Syndust Files

An L2 Investigation (Part 1)

Prologue

The Concordium Health Ministry officially classified Pandeus as a controlled therapeutic substance in 2187, precisely eleven years after the first widespread implant rejection crises began among the Charian population. The synthetic compound—derived from rare mineral deposits found only in the Praxis Belt—became the foundation of authorized neural integration therapy.

Detective-Specialist Herve Hetton with Junior Detective Reus (Syndust Files, image by James Goudie)

Detective-Specialist Herve Hetton remembered those early days with clinical clarity. His psymemory could replay with perfect fidelity the scenes of writhing Charians in medical facilities, their silver neural ports glowing angry red as their bodies fought against the foreign technology their minds so desperately craved. The screams remained archived in his reference core, categorized and timestamped. He had been among the first L2 officers authorized for the specialized implant suite that now adorned his scalp and spine—twenty-seven neural interfaces that operated at computational speeds no unaugmented mind could comprehend. The Concordium Intelligence Division had selected him for his natural physiological compatibility, a rare genetic marker that reduced rejection probability by 67.4%.

Still, he required Pandeus. All augmented Charians did.

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The climate control systems in Hetton's apartment maintained a precise 19.2°C as he performed his morning calibration ritual. His neural diagnostic interface displayed a holographic representation of his implant network, each connection point pulsing with the steady rhythm of data transmission. He noted a 0.03% increase in rejection indicators along his temporal interface—within acceptable parameters, but requiring attention.

Hetton removed the authorized Pandeus inhaler from its security-sealed container, placed it against his nasal passage, and administered exactly 2.7 milliliters of the blue-tinged vapor. His neuraloptics registered the immediate chemical cascade as the compound entered his bloodstream, dampening his immune response and stabilizing the delicate neural connections between organic tissue and synthetic interface. The pain subsided to its usual background hum—a constant companion he had learned to compartmentalize with 98.3% efficiency.

His wristcom vibrated with an incoming priority alert from the 247th Precinct. The neural display projected directly into his visual cortex revealed the essential data:

HOMICIDE ALERT: SECTOR 12-BETA VICTIM: CHARIAN MALE IMPLANT INVOLVEMENT PROBABLE L2 CLEARANCE REQUESTED

Hetton's analytical systems began processing potential scenarios before he had even closed his apartment's security membrane. Implant-related homicides had increased by 22.7% in the past quarter, correlating with the emergence of Syndust in the lower sectors. The street variant of Pandeus carried significant risks—neural degradation, psychotic episodes, cellular necrosis—but its availability had expanded as Concordium restrictions on prescribed Pandeus tightened.

The enforcement paradox was not lost on Hetton's logical processes, though he rarely dwelt on policy implications. His function was investigation and resolution, not sociopolitical analysis.

As he navigated through the morning crowd in the transit hub, his enhanced perception allowed him to process 217 individual faces simultaneously, cross-referencing against wanted databases and behavioral anomaly patterns. Three individuals displayed markers of illegal augmentation. He filed the observations for later follow-up—low priority compared to the homicide alert.

The transit pod's navigation system recognized his L2 clearance, automatically rerouting to provide priority access to Sector 12-Beta. As the city's architecture blurred beyond the transparent hull, Hetton's gaze remained fixed on the invisible data streams only he could perceive.

Another Charian dead. Another set of implants involved.

His analytical systems calculated a 78.9% probability that this case would follow established patterns—black market implant acquisition, Syndust complications, territorial dispute among dealers.

The remaining 21.1% probability intrigued him. Anomalies were rare in his experience. Anomalies contained information. Information led to resolution.

As the transit pod decelerated toward the crime scene coordinates, Hetton felt the familiar, subtle hum of his cognitive enhancement suite increasing processing capacity. The crime scene would contain data fragments, and those fragments would form patterns, and those patterns would lead to conclusions.

That was the divine path of investigation. Of justice. Of order.

Detective-Specialist Herve Hetton stepped from the pod into the strobing lights of the crime scene, unaware that this case would lead him beyond the boundaries of Concordium justice and into territories no probability algorithm could predict.

An L2 Investigation

The flashing lights of the various security vehicles were blinding in the poorly lit alley. Junior Detective Reus stood to one side taking pictures of the crime scene while other officers were taping off the perimeter.

Reus heard one of the officers mutters “Het’s here” and the detective looked up to see a tall and well-built Charian step over the perimeter tape and approach the body of the victim sprawled unnaturally on the ground, the security shroud covering the more gruesome details of the man’s death.

Reus looked at Hetton, as he approached. No one dared to call him “Het” to his face, but the officers of the 247th security precinct all referred to him as such.

Hetton was bald, the silver implants on his head glowing faintly red giving him a surreal aspect. His keen intellect and ability to solve cases bordered on legendary. He towered over the other officers, all of whom were Gervians. Hetton was also the precincts only L2. That is to say, he is the only one with Concordium clearance and jurisdiction.

“Relate victim designation, time of demise and pertinent details,” said Hetton to no one in particular.

Reus decided that it was his responsibility to answer. He had been assigned to several cases with Hetton in the past and had worked through his, or perhaps Charian, abrupt method of speaking. To those who were unfamiliar with Het, he seemed uncaring and detached. Reus knew better.

“A Charian named Vikam Denon," said Reus, "Time of death 4 hours ago."

Hetton stopped and regarded Reus, steadily holding his gaze.

"Ah..,” began Reus looking at his notes, "That would be 4 hours and 20 minutes ago"

Reus continued, "We found his security ID badge from Crencorp on him. Take a look.”

Hetton glanced at the badge encased in polyethylene evidence pouch and immediately scanned the photo ID with his neuraloptics registering in psymemory all pertinent information. Vikam Denon, age 43, junior biolink analyst, and his details such as address, wristvid link, even down to the types and sources of his ten implants.

Turning back to the body, Hetton swept back the shroud to view the deceased.

The dead man’s implants had been torn from his body leaving gaping wounds. The blood and swelling around the wounds indicated he was still living when they were removed. Hetton mentally adjusted his visual neurolants and scanned the area around the body.

The interface highlighted blood spatter on the ground and wall along with traces of a familiar particle. It was Dust. Pandeus by another more familiar name. By the looks of it, cut with some unique synthetic chemical. His optical reader zoomed in to the near molecular level, analyzing the synthetic compound, and identified it as Syndust. Illegal, spreading through the Charian community in the precinct and very deadly if used incorrectly.

A twinge of longing rose deep within his body and, for the briefest of moments, he was aware of the dullish pain of his own body's rejection of his implants. It was why he worked so hard at maintaining peak physical condition, so that his body could function more efficiently against both the pain of rejection and the whisper of addiction all within his species experienced. A small and insignificant price to pay for the divine path. Hetton rarely thought about that and wondered why his mind strayed to such now.

Hetton glanced at Reus who was on his wristvid conversing with a magistrate about obtaining search warrants for Vikam Denon's home.

Hetton knew that the Gervians could not see what he detected with his enhanced optics. He wondered briefly how they functioned at such a mundane level of awareness and knowledge. However, he knew firsthand the psionic capability some Gervians had that more than made up for their lack of hyper awareness.

Focusing his attention to the blood spatter, he quickly concluded that the victim had been given a near fatal dose of Syndust, rending his senses and consciousness into numbness before the implants were torn from his face and body. At least he did not suffer. Eleven implants were taken. Eleven. Eleven?

Hetton brought up in psymemory the holographic image of Vikam taken from his security ID badge. Ten implants were registered on Vikam Denon. The date of the badge was two months ago. Vikam had undergone surgery for another implant recently.

He mentally uploaded the name “Crencorp” through his neurlink and filed this information into psydata, then sending “Syndust” the same way, ran a correlation probability analysis routine. High correlation was seen between Crencorp's experimental line of biogenic implants and rejection levels. This would necessitate consuming levels of Pandus considered to be dangerous and possibly illegal.

Hetton had a direction to follow. Highest current probability scenario was that Vikam obtained an experimental implant, rejections levels exceeded expectations and he required additional Pandus to cope with implant rejection. Traditional methods of obtaining Pandus for the procedure was inhibited for an unknown reason, thus Vikam searched out illicit means of facilitating implant acceptance.

Establishing a link with his implanted reference core, he ran a query and analysis routine.

Query - Where did Vikam get the contact information of Syndust dealer?

Analysis – Perpetrator - This entity primary social link to killer or killers.

Case Motive Probability Extrapolation Analysis:

Motive - Murder - anger or revenge 7% - entity had negative emotional regard for victim based upon savagery of implants extraction.

Motive - Murder - target of opportunity - 19% - entity or entities murdered Vikam to steal implants and sell on secondary market.

Motive - Planned Murder - 45% - Vikam was a planned target of murder and theft - theft goal experimental implant. Possible secondary motives: A) Possible corporate murder. B) Possible delivery to Crencorp competitor. C) Possible to extort Crencorp. D) Possible unknown motive. Insufficient information to assign probabilities.

Turning to Reus, Hetton said “First search his residence then his work. We should find secondary leads to move forward from there.”

The search of Vikam’s residence, located in an upscale residential complex, turned up nothing of interest other than empty containers of prescription Pandeus that had several weeks left before they were refilled. There was nothing that was out of order or anything unusual from what one would expect.

Crencorp campus was a compact plasteel and glass architectural achievement. Rising ten stories high and draping in gravity defying form, it looked like an ocean wave about to crest. Hetton and Reus exited the police cruiser and entered the building. Reus, observing the form of the building with a sense of unease, was trying to determine if it were really safe. Hetton had already glanced at the building, ran a structural analysis and had determined its level of safety. This world’s crust was predominantly stable so, unless there were an earthquake, the building would stand for hundreds of years.

Within moments after identifying themselves to the receptionist, they found themselves in a conference room speaking with several Crencorp executives.

“Of course we are all shocked at losing Vikam Denon. He was a brilliant young man and had a bright future.” said Reginald Moss, Director of Research and Development. He was a Charian, older with greying hair, several sets of late generation implants and several older almost antiquated Tyvor implants that regulated bodily functions. These implants were usually seen in older military veterans.

“What project was Vikam working on?” Asked Hetton.

Hetton immediately detected elevated heartrates and biological indicators of stress from several of the executives sitting around the table.

“Tell him everything,” said a voice from the entry. A lithe Gervian women entered the conference room with an air of superiority and confidence. “I am Lillith, Prime Executive of Crencorp.”

Hetton inclined his head in greetings.

In one quick motion she flashed Hetton a brief smile of greeting then turned to Reginald and said to the various executives “Our guest is an L2 who is looking into a murder. “

Hetton detected the further increase of heartrate and signs of tension among the executives. He did not detect any changes from Lillith, who remained calm, collected and clearly in charge. He mentally accessed his reference core and pulled up her bio and credentials. Based upon where she graduated from, her unnaturally youthful body and her family name, it was clear she was a prime. One of the elites of Gervian society, a master player of the intrigues of corporate dominance that is the center of Gervian culture.

The executives exchanged uncomfortable glances before Reginald Moss cleared his throat. "Vikam was part of our advanced neurobiological interface team. Specifically, he was working on Project Mnemosyne."

Hetton's implants registered the name, cross-referencing corporate databases. His neuraloptics displayed a probability correlation matching the project to several blacklisted research initiatives tracked by Concordium Intelligence.

"Project Mnemosyne is classified Level 3 restricted," Lillith interjected, her voice maintaining the perfect equilibrium of corporate diplomacy. "But, given the circumstances, I'm authorizing full disclosure." She gestured to Reginald with a subtle movement of her slender fingers.

Reginald tapped his wrist interface and a holographic schematic materialized above the conference table. "This is our experimental XR-9 implant. It holds 2 Zettabytes of retrievable psymemory with neuroadapting search parameters."

"Explain functionality," Hetton demanded, his eyes scanning the intricate neural pathways displayed in the schematic.

"It dynamically modifies and inserts itself into the host's memory architecture," Reginald explained, his tone shifting from corporate to scientific enthusiasm. "The host gains full memory and experiential access to any virtual consciousness upload, AI, or AI self-aware symbiot."

Reus leaned forward, his expression betraying his struggle to grasp the implications. "You're saying this implant allows someone to...download another person's consciousness?"

"Precisely," Lillith confirmed. "But it's currently not approved by Concordium regulatory bodies. We have legal teams working to change that."

Hetton's neuraloptics scanned the faces around the table, measuring micro-expressions and biometric indicators. "Vikam had this implant installed," he stated rather than asked.

"He was our primary test subject," Reginald admitted. "Volunteer. The implant was functioning within expected parameters."

"Until it wasn't," Hetton concluded. "I require contact information for Vikam's Pandeus supplier."

Silence filled the room. Lillith's expression remained unchanged, but her pulse elevated 2.3 beats per minute—virtually undetectable to anyone without Hetton's enhancements.

"We monitor our employees' well-being," she said finally. "When Vikam's prescribed Pandeus became insufficient, he sought alternative sources. Our security team tracked him to a dealer named Kriva Nexus. Operating from the lower levels of Sector 17."

By James Landes

TO BE CONTINUED