Cass couldn’t be sure how much time had passed when she found herself staring at the letters MWB on a flickering neon sign outside a dirty, blank wall. Time had a way of warping, wrapping and twisting its way around the Boulevard. Some moments seemed to last forever, others flashed past like a knife to the throat.

The building looked old and run down, but Cass knew better than to trust first impressions. You didn’t survive out here without secrets.

She flipped down onto the street floor and crept up to the wall. It tingled under her fingers as she leant against it, brushing her hands across its surface. There was power here.

As her hand passed over it a small panel slid open in the blank expanse and a monitor appeared, showing an old man’s face smiling out at her. Cass stepped back and to the side quickly, but then paused. There was no danger yet.

The eyes on the screen followed her.

“Hello there! A visitor, and a distinguished one at that, Alan. Your namesake has produced as always!”

The voice poured out of the speaker with complete clarity, aiming itself straight for her, entering her mind and speaking louder than any ear could hear.

“Cass, is it not? Your reputation preceeds you. You’ll excuse me if I don’t meet you in person of course, it’s just that I don’t want to add to it.”

The voice was old, sing-song. It belied the power Cass could see burning out from behind his eyes.

“It’s been quite the day for visitors. Someone’s been stirring the pot, bringing everything back up to the surface, hmmm? No, I think we’ll stay tucked away in here for the time being, Alan. Far safer than what roams those streets.”

The eyes grinned at her, waiting for some kind of response. Wait. Wait and watch and be ready to spring.

“Oh my apologies, this voice and, in particular, the fact that you can hear it may come as some surprise. Please, do not be alarmed. I’ve learnt a few tricks in my time out here. Believe me, it is by no means the limit of my talents.”

As he spoke the walls around the monitor began to warp and sink backwards, stretching themselves out and then reaching back and around her. As Cass tensed to spring they pulled away again, bending out from her and opening to reveal a simple white room containing a single figure. It was another clone, she recognised it immediately.

The clone approached her, holding out its hand.

“Excuse me, one cannot resist a little showmanship now and then. You need to flex the muscles to keep them in shape, though I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that. Pleased to meet you, my name is Madigan.”

Cass stared down at the proffered hand until it slunk back behind his back. Then she let her eyes scan back up to his face. There was something missing there. A glance down at her side revealed that the blade was already in her hand.

The clone backed away, holding up its hands now, a blank smile on its face.

“Now now young lady, there’s no need for any further display of you prowess. I’m quite aware of what you can do. There’s no threat here, simply an old man and his games. Madigan, of course, isn’t here right now, but please be assured that I speak directly for him. My name is Alan. I believe we’ve met.”

Cass felt the tightening at the base of her spine relax and come back under control, the blood lust sink back down into her gut. She flipped the blade around and held it up to the clone’s face, handle first. She watched his eyes take in the small MWB insignia marked on its base.

“Ah yes, I was wondering when I’d see one of those again.”