would be their victory, they were greeted by a dark, empty room—save for a solitary chair in the center, facing the wall.

Lucifer's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward cautiously, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

"This doesn't feel right," Lucifer muttered, his senses on high alert. "Where is he?"

Harper scanned the room, her hand tightening on her gun. "He's here. He has to be."

Just then, the sound of a low chuckle echoed through the room, and a cold chill washed over them. It was Travers' voice. But it was distorted, as if coming from a distant, muffled place.

"You thought you could corner me, detective? You thought you could stop me?" Travers' voice filled the room as the walls seemed to close in.

Lucifer's eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint the source. Then, in a flash, it hit him.

The entire room was a trap.

---

Travers' Final Trick

The walls around them suddenly shifted, revealing hidden compartments that opened like drawers. Out of these compartments, armed figures emerged—men in black, wearing body armor, and all with weapons drawn. The room had been rigged as a battlefield, with Travers' guards positioned strategically to ambush anyone who dared to follow him.

"Well played," Lucifer muttered, a smirk on his face. "But you should've known by now, Travers, that you can't outsmart the devil."

A chaotic firefight broke out. Harper and Lucifer fought side by side, both trying to keep up with the barrage of bullets coming from all angles. The room was now a maze of pillars, walls, and hidden traps, the sounds of combat echoing through the building.

But just when they thought they'd managed to push forward and were about to corner Travers, the lights flickered out. The whole building went dark, plunging them into total blackness.

"We're being played," Harper shouted, but Lucifer was already moving in the darkness, his heightened senses giving him an advantage. "Keep close," he instructed, pulling Harper behind cover as they continued the fight through the shadows.

In the darkness, they could hear Travers' voice again, mocking them from a distance. "You're so predictable. Did you really think I wouldn't have a contingency plan?"

It was clear now that Travers had been anticipating their every move. His final plan was a diversion—he wasn't even there anymore. As they fought through the maze of darkened corridors, Lucifer realized that the man they'd been chasing had one last trick up his sleeve: he had set the building to self-destruct.

---

A Deadly Race Against Time

Realizing that they were now racing against the clock, Lucifer and Harper pushed forward, dodging gunfire and searching for Travers' final hiding spot. The building was rigged to blow in less than ten minutes, and with every passing second, the urgency increased.

"Where is he, Lucifer?" Harper shouted as they sprinted down the hall, knowing full well that if they didn't stop Travers now, there wouldn't be anyone left to stop the explosion.

Lucifer's mind was working in overdrive. "He's not here. He never was."

"What?" Harper was confused, but Lucifer already knew what he had to do.

The game had changed. Travers had been using them as pawns to get them to a specific location, but Lucifer had realized that the real target was something else entirely—something far worse than the building's destruction.

With seconds to spare, Lucifer leapt into action, pulling Harper out of the hallway and into a nearby room as the building's alarms blared. The countdown to detonation had begun.

Travers was gone, but his legacy would leave a dangerous mark on this city, one that would haunt them all.

---

The Aftermath

With the building now in ruins and Travers gone, Lucifer and Harper stood amid the wreckage, panting, covered in sweat, and with the smoke still rising from the building's remnants.

"This isn't over," Harper muttered, wiping her brow. "We still don't know who was behind all of this."

Lucifer nodded, eyes dark and focused. "No, it's far from over. Travers may be gone, but whoever's been pulling his strings is still out there."

And as the dust settled around them, they knew the true challenge was only just beginning.