Kapitel 15: The First Tragedy
About 3 days after the Debt Maker's death, the council met and agreed to move forward with Turnner's proposal. He was given immunity and the full support of all Cornerstone's assets to kill or capture the 50 people who are after the Theatom.
1 week after the Debt Maker's Death, July 12, 2025, 8:26 am
50 List | No. 16 - The Psychology Teacher
"Mayday, Mayday, this is Delta 147!" A frightened captain shouted into his radio. There was chaos in the cockpit. The plane shook violently, warning lights were flashing, and loud beeping sounds rang in the ears of the passengers.
The captain jammed buttons all over the cockpit, hoping to curb their situation. His co-pilot had a firm grip on the yoke, pulling on it occasionally, hoping for a miracle. The plane's sudden descent from 10,000 feet created a serious lack of air; the pilots were only conscious due to their training, but not for long.
"We're all gonna die." A frightened flight attendant muttered, breathing heavily. She was fastened to a seat behind the pilots. Her eyes watered with tears, as the ground became more and more detailed.
The captain continued in his effort to level the plane. He reduced the throttle, and the co-pilot continued to tackle the yoke, but these were ineffective, and the lack of air started to affect them.
The captain succumbed to the situation first; he bent over in his seat, breathing heavily, his eyes shutting down. As he staggered, the sounds around him faded, and his vision turned dark. Soon, the rest of the crew also lost consciousness.
Air Traffic Control did not pick up their distress call, so without any assistance, the plane continued its dreadful descent. In a matter of seconds, the plane went from 5000 feet to 2000 feet and continued to fall at 200 feet per second.
By now, those at air traffic control had noticed the plane's rapid descent on their radar and were trying their best to contact the plane, but not only was everyone onboard dead due to a lack of air and pressurisation, but also the coms on the plane were no longer working.
The plane was diving to its death, and there was nothing they could do. At around 1200 feet, the computer system on the plane alerted the pilots, "1000, 800, 500, Pull up, Pull up, Pull up." but it was cut off when the plane crashed into a playing field and exploded.
2 hours later.
Noria had just arrived at work and marched straight into the control room. She received a call saying 12 aircrafts had crashed this morning across America. As she walks up the aisle, she sees Amelia, Lucas and Trent are here too. A woman in a standard agency uniform approached her.
"Mam! This morning, a plane crashed into a playing field just north of our location. It started an unwavering nosedive at about 10,000 feet, then crashed into the ground before exploding. No survivors."
"I'm aware. What about the other 11 planes?"
"Same thing, mam; they all crashed at the same time for the same reason. What's more, there's no proper explanation as to why this happened. The FIB was first to investigate this, but it was too strange, so they decided it was a case for the Cornerstone agency."
"Everything that sounds strange is the case for us." Noria answered sarcastically. She stared at the big screen, which displayed a reporter at one of the crash sites. It was a horrific sight, the fire had been put out, revealing the massive land of debris. The plane was broken in half and burned to a crisp, wings were barely identifiable and scattered on the ground. It was clear that no one had survived.
Trent, who was also staring at the screen, exhaled deeply, "This is definitely going down in the history books as one of the greatest tragedies ever recorded."
"Are you sure? I feel like the German nuclear plant explosion was the worst." Amelia disagreed.
"Hold on a second. Did you say tragedy?" Noria interrupts, drawing everyone's attention to her. "Turnner mentioned something about a tragedy a week ago. He said, something is coming to Miami."
"Really?" Amellia questioned, "Maybe it's just a coincidence."
"Gordon, I want you to call Turnner and tell him he's needed at the agency. I think this has something to do with his 50 List."
"50 List?" Lucas asked.
"That's what Turnner calls the 50 people who are after the Theatom." Noria replied.
"I don't like working with that guy. I almost died several times." Amelia exasperated, concerned for her life.
"You're complaining about almost dying as a contractor?" Trent laughed.
"Unlike you, I actually take delight in being alive. And I don't expect to die every time I'm in a tough situation, but working with Turnner has brought me too close to death."
"Then I guess you're gonna have to count your lucky stars."
***
South Korea Seoul 11:30 pm
Turnner sat in a luxurious restaurant across from a Korean Lady. She was wearing a long, tight black dress and an expensive chain, sipping wine. Turnner interlocked his hands on the table and spoke, "Miss Chun-Hee, I believe the last time we met, you asked about investing your money into one of my advertisement services."
"I did. Took you long enough to get back to me."
"I'm sorry, but I had some other issues to deal with. Let's proceed with the business deal."
"I'm offering 500,000 US dollars to have my car company advertised across America."
"For an advertisement of that scale, you would be looking at 600 thousand dollars." Turnner haggled.
"You're asking for some money without any assurance. How do I know I won't be robbed?"
Turnner stared at her, not answering. She glared back, then squinted and said, "550 is as high as I'll go."
"Deal."
"Deal?"
"Why are you surprised?"
"Nothing. Well, it was nice talking to you, but I will be going." The woman got up from her seat and walked out of the restaurant.
Turnner, still in his seat, examined the glass of wine. He hadn't touched it since the start of the conversation. He picked it up and held it in the air, focusing on the tiny bubbles rising to the top of the cup. "Even the rich slowly kill themselves; more costly doesn't mean healthier."
His thoughts are interrupted by a phone ring, "Hello."
"This is Gordon from the Cornerstone agency, Miss Noria has requested that you be here by tomorrow. There was an incident this morning, and she believes it's linked to you."
"I'll be there."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein